The Carolina Panthers will host the Miami Dolphins on Friday, August 17th, which marks their second preseason game of 2018 and their first home game under new owner David Tepper. Unlike their first preseason matchup that was filled with reunions, this game should be uneventful come pre-game warmups. The two teams faced each other during the 2017 regular season and the Panthers won pretty handily by a score of 45-21. Both teams look fairly different then they did during last season’s matchup as the off-season sent the teams in two opposite directions. Without further ado, here is the Carolina Panthers-Miami Dolphins preview.
Carolina Panthers versus Miami Dolphins Preview: Fishing Anyone?
After last week’s encouraging performance in Buffalo, the Panthers will look to duplicate that success against another AFC East opponent. 2017 was a year to forget for the Dolphins. The year started with an injury to quarterback Ryan Tannehill, which forced the team to bring in the always disastrous Jay Cutler to lead their team. Head coach Adam Gase did not like what he saw from his team last year and decided it was time for a makeover. Former starters such as running back Jay Ajayi, receiver Jarvis Landry, center Mike Pouncey and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh are no longer with the team as the organization decided to move on without them.
What to Watch for
Panthers Backup Quarterback Battle
Both Garrett Gilbert and Taylor Heinicke put on an excellent display last week which has the position battle for second-string quarterback heating up. Gilbert went 7-12, with 93 yards and a touchdown, however, Heinicke stole a bit of his thunder after going 7-9, with 121 yards and a touchdown. Because it is game two of the preseason, expect to see a lot more snaps from the backup quarterbacks as starter Cam Newton only should see a series or two. The Dolphins are lacking depth at the pass rusher position but they do have young and talented defensive backs, such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will challenge both quarterback’s accuracy.
Do Kevon Seymour and the Panthers secondary bounce back?
The Panthers secondary and in particular, Kevon Seymour, really struggled in the first half of last week’s game. Nate Peterman started the game hot going 7/7 and exposed Seymour on numerous occasions. Both Peterman and A.J. McCarron had fairly decent games as the Panthers secondary had little to no answer in slowing them down. This week, they will be facing the likes of Tannehill, David Fales, Bryce Petty and Brock Osweiler at the quarterback position, none of which are prolific throwers. If the Panthers let the Dolphins quarterbacks move the ball up and down the field, it could be a cause for concern going forward.
Mo(o)re Rookies Please
In last week’s game versus Buffalo, we caught only a glimpse of how special this Panthers rookie class can be. Wide receiver D.J. Moore hauled in four receptions but was very shifty in the open field and made a handful of defenders whiff on tackles. Fifth-round draft pick Jermaine Carter had a spectacular outing only reassuring what we have seen during training camp. Cornerback Donte Jackson showed off his speed and coverage skills and with Seymour’s early struggles, he may find himself on top of the depth chart at this rate. Defensive end Marquis Haynes shined in a few pass-rushing situations and undrafted rookie Brendan Mahon held his own at left guard.
Of course, it is way too early to get excited about this rookie class but if they can have another impressive outing against the Dolphins, Carolina may have something very special in their hands.
Worst Case Scenario
Osweiler, Fales and Petty torch the Panthers secondary meaning its time to hit the panic button, which forces general manager Marty Hurney to bring in another defensive back via trade or free agency. The rookies mentioned above have lackluster games that include dropped passes, missed tackles, blown coverages and missed assignments. The Panthers fail to score a touchdown in front of their home crowd which causes fans to start booing as the game ends.
Best Case Scenario
Either Heinicke or Gilbert emerges as the better of the two, solidifying the backup quarterback spot up. Moore, Ian Thomas, and Jarius Wright continue to turn heads and get open on several occasions while defensive players Carter, Haynes, Jackson and Rashaan Gaulden wreak havoc on the Dolphins offense. Seymour has a nice bounce-back game coming away with a couple pass deflections.
