SB Nation - Thomas Davis

Carolina Panthers’ Hump Day Prognostication (Minnesota Vikings edition)

James The Aussie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:01:01 -0000

8 days ago: Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre (4) hugs Adrian Peterson (28) after Peterson's touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 30-10. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Good morning Panther faithful and happy hump day! Twelve lords a leapin'? Not quite. This is the current number of Carolina Panthers on injured reserve. It's been a horrible 2009 campaign for injuries, but it could be worse; both the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 18 players on the IR. After the loss Jeff Otah yesterday the injury ravaged Carolina Panthers (5-8) host the dynamic Minnesota Vikings (11-2) in the last of the Panthers' nationally televised games on Sunday night.

Though not officially announced at the time of this article it appears Matt Moore will be making his third start in a row under center for the beleaguered Carolina Panthers offense. So what does this week hold for the Cats? Find out:

After the jump...

Minnesota run offense vs. Carolina run defense

There's this guy who dons the purple every week. He's pretty good from what I hear... what is his name? Oh yeah, Adrian Peterson. If you aren't aware of Peterson's exploits you've been living under a rock for the last two NFL seasons. Peterson is easily one of the top 5 running backs in the NFL, and some want to anoint him as the next Walter Payton. I'm not willing to go quite that far, but Peterson is an outstanding running back.

Meanwhile, the Panthers' run defense is far from stellar allowing 137.3 yards on the ground each week (26^th in the NFL). If the Panthers want to make some plays in this area they will have to force Peterson to fumble, which isn't a wholly difficult prospect as he's put the ball on the turf 6 times thus far in 2009.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota pass offense vs. Carolina pass defense

In times of yore purple was reserved as a color for kings... so how fitting the Mississippi Methuselah wears the color for the season likely to be his swansong. Brett Favre has found the fountain of youth in Minnesota turning in a MVP caliber season. Thus far Favre has over 3,000 yards, 27 TDs, only 6 INTs while posting a QB rating of 106. A good reason for this resurgence is a veritable smorgasbord of effective wide receivers. Led by a product of the Carolina's- Sidney Rice, the Vikings also have rookie Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian rounding out their receiving corps. Couple this with Visanthe Shiancoe at TE and the Vikings are very deadly ranked 11^th in the NFL in passing.

Meanwhile the Carolina Panthers' 6^th ranked pass defense has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark season. We've seen the NFL's best and brightest and held the vast majority of passing defenses below their season averages. It would be nice to still have Thomas Davis to keep opposing tight ends honest, but all in all I think the pass D can step up again.

Edge: Carolina Panthers

KEY MATCHUP: Carolina run offense vs. Minnesota run defense

The Carolina Panthers' run offense is a wounded animal at this point. With injuries to both Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah, the normally calm edges do not provide safe harbor for Double Trouble. In the latter part of 2009 the Carolina Panthers' depth on the offensive line has been tested, and been found wanting for the most part. That being said, both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have big play potential every time they touch the ball. The Panthers still hold strong at 4^th in the NFL in rushing, despite slightly weakened performances the last two weeks.

Conversely, the Minnesota Vikings are boasting a very stout run defense. They have an extremely efficient group of LBs led by Chad Greenway who leads the team in tackles. Their run defense is currently ranked 4^th in the NFL and this battle of the number 4's proves to be the most intriguing aspect of Sunday night's game.

Edge: Push

Carolina pass offense vs. Minnesota pass defense

As we embark on week three of the Matt Moore experiment it's starting to look a little more like a 4^th grade science fair project than a Nobel Prize winner. Moore has been efficient, but not dynamic. After facing two fairly weak pass defenses in his first two outings he's up against a rough defense this week. If Moore and the Panthers' 28^th ranked pass offense hope to make any dents in the Vikings' armor he needs to get Steve Smith involved early, and often. Relying on the outlets again this week is not going to move the chains efficiently, especially when the run offense is in for a fight.

The Vikings' pass defense is ranked 11^th in the NFL for good reason. The Vikings don't have any true ball hawks in the secondary (only nabbing 6 interceptions this season) but while they lack in this area they more than make up for in coverage. It will be a rough week for Moore.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Special Teams

Special teams have been drastically improved since the early weeks of 2009, but they're far from a strong point. The Panthers only average 19.9 yards per kickoff to the Vikings' 24.4 and the Panthers are allowing almost 11 yards per punt return to the Vikings' 9.1.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Coaching

Each week this proves to be the hardest aspect to prognosticate. The Panthers' coaching has been so up and down in 2009 it's near impossible to guess what will happen on Sundays. We still need to run the ball more and be more inventive on the offensive end; conversely the defensive coaching has been outstanding. Ron Meeks was a real find for the defense.

