In this series I will be reviewing how the Carolina Panthers 2016 draft class performed during their first season in the NFL, make sure to check out the previous 2016 class profiles for Vernon Butler and James Bradberry. The next player to be analyzed is Daryl Worley, a cornerback drafted out of West Virginia University in the third round. Below is some basic information and his 2016 statistics:
| Category | Information | 2016 Statistics | |
| Name | Daryl Worley | Total Tackles: |
87 |
| College | West Virginia | Tackles for a loss: |
2 |
| Age | 22 years old | Passes Defended: |
9 |
| Height | 6-feet 1-inches | Interceptions: |
1 |
| Weight | 205 pounds |
2016 Expectations and Season Review
The Carolina Panthers scared their fan base immensely when they used three of their five draft picks on cornerbacks. As the offseason progressed, people slowly forgot about the two corners selected after James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zach Sanchez, as they did not expect either to make a major impact during the season. But Bradberry went down with an injury in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons and forgotten rookie Worley turned out to be the best Carolina cornerback on the field when veteran Bene Benwikere, expected to be a veteran presence in the secondary and the Panthers’ top corner, allowed Julio Jones to rack up over 300 yards receiving. The next day the Panthers released Benwikere and Worley was forced into the starting lineup in his fifth game as an NFL cornerback. From that point on fans grew to love Worley’s physical play as a run stopper and athletic plays downfield.
The Good
Worley possesses the length, physicality and mentality to handle most receivers. He was at his best in press coverage and made some incredibly athletic plays like breaking up a pass in the endzone against the Arizona Cardinals’ J.J. Nelson. As the season progressed, Worley showed growth in all areas of his game but what really stood out was his ability to learn from play to play. The Cardinals had success against him on a fade route in the first quarter and naturally ran a similar route against him a few series later. This time Worley recognized the play and was in great coverage which forced an incompletion.
The Bad
Worley’s biggest flaw is his tight hips, which were on full display the first time he lined up across from Julio Jones, as Worley couldn’t rotate and transition quick enough, allowed Jones to run by him, and consequently gave up 40 yards to the Atlanta Falcon’s top offensive player. His change of direction speed allowed receivers to gain large amounts of space on cutbacks and double moves. At times he got caught playing too high, which allowed for underneath routes to develop into larger gains, and Worley can be hit or miss as a run defender because of his penchant for big hits.
Last Thoughts and 2017 Expectations
Worley’s tight hips are not something that can be fixed unfortunately. However, Worley’s approach to the game and overall length make him a good fit for the Panthers’ defensive scheme. If he is going to succeed, it will be because of the talent surrounding him and the fact that the defense relies on intelligent play more than athletic play. Entering the 2017 season, I expect Worley to see a larger volume of targets due to Captain Munnerlyn providing a upgrade at nickel cornerback. He will more than likely give up more receptions, yards and touchdowns during the 2017 season but I also think his play will improve and he will make a larger impact defending passes and creating turnovers.
