Bleacher Report - Articles by Austin Penny

The Carolina Panthers Use 'Controlled Chaos' to Clip Falcons

Austin Penny — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:39:39 -0500

The Carolina Panthers may have finally found a formula for success in 2009: Chaos. Steve Smith called the Panthers' no-huddle offense they displayed on Sunday "controlled chaos," saying that the fast paced ever-changing game plan kept the Falcons' defenders guessing all afternoon. Jake Delhomme handled the two-minute like offense masterfully, as he usually does and completed his third straight game without a turnover.

Speaking of Smith, the frustrated wideout caught his second and third touchdown passes of the year on Sunday, both four-yard pases from Delhomme. Delhomme finished the day 15-of-24 for 195 yards and those two touchdowns, completing 62.5 percent of his passes and heading home with a quarterback rating of 115.8. It was Delhomme's first game this season that saw him end up with a quarterback rating of over 100 after accomplishing the feat six times in 2008.

The Panthers got their usual healthy dose of double trouble, rushing for 185 yards on 34 carries complimented by a pair of Jonathan Stewart touchdowns. Stewart finished the game with 82 yards on 11 carries while DeAngelo Williams recorded 92 yards on 19 carries. It was Stewart's 45-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for the Panthers.

The win did not come easy for Carolina, as they dealt with a pesky Falcons offense all day. Michael Turner rushed for 111 yards on just nine carries before leaving with a high ankle sprain in the second quarter that could force him to miss multiple games.

Jason Snelling filled in nicely for Turner in the absence of Jerious Norwood, gaining 61 yards on 18 carries the rest of the way. It was obvious that the Panthers' run defense missed Thomas Davis' production.

The Panthers were able to head to the locker room at halftime with a 21-10 lead thanks to an offense that was performing like a unit not seen in recent memory in Carolina. That seemingly well-oiled machine petered out in the second half, as the Panthers would tally just seven points in the second half while staving off a Falcons' rally.

The Falcons' first three drives in the second half were all 10 plays or more and took up a total of over 17 minutes, but yielded only 10 points. Atlanta burst out of the gates, driving 74 yards to the Carolina six-yard line before being stopped in their tracks and being forced to settle for a field goal that made it 21-13. The Panthers tried to return the favor on their next possession, but John Kasay had his second field goal of the year blocked on a 51-yard attempt.

That would start the Falcons off with good field position that they would capitalize on, embarking on an 11-play, 59-yard drive that ended with Matt Ryan's only touchdown pass of the day, a three-yard toss to tight end Justin Peelle just as the fourth quarter was getting underway that brought the Falcons to within two points at 21-19. The ensuing two-point conversion was snuffed out by a solid tackle by Chris Gamble on a swing pass to Snelling.

The Panthers could not get much going on their next drive and were forced to punt it away. Jason Baker made the first of two huge plays on the day when he pinned the Falcons at their own four to start a critical drive. Ryan completed a third and 11 from his own three on his way to leading Atlanta down the field into field goal range. Elam lined up for a 34-yard field goal, but mistimed the play and pulled the ball badly to the left, allowing Carolina to maintain their two-point lead.

Still, the Panthers offense could not get off the ground, going three and out and being forced to punt once more. Enter Baker once more, this time from a more defensive position as he represented the last man to beat for the Falcons' Eric Weems, who was on his way to the end zone following poor punt coverage when Baker shoved him and sent him flying into the sideline at the Panthers' 49-yard line with just under four minutes to go in the game.

The Falcons had yet another chance to take the lead, but Ryan would toss his second interception of the day on the first play of the drive. Richard Marshall picked off the overthrown ball at the Panthers' 21 and carried it to the 49. After two short runs by Williams, Stewart burst through a hole created by the young Mackenzy Bernadeau and sprinted to the endzone for the 45-yard game-clinching touchdown.

The victory did not come without a price for Carolina, as they lost left tackle Jordan Gross to a broken left ankle in the second quarter. Travelle Wharton moved over to left tackle in his absence and Bernadeau took over at left guard. Wharton was whistled for a holding penalty in his first play at left tackle and would get called for another later in the game. The loss of Gross marks the second key cog the Panthers have lost in as many weeks after losing Thomas Davis in New Orleans a week ago.

Sherrod Martin recorded his team-leading third interception of the year in just his third career start Sunday, setting up a Panthers' touchdown late in the first half.

Tyrell Sutton lined up for every Panthers' kickoff return, however Atlanta's Michael Koenen never gave him a chance to do anything with the ball, recording touchbacks each time he kicked off. He also rendered the punt return game useless, as Captain Munnerlyn was unable to attempt a return on either of Koenen's two punts.

The Panthers' win, mixed in with a few other NFC losses, means that the playoff outlook for Carolina is starting to become a little less murky. At 4-5, the Panthers are now just one game out of the final Wild Card spot. If other top NFC contenders continue to falter while the Panthers continue to heat up, the outlook on the last month of the season could quickly turn from dull and gloomy to exciting and hopeful.

Carolina seems to have found lightning in a bottle with the no-huddle offense and should stick with what works as they continue to try to make up for their poor play out of the gate.

Let's take a look at the positives and negatives from an uplifting Panthers victory.

Going Up...

/\ Jake Delhomme

Jake has always been confident and relaxed in the two-minute drill. It's now apparent that that confidence holds true when you extend the two-minute drill to the 60 minute drill. Call me crazy, but at sometimes on Sunday, Jake looked a lot like a fellow in the midwest who wears number 18 and sports a horseshoe on the side of his helmet.

For three weeks in a row now, Delhomme has been mostly effective and turnover free, leading to a level of play that goes way beyond what we saw the beginning of the year. The quarterback is the leader of every team and with Jake playing with a renewed sense of ability and confidence, the sky is the limit for Carolina.

/\ Muhsin Muhammed

"Moose" made it known publicly earlier in the week that he would like the Panthers to become more agressive in the passing game, insisting that he and his fellow receivers, along with Jake, had the ability to turn their early production around. He backed that statement up with an exclamation point on Sunday in his return from a knee injury that saw him miss two games, catching six passes for 91 yards to lead the team in both categories.

/\ The Jake-to-Smitty Connection

One of, if not the all-time fan favorite quarterback-to-receiver connection in Panthers history seems to be back in sync after a rocky-at-best start to the season. Jake found Smith twice in the end zone on Sunday in Jake's first multi-touchdown game of the year. If this duo can get on the same page again and start producing the electrifying plays they have always been known for, this Panthers team could turn into a dark horse in December.

/\ Defense

When the Panthers offense sputtered in the second half, the defense picked up the slack. Although the Falcons were able to sustain drives on their first three possesions, they came away with only 10 points and were twice halted on long drives and forced to attempt field goals. Carolina also recorded two interceptions, both of which came on the first play of drives and both of which set up Panther touchdowns.

/\ Chris Gamble

Gamble was a busy man on Sunday afternoon, recording 25 percent of his season tackles with eight. He also stuffed Jason Snelling on the two-point conversion that would have tied the game, which almost makes up for a pass interference call he received in the second quarter on a fourth down play that would eventually allow the Falcons' to score their first touchdown of the game. After recording seven tackles during a four game stretch, Gamble has 14 in his last two games.

