Summary of We're going camping! Panthers, Rams, Chargers and Cowboys

Overview of We're going camping! Panthers, Rams, Chargers and Cowboys

This episode of The Athletic Football Show is the first installment of Robert Mays’ training camp “beat writer notebooks” series, featuring on-the-ground check-ins with reporters covering the Panthers, Rams, Chargers, and Cowboys. The episode focuses on how each team looks entering camp, what’s changed since the offseason, and the biggest questions that could define the 2025 season for each franchise.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are trying to move from “surprising playoff team” to “legitimate ascending roster,” but camp opened with some tough setbacks.

Biggest storylines

• Nick Scourton’s torn ACL is a major blow to the defense before the season even starts.
• Taylor Moton’s blood clot issue creates immediate uncertainty at offensive tackle.
• Monroe Freeling suddenly becomes a key factor earlier than expected.

Offense

• There’s more urgency around Bryce Young now that the Panthers believe they’ve built more of a real supporting cast.
• Dave Canales handed play-calling duties to Brad Idzik, partly to free himself up as a full-time head coach.
• The offense could look more dynamic if:
  • Jonathan Brooks stays healthy and adds explosiveness
  • Jalen Coker continues to grow into a versatile piece
  • Tetairoa McMillan gives them a real boundary weapon
• The expectation is not a total schematic overhaul, but a more flexible and potentially more explosive version of last year’s offense.

Defense

• The defense has improved enough that the Panthers now need it to deliver results, not just promise.
• The group is deeper, more talented, and better structured than it was two years ago.
• The overall feeling is that Carolina finally has real pieces in place — now it has to prove it can win consistently.

Key question

• Is Bryce Young the long-term answer?
  • The Panthers appear optimistic, but they still need a clearer, more consistent leap before committing to a major second contract.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are in classic “all-in” mode again — loaded roster, title expectations, and a few huge variables that could swing the season.

Biggest storylines

• There’s real intrigue around whether Aaron Donald could return, and if so, on what terms.
• The Rams believe they are built to contend again, but they have major depth questions underneath the stars.

Defense

• The Rams want more balance between pass rush and coverage.
• Last year’s defense leaned heavily on creating chaos up front, but the back end had too many leaks.
• The goal now is to build a more complete, versatile defense that can:
  • close games
  • handle mobile quarterbacks
  • avoid late-season breakdowns like the ones that cost them in big games

Offense

• The offensive foundation is still elite, but there are real concerns behind the starting lineup.
• Offensive line depth is the biggest red flag.
• Backup quarterback uncertainty is another major issue, especially with Matthew Stafford’s age and injury history.
• Two players expected to matter more:
  • Blake Corum as a real running back complement
  • Terrance Ferguson as a tight end who can become a third major passing-game piece

Special teams

• The Rams are treating special teams as a legitimate problem to fix, not a minor cleanup issue.
• New coordinator Bubba Ventrone is expected to bring structure and discipline.
• The biggest concern remains the return game, especially punt return.

Key question

• Can the Rams stay healthy and stable enough on the line and at quarterback to let their top-end talent carry them deep into January?

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are one of the league’s most interesting teams because they have the talent, the coach, and the urgency — but still need the system to fit their quarterback.

Biggest storylines

• There’s a very clear sense of urgency around the organization.
• The Chargers have playoff appearances, but no playoff breakthrough, and the pressure is rising.
• Justin Herbert is the central figure in everything they’re trying to build.

Offense

• The new offensive approach is about:
  • getting the ball out faster
  • reducing hits on Herbert
  • creating easy completions that can become explosives
• The offense is expected to lean more into:
  • quick game
  • outside zone
  • play-action and boot concepts
• The big idea is to build a structure that supports Herbert instead of forcing him to be Superman.

Skill players

• Ladd McConkey is expected to be a major focal point.
• Quentin Johnston could benefit hugely from a system that uses him more as a weapon in space instead of trying to make him a pure X receiver.
• Omarion Hampton should be the lead running back, with the rest of the room battling for complementary roles.

Defense

• New defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary brings continuity from the Jesse Minter tree, but he may add his own wrinkles.
• Key questions:
  • Who wins the third safety job?
  • How much do they rotate at cornerback?
  • How much man coverage vs. zone will they actually play?

Contract watch

• Tuli Tuipulotu appears headed for a hold-in and a major payday discussion.
• Daiyan Henley may need a full, healthy season before his contract market really takes off.

Key question

• Can the Chargers finally build an offense that makes Herbert easier to play with in big games?

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys bring back almost everything on offense, but the margin for error still feels thin — especially on the line and in the front seven on defense.

Offense

• The biggest concern is left tackle.
• The second-biggest question is running back depth, even with Javonte Williams in place.
• Javonte Williams may be the lead back, but the team wants a real complement behind him.
• Jaden Blue has flashed enough juice to make a real case for touches.

George Pickens and the long-term picture

• There’s at least some openness to George Pickens becoming part of the long-term plan.
• But that likely depends on:
  • the team winning much more
  • the offense producing at a high level
  • the Cowboys making a real postseason run

Defense

• New defensive coordinator Christian Parker brings a different energy and a different teaching approach.
• The early sense is that players are buying in, but the real test will be what the defense looks like in games.
• There’s a belief that Parker may bring a more modern, flexible approach than some recent Dallas defensive setups.

Key question

• Can the Cowboys solve left tackle and build a defense that is good enough to support a true contender?

Big-picture takeaways

Across all four teams, a few themes keep repeating:

• Quarterback questions still drive everything
  • Bryce Young, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, and Dak Prescott all shape their teams’ ceilings.
• Offensive line health and depth matter everywhere
  • Especially for the Panthers, Rams, and Cowboys.
• Coaching structure is changing
  • Play-calling shifts, new coordinators, and system tweaks are a major part of the camp conversations.
• Depth is the real separator
  • All four teams have enough top-end talent to dream big, but the season will likely be decided by what happens when injuries hit.

If you want, I can also turn this into a shorter executive-summary version or a team-by-team bullet cheat sheet.