• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • WATCH NEWS
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
  • ABOUT
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Contact WSFX
      • Sales & Programming
  • Montford Point
  • Welcome Home

Fox Wilmington WSFX-TV

Wilmington, NC | Local news Weather and Sports

  • Local News
    • Unsung Heroes
      • Nominate an Unsung Hero
  • Local Weather
  • National
  • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Panthers Game Schedule
  • Politics
    • NC Voter Information
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • What’s on TV?
  • MORE…
    • Technology
    • Science
    • Lifestyle
    • What’s Happening Wilmington

The Day After: Offensive line issues lingering

October 4, 2021 By Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE — Panthers head coach Matt Rhule knows there are no immediate solutions for an offensive line that had a rough day Sunday.

But he knows there’s an immediate need for improvement.

Rhule made multiple mentions Monday of the difficulties in protecting quarterback Sam Darnold, who was hit 11 times and sacked five times in the loss to the Cowboys.

The Panthers offensive line was an unknown commodity going into the season, as Rhule acknowledged in Spartanburg when he compared it to the construction on Interstate 85 and said: “We’re a work in progress.”

Monday, Rhule compared it to the issues stopping the run against the Cowboys (allowing 245 yards on the ground).

“Like our run defense, you’re always looking first as a coach. Can I do anything schematically better? Can we help somebody when they have a tough matchup?” Rhule said. “Part of it is coming home, when you’re on the road and using silent cadences; that’s why the home team has an advantage. If it’s anything else, it’s rushing and protecting the passer when you’re going off silent cadences.”

Darnold said after the game Sunday the concern is that other teams will view the Cowboys tape as a blueprint, and pressure him to take advantage of what is currently a significant problem.

“I’m sure teams will try to do the same thing, the same games and all that stuff,” Darnold said. “We just gotta be ready for it; we’ve got to watch the tape and grow from it.”

The Panthers had two offensive line starters on the injury report last week, with left tackle Cameron Erving (knee) and right guard John Miller (shoulder) starting and playing every snap.

Asked if he’d consider personnel changes, and if that group still represented his “best five,” Rhule didn’t offer a clear answer but said health would be a factor.

“We look at everything,” he said. “In terms of personnel, I don’t think we’re a quick-fix operation. We’ll always say, hey, are the best guys playing? But at the same time, no matter who’s playing, are they using the right technique, are they improving, are we giving them all the tools they need to be successful? We made some adjustments in that game that I think helped us, so I’m anxious to see where we are this week.

“I think a lot of it comes down to who’s healthy when we get to Wednesday. Those guys, while it’s not always perfect, they’re playing hard for us while they’ve been banged up. I appreciate the way they’re playing. We’ll see what we do moving forward this week, see who’s healthy, see who’s available, and take full stock of where we are.”

— Rhule didn’t offer many specifics on injuries from Sunday’s game, but mentioned that several players were getting MRIs.

He didn’t name them, but linebacker Shaq Thompson left the game briefly and was getting his foot checked before returning.

He also said that running back Christian McCaffrey, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, might go out to test himself Wednesday to see where he is in his recovery. The original expectation was that he’d miss a few weeks, but when they didn’t put him on IR, it suggested that less than three weeks was still an option.

Outside linebacker Haason Reddick said he suffered a stinger during the game, but he was able to return and said there was no concern about his status for this week against the Eagles.

— Rhule expressed confidence in kicker Zane Gonzalez, despite the missed 54-yard field goal which triggered the third-quarter avalanche.

He mentioned that the kick may have been tipped at the line of scrimmage, and said he felt good about trying it even though he had opted to punt and play field position in previous settings.

He also said he’d have likely gone for the first down if it was fourth-and-5, (it was fourth-and-7), and that he was impressed with Gonzalez’s improved strength on kickoffs. Four of his five kickoffs were touchbacks this week, and the other one landed at the Dallas 5 and was covered after a 14-yard return.

— While running back Chuba Hubbard had some issues with footing earlier this season, his only problem Sunday was when he had a flat tire.

Hubbard said he blew through the side of his cleats on one run early, something that happened two or three times a year when he was in college. He quickly grabbed a new pair of shoes, and had a solid outing.

He finished with 13 carries for 57 yards and a couple of catches for 14 yards. Not a McCaffrey day, but a solid outing.

He also laughed about hurdling a Cowboys player on one run, pointing out that he was purely a sprinter during his track career in Canada.

“I never did hurdles, actually,” he said with a laugh. “I was scared. I saw people fall too many times. That wasn’t for me, just straightaway stuff.

“It was just instincts, jumping over the guy.”

1 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

2 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

3 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

4 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

5 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

6 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

7 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

8 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

9 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

10 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

11 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

12 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

13 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

14 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

15 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

16 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

17 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

18 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

19 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

20 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

21 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

22 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

23 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

24 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

25 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

26 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers

27 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

28 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

29 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

30 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

31 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

32 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

33 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

34 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

35 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

36 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

37 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

38 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

39 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

40 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

41 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

42 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

43 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

44 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

45 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

46 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

47 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

48 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

49 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

50 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

51 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

52 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

53 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

54 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

55 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

56 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

57 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

58 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

59 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

60 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

61 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

62 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

63 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

64 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

65 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

66 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

67 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

68 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

69 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

70 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

71 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

72 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

73 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

74 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

75 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

76 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

77 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

78 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

79 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

80 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

81 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

82 / 87

Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers

83 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

84 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

85 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

86 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

87 / 87

Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers

https://www.panthers.com/news/the-day-after-offensive-line-issues-lingering

Filed Under: Carolina Panthers

Primary Sidebar

 

Follow Us On Facebook



TRENDING NOW

Here’s your chance to give back on #GivingTuesday

Cowboys’ Micah Parsons rips critics for his praise of Eagles ahead of Super Bowl: ‘You people are sick!’

Vanilla Ice says he was shocked by Madonna’s proposal in the early ‘90s: ‘I’m way too young for this’

Nebraska Capitol sees crowds gather for ‘heartbeat’ bill hearings

Arkansas House passes trans bathroom ban for schools

Priscilla Presley speaks out on what would have been Lisa Marie’s 55th birthday

Footer

PUBLIC FILE INFO

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact Isabella Gano by phone at
(910) 343-8826 or by email at Isabella.gano@foxwilmington.com

 
 » WSFX FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning

SITE MAP

  • Local Headlines
  • Coronavirus
  • Local Weather
  • National Headlines
  • Sports
  • Politics
  • Health

WSFX TV

  • Livestream Newscast
  • Meet Our Team
  • Sales & Programming
  • WELCOME HOME
  • Go With The Pros
  • Medically Speaking
  • WHAT’S ON FOX

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WSFX TV · Wilmington NC · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy