The Carolina Panthers stormed back from last week’s lackluster performance, hammering the reigning AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars 34-17 on Friday. After a rough 29-14 loss to the Bills, this was exactly what fans needed to see: a sharp offensive offering and a stingy defensive showing in their third preseason contest. But while the score was sweet, a look at the Pro Football Focus grades reveals some serious bright spots and some glaring red flags.
Offensive Firepower and Frustration
The offense definitely made some noise, and right tackle Albert Reese IV was an absolute beast, dropping a team-best 91.5 PFF grade with a ridiculous 93.3 in run-blocking! He stonewalled defenders, not giving up a single pressure on 25 chances. That’s how you dominate the trenches, folks. Receiver John Metchie III also lit it up, snagging a game-high 77 receiving yards on six catches for a 90.2 grade. Roc Taylor added a touchdown with his 85.2, and QB Kyle Trask put up an 87.2. This offense looked good, man.
But then there’s running back Jonathon Brooks. Yeah, he finally hit an NFL end zone for the first time, which is awesome, but his 44.5 overall PFF grade tells a brutal story. His 6.6 pass-blocking grade was the team’s worst, and he gave up a pair of pressures. You can’t be getting pushed around like that, even when you’re scoring. Guys like Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, Feleipe Franks, and Brycen Tremayne also had nights to forget with grades in the 40s and 50s. They gotta clean that up.
Defensive Dominance and Disappointments
The defense brought the heat, especially cornerback Chau Smith-Wade! He flashed an 87.8 grade, highlighted by a sparkling interception in the second quarter. His 91.3 coverage grade was elite. Linebacker Princely Umanmielen also showed up with a pressure and a stop, earning an 80.4. Guys like Isaiah Smith, Lathan Ransom, and Tre’von Moehrig rounded out a strong showing for the most part.
However, it wasn’t all sunshine. Cornerback DeVonta Smith had a night he’ll want to forget, despite forcing a fumble. His 25.5 PFF grade was the worst on defense, and his 24.1 coverage grade was abysmal. He allowed a 17-yard catch on only three targets. That’s just not good enough, and guys like Demani Richardson, Elijah Garcia, Lee Hunter, and Bobby Brown III also struggled with low grades. You gotta tighten up that back end, especially against quality opponents.
This PFF breakdown gives us a real peek under the hood for the Panthers. While the offense and defense both had some absolute studs stepping up, those low grades for guys like Jonathon Brooks and DeVonta Smith are definitely something to watch. Preseason might not count, but these evaluations are critical for who makes the cut and who steps up when the real games begin. We’re keeping an eye on how these guys adjust moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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