SB Nation - Dante Rosario

New York Jets Pass Defense vs. Carolina Panthers Pass Offense

John B — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:02:32 -0000

More photos » by RUSTY KENNEDY - AP

There are a lot of similarities between the Jets and the Panthers. One of them is both teams have talented quarterbacks capable of taking over a game or losing it by constantly throwing it to the opposition. It's been more of the latter this year for Carolina. Jake Delhomme has only 8 touchdown passes against 14 interceptions on top of his all time horrific Playoff start last year against the Cardinals. His passer rating right now stands at 66.

Steve Smith will draw Darrelle Revis. Smith is one of the top deep threats in the game and owns great speed. He leads the Panthers with 45 receptions, 599 yards, and 4 touchdowns. With Donald Strickland and Dwight Lowery out, Lito Sheppard will rejoin the starting lineup. He'll spend much of his day covering Muhsin Muhammad. This seems like a decent matchup for Lito. Muhammad is not a deep threat. He does a lot of his work underneath, runs good routes, and battles. I like the matchup between the starters.

The Panthers are a better running team than passing team, but there are some areas they can try to exploit the Jets if they are willing to open up their playbook a bit. Then again, that requires putting it into Delhomme's hands instead of their excellent running backs. In any event, Drew Coleman will be the nickel. Coleman is coming off one of worst performances in NFL history against Wes Welker (and that is not hyperbole). In four years, Drew hasn't really developed any cover skills or shown he should be on the field in anything other than extreme passing subpackages. Carolina's third receiver, Jersey product Dwayne Jarrett, has only 10 receptions on the year, but the Panthers could look to exploit this matchup. We could also see them target tight ends Jeff King and Dante Rosario, who split time. They have combined for 31 catches.

The key will be bringing pressure and forcing Delhomme to make decisions quicker than he wants. This is how opponents approch New York's mistake prone quarterback. It's how the Jets should go after Carolina's. The Panthers are playing without Pro Bowl tackle Jordan Gross, who is on IR with an injured ankle. Travelle Wharton will start in his place. He had some struggles against the Dolphins last week. The overload blitzes this week could go primarily to his side.

Carolina Panthers’ Monday Morning Optimist (Friday Edition) 11/20/09

James The Aussie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44:29 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

26 days ago: Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne (7) throws a pass under pressure from the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Browse more photos »

Good morning Panther faithful. Time to be optimistic! The weekend is almost here! That is all... just kidding.

Consistently inconsistent is a moniker that suits the Carolina Panthers organization perfectly from top to bottom. I've also referred to this phenomenon as ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. Essentially it's become impossible to predict what the Carolina Panthers will do from week to week; something works perfectly one week, then we abandon it the next, we dodge a bullet one week, then paint a target on our chest the next... and unfortunately it looks like it's going to keep happening until some people lose their jobs and there's an air of change in Carolina.

Was it all bad though? Let's break it down further after the jump...

I put in the hump day prognostication column that the key matchup in last night's game was going to be Miami's run vs. Carolina's run defense; and in the end, that made all the difference. The Panthers allowed Ricky Williams to eat them alive at key moment and by in large, the defense was pitiful. Between the attempted arm tackles on Ricky Williams, blown coverage in pass protection, a complete lack of pressure on Chad Henne and allowing 46% completion of 3^rd downs we never stood a chance. That being said, it's not like the offense played much better, as we had no red zone efficiency... none. I see the defense's failings as failings of the players, and the offense's failings to be leveled on coaching.

According to the good people at Wikipedia an offensive coordinator's responsibilities are thus:

Managing all offensive players and coaching assistants.
- Does Davidson do this? Yeah, I mean, I guess so.
Designing specific offensive plays.
- Does Davidson do this? Who knows? One week we look dynamic and the next we're treading water. If he's designing plays I'd investigate him for plagiarism because I see nothing original.
Developing a general offensive gameplan.
- Does Davidson do this? We only have success when our QB calls the plays. Each week we approach our opponent like we've never seen any tape on them before, the offensive players look lost. We are also completely unable to make halftime adjustments unless we have the lead, and then we take steps backwards.
Calling the plays for the offense during the game.
- Does Davidson do this? For the most part, yes... and he does so horribly.

The thing that is so infuriating regarding Davidson is that there are things that are working. If the offense looked completely lost each and every game it would almost be easier to swallow and just say that our offense sucks. However:

How can someone justify giving up on the strongest part of the game on a whim?

How can he justify getting an 80 yard drive on the ground then pass three times in the end zone?

How can Jeff Davidson justify passing the ball 42 times and rushing 27 times when the passing game is netting you an average of 5.4 yards per attempt and the running game is netting 6.75 yard per attempt? Further compounded with the loss of an all pro LT which surely weakens the pass protection you can offer your QB.

I said in the hump day article that I have moved from lambasting to lauding the Panthers' coaching staff... well; consider this a lambasting kind of day. Jeff Davidson is one of the worst coordinators I have ever seen, because he's not just inept, he's also blind to what's working and what's failing.

OPTIMISTIC

DeAngelo Williams- Extremely Optimistic: When he was on the field DeAngelo played great. Pity he wasn't on the field enough to be a real factor in the outcome.

Steve Smith- Extremely Optimistic: Smitty continues his resurgence and he did what he always does- make Jake look good.

Dante Rosario- Somewhat Optimistic: He's proving to be a major threat in the passing game. I really think we need to try him at WR3 to see if he can hold his own. He's a big target and mostly sure handed.

Gary Barnidge- Somewhat Optimistic: Each week he's improving more and more. Barnidge came up big on the final drive giving us at least the slim opportunity to sniff victory.

PESSIMISTIC

Travelle Wharton- Extremely Pessimistic: Wharton looked lost in pass protection and got eaten alive by Joey Porter. I know the move from LG to LT was going to be tough, but a guy who's played the position before should have performed better. It's as simple as that.

Defensive Players in general- Somewhat pessimistic: I debated giving the entire defense a pass this week given that most of the season they've bailed out the offense. However, I just cant this week. They allowed the big plays and killed the game for us when nine people in the box couldn't tackle Ricky Williams in what proved to be the game ending touchdown.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The season is not over yet, it's just not. Yes, I'm aware how difficult our schedule is and I know how important this week's game was to our postseason chances but if the ball bounces our way and Green Bay beat the 49ers, and the Bears beat Philly we're going to be 2 games back from the wildcard. Improbable? Sure it is. Impossible? Absolutely not. It just hurts to think that Jeff Davidson's offense has essentially left at least 3 winnable games on the table due to his inefficiency (Dallas, Buffalo, and New Orleans)

55% Optimistic heading to NY to face the Jets.

Quick Note: I know this week's Optimist is pretty condensed, and doesn't have the depth I would like, but unfortunately I have a funeral to attend in a little over two hours. I wanted to make sure I got something up for the fans, so feel free to note what you think was optimistic and pessimistic from last night's game.

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 8 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:52:58 -0000

Welcome back once again to Fantasy Friday here at Buffalo Rumblings. The Buffalo Bills are coming off back-to-back road victories in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2004, as they return home to host the streaking Houston Texans. The Texans have won three of four and have six straight games in which they have scored over 20 points. Buffalo's defense posted another solid performance last week against the sagging Panthers, despite giving up a lot of yards once again. They did a nice job of keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard and forcing four more turnovers after forcing six the week before. This week's game against the Texans poses a much stiffer challenge to the vulnerable Bills defense. Those Texans also bring in a defense that has allowed nearly as many yards as the Bills, in addition to three points more per game. Both teams have individual players that can make some noise for your fantasy teams this week. Join me after the jump for recommendations on how to handle them this week.

Quarterbacks
Matt Schaub - So far this season, Schaub has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and possibly the best fantasy quarterback to date. He leads the NFL with 2,074 yards passing and 16 touchdowns, completes almost 66% of his passes, averages 8.3 yards per attempt and sports a 104.4 QB rating that makes us all jealous. He's finally becoming everything the Texans hope he'd be when they acquired him from Atlanta a few years ago. The Bills' pass defense has had its moment so far this season. They currently rank 10th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game, although part of me believes they're legit while part of me believes that's due to having a terrible run defense and facing a slew of crappy quarterbacks. What is legit is the 5.8 yards per attempt allowed, the 58.0 QB rating they've given up and even the NFL best 13 interceptions. They can be taken advantage of, however. Jake Delhomme (!) threw for over 300 yards last week, but in typical Delhomme fashion he literally threw the game away. I don't think Schaub will be doing that this week. Start him as you always would, but watch out for inclement weather. Verdict: Start 'Em

Ryan Fitzpatrick - As much as some Bills fans may want to think otherwise, Fitzpatrick has been pretty terrible these past two weeks. He's averaging 120 yards per game, 5.1 yards per attempt and is completing less than 45% of his passes. He's in the same league as the Derek Anderson and JaMarcus Russell's of the NFL. Don't even think about starting him even against the Texans middle of the road pass defense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Running Backs
Steve Slaton - Slaton has been somewhat of a fantasy disappointment, although he really isn't one. His rushing numbers are way down from last season when he rushed for almost 1,300 yards, 80 yards per game, 4.8 yards per carry and 9 touchdowns. This season he's down to 49 yards per game, 3.1 yards per carry and 2 touchdowns. Pretty frightening numbers, I'd say. He's made up for those numbers by putting up excellent numbers in the Texans' passing game, which has really helped Schaub light up the fantasy world. Thus far, Slaton has caught 27 passes for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns, helping maintain his top 10 fantasy RB status. Look for his success to continue this week. I expect his rushing numbers to increase this week while his receiving totals continue to stay strong. 130 total yards and a touchdown or two seems like a pretty reasonable expectation this week. He's an every week starter, anyhow. Verdict: Start 'Em

Marshawn Lynch - Despite a juicy match-up against a poor Panthers run defense last week, Lynch and the running game again struggled. The Texans have allowed roughly 115 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry, along with a whopping 10 rushing touchdowns so far this season. Opportunities will again be there for Lynch to have a strong game. Unfortunately, with the offensive line continuing to struggle, expectations should remain tempered. It wouldn't surprise me if he posted solid numbers this week as the team will likely ride him early and often. He reached the end zone for the first time last week, and with the Texans struggles there, it wouldn't be too surprising if he walked into the end zone again this week. The Bills need to get him more involved in the passing game again as he's caught just three total passes the past two games. Lynch is definitely a starter as a flex this week, while starting him as a RB2 is a bit more risky. Verdict: Start 'Em in all

Fred Jackson - Jackson has pretty much fallen off the fantasy radar after his hot start. He gave fantasy owners a total of 2 rushing yards last week. Expect the struggles to continue as his touches continue to dwindle. Until he has a bounce back game, you should be looking elsewhere. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Wide Receivers
Andre Johnson - Johnson left last week's victory over San Francisco with a bruised lung after he began coughing up blood. He practiced Thursday and looks good to go. Bruised lung, bloody lung, no lung, it wouldn't matter. Johnson is an every week starter and one of the best in the league. As a Bills fan, just hope he doesn't kill us too badly. Verdict: Start 'Em

