SB Nation - Tyler Brayton

Panther Paw Prints: Friday Edition

Jaxon — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:22:21 -0000

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

We've got a full basket of warm and fluffy Paw Prints today Panther fans. Let's get started.

I've spent a little time over on the SBN patriots site Pats Pulpit and must admit I'm finding the Patriots 'Late-Gate' controversy both amusing and a bit of deja vue: :

Late-Gate: Adalius Thomas Sounds Off; Personifies Why Guaranteed Contracts are a Bad Idea - Pats Pulpit
Adalius Thomas was the first of the infamous four late Patriots to talk to the media about yesterday's disciplinary measure taken by the head coach. He was clearly agitated by it and professed to be "dumbfounded" at the heavy consequence of being nine minutes late on a snowy New England morning. As he said separately to Albert Breer, "I mean, I could've been in a ditch. They really don't give a damn. Hey, as long as you aren't in that meeting, they really don't give a (bleep)."

Does anyone else see similarity in Thomas comments and those of Kris Jenkins a couple years back? We might have some disgruntled and therefore distracted players opposite us on Sunday. We need whatever advantage we can get, no matter how slight. Steve Smith tries to weigh in on it but his internal muzzle keeps it bland:

Panthers' Fox, Smith weigh in; other Pats notes
"It depends on the state of the team," Smith said. "If it’s a team that maybe hasn’t done as well as they think they should have, and you kind of do something a little outrageous, and they say, 'Oh, that’s what sparked it, and that was great.' And then if it goes the opposite direction, you have people that are going to say it wasn’t very good. I think it really just depends on the outcome."

Pictured: Patriots WR Wes Welker practices picking himself up off the turf in preparation for a visit from the Panthers!

So how spoiled are Patriots fans? They have the #2 offense in the NFL for Yards per game yet you still see headlines like this:

Patriots Offense Still Searching for Answers Through 12 Games - New England Patriots - NESN.com
The most logical place to look is the sideline. Quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien is calling the offensive plays, and he seems to be suffering to find a rhythm in his first year with that responsibility. It's a transition year for the Patriots in that sense, as Josh McDaniels held that job from 2006-08 before departing last offseason to become Denver's head coach.

If Jeff Davidson could only crack the top 10 we would be ecstatic. So would Steve Smith, who is doing his best to keep from voicing his opinion about the Panthers offense:

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
"It’s not too hard for me to say we are a running team first. That’s what we try to be. That’s what we are. We have two good running backs — three, four good running backs — and that’s what we do. But at the end of the day, run first or whatever you want to do, when we really need a big play downfield, in a hurry, they have to go to 89. So I don’t worry about it too much. I just keep coming back for some reason."

I imagine it has something to do with the dollar bills. Speaking of dollar bills, DE Tyler Brayton has been worth every dollar bill thrown his way. Did anyone really expect him to lead the d-line in tackles this season?

Brayton's found a quieter home with the Panthers | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
"I would love to stay here," he said. "I think my heart would be broken if they didn't want me to come back or if whatever happened. I know this is still a business. I completely understand that. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business here. I feel like God wants me to be here. "I just feel strongly about the men who are in this locker room, the men who are leading us on the field. I just feel like there's a lot of unfinished business left here for myself."

I couldn't agree more Tyler, there is some serious unfinished business in Charlotte. DT Maake Kemeatu says he will be 100% come training camp next year [must resist urge to joke about making it through one practice]

ProFootballWeekly.com - Panthers DT Kemoeatu says he will be 100 percent by training camp
Taking this year off has put another 3-5 years on my career," he said. "... Most football players, they take a couple months off or some just a couple of weeks (when they get hurt), and they're back at it again. Their body never gets to fully recover." Kemoeatu's contract has a provision in it that will make him a free agent after the 2010 season if his $9.3 million option bonus for 2010 is declined in March. It's expected that the team will decline that option, but could it decide to part ways with Kemoeatu this offseason instead? "Could they (cut him)? Might they? Yeah, anybody might," said Vierra. "It's a 30-year-old guy with a torn Achilles. Is it a concern? Anybody would be dishonest if they said it's not some concern. Will he play again? I'm not concerned about that. I know he'll play again."

How much again? $9.3M! I'm guessing an extension will be in the offing that kicks some of that money down the road. Unlike 2009 the Panthers will have a ton of options at DT come 2010.

