Carolina Panthers need to address fundamental deficiencies to be more competitive

It was another lost weekend for the Carolina Panthers, which is once again becoming a theme. They had every opportunity to win the game against their division rival Atlanta Falcons but just couldn't finish it.

That doesn't mean everything was bad. Many of the team's young substitutes showed significant improvement. Undrafted rookie Jalen Coker followed up his Week 5 performance with a solid three-catcher effort that was crucial in helping the Panthers get within five points before halftime.

Another player who made encouraging progress was first-year tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, who capitalized on the absence of Tommy Tremble and hauled in five receptions for 49 yards. Not exactly a world-changing statistic, but it's a start. The fact that it was able to open at all is a testament to the progress that has been made.

Both players showed a much improved ability to exploit gaps in zone coverage that the Falcons like to exploit. Not to mention Xavier Legette's highlight-reel catches show how dangerous the first-rounder can be with a little more polish.

Things didn't go quite so well in defense. There was steady improvement. There was also a serious problem with communication and pre-snap reads.

These things come with experience, which the Panthers as an organization sorely lack. But there was a bright spot that is admittedly hard to find when three of the top four tacklers are members of the secondary.

That bright spot was Charles Harris. A former first-round pick who never lived up to that standard. And while the statistics don't exactly paint a picture of excellence, that's not the whole story.

Harris showed a motor that didn't slow down and a drive at quarterback that few players possess. No play illustrated this more than when a doubles team did little but change course. This will soon pay off. Especially if some other pieces on Carolina's defensive line can come back healthy.

This is where the good ends. A lot went into this defeat, but most of it can be attributed to mistakes and missed opportunities.

The Panthers had 10 total penalties for 79 yards. This is incredibly difficult for a solid team to handle, let alone one with the problems they are currently experiencing. What hurt most was one violation trading seven points for three.

As the Panthers drove into Atlanta territory on their second possession, Ikem Ekwonu was charged with a false start that put the team well behind the uprights. Without a masterful catch from Dionte Johnson, Carolina would have had to settle for a field goal. This came after the starting left tackle ended the opening drive with another false start.

Since the game was still very close at the beginning of the second half, Damien Lewis managed a service play that once again brought the team behind the posts and into the red zone. Instead of potentially drawing closure, the Panthers had to settle for a five-point contest.

The team failed to take advantage of the opportunities the Falcons gave them. On two separate occasions, the Panthers nearly intercepted Kirk Cousins, but the ball fell harmlessly to the turf and could have allowed for easy touchdowns.

Mistakes and missed opportunities kill teams. That’s exactly what happened to the Panthers this week. And that doesn't even include Andy Dalton's game-winning interception after Dave Canales neglected the ground play that was working so well.

While some of this can be dismissed as a lack of experience or learning difficulties among rookies, players like Dalton and this offensive line should know better. Honestly, they are paid to be better.

This team will have to play near perfect football to win this season. When a game goes like this, there is little chance of winning. There's potential here, it just needs a bit of polishing before it can really shine.

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