Kevin Walter - Walter has been very disappointing so far this season after a solid 2008 that saw him put up 899 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has just 18 catches for 232 yards and a touchdown this year while the Texans have turned elsewhere (RB and TE) for production. He's definitely a guy you want to stash on your bench at this point because he can become a bigger factor at any time, but don't start him. Remember, the Bills have allowed just one touchdown to a WR all season. There are plenty of better options this week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jacoby Jones - Jones and David Anderson rotate as the 3rd WR, but neither has a huge role in the offense. Jones does find the end zone though, having scored four touchdowns already this season, three receiving and one kick return. He also had a punt return touchdown nullified by penalty last week. If you are in need of a bye week fill-in, Jones could be a nice sleeper option for you, especially if return yards and touchdowns factor into your league's scoring. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Lee Evans - Evans has seen a return to relevance with Fitzpatrick under center. He has 9 catches for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns the past two weeks and looks to have a good match-up this week. Fitzpatrick has really looked Evans' way as he accumulated 20 total targets against the Jets and Panthers (he has just 48 for the season). Expect that to continue. I said I wouldn't recommend using him again, but I feel almost compelled to do so for one week only. Assuming the weather is okay, I expect Fitzpatrick to continue trying to get Evans heavily involved, including another deep ball or two. With some good receivers on bye again this week (Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Dwayne Bowe), Evans makes for a good one week start. I'm going to go ahead and do it, so you know who to blame when he catches just one pass this week....Verdict: Start 'Em

Terrell Owens - Owens looks nothing like the player he once was. At this point, it's a positive if he simply catches a pass thrown his way. His hands and concentration seem to have completely vanished. There's no way I would suggest starting him any time soon. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Owen Daniels - Daniels is one of the best and most athletic tight ends in the NFL. He's also an excellent pass catcher and is really the Texans' #2 receiver. The Bills have struggled all season with TE's, including last week's 9 receptions and 135 yards they allowed to the Panthers' "dynamic" trio of Dante Rosario, Jeff King and Gary Barnidge. Daniels is coming off a 7-reception, 123 yard, one touchdown performance against the 49ers, and scored 2 touchdowns the prior week. All signs point to similar results this week. Like Andre Johnson, Daniels is a no-brainer every week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Shawn Nelson - It's too bad Nelson continues to miss practice (and likely this game) due to migraines because he'd have a chance to put up some big numbers against the Texans. Last week Vernon Davis abused the Texans secondary deep over the middle. It would have been nice to see Nelson get the opportunity to face that unit, but it's looking unlikely. Derek Fine isn't an option here, either. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Kris Brown - Kicking for a prolific offense is always a good thing, though Brown hasn't had the attempts he's gotten in year's past. With just six field goals in nine attempts so far this season, Brown is on pace to finished with barely half of the 29 FG's he made last year. He makes for a good play this week, though. The Bills continue to do a decent job of keeping teams out of the end zone, so look for Brown to get some attempts this week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Rian Lindell - He put up two FG's and two extra points last week, justifying a start. I'll go back to the well and say Lindell gets multiple chances again this week. Verdict: Start 'Em

Defense/Special Teams

Houston D/ST - The Texans have picked off just four passes and sacked the quarterback nine times. They aren't much of a fantasy defense, though Fitzpatrick is liable to self-destruct at any time. I understand why some would start the Texans this week, but I don't think the unit is good enough to go with. Go pick up Arizona or San Diego's defense if you need a D/ST. Verdict: Sit'Em

Buffalo D/ST - The Bills have forced 10 turnovers the past two weeks, and added four sacks. They aren't facing Mark Sanchez or Jake Delhomme this week, though. It's hard to imagine them having another productive fantasy performance against Schaub and the Texans' offense. Verdict: Sit'Em

Sleepers

Jacoby Jones - As mentioned above, Jones could be a nice sleeper option for those of you who get points for return statistics this week. With a heavy dose of attention being paid to Johnson and Daniels by the Bills secondary, Jones could see himself with some advantageous coverage on offense. He's a big play guy who could burn the Bills this week.

Terrell Owens - Eh, why not? There aren't too many other options on the Bills to surprise. Owens has been terrible this season, and there aren't too many fantasy owners counting on him anymore. Therefore, he now is relegated to sleeper status at best. Maybe this is all he needs....everyone writing him off giving him even more ammunition to have a huge week. Well, we can hope, can't we?

*****

Tough match-up for the Bills defense this week, as they'll have their work cut out for them against some of the top individual fantasy players in the league. Look for the Texans to accumulate a ton of yardage, but touchdowns may again be harder to come by against the Bills. Let's just hope the Bills offense shows some life this week, too. As always, good luck and use this comments section to discuss all of your fantasy needs!

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers: Who Has the Edge?

Andrew602 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:49:40 -0000

In last week's segment, the New York Giants held the edge, 7-5 and that was rightfully so. Not many Cardinal fans expected them to go to New York and play the way they did. That's where predicting outcomes becomes difficult. This week, predicting who has the edge shouldn't be a challenge, but the Cardinals also shouldn't get ahead of themselves. The Panthers can be a dangerous team, and DeAngelo Williams is always a threat to break a long run. Let's take a look at who will hold the edge.

