The Carolina Panthers’ communication problems continued during their Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Bryce Young often broke the huddle late and barely got the snap off before the NFL play clock expired.
In his second season, coach Dave Canales’ play-calling operation still appears disjointed.
Teams have 40 seconds from the conclusion of one play to when the next must start. Different teams rely on other approaches at various points of a game. Some teams go with huddles, while some run hurry-up formations. Players enter and exit the field. There are play calls that begin with pre-snap motion. Hard counts can be called. Audibles start a new series of events.
Similar offensive communication hiccups originated early last season.
Canales said the Panthers will work to speed up the pre-snap process in preparation for Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Canales, the primary play caller, will want to get the next play in sooner so that Young can break the huddle smoothly.
“That’s something that we want to get better at, so we’ll be attacking that this week,” Canales said Monday, as reported by Panthers.com.
Excluding three drives in which they executed a two-minute, no-huddle offense, the Panthers ran an average play every 32.6 seconds during the 26-10 loss at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars, who outgained the Panthers, 377-255, orchestrated plays every 27 seconds.
“We just got to keep pushing the whole group to make sure that we’re replicating that (speed),” Canales said. “That comes to life in walk-throughs and practice. It creates more challenges, you know, we have the information we need to get the hots right, to get the protection right.
“But it’s those critical five or six seconds, it doesn’t seem like a lot of time, (but) it’s everything for us to be able to play at the line of scrimmage, get to the right looks and execute.”
Carolina Panthers Tend To Injury Report
Outside of defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II (ankle) suffering injuries, the Panthers escaped Week 1 nearly unscathed.
Wharton could miss at least one game, but Jones may return to practice this week.
“He’s going to be OK,” Canales said. “We checked him (Monday) morning. He’s sore, but the hope is to get him back on (the field) this week for practice.”
Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who endured emergency appendectomy surgery Aug. 24, did not dress against the Jaguars, but could return at Arizona. The Panthers could use him. Starting in place of Ekwonu, Yosh Nijman graded out at 38.4, according to PFF.com.
“He had a great workout today (Monday),” Canales said. “I think with this thing, what I’m learning is like every day is a huge leap in that direction and so, I expect him to be back this week. I hope he is, we’re going to put him back out there and practice in a limited fashion and make sure he’s, you know, pushing on people and feels confident to go.”
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