What Does The New Defense Actually Look Like?
The fact that the Panthers are transitioning to a 3-4 defense is now very much an open secret, but exactly what the Ron Rivera 3-4 defense looks like is still to be seen.
While it would be surprising to see Rivers lay even a third of his cards on the table during the preseason, there are at least likely to be some indications of what the Panthers are looking to do defensively.
The biggest indicators will be about who lines up where as much as anything. How do Vernon Butler and Kyle Love fit into a three-man front? Do Andre Smith and Jermaine Carter see any snaps as edge rushers? Where on earth does Bryan Cox, Jr. play? The Panthers might not even know the answers to all these questions right now, but their thinking should be clear for all to see when they actually have to start putting players out on the field.
Secondary Depth Questions Answered?
James Bradberry and Donte Jackson at corner and Eric Reid and Tre Boston at safety. If everybody stays healthy, there should be little doubt that this is how the Panthers plan to line up this season, at least on paper. The questions are more about what the depth behind them looks like.
It seems likely that Ross Cockrell and Rashaan Gaulden will both see some playing time, but how that is balanced between corner and safety is still unclear. Kevon Seymour seemed the clear favorite to be one of the other pure corners on the roster before he was injured and Colin Jones’s versatility and special teams play likely makes him a favorite for a roster spot, but what about everybody else?
Corn Elder, Javier Elliot, Cole Luke and others will all likely see a decent amount of playing time on Thursday, but the order in which they stand on the depth chart is far from clear – there is still plenty of time for one or more of his group to separate themselves from the rest.
All in all, there is plenty to watch for when the Panthers take the field on Thursday, and while the score is far from the biggest concern, Ron Rivera would probably like to see his players also play with some situational awareness. Beyond that, the first preseason game often serves as a chance for those who’ve been stuck further down the roster to push for greater consideration – the better you play in Week 1, the more playing time you’ll get in Week 2. However, more than anything else, it’s will just be nice to see the Panthers back on the field, with the second and third preseason games likely serving as more formative experiences, both for the players and for the roster.
