Panthers snap count indicates a more balanced RB room; Miles Sanders' fumble bug bites again
The first game of the Frank Reich era didn't go according to plan. In Atlanta, the Carolina Panthers were thrashed 24-10, and the offense — though it had flashes — struggled to put together points for nearly three-quarters of the game. Part of the issues of the offense was rooted in turnovers. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young […]
The first game of the Frank Reich era didn't go according to plan.
In Atlanta, the Carolina Panthers were thrashed 24-10, and the offense — though it had flashes — struggled to put together points for nearly three-quarters of the game.
Part of the issues of the offense was rooted in turnovers. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young was responsible for two. However, the third turnover came from running back Miles Sanders, who fumbled in Atlanta territory on a play that was initially ruled down by contact before the call was reversed.
In total, Sanders collected 18 rushing attempts and racked up 72 yards. His longest run of the day was 10 yards, and he averaged four yards per carry.
When parsing the snap counts, Sanders claimed 44 snaps, Chuba Hubbard 28.
Though Sanders was still the lead back, the snap counts indicate a more balanced running back position than initially thought.
When Sanders signed a four-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers, it was to be a lead back.
In Reich's offense, that may mean balancing between the different styles that come with Hubbard and Sanders.
But if Sanders' fumble bug continues to bite, it wouldn't be surprising if the number of snaps for him changes.
In Philadelphia, Sanders racked up eight fumbles in four years. His worst year was his second season, where he tallied four fumbles in 12 games.
The Panthers will need a better version of Sanders moving forward. When the lead running back is playing well, the rest of the game opens up. And to win, the Panthers desperately need a more open version of the offense.
Take a look at the full offensive snap counts:
| Player | Offensive snaps | Special teams snaps |
|---|---|---|
Brady Christensen | 77 (100%) | 2 (8%) |
Chandler Zavala | 77 (100%) | 2 (8%) |
Ikem Ekwonu | 77 (100%) | 2 (8%) |
Taylor Moton | 77 (100%) | 2 (8%) |
Bradley Bozeman | 77 (100%) | |
Bryce Young | 77 (100%) | |
Terrace Marshall Jr. | 69 (90%) | |
Adam Thielen | 68 (88%) | |
Jonathan Mingo | 67 (87%) | 1 (4%) |
Miles Sanders | 44 (57%) | |
Hayden Hurst | 41 (53%) | |
Chuba Hubbard | 28 (36%) | 5 (19%) |
Laviska Shenault | 25 (32%) | 18 (69%) |
Tommy Tremble | 18 (23%) | 16 (62%) |
Ian Thomas | 15 (19%) | 7 (27%) |
Giovanni Ricci | 8 (10%) | 19 (73%) |
Ihmir Smith-Marsette | 2 (3%) | 8 (31%) |
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Feature image via Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports.
