The Panthers Made the Wrong Call on D'Onta Foreman
The Carolina Panthers offered running back D'Onta Foreman a contract last offseason but after Foreman turned the deal down, the Panthers decided to move on and instead, pay Miles Sanders a four-year, $25.4M contract.
A little over a month into the season, it looks like the Panthers made a big mistake by not working something out with the team's leading rusher from the 2022 season. Carolina ranks 23rd in the NFL averaging 98 yards per game. Sanders has not hit full stride in this offense as he is being held to a career-low 3.1 yards per attempt. Chuba Hubbard has done an adequate job as the No. 2 option in the backfield but the one thing Carolina is missing is that thumper that can wear out a front seven with 20-25 rushes per game.
The Panthers decided to go away from the physical inside run game and instead went with two scat backs who they are running zones and stretch plays with which by the way isn't something this offensive line did a whole lot of last year when they had success running the football. It's a completely different scheme. To make matters worse, with the Bears, Patriots, and Broncos winning, it gives Carolina some cushion for the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft. Unfortunately, that pick belongs to the Bears.
For whatever reason, the Bears had only played Foreman in two games this year coming into today. Well, on Sunday, he may have earned the starting spot while Khalil Herbert is on injured reserve. Foreman rushed for 89 yards and two scores on 16 carries while also catching three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
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