Matt Rhule knows Panthers must establish offensive identity without Christian McCaffrey

The Carolina Panthers have been in an offensive rut ever since running back Christian McCaffrey went down in their week three victory against the Houston Texans. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule understands his team is struggling to find an offensive identity without McCaffrey. Now he must learn to create a new one without his star running back. 

“I think right now, we have to figure out, especially with Christian out and some other guys out, what our identity is, …” said Rhule. “We’re trying to figure out exactly how to win as best we can.” 

It’s tough to formulate an offensive identity when missing key pieces. It’s made even arduous when your offensive line struggles to block. During the Panthers’ current three-game losing streak, Sam Darnold has been hit 23 times and sacked 12. With a lack of time in the pocket, the Panthers quarterback has struggled to find a rhythm in the last three games. 

Rhule needs players to make plays

In their 34-28 Loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past weekend, the Panthers left points off the board. Both of their top two receivers, Robbie Anderson and DJ Moore, had dropped passes in the game. Rhule spoke on the lack of help for his young quarterback in the game. 

“What Sam needed today was a little bit of help from his friends at times. he needed some plays to be made. We dropped a lot of balls, … I think when you’re a quarterback who’s a little out of sorts, a little out of whack, you need some guys to make plays for you.” 

Unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers, the hits keep on coming. Against the Vikings, they lost two more playmakers in receivers Terrence Marshall Jr. and Brandon Zylstra. Marshall is currently in concussion protocol after taking a monstrous hit from Viking safety Xavier Woods in the second quarter. However, that hit was illegal and drew an unnecessary roughness penalty in the process. It’s uncertain if Marshall will be able to clear concussion protocol before the Panthers’ next game in New York. Zylstra on the other hand, the Panthers know they will be without. He also left in the first half against the Vikings but with a left hamstring injury. The Panthers do not want the injury to linger so they have placed him on IR to recover. 

The Panthers’ next match-up will be against another team struggling to find its offensive identity in the New York Giants. The Giants are also without their star running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley went down in the Giants’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Panthers will need that win if they want to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints who are currently first and second in their division.