The Carolina Panthers got back on track last week with an emphatic 30-0 victory over their division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons. For the first time all year, the defense put together a complete game, and the results were spectacular. Part of the reason for success in the last game was the increase in snaps for rookie linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
Scourton and Umanmielen were second and third-round picks, respectively, for the Panthers, and early in the season, they showed why the Panthers organization was so excited about the pair of pass rushers in the offseason.
Their increased production is prompting the Panthers to consider giving Scourton and Umanmielen larger roles moving forward.
Scourton and Umanmielen’s Larger Role
Head coach Dave Canales has been impressed with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen so far in their brief careers, and he’s implied that the two are in line for an expanded role moving forward in the season.
In the Falcons game, Scourton played 56 snaps compared to the 40 snaps combined he played over the first two weeks, and Umanmielen played 34 snaps last week compared to the 21 snaps he played over the first two weeks.
Patrick Jones II and DJ Wonnum are out for the Panthers’ game against the New England Patriots, so their expanded roles will start as soon as this week.
Darin Gantt and Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com wrote in their September 26 article about Canales, stating that Scourton and Umanmielen need to be ready for their larger roles and that he hoped there wouldn’t be much of an adjustment they needed to make with their preparation.
“I hope there isn’t,” Canales said Friday. “I know there’s an emotional piece involved. I’ll acknowledge that for sure. You know that when a guy’s out there getting those reps, it does lead to more confident play, but I try to ask of our guys, you’ve got to be ready. You never know when you’re going to be called to contribute, and you know we have multiple examples now on both sides of the ball, really, for guys to step in and be ready to do that, so they have to take their minds there.”
While Canales wants Scourton and Umanmielen to be as prepared as possible going into Week Four, they’re both embracing the opportunity to get more playing time.
Scourton and Umanmielen are Hungry
Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen got their first taste of playing a significant amount of snaps in a game. Now the Panthers’ rookies are hungry for more opportunities and to check off accomplishments on their bucket list.
Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com, in her September 22 article, wrote about Scourton feeling like he was on the cusp of getting his first sack after just missing against the Falcons.
“Oh, I’m itching, I’m itching real hard. I’m fiending for it,” admitted Scourton on Monday, while recapping the Panthers’ 30-0 shutout against the Falcons. “But you know I got to go out there and rush better and maximize my opportunity, so that is what it is.”
Umanmielen is already on the board with one sack against the Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray. Scourton will get his chance to finally get his first career sack against the promising Drake Maye and the New England Patriots.
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