I distinctly remember remarking last season how lucky we were to have the same defensive starters for the first 14 games. This 2009 season shows why we were 'lucky'. We will start our 13th straight different line-up on D versus the Patriots.

Despite massive shuffling, defense has persevered for Panthers | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
"You've got to keep rolling and just have guys come in and catch up with the system," Lewis said. "That's the only way you can do it. You can't alter your playbook for certain offenses just because you may be short a guy here and a guy there. You need to get those guys caught up to speed and try to get them on the level with everybody else."

I want to say new DL coach Brian Baker has done a good job with his adjustments but I'm just not convinced yet.

What I will say is that if the Patriots run the ball more than they pass it Sunday, at least in the first half, then the Panthers have a shot.

Focus on Carolina: Panthers @ Patriots - Pats Pulpit
Bill, if you're listening, DO NOT ABANDON THE RUN GAME. Pound the rock and pound it hard. Send Laurence Maroney in as point and keep the ball on the ground. Carolina has a very good passing D and it simply doesn't make sense to try and exploit something that may give us trouble, especially when it hasn't been one of our strong suits of late.

In this scenario the Panthers should be able to keep the game close and hope that just a couple big plays will squeak out a victory.

Oh, and if you haven't already done it check out the Blogger Q&A link over on the Pulpit. Q&A threads are usually interesting and this one is no exception. I'll give you a hint, they are not happy sitting at 7-5.

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.

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Miami Dolphins Pass Defense

John B — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Patrick Semansky - AP

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Two words: Dustin Keller. The Dolphins have been abused by tight ends this season. Tony Gonzalez had 5 catches for 73 yards for Atlanta against Miami. Dallas Clark went off with 7 catches for 183 yards in Week 2. Antonio Gates had 5 for 64 the next week. This means this week's gameplan is probably going to be Keller heavy. The Dolphins cover the tight end like they're the 2008 Jets. The middle linebackers, Akin Ayodele and Channing Crowder, and the safeties, Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson, have been bad in coverage. An athletic tight end like Keller is a matchup problem.

Jerricho Cotchery might face his toughest test of the year facing Sean Smith, a rookie corner from Utah, who is huge at 6'3" and has displayed great cover skills in the early going. A lot does depend on how much Braylon Edwards will play and how much the playbook he feels comfortable with. If he can actually get on the field and make an impact, Smith is the best fit to match up with his physical tools. That would leave Will Allen on Cotchery, which is a matchup the Jets want. In not, Jerricho is in for a tough matchup against Smith, and Brad Smith will go against Allen, which seem to favor Miami.

Mark Sanchez is going to have to make sure he protects the football this week. It seems likely for the Jets defense to hold Miami down. Miami's easiest path to victory will be forcing turnovers to produce a short field. On obvious passing downs, they will have three terrific pass rushers on the field, Joey Porter, Jason Taylor (ironically the one Miami linebacker who has kept his mouth shut this week), and CFL sack king Cameron Wake. Miami's coaches have watched tape on Sanchez. They have seen how loose he is holding the ball. I can guaratee you the defensive coaches have been preaching to their guys to go for the strip.

The Jets don't necessarily need their passing game to win this game. They just need it not to lose the game.

Damien Woody's status is up in the air. He left the game against the Saints and didn't practice on Friday with a foot injury. You would have to think the game being on Monday would be a benefit since it gives him an extra day of rest, but there's a real possibility he's sitting this one out. Robert Turner would start in his place. Considering the way Woody handled Joey Porter in Week 17 last year, it would be a big loss. The Jets would definitely have to give Turner extra help handling Porter.

Bills vs Browns: Five Questions with Dawgs By Nature

Brian Galliford — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:00:57 -0000

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

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The Buffalo Bills are reeling. They're preparing to take on the winless Cleveland Browns in a Week 5 game that could leave the Bills victorious, or dealing with a frothing-at-the-mouth fan base ready to turn words into action. I'm not completely sure "fun" is the word I'm looking for, but it should be a fun weekend.

Things aren't exactly rosy in Cleveland, either. For this week's up-close-and-personal perspective on all things Browns, please welcome Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature to Rumblings today. He's here for our weekly Q and A with our opposing blogger; be sure to check out DBN throughout the weekend for the reciprocating interview.

