Carolina Panthers: Rebuilding the defensive backfield

The Carolina Panthers of years ago had a powerful defensive backfield. The 2018 season stands as an opportunity for the next standout player to step up.

As the offseason continues to move on, the Carolina Panthers are continuing to rebuild their organization in a variety of ways. The Panthers needed to look for ways to rework their defensive secondary. That brings us to the 2018 NFL Draft in which the organization used a familiar strategy to add key players with the job to stop their opponents from moving the ball through the air.

Back in 2016, Carolina drafted three defensive backs to their team in rounds two, three and five. With these three picks (in sequence as Carolina did not have a fourth-round pick), they selected James Bradberry, Zack Sanchez and Darryl Worley.

Each of these men were added with the intention of finding someone that could replace Josh Norman, their star defensive player who was one of the main foundation points that helped the Panthers have one of the best defensives in the league as they pushed toward their 15-1 regular season record.

Unfortunately for these men, none of them were able to become that standout player. Bradberry is the only player that’s still on the team; as the Panthers have parted ways with both Sanchez and Worley. Bradberry has shown promise as a player and is expected to be one of the primary starters in the 2018 season.

That brings us to the players that Carolina picked up during the draft a few months ago. Donte Jackson and Rashaan Gaulden were selected in rounds two and three; continuing the trend in which Carolina looks to add defensive specialists early in the draft. Jackson was highly praised for his abilities as a playmaker and is expected to challenge for the position opposite of Bradberry, or at least be one of the first defensive backs off of the bench.

One of the more intriguing aspects of this conversation is the impact that the Panthers defensive system has played in the success of players such as Norman, Kurt Coleman and others. Take Coleman for example; he ended 2015 and 2016 with seven and four interceptions respectively. He was released from the organization after the 2017 season where he played in 12 games and didn’t have any exceptional stats.

Norman has also struggled since leaving Carolina and joining the Washington Redskins. If both of these players thrived as members of Carolina’s defensive secondary, but did not do so well with other teams, perhaps there’s an opportunity for one or two of their current players to bloom into a standout candidate.

Next: Carolina Panthers: History of success is not on their side

So the question becomes whether or not Carolina can rebuild a system to help elevate Bradberry, Jackson and others to Pro Bowl status. Carolina’s passing defense ended the 2017 season ranked 22nd, allowing 248 passing yards per game. Those results aren’t going to be enough to get this team back to the Super Bowl. Bradberry, Jackson and other players in the defensive backfield, along with leadership within defensive coaching, are the first line in keeping opposing offenses in check as they attempt to move the ball through the air.