Carolina Panthers followers obtained simply the second full take a look at their crew this summer time on Friday night time, after they hosted the Cleveland Browns for the preseason opener. And now, it is time to get a second peek at that re-examination.
With the NFL lastly returning to some actual in-game motion, we took a dive into the All-22 film for some classes from the 30-10 defeat. While sloppy at instances, the Panthers proved to be a bodily squad—bringing their effort regardless of the not-so-successful outcomes.
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We additionally discovered a number of issues about a number of notable gamers.
Here are a handful of key takeaways from the film . . .
Bobby Brown III may very well be an enormous piece in 2025
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero had operated and not using a true nostril deal with throughout his earlier two years in Carolina. That has modified, now that the Panthers have added former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Bobby Brown III.
The 6-foot-4, 332-pounder ought to find yourself being a major improve for this Panthers protection, which allowed a league-worst (by far) 179.8 dashing yards per contest in 2024. He has the flexibility to tackle double groups and might be efficient on passing downs, as evidenced by his team-high 5 pressures on Friday.
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Brown confirmed his energy, quickness and penetration abilities all through the competition . . .
Austin Corbett has the lead in the middle battle
The battle for the beginning heart job between Austin Corbett and Cade Mays will be the largest one in every of all in Carolina this summer time. And on Friday, Corbett confirmed why he is presently listed because the first-stringer.
Corbett could have already returned to kind after lacking 12 video games final season as a consequence of a biceps harm. He was constant at resetting his arms and base when wanted, anchoring nicely to stonewall inside rushes.
Mays is an efficient mover for his dimension and can bully defenders as he so chooses. There have been some cases the place he contained stunt/twist video games up entrance, with emphasis on anchoring and hand placement. However, there have been instances when defenders succeeded in attacking his exterior shoulder, and he misplaced a rep or two in the method.
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This needs to be a aggressive battle to the top, however Corbett has the lead and will not look again.
Nic Scourton flashes potential
2025 third-round decide Nic Scourton shined, consuming up house with quickness and spectacular motion abilities in the open discipline.
There have been instances when he performed uncontrolled in his rushes, however he nonetheless introduced constant stress off the sting. The rookie exterior linebacker shows excellent effort and pursuit means, as evidenced by his chase-down sack of Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
While there might be a studying curve for the soon-to-be 21-year-old, the explosiveness and energy from Scourton already interprets.
Dan Morgan’s newest undrafted gem
Former Louisville cornerback Corey Thornton has been one of many standout rookies in Panthers coaching camp this summer time. He’s actually compelled himself into the forefront over the previous week, filling in for starter Jaycee Horn each at Fan Fest and in this exhibition outing.
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Thornton has good dimension and size at 6-foot-1 and possesses the bodily temperament that may very well be useful in man-to-man appears to be like. He is bodily in protection, particularly press-man, although some false steps value him at instances.
One of the highlights of the night time got here off an end-around by Cleveland in the second quarter—the place Thornton accelerated downhill, got here to steadiness, then picked up and threw the ball provider to the bottom.
Quick hitters
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Jalen Coker is making a case to be the No. 2 goal on this Panthers offense. His ball abilities, soccer intelligence and route operating flashed in a giant means, together with on a 5-yard landing reception.
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Inside linebackers Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom will profit from Carolina’s upgrades on the line of defense. Wallace, for instance, was in a position to acquire a run stop in the primary quarter when the inside entrance swallowed up double groups to assist free the B-gap.
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With offensive coordinator Brad Idzik calling performs final night time, the cadence, communication and play-call tendencies have been drastically totally different. In quick, it was a ‘vanilla’ strategy Friday night, which can partially clarify the drop in play from the first-team to the second-team unit.
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The similar might be stated for Evero’s protection, which was being known as by defensive passing sport coordinator Jonathan Cooley. Like the offense, the protection had totally different tendencies, cadences, calls and extra. However, the similarities between each unites exemplified a bodily model of soccer for all 4 quarters, regardless of the blowout.
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Not the information that Demani Richardson followers have been wanting to listen to, however the second-year security nonetheless has loads of room for enchancment. He took dangerous angles to the ball and was liable for giving up a number of huge performs. He could also be shedding floor to 2025 fourth-round decide Lathan Ransom and veteran Nick Scott, one of many two present starters on the place.
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This article initially appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers film review: Rookies flash in preseason opener against Browns