Braylon Edwards is gone. He's had a bit of a rough go of it over the past two years. How do you feel as he departs? Relief? Worry?

I would be worried if I felt we were still able to contend this season, but with the way the team has looked and with having an 0-4 record, it makes the process a little easier to accept. Although he didn't make very many plays since his breakout 2007 season, he still drew the respect of opposing defenses. The problem was that we did not have any other receivers after 2007 to complement Edwards; nobody else could take advantage of their single coverage. But removing Edwards, we're definitely providing a way for three youngsters - Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, and Chansi Stuckey - to develop early on in their careers. If the trade-off ends up being three above average receiver in exchange for just one "potentially elite" receiver, I'll take it.

Derek Anderson is the starting quarterback du jour in Cleveland, and I've long felt that he's the better player between he and Brady Quinn. But the Browns also obviously have an investment in Quinn. Who would you rather see start?

Going on what I have seen, I'd like to see Derek Anderson start. He is prone to mistakes at the wrong time, but he has enough confidence to stand strong in the pocket even if pressure is getting close to him. Brady Quinn was not throwing the ball down the field, and any time any form of pressure came, it was like he wanted to crawl into a corner and die. I hate the fact that we weren't able to give Quinn a full season to develop, but on the other hand, how many other rookie or first-time quarterbacks have we seen step into the NFL and thrive right from the beginning?

Cleveland is obviously 0-4, but you've also played four teams who have a combined record of 14-2. The 1-3 Bills are by far your least daunting task to this point in the season. Is this week a must-win?

We're at the point now where we've pretty much given up on the season in terms of contention and are now focusing on development. So, rather than a "must-win", I would call it more of an "at least we CAN win" type of game. The Bills have obviously struggled clicking on all cylinders, which plays to the advantage of a Browns team that finally found a rhythm last week against the Bengals.

Playing from behind clearly doesn't help, but the Browns have struggled to run the football this season. Is the main culprit the age of Jamal Lewis and the inexperience of other runners, or are there other factors at play?

I really do think it has been a case of playing from behind. In the first week against the Vikings, Jamal Lewis ran the ball quite well, but then we had to give up on it after halftime. Against the Ravens, we always struggle to run the football, but Jerome Harrison didn't have a bad day. Again, though, it was a blowout quickly, so instead of running the ball we got to see four interceptions thrown by our quarterbacks. Last week against the Bengals, in our first "close game", Harrison cracked the 100-yard mark and almost broke a long touchdown run in several instances. We're not a dominating run team, but if the game is close, our ability to run the ball is at least average.

I'll make this harder for you by removing WR Mohamed Massaquoi's name from consideration: which unknown-to-Buffalo Browns player should Bills fans be worried about on Sunday?

We can't use Joshua Cribbs for this type of question anymore, because I think he's known by now after being the league's best all-around special teamer. I honestly don't know which unknown player the Bills should watch out for, because no rookies beyond Massaquoi have really received playing time to even be considered a "sleeper". I'll go with C Alex Mack, who was our first-round center. It's hard to measure his ability on a scale of "fans should be worried about him," but he has improved every week and had a near flawless game against the Bengals. If the Bills think they can attack the middle of the Browns' line for any reason, they should reconsider. It'd be better to focus on the weaker, right-side of the line.

Preview: Bears (3-1) BYE WEEK

SackMan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:00:24 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y Huh - AP

When will Juaquin Iglesias finally step onto the playing field?

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The Bears will be sitting on their couches, and checking their fantasy teams like the rest us this Sunday. Although, that shouldn't be anything new for Juaquin Iglesias. So, while we're on the bye, let's:

1. Recap last week
2. Look at some key numbers
3. Talk about wide receivers, and
4. Take a look at the division

Week 4 Recap

The Bears completed Lovie Smith’s 1^st quarter of the season with a convincing 48-24 victory at home over the Detroit Lions. It was a tale of two halves. The Lions came into Soldier Field on a high note, after winning for the first time in their last 20 games, and picked up were they left off in the first half. Rookie QB Matthew Stafford looked pretty sharp picking away at the Bears soft secondary, but Jay Cutler answered him, and the first half ended in a 21-21 tie. The game shifted on Johnny Knox’s TD return to open the second half, and the Bears pulled away to a large margin of victory.

