We had a sit-down with one of the heads of SB Nation’s Carolina Panthers site to preview this Sunday’s matchup.
It’s must-win time for at least the next few weeks for the Cincinnati Bengals, and this week’s test is a lot more difficult than it seemed just a few weeks ago. Old friend Andy Dalton has provided a resurgence to the beleaguered Carolina Panthers, and he has yet to lose to Cincinnati as a starting quarterback since departing the Bengals.
To get a peek at the other side of the fence, we asked some questions of Walker Clement of SB Nation’s Cat Scratch Reader.
1.) AC: Talk to me about Andy Dalton. What is he bringing to the table and why is it working so much better than the system spearheaded by Bryce Young?
WC: “In short, Dalton brought competence. Last season was a cluster#$&% and unraveling who was responsible for what portion of it may well prove a futile effort. This season started off worse and that status was clearly the responsibility of one strategy: the “let’s throw everything at the wall and see if we can get Young to stick to it” strategy.
Dalton, as y’all may recall, is an experienced and safe quarterback. He may not be challenging for the most impressive or daring throws week in and week out, but he can still step up in the pocket and make any number of throws. It turns out that is all new head coach Dave Canales needed. At 36 years old, Dalton probably isn’t the future at quarterback in the Carolinas, but he has the opportunity to prove that Canales can be part of that future.”
2.) AC: If the Panthers end up being competitive under Dalton the rest of the way, do they have the surrounding roster to make an unexpected playoff push?
WC: “Absolutely. That’s not because of their inherent, hidden talents, it’s just because the NFC South is the silliest, most chaotic division in all of sports. The Panthers could win this thing with a 6-11 record and I wouldn’t bat an eye.
Will they make it anywhere if and once they are in the playoffs? That’s a question that needs more data. The Panthers previously mentioned “all-in on Bryce Young” strategy included not investing significantly in their defense. Any playoff success would require winning a stunning amount of shootouts and we just don’t know if last week’s offensive output was the first sign of a soon-to-be vibrant life or just a flash in the pan.”
3.) AC: What are the weak areas of Carolina’s team which Cincinnati can exploit?
WC: “The defense, generally speaking. The Panthers have no pass rush and injured safeties. Run the ball, throw it deep, fake some field goals for good measure. Really, the options are endless if you want to see your team move the ball.”
4.) AC: Give me a couple of unknown names to watch this week, who may be unknown on the surface—particularly to the Bengals’ faithful.
WC: “Jonathan Mingo is in line for a bigger role as a slot receiver with the loss of Adam Thielen to a hamstring injury. There is no guarantee that he takes advantage of the role, but the 2023 second round pick is high on fans’ radars for a breakout game.
You should also keep an eye out for cornerback Michael Jackson. He has made multiple big plays in recent weeks in spite of the team’s inconsiderable defensive efforts. If there is an impact play on defense then Jackson is the current bet for being the player to make it.”
5.) AC: What’s your prediction this weekend for this one? It’s two teams trending the opposite directions. . .
WC: “I think the Bengals get their first win. The Panthers identity has been synonymous over their past six or seven head coaches with helping other teams break negative streaks. Maybe last week’s offense was real and this will be a real game.
I really hope so, but even if it is then I’m stuck assuming that they will be the cat that finally caught the mail truck. They won’t know what to do next and will spend too much time trying to figure out how they got into this metaphor in the first place and not enough time trying to score touchdowns.”
Our thanks to Walker Clement of Cat Scratch Reader for the chat. Be sure to go to their site for the other side of the chat!