/\ Jonathan Stewart

Stewie is back on the right side of The Elevator this week after his second two-touchdown performance in the last three weeks. Including his 45-yard game winner. Stewart averaged over seven yards per carry on 11 attempts. If you take that run away, he was still averaging almost four yards a clip.

/\ DeAngelo Williams

Another solid performance from the other half of double trouble as well, racking up just shy of 100 yards on 19 carries. Williams has solidified himself as one of the top backs in the league in the last few weeks, returning to the form that produced his breakout season in 2008. DeAngelo is currently tied for fourth in rushing yards in the NFL and ranks fifth in touchdowns.

/\ Sherrod Martin

The rookie has three starts and three picks, need I say more? Martin has brought a nose for the ball to the free safety position that Charles Godfrey just didn't seem to have and may retain the starting job when Godfrey is healthy if he continues to play at a high level.

/\ Coaching

The coaching staff came up with another excellent game plan to expose the opponent's weakness, in this case the Falcons pass defense. They may have stumbled upon something in the no-huddle offense and should look to incorporate that scheme into future gameplans, especially against formidable defenses like the Patriots and the Jets.

Going Down...

\/ Injury bug

The Panthers are catching fire at the right time, but it will be hard to maintain the flame if they lose too many more key pieces to injury. After losing two potential Pro Bowlers in consecutive weeks, it is imperative that the remaining starters stay healthy.

\/ Special Teams

Another woeful day for special teams was kept out of the limelight by Jason Baker's potentially game-saving tackle of Eric Weems on a punt return late in the game. The Panthers allowed another field goal to be blocked and also allowed another punt to be down inside the five when the returner could have made the fair catch outside of the 10. With the Panthers entering do-or-die territory down the stretch, special teams can not be the weak link that leads to a game changing play.

\/ Putting games away

Aside from the Arizona game, the Panthers have had to hold their breath until the end of every victory they have recorded this season. A late bootleg from Delhomme, let them exhale against Washington, a late touchdown in Tampa did the same and now the clinching 45-yard Stewart dash has done the trick against Atlanta. To re-enter the playoff conversation on a serious level, the Panthers need to take it to someone and be able to enjoy a victory in the fourth quarter rather than scramble to save it.

The Panthers are being outscored 49-14 in the second halves of games in the month of November. Opponents are making adjustments at half time, but it doesn't seem like the Panthers are doing too much of that.

\/ Travelle Wharton

I don't want to make too much of a big deal about Wharton's mistakes seeing as how he was moved out to tackle in an emergency situation after not practicing at that spot for some time. However, with Jordan Gross gone for the year, Wharton will be the big man in charge of Delhomme's blind side. Wharton was whistled for a holding call on the first play from scrimmage after Gross went out and racked up another before the game was over.

For all intents and purposes, that's two holding calls in one half, meaning he'd average four per game. There's no way the Panthers can absorb that and continue their improved offensive play. Wharton will need to have a good, albeit short, week of practice and get accustomed to the tackle spot again inside a small window of time.

Up Next...

The Panthers will have a short week this week, playing Thursday night on NFL Network against the Miami Dolphins who will visit Charlotte in the regular season for the first time since 1998. The game is huge for both teams, as both are resting at 4-5 and looking to make a push towards the playoffs.

The Panthers will be looking to contain the Wildcat that has brought the Dolphins to prominence in the last couple of years. Former Carolina offensive coordinator Dan Henning is the wizard behind the curtain for the Dolphins and Henning will face his former team in the regular season for the first time since leaving after the 2006 season.

The Panthers have never beaten the Dolphins in the regular season, one of only two teams that hold that distinction (Houston is the other).

Carolina Panthers Second Quarter Awards

Austin Penny — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:53:52 -0500

The Carolina Panthers have not had the type of season they planned on having after going 12-4 and winning the NFC South Division title last year. Through the first half of the season, the Panthers sit at 3-5, already having eclipsed their loss total from 2008. The second quarter saw improved play from the Panthers, especially on defense and in the running game. The Panthers were ranked first in pass defense for much of the quarter until Drew Brees and the Saints uprooted them with 330 yards passing. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart benefited from improved offensive line play in the second quarter and recorded two of the franchise's top three rushing performances during that span. Despite all of that, the Panthers still wound up with a 2-2 record in the second quarter and now find themselves staring straight uphill at the second half of the season and a potential playoff berth. Let's take a look at the award winners from the second quarter.

Begin Slideshow

Four Bobcats On East Ballot for 2010 NBA All-Star Game

Austin Penny — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:26:04 -0500

Four members of the Charlotte Bobcats have been selected to the Eastern Conference ballot for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

The annual event will be held in Dallas in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

F Gerald Wallace, C Tyson Chandler, F Boris Diaw, and G Raymond Felton were elected to represent the Bobcats for consideration.

No Bobcat has ever been elected to the All-Star game, and none of the four players chosen to represent the team this year have ever been selected to an All-Star roster.

The NBA is, for the first time ever, allowing fans to vote via text messaging for their favorite players. The only catch is that you must have T-Mobile as your wireless provider. For T-Mobile customers, send the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 (MYNBA).

For all others, you can still vote on your cell phone by going to wap.nba.com on your mobile web browser.

If you prefer the more traditional methods you can cast your ballot online by clicking here , or vote at any NBA arena.

The game will take place February 14, 2010 and will be broadcast on TNT.

Bobcats' Player Of The Week For November 1st-8th: "Crash" To The Boards

Austin Penny — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:21 -0500

Gerald Wallace could arguably be the best expansion draft pick ever. The Bobcats are now in their sixth season, and Wallace has been a staple in the starting lineup since the beginning. His over-the-top style of play and reckless abandon for loose balls has earned him the nickname "Crash" among teammates and fans alike. What better way than to kick off the 'Player of the Week' column than with a true fan favorite?

Wallace has experienced a bit of a shooting slump to start this season but has made up for that by turning in stellar rebounding numbers. Crash is currently leading the NBA in rebounds per game at 13.8—almost two full rebounds ahead of the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol.

During the Bobcats three games last week, Wallace averaged over 15.5 boards per game, including a career-high 20 in a 79-68 win over the Nets on Monday. He came close to reaching the 20-rebound mark again on Friday night against the Hawks, pulling down 18 in a convincing 20-point thumping of their division rivals.

Wallace also chipped in over 15.5 points per game last week despite his shooting woes, and shot 80% from the free throw line, knocking down 16 of 20. His savvy defensive efforts netted him seven steals.

There is no question that the Bobcats need Wallace to find his shot and become a more consistent piece of the offense if the team is going to turn around the ugly offensive numbers they have posted during the first few games of the season. Wallace is the closest thing to a super star that the Bobcats have, so he will have to shoulder that load in order for the team to remain successful.

The Bobcats have a tough double-header ahead of them, playing at home against the Magic tonight before flying to Detroit to take on the Pistons tomorrow night.