Among the positives of the game were Matt Forte’s two big runs (61 and 37T), as the running game had not made much impact in the first 3 weeks of the season. On the flip side, the Bears still struggled in pass coverage, and saw many of their blitzes get stonewalled once again. They’ll have the bye week to remedy some of the problems and get healthy for a trip to Atlanta on Sunday Night Football next week.

By the numbers:

14.0: The Bears current sack total, ranking them 3^rd in the league behind the Vikings (16.0) and Broncos (15.0). Last season the Bears finished with just 28 sacks. In four games this year, they’ve already reached half that total. Adewale Ogunleye leads the Bears with 4.5, and only 4 of the sacks were recorded by non lineman (Manning, Briggs, Roach, and Afalava).

104.7, 126.4, & 100.4: Jay Cutler’s QB rating in each of the last 3 weeks. The last Chicago Bear QB to have a rating over 100 in 3 consecutive weeks was Jack Concannon in 1970.

3.8: The Bears current team rushing average per carry, a point down from last year’s final average of 3.9.

News around the league (six degrees of separation from Juaquin Iglesias).

This weeks NFL headliners were both WR related. 1^st round pick Michael Crabtree finally signed a contract with the 49ers. It’s hard to say if Crabtree will have any significant impact for the 49ers this year, after such a late start. The other big news: the Cleveland Browns traded Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets.for special teams player Jason Trusnik, WR Chansi Stuckey and a pair of draft picks.

Edwards caused some problems in a Cleveland night club this weekend, punching Lebron James' friend... and that seems to be his plane ticket out of town (who knew the King really is the King of Cleveland?). However, last Sunday Derek Anderson threw the ball to rookie WR Mohamed Massaquoi a whopping 13 times, finishing with 8 catches for 148 yards. With Edwards now out of the picture, Massaquoi is now the Browns default #1 WR.

Massaquoi was one of the names that draft experts were linking to the Bears last April. However, with Massaquoi off the board and unable to work a deal with Arizona for Anquan Boldin, the Bears traded out of the 2nd round entirely, and eventually selected Oklahoma WR Juaquin Iglesias (pick #99) in the 3rd round.

Fellow rookie WRs like Massaquoi (CLE pick #50), Percy Harvin (MIN pick #22), Kenny Britt (TEN pick #30), Mike Wallace (PIT pick #84), Louis Murphy (OAK pick #124), and Johnny Knox (CHI pick #140) are all having immediate impacts on their teams. However, Iglesias hasn't even been activated on a game day yet, and has been absolutely buried on the depth chart below Rashied Davis and former practice squadder Devin Aromashodu. This is not exactly a good indicator for the future.

I normally would give a rookie WR more leeway, especially since trends in the NFL lean towards the "magical 3rd year." Heck, last year we saw Earl Bennett be a total non factor, while he got acclimated to the league. However, the Bears, Titans, and Jaguars presented perhaps the easiest opportunity you'll ever see for a rookie WR to earn playing time in this league. Just ask Johnny Knox, Kenny Britt, and second year man Mike Sims-Walker. But, thus far... Iglesias has completely dropped the ball… literally.

Side notes from the NFC North:

So far the Vikings haven’t allowed a rushing TD yet*… only the 49ers can share that honor. However, the Vikings are allowing 3.7 yards per carry and 89.5 yards per game this year (vs the Browns, Lions, 49ers, and Packers). While those numbers are very nice, it’s up from 3.3 and 76.9 last year. Expect those numbers to increase when they face the Ravens and Steelers in back to back weeks (6 & 7).

The Packers offensive line continues to get thrashed, allowing 20 sacks in 4 games. At this rate, Aaron Rodgers might not survive the season in one piece. The bye week couldn’t come at a better time, and I’m sure Rodgers will spend much of it in a hot tub.

Matthew Stafford update*: After a horrendous start for the Lions in his 1^st two games (1 TD to 5 INTs and a QB rating of 40.5), the #1 pick has turned the corner with a win vs Washington (87.8 QB rating), and a 296 yard day against the Bears (89.6 QB rating). With targets like Calvin Johnson and rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew, Stafford should settle in nicely, as long as he stays healthy. He left the Bears game late in the second half with a knee injury, and hopefully will not miss too much time.