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
QB		This one should be a no-brainer. Jake Delhomme has already thrown 13 interceptions while Kurt Warner has put together another solid season. This is the key to the game on Sunday.
RB		Although the Panthers have had their problems this season, the one bright spot would be the duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The combo could give the Cardinals problems on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are barely starting to put together a rushing attack
WR		The Cardinals passing attack hasn't been as explosive as it was in the past, but you can never underestimate Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston. The Panthers have struggled getting the ball to Steve Smith, something they must do to be successful.
TE		Jeff King and Dante Rosario have more receptions, yards and touchdowns then any one of the Cardinals tight ends combined. Delhomme hasn't been good but he has found these two in the end zone.
OL		Jeff Otah is a young tackle that Cardinal fans wish we could swap with Levi Brown. The Cardinals offensive line has improved the last two ames, but Carolina's line can produce good rushing lanes for their running backs.

Pos.	Edge	Analysis
DL		The Cardinals continue to remain the best rushing defense in the league. Even with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, they didn't allow over 100 yards. The Panthers have faced injuries and inconsistency. Julius Peppers remains a force on defense, as he has 6 sacks on the year.
LB		The Panthers linebackers are one of the bright spots on the defense. Jon Beason and Thomas Davis lead the defense in tackles and interceptions(1). Although the Cardinals linebackers have blitzed more and have done better in coverage, they'll need to more consistent while doing so.
CB	---------------	The Panthers do have the top pass defense in the league(150 YPG), while the Cardinals are 29th(258 YPG). However, opponents have thrown the least amount of passes(151) in the league at the Panthers. They also allow a 6.6 YPA(13th), a 65.6% completion(27th), and a 91.3 QB rating(24th). The Cardinals have had 226 passes thrown at them(10th) with a 7.2 YPA avg(20th), a 57.5% completion(9th), and an 82.1 QB rating(13th). The Panthers 1st ranked pass defense can be misleading, and the Cardinals stats are skewed from the rough start. Split.
S		Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle proved last week that they are the best pair of safeties, at least in the NFC. They confused Eli Manning and were at the end of 3 turnovers. As stated earlier, the Panthers pass defense is good, but is not on the level of Wilson and Rolle.
ST		This one was close, but the Cardinals have the Panthers beat in almost every statistical category. They're also in top 5 for opponent return yards allowed. So far this year, the Panthers have done nothing that warrants them to have the edge over the Cardinals on special teams.
Coach		John Fox's commitment to Jake Delhomme proved to be disastrous for the Panthers '09 season. Meanwhile, Ken Whisenhunt has the Cardinals on a three game win streak and in 1st place in the West
Edge	Result	Analysis
	7-5	The Cardinals have the edge this week for obvious reasons. They're coming off a three game win streak and a huge win in New York. They'll also be at home, a place they haven't been in two weeks. The Panthers decided to start Delhomme again this week, something that may be costly after Sunday.

The Cardinals get to be on their home field this Sunday, another factor in the game. They hold the edge at most positions, but must have the edge in the mental game as well. Buying into their own hype or becoming too confident could cost the Cardinals the game. What are your thoughts? Are there any positions that you don't agree with?

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:55:38 -0000

While the Arizona Cardinals still have some players battling through some nagging injuries they are still in a much better situation than most teams in the league seven weeks into the season. The team had just three players who sat out of yesterday's practice, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was able to participate in the full practice. DRC, who estimated himself at about 85%, said that he was surprised at how well he felt after injuring his ankle against the Giants. The biggest name who missed practice was Antrel Rolle, who's dealing with a foot injury, but he is expected to play on Sunday. Kenny Iwebema (knee) also missed practice although it's not considered serious and Stephen Spach is still being held out as well. Steve Breaston (knee) and Anquan Boldin (ankle) were also limited and Reggie Wells is still listed on the injury report (broken thumb) but he participated fully.

Here's quick look at the Carolina Panthers report:

Landon Johnson (LB) - Shoulder - DNP
Jonathan Stewart (RB) - Achilles - DNP
Dante Rosario (TE) - Knee - DNP
Muhsin Muhammad (WR) - Knee - DNP
Charles Godfrey (S) - Ankle - DNP
Thomas Davis (LB) - Hamstring - LP
Rhys Lloyd (K) - Ankle - FP
Brad Hoover (FB) - Back - FP

Godfrey, Davis, Muhammad and Hoover are all starters and we all know that Jonathan Stewart is a big part of that offense as their backup running back. Godfrey, starting free safety, hurt his ankle last week and showed up at the team facilities on crutches and a cast although head coach Jon Fox said that there isn't anything broken. He would be a significant loss for this Panthers' defense is he can't go on Sunday. Muhammad is still a starting wide out but at 36 he's slowing down very quickly but he's one of only two wide receivers with over three receptions so far this season. Davis, an underrated linebacker who's leading the team in tackles, would be a significant loss but he's expected to play. Hoover has been dealing with back issues all season so his status could change at any time.

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 7 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:14 -0000

Welcome back once again to Fantasy Friday here at Buffalo Rumblings. This week's opponent is the Carolina Panthers and their formidable running game. The Bills are coming off a hard fought, mistake filled overtime victory over the even more mistake prone New York Jets. It was an ugly game no matter how you slice it, unless penalties, turnovers, injuries, punts, missed field goals and poor quarterback plays suits your fancy. This week's game looks like it could have many of the same factors as the Bills head down to Charlotte to face the 2-3 Panthers and their mistake-lovin' quarterback.