Gerald Wallace Weekly Totals

Points: 47

Rebounds: 47

Assists: 3

Steals: 7

FG%: 36.6 (15-41)

FT%: 80.0 (16-20)

The Elevator: Panthers Lose Game, LB Davis in New Orleans

Austin Penny — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:50:02 -0500

The Carolina Panthers aren't nearly the team they were for the first three weeks of the 2009 season. They are far removed from the dreadful 0-3 start and the horrible play calling that doomed them to it.

With that being said, the Panthers are also a long way from being the team that went 12-4 and captured the NFC South title last season.

The Panthers traveled to New Orleans this weekend to take on one of the NFL's only two remaining undefeated teams in the Saints, a division rival they have had great success against recently—especially in the Superdome. After racing to a lead that still sat at 17-6 heading into halftime, the Panthers succumbed to their nemesis that had been absent the last few weeks: turnovers. The Panthers fumbled five times Sunday, losing three of them. The only difference was that this time, the turnovers came from unusual suspects.

DeAngelo Williams had a great day rushing the ball, and a great game overall...if you can look past his two critical errors. Williams picked up 149 yards on 21 carries while scoring two touchdowns. His first score came on the second play of the game as Williams raced 66 yards for the score, silencing the rowdy home crowd. He would score again in the first quarter, this time from seven yards out to make it 14-0 in favor of the Panthers. As a whole, Williams would pick up just over seven yards per carry on the day, and if you subtract the long touchdown run, he still averaged over four yards per carry. Pretty impressive, right?

Right. Now comes the cloud cover. The Panthers had embarked on an epic drive to answer the Saints' four-play, eighty-yard drive to start the third quarter. A botched first down exchange near the goal line between quarterback Jake Delhomme and Jonathan Stewart resulted in a six-yard loss for Carolina, who would eventually find themselves facing third-and-goal from the six. Delhomme dropped back to pass and, after going through all of his reads, checked down to Williams who had come free just inside the endzone. Delhomme fired a pass to Williams, but the pass bounced off his chest, falling incomplete and forcing the Panthers to settle for three points instead of a touchdown. That play turned out to be huge, as it would allow New Orleans to stay within one score at 20-13.

Fast forward to the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. The Saints are ahead by a field goal and the Panthers have just forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with two minutes to go. Captain Munnerlyn makes an iffy call to let the ball bounce at around the 13-yard line rather than fielding a fair catch, allowing Saints' rookie Malcom Jenkins to save the ball from going into the endzone and force Carolina to start from the shadow of their own goal posts.

With their backs against the wall, the Panthers choose to hand the ball off to Williams to get some breathing room. That's when disaster strikes. Williams was virtually stuffed at the line of scrimmage and the flailing arm of the Saints' Anthony Hargrove jarred the ball loose from his grip then scooped it up and took a step into the endzone to put New Orleans up by ten and all but seal the game.

The lost fumble was Williams' third of the season after going more than 500 carries without one, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Stewart also lost a fumble on the day and had one of the more disappointing outings of his short career, gaining just 24 yards on 13 carries.

Delhomme did not throw an interception for the second consecutive week, but did not have a touchdown pass either. He was charged with the other lost fumble on the day for Carolina, but it will go down as a meaningless stat since it was fourth down and he fumbled the ball while being sacked, meaning the Saints would have received the ball at that spot anyways. Delhomme completed 17 of 30 passes for 201 yards.

His counterpart, Drew Brees, was more deadly as he completed 24 of 35 for 330 yards, one touchdown and an interception to Chris Gamble that halted an early Saints drive that seemed destined for at least three points.

It was a tale of two halves for Brees and the Panthers' defense. After allowing only six points on two John Carney field goals in the first half, Carolina's ability to keep the Saints' receivers in check faltered. Brees found Devery Henderson on the third play of the third quarter, on a third down nonetheless, for a 63-yard gain, setting up Pierre Thomas' 10-yard touchdown run on the next play. After the Panthers' long drive that ended with just three points, the Saints tied it up with another long third down play, this time a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Robert Meachem.

From that point, the Saints played like the undefeated team they were and still are, coming up with an answer to everything the Panthers tried to throw at them while turning in a performance that could be considered a textbook example of a "bend-but-don't-break defense." Twice in the fourth quarter the Panthers were forced to give the ball back to the Saints after crossing midfield.

After the fumble recovery for a touchdown with just under two minutes to go, the Panthers got the ball back and marched down the field, with Delhomme at one point completing four straight passes, including two in a row to Dwayne Jarrett. The Panthers moved all the way to the Saints' eight yard line then elected to run the ball with 41 seconds remaining and no timeouts. Williams reached the two and the Panthers spiked the ball with 26 seconds remaining. Delhomme's next two passes fell incomplete, however, and the Panthers turned the ball over to New Orleans on downs, allowing Brees to take a knee and celebrate the Saints' first 8-0 start in franchise history.

Another bit of bad news for the Panthers was Thomas Davis' knee injury. It didn't look good when he was lying on the ground clutching the injured limb, it didn't look good when he looked visibly shaken after the game and declined to talk to reporters, and it didn't look good Monday when an MRI revealed that he had torn his ACL, meaning Carolina will be without their most productive defensive player for the rest of the season. Landon Johnson replaced him Sunday and will likely replace him in the starting lineup.

For all intents and purposes, the Panthers should be somewhat satisfied with a performance that gave the best team in the NFC a bonafide run for it's money. The game was closer than the ten-point separation that showed on the Superdome scoreboard at its conclusion, and the Panthers showed that their number one pass defense could turn in a decent performance against one of the more explosive quarterbacks in the league. On the other hand, the loss goes down as the fifth of the year for Carolina, already more than they had all of last season. With the wild card teams currently resting at 5-3, the Panthers find themselves in an unfavorable position as they prepare to enter a less-than-friendly second half schedule that includes two trips to the Meadowlands, one to Foxboro, and primetime matchups against the gritty Dolphins and the Vikings. That's not to mention the return legs of the Falcons' and Saints' season series.

Nothing is impossible in this league, as has been evidenced several times before, but the view of the postseason is becoming foggier each week for the Panthers. Let's take a look at the positives and negatives from Sunday's tough loss.

Going Up...

/\ Tyrell Sutton. The mystery of who would start at fullback for the Panthers was answered on the first play of the game, as Sutton tallied a slew of firsts. He was active for his first career NFL game, made his first NFL start, got his first NFL carry and picked up his first nine NFL yards all on the first play of the game. Sutton filled in nicely at fullback for the Panthers, blocking the way for DeAngelo to amass 149 yards on the ground while running for 15 yards on three carries and catching a pass for eleven more. The rookie out of Northwestern didn't look much like a guy playing in his first NFL game, and with the way the return game is going, I'd be okay with letting him return some kicks once one or both of our fullbacks are back healthy.

/\ Jon Beason. Beason led the Panthers will 11 solo tackles on Sunday, and also had a fumble recovery and a pass deflection. With Thomas Davis now out for the year, Beason will have to step up to an even higher level to keep the Carolina linebacking corps as one of the best in the game. Based on what we've seen from him so far in his career, he will have no problem taking on the challenge.

