The Carolina Panthers started their training camp Monday. This is the first time the players and coaches have come together as a team after an offseason of major recruiting.
This years could be a big improvement for the Panthers. Under coach Matt Rhule’s tutelage, the team could make a playoff run. There were four players that made a great impression on the coaching staff in this week’s OTAs.
WR D.J. Moore
This could be a break-out season for wider receiver D.J. Moore. He hasn’t had a great quarterback at any stage in his career, but he still was able to put up solid numbers. With Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback, the two of them will have to develop a great on-the-field relationship. Moore was able to demonstrate his skills even more at the OTAs with the absence of Robby Anderson, putting him as one of the leaders of the team.
DT Derrick Brown
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown is all about the game of football. He is a no-nonsense player, which will do wonders for the Panthers. Carolina put a lot of stock into Brown and he did not disappoint. He has some improvements to make on stopping the run, however he was talented at getting pressure on the quarterback. Moore was very impressive this week in OTAs and hopefully this is only the beginning. Brown will also have some help with edge-rusher Haason Reddick and DaQuan Jones assisting with stopping the run. If he continues to make strides, a Pro Bowl is likely in his future.
CB Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn has all the physical gifts that the Panthers would want in a cornerback as well as knowledge. He knows what being in the NFL is like because his father, Joe Horn, played twelve seasons with three different organizations. The Panthers will depend on Horn a lot in his rookie year to help sure up their second line of defense. Horn has been impressive in the OTAs with his athleticism and techniques. Even with this great start, Horn still has a lot of work to do. He must maintain his competitiveness when the regular season begins.
QB Sam Darnold
Of course, all eyes were on quarterback Sam Darnold at the OTAs. It’s very important that he gets off to a great start with the Panthers after they acquired him from the New York Jets. He was able to make his presence known throughout the practice, which impressed running back Christian McCaffrey and Matt Rhule. He took a leadership role right away, knowing when to be stern with his teammates and when to loosen up. For the future, even though it doesn’t show up on the scoreboard, it means a lot to the players in the locker room. Everything falls on Darnold’s shoulders to get the most out of his teammates. If he’s successful, the sky’s the limit for the Panthers in the 2021 NFL season.