We're in the heart of the fantasy season where each week could make or break a team's playoff hopes. If your team has struggled so far this season, there's a good chance you need to win this week to stay in contention. There will be some individual fantasy players of note in this week's game, so head on in after the jump to take a look at my recommendations for Bills vs Panthers:

Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick - Ick, I feel dirty even writing about him in this space, but such is life. Fitzpatrick played a very uneven game in relief of the concussed Trent Edwards last week, finishing an abysmal 10 of 25 for 116 yards, one touchdown and one poorly thrown interception in overtime. The touchdown was a good throw to Lee Evans and tied up the game late in the third quarter. Other than that throw, Fitzpatrick left a lot of plays on the field and would have had a JaMarcus Russell type final line. Imagine if that TD had been a 37 yard touchdown rush instead? Fitzpatrick would have put up a painful looking 79 yards and 3.3 yards per attempts. As it was, he finished with a very bad 4.6 ypa. With a full week of practice and snaps with the first team offense, he should be a little more comfortable this week, but don't expect a huge uptick in production. The Panthers have done a good job defending the pass so far this season, allowing just 156.8 yards per game, good for 2nd in the NFL. There is a glimmer of hope as they're allowing a quarterback rating of 92.8. I don't think Fitzpatrick will be nearly as bad as he was last week, but I also don't think he'll be all that good either. I'm sure the team will be happy if he has an average performance. I know I will be. Just don't consider him a fantasy option. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jake Delhomme - Delhomme is still reeling from his six turnover fiasco in last season's divisional playoffs against the Cardinals. It's carried over to this season as Delhomme has again struggled with turnovers (10 INT's, 2 fumbles lost) and inconsistent play. He's thrown just four touchdowns, is averaging less than 170 yards per game and 6.4 yards per attempt, and has been sacked 11 times. If Carolina had a good backup option (and less money invested in old Jake), he'd probably be on the bench right now. The Bills pass defense has really clamped down of late. They're down to 170.7 yards per game allowed after a rough start, have been on the receiving end of 10 interceptions (3rd in the NFL), and are allowing a QB rating of just 58.5 (2nd in the NFL). The 5.5 yards per attempt they've allowed is tops in the NFL. Don't expect Carolina to rely on Delhomme much this week. The reasons are pretty outlined above. Verdict: Sit'Em

Running Backs
Marshawn Lynch - This is going to be a game that is won or lost on the ground. Going into this game, the Panthers are allowing 149.2 rushing yards per game (4th worst in the NFL), and a whopping 5.0 yards per carry (2nd worst). Expect the Bills to take the ball out of Fitzpatrick's hands and really rely on their running game. Lynch will have plenty of opportunities and should be in good position to have a productive game. If the Bills can finally get inside the 10 yard line again, he may even get to visit the end zone for the first time this season. Look for him to get another 15-20 touches and approach 100 total yards. Because of the timeshare situation, it's hard to recommend Lynch as a RB2, but this week looks like a good week for that, especially with six teams on bye. I'll go ahead and say he's worth a start in all format unless you have two obvious options ahead of him. Verdict: Start 'Em

Fred Jackson - Jackson contines to see a bulk of the carries (28 to Lynch's 36 the past two weeks) and remains a valuable flex option. I wouldn't be surprised to see the screen pass brought back this week to help Fitzpatrick out and get the most out of our running backs. With Jackson likely to handle all kick and punt returns, as well, he looks like he'll be a very good flex play this week. When all is said and done, he should see about 20 touches. I like his potential for this week. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex

DeAngelo Williams - The Bills are dead last in the NFL, allowing a cringe inducing 181.8 rushing yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. Williams is coming off a game in which he ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns against the Buccaneers. The Bills are coming off a game in which they allowed over 300 yards on the ground. For fantasy purposes, this is a match-up made in heaven. Unfortunately, the real life aspect of it is painful to imagine. Williams is probably the number one RB option this week, so unless you are crazy, you need to roll with him even if it is against our beloved Bills. Verdict: Start 'Em

Jonathan Stewart - Stewart is also coming off a very good game, running for 110 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay. Expect him to have similar success against the Bills' sieve of a defense. The yardage total might not be as high, but he has another great shot at reaching paydirt. He'll probably get another 12-15 carries for in the neighborhood of 80-90 yards. It's hard to suggest starting him as a RB2 since he is the Panthers' #2 after all, but he's a great flex play this week. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex

Wide Receivers
Lee Evans - Evans was the only beneficiary of Fitzpatrick's last week, catching a 37-yard touchdown. However, he had just two total catches after Edwards went down, so it's not like his success jumped up as a result. I expect another downer of a game from him, though he'll probably finish as the Bills top receiver again this week. With Fitzpatrick at QB, it's hard to recommend anybody in the Bills' passing game. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Terrell Owens - Owens continues to be a non-factor for the Bills. He was targeted 8 times against the Jets, but finished with a paltry 3 receptions for 13 yards. With his proclivity for dropping passes in full effect, Owens should remain planted on your bench until he proves he is capable of doing something in this offense. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Steve Smith - Smith's production and fantasy performance has really dipped this season, mostly due to the issues Jake Delhomme is having. He's still one of the better receivers in the NFL, but the Panthers just can't get him the ball. As frustrated as Evans and Owens probably are, Smith might be even more frustrated playing for the same offense and with the same quarterback in which he's had major success before. He's always a threat to turn a shorter gainer into a huge play, but this week's match-up really doesn't favor him. Expect the Panthers to keep the ball on the ground, thus, Smith should remain on your bench if possible. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Muhsin Muhammed - Muhammed actually leads the Panthers in receptions with 22, but has produced just 205 yards and no touchdowns. Don't bother. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Tight Ends
Derek Fine - Fine has just 2 receptions for 13 yards since his five reception performance against New Orleans in week 3. Move along. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Shawn Nelson - Nelson flashed his potential last week making a gorgeous adjustment on a perfectly executed underthrow from Fitzpatrick. He's starting to get Bills' fans hope up (again), but he is also facing the prospects of missing this week due to injury (again). He joined Trent Edwards in the concussion club against the Jets and is questionable for this week. As always, don't bother considering him as an option, but keep an eye on him for the future. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Jeff King/Dante Rosario - They've combined for the only four touchdowns the Panthers have scored through the air this season. They've also combined for just 17 receptions. If it was King Rosario, which would be a sweet name by the way, instead of King/Rosario, this might be a good option. Instead, they should remain right where they are: on your league's waiver wire. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Rian Lindell - Lindell had 3 field goals against the Jets last week, including the game winner. I think the Bills will be able to move the ball on the ground this week, while struggling to move it through the air, which leads me to believe we'll see a bunch of field goal attempts again. I'll go ahead and get crazy....Verdict: Start 'Em

