Is a Lack of Discipline Eroding Carolina Panthers Opportunities to Stack Good Wins?

By Kevin Tolbert

The Carolina Panthers entered the 2025 NFL season with cautious optimism under second year head coach Dave Canales. But after four games, the team sits at a disappointing 1-3, ranking 3rd in the NFC South and struggling to find consistency on both sides of the ball. While injuries and roster turnover have played a role, the primary culprit behind their poor start is a pervasive lack of discipline, particularly on defense and special teams.

One of the most glaring issues has been the defense’s tendency to give up explosive plays.

Through four games, Carolina’s opponents have racked up 1,312 total yards, averaging 5.7 yards per play, compared to Carolina’s own 4.3 yards per play. The Panthers have allowed 793 passing yards on just over 200 attempts, a staggering 6.5 yards per attempt, which ranks among the worst in the league.

No one has been more vocal about the issue than Canales, but he still has not figured out the answer. “The most encouraging the for me as you watch the film as we present it to our players, there are things within our control and we have to make sure that we demand that and the have to be sure they are following that execution through,” Canales said during his Wednesday press conference.

These numbers reflect more than just schematic flaws—they point to breakdowns in assignment discipline. Explosive plays often result from defenders being out of position, biting on play fakes, or failing to maintain coverage integrity. The Panthers’ secondary has allowed multiple long completions. These type of breakdowns are often the result of poor communication – particularly on road games. After the Panthers Week 3 win of Atlanta,

Mike Jackson spoke about the defensive strategy to over-communicate to achieve consistency. “We just talk every play – over communicate. No matter if you know the play – make sure you know it.”

The linebacker corps has been particularly undisciplined. Carolina’s linebackers have struggled with gap integrity, run fits, and coverage responsibilities. Christian Rozeboom leads the unit with 24 combined tackles, but many have come after significant gains. Trevin Wallace and DJ Johnson, both expected to contribute rotationally, failed to make meaningful impact. Johnson, in particular, was cut recently—a move that speaks volumes.

Johnson’s release was reportedly due to repeated mental errors and poor practice habits. Statistically, he registered just 2 solo tackles in four games, with no tackles for loss, sacks, or pass deflections. His inability to diagnose plays and maintain discipline in coverage and run support made him a liability. In a 3-4 scheme, that relies heavily on linebacker versatility and communication, Johnson’s lack of development was untenable.

Special Teams: Hidden Yardage, Visible Mistakes

The Special teams unit has also been a source of frustration. The Panthers rank near the bottom in average punt return yards (3.0) and kickoff return yards (16.1). These numbers suggest poor blocking discipline and decision-making by returners. Additionally, Carolina has committed 17 penalties for 173 yards, many of which have come on special teams plays. These infractions—illegal blocks, holds, and offsides—have consistently flipped field position and stalled momentum.

The Panthers’ discipline issues are magnified on the road. In hostile environments, communication becomes critical, and Carolina has struggled to adapt compared to their efforts at home. Their lone win came at home, while their road performances have been marred by miscommunication and inconsistencies. The team has allowed an average of 23.8 points per game, ranking 19th in the league, and many of those points have come from blown coverages and missed assignments.

On the road, the defense appears more disjointed—players are slow to react, late to shift, and often caught out of position. This suggests a lack of preparation for crowd noise and pressure situations.

While the players and coaching staff bear responsibility, the true measure of the term has not been fulfilled. It’s not just about saying it – you have to fix it. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has struggled to get the discipline and consistency in his unit in practices to carry over to the field on road games. The Panthers’ penalty average of 70.7 yards per game is among the highest in the NFL. But even in games where the team has dominated in many critical categories, the lack of discipline has created the situations to cause the squad to fall behind. These are not just physical mistakes—they’re mental errors that actually reflect a lack of accountability and focus.

If the Panthers hope to salvage their season, they must address discipline head-on. That means:

• Reducing penalties through focused practice and accountability.

• Improving communication, especially in road games, with better preparation for crowd noise and pressure.

• Reinforcing fundamentals at the linebacker position, ensuring players understand their assignments and execute consistently and not attempt to overcompensate.

• Elevating special teams play, with smarter decision-making and cleaner execution.

The Panthers have talent, but talent without discipline is wasted. Until they clean up their mental mistakes and improve their communication, especially on the road, their record will continue to reflect a team that beats itself more than it gets beaten.

The next two games for the Panthers will be in the friendly confines of Bank of America stadium in Charlotte. Hopefully, this will allow the team to maintain a calmer mindset. The Dolphins, minus an explosive Tyreek Hill, might be just the remedy to get things headed back in the right direction.