Offseason training activities for the Carolina Panthers are underway. There are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on over the next couple of weeks of practice, including the eagerly-anticipated mandatory minicamp next month.
The 2024 NFL Draft and regular season schedule in which the Panthers have no primetime games on tap are in the rearview mirror. As head coach Dave Canales said, the team must earn the right to those types of games following a league-worst 2-15 campaign.
With just over two months left until the start of training camp in Charlotte, fans have grown curious about the team’s offensive scheme with a young head coach. Plans for embattled left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who is making the roster at wide receiver, whether there will be an improvement in the win-loss total, and quarterback Bryce Young’s play are all hot topics of discussion right now.
This is a perfect time to put out a brand-new mailbag, the first of the 2024 league year. You, the fans, had some burning questions that needed to be answered now that Carolina is in the thick of the offseason programs. Without further ado, let’s get to it.
Carolina Panthers 2024 schedule
- How are you liking or disliking the Panthers 2024 schedule? – Ed H.
As previously mentioned, the Carolina Panthers will have no primetime games in 2024, unless you consider their trip across the pond to Munich, Germany, which is a stand-alone contest. While to some fans it will be disappointing, it’s for the better and they must earn the right to be in front of the national TV spotlight.
The team’s bye week is slated perfectly in the middle of the season due to the overseas trip. The first 10 games offer a chance for the Panthers to show improvement on offense while easing their transition to start the season. However, games No. 4 to No. 6 could provide a test should this trio prove to be potential playoff contenders.
There are plenty of challenges after the bye week. Carolina faces four teams in a row that were playoff-bound in 2023. This will be a great test for the team should they show marketed improvement in hopes of being a playoff contender. Overall, it’s hard not to like this schedule for Carolina, especially with it being one of the league’s easiest.
It’s easy to get quite optimistic about the Panthers heading into the year, especially if coach Dave Canales has grown on you. However, as previously stated, this is a franchise coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history having lost two of its three cornerstones on the defensive front seven.
While they have improved on paper, Carolina must prove it on the field.
Carolina Panthers doubling up on wins
- Will the Carolina Panthers double their win total this season from last year? – Mickey G.
Great question, Mickey, and this is a great lead-off from Ed’s question about the regular season schedule. According to BetMGM, the Carolina Panthers’ win total is set at 4.5. I feel very confident that they have a good chance of surpassing this tally.
General manager Dan Morgan made a focused effort to add to and improve the offensive side of the ball. He signed guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to long-term contracts while trading for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and drafting South Carolina playmaker Xavier Legette.
Not to mention, he drafted arguably the best running back in the draft in Texas ball carrier Jonathon Brooks, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in the fourth round.
The run defense also looks markedly better on paper if you understand the types of defenders the Panthers have in the front seven. Adding defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, linebackers Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace, and pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum should counterbalance the potential losses in the pressure department on the edge.
Based on the current schedule, I expect the Panthers to triple their win total. A 6-11 or 7-10 record would be a terrific improvement for this team.
New-look Carolina Panthers offensive scheme
- What should we expect our offensive scheme to be with this regime of coaches? – Ben F.
That’s a tough question, Ben. It’s hard to gauge what type of offense this team will be running in terms of scheme and overall philosophy. Just don’t expect this to be any variation of a Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay system.
Dave Canales has made it clear that he is quite stubborn in the run game. This is evident with who they signed in free agency plus their second-round draft selection of running back Jonathon Brooks. It should be expected that the Panthers will be a run-first offense.
This is a good thing considering the production from current lead back Chuba Hubbard and the play style of Brooks. Furthermore, it could help keep defenses honest in the intermediate and deep areas of the field for Bryce Young to attack.
It should also be pointed out that Canales has shown to work with his players’ strengths to offset their weaknesses. Considering the current offensive personnel along with their pros and cons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some variation of wide-zone with mixtures of power and counter run-game concepts.
In the passing game, expect to see motions, usage of versatile skill sets with Xavier Legette in the backfield, Ja’Tavion Sanders in the big slot as the F-move tight end, more utilization of RPOs, and passing concepts that attack the middle of the field. This is a strength of Young’s.
Once training camp comes around, we’ll have a better understanding of the type of offense Canales will run. However, the true reveal will have to wait until Carolina’s opening game at the New Orleans Saints.
