The quarterback position often receives the most attention when examining an NFL team’s offensive capabilities and potential. That’s unequivocally the case for this Carolina Panthers team.
However, before the regular season got underway, the wide receiver group was perhaps talked about the most as one of the strongest and deepest units for the Carolina offense. Then, injuries occurred, and underwhelming performances reminded fans of former Panthers who had fizzled out.
The Panthers’ passing attack hasn’t taken the next step that many envisioned and hoped for. But head coach Dave Canales may look to create a spark for the home stretch through a certain wideout.
Panthers Second-Year WR Ready for More Work
During his weekly appearance on Carolina Panthers Radio Network’s “Panther Talk,” Canales was asked by host Anish Shroff whether the team’s (5-4) best play was possibly still ahead.
The head coach answered by saying, “I believe that 100%. I’ve talked to our group, and we’ve talked about this together. We haven’t seen our best football yet, and what that would look like is a complete game where we’re making great decisions.”
That’s a fair assessment. But it was the praise Canales bestowed upon second-year WR Jalen Coker in the following portion of the response that felt most astute and like a touch of foreshadowing for what’s on the Panthers’ horizon:
“You’re talking about T-Mac, you know, who’s been really consistent. Xavier shows up. You know, I’m waiting for Jalen Coker to have a breakout game. He has looked amazing for two weeks now. And I think that a part of that is for Brad and I to put our heads together and say, “How can we make Jalen Coker come alive?”
As an undrafted rookie free agent signed out of Holy Cross last season, Coker was fourth among all qualifying rookie WRs with 1.72 yards per route run. On 45 targets, he had one single drop. Coker’s target-to-touchdown ratio was a hefty 4.35%.
Coker was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a quad injury during a September practice, causing him to miss the first six games this season. In his two games since returning, Coker has caught four passes on seven targets for 45 receiving yards.
From an ability standpoint, it’s the route running and tight window catches that pop on tape. Coker deploys an effective and expansive release package off the LOS and sells the vertical well to create separation in the intermediate on in-breaking routes and comebacks.
His alignment versatility should also benefit the entire aerial attack, including rookie standout WR Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan has been a mismatch playing in the slot, which the Panthers have gone to in critical moments. Coker offers up a threat on the outside for those instances, while still figuring to see most of his own work from the inside alignment.
The Panthers’ Week 10 opponent, the New Orleans Saints, ranks 25th in passing EPA per play allowed (+0.09). The Saints have given up the fifth-most passing touchdowns (18) and are ranked No. 22 in the PFSN’s DEFi system.
It could be a great opportunity for Coker to “come alive.”