Unfortunately for Frank Reich, the Carolina Panthers have themselves a new head coach heading into Week 13. But did the disappointing results from Sunday afternoon also yield some new revelations on the depth chart?
Here are the top takeaways from Week 12’s snap counts:
The lead dog
After the gap between Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders nearly closed last week, with the former seeing 29 snaps and the latter 27, the situation widened again.
Hubbard, despite recording 14 carries to Sanders’ 15, was on the field for 47 looks in Week 12. Sanders, who turned his 15 totes into just 28 yards, got himself 27 snaps.
Sunday’s output from Hubbard, who rushed for 45 yards and the team’s only touchdown while reeling in five balls for 47 more yards, may give us an indication as to who the lead dog in this offense definitively is. And not only did Hubbard see his highest usage rate of the campaign, but—in a bit of potentially more bad news for Sanders—his biggest supporter just left the building.
Sweet Toth
The answer inside of Carolina’s highly-secretive plan at right guard was Brett Toth, who made his second career start. And to his credit, he never left the field.
Toth, in place of a lost Austin Corbett, played in every one of the offense’s 74 snaps. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed a team-high four pressures of quarterback Bryce Young.
Perhaps the Panthers may have another answer, especially if they want to get a look at youngsters Cade Mays and Nash Jensen in the remaining six games. But with so many injuries piling up in the trench, Toth could continue to see more time.
Long haul
Injuries have also poisoned the team’s secondary, which was without its usual starters Jaycee Horn and CJ Henderson. So, getting the nod alongside Donte Jackson was David Long Jr.—who ended up with the fourth-most defensive snaps on the team.
The former third-round pick was relatively impressive in coverage, as the six catches he allowed went for just 30 combined yards. Like his fellow former Los Angeles Ram Troy Hill has, Long Jr. stepped up in a tight spot for the Panthers.
