The Panthers dropped their second consecutive game, falling to 0-2 thus far in the preseason. A halftime score of 21-3 made it look like Carolina was doomed to another blowout loss, but they reeled the Giants in during the second half. They put up 16 unanswered points, nearly pulling off a comeback win against New York. It’s a better showing than their last outing, but it’s evident there is still plenty to work on.
The first half wasn’t all too exciting for Panthers fans. It began with the Giants’ starting unit working their way down the field and scoring on a Daniel Jones touchdown pass. Carolina failed to respond, going three and out on their first drive.
The Giants also went three and out, opening the door for a 15-play Panthers drive. Bryce Young went 3/5 for 35 yards on the 62-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. Matt Corral came in for Young after that drive, and the offense began to struggle. On their last three drives of the half the Panthers failed to pick up a single first down.
Meanwhile, led by Tyrod Taylor, the Giants found their way into the end zone on two of their final three full possessions of the first half. This included a 33-yard touchdown catch for Jalin Hyatt, who managed to lose cornerback Eric Rowe. The 21-3 deficit meant the Panthers had been outscored 48-3 in six quarters of preseason football.
Carolina came out swinging in the second half, scoring on three straight drives. It began with a 53-yard field goal from Matthew Wright, followed by a turnover on downs for the Giants. Raheem Blackshear hit paydirt on the next drive, but a failed two-point conversion meant the Panthers were still down by two scores.
After another New York turnover on downs, the Panthers swapped in quarterback Jake Luton. Luton, a fourth-year player out of Oregon State, connected with Gary Jennings on a 20-yard touchdown to bring Carolina within two points.
The pressure then swung back to the defense, and they stepped up by forcing a punt. Unfortunately, the offense finally ran out of juice, as four consecutive incompletions ended the Panthers’ hopes of victory. The Giants knelt out the game, scoring a 21-19 victory at home.
Preseason quarterback evaluations are never easy, and the offensive line struggles have made it even more difficult for Panthers fans. In limited action, Young has displayed the poise that makes him so highly regarded. Along with a minimal sample size, he’s had to go up against better competition as he plays the early drives before starters get taken out of the game. These factors, along with limited time in the pocket should serve as reasons to remain calm through early struggles.
As for Corral, the numbers don’t look terrible, but his play has been unimpressive. He made multiple questionable decisions, and struggled to get the offense going through his first few drives. He progressed as the game went on, but he hasn’t shown signs of deserving the primary backup spot over Andy Dalton.
Luton was solid on his first drive, including his impressive pass to Jennings in the end zone. Despite this, his 0/4 showing on the final drive might have ended any early conversations about passing Corral on the depth chart.
The struggles of the offensive line remain the number one concern for Panthers fans. The lack of Austin Corbett has become a clear detriment. Until his return, the team will be relying on young players stepping up and protecting their rookie quarterback.
With durability being a primary concern regarding Young’s NFL career, constant pressure is far from ideal. It’s only the preseason, but this issue will likely persist unless something changes.
The Panthers’ third and final preseason game will take place at home against the Lions on Friday, Aug. 25. The Lions have split their first two preseason games as they prepare for a highly-anticipated season.
Preseason results obviously aren’t indicative of eventual success, but fans would love to see some promising signs as the season draws near. Young will see the field once again, with another chance to shine if the line gives him the opportunity. It’s the final non-practice opportunity for the team to work out any kinks before the regular season begins.
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Featured image courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
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