/\ Offensive line. Jake was sacked only twice and seemed to have ample time to throw the ball for most of the day. DeAngelo tallied another big running day and, for the second straight week, a 65+ yard run. The line looked a little shaky at the beginning of the season, but is starting to return to form from last year.

/\ Gary Barnidge. Next time you get a chance, check out Gary's hands. They are absolutely huge, which helped him reel in two very tough catches on Sunday. He finished with three receptions for 46 yards, and will fit in nicely for this team for years to come.

/\ Jake Delhomme. For the second week in a row, Jake played mistake free football. As I said above, he will be charged with a lost fumble on one of his two sacks but it wouldn't have made any difference whether he held onto the ball or not since it was a fourth down play. Delhomme seemed to go through his reads with more patience and wasn't afraid to throw check downs when he needed to. His deep ball has apparently lost most of its touch, however. Sunday was the first time all season that the Saints had not recorded an interception.

/\ Dwayne Jarrett. Dwayne set a career high for receptions with four, and gained 30 yards Sunday. He was also a target on two straight plays in the Panthers' last minute desperation attempt at a comeback. On top of all that, Jarrett turned in a solid blocking performance and even broke a tackle to gain a couple of extra yards. He still has lots of room for improvement, especially with being able to out-muscle defensive backs who are much smaller than him. He's got a Randy Moss-style body and showed great hands in college, his game just needs to hurry up and translate to the pros before its too late.

/\ DeAngelo Williams. For the majority of the game Sunday, Williams was a monster. He finished with 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard scamper on the second play of the game. While that is all well and good...

Going Down...

\/ DeAngelo Williams. ...he was also the culprit on two plays that directly affected the outcome of the game. He dropped a third-and-goal pass on the goal line that would have put the Panthers up by 11 instead of seven, and fumbled the ball on his own one yard line on the first play of the Panthers' final attempt at a comeback late in the fourth quarter. From hero to zero in the blink of an eye...

\/ Jonathan Stewart. J-Stew was unusually ineffective Sunday, averaging less than two yards per carry in his 13 attempts. He had a ten yard carry in the mix, meaning that in his other 12 attempts he gained just 14 yards. To make matters worse, Stewart also lost a fumble, another uncharacteristic move for the second-year back.

\/ Julius Peppers. As good as he is when he's on, he's as bad when he's not. When you're making $1 million per game, you had better play like it or you are going to be the target of a lot of criticism. Just goes to show you how quick good can be erased when you open up a can of worms like Julius did in the offseason. That's two games now where you'd think he'd be playing lights out—in Dallas in front of the world on Monday Night Football, and in New Orleans against the best team in the NFC—but he's ended up disappearing. Peppers finished with one tackle and one quarterback pressure after having six sacks in the last month. How many owners, GM's, coaches, and fans are going to be happy paying $1 million per tackle? I can count them on one hand and have five fingers left over...

\/ Turnovers. One way or the other, the turnovers just seem to be the elephant in the room for this team this year. We seem to have gotten our quarterback to understand what color jerseys we are wearing, but now our usually rock-solid running backs have gotten a case of fumbilitis. You can't win games in the NFL when you turn the ball over three times, and you certainly can't expect to beat a team like the Saints while doing it.

\/ Kick/Punt Returning. Whether it's Kenny Moore, Captain Munnerlyn, or Mike Goodson, somebody is going to have to eventually step up and do something when it comes to returning the ball. Every now and then it sure would be nice to be able to start from somewhere outside of our own 20-25 yard line. I'm not asking for a Devin Hester, I'd just like to have even a Mark Jones back. Somebody who at least poses a slight threat. Munnerlyn was scared to try to haul in the fair catch at the Panthers 13-yard line late in Sunday's game, allowing the Saints to down the ball at the two yard line, which led to the DW disaster. It seems like the confidence level for these guys is awfully low, and that's probably because we don't have 'A' kick returner. One time its Captain, then its Kenny, then its Mike...Name one guy the kick and punt returner and let him get all the reps. Or why not let Sutton get a couple of opportunities doing it? Can't get any worse...

\/ Blown lead. This one applies to just about everyone who had something to do with Sunday's game. Yes, the Saints are a highly explosive team that can put up points in a hurry, but it just doesn't bode well when you find yourself closing out a game that you led 17-3 at one point in a ten-point hole at 30-20. That means the Saints outscored the Panthers 27-3 from that point on, including 24-3 in the second half. That's the type of loss that demoralizes a team.

Up Next...

The Panthers will return to Charlotte for a pair of home games, their last two-game stretch at Bank of America Stadium all year. The Atlanta Falcons will be in town next Sunday for a 1:00PM EST kickoff. That game will go a long way towards straightening out the picture in the NFC South. If the Panthers were to win that game and the Saints, who already hold a three game lead and the tiebreaker against the Falcons, beat the lowly Rams, New Orleans would hold a four-game lead in the division with seven to play. The way the Saints have played thus far in 2009, that should be more than enough to bring them a division title.

Michael Turner will come to Charlotte fresh off of back to back monster weeks running the football; a tall order for a Panthers defense who has been suspect against the run throughout the season.

Charlotte Bobcats Week in Review: Nov. 1-5

Austin Penny — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:23:22 -0500

The Bobcats had a light workload this week, playing only one game and getting three days off between contests. Charlotte touts a 2-2 record despite being the most inept offensive team in the NBA, averaging only 79.8 points per game.

They also bring up the rear in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage, shooting just 36% from the field and an abysmal 17.9% from downtown.

Not all is bad in Charlotte, though, as the Bobcats sit in second place in rebounds per game at 46.3, led by the NBA's leading rebounder in Gerald Wallace, who is pulling down 14 boards per contest.

The Bobcats have also found a way to win games despite their lack of offense, as is evidenced by their .500 record.

The Bobcats' two losses have come in Boston and Cleveland, while they have beaten New York and now New Jersey at home.

Let's take a look at what led the Bobcats to their come-from-behind win against the Nets on Monday evening.

Bobcats 79, Nets 68

The Bobcats looked like they were on their way to another loss thanks to a startling lack of offense on Monday night before their defense kicked into an extra gear in the second half.

The Bobcats turned an eight point halftime deficit into a five point lead during a third quarter that saw them outscore the Nets 20-7, holding New Jersey scoreless for a period of more than 10 minutes and going on a 24-0 run that stretched over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter.

Gerald Wallace was the top performer on the night, putting up 24 points and pulling down a career-high 20 rebounds.

D.J. Augustin scored 21 points for the Bobcats and Raja Bell made his return from a torn ligament in his wrist, going just 1-for-8 from the field and scoring his only three points on one of his six three-point attempts.

Despite his personal scoring woes, the Bobcats enjoyed a +11 advantage on the scoreboard when Bell was in the game.

The Bobcats were able to create almost twice as many opportunities from the free throw line as the Nets, shooting 30-of-35 from the stripe while the Nets shot 15-of-18.

A large part of the reason the Bobcats have had increased success drawing fouls this year is the health of Augustin, who dealt with a strained abdominal muscle for much of last season.

On Monday, Augustin scored nine of his points from the line and Wallace chipped in nearly half of his points on free throws, going 10-for-13.