The Vikings are getting it done on both sides of the ball. The Panthers are getting it done on one side of the ball. This alone makes it a clear choice.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Final Summary

The Panthers are playing for pride, and to dampen some of the boundless excitement in the camp of San Francisco 49ers fans who await our 2010 1^st round pick. Carolina is evaluating the talent and depth they have to better prepare them for a 2010 campaign. I know there is a convoluted scenario that shows how we can make the playoffs, but it would require a Christmas miracle of Charlie Brown proportions to make that a reality.

Meanwhile the Vikings are playing to retain the 1^st round bye. The Vikings are a very, very good football team, but most people who read this article on a regular basis know I just can't pick against my Panthers... so my heavily biased prediction is:

Carolina Panthers 27 - Minnesota Vikings 24

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Carolina Panthers Run Defense

John B — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:13:24 -0000

More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP

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The Panthers do not stop the run particularly well. They give up 130.7 per game on the ground, 26th in the league. Opponents are picking up 4.7 yards per carry against them. Ricky Williams went for 119 against the Panthers last week. Nose tackle Hollis Thomas is the best run defender on Carolina's line. Tyler Brayton is solid. It is a struggle for everybody else. Under tackle Damione Lewis has been nursing a shoulder injury but had full participation in practice on Friday. It hasn't been great for Lewis or backups Tank Tyler and Nick Hayden this year. The same goes for ends Julius Peppers and Everette Brown. The pair rotates at right end. They are both very athletic and good pass rushers. That athleticism doesn't help them play the run well.

Jon Beason is very good in the middle for the Panthers at linebacker, but the situation outside is in flux. Carolina has three outside linebackers on injured reserve. That will leave a lot of inexperience at outside linebacker in Dan Connor and James Anderson. They could really use injured Thomas Davis in this one.

I think the Jets do what they do best, try and pound the power right side of the line, attacking Lewis and Connor, staying away from Thomas if possible. The Jets can very easily avoid asking Mark Sanchez to do too much. They have a big edge in this department. Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks does not have anybody in the secondary great in run support. He surely misses Bob Sanders.

Heavy Drafting at Other Positions Leaves Panthers Thin at Linebacker

Ryan Basen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:51:53 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

By drafting so many defensive backs such as safety Sherrod Martin (23) in the first four rounds of the John Fox era, the Panthers have left themselves thin at linebacker -- where Jon Beason, here recovering a fumble in New Orleans Nov. 8, is the only starter still healthy. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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With Nail Diggs injured and questionable to play, it's possible the Panthers could start a trio of Job Beason, James Anderson and Dan Connor at linebacker Sunday against the Jets. That would be one regular starter -- Beason in the middle -- and two players who have made a combined two starts on the outside when the Panthers face the NFL's No. 2 rushing offense.

Carolina is in this predicament in large part because of injuries to Thomas Davis and Landon Johnson, who are both out for the season. But the Panthers could also blame a history of not building depth at linebacker.

The club's strategy in eight years under general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox has been to build through the draft, re-sign its own players and patch holes through free agency. But while the Panthers have used numerous high- and mid-round picks on defensive backs, and have used two first-round picks on linebackers, they have neglected to build good linebacker depth.

First-year defensive coordinator Ron Meeks employs a scheme that asks linebackers to be playmakers. It's no surprise then that Carolina has been run over since Davis suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Saints Nov. 8. Carolina has given up 330 yards on 60 carries (5.5 yards per carry) in two full games without Davis. Johnson stepped in but was then injured for the season himself in a loss to Miami Nov. 19.

Two injuries to the same position is unlucky, but it happens all the time in the NFL. As the adage goes, injuries are not an excuse -- they are part of the NFL game. The best teams are prepared with genuine depth. Connor and Anderson could prove me wrong, but it appears the Panthers were not well-prepared for this rash of linebacker injuries. Here's how:

In the eight drafts under Hurney and Fox dating to 2002, the Panthers have selected 65 players -- 30 on defense. Carolina drafted 12 defensive backs, 10 defensive linemen and eight linebackers. That dispersal actually makes sense because Carolina runs a 4-3 defense, meaning the Panthers on most plays use four linemen, four defensive backs and only three linebackers.

