Panthers looking for answers on offense

Mostly, after the Panthers lost their seventh straight game to close the season 5-12, the questions centered on how to fix the mess the year became, as the team lost the momentum created by a three-game winning streak to start the season.

That momentum ended with Christian McCaffrey’s ankle injury in Houston, as the star running back played just seven games this year. While he’s just one player, he’s so central to the Panthers’ identity that the loss was a huge one.

“I think being able to run the football, play-action off of it, was big, especially early on,” quarterback Sam Darnold said. “That was kind of our identity. And I felt like we kind of hit a lull after we won those (first three) games.”

Since then, all facets of the game broke down, but the focus will be on quarterback play.

Darnold finished the year with a 71.9 passer rating, and just nine touchdown passes. Both were career lows. Cam Newton came in with much fanfare, but after his star turn in Arizona (the Panthers’ last win of the year) and a quality start against Washington, he flatlined as a passer. His 64.4 rating was inflated by the Washington game, and he wasn’t much of a factor lately, playing a single snap in each of the last two games.

Newton’s a free agent, and Darnold’s under contract for next year for $18.9 million guaranteed, so the Panthers have some weighty questions in front of them. Darnold evaded questions about his own future, because honestly, it’s not up to him.

The Panthers also need an offensive coordinator, after the midseason firing of Joe Brady, and Rhule said that search would begin soon.