Typically, in an election year like this one, voters are asked to consider the question, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”
That’s going to be a tough bar to clear for fans of the Carolina Panthers. It’s hard to imagine a four-year stretch where things have gone much better than they have for the hometown team. Just listen to how the various Carolina head coaches have raved about the product that’s been put on display for the masses.
“Our quarterback was excellent.”
That was Matt Rhule, after the 2020 opener, against the Raiders in a Bank of America Stadium emptied out by COVID. The quarterback was Teddy Bridgewater.
“The guys did a great job cheering each other on,” he continued.
That was the game where Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady made the questionable decision to run little-used fullback Alex Armah on fourth and inches near the end of the game, instead of All Pro Christian McCaffrey.
Of course, they’re professional coaches, and far smarter than the likes of us, so who are we to question. The decision. While the loss was disappointing, “I told them, they certainly shouldn’t be discouraged,” Rhule said. “I’m proud of the guys.”
Good times.
Two years later, the Panthers had another outstanding performance in their opener, at home against the Cleveland Browns.
“We should not be discouraged,” Rhule repeated. There were so many places where we played so much better than last year. … We did a lot of things well,” Rhule said.
“I like the team’s fight and grit,” Rhule raved. “I’m encouraged by where we’re headed.
Rhule was headed to the unemployment line a little over a month later. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, who lost that opener against his former team, also didn’t make it through the season.
But a new start in 2023 meant a brand new person telling Carolina fans how good they all have it.
“I saw some encouraging things on the field in all three phases,” said Frank Reich. “We talked in the locker room about the good things out there. Good things by each unit. Good things by individuals.”
That was after a 24-10 loss at Atlanta. Quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the draft that spring, completed just over half his passes for 146 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked twice. Or, as Reich put it, “I saw a number of encouraging things. I thought he did a lot of good things today.”
Again, that may not seem like the same performance the fans saw, but remember, these are professional coaches. Do not try this at home.
“Multiple things go into turnovers,” Reich said. “It’s not always what it appears on the surface. … I felt like we had some opportunities for chunk plays. I felt like we had good things, moving the ball on offense.”
Reich also didn’t make it to the end of the season, but make no mistake, things are still humming along in Charlotte, as the Panthers remain the class of the NFL to start the 2024 season.
For instance, the Panthers only had one delay of game penalty against the Saints on Sunday.
“That was kind of my biggest concern, and I thought we did a really good job,” said coach Dave Canales.
The coaching staff also was able to communicate with each other flawlessly.
“That was excellent,” Canales said “There was a lot of good information passed along, so I felt really good about that part of it.”
Those two areas were critical. It’s scary to think about what could have happened had the clock management and sideline communication broke down. Things might have gotten out of hand.
As it was, the Panthers gave up the first 30 points of the game. They had a punt blocked, were torched on defense, and Young completed just 13 of 30 passes for 161 yards. He was intercepted twice, sacked four times, and his 32.6 QB rating was 16 points lower than last year’s NFL debut, where he did so many good things.
The good news is that Young, like his teammates, doesn’t get frustrated easily.
“He was in complete control, even after the turnovers,” Reich said last year. “He was never down, a complete pro.”
This year, Canales said nothing had changed. “There are not people throwing helmets around. There are not people that are pointing fingers.”
Why should they? Things are just as good as we’ve been told they’ve always been.
Are you better off than you were four years ago?
For Panthers fans, they’re exactly the same.