Hurney and Fox deserve credit for rebuilding a defense on the fly. The Panthers have only one defensive starter remaining from the 2003 Super Bowl team (defensive end Julius Peppers) and just two from the 2005 team that reached the NFC Championship game (Peppers and corner Chris Gamble). Six of the 11 projected starters on the first day of training camp this season were Panthers draftees who had six or less years of experience.

The problem is that Carolina has missed on many of its linebacker picks, scrambled to replace a good player who left in free agency and watched a standout retire unexpectedly at age 28. In addition, since 2002 the Panthers have used only five picks in the first four rounds on linebackers -- compared to eight on defensive backs.

Starting in 2002, the Panthers have drafted the following linebackers: Will Witherspoon (Third round, 2002), Sean Tufts (Sixth, 2004), Davis (First, 2005), Adam Seward (Fifth, 2005), Anderson (Third, 2006), Beason (First, 2007), Tim Shaw (Fifth, 2007) and Connor (Third, 2008).

That's two first-round picks, three third-rounders, two fifth-rounders and one sixth-rounder. Only four of those players are still on the team: Beason, Davis, Anderson and Connor.

Tufts has been out of the NFL since 2006, Seward played in 40 games -- starting two -- for the Panthers between 2005-2008. He played briefly for Jacksonville this season but the Jaguars cut him Tuesday. Shaw played in 14 games for Carolina in 2007, spent last season with the Jaguars and has played in nine games as a backup for the Bears this year.

Witherspoon started 47 of 48 regular season games between 2003-2005 for Carolina, but signed a big free-agent deal with the Rams in 2006. He was recently traded to Philadelphia and now starts for the Eagles. He has missed only two games to injury in his eight-year career.

Dan Morgan, a 2001 first-round pick, retired in 2007 after sustaining multiple concussions. He was 28.

The Panthers hit on Davis and Beason, but have not drafted enough linebackers in rounds two-four to complement them. You can't expect every mid- and late-round pick to work out, so it's hard to blame them for Shaw, Seward and Tufts. But you can blame management for relying too much on free agency and not enough on the draft to acquire good linebacker depth.

Look at the other linebackers on the roster now: Connor, Anderson, Diggs, Johnson, Kelvin Smith and Jordan Senn. We know how they acquired Connor and Anderson.

Diggs is a 10-year veteran whom the Packers decided they no longer wanted after the 2005 season. He is a 31-year-old former fourth-round draft pick. Johnson is only 28 and a former third-round pick of Cincinnati, but he has been a backup since signing a three-year, $10 million deal with Carolina last year. Senn was picked up by the Colts after not being drafted last year. He played in two games this season before the Colts cut him in October; the Panthers signed him Tuesday. Smith played in four games after Miami drafted him in the seventh round in 2007. He was cut after last season, before the Panthers signed him in August.

This is what the Panthers are left with at a key position. Even if Davis returns next season, they will not have much quality depth (based on what we have seen so far). They have plenty of depth, meanwhile, at defensive back. That is one reason why Carolina is No. 4 in the NFL in pass defense but only No. 26 against the run.

This column is not meant as an indictment of Carolina's front office. The Panthers have largely stuck to their strategy of building through the draft and have had above average success since 2002. But one mistake, failing to draft enough skilled linebackers, could haunt the team Sunday and perhaps the rest of the season.

Gather 'round the table Carolina Panthers fans: What are you thankful for?

James The Aussie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:49:25 -0000

I'm going to be honest; my weekly mojo is all thrown off. The Thursday night game turned Friday into Monday where I was optimistic, as a result Sunday became hump day in my mind and while other teams were playing I was trying to prognosticate; it's been difficult.

Now, I don't know if Wednesday counts as a hump day. With a majority of the working world getting a Thanksgiving Holiday, and a lot of people taking off the following day I don't know if there's a real hump to get over. In short: It's a tough week for an optimistic Australian whose feeling a little lost.

In my lost stupor I began thinking about all the typical thanksgiving stuff: Where I would watch the games? What I would bring for the meal? What pants would I wear that would allow both maximum comfort while not going for the full ‘sweatpants look'? Finally, what am I thankful for this year?

