Despite improvements under a new regime, the Carolina Panthers’ coaching staff has been ranked near the bottom of the league in a recent ESPN analysis, suggesting low media confidence in a franchise turnaround.
The Panthers are entering their first season under head coach Dave Canales, who is tasked with elevating a team that finished with a league-worst 2-15 record in 2023. While the organization is optimistic about its new direction, external expectations remain tempered.
In ESPN’s preseason coaching staff rankings, analyst Ben Solak placed the Panthers at 24th in the NFL. While acknowledging the daunting task ahead, Solak’s analysis focused on the team’s offensive strategy and the development of second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
“It’s tough to get the Panthers much higher than this until we see what it looks like for a second season,” Solak wrote, referring to the crucial sophomore year for Young. “The best thing they did on offense wasn’t so much improving Young’s play as it was improving the running game around Young. The reloaded offensive line, along with Canales and [Brad] Idzik’s commitment to heavy personnel and under-center, downhill runs, created a steady grind of moderate gains.”
Solak noted that establishing a potent rushing attack creates simpler reads and builds confidence for a young quarterback. However, he questioned the offense’s potential for growth, asking, “Can they continue to get that caliber of play out of Chuba Hubbard? Can they put more on Young’s plate? The offense is still growing.”
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