Going into the 2021 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers were determined to give newly-acquired quarterback Sam Darnold as many opportunities to succeed as possible. And, heading into the middle of the second round, Carolina made their first move. With the 59th overall pick, the Carolina Panthers selected LSU wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. Today, we will be breaking down everything Panthers’ fans need to know regarding their new pass catcher. So, without further ado, let’s get into the analysis!
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Carolina Panthers Film Study: Terrace Marshall Jr.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 200 pounds
Position: Wide Receiver
School: LSU
Strengths
- Exceptional size for the position;
- Smooth release off the line of scrimmage;
- Adjusts well to poorly-thrown balls;
- Possesses quick hands and big play-making ability;
- Has the ability to make a wide range of catches, contested or not;
- Has the ability to take a large hit from defenders and maintain possession;
- Fantastic hand/eye coordination
- Tracks the ball well in the air and adjusts his body to make the catch.
Weaknesses
- Lacks a true deep burst down the field;
- Injury concerns (stemming from recent leg injuries);
- Can get complacent at times and take his eyes off the ball downfield or during route-running.
What They’re Saying
ESPN‘s Louis Riddick: “A very, very savvy route-runner. Very smart at the line of scrimmage. A lot of speed variance. … A guy who can adjust over the middle of the field. Not scared at all as far as working in traffic. You see where those numbers are? That’s where he’s going to go to work.
The Draft Network‘s Dan Marino: “Marshall is a versatile receiver that has proven himself both from the slot and out wide while attacking all levels of the field with consistency. He offers terrific size, physicality, hands, ball skills, run-after-catch ability, route-running skills, and overall technical refinement. Marshall did miss three games in 2019 with a foot injury, had some minor drop issues creep up in 2020, and has some inconsistent moments as a blocker, but there isn’t much in the way of notable concerns as he enters the next level.”
CBS Sports‘ Dan Schneier: “Marshall dominated in the toughest conference in college football at a very early age. Dominating at an early age has been an indicator of future success at the next level, and as Marshall enters the NFL, he’ll bring with him a combination of size, speed, ball skills, and past production that make him an excellent bet for immediate and sustainable production.”
Grinding The Tape on Terrace Marshall Jr.
Focus: Physicality and Body Control
2021 WR Terrace Marshall Jr. has an obvious strength when you turn on the film – adjusting his body to the catchpoint to finish explosive plays pic.twitter.com/EezZrSACGx
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) March 26, 2020
In the clips above, Panthers’ fans can see some great examples of Marshall using his impressive body control and physicality to spot and locate the ball before adjusting to the pass and leaping up to make the grab. This shows a handful of what the Panthers are getting in the dynamic pass catcher.
Focus: Ability to Make Catches in Traffic
Someone I’d love to see the #Eagles trade up for to either the late 1st or early 2nd round is Terrace Marshall Jr.
In just 7 games last year, he had 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 TDs. He’s also 6’3. pic.twitter.com/KMxBP3jI23
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) March 30, 2021
In this clip, you can see how Marshall runs the route to perfection and makes the difficult catch in traffic. Marshall impressed scouts prior the draft with his ability to run through and past defenders with the ball. This could be just a hint of what the LSU-product is bringing to Carolina.
Focus: Quick Hands and Great Positioning
Terrace Marshall Jr. basically lives in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/sk6BPlgooB
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 26, 2020
The clip above shows Panthers’ fans a multitude of things. For one, it highlights Marshall’s impressive ability to locate and track the ball in the air. From their, you can see him position his body perfectly before utilizing his quick hands to make the big-time play. This also shows Carolina his big-time play potential. In this clip, we can see Marshall working towards the inside, but in other clips, we’ve seen him work the sidelines or hashmarks. This shows Panthers’ fans that Marshall has the ability to be used in many different facets, providing offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who worked with the young pass catcher at LSU, with plenty of options at the wide receiver positions.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images