Well, there are numerous personal things I could add to this list as I've been comparably very lucky in a year where a lot of people saw hardship; much like our football team. Even as we sit at 4-6 Carolina Panther fans have a lot to be thankful for, especially after seeing some of the other hardships around the NFL.

So Panther fans, let's gather ‘round the table and talk about what we're thankful for from our football team...

after the jump

via bookcellarinc.com

I am thankful for Double Trouble: It's a wonderful thing to get to see two running backs in their prime suit up each and every week for the Carolina Panthers. Most teams would salivate over having one of our RBs, but to have both of them is sublime. I raise my glass that they stay in Carolina a long, long time.

I am thankful that I got to see the kind of player Thomas Davis is: I don't want to label Davis a ‘bust' before the 2009 season, because he was serviceable; but he was never the dominant, game changing LB he was before injury in 2009. As it looks like he'll hit free agency I fully expect the Panthers to tend him a fair offer, or at worst franchise him. I for one and happy we got to see his potential finally so the team could make a true evaluation of his position for the offseason.

I am thankful for Ron Meeks: We all had our doubts about his defense, but all in all Meeks showed that his scheme can, and will be very effective and potent; provided players are able to make their tackles.

I am thankful that our owner is not named Davis or Snyder: I detest drama. Whether it is in my personal life, or professional one I avoid drama like the Black Death. So when I hear conspiracy theories about Al Davis trying having potential spies to keep an eye on Tom Cable, or Dan Snyder not allowing paper bags to be brought into FedEx field I have a wry smile of glee and it makes the appreciate the Big Cat (Jerry Richardson) that much more.

I am thankful our coach has never appeared in ‘The Sopranos': No matter what kind of job you think Fox and Co. have done in 2009 aren't you relieved we don't have Eric Mangini? Fining players for drinking water from hotel refrigerators, creating locker room dissent, trading away good players for backups and role players; the list goes one. I for one will take Foxy any day!

I am thankful we don't have any blackouts: The Detroit Lions narrowly avoided a local blackout for the Thanksgiving Day game. Think about that for a second, if you lived in Detroit there was a real threat you wouldn't see the Lions play on Thanksgiving Day. I have family in Jacksonville, FL and only recently have they been able to see a Jaguars game on TV. Say what you will about the ‘wine and cheese crowd' in Charlotte, but they make sure I get to see the Panthers each and every week, and for that I'm thankful.

I am thankful we fly under the radar: There is nothing that scares me more than when we start to get national notoriety. Even though I might sound like Rodney Dangerfield n 11 months out of the year bemoaning that ‘We don't get no respect' in the end I always am scared to death when ESPN starts talking about the Panthers. We're back under the radar after the Miami loss. If there's ever a time for us to make a run it's now: being low and sleek like a stealth bomber.

There are so many more things I could list, but I want to open it up to the community. Let's join hands around the table and say what you're thankful for regarding your 2009 Carolina Panthers.

Saturday News And Notes: Pouncing On The Carolina Panthers

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:00:32 -0000

by John Bazemore - AP

TACKLED! (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Rematches are always fun.

After we put a whuppin' on the Panthers earlier this season, you can bet they're going to want to return the favor in this one. With talented linebacker Thomas Davis gone for the year and noted Atlanta Falcon enemy DeAngelo Williams questionable, however, there are some holes we can exploit. The trick will be to slow down whichever of Carolina's approximately 25,000 running backs suits up and plays, while avoiding letting a declining Jake Delhomme pass all over us. On offense, it's just a simple matter of making use of a conservative passing attack against one of the league's finest secondaries and letting Michael Turner run for eight bojillion yards. No biggie, right?

Let's take a look at a few stories leading up to Sunday's game, shall we?

A whole mess of questionables again. Everyone seems to expect Roddy White to play, but he's been limited in practice all week. Ditto Jason Snelling and Thomas Johnson. Also, is there any way we could stop putting Jerious Norwood on the injury report as a questionable when it's absolutely crystal clear that he's not going to play? Kthxbye.
For all the ups and downs, hand-wringing and general panic at times here, we're still sitting at 5-3 at midseason, the same record as 2008. Take a look-see at where we are so far through a fresh set of eyes.
Thomas Davis really was an anchor for the Panthers, and though Landon Johnson is a capable replacement, we've got to take advantage of his absence on Sunday. Methinks we will.
I sure do stink at fantasy football.
Let's wrap this up with a Panthers mention, again. Frankly, I think that while Delhomme clearly deserves some of the blame for the way the passing game has suffered this season, they need better wide receivers. Steve Smith is the only guy over there that strikes any kind of fear into my cold, black heart.

