Panthers PFF grades: Best and worst from Week 7 vs. Giants
The Carolina Panthers probably had you all going after that first drive on Sunday, didn’t they? A fairly solid opening possession leading to a 45-yard field goal against a 1-5 mess of a team . . . all good, right?
Well, no. A big “no,” in fact.
Everything went downhill from there for the Panthers and this week’s review from Pro Football Focus proves there was almost nothing to write home about.
Best of the offense
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
1. WR DJ Moore (74.0)
2. C Matt Paradis (66.1)
3. LT Brady Christensen (62.6)
4. RB Royce Freeman (62.1)
5. WR Alex Erickson (58.6)
After landing in the bottom-five in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Moore is back in his comfort zone. His 73-yard performance catapults him back into the offense’s top-five, a group he’s reached in six of the team’s seven games.
Christensen didn’t particularly impress head coach Matt Rhule in his first career start at left tackle. He did, though, impress PFF with a run-blocking grade of 78.9.
Plus, to be fair, Erickson played just one offensive snap, so his spot comes with an asterisk. The next man up would be right guard John Miller (58.3), who left the contest early with an ankle injury.
Worst of the offense
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
5. RG Dennis Daley (48.8)
4. QB Sam Darnold (41.0)
3. QB P.J. Walker (37.9)
2. TE Ian Thomas (37.8)
1. RG Trent Scott (31.5)
Darnold, obviously, was not good. Before getting the hook, he completed 16 of his 25 tries for 111 yards, no touchdowns and an ill-advised throw that went for a pick to cornerback James Bradberry.
And if you think it couldn’t get any worse for Carolina under center in Week 7, let’s reintroduce ourselves to one Phillip Walker. The Panthers’ backup was all types of erratic, hitting on just three of his 14 attempts for 33 yards.
Scott and Daley, both in relief of the injured Miller, didn’t do much to curry favor on film in their relief appearances either.
Best of the defense
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
1. S Sam Franklin (74.5)
2. S Sean Chandler (72.1)
3. DE Yetur Gross-Matos (71.2)
4. DE Marquis Haynes (70.3)
5. S Jeremy Chinn (69.4)
Three safeties in the top-five. Does the mean we can do “The Safety Dance?”
Well, Chinn danced because he wanted to, collecting his body count all over the field on Sunday. His explosive showing tied him with Chandler for a team-high eight tackles.
Gross-Matos didn’t record a single pressure, but did what he often does so well. His 72.2 grade against the run and 71.5 in tackling showed he remains a reliable presence as a stopper off the edge.
Worst of the defense
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
5. LB Julian Stanford (44.6)
4. CB Keith Taylor Jr. (43.3)
3. LB Jermaine Carter Jr. (33.9)
2. CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (29.5)
1. LB Kamal Martin (28.8)
Taylor Jr. registers a not-so-great day for PFF in an encore to last week’s standout outing. He was charged in allowing four receptions on five targets for 51 yards.
Carter Jr. didn’t grade out nicely either, garnering a low 29.0 versus the rush and a 55.8 in coverage.
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