5Q Preview: Why Lions Win Comfortably against Panthers
Schuyler Callihan covers the Carolina Panthers for All Panthers. He answered five questions from All Lions to preview Sunday's matchup between Detroit and Carolina.
1.) What has been your early assessment of quarterback Bryce Young?
Callihan: He has been severely handcuffed. Both from a play-calling and help around him standpoint.
The offensive line has allowed a ton of pressure, particularly the interior as they are without starting guards Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett. He doesn't have much time to throw and when he does, the receivers are taking way too long to hit the top of their routes and spring free. I can probably count on one hand how many times a receiver has made a play after the catch through four games. Yes, it's been that bad.
The play-calling has been very conservative, part of which has to do with the lack of protection. But still, Reich called things in that Week 3 loss to Seattle when Andy Dalton played that we haven't seen at all with Young. It also doesn't help that the ground game can't get going. I still believe Young will thrive in the NFL but the kid needs some help.
2.) What has led to the Panthers struggles this season?
Callihan: There are several things you could point to. The protection, run game, health, etc. To me, I would say it's a little bit of everything but with two concentrated areas - depth and coaching. You could tell the Panthers were going to have issues with depth after they came out of free agency and had guys in the two-deep that had no business being there. For example, the top three defensive tackles entering training camp (Bravvion Roy, Marquan McCall, and John Penisini) didn't make it through the month of August before being let go.
As far as the staff is concerned, it's a rock star group. There's no questioning their ability or competence. I think it's more about them coming together and learning how to find what works considering much of this staff has come from different backgrounds.
3.) Brian Burns and Derrick Brown continue to get a lot of attention. How have they performed to start the season for the defensive line?
Callihan: Brown got out to a terrific start, but he's been fairly quiet the past couple of weeks. He's playing a ton of snaps because of the lack of depth, so that could have an effect on him. No real concern there. He's still one of the key cogs of that unit. Burns has played exceptionally well considering there hasn't been much help on the other side from veteran Justin Houston.
4.) What is the key matchup you are watching during the Week 5 game?
Callihan: How do the Panthers stop the run game? And how do they get their own ground game going? The Panthers have played good defense overall, but have had some issues fitting the run. Gap discipline has been an issue at times which is to be expected early in the season with a new scheme, but some of it is just not having the right body types to play this scheme too.
Obviously, that's nothing Scott Fitterer can truly address until the offseason. Offensively, Reich and OC Thomas Brown (Sean McVay understudy) have a tendency to run a lot of zone schemes and it's been an adjustment for an offensive line and running back room that ran a lot of power and trap a year ago when they gashed Detroit and others down the stretch last season. The Lions run and play the run extremely well, so if that continues this Sunday, the Panthers will be in for a long day.
5.) Who do you see winning and why?
Callihan: I'm going Detroit to win this one comfortably, 27-17. The Panthers are severely banged up, lacking confidence, and are still trying to find their offensive identity in Week 5. The Lions are, in my opinion, one of the best teams in the NFL and to beat one of the best in the league you need a whole heck of a lot to go right and then some.
