Panthers’ Week 10 roster moves create a potential penalty problem to prepare for with backup referee crew working against Saints
The Carolina Panthers elevated two cornerbacks off the practice squad that are prone to penalties on the outside. Which could be a potential concern with a backup referee crew working on Sunday.
The Carolina Panthers made a few roster moves on Saturday going into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. The Panthers activated wide receiver Xavier Legette off the injured reserve while electing not to activate offensive lineman Brady Christensen, cornerback Mike Jackson, or running back Jonathon Brooks.
Along with that, the Panthers elevated Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton off the practice squad and onto the game day roster. Both players started on the outside last week, and could do so again with rookie Will Lee III still questionable with a hamstring injury.
If that’s the case, there’s a potential concern to watch with those two going into the game on Sunday.
Carolina Panthers’ CBs have been flagged numerous times, and backup officials are working on Sunday
The problem with Wilson and Thornton potentially starting on Sunday is that both players were heavily penalized last week for being too aggressive with their hands. Under interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash, the Panthers are asking their cornerbacks to be more physical and play in more press-man.
If you’re technique is off, that style of play on the outside could easily lead to the yellow laundry getting thrown, as we saw last week. Between Wilson and Thornton, the Panthers were called five times for defensive pass interference and once for illegal use of hands. That needs to be cleaned up this time around.
“I definitely got to tone it down,” Wilson said earlier this week. “I don’t want people to think like I’m a crazy guy out there, but sometimes I’m trying to be physical. It’s a physical game, and I don’t want to go out there and have someone else out-physical me.”
The main thing is, the Panthers want this style of play and they’re not going to ask their cornerbacks to tone it down. It’s just a matter of being smart about it. Which is still going to be the case even if Lee plays, who has had three DPIs called on him this season as well.
The biggest problem here on Sunday is that the Panthers-Saints game will have a backup crew of referees due to the nationwide FAA ground stoppage that happened on Friday. The crew for Sunday’s game will be led by Duane Heydt, a backup official, who got reassigned to this game. The game also won’t have replay assist on site, instead it will be handled replay center in New York.
I don’t want to say expect a lot of flags on Sunday, but if Wilson and Thornton plan to play handsy on the outside, I could see these backup officials being prone to making calls. Which is the last thing the Panthers need to be worried about again.