*I’ve been forecasting that the Vikings days of dominant run D are nearing an end, mainly due to Pat Williams turning 37 years old.
*I'll keep tabs on Matthew Stafford all season, as I eventually try to draw a comparison to Troy Aikman, who started every game for the 1-15 Cowboys in 1989, after also being the #1 pick in the draft.

Braylon Edwards Thinks He's a Good Fit

John B — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:46 -0000

More photos » by David Richard - AP

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The Jets' newest receiver thinks he'll fit in nicely.

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards may be a stranger to many of his new teammates, but he’s no stranger to the team’s offensive scheme, which should bode well against Miami on Monday night.

Edwards, who’ll start against the Dolphins, played in a similar system in Cleveland in 2007-08 under offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who worked with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in San Diego.

In 2007, Edwards caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns to earn Pro Bowl honors.

"I know a lot of the terminology," said Edwards. "I was able to pick it up and really move today as opposed to pointing in this direction, that direction. It went really well. I feel pretty confident."

Edwards, who described his first practice with the Jets as a "breath of fresh air," looks every bit of 6-3, 215 pounds, the big target the Jets had coveted.

I think this could be the start of something very, very good. Problem children usually thrive once they find a new home, at least at the start. They are thrilled to be away from the team they hated playing for and have motivation to show the rest of the world they weren't the problem. Once Edwards has everything down, I think he'll make a big impact.

How soon do you expect Edwards to develop into a reliable weapon?

Five Good Questions: New York Jets

Matty I — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:01:31 -0000

More photos » by Bill Feig - AP

Hopefully, what Mark is pointing to here is what will be hurting him after Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, and Cameron Wake get done with him.

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In preparation for Monday night's game between the Dolphins and Jets, John B, of Gang Green Nation, and I have exchanged some questions to get to know each others team better. You can head over to GGN on Friday to see my responses to his questions about the Dolphins. John's responses to my Jet questions are below.

You're now four games into the "Mark Sanchez era" in New York. What have you seen from Sanchez that you like and what concerns you most about him?

I’ll give you two for both. The first thing I like is that he’s adjusted well to pro defenses. You see a lot of rookie quarterbacks in over their head, totally baffled by the different looks they see for the first time. Not so with Sanchez. He’s made his share of mistakes, but they haven’t been as a result of the defense confusing him. I’ll give credit to the schooling he got at USC. College teams running pro type offenses are a novelty in these days. They taught him well.

The second thing I like is how he’s bounced back from adversity. There have been times in every game where he made a mistake. He could have started doubting himself. After an interception against the Texans, he led a touchdown drive to ice it, hitting a big third down pass. He had an awful first half against the Pats and led the team to victory in the second. There were some midgame struggles against the Titans, but he finished strong. Even in an ugly performance against the Saints, he responded to two consecutive killer turnovers by leading a scoring drive before the half to at least get the Jets back in the game.

Two bad things. First are the turnovers. He’s given it up way too much, and there have been occasions where defenders have helped him out by dropping interceptions, or he was lucky his guy was closest on a fumble. These are rookie mistakes like staring down receivers. He also leaves the ball exposed to pass rushers. Coaching and experience will help correct these things, but they can spell doom for a team trying to win now.

He also is way too wreckless leading with his head, whether it’s diving with the ball, taking on a defender, or trying to make a tackle after a turnover. You don’t want your $50 million quarterback doing stuff like that.

The big news is obviously the trade that has sent Braylon Edwards to the Jets. What are your thoughts on the trade? And does Braylon's attitude worry you at all? Most importantly, what kind of impact do you think Braylon will make right out of the gate?

I’ve never been a huge Edwards guy, but it’s tough not to like the trade. The Jets gave up next to nothing. He’s definitely better than Chansi Stuckey and is the deep threat the team lacked. There are two things that make me hopeful. The first is the change of scenery. This locker room has helped transformed former problem children like Kris Jenkins. The second is the fact the Jets didn’t give him a new contract. That means he’s playing for a new deal and knows if he wears out his welcome with a second team, the perception is going to be it’s his fault.