The Nets remained winless on the season at 0-4 and lost forward Yi Jianlian with a knee injury after Wallace fell into him. New Jersey is already without point guard Devin Harris, who is out with a strained groin muscle.

The Bobcats have failed to hit the 80-point mark in three of their four games, but that won't matter as long as they can keep winning.

Losses on the road to the Celtics and Cavs are nothing to be upset about, while a thrilling double-overtime win in their home opener against the Knicks and a come-from-behind win in an ugly game against the Nets are impressive, if for no other reason than the fact that the Bobcats likely would have lost those games in years past.

One of the main reasons the Bobcats have failed to reach the postseason in their existence is their inability to win the games they "should" win.

Charlotte flirted with the playoff picture down the stretch last season, one that saw them record a victory at home against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers and then take the Celtics to the wire in a two-point double overtime loss in Boston on consecutive nights.

If the Bobcats can establish a sense of consistency throughout the year and avoid any major injuries, there is no reason they shouldn't be in the conversation for a playoff spot come April.

Up Next...

The Bobcats will have four games between now and the next installment of the Weekly Report, taking on the Hawks (4-1), coming off a West Coast swing, at home on Friday night before heading to Chicago to take on the Bulls (3-2) on Saturday night.

They will be off then until Tuesday when Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and the division rival Magic (4-1) will visit Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Bobcats will then complete their second straight back-to-back turnaround by heading to Detroit to take on the Pistons (2-3).

The Bobcats have a chance to start out 3-0 at home for the first time in franchise history against the Hawks, and will face four solid teams overall next week.

A fast start is imperative if the Bobcats want to remain in the conversation in the Southeast, which is crowded early by three 4-1 teams (Miami, Atlanta, Orlando).

Saints-Panthers: New Orleans Could Be In Double Trouble

Austin Penny — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:14:17 -0500

The Carolina Panthers seem to have re-established their identity as a run-heavy team. Twice in the last three weeks, the Panthers have eclipsed the 265-yard mark on the ground, racking up 267 in Tampa Bay and 270 last week in Arizona.

Sandwiched in the middle of those great performances is a game that can be summed up with a single character: ?

The Panthers threw the ball 44 times at home against the league's worst rush defense and wound up losing painfully to the Bills, 20-9. After that game, it was unclear whether Jake Delhomme would remain the team's starting quarterback, or if this squad had anything left in the tank for the once-promising 2009 season.

After the performance that was put on in Arizona, the question of whether or not this team has the ability to make something of this season has been answered. Carolina played just like the 2008 team that was supposed to carry them to a Super Bowl before being crashed and burned by the Cardinals. Delhomme wasn't forced to make a lot of throws, but made the ones that counted when he needed to. He spent most of the afternoon turning around and handing the ball to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who carried the Panthers to their third win of the season.

The dynamic duo of Williams and Stewart, known as Double Trouble, is among the top running back combinations in the league. Williams is sixth in the league in rushing yardage with 619 yards, while Stewart is averaging just under five yards a carry in a not-so-backup role. The Panthers have moved past the easiest part of their schedule and will play a second consecutive road game Sunday against one of the last two remaining undefeated teams, the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints and Panthers have been division rivals since the re-alignment in 2002 that created the NFC South. There have been several memorable games between them and this Sunday's game has the potential to rank among the best, given the statistical fodder in play.

Drew Brees and the Saints are known league-wide for their explosive passing game, with Brees toting a quarterback rating of 107.6 and having thrown for a league-high 16 touchdowns. New Orleans has also picked up some of the slack on defense, which was the only phase of the game holding them back from being a playoff team a year ago. The one area of the defense still slacking is the run defense.

The Panthers' rushing attack seems to be back in the forefront of the coaches' gameplan, while their passing defense is ranked number one in the league.

That equation could potentially set the stage for a thrilling strength vs. strength matchup. No defense in the league, regardless of ranking, can go into a game against New Orleans expecting to hold Brees in check for an entire game. The key is to figure out how to counter attack them when you have the ball, rest your defense, and take care of the ball so as not to give that well-oiled machine a short field.

What better prescription than a heavy dose of the running game?

The Saints, seemingly unstoppable for the first few weeks of the season, have shown weakness in the last couple of games and have made it known that they are, indeed, beatable.

In the last two weeks, the Dolphins and the Falcons have had enormous success running the ball. The Dolphins came closer to beating the Saints than any other team has this year, forcing a late rally by Brees and company that kept their undefeated record in tact.

Ronnie Brown carried the ball 16 times for only 48 yards and one touchdown, but Ricky Williams ran nine times for 80 yards and three touchdowns. All together, the Dolphins racked up 137 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries, good for a little over four-and-a-half yards per carry.

The Falcons followed that performance with more of a one-man battering ram approach, with Michael Turner racking up 151 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. That is over seven-and-a-half yards per touch, and in total the Falcons averaged just under seven yards a carry as a team on 24 attempts.

With numbers like that, it's hard to think that Double Trouble won't cause a problem for the Saints defense on Sunday.

Cardinals defenders said after the Panthers victory that they "knew what was coming, and still couldn't stop it." This means that Carolina's offensive line, touted as one of the best last year and having returned all five starters, is back in top form.

The Panthers will likely run the ball 40-plus times again for the third time in the last four games, meaning the Saints' defense will have to be ready for a long, physically draining game. Both backup defensive tackles, Sedrick Ellis and Kendrick Clancy, have missed practice time this week due to injuries, which could mean increased reps for the starters, leading to additional fatigue.

The Saints aren't the only ones with injury problems, as the Panthers are missing both of their fullbacks this week in practice. Dante Rosario, a second-string tight end, could fill in at the fullback role, but he, too, has missed the practice week so far. That leaves the Panthers with limited options and could force them to sign a fullback to blaze the trail for Double Trouble this week. The only other course of action could be placing Jeff King at fullback, or perhaps going with formations that put Williams and Stewart in the game at the same time.

Look for the Panthers to continue to split the carries between Williams and Stewart similarly to the way they always have. Williams will start the game and have at least a handful more carries than Stewart, while Stewart will be in on most short yardage and goal line situations.

If the Panthers can continue to expose the Saints' rushing defense and can live up to their ranking of number one pass defense, then the result Sunday in New Orleans could be much different than you may have thought a couple of weeks ago.

The Elevator: Panthers Avenge Playoff Loss, Run over Cardinals

Austin Penny — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:08:07 -0500

The Carolina Panthers, for a day at least, looked like the Carolina Panthers of old.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined to chew up 245 yards on the ground and the Panthers rushed for a total of 270 yards, good for second-best in franchise history.

The Panthers' defense was everywhere on Sunday, proving to be equally as involved in the impressive 34-21 win as the offense.

There are some wildly ironic numbers that can be found on the stat sheet from Sunday's game. Kurt Warner, Jake Delhomme's close friend and mentor from their NFL Europe days, turned in a performance that was nearly identical to Delhomme's in last year's playoff loss to the Cardinals. Warner completed 27 of 46 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

It starts to get weird when you look at what led to the outcome of the game. Warner committed six turnovers overall—five interceptions and a lost fumble. Delhomme also posted five interceptions and a lost fumble in the playoff loss. What makes it more ironic is that Warner contacted Delhomme earlier in the week to offer his support and to urge his friend to keep his head up despite all of the negative press and the possibility of him losing his starting job.

