After eight games in nine weeks, your Carolina Panthers are sitting pretty with a 5-3 record. That’s good for second place in the NFC South, but only eighth overall in the uber-competitive NFC.
The Panthers avoided consecutive seasons of complete implosion following a blowout loss, taking care of business at home against a middling Tennessee Titans team in Week 9. There’s a long way to go, and anything can happen, but to be in position for a playoff run after starting the season 0-2 under the reigns of a backup undrafted free agent quarterback is almost unimaginable.
This team has always been at its best under Ron Rivera with a strong front seven to match a vicious offensive rushing attack. The 2019 Panthers have just that, but will need to beat more than a few formidable opponents in the back half of their schedule to so much as sniff the NFC playoffs. Who’s helped the Panthers get to this point?
Earlier this season, I had some award predictions for the season. Below I have mid-season handouts for those same awards.
2019 Mid-season Offensive MVP: RB Christian McCaffrey
2019 Predicted Offensive MVP: WR Curtis Samuel
As I stated in my predictions piece, Christian McCaffrey was the easy pick here, but I wanted to have some fun. Third year wide-out Curtis Samuel hasn’t quite lived up to his training camp Twitter hype to this point. With the hand he’s been dealt, all considering, Samuel’s had his best year as a pro. Not bad, but he also hasn’t been spectacular.
Christian McCaffrey has been more than spectacular. We can only attempt to describe his season using English words. I’ll start with “MVP-caliber”, “elite”, or any other sports cliche you can use to describe a player whose talent is not only transcendent, but generational.
but wait, there’s more.
— Bill Voth (@PanthersBill) November 4, 2019
according to @EliasSports, these are the players with at least 1,200 scrimmage yds + 12 TDs through 8 games:
2019 - McCaffrey
2002 - Holmes
2000 - Marshall Faulk
1998 - Terrell Davis
1983 - Eric Dickerson
1963, 1958 - Jim Brown https://t.co/lnI6DsoYt0
It’s hard not to be in awe of what McCaffrey has accomplished accompanied by an unproven offensive line/quarterback combo. This stuff is really unprecedented. I can throw some more ridiculous statistical anomalies at you, but you’ve already seen them.
However this season may turn out, it will always be the “Christian McCaffrey superstar, breakout, MVP-caliber” season. Enjoy it before the coaching staff’s incompetence rears its ugly head again, leaving much to be desired in the longevity of another elite Carolina Panther.
2019 Mid-season Defensive MVP: CB James Bradberry
2019 Predicted Defensive MVP: DT Kawann Short
Unfortunately, KK never had a real shot at this award as he was placed on season ending injured reserve following an injury.
I still think that Luke Kuechly is an obvious answer here, but Lebron doesn’t win the NBA MVP every season. James Bradberry has been phenomenal in his contract year.
#Panthers James Bradberry held Deandre Hopkins to 5 catches for 41 yards. Extend this man tonight.
— Jake Wexler (@jwex520) September 29, 2019
They should have extended him that night. The fourth year corner seems to have really come into his own this season as an upper-echelon, lock-down player. He’s already accumulated a career high three interceptions (tied for second in the NFL) and is on pace for a career high in passes defended in just the first eight games. Bradberry has become dependable. Maybe too dependable for the Panthers to retain his services in 2020 and beyond. Either way, it’s been a joy to see Josh Norman’s replacement flourish as the years have gone on.
2019 Mid-season Most Disappointing Player: TE Ian Thomas
2019 Predicted Most Disappointing Player: OT Greg Little
The beginning to Greg Little’s career has been disappointing, but to no fault of his own. You never want to see a player in concussion protocol, but unfortunately this is where the rookie has spent most of his first pro season. I won’t harp on him for that, especially after solid performances in his two appearances thus far. Moving on.
What is going on with second year tight end Ian Thomas? Thomas looked to be coming along nicely in the back half of the 2018 season following an injury to Greg Olsen. This season, he is nowhere to be found.
Thomas has zero receptions through eight games. ZERO. On just two targets. You’d figure the Panthers would like to get him involved in the passing game considering his athleticism, but that has just not been the case.
Thomas has deferred snaps to blocking tight end Chris Manhertz for most of the season. He saw just five snaps on Sunday against the Titans, all on special teams. I’m hoping we can see him get more involved in the final eight games, but not at the expense of Olsen’s snap count.
2019 Mid-season Most Surprising Player: OT Dennis Daley
2019 Most Surprising Player: RB Jordan Scarlett
I was wrong again here, but hey, at least we are being pleasantly surprised by a late round pick.
Dennis Daley has taken the reigns at one of the most important positions in football at left tackle for the Carolina Panthers. After being selected in the sixth round, Daley was an afterthought with a slim shot to even make the roster. The Panthers were impressed in camp and decided to keep him to beef up their depth at tackle.
After Daryl Williams spectacularly failed on the left side to begin the season. The Panthers knew they’d have to go in another direction. A concussion to first round pick Greg Little only made matters worse. They plugged in Daley by default in Week 5 and have been reaping the benefits ever since.
Dennis Daley earned the top grade among the #Panthers offense in Week 6! pic.twitter.com/G0WgKRJdKU
— PFF (@PFF) October 17, 2019
Daley has started three games on the blindside for the Panthers and has done a fantastic job in both the run and pass game. He may move back to the bench once Greg Little makes it out of concussion protocol, but the Panthers offensive line has a bright future for the first time in a long time.
2019 Mid-season Comeback Player of the Year: CB Ross Cockrell
2019 Predicted Comeback Player of the Year: QB Cam Newton
Sigh. The back and forth story line regarding Newton’s health and future has become exhausting, so I’ll save you the trouble here.
Veteran cornerback Ross Cockrell suffered a horrifying leg injury during training camp in 2018. There was speculation that he may never play football again, as he had to relearn to walk following surgery.
Cockrell has been sensational for the Panthers in relief of an injured Donte Jackson for stretches this year.
“Pro”, as the team calls him, has been just that, coming up with two timely interceptions in crucial games. Cockrell is having a career renaissance in Carolina (a la Ted Ginn Jr.) and has played a huge role in the success of the Panthers defense in 2019.
2019 Mid-season Unsung Hero: LB/DE Mario Addison
2019 predicted Unsung Hero: James Bradberry
Mario Addison is quietly having one of the best, if not the best seasons of his career. With 6.5 sacks in seven games, Addison leads a Panthers team that is currently on pace for its most sacks in franchise history.
Addison missed the Tennessee game as he grieved for his brother, who tragically passed away the week prior. The Panthers have rallied around grieving teammates in the past and will continue to do so with Super Mario when he decides to return. Addison doesn’t get nearly as much credit as he deserves as one of the better edge guys in the NFL.
Agree? Disagree? I want to hear it in the comments below!
Poll
Who is the team MVP this season?
This poll is closed
-
40%
Christian McCaffrey
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17%
CMC
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22%
McGoatfrey
-
20%
Olivia Culpo’s Boyfriend