The Panthers are on a big stage this week as they take on the Buccaneers in an early Sunday morning matchup.
Winning would mean going into the bye week at 4-2 despite a brutal start to the season with two home losses. In order to get there, Carolina needs these seven players to step up their game.
QB Kyle Allen
Yes, technically the Panthers are 4-0 with Kyle Allen as a starter. No, it’s not because Kyle Allen is playing well, or because the team “plays better” with him at QB or that the team “tries harder” when it’s not being led by Cam Newton and anyone arguing otherwise is only telling on themselves. Carolina has won the last two weeks in spite of Allen’s play at quarterback, not because of it. While he hasn’t thrown an interception, he does have six fumbles in three games. Also, Allen’s passing has fallen off a cliff since his heroics in Arizona. He’s missing reads and receivers and not giving the offense enough time to work. It’s been tough for any team to run on Tampa this season, so it’s especially important that Allen gets right.
WR D.J. Moore
While he hasn’t exactly been a disappointment, one has to think the Panthers were expecting more from their first-round pick from a year ago. Through five games Moore’s caught just 26 of 39 targets and has only scored one touchdown. His catch rate is roughly the same as last season and Moore hasn’t shown much improvement in terms of his route running. The Buccaneers have a strong run defense, but they’re also the league’s worst when it comes to stopping the pass. While Moore can’t help his quarterback make better reads or throw better passes, he has to produce more with the opportunities he’s being given.
TE Greg Olsen
Carolina’s 13-year tight end got off to a hot start, catching 16 passes and scoring twice in the first three games of the season. Olsen has been shut down over the last two weeks, though. He’s caught just two of six targets for a grand total of five receiving yards. Olsen simply doesn’t seem to be getting the separation he was early in the year. Whatever the cause, the Panthers need No. 88 to turn things around fast and start making plays against the Bucs.
OT Dennis Daley
It’s Week 6 and already the Panthers are on their third left tackle. Daryl Williams could not hold it down at the position and second-rounder Greg Little has been sidelined by a concussion. Sometimes there’s gold at the bottom of the depth chart, though and it’s possible Carolina finally hit on something in Daley, a sixth-round pick. Daley came to play against the Jaguars and showed he has legitimate starter potential. They’ll need him to continue the good work as he lines up across from Shaquil Barrett, who leads the NFL with nine sacks this year.
DT Vernon Butler
Carolina’s defensive line is the most expensive in the league this year, and the team’s getting a good return on that investment. Despite losing Kawann Short to a season-ending shoulder injury, the Panthers come into this week ranked second in sacks and have as good a front line as any NFL defense. One reason is the other interior defensive linemen have stepped up in Short’s absence, especially former first-round pick Vernon Butler. The more disruptive he can be, the better.
CB Donte Jackson
Jackson sat out the last two games due to a groin injury but he’s been a full participant at practice this week and is expected to make his return to the lineup on Sunday. That means he’ll get a rematch with Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin, who torched him several times the last time these teams met in Week 2. Jackson has also missed a few tackles this year. The Panthers defense needs more consistency out of their second-year corner. Not giving Godwin so much cushion would be a good start.
KR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud
This season, McCloud is only averaging 21.8 yards per kickoff return and eight yards per punt return. He’s also made some bad decisions when it comes to running it out of the end zone or taking a knee. McCloud can help produce better starting field position by avoiding those mistakes.