On Sunday, Delhomme redefined the phrase "game manager," with his ultra-conservative yet ultra-effective approach. Delhomme completed 7-of-14 passes for 90 yards and a 50-yard touchdown to Steve Smith, his first touchdown pass to a wide receiver this year.

Although he only completed half of his passes, Delhomme's throws looked much more accurate at most times than they have in the last several games. He didn't force the ball and he didn't make bad decisions when pressured. The touchdown to Smith was a classic Jake-to-Smitty connection, with Smith completely toasting Dominique Rogers-Cromartie on a stop-and-go route that was accompanied by a timely Delhomme pump fake. All in all, Delhomme did what he does best—turn around and hand the ball off to Double Trouble while making enough throws to keep the defense at least somewhat honest.

Delhomme would leave the game with a chest injury in the third quarter after taking a hard hit from the Cardinals' Darnell Dockett. He returned for one series after the initial injury, but upon returning to the sideline Delhomme said that he was feeling "chilled," raising the concerns of the Panthers' training staff. He was taken to a local hospital for a chest x-ray which showed only a contusion. He said after the game it was "nothing serious." Matt Moore, who Panthers fans have been calling for to start, finished 0-for-1 but wasn't really needed.

Speaking of Double Trouble, the Panthers' dynamic duo destroyed the Cardinals' league-best rush defense on Sunday. Williams carried the ball 23 times for 158 yards, including a 77-yard scamper that would set up Stewart's second touchdown of the day, which put the Panthers up for good at 14-7 on the first play of the second quarter. Stewart finished the day with 87 yards on 17 carries.

The Cardinals set out to force Delhomme to throw the ball, but were unsuccessful to say the least. Williams and Stewart methodically pounded the ball through the Cardinals' defense, running inside and outside all afternoon. Cardinals' nose tackle Bryan Robinson put it best when he said "We knew what they were going to do and we couldn't stop it."

Carolina set the tone for the game after receiving the opening kickoff. The Panthers set out on a 15-play, 74 yard drive that used up 7:32 of game clock, running nine times and throwing six. The drive was reminiscent of last year's playoff game, where the Panthers marched down the field and scored to open the game before falling apart at the seams, only the outcome was much different.

The Panthers' defense also appeared to be clicking on all cylinders, with the league's number one pass defense hawking the ball all day long and proving that their ranking wasn't simply due to a string of below-average quarterbacks on the schedule. The five interceptions more than doubled their season total of three, with three of the day's picks coming from unusual suspects.

Rookie Sherrod Martin, a second-round pick out of Troy, made his first career start for the injured Charles Godfrey at free safety and notched two picks. Martin was impressive all day long, knocking down two passes and recording four tackles to go along with the interceptions. Thomas Davis and Richard Marshall took credit for one interception each.

Julius Peppers continued his outstanding play of late, dabbling in nearly every stat category. Peppers finished with two tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and and interception return for a touchdown. The touchdown came on the Cardinals' first play from scrimmage following the Smith touchdown reception and extended the Panthers' lead to 28-7.

The Cardinals would make the game interesting, coming within 10 points, but two fourth quarter John Kasay field goals would keep Arizona from having any real shot at a comeback.

Let's take a look at how the Panthers' fared in what was by far their most impressive outing of the season.

Going Up

/\ Play calling—The Panthers used their tried and true formula for success, running the ball twice as much as they threw it while playing outstanding defense. A week after throwing 44 passes against the league's worst rush defense, the Panthers' coaching staff woke up and stuck with what works, a sign that maybe all is not lost after all.

/\ Jake Delhomme—Jake has been through a lot of negative situations so far this year, so a performance like Sunday's was a welcome sight for Panthers players, fans, and coaches alike. Delhomme wasn't outstanding, but he was efficient and mistake-free, which is all they need from him when the running game is working like it was in Arizona. The biggest improvement in my eyes was his patience and diligence in finding the open receiver as opposed to forcing the ball to Smith or trying to thread the needle to someone who isn't open. Delhomme has always been sort of a streaky player, and perhaps exercising the demons from his gut-wrenching playoff performance will get his confidence headed back in the right direction.

/\ Julius Peppers—Since the Panthers' bye week, Pep has been on an absolute tear. In four games since the off-week, Pep has six sacks. His performance on Sunday will, for the most part, stay out of the stat sheet. On nearly every play, Peppers was blowing up his opposing blocker and finding a way to at least make Warner think about him before making a play. His interception return for touchdown was the second of his career, and helped the Panthers put the Cardinals away early. Peppers is merely a shell of his old self these days, having stepped up and given a speech to his teammates about effort and intensity before the Tampa Bay game. It's too early to get into this conversation now, but you have to wonder, if Peppers continues to experience success like he has in recent weeks and enjoys himself while he's doing it, whether he will end up signing that elusive long-term deal with Carolina.

/\ Double Trouble—D-Will and J-Stew steamrolled the Cardinals and their top-ranked rush defense for 245 yards between the two of them, putting on a performance that brought back memories of last year's late-season win against Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football that flushed the Bucs' season down the drain. The Panthers are built to be a running team and these guys are two good reasons why. If the Panthers can use their game plan from this game as a launching pad for the rest of the season, the gauntlet that is the Panthers' remaining schedule will become much more manageable.

/\ Sherrod Martin—How's that for a rookie debut? In his first start as a Panther, Martin snatched two interceptions, deflected two passes, and made four solo tackles. While it is only one game, he could challenge Charles Godfrey for his starting spot when he is healthy. Godfrey has been decent, but not overwhelming since taking over for Panthers legend Mike Minter at free safety at the start of last season. Martin's nose for the ball in college impressed the Panthers, who figured a guy like that might boost their turnover production on defense. They are batting a thousand so far.

/\ Captain Munnerlyn—Speaking of rookies, Munnerlyn recorded seven solo tackles from his nickel back spot on Sunday, second on the team behind Jon Beason's eight.

/\ Dwayne Jarrett—For one play, we saw a glimpse of how valuable Jarrett could be if he could grasp the pace and complexities of the NFL. On the Panthers' second third-down attempt of their first drive, Delhomme found Jarrett on a post pattern for a 17-yard gain and a first down. The catch wasn't an easy one, but Jarrett used his monstrous hands to reel the ball in while falling to the ground. He would wind up catching both balls thrown his way on the day for 22 yards. Nothing to write home about unless...you're Dwayne Jarrett.

Going Down

\/ Jeff Otah—Otah was responsible for two false start penalties Sunday. On a day where not too much went wrong, that'll send you to the south side of The Elevator.

\/ Chris Gamble—Gamble was the one who was touted all week to be covering the Cardinals' explosive Larry Fitzgerald, even saying himself that he wanted to take on the challenge. Fitzgerald finished the day with six catches for 66 yards. Gamble finished the day with no tackles, one pass deflection, and a pass interference penalty. Credit him with knocking the ball loose from Jerheme Urban on Martin's second interception, but you still have to pose the question: Is it too late to re-think his ridiculous extension?

