Week One Preview: Ravens and Panthers
We’re one day away from the kickoff of the 2021 NFL season but you would be forgiven for thinking time has stood still over the course of the last year. We’re still in a pandemic, the Ravens still have questions at WR and the Panthers are still without a QB and offensive line. But like that old saying- the more things stay the same, the more they change. Baltimore added three new wideouts, including their first pick in the 2021 draft, Rashod Bateman and former first rounder Sammy Watkins. The Panthers have overhauled their offensive personnel, swapping Teddy Bridgewater for 4th year signal caller Sam Darnold. They’ve also looked to free agency and the draft in hopes of giving Darnold the kind of protection previous Panthers QBs could only dream of. However, despite the best efforts of both front offices, Baltimore and Carolina will enter week 1 with more questions than answers regarding the upcoming season.
Baltimore AT Las Vegas
Let’s start with the good news. The Ravens have had one of the top defenses in the league the last 3 years, a trend that should continue in 2021. The secondary is the league’s best and deepest, and they’ve added several young and intriguing pieces. Ar’Darius Washington, Chris Westry, Geno Stone, and third round pick Brandon Stephens should help them withstand the season-ending injury to Marcus Peters. However, in week one it’s looking like Jimmy Smith may be out which would leave Baltimore scrambling to cover Darren Waller. Look for the Ravens to employ a platoon of Queen, Stephens, and Clark to try and corral the elite pass catcher. Patrick Queen in particular has looked like a man on a mission this summer and will be patrolling the middle of the field with Malik Harrison full time after LJ Fort tore his ACL in the preseason. The edges and interior pass rush are under even more pressure to deliver this year with the secondary hobbled. Although when you combine the expected breakout season from second-year DT Justin Madubuike, the additions of vet Justin Houston and freak athlete Odafe Oweh, and the Raiders depleted offensive line- the rush should be fine for at least one week.
On offense things look much shakier. Lamar Jackson’s offseason work seems to have paid off as he’s been more accurate and decisive with better touch to all areas of the field in training camp. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. Lamar had no time with his starting receivers, he missed the early part of camp with Covid 19 and Hollywood Brown, Sammy Watkins, Rashod Bateman, and Miles Boykin have spent most of the summer nursing injuries. JK Dobbins suffered a torn ACL against the Washington Football Team and will miss the season along with Justice Hill who tore his achilles in practice last week, and fan favorite Gus Edwards who tore his ACL the same day Baltimore lost Peters. That left newcomer Ty’Son Williams as the only healthy back on the roster until Baltimore added Le’Veon Bell, Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and special teamer Trenton Cannon. That wouldn’t be the end of the world except the guys tasked with opening holes for the Ravens’ new backfield have not exactly inspired confidence. Bozeman and Villanueva have been up and down at center and right tackle respectively and I’d love to tell you about the left guard situation but the Ravens haven’t figured it out themselves. Ben Powers, Ben Cleveland, Patrick Mekari, and Tyre Phillips are all in the running for the starting gig, but a couple of those guys were also in the running to get cut last week.
Ultimately this game, and the season as a whole, will go as the offensive line goes. If they are able to protect Lamar and open running lanes for Williams and Co. the Ravens will roll over the Raiders and head into their week 2 showdown with the Chiefs riding high. If the line is unable to contain the likes of Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, and old friend Yannick Ngakuoe then the offense will sputter and the Carr/Jacobs led offense could do just enough to spoil the opener for Ravens fans. I expect Lamar to be efficient, leaning on his backs and recently extended Mark Andrews, with a couple of timely runs to lead Baltimore to a closer-than-most-expect win.
Pounding Panthers Chronicle
Crack Open Sum 2021
The 2021 Carolina Panthers’ season is finally here. On September 12, in Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers will kick off their season against the N.Y. Jets and Sam Darnold will be lacing it up against his former team for the first time. This matchup has been pumped up as a “Blood & Guts'' game, but I’m here to say WHAT? Now don’t get me wrong I am all for a “revenge game” It makes for a good storyline that connects well with people, but let’s be honest, by no means is Darnold’s situation anything that should be compared to Steve Smith’s return with Baltimore. Both teams this Sunday will be looking at a new face taking the snaps under center for their team. There has been a lot of speculation about a Darnold revival in this Joe Brady offense, come this Sunday we will get our first look at what this offense can do in a live game that actually matters. Darnold’s arm strength has been cited as the main upgrade to former Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Does this mean we see more downfield passing to stretch the defense? This could be the case, but there is still a glaring question that remains. Is Darnold capable of making good decisions and accurate throws? It’s time to find out.
