Offensive line issues again limit passing game

Rhule credited the job their defense and special teams did giving the Panthers a chance. But the Saints scored a late touchdown after so many times having to defend short fields.

It’s an issue of offensive construction, and the Panthers know they’re missing pieces.

No one figured it was a strength or sufficiently funded entering camp, beyond the extension they gave cornerstone right tackle Taylor Moton. But when a cast of young players and an odd lot of veterans began to fall victim to injuries and a COVID-19 pandemic, it became a hash. Sunday was the 12th different combination of starters they’ve used in 16 games this year, and it showed.

Rhule hesitates to make global declarations after games — and after losing his sixth straight and 11th in the last 13, that’s probably wise — but the causation of Sunday’s loss and the struggles in general was obvious.

“When you have (12) different offensive line combinations, guys getting elevated from the practice squad, guys changing oppositions all those different things, you’re not going to have the unity you want, you’re not going to have the cohesiveness you want,” Rhule said. “We’ve talked about it, you guys have asked about it, we have since the very beginning.

“We’ve had runs where we were able to protect the quarterback and be consistent. But I don’t care who you are at quarterback, if you don’t have a run game, or you don’t have a pretty nice protection game, it’s going to be difficult. I felt when Sam had protection, he was able to complete balls, and made some nice throws. But again, this is a good defense we faced. We knew they were going to put us under duress.”