Five things that stood out in Carolina Panthers’ preseason loss to Baltimore Ravens
The Carolina Panthers lost the Baltimore Ravens 20-3 in their second preseason game Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium.
The offense struggled to turn turnovers into points, the first-team defense played well in its limited time on the field and Joey Slye missed an easy field goal.
Here are five takeaways from the loss:
Panthers’ first-team defense looks good
The one positive was the Panthers’ first-team defense, which played two series.
The first defensive series ended in an interception by Haason Reddick, which he returned 26 yards. A lot had to go correct on that play, and it did.
Linebacker Shaq Thompson got pressure on Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, whose pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Derrick Brown. The ball’s trajectory changed, allowing Reddick to step in front of it. The Panthers’ second drive was also a success.
The Ravens started their drive at their own 3-yard line, and after the third play found themselves at their own 1.
Brian Burns made a stop behind the line of scrimmage for a two-yard loss.
It was a good sign for the Panthers’ defense, which added a number of veterans this offseason to complement its young stars.
Perhaps the biggest addition was Reddick, who came to the Panthers this offseason from the Cardinals. He had 12.5 sacks last season, and has had a good camp so far.
Sam Darnold’s limited debut for Panthers leads to more questions than answers
Not much from Panthers starters on offense
The first-team offense didn’t spend much time on the field against the Ravens. They played only one series, which ended in a turnover on downs.
It was Sam Darnold’s first action in a Panthers uniform. He finished 1-for-2 passing for 16 yards. His lone completion was a short pass to Robby Anderson.
“We were going to play them between five and 10 plays, and I think they got 7 or 8 plays,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. “They played that one drive, obviously it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but that’s what we went in with.”
The offense had been dealing with some minor injuries throughout training camp. DJ Moore hurt his back on Wednesday in practice. He suited up but did not play. Left tackle Cameron Erving was also dealing with a minor injury, but he played.
Anderson, who had missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, returned. Christian McCaffrey, who is healthy, did not play.
It was only one series, so there isn’t much to take from it. However, the fact that they couldn’t score when they had first-and-goal from the 6 yard line, should be a concern.
Panthers kicker Joey Slye still missing wide right
For the time he’s spent with the Panthers, Slye has been lauded for his leg strength. But he often misses field goals that he should make.
Case in point: The extra point he missed in the first preseason game against the Colts last week.
On his first field-goal attempt in Saturday’s game, Slye missed a 37-yard field goal wide right. There was little wind and little pressure.
The Panthers haven’t had another kicker other than Slye since rookie minicamp. While punter Joe Charlton has had competition, Slye hasn’t.
And when asked last week whether there were any plans to bring another kicker, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said they liked what they had in Slye. That could change after his miss Saturday.
He finished 1 for 2 on field goals. He is 5 for 7 through the first two exhibitions.
“It’s like everything else, you have to produce, and so far Joey has not produced at the level we need him to,” Rhule said. “So I think he’d be the first guy to say that. So we to find way to get over that hump with him.”
Analysis: Panthers QB Will Grier made his case for a roster spot, even if it’s not here
Panthers’ red-zone play calls
In Sam Darnold’s only series of the day, Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady declined to release the reins on his new quarterback.
The Panthers had first-and-goal from the Ravens’ 6-yard line early in the first quarter. They threw it on first down — an incomplete pass out of the back of the end zone to avoid a coverage sack. But instead of throwing it again, they ran it three consecutive times with Chuba Hubbard, including on fourth down.
On the final run, rookie running back Hubbard was stopped for a two-yard loss at the Baltimore 3.
It was a predictable play and one Ravens safety DeShon Elliott was expecting. Red zone was an issue for the Panthers throughout the 2020 season. The Panthers scored a touchdown on only 50.9% of their red-zone trips, which was 28th in the league out of 32 NFL teams.
Rhule said the Panthers were running their base plays.
“We didn’t have the goal line packages out there and different things,” Rhule said. “We were trying to run old fashioned football plays and get in…Right now we’re trying to establish, ‘can we get that yard or not.’ We didn’t get that yard tonight so it’s something we’ll have to improve on as a team.”
They were 0 for 2 on red-zone touchdown opportunities Saturday.
Rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. continues to impress
Rookie wide receiver Terrace Marshall has continued to play well in his limited time on the field. After catching three passes for 88 yards in the first preseason game, Marshall caught three passes for 50 yards against the Ravens.
One of his catches came on a go route. Marshall, who was drafted in the second round, got past Chris Westry, who tried to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Grier threw a perfect pass, which Marshall caught for 34 yards.
Marshall should be a big piece in the Panthers’ offense this season. The Panthers had been looking for a slot receiver after Curtis Samuel’s departure and Marshall could fill that.
“He can be a really good player for us,” Darnold said. “He’s just got to continue to do what he’s been doing every single day. He comes in works really hard, doesn’t say much. He just puts his head down, takes the coaching and takes it out there on the field with him.
“He’s been great for us so far and we’re just looking forward to him continuing to learn and grow in this offense.”
At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, his size and speed give him an advantage over most corners, and he showed that again Saturday.