John Kasay - I'm sure this is a well-known fact, but did you know that John Kasay has been in the NFL since 1991 and is the only remaining "original Panther"? He's been a steady presence on the Panthers and in fantasy football for a long time now. The Panthers haven't given him too many opportunities thus far this season, but expect that to change this week. Expect Carolina to move it on the ground all afternoon, but struggle through the air (just like the Bills!). Kasay makes for a good option this week, as well. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Bills D/ST - Coming off an excellent six interception, two sack performance, the Bills D/ST look to continue their fantasy "success". It's tough to imagine a similar result, however. They are going to struggle to shut down the Panthers' running game, and it's unlikely Delhomme will be given much leeway. I expect them to play well against the pass again, but I don't believe they'll have much fantasy production this week. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Panthers D/ST - They must be licking their chops going against Ryan Fitzpatrick this week. If they can force Fitzpatrick to make plays, the Panthers defense may be in line for a solid fantasy day. They had four sacks and forced two turnovers last week. They could see a similar result this week. This unit hasn't been very productive for the season, however, so I would keep them on the waiver wire. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Sleepers
Since both teams are likely to go with a run-heavy gameplan, it's hard to envision any true sleepers this week. Because of that, I would say both D/ST's have a good chance to surprise us all. If either defense can force the opposing offense into 2nd and 3rd and longs, the likelihood of quarterback mistakes skyrockets. I wouldn't be surprised by a pick six by either unit this week, so prepare yourselves!

*****

Expect this to be a somewhat lower scoring battle of running games. If you have a running back from either team, you should feel pretty good about their chances for success this week. If you plan to start anyone else from this game, have fun with that! As always, good luck and enjoy the games!

Bolts & Dolts: Broncos @ Chargers

John (obviousman) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:50:43 -0000

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

about 1 month ago: Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler pulls in a 19-yard touchdown pass San Diego Chargers Eric Weddle (32) tries to defend during the third quarter of the NFL football game Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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So I've given myself 24 hours to get over the emotions of this game, and now I'm ready bestow BFTB awards to the best and worst San Diego Chargers players of the week.

What's funny to me, about this game, is that it was the complete opposite of what we've become used to as Chargers fans. The team came out fast, clearly winning the first-half, and then were outdone in the second half as the Broncos coaches made better adjustments. An uncharacteristic game for the Bolts, but with similar results (a close loss).

The Bolts and Dolts are listed after the jump, along with their stats. Keep in mind that any players left off this list had a good game, it just wasn't a great game or a bad game.

Bolts

Offense

Philip Rivers - 20/33, 274 yds, 1 TD. Stats-wise, Philip was outdone by Kyle Orton. Also, the majority of Phil's success came in the first half. However, he spent the second half running away from pass-rushers and still managed to not make any bad throws. In short, Philip did everything we could've asked for considering what he was facing.

Offensive Playcall - 20 first downs, 311 total yds. I thought the offensive calls in the first half were brilliant. The screen to Antonio Gates and the double-screen to Mike Tolbert certainly helped keep the defense on their toes. The Chargers offense was every bit as good as the Broncos' on this day, with more first downs, about the same amount of yards and an equal time of possession. However, the Chargers' offense only put up 16 points to Denver's 20 and the Chargers went 1-for-2 in the red zone (in terms of TDs) to the Broncos' 2-for-4 success rate.

Defense

Kevin Ellison - 7 tackles. Welcome to the big-time, kid! Ellison seemed to take Clinton Hart's place in the defense, on the field for the majority of the snaps, and had great success. Not only did he lead the team in tackles, but he did a pretty good job defending Tony Sheffler most of the night.

Antonio Cromartie - 3 tackles, 2 defended passes. Cromartie first big game of the season, in my opinion. He spent less time going for picks and more time playing the receiver. Antonio covered Eddie Royal most of the night, and Royal ended with 0 catches after being thrown to 4 times. Cro had some trouble on special teams coverage, but he didn't belong out there anyways.

Larry English - 4 tackles, 1 sack. English didn't necessarily have a great game, but in his 5th game of his career he looks like the best pass rusher on the team.

Dolts

Offense

Offensive Line - 5 sacks allowed. The offensive line actually didn't play horrible, they just really miss Nick Hardwick. The line's weakness now is identifying and picking up blitzers. The Chargers ran for 3.5 yards per carry (higher than Denver's 3.1 YPC), but couldn't handle the heavy blitzing packages that Mike Nolan was throwing at them. In the end, the Broncos got a sack from an Inside Linebacker and a Cornerback in addition to Elvis Dumervil (2) and Darrell Reid.

Defense

Stephen Cooper - 4 tackles. I know, he was playing with an injury that probably should've kept him out, but Cooper was exploited by Denver's offense. They ran at him, threw at him and generally directed their offense towards him. I saw a play where Shaun Phillips slid over and played ILB with Cooper coming off the field and it didn't work much better. I really hope Cooper and Kevin Burnett can get healthy and stay healthy, because the coverage skills of the Chargers backup ILBs is a real weakness.

