John Fox will lead the Panthers into their third preseason game against Tennessee Saturday night.
The Carolina Panthers enter Saturday’s preseason game against the Tennessee Titans still searching for an identity on offense.
The Panthers haven’t produced an offensive touchdown in their first two preseason games, but Coach John Fox isn’t too concerned about that–yet.
The starters are expected to play well into the third quarter Saturday, but Fox has remained mum on whether All-Pro wideout Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart will see any snaps.
Smith has yet to play in the preseason because of a broken arm suffered during the offseason, and Stewart sat out much of training camp because of a nagging injury to his achilles tendon.
Each, along with running back DeAngelo Williams, is expected to play a key role in the offense once the regular season opens, which should help ease the load on new quarterback Matt Moore’s shoulders.
Moore hasn’t looked sterling so far in two preseason games, completing 10 of 24 passes for 89 yards. He’s also been sacked three times, which has been a recurring theme for the Panthers. The team has given up 11 sacks in its two games behind a makeshift offensive line.
Defensively, the Panthers have looked pretty formidable. Even without Julius Peppers, who signed with Chicago as a free agent in the offseason, the defensive line has come alive and been one of the team’s bright spots.
Defensive ends Tyler Brayton and Greg Hardy, a rookie, each had two sacks in the first preseason game. Everette Brown, in his second season, collected two last week in a 9-3 loss to the New York Jets.
The linebackers are led by Jon Beason, and Chris Gamble mans the secondary as a shut-down corner.
The Panthers have allowed 26 points during their first two preseason games, but have scored just 15.