Carolina Panthers' Hump Day Prognostication (Atlanta Falcons edition)

James The Aussie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:06:38 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

about 1 month ago: Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Good afternoon Panther faithful and happy hump day! While we pick ourselves up from the narrow loss in New Orleans and mourn the football loss of Thomas Davis, it's now time to look forward to Sunday as the Carolina Panthers (3-5) face the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) in their second contest of the year; the first being in week two when the Falcons beat the Panthers 28-20.

After a horrendous start to the season the Panthers seem to have regained some of their identity in recent weeks, and while they have shown flashes of brilliance, they have also not pulled everything together yet. Meanwhile, the Falcons have won all the games they should have won against weaker opponents and lost games against New England, Dallas and New Orleans

In this writer's mind the Atlanta Falcons are very similar to the team the Panthers saw in week two, but this is a completely different Panther team to what Atlanta saw. Divisional matchups are always tough, so let's break it down

After the jump...

Atlanta run offense vs. Carolina run defense

What was thought to be one of the best running games heading into 2009 has slightly underperformed expectations for the Atlanta Falcons. While Michael Turner has been very effective and is on pace to rush for 1,440 yards it seems Turner will finish the season with less yards than the 1,599 he put up in 2008. In recent weeks Turner has shown dominance with stout performance against New Orleans and Washington running for over 150 yards in both contests.

Meanwhile, the Carolina run defense which looked porous early on has slightly solidified improving to 23^rd in the NFL. A vital piece of this run defense was the addition of Hollis Thomas in the middle to allow MLB Jon Beason to make more plays; the Panthers did not have Thomas when the two teams last played. Thomas Davis is vital to the run defense also, but is more suited to taking down backs who like to find the edge. Turner is the definition of a North-South back so it will be incumbent upon Jon Beason to make the plays, and I think he's up to the task.

Edge: Push

KEY MATCHUP: Atlanta pass offense vs. Carolina pass defense

The Panthers #1 pass defense was mocked by the Saints especially on big plays to drop it to 6^th in the NFL at this time. The last contest was dominated by future hall of fame TE Tony Gonzalez who brutalized the Panthers secondary. Following the Atlanta matchup Thomas Davis became the Panthers primary weapon to counter the dominant TEs the Panthers faced, forcing Jason Witten, Kellen Winslow, Chris Cooley and Jeremy Shockey to have below average days. In this regard the loss of Davis hurts the Panthers the most. It will be incumbent upon Captain Munnerlyn to likely take on this duty representing the best tackling in our secondary. My guess is that he'll be the man to shadow Gonzalez on Sunday, but it is unlikely he'll be able to shut down, or limit Gonzalez. Roddy White is a major threat to, especially in the YAC where Chris Gamble's tackling has been suspect at best.

Edge: Atlanta

Carolina run offense vs. Atlanta run defense

DeAngelo Williams has been running like a man possessed the last few weeks, but his success is highly incumbent upon the coaching staff getting the ball in his hands. Williams is now on pace to rush for 1,536 yards and 14 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jonathan Stewart's production is slightly off pace but still on target for 768 yards and 8 TDs. The Falcons are 24^th in the NFL against the run, and the way DeAngelo has caught fire (running for 548 of his 768 yards in the last 4 games) he'll be tough to stop; provided he gets the ball.

Edge: Carolina

Carolina pass offense vs. Atlanta pass defense

Jake Delhomme hasn't been throwing interceptions. That's about the most positive thing you can say about Carolina's passing offense at this point. Everyone seems out on synch at the moment. Smith isn't running his routes as crisply as he normally does, key passes are being dropped and the coaching staff seem to be calling pass plays when the feel like it, rather than when they have a reasonable chance of success. If Muhsin Muhammad is able to play the Panthers should get a much welcomed boost and a big target who can hopefully take some pressure off Smith. The Falcons are giving up a lot of yards through the air, but ultimately it's the Panthers 24^th ranked pass offense against the Falcons' 27^th ranked defense, and until the Panthers show me they can score passing TDs I'm not buying it will be a factor.

