As the Panthers move towards training camp, the roster is beginning to take shape, both in terms of the starters and the surrounding depth, and while there is still a lot that can and likely will change between now and the end of training camp, it’s time to take a look at each part of the Panthers’ roster, position by position. While there is always the possibility of a dark horse surprise, there is also a lot than can be said with some degree of certainty. With that in mind, over the next couple of weeks we will explore both where each position group stands and where it might go. Check out our previous iterations below:
- Cornerback Clash!
- Wide Receiver Rumble!
- Running Back Ro Sham Beaux!
- Linebacker Battle!
- Quarterback Quandary!
- Tight End Tiff!
One of the final position groups in our series of training camp previews are the safeties, a position group which feels like it has been under constant flux in Charlotte for the past half a decade at least. In fact, since Ron Rivera became head coach back in 2011 the Panthers have had a different pair of primary starters each season, with no player starting more than three seasons. Consistency is a crucial aspect of continued success in any area, and the Panthers safeties have been anything but consistent. So what is this year’s iteration of the safety grouping going to look like?
The Returning Veteran
Mike Adams is almost the only thing about the safety group that can be talked about with much certainty – and even his role is not so certain. As a returning starter from last season, he will almost certainly start at one of the safety positions and without knowledge of how exactly Eric Washington’s defensive scheme will look to utilize the two safeties, it is hard to say exactly which. At this point in his career, Adams is no longer that suited to the single-high safety role he may have played in the past and works best as the down-split safety or as a smaller box safety. As a veteran in his late thirties, it is unlikely that the Mike Adams seen at training camp will be much different from the Mike Adams that fans saw last season, with the only real question surrounding him going into this offseason being his exact usage. With a number of changes all over the Panthers’ secondary this offseason, expect Adams to be looked to as a leader in the secondary along with James Bradberry and maybe others.
The Other Starter
As with much of the Panthers’ offensive and defensive schemes going into this season, it is unclear whether the Panthers will look to use a pair of starting safeties as they did last season or if they will rotate the safeties to a certain degree, as they did at times under McDermott. With two very different safeties vying to start next to Adams, the second tactic certainly has some appeal – that way, the safeties can be rotated based on personnel and down-and-distance in order to create favorable matchups.
Da’Norris Searcy is a fairly traditional box safety who is at his best in and around the line of scrimmage looking to make plays in the run game and being at least somewhat effective as an underneath zone defender. It would be surprising to see the Panthers use him as a primary coverage player in space as he has struggled when asked to do this at times in the past; however, with Adams’ positional flexibility he could well see the field on obvious rushing downs or in the red zone. For fans watching in the coming weeks, the keys will be how and in what way Searcy is used in coverage and how he gets on in this regard. If he is able to hold his own in coverage, then he will likely see the majority of early snaps opposite Adams as the veteran option – but if he struggles, it may force the Panthers into going another direction.
The competition for Searcy (and that other direction) is third-round rookie Rashaan Gaulden, who looks to make the move to free safety having played primary as a nickel corner at Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, Gaulden’s value lies in his ability to be a matchup option in coverage against faster tight ends and running backs, though he will need to show that he can handle his own in the running game during training camp if he wants to see the field much early on. Rivera has often shown an unwillingness to start rookies Week One apart from very early draft picks, but if Gaulden makes plays during training camp while minimizing mistakes then he will make it hard on the coaches to keep him off the field.
The Final Spot
The Panthers have historically only carried four safeties on the active roster, and while there may well be a spot on the practice squad available, that is obviously not an option for more veteran players. The one piece of continuity the Panthers have had at safety over the past half decade has been Colin Jones, who has shown himself too be a competent free safety as well as having the ability to play nickel if need be, as he did at times last season – plus let’s not forget the reason he signed his most recent contract, being a key contributor on special teams. If you’re placing bets, then Jones should be the clear favorite for the final spot, but Rivera has made a point of mentioning Demetrious Cox throughout the offseason and it is clear the Panthers wish to give him a more extended look during training camp.
Cox played much of the game against the Patriots last season, and while he was unremarkable as a run defender, he appeared to be responsible for some horrifically blown coverages which he was lucky to go unpunished for. For Cox, the focus of this training camp will be showing that he can be a consistently reliable coverage player on the back end. It would be surprising to see him surpass Jones for the final spot on the roster but he might well have a change of securing a practice squad spot.
The Other Guys
With the addition of two new safeties in Searcy and Gaulden, the hopes of making the roster for the remaining safeties in this group seem somewhat remote. While there is always the chance of injuries forcing the next man to step up, for these players, the best hope is a strong training camp propelling them towards a practice squad spot. Damian Parms and Dezmen Southward were both on the summer roster last season as well; as with last season, they are almost certain to be on the outside looking in again come the regular season. However, with Cox being far from a lock for a practice squad spot there is always hope.
Way-Too-Early Roster Prediction
Starters: Mike Adams and Da’Norris Searcy
Rotation Piece: Rashaan Gaulden
Depth: Colin Jones
Practice Squad: Demetrious Cox
Roster Hopefuls: Damian Parms and Dezmen Southward
