Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold: What Panthers coach said about the training camp plan
The No. 1 and No. 3 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft are vying to become the Panthers’ starting quarterback.
With training camp set to begin Wednesday, Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he is not ready to reveal how reps will be distributed between Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, veteran P.J. Walker and rookie Matt Corral. He’ll wait until he speaks to his quarterback room before detailing the team’s plan.
“I haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk to those guys face-to-face all in the room. I’ll talk to those guys first and kind of dictate, and explain how we plan on doing things,” Rhule said. “I want to make sure that they’re not hearing of rep counts and things like that over Twitter. I’d rather do it with them all in the same room. So we’ll be direct. We have a really good plan.”
Carolina reports to training camp on Tuesday at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. for 11 practices over three weeks. Rhule said he will speak to the quarterbacks Tuesday where they will learn how reps will be distributed early in camp. However, Rhule called the plan “fluid.”
All four Panthers quarterbacks are coming into offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s new system at different entry points.
Mayfield will enter camp playing catch up. Without a spring to learn McAdoo’s offense, Mayfield is cramming all he can to be as ready as possible.
“It’s not like this is my first time around having to learn something new,” Mayfield said during his introductory press conference. “The time crunch is the difference.”
It’s a serious time crunch but Rhule said the team has a plan for Mayfield.
“Ben (McAdoo) will do a great job having a plan and scripting plays for him,” Rhule said. “He has to learn the offense. And he has to go from Level 1, knowing the offense, to Level 4 mastery where you’re unconsciously competent. That’s his journey when he gets here.”
Darnold, who started 11 games last season (4-7), took the majority of starting reps during OTAs and minicamp this after the draft. He knows how to efficiently learn a new system. (McAdoo is his fifth offensive coordinator in as many years.) Darnold played with newfound charisma during offseason workouts; he showed better understanding and control of the offensive as workouts progressed.
Corral, a third-round rookie, admittedly has a lot to learn as he transitions from an RPO-heavy system at Mississippi. McAdoo’s system relies on detailed verbiage which Corral is adjusting to. He saw his reps slowly increase throughout minicamp, signaling his steady development. The team remains patient with him. He’ll enter camp with low pressure other than competing for a backup spot.
“Matt Corral is a young guy that we drafted that we really like and have a lot of hope for. And I expect him to come compete,” Rhule said. “I showed up to the stadium last night, and Matt was in there working out back in Charlotte, you know, getting ready.”
Then there is Walker, who could be a camp casualty if the team decides not to carry four quarterbacks. He is the only quarterback with a winning record (2-0) during the Rhule era. All four will play a pivotal role in establishing Carolina’s offensive identity, which Rhule said is one of his three keys to training camp.
Along with figuring out what they are offensively, Rhule said the Panthers’ defense must also go from good to great. The team expects its special teams to flip games for them this season after signing All-Decade punter Johnny Hecker, return specialist Andre Roberts and re-signing kicker Zane Gonzalez.
For the defense to improve, Rhule said the team will focus on enhancing its red zone defense, force more turnovers and be more sound in two-minute situations.
Rhule said he’ll announce the players on the Physically Unable to Perform list after physicals Tuesday but the team anticipates linebacker Shaq Thompson will start camp on the PUP. Thompson is expected to miss a few weeks after a knee clean-out procedure but will return fully healthy.
After back-to-back five-win seasons, Rhule enters Year 3 on the hot seat. Carolina must open training camp with urgency while veterans and rookies showcase competitiveness and proficiency.
There are several intriguing position battles surrounding the Panthers. Finding a linebacker to play opposite Thompson was one of them. Now there are even more reps available and a glaring on-field leadership void to fill.
There won’t be a more compelling contest than at quarterback. Mayfield should be the favorite to start Week 1 but that is a ways away. Expect Darnold to take advantage of his offensive knowledge and lead the team in reps and position drills when camp begins. He’ll likely even start the first preseason game.
“My job is not to pick the starting quarterback,” Rhule said. “The players will do that with the way they play. It’ll be a fun ride. When we know, we will know.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2022 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold: What Panthers coach said about the training camp plan."
