Carolina Panthers

Panthers: Focus Areas Prior to the Regular Season

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Panthers have a few things to tighten up prior to playing in meaningful football games…

Watching the Panthers during the preseason you can tell there is work that needs to be done before the regular season starts. Little things here and there that need to be tightened up on both sides of the ball. If these issues can be corrected Carolina can be as good, if not better, than they were in 2015.

First and foremost, protecting the football. Fumbling is something that the Panthers cannot afford and quarterback, Cam Newton needs to tighten up his read progressions to cut down on interceptions. These two things are imperative for the success of their season.

In the time that he has played during the preseason, Newton has not performed extremely well. Hopefully this will not be indicative of the regular season, because if he does not play well then the Panthers are in for a very long season.

Aug 20, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Zack Sanchez (31) celebrates with teammates after a play during the second quarter against Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Even with two rookie cornerbacks in Daryl Worley and James Bradberry, the team should do very well defensively. Another rookie, Zack Sanchez, and third year cornerback Bene Benwikere will serve as backups on the outside or in the nickel corner role. With the departure of Josh Norman and the retirement of Charles Tillman the young guys will be tested early and often.

Carolina has a lot of new faces and with that comes a need for communications. The new guys have to learn the Panthers communication between coaches and also how players communicate with each other on and off the field.

Coach Ron Rivera and his staff will do what is needed to get the team ready for the start of the regular season. Only one preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers remains prior to the regular season. Coach Rivera will use Thursday’s game as a gauge to make those last adjustments in order to be ready for the season opener against the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos next week.