Pass Rush - 1 sack. Apart from English's sack, which was a second-effort play that was made because Orton held onto the ball too long, the pass rush was completely and totally non-existent. I can't blame Rivera, because he called his share of blitzes. I think the blame lies firmly on the defensive line, weakened by injuries, that cannot keep the blitzing LBs clean. Sadly, Chargers fans, I don't know if it's going to get any better.

Eric Weddle - 5 tackles. Well, we now have our reason why Weddle can never ever play the SS position: He cannot cover TEs. It was a problem last year (the name Dante Rosario sticks out) that was blamed on Hart (who was just as bad), but Weddle deserves some of the blame. Every time the Chargers lined Weddle up on Sheffler, the Broncos noticed it and attacked it. It's Rivera's job to make sure that Weddle one-on-one against a TE doesn't happen anymore.

Panthers Receiving Tandem - Less than Good So Far

Ryan Basen — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:54:26 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

Panthers receivers Steve Smith, left, and Muhsin Muhammad, shown here in training camp in August, combined have caught only half the balls thrown to them this season. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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The Panthers and observers have blamed a lot of factors for the team's stagnant offense this season: The line is not playing well, Jake Delhomme is declining, Jonathan Stewart was injured. But another reason for the unit's struggles has been the lack of productivity from Carolina's starting wide receivers, Mushin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

In fact, when you look at how much the Panthers' passing game has depended on Smith and Muhammad, and how much they have produced, they rate as one of the least efficient wide receiver tandems in the NFL.

CSR examined the top two wide receivers on each NFL team -- studying how often they were targeted for passes, how many balls they caught, and for how many yards and scores. Adjustments were made to averages in some cases to account for the Panthers' bye week because not every NFL team had had its bye yet. Here is how Smith and Muhammad stack up:

Smith and Muhammad have been the targets of a combined 77 passes from Panthers quarterbacks, and have caught only 39 of those passes. That's roughly one-half. Neither has scored a touchdown in four games and they have accounted for a combined 433 yards, or 108.3 yards per game, even though they have been the targets for a staggering 57.9 percent of all Carolina passes. Here are their individual numbers:

Smith has caught 20 of the 42 passes thrown his way, for 255 yards. He has been the target for 31.6 percent of Carolina passes.

Muhammad has caught 19 of 35 passes for 178 yards. He has been the target 26.3 percent of the time.

You don't need to be Jeff Davidson to know that's not efficient. Compare their production to other top NFL receiving tandems, and the numbers look worse. Only one other duo has been the target for as many of its team's passes (57.9 percent) when they are healthy: Randy Moss and Wes Welker of the Patriots. But Welker and Moss have been far more productive.

Moss has caught 30 of 48 passes for 367 yards and a score -- albeit in five games, to four for the Panthers' tandem. Welker, however, is 26-of-41 for 227 yards and a score in only three games.

Between them they have played a combined eight games -- the same as Smith and Muhammad -- and accounted for many more yards (594-433) on only 12 more passes (89-77). They have also caught 63 percent of passes thrown their way, to 51 percent for Smith-Muhammad.

Some other figures to chew on:

Despite their limited production, Smith and Muhammad are both in the top 10 of all NFL receivers in percentage of their team's passes thrown to them. No other team has a pair of receivers in the top 10. This suggests that the Panthers are relying too much on Smith and Muhammad at the wide receiver position.

The other Steve Smith, of the Giants, by himself has accounted for more receiving yards (481-433) and touchdowns (4-0) than Smith-Muhammad despite being targeted far less often (49-77).

Smith 20-42 receptions-targeted ratio is the second-lowest among the 25 NFL receivers who are their teams' most popular targets. The only one who's worse: The Raiders' Louis Murphy (12-33). And he plays with Jamarcus "I miss the whole table when I play beerpong" Russell.

Despite playing opposite a veteran receiver, Smith has been far less productive than the NFL receiver he is most often compared to: Washington's Santana Moss. Moss is similar in stature, speed and experience to Smith. He plays in an offense worse than Carolina's, lining up opposite the unestablished Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly. Yet Moss is 21-of-35 for 337 yards and two scores.

Besides Welker-Moss and Smith-Muhammad, six other healthy tandems of NFL receivers have been targeted for at least 43 percent of their team's passes: The Giants' Smith-Mario Manningham (55), Seattle's T.J. Houshmandzadeh-Nate Burleson (48), Pittsburgh's Hines Ward-Santonio Holmes (47), Jacksonville's Torry Holt-Mike Sims-Walker (45), Denver's Brandon Marshall-Eddie Royal (45) and Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald-Anquan Boldin (43).

All six tandems, like Welker-Moss, have been more efficient and productive than Smith-Muhammad.

Smith and Muhammad are well off their pace of last season. In the 2008 regular season combined they were targeted for an even higher percentage of Panther passes (62.3) than thus far in 2009. But they corralled 60.3 percent of the 237 passes thrown their way, accounted for an average of 146.3 yards per game and caught 11 touchdown passes.

This report is not meant as a referendum against Smith and Muhammad. A passing game depends of course on the quarterback, linemen and offensive coordinator, as well. They are all responsible for the lack of production from the wide receiver position; the numbers don't tell us how many times Smith got open but Delhomme was sacked or misread the play, for example. I'm not a coach or a scout; I have no idea how much of a factor Smith and Muhammad alone have been in their lack of production.