The Jets claim he’ll dive in head first. I’ll wait and see on that one. By the end of the year, I’m hoping he’ll contribute big. I’m not sure that will happen right off the bat. He has to get adjusted to his new surroundings, teammates, and playbook. It might be an easier adjustment than usual considering Cleveland’s offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was Brian Schottenheimer’s quarterbacks coach the last two years. I’m sure there are similar elements to the two offenses. Still, Daboll cut his teeth with the New England system, and Schottenheimer runs San Diego’s offense so I doubt they’re exactly the same. There’s going to be some kind of a learing curve. My guess is Edwards primarily runs vertical routes to keep the safeties deep in the first few weeks.

The attitude and off field issues are definite concerns. So is his tendency to drop the ball. There’s a reason he was available for all of his talent. At the end, considering the low price, this is definitely worth taking, a low risk high reward gamble.

It seems like the Jet fans I know are split on how they feel about Thomas Jones. He had a very good year last year but has been average at best in 2009 - averaging just 57 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. Why is he struggling and is it time to get Leon Washington and Shonn Greene more carries?

There are a lot of factors. First is the rookie quarterback. Teams are loading up the box to try and take away the run. The vaunted offensive line also hasn’t been great in run blocking. Still, Washington and Greene have been more productive when in there. Maybe it’s Jones. Maybe it’s not. The bottom line is that when there aren’t many holes, you need to either be able to make defenders miss like Washington or run with authority to grind yards out like Greene. We haven’t seen much of Greene, but he looked really good last week. I’d like to see more of him.

The Jets have really gotten after the quarterback in 2009 - blitzing play after play and forcing the quarterback to get rid of the ball early. Now Calvin Pace returns after his four game suspension. How much will he be used right out of the gate and what kind of impact do you think he'll have on NY's already fierce pass rush?

It definitely will help. Pace is probably going to start right away in place of Vernon Gholston. Gholston’s shown improvement, but it’s been modest. He’s held his own in one on one matchups and hasn’t been a liability unlike last season. Still, he didn’t get to the quarterback much. Pace is the best pure pass rusher on the team. I’m not sure he’s necessarily a guy defenses have to game plan around, but he’s more likely to win his matchups and get to the quarterback, which will certainly affect the pass rush.

It’s really the scheme that makes this defense, though, so I think the difference Pace makes will actually be less than it might have been in the scheme the Jets ran a year ago. It was less deception based and more execution based. There the outside linebackers were primarily responsible for generating a pass rush, while it comes from all angles with this defense. It’s still going to make the team better, though.

How do you see Monday night's game playing out? Who wins and why?

On paper the Jets are probably better, but who knows in a road divisional game on Monday night? It’s going to be a close game decided in the fourth quarter. I won’t venture a guess beyond that.

Panthers vs. Giants 2009 Preseason Game Preview

Jaxon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:00:10 -0000

Finally, the Panthers get to hit someone from another team rather than each other. It's about time. Also, be sure to chime in on Open Game Thread Monday Night at 7pm.

Panthers Offense:

We can expect the Panther first team offense to play at least two series but not maybe much more. Josh McCown will be the first off the bench and expect to see RB Mike Good son early and often. Matt Moore will get a chance to atone for a horid 2008 peseason that ruined his momentum. An early measure of this offense will be how well the 1st team o-line manages to run the ball against the Giants first team d-line. Here's the state of the Giants d-line from the Bleacher Report:

I have no idea how the defensive line will shake out. There are at least eight guys that could be starting on many teams (Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard, and Jay Alford).

Some of these guys are coming off injuries. Might the Panthers make a bid for one of these cast-offs? Other players to watch on offense include WR Dwayne Jarrett, FB Tony Fiammetta and WR Jason Carter. I will also key on how well the Panther srun the ball late in the game when the back-up o-linemen are in the game.

Since these two teams meet later this season don't expect too much trickery. The scheme should be fairly vanilla from both offenses as they focus on execution of the basics.

Panthers Defense:

I'm excited about seeing this new, more aggressive defense we've heard so much about. Expect a lot of rotation across the front line and hopefully they can keep the Giant running game in check. LB Dan Conner should get in the game early as our second team LB's will get plenty of action. Rookie DE Everette Brown should replace Peppers on the right side early as well. Let's see if the kid is the real thing and gets pressure on whatever Giant QB is out there. Another battle to watch is DE Charles Johnson trying to outperform Tyler Brayton, a hybrid DE/DT who could become a 3^rd down specialist.