\/ Return game—Something is not going right when you can't average 20 yards on a kick return. Something is going seriously wrong when you aren't averaging 20 yards per kick return, yet the returner nearly runs over his lead blocker trying to get out of the endzone from four yards deep when the blocker is telling him to stay in there (cough, Mike Goodson, cough). It didn't burn them on Sunday, but the Panthers have to start producing on special teams, especially the return game, to ease the workload on the offense as the season grinds on.

Up Next

The Panthers won't have any time to celebrate Sunday's performance, as they will head to New Orleans for a big NFC South matchup next weekend. The Saints play the Falcons on Monday Night Football this week, meaning one of those teams will be one heavier in the loss column which only helps the Panthers. Carolina and their number one ranked pass defense will have another big test against Drew Brees and company.

The bottom line for the Panthers is that their win Sunday is just one of many they will need to record before the season comes to a close if they want to find themselves in the playoff picture.

Carolina Panthers Sticking With Delhomme...For Now

Austin Penny — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:42:49 -0400

The Carolina Panthers are sticking with Jake Delhomme—at least through Sunday.

Head coach John Fox said after practice Wednesday that Delhomme would be under center Sunday in Arizona, putting to rest any ideas that backups Matt Moore and A.J. Feeley might have a chance at grabbing the starting role.

Fox said that, in his eyes, Delhomme still gives the Panthers the "best chance to win." A city full of fans and a growing number of NFL analysts beg to differ, but that doesn't matter.

Delhomme leads the league with 13 interceptions through seven weeks (six games) and has shown a tendency to overthrow his receivers all year. No Panthers wide receiver has caught a touchdown pass this season, and Delhomme only has four to his credit—all to tight ends.

Calls for Delhomme to hit the bench have been coming in by the truckload this week since his three-interception performance at home Sunday in a loss to Buffalo.

Delhomme now faces the team where his epic downfall started—the Arizona Cardinals. In January, when the Cardinals came to Charlotte for a highly-anticipated playoff matchup, Delhomme brought the Panthers' hopes for a Super Bowl return crashing down on the heads of those in attendance and watching at home, tossing five interceptions and losing a fumble in an embarrassing 33-13 loss.

Since that dreadful night, the Panthers have been in what seems to be a daze of sorts, as they have lost eight of their past 10 games since (including preseason). Delhomme has not righted the ship, and continues to put up shocking numbers in the turnover department.

The usually confident and charismatic Delhomme was reduced to a shell of himself Sunday at the post game news conference, fighting back tears as he tried to explain what went wrong. After learning he would be starting in Arizona, Delhomme sounded almost less than enthused.

He said that he would have understood if he was benched—"How could I blame him?" were his exact words—but went on to say he was still looking for redemption. "...I was hoping it would be me. I’m going down swinging. I don’t know any other way to put it," said Delhomme, his confidence visibly shaken, "Would I sit here and tell you it’s through the roof? I mean, that would be a lie. I still do have a lot of confidence, but it's frustrating. A couple plays a game are just not … And that’s something you work on, that 'forget it' mentality.”

Let's home Delhomme can "forget it" quicker than Panthers fans and turn his play around.

The Elevator: Turnovers Doom Panthers In Loss to Bills

Austin Penny — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:30:39 -0400

Just when you thought things might be turning around...

The Carolina Panthers published their latest installment in a series of embarrassing outings on Sunday afternoon against the visiting Buffalo Bills, losing 20-9 and falling to 2-4 on the season. What unfolded at Bank of America Stadium can only be described as "spooky" in light of the upcoming holiday, and will surely give Panther Nation nightmares for days to come.

The Panthers dominated in literally every major stat category and still found a way to lose the game, thanks in large part to another trio of interceptions by embattled quarterback Jake Delhomme. Carolina had 20 first downs to Buffalo's nine, gained 425 yards of total offense compared to 167 by the Bills, ran 17 more plays and held the ball for nearly 10 minutes more than their opposition.

The running game was on track for a second straight week, as DeAngelo Williams rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Jonathan Stewart ran for 25 yards on seven carries after missing some time with a hand injury sustained during the game.

Steve Smith was back in the thick of the game plan, leading Panthers receivers with six catches for 99 yards. Smith, however, did not seem to be all that pleased by the play calling at some times, with television cameras showing him yelling and pointing towards his sideline on at least one occasion.

Delhomme was 27-of-44 for 325 yards and three interceptions, bringing his total to 13 on the year to accompany just four touchdowns. Delhomme was wildly inconsistent for most of the day despite his 61.4 percent completion rate. Many throws sailed over the heads of receivers, accounting for all three of his interceptions. Only once did a Panther have an opportunity at an intercepted ball, when a Delhomme pass barely grazed the outstretched fingertips of Smith.

To add to the misery, John Kasay, who has been deadly accurate in his fifteen seasons as the Panthers' place kicker, missed two field goal attempts that fans have gotten used to seeing him make in his sleep.

As if that wasn't enough, the Panthers committed another special teams miscue that prevented them from having one last chance at a comeback late in the game when Kenneth Moore muffed a punt at the Panthers' 20-yard line, eventually leading to the Bills' final three points of the contest.

The way things had gone the entire afternoon, the fumbled punt was seemingly imminent. The football gods rightfully decided that there was no way this Panthers team could pull off a "Cardiac Cats"-like comeback after such an abysmal performance.

Despite all of the negatives, the Panthers weren't out of the game until after the two-minute warning had passed. Time and time again, the Bills left the door cracked for a late comeback by the Panthers. Time and time again, the Panthers failed to take advantage.

The Panthers' coaching staff offered up a confusing game plan once more, throwing the ball a total of 44 times against the league's worst run defense. The argument that they were forced to throw because of the score holds no weight because 26 of those passing attempts came in a first half that came to a close with the score reading 7-2 in favor of Buffalo.

The one bright spot for the Panthers was the defense. A unit that has had its ups and downs so far this year put on arguably its best performance. The Panthers' defense held the Bills to just 167 yards of total offense, gave up season lows of 53 yards rushing and nine first downs, allowed Buffalo to convert on only three of 14 third down attempts, notched two sacks, and recorded a safety for good measure.

The 1.77 yards per rushing attempt is the third lowest game total in franchise history, and the lowest since 2006. Delhomme interceptions set up the only two Bills' touchdown drives, which were seven and 27 yards in length. Altogether, the Bills had 17 of their 20 points off turnovers, a figure that is startling to say the least. There isn't much a defense can be held accountable for when 85% of the opponents' points come from mistakes made on the other side of the ball.

Julius Peppers received credit for his fifth sack in the last three games, distancing himself further from the brunt of the blame that is raining on the Panthers' locker room from all angles of the spectrum.

It's one thing to lose an NFL game, it's a completely different thing to dominate a game entirely in every phase from beginning to end, and wind up eleven point losers.

Let's take a look at the positives, if we can find them, and the negatives from another disappointing loss.