Edge: Atlanta

Special Teams

The Panthers' special teams made strides vs. New Orleans, but they're still far from redeeming themselves. The Panthers are only averaging 19.7 yards per return, a paltry number, meanwhile allowing opponents an average return of over 30 yards. The Falcons are displaying some of the best kickoff coverage in the NFL allowing only 21 yards.

Edge: Atlanta

Coaching

Most Panther fans are well aware of the coaching decisions that have been made in recent weeks, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The Panthers defense remains a solid and well coached defense, conversely the offense seems in shambles, particularly after half time.

Mike Smith is one of the best new(er) coaches in the NFL and his Falcons are playing to their potential. Their play calling is dynamic and they utilize the players they have to put them in a position to win, that's the difference right there,

Edge: Atlanta

Final Summary

Looking at this prognostication it would seem the Falcons have the Panthers' number this week. While that could very well be true, I think the Panthers know that they need to play each game now as if it were their last. The Panthers cannot afford to have control of another game going into halftime only to play scared in the second. In each of the areas where one team has an edge, I see it as a razor's edge... extremely narrow and very close. The Panthers could, and should be 5-3 right now, or at the worse 4-4. I still don't believe the Panthers look like a 3-5 team heading into this game.

While I think Tony Gonzalez will be a major factor in Sunday's game, but I also think Michael Turner will be mostly ineffective in Sunday's matchup. I think Carolina controls the ground and Atlanta controls the air, much like Carolina's game vs. New Orleans. The difference, however, is that Atlanta doesn't have the same big play potential in their passing game that New Orleans showed, and I think that's a major difference.

Carolina Panthers 21 - Atlanta Falcons 17

Saints Offensive Player Grades vs. Panthers

saints-nation — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:00:49 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

about 1 month ago: New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem (17) scores on a long touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. New Orleans won 30-20. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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Below are the offensive players grades against the Panthers. The letter grade represents the player's performance in the game and the GPA in parentheses represents their cumulative performance for the season.

Drew Brees: B- (3.09) Prior to the drive just before halftime, I was seriously considering whether or not Brees was worthy of the first "F" I've given out. He fumbled inside his own 20, threw an interception in the red zone, botched a snap that cost his team, and was settling for little passes underneath. But of course I knew he would turn it around and he was nearly flawless in the second half, so he saved his grade. He wasn't helped by a few Colston drops, including two in the end zone. Brees finished 24 of 35 for 330 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception and 1 lost fumble. He also converted a 3rd and 1 on a 5 yard sneak.

Reggie Bush: B+ (2.42) Bush did all the little things very well. He carried the ball twice, rushing for 9 and 7 yards respectively. On both carries he hit the hole and showed a nice burst. He was heavily involved in the passing game, finishing with 7 catches for 37 yards. He helped the Saints convert big 3rd downs when they needed it. He returned one punt for 4 yards, avoiding his backpedaling tendency. His best play of the game was chasing Chris Gamble downfield after an interception to save a touchdown return. Despite being blocked by a couple Panthers on that play he was able to catch Gamble, and as low as the Saints were at that point in the game he helped limit the damage already done.

Mike Bell: C+ (2.95) Bell converted twice on 3rd and short, so give him credit for powering through with his aggressive running style. Otherwise he just had 5 carries for 17 yards. Quiet day.

Devery Henderson: B+ (3.12) Henderson came up with a HUGE 63 yard reception on3rd down to set up the Pierre Thomas score. He finished with 3 catches for 93 yards. He also had another 3rd down conversion and made the most of his opportunities. He had no chance on an end around that went for a 3 yard loss as Thomas Davis read the play perfectly.

Marques Colston: D+ (2.92) Colston had at least 4 drops and had by far his worse game of the season. While a couple of those were gimmes, a couple of those were admittedly tough catches to make. None the less, we've come to expect Colston to make those spectacular catches and he just didn't show up. Poor performance for the Saints' star receiver who finished with just 1 catch for 45 yards. His one catch did set up the field goal before halftime, which was important for the Saints' momentum going into the locker room, but the bad overshadowed the good. He specifically had two drops in the end zone on plays I've seen him make countless times.

Robert Meachem: A- (2.83) Meachem was the most targeted and reliable Saints' receiver on the day. It was a nice surprise to see him so involved and performing well. He finished with 5 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was a 54 strike from Brees where he was able to show off his terrific hands and speed, and it was crucial as it tied the game at 20.

