Just days after Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera announced there would be no changes to his staff minus someone finding a job elsewhere, he acted. Following an 11-5 season and trip to the playoffs, the Panthers offense underwent an evolution of sorts throughout the season.
Last offseason, Carolina coaches talked about getting into more two tight end formations and developing quarterback Cam Newton into a pocket passer, all while maintaining their power run game philosophy. Any preparation and work put into these aspects essentially went out the window early in the season.
Tight end Greg Olsen was sidelined for a majority of the year with a broken bone in his foot and Newton’s development inside the pocket stalled an offense outfitted with mundane play calling.