The Carolina Panthers aren’t known for having a wealth of help in the defensive secondary. This year they are confident in the pairing of stalwart veteran Juston Burris and budding star Jeremy Chinn, neither of whom saw any game action against the Indianapolis Colts yesterday. What makes this year potentially more exciting is the preseason play of the team’s safety depth thus far.
Sean Chandler and Sam Franklin both showed up yesterday. Even Brian Cole had a few moments and I had to look up who he was during the game. Individual highlights don’t always mean a lot during the preseason, but it is worth taking notice when an entire position group flashes Rhule’s second favorite quality, after versatility: consistency. This group has often been a sore spot for the Panthers in recent years, but maybe, just maybe, we’ll be complaining about something else this year instead of being triggered into Haruki Nakamura flashbacks.
Of course, safeties are often left to look poorly by plays made, or lost, in front of them. The Panthers spent a first round pick on projected starter Jaycee Horn this year and signed veteran A.J. Bouye to shore up the secondary opposite Donte Jackson. None of those guys played yesterday, so we’re still waiting to see how the whole secondary puzzle will fit together.
The cornerbacks who were left to play showed off more of a mixed bag, so they’ll get less shine than the safeties here. There were good moments, but consistency isn’t the word I’d use for the group. The exception to that statement is Stantley Thomas Oliver, a 2020 7th round pick by the Panthers who made plays yesterday and has been praised by Rhule since day one of last season. Expect him to make the roster this season if he can maintain his current level of play.