Carolina Panthers plan for Ikem Ekwonu
- What’s the backup plan if Icky continues to struggle? – Mike S.
Following an impressive and flashy rookie campaign, many expected Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu to take the next step and live up to the No. 6 overall selection billing. Unfortunately, the former North Carolina State standout struggled more often than not in 2023.
Upon further examination of the film, Ekwonu had average offensive tackle play, though his lowlights were brought into the spotlight more due to Carolina’s history of inconsistency at left tackle since Jordan Gross’ retirement in 2014. The biggest issue seen with the blindside force was his technique in pass protection, something that can improve with consistent coaching.
It’s unknown what type of player the Panthers will get from him. But there is a plan in place.
With the signings of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis at both guard spots, Brady Christensen has been moved into a reserve role and is the likely candidate to be Carolina’s swing tackle. He gives the team depth at all five spots on the offensive line and could be a great backup plan if Ekwonu continues to struggle.
Christensen is entering a contract year. He’ll want to give teams a glimpse at the type of player they’ll be getting should he hit the open market next offseason.
The Panthers also signed Yosh Nijman to add more depth at offensive tackle. The offensive line has improved this offseason, but all eyes are on Ekwonu and the center position to produce consistent play if the offense is to take a big step forward in 2024.
Carolina Panthers WR room
- Who do you think will be the starting wide receivers and who do you think we keep on the roster to open Week 1? – Liam B.
Great question, Liam. This is an interesting discussion following the draft selection of Xavier Legette.
The first no-brainer starter is Diontae Johnson, who is expected to be slated at X-receiver, though Dave Canales is expected to move him around the formation based on matchups and coverages. The starter at flanker/movement-Z receiver is up in the air.
There is an assumption that Legette starts there. It seems that will eventually be the case. Jonathan Mingo could get the nod at flanker while Adam Thielen is the true No. 3 and primary slot receiver. In two wide receiver sets, Legette and Mingo will likely rotate at Z, off the line of scrimmage against coverage shells and off-man cushions.
That leaves WR5 and WR6 where you have Terrace Marshall Jr., David Moore, Imir Smith-Marsette, and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker competing for the final two spots. It wouldn’t surprise me to see any of these four make the initial 53-man roster. The undrafted free agent needs to prove his ability against legitimate NFL talent despite some impressive college film.
As of right now, Moore and Smith-Marsette make the roster while Marshall is placed on waivers during cutdowns and Coker is moved to the practice squad. There’s still time for this projection to change as the summer unfolds.
Moore’s experience and familiarity with Canales’ offense could make him a valuable depth piece. Smith-Marsette brings the critical special teams value as a returner, especially with the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
What’s next for Bryce Young?
- If Bryce is struggling heavily again this year, will they be more open to seeing if Dalton can right the ship or will they shove Bryce down our throats because they drafted him No. 1? – Len R.
Bryce Young is entering a critical second year of his young career, no pun intended. He struggled a lot last season due to factors around him and his play in general.
Should he go through complications again in Year 2, don’t think Andy Dalton will be on the field at any point. Especially if the Carolina Panthers stay competitive on a week-to-week basis due to a strong run game and improved defense.
There will certainly be competition at quarterback in 2025 if this is the case. However, there is reason to believe Young shouldn’t have many if any struggles this season.
A collection of Bryce Young’s best throws of the season. Don’t write him off after one season. pic.twitter.com/6ObILwuTHn
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) February 23, 2024
Take the All-22 highlight clip thread above, for example.
There were flashes in almost every game the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama played during the previous campaign. This is despite having one of the worst situations and environments from both a coaching and skill talent perspective.
There are a lot of examples here of Young throwing to the middle of the field, throwing with accuracy and touch on all three levels. He also displays quality pocket awareness and terrific poise, which every highly productive quarterback needs to thrive.
It’s fair to critique his play from last season. Young’s biggest flaws centered around footwork on deep throws and tendencies to drift in the pocket. However, an argument here is that Carolina has added enough pieces around the second-year signal-caller to create some optimism that he can perform at a much better level in 2024.
Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy stated multiple times last season that Young can succeed at a high level with average talent around him. The talent around the former Crimson Tide gunslinger is at or slightly above average.
That should give fans hope that his play improves significantly this coming season. As should the presence of renowned quarterback galvanizer Dave Canales to steer Young on the right path.
