Managing Expectations and the Future
Dan Morgan and Dave Canales are trying to get a handle on this young team, and set themselves up for the future.
The Carolina Panthers have a 5-5 record going into Week 11, and find themselves in the running for a Wildcard playoff spot. If you would’ve told fans before the season started that we’d be in this position, they’d have been thrilled.
The Panthers are right behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South. The Falcons are trending downwards, and it looks like the rumor mill is abuzz about the job security of Raheem Morris. Although the Saints beat us last week, they also have QB woes and are at the bottom of the division at 2-8. With this context, we shouldn’t feel a sense of desperation to produce a Super Bowl contending team immediately.
Both GM Dan Morgan and HC Dave Canales are approaching their 2 year mark, as they were put into their positions in January 2024. As we ride out the season with Bryce Young, I can’t help but look towards the future and pay attention to how the front office manages our roster and coaching staff.
These four WR contracts are up for review. I really don’t see us resigning Renfrow since we have cut him once already this year. That leaves David Moore who can make a case that he was hurt and not really given a chance, and the young Coker and Tremayne who have looked promising.
I just don’t think you draft another rookie into this WR room, and instead try to find an affordable safety valve type receiver in Free Agency. As EPA stats suggest, Adam Thielen was a big help in this offense, and finding a veteran receiver that can make Young’s job easier should be a priority.
Offensive play-calling appears to be hit-or-miss, outside of scripted opening drives. We stall out repeatedly if Rico Dowdle isn’t able to spring himself for chunks of yards at a time.
I think about the fact that OC Brad Idzik does not seem to be calling plays, and wonder if we find someone that can take over this offense in the off-season. Maybe Dave Canales is better suited in a more general HC role, and would thrive with a dedicated OC calling plays and scheming for him. This would be a similar idea to freeing up Christian Rozeboom from green dot responsibilities, and allowing him to play to his strengths.
Speaking of the green dot, I don’t like our defense without Trevin Wallace. Against the Saints last week he re-injured the same shoulder he had surgery on last year. This makes LB depth a real concern, and it should be a priority in next year’s draft. Christian Rozeboom is likely to take over defensive play-calling duties with the green dot, but he had shown improvement with Wallace taking the lead.
When you consider the ever-changing starting rotation of our offensive line this season, drafting an OL or two seems like a great idea. I would love to see our draft picks next year prioritize EDGE, LB, and OL in the early rounds, and maybe look into a project QB later on. How we draft will say a lot about our intentions going into next season.
This is just a small piece to the many decisions this front office will have to make, and the fact is that NFL teams are revolving doors. The team we become a contender with can and will look completely different as contracts expire, get renegotiated, and new players and coaches enter the fray. You have to hope and assume that Tepper and Morgan know this, and that they will plan accordingly.