Offensive Woes?
One of the many questions facing this Panthers offense is how well does the offensive line stand up? The Jets come in sporting a front seven headlined by Quinnen Williams and CJ Mosely. Can the likes of Cam Erving, Pat Elflein, Matt Paradis, and Dennis Daley be enough? In my eyes it is a simple answer and that is no. Not one week into the 2021 season and already we see a starter land on the COVID-19 list. RG John Miller has been scratched from Sunday’s season opener. The team didn’t make it out of training camp before shipping off LT Greg Little for a conditional 7th round pick from Miami. This move; along with others, show a growing neglect for the offensive line. First year GM Scott Fitterer and second year HC Matt Rhule have done little to improve the offensive line in their time with the team. Outside of extending star RT Taylor Moton, who was already on the team, one could argue nothing has been done to improve this unit as a whole. An unproven quarterback behind a shaky at best offensive line sounds more like a recipe for disaster rather than success. Not only will this unit be responsible for keeping Darnold upright, it will be up to them to clear holes for a healthy McCaffery. There is a reason why RBs reward their offensive line when reaching a milestone. I don’t see McCaffery running out to buy Rolexes anytime soon… The above-mentioned fate of Sam Darnold could rest squarely on the broad shoulders of that O-line.
Rookie Spotlight:
There will be a rookie on both sides of the football drawing a lot of attention from fans and opponents. Jaycee Horn was selected with the 8th overall pick and will be slotted as a day 1 starter when the Panthers take the field against the Jets this Sunday. Son of longtime New Orleans Saints WR Joe Horn, and considered to be one of the top corners in this year’s draft. The rookie will line up opposite fellow starter and SEC alum, Donte Jackson. Horn is not expected to line up across from teams No.1 WR. That role will fall to the veteran Jackson. Both cornerbacks could see an uptick in bad passes thrown their way with a bolstered defensive line pressuring opponents’ QBs. Right across the line of scrimmage is where you will find the other rookie that will be watched closely as the season progresses. Terrace Marshall, a WR that had conveniently crossed paths with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The Panthers will be looking at Marshall to fill the gap left at Slot WR from the departure of Curtis Samuel, who signed with former coach Ron Rivera in Washington this offseason. We saw Robby Anderson have success out of the slot and on underneath routes with Bridgewater under center. The question now will be does Marshall have a quarterback that is capable of working through three, possibly four reads before finding him? With DJ, Anderson, and CMC all seeing targets in the passing game that won’t leave many opportunities for Marshall to show his talent.
Front Seven:
The Panthers defensive front seven has the potential to be a top-tier unit in 2021. Heading this unit is 3rd-year DE Brian Burns. Gone are the days of seeing him as a gunner on punt coverages, yes that’s correct, Don’t ask me… talk to Ron. With a full season under his belt at DE I expect a breakout season from Burns. Look for Burns to be terrorizing a QB in a town near you all season. In the off-season Carolina added edge rusher Haason Reddick to play opposite Burns. Sophomore player Derrick Brown will attempt to build on a solid rookie season. Do not be shocked if we see a Thompson, or a Chinn blowing up a play simply because you cannot double team everyone. The defense will be looking to this pair for pressure on the QB. Depth Charts put Reddick as Right-side LB confirming that he may play mostly opposite of Burns, but we may still see him in a “Hand in the Dirt” role on specific pass rush plays. Leading the LB corps is Shaq Thompson, a 7th-year veteran outside linebacker. Only 27, the veteran from Washington University is one of the older starting members of the Panthers defense. Youth and inexperience could be an additional opponent facing this team throughout the season. The Carolina Panthers will be sporting the 2nd youngest roster in the NFL this season. Much of this youth will be seen on the defensive side of the ball. It will be the responsibility Def. Coordinator Phil Snow to make sure their youth is a blessing and not a curse.