The Carolina Panthers hope to improve in the 2021 season from last year but who makes the team’s ‘Olympic podium’ of key franchise players.
The Carolina Panthers have been a frustrating watch for their fans for the past half-decade. After their Super Bowl appearance in 2016 due to the MVP level play of Cam Newton, fans would have been forgiven for expecting a sustained period of success. Instead, the Panthers have steadily slid towards mediocrity.
The 2020 NFL season finished a disappointing 5-11 for the team, the same as their 2019 record. It was their first season under new head coach Matt Rhule and the attempts for progress could be seen in the schemes deployed. However, a winning record should be the bare minimum expected from this Panthers team in the 2021 season.
The franchise played in 11 games last season decided by a margin of 8 or less, the second-highest total of any team in the league. They lost eight of those games. Small margins come down to which team can execute on the crucial plays that pop up once or twice per quarter. The key players on the Panthers’ roster need to make the difference. Who are those key players?
As the Tokyo Olympics wind down, what better way to look at these players than by finding out who would be on the Olympic podium for the Carolina Panthers for their key franchise players.
Bronze Medalist: Jeremy Chinn, S
The Carolina Panthers finished the season with a 5-11 record and many of their games were decided by defensive failings in pressure moments. The defensive unit was decidedly average throughout the season. The team was 18th in the league for both Points Allowed/Game (25.1) and Total Yards/Game (360.1). However, one of the league’s leading defensive rookies showed the way that the rest of the unit needs to match.
Jeremy Chinn had an outstanding rookie season. He became the first-ever Carolina player to win back-to-back NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month awards. His presence was palpable and he forced offenses to plan for him over the course of the season.
He led the team with 117 tackles, leading all NFL rookies in the stat as well. This dominance was not just limited to the current group of rookies either. Since the box stats started to be recorded in the year 2000, he is the first rookie to record more than 100 tackles and at least one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one sack, one interception and one tackle for loss in a season.
Chinn has shown himself to be an outstanding individual defender, and Panthers fans will be hoping he continues to develop at a similar pace in his sophomore season. He deserves to be this team’s “bronze medalist”.