But here's what the numbers do tell us: The Panthers vertical passing game has been anemic through four games. Until something changes -- Delhomme's play, the development of Kenny Moore or Dwayne Jarrett, more playing time for Dante Rosario, whatever -- defenses will likely continue to stack the box and attack the running game. They will dare the Panthers' passing game to move the ball and score, because so far it has not done much of either efficiently.

A little chat with Cat Scratch Reader- Buc'em style!

Niko Houllis — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:00:24 -0000

carolina

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We're gonna blow up this interview Buc'Em style! We talked to the guys over at Cat Scratch Reader and asked them some questions about their team. Curious to see what they wanted to know about us? Well you should head over to the Cat Scratch Reader and check it out!

BUCWILD: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart aren't the dynamic duo they were last year. What has changed and will they get it back on track?

It’s our unprofessional opinion that the offensive line is not performing to the lofty standards that were heaped upon it last season. The left side and the middle of the line is getting beat in pass protection and the right side isn’t opening the holes for the running game. We are not to the point of wanting to bench anybody yet but if something doesn’t improve soon who knows?

UNFNOLE: Statistically speaking, the only quarterback worse than Jake Delhomme is JaMarcus Russell (out of players with 30 plus passes he is 36th out of 37 players. Is Matt Moore (the backup) that bad or does the coaching staff believe Jake Delhomme doesn't deserve the majority of the blame?

(Our Convo is continued after the jump...)

Delhomme is only ranked 36^th because the number doesn’t include 4^th quarter comebacks and leadership ability. His intangibles were on full display on the naked bootleg he ran to seal the victory over the Redskins. It has nothing to do with Matt Moore. We ignore the stats when it comes to Delhomme and simply look at Wins and Losses.

BUCWILD: Outside of Jon Beason, what defensive players should we be on the look out for?

That’s an easy question. In Ron Meeks Cover 2 defense the WLB is the play maker and Thomas Davis (#58) hasn’t disappointed. The guy is easily leading the team in tackles and is our most effective blitzer. In the matter of importance to the defense it was nice to get SS Chris Harris back after he missed the first three games with injury. He shut down Chris Cooley so he will be important in containing Winslow. We also seem to have found a replacement for DT Maake Kemoeatu in recently signed Hollis Thomas. He’s the wide body we’ve needed up front since game one.

UNFNOLE: Who would you guys consider the most underrated player on your team that Bucs fans (and NFL fans alike) should know about?

Probably the aforementioned Thomas Davis but we have another to mention. TE Dante Rosario has absolute mad receiving skills. If he could improve his blocking he would be a Pro Bowl TE but as it stands he is mainly a red zone receiving target. He leads the team in TD receptions with two (low I know), has great hands and is good at running the seem routes down the middle of the field. I recently heard a national pundit say the Panthers still lack a TE that can stretch the middle of the field. Sorry but he’s on the roster and his name is Dante Rosario.

NIKO: If you could, who on the Bucs would you take for your team?

I’m not sure how many other fans would agree with me but from the offense I would grab WR Antonio Bryant and on defense it would be DT Chris Hovan. Both are excellent players that would fill positions of need for the Panthers.

Panthers Rebound to Beat Redskins 20 - 17

Jaxon — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:37:26 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

2 months ago: Washington Redskins' Jason Campbell (17) loses the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Everette Brown (91) during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. The Redskins recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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The Panthers didn't exactly light it up in this game but they did just enough to pull out a gutty victory over the Redskins. Here's my quick hits on the game:

I have to first give credit to QB Jake Delhomme for getting it done in the end, particularly his hard-nosed bootleg for a 1^st down to seal the win
Special teams made two huge plays, first with a nice kick off return to ignite the Panthers first scoring drive and the second creating a key turnover on a punt return that resulted in the go-ahead score
The Panthers pass rush came to life with five sacks and managed pressure on Redskins QB Jason Campbell most of the day
DE Julius Peppers responded with 4 tackles and 2 sacks, including a 2^nd quarter safety where he blew past the RT to nail RB Clinton Portis a yard deep in the end zone
SS Chris Harris returned in a big way, logging 7 tackles and holding ‘Skins TE Chris Cooley to ZERO catches. Wow, I never imagined how much of a difference this guy could make
TE's Jeff King and Dante Rosario proved the Panthers can go down the middle of the field with 3 catches, 52 yards and a TD. King made a nice catch for the Panthers first TD

There's plenty of negative to discuss later but let's savor the win and the salvaging of our season at least for a week.

Poll

Who was the Panthers player of the game vs the Redskins?

Jake Delhomme

83 votes

Julius Peppers

110 votes

Jonathan Stewart

22 votes

Jon Beason

35 votes

Chris Harris

26 votes

Everette Brown

7 votes

Quinton Teal

14 votes

Steve Smith

13 votes

Other

16 votes

326 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation - Dante Rosario

New York Jets Pass Defense vs. Carolina Panthers Pass Offense

Carolina Panthers’ Monday Morning Optimist (Friday Edition) 11/20/09

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 8 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers: Who Has the Edge?

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

QB

RB

WR

TE

OL

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

DL

LB

CB

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S

ST

7-5

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: Injury Report

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 7 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Bolts & Dolts: Broncos @ Chargers

Bolts

Dolts

Panthers Receiving Tandem - Less than Good So Far

A little chat with Cat Scratch Reader- Buc'em style!

Panthers Rebound to Beat Redskins 20 - 17

Who was the Panthers player of the game vs the Redskins?

Jake Delhomme

Julius Peppers

Jonathan Stewart

Jon Beason

Chris Harris

Everette Brown

Quinton Teal

Steve Smith

Other