In week 2, Carolina Panthers see a return on their investment in defense
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After spending $166 million in free agency to bolster Carolina’s defense, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan saw his team give up a franchise-record 59 points to the Chicago Bears in their season opener.
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In week 2, there was some return on the investment.
Behind a two-interception masterclass by captain linebacker Devin Lloyd, the Panthers forced five turnovers as they shut down the Atlanta Falcons, 34-3.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Sunday’s performance is proof that the defense has the right components.
“I was sitting on the bus going through the plays, and Dan was sitting across on the other seat, and I’m just thinking, ‘Dan’s got to be really feeling himself right now,’” Canales said Monday. “‘Like, I bring Devin Lloyd in to turn the ball over. He’s got two picks, one for a touchdown. We need rush. Here’s Jaelan Phillips coming off the edge with a huge sack, and Bobby making his plays.’”
Although everyone will remember this game for Lloyd’s stats, fellow linebacker Bobby Okereke had the first interception — and in the second quarter, almost had another. He was a late-August addition to the roster but has made an immediate impact alongside Lloyd.
“I was just sitting there proud,” Canales added. “Dan targeting guys that can really help us, and then watching it come alive in short order.”
While the awful performance against Chicago means the Panthers have given up an average of 31 points per game, Carolina hopes to continue lowering that average as it rides an upward trajectory.
After the loss to the Bears, Canales had said the defense looked discombobulated, and that guys were playing outside of their responsibilities.
This week, he said the defense looked more connected, especially his two new linebackers.
“I saw better connection out of Devon and Bobby in their placement in their zone drops, their matches in the fire zone, just making sure they were relating to the right people and all that,” Canales said. “Everyone was kind of connected and working on a string.”
Okereke, a former captain for the New York Giants, can spot a leader when he sees one. He says his ability to gel with Lloyd this soon is a testament to his captain’s leadership.
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“Since day one, I’ve been in extra film meetings with him,” Okereke said. “We’re just talking through the playbook, how he sees it through his eyes, how I can best support him in the huddle.”
With the support comes a fair bit of competition, too.
“I think we just have a great, cohesive, competitive environment,” he added. “Just being able to compete with him, the way that he makes plays and the way that I make plays, it’s going to be fun all year.”
Of course, the Panthers’ defensive performance was not all due to the linebackers, even if they padded the stat sheet.
Okereke said that Sunday’s showing is much more representative of the defense’s potential than the week 1 fiasco. He pointed out Derrick Brown and Phillips “dominating the front,” and Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn in the back end.
“We’re very scary,” Okereke said. “If me and Devon keep flying around in the second level, it’s going to be very tough for opposing offenses.”
For general manager Dan Morgan, what makes Sunday’s performance especially exciting is that it is exactly what he invested in.
“(I’m excited for) putting [Okereke] next to Devin Lloyd, who are two big, long, rangy guys who can cover, who can blitz, who can do a lot of things,” Morgan said earlier in September.
But Okereke insists the investment is only beginning to pay dividends, at least in the linebacker room..
“I think our tandem is only going to keep improving and getting more competitive and cohesive,” he said.
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