Going Up

Defense —It is nothing less than a shame to see such a dominant defensive performance go by the wayside like that. After a shaky start to the season, this unit seems to be grasping the ins and outs of new coordinator Ron Meeks' scheme. The Panthers have been relentless in their pursuit of opposing quarterbacks since the bye week, recording 11 sacks in those three games.

Julius Peppers continues to play at an elevated level, and the secondary refused to let Terrell Owens and company find many openings in the passing game. Hollis Thomas continued his impressive play since being signed as a free agent during the bye week, and got credit for the safety on Sunday. There are several positives coming from the defensive side of the ball, and with some stability on offense this team could be looking at a record opposite of the one they brandish now.

DeAngelo Williams —Despite only getting the ball 16 times, Williams racked up 89 yards and scored the Panthers' only touchdown. Williams is losing ground in conversations as to who is the best running back in the league, but this is not his fault. The Panthers have suddenly decided they need the passing game to carry them to victories, even with a struggling quarterback and slim pickings at the wide receiver position. Williams' 4.4 yards per carry ranks fourth among running backs with 100+ carries, and his five touchdowns are good for third in the league. The Panthers are simply not using their weapons effectively and the results are showing.

Gary Barnidge —The Panthers kept him on the roster to do just what he did Sunday: block well in the running game and provide a downfield threat in the passing game to take some of the pressure off Steve Smith. Barnidge caught his first NFL pass on Sunday, then followed it with a 52-yard reception later in the game. He finished the day with three receptions for 77 yards.

Tyler Brayton —A guy who has been quiet for the most part this year was a force to be reckoned with Sunday. Brayton only walks away with one tackle beside his name on the score sheet, but the one tackle was also a tackle for loss and a sack. He also accounted for three of the Panthers' eight quarterback hits on Ryan Fitzpatrick. Defensive end, a position that figured to be somewhat weak for the Panthers this year has turned into one of their strong suits, with Brayton, Peppers, Charles Johnson and rookie Everette Brown all playing solid up front.

Going Down

John Fox —There is a premonition sweeping over Bank of America Stadium that the time may have come to get rid of John Fox. His team is once again struggling in the year after a playoff run, and his excuses and arrogant quips are not doing much to end speculation that this season may be his last here.

This city and this fanbase has grown tired of "It is what it is," and "We picked a bad day to have a bad day," ringing in their ears on the Monday mornings after losses. Tired of watching one of the best rushing teams in the league throw the ball almost half-a-hundred times against the league's worst rushing defense, with a washed up quarterback to boot. Tired of misguided confidence in that quarterback, and the refusal to give a younger guy a shot. How could it get any worse? John Fox has lost the ear of this city, if not this team.

Jeff Davidson —Since I don't know exactly how the play-calling hierarchy works on the sidelines for Carolina, I'll take it a little easier on Davidson. However, something must be said to the offensive coordinator who lets DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart act as pawns in a passing game that is as inept as any in the league. I'd like to sit down with Davidson and ask him what he saw on tape or in the last few games that made him lay out a very pass-heavy game plan, for a quarterback who is obviously on the downhill slope towards the end of his career, against the league's worst rushing defense when you have tools like Williams and Stewart to use at your discretion. If Davidson isn't calling the plays, why is he on the payroll? And if he is calling the plays...why is he on the payroll?

Marty Hurney — Nobody is safe in this edition of The Elevator. I won't spend much time on this selection, but I'll use one crystal clear example of why it's time for Hurney to follow Fox out of the door: special teams.

The third of the three phases of football, and the most overlooked. Special teams play is underrated at all levels of the sport, but wins and loses more games than any other group. Good teams, perennial contenders, champions...they all have solid special teams units. What makes a good special teams unit, you ask? Solid players, of course. Who plays on special teams? The backups.

One of the most important parts of being a successful franchise in this league is having players on your roster who could start for another team, but instead wait in the wings in case their services are needed. There needs to be confidence in the fact that if one of the stars goes out, there is a guy behind him that will pick up where he left off without the team missing a beat. This team is completely missing that piece of the puzzle. The special teams units for the Panthers are downright bad. This team has been pretty solid on special teams in its history, but a flurry of confusing offseason moves has led to an abysmal showing so far this year.

The Panthers don't have much depth anywhere on the roster besides maybe tight end, which in turn leads to a special teams unit that is sloppy, ineffective, and serves as nothing more than a liability. The play of Tyler Brayton, Charles Johnson, and Everette Brown so far this year has underlined the fact that the Panthers could have done without the nearly $17 million that is tied up in number 90. The play of Delhomme has certainly warranted a re-examination of the questions that surrounded the club after it extended Delhomme for FIVE YEARS with $20 MILLION GUARANTEED. These are all calls that have the GM's signature scribbled all over them. And I said I wasn't going to spend much time here...

Jake Delhomme —There should be a book published sometime in the next five years from a local author entitled "The Rise and Fall of Jake Delhomme." With the city of Charlotte being a relative newcomer to the professional sports world, Delhomme will go down as the first case of 'hero-to-zero' as far as players are concerned.

Once Delhomme has been gone from this team for a couple of years, the coaching carousel has spun, and the Panthers have headed in a new direction, the criticism of Delhomme will give way to pleasant memories of the glory days of Jake. I don't think any Panthers fan will have an easy time forgetting Delhomme's debut, or the entire 2003 season for that matter, but until that time comes, Delhomme will be a target for negativity from all angles. His performance Sunday goes a long way towards explaining why.

Dwayne Jarrett —Let me get a slow clap started for the reception Jarrett managed to come away with Sunday. Now, let me stop it because it was the only catch he was able to make out of the three balls thrown to him. He was also responsible for a dropped third down pass that would have given the Panthers a first down, and looked slow and generally lost on the field. For a guy with so much natural talent, it's a crime to watch him suffer in the NFL.

Kenneth Moore —I feel bad for the kid, but he belongs here this week. The Panthers were gifted with a chance to come back and tie the game after a terrible performance to that point, but Moore re-gifted the Bills with the finishing touches on their second straight victory.

Return game —With so many speedy, quick guys on the team, why is it that we can't return a kick from the goal line to the 20? Why do we even bother fielding kickoffs? Might as well just let them bounce out of the end zone and take the touchback rather than risk injury for a 15-yard return.

John Kasay —Mr. Automatic blew a fuse on Sunday, missing two field goals that are usually birthday cake for the last original Panther. Kasay's 39-yard miss was his first miss under 40 yards since 2007. It was just one of those days.

Coming Up

The Panthers are through the softest spot in their schedule and will now hit the road for two weeks to face two high-powered offenses in Arizona and New Orleans. The Panthers defense will receive their first true test since the bye week and the offense will have to deal with a Cardinals defense that was able to keep Eli Manning and the Giants guessing all night long Sunday.

Fox has said that he isn't sure whether Delhomme will be his starter come Sunday which is far from the immediate vote of confidence he has given Jake after every other poor performance this year.

Whoever starts at quarterback, the Panthers will need to cut down on the number of turnovers they commit and start capitalizing on more opportunities as they are presented to them. Arizona could be the first stop in what might turn out