The secondary should get plenty of work as the Giants try to figure out what they have at WR. The Giants Steve Smith won't be playing either so the Panther secondary can expect opportunities to make plays on the ball in the red zone. Without Plaxico Burress the Giants have no established red zone receiving threat. This should give S Quinton Teal an opportunity to continue his good work and who knows, maybe an INT in a live game.

Once we get in the 4^th quarter let's see if there is a drop off in intensity. A couple UDFA's are making a bid for the practice squad, including LB Jon Leman and DT Marlon Favorite. Also 7^th round pick Captain Munnerlyn will probably play a lot and hopefully show how to play the bump and run. I will be curious to see how much man-to-man the Panthers will show the Giants just to give them something to think about when they meet again when it counts.

Special Teams:

Both the kick return and punt return competitions are wide open. Expect to see some rotation as Goodson, WR Larry Beavers and WR Jason Carter take turns. On punts it will be WR Ryne Robinson, Beavers and Munnerlyn getting looks. It should be an adventure.

On kick coverage many of the Panthers second team will be trying to show the added value of good special teams play. I'm predicting Conner, Munnerlyn and Sherrod Martin excel against the Giants.

Panther Paw Prints - Friday Edition

Jaxon — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:34:44 -0000

Admittedly there is nothing too exciting in this version of Paw Prints. The biggest news is the change in the 2010 NFL draft schedule.

NFL draft will expand to three days in 2010 - ESPN
Commissioner Roger Goodell notified teams Thursday that the draft will be spread over three days in 2010, running Thursday, April 22, through Saturday, April 24. In addition, the first round will start in prime time at 7:30 p.m. ET. "We continue to look for ways to make the draft more accessible to more fans," Goodell said in a statement. "Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television."

Though my first reaction is to not like the change I admit it will probably allow me to watch more of it.

So I thought we simplified the defensive scheme last season? How much more simpler can it get?

Carolina Panthers Football Team Report and Insider Slant - FOX Sports on MSN
In the simplest of terms, this scheme is less complicated than what the Panthers have used in the past with the verbiage greatly reduced. The goal is to allow defenders to use their athletic ability to run and make plays. "I like it because you don't have to think that much," Gamble said. "You just go out and play fast and try to make plays. So I like it simple."

Another Vegas guy weighs in on the Panthers, this one giving us a little more credit

Page 2 — Carolina Panthers - How will they fair in the NFC South? — BetUS Locker Room
Sure, there are holes in Carolina, but the fundamentals are not bad. This is a team that can control the ball on the ground, with either of its running backs, has the capacity to minimize mistakes, gets big plays from a star wide receiver and can get after the passer. On an overall basis, they are more solid than New Orleans, and if they stay relatively healthy, they will compete with Atlanta for the division title.

So Carolina now has the best O-line in the game? What a difference a year makes!

Carolina Panthers in the Futures Market
What often makes an average quarterback look great or conversely a superb quarterback look pedestrian is the offensive line and Delhomme is blessed with perhaps the best O-line in the game. They give Delhomme all the time he needs in the pocket and open holes for the running backs. There's no question the O-line is the most important position in football and good teams build around them.

Speaking of the o-line, Andrew Mason explains the change over the past year best:

Camp Countdown: Offensive line
"This is the first time I've been a part of this, having all five starters back," said Gross, the Panthers' longest-tenured offensive lineman. "At this time of year, you're usually taking baby steps." "There's definitely an advantage having a group that's played together coming back," Kalil added. "For the most part, the starters that are in here now have been here since we installed this thing. It's just constantly building on what you know from the year before.

Fanhouse features the LDE position battle:

Summer Scramble: NFC South Position Battles to Watch -- NFL FanHouse
The starter at left DE is likely to be Tyler Brayton, who was the starter last year. But last year on passing downs, the Panthers moved Brayton to tackle and played pass rusher Charles Johnson at end. That's an arrangement that could continue in 2009, but if Brown shows enough during camp, he could push Johnson for some of that third-down action. Brown is a possible replacement for Peppers should the veteran leave after this year, so the Panthers will want to get a look at him in game situations, assuming he's capable of handling it.

Will Barnidge be the down field threat the Panther fans covet?