Pierre Thomas: B+ (3.22) Thomas was off to a slow start, especially in the first half, but played a terrific second half when he got more touches. Finished with 50 yards on 13 carries, none bigger than the 10 yard touchdown run that pulled the Saints back within 4 to start the second half. As the game wore on he refused to go down and was seen shedding two to three tacklers before going down. He also had 5 catches for 31 yards.

Jeremy Shockey: C- (3.21) Shockey had his worse game of the season. He didn't block particularly well, and he wasn't looking on a pass in the end zone that Brees threw to him. A little embarrassing, considering Fox analyst Brian Billick spent the better part of a drive talking about how Shockey and Brees were finally on the same page. He was flagged for an offensive pass interference call that was suspect, and finished with 3 catches for 26 yards.

David Thomas: D+ (1.89) Thomas played a decent amount of snaps at fullback, but didn't seem to throw great lead blocks. He did throw a couple good blocks on screen passes to the running backs, but he was never targeted in the passing game. His low grade is mostly due to the fact that I saw him beat by Thomas Davis and pushed around by Jon Beason.

Jermon Bushrod: A- (2.81) Brees got little pressure from Bushrod's edge all game, and when he did he was able to step up in the pocket. Bushrod did an admirable job in both pass protection and run blocking. While it seemed like he went out for a portion of the game with an injury, Julius Peppers had just 1 tackle and was almost non-existent in the game. Give Bushrod credit, Jammal Brown has never kept Peppers that quiet.

Jahri Evans: B- (3.29) Hard to forget about the most costly penalty of the game. On a screen pass to Thomas that converted a 3rd down inside the Panthers' 5, Evans was called for a hold, forcing the Saints to settle for a field goal and a 23-20 lead. The Saints were fortunate it didn't come back to haunt them, but Evans picked a crucial time to make a mistake. Otherwise, he was pretty solid but not as dominant as usual.

Jonathan Goodwin: B (3.04) Goodwin was back to pulling on screens and showing a nasty streak inside. He showed no ill effects from the knee injury that forced him to leave the game early last week. The shotgun snap that was dropped by Brees was not his fault.

Carl Nicks: B (3.00) Nicks was terrific run blocking, mauling ex Saint Hollis Thomas on a couple of occasions. Thomas is a load, so it was fun to see Nicks bullying the hefty veteran. I only remembered him get beat once on a passing play.

Jon Stinchcomb: C+ (2.88) Stinchcomb was responsible for the sack and strip in the 1st quarter. There was a lot of pressure coming from his edge, but Brees was able to step up in the pocket to avoid most of it. Stinchcomb did spring one of Bell's 3rd and 1 conversions, but he also did a bad job containing linebackers bringing backside pursuit.

Offensive Player of the Game: Robert Meachem

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.

Panthers LB Davis Inactive for Bills Game

Jaxon — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:45:38 -0000

Leading Panthers tackler LB Thomas Davis leaves big shoes to fill for today's game against the Bills. From Darin Gantt:

#Panthers inactives: LB Thomas Davis, FB Hoover, 3rd QB Feeley, RB Sutton, OLs Williams and Robinson, DT Hayden, S Lewis.

I thought James Anderson would get the start, but I was wrong:

Landon Johnson's going to start for Thomas Davis. Like I said, nobody on the roster has Davis' kind of ability.

Its about time for Johnson to step up.Bills RB Fred Jackson presents a risk to Johnson as he better be sharp in tracking Jackson down from out of the backfield.

FB Brad Hoover being out again puts rookie Tony Fiammetta in the cross hairs.

#Panthers FB Brad Hoover's back problem is about to become a long-term worry. Kind of an old man's problem, bothering him more than he knew.

Back problems are never good for over 30 NFL players. This may be Hoover's Swan song season.

SB Nation - Thomas Davis

Carolina Panthers’ Hump Day Prognostication (Minnesota Vikings edition)

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Carolina Panthers Run Defense

Heavy Drafting at Other Positions Leaves Panthers Thin at Linebacker

Gather 'round the table Carolina Panthers fans: What are you thankful for?

Saturday News And Notes: Pouncing On The Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers' Hump Day Prognostication (Atlanta Falcons edition)

Saints Offensive Player Grades vs. Panthers

Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers: Who Has the Edge?

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

QB

RB

WR

TE

OL

Pos.

Edge

Analysis

DL

LB

CB

---------------

S

ST

7-5

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: Injury Report

Panthers LB Davis Inactive for Bills Game