Camp Countdown: Tight ends
WITH ROSARIO INJURED, BARNIDGE SAW MORE TIME on the field during OTAs, working as the No. 2 tight end behind King and seeing plenty of work with the first unit in two-tight end formations. The extra on-field time was valuable for the second-year veteran, who played in 15 of 16 regular-season games and the divisional playoff last year but did not record a reception. "Gary's a guy that we obviously thought well enough of and drafted him a year ago," Fox said. "This game is like any job, the more you do it the better you get."

This a new one on me for an NFL team, their own search engine where you can earn Panther schwag.

Win with PanthersSearch.com
When you log on to PanthersSearch.com, every search is a chance to win digital dollars that can be redeemed for great prizes, such as: • Autographed Panthers Memorabilia • Panthers Swag and Merchandise • Panthers and NFL trading cards • Comic Books, Gift Cards and Collectibles

Is this finally Dwayne Jarrett's breakout year?

Camp Countdown: Wide receivers
"I think a prime example for him would be someone like DeAngelo (Williams). DeAngelo was a first-round pick for us and for a couple of years, the '06 season, he was playing a little bit, then had a high ankle sprain against Cleveland. So he's going into his third year (in 2008), and then we draft Stewie (Joanthan Stewart) in the first round, so obviously outside this place, there were questions about whether DeAngelo was the guy. Well, that wasn't it. You need as many good players as you can and certainly he came on as the season progressed. "I have high hopes, I really do. If I didn't have high hopes for (Jarrett), I wouldn't be hard on him. I think I was the same way with DeAngelo. ... (Jarrett) can really and truly help us, and I expect him to help us."

Panther Paw Prints - Beason Blog Edition

Jaxon — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:01:28 -0000

This edition starts with a look at a Panther player blog. Jon Beason has a new post up on his blog that talks about 'making deposits' through hard work that will then pay off during the season. This guy talks like a ten year veteran.

Making Deposits - JonBeason Blog post - jon, beason, carolina panthers, sport, blog, official website
I’ve come to the realization that everybody likes to talk about what you did or how great you are, the season you had and the Pro Bowl, but to me the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league because none of that stuff matters if you don’t make the next play.

Pro Football Weekly seesm to think Tyler Brayton's job is secure and that Charles Johnson is the odd man out:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Panthers DEs Brayton, Brown among those competing for snaps opposite Peppers
While Brayton’s job appears to be safe, Johnson will face a challenge for the third-down snaps from rookie Everette Brown, who eventually could replace Peppers should Peppers depart after playing under the one-year franchise tender this season. The Panthers traded their first-round pick in 2010 to move up in the second round and select Brown, and the plan is for him to contribute from Day One.

Something I didn't know what that KR Larry Beavers is a former QB who didn't take to the position change right away:

A change did Beavers good
"When they moved me, I said, 'Dang, I played quarterback all my life, and now they've got me moving to wide receiver.' I wanted to quit football," Beavers said. "The coaches talked me into it, and said it would be a great fit for me." As is often the case, the coaches were right. His first full season as a wide receiver saw him snag 48 passes for 1,076 yards, good for a 22.4-yards-per-catch average. A three-touchdown-reception game against Averett -- with two of the scores coming from beyond 40 yards -- sealed the deal. Although he didn't know it at the time, Beavers was on his way to the NFL, thanks to the change to receiver. "I've been in love with it ever since," he said.

Long Snapper candidate JJ Jansen is focused on being perfect:

Long snapper's creed: Start perfect, get better
"I don't know that it's so much of a competition between us as it is a competition with ourselves, and we want to put our best foot forward," Jansen said. "It's a little different being a long snapper because you're not really competing against a person; there's not a man across the line you're trying to beat -- you're just trying to be the best you can be.

If the Panthers are going to sign Peppers to a long term contract they had better get it going:

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
This week also promises some news, one way or another, on the Julius Peppers front. Wednesday's the deadline to sign him to a long-term contract this season, lest he play out the year under the franchise tag he already signed.

I'm not sure that these Panthers serve as a good example for this post:

NFL teams counting on veterans' return to form | Sporting News
Before crashing in the playoffs, the Carolina Panthers were one of last season's big comeback stories, going from 7-9 to 12-4 behind several rebounding veterans. DeAngelo Williams went from 717 yards rushing to 1,515, and Julius Peppers pushed his sack total from 2 1/2 to 14 1/2 . Having Jake Delhomme for 16 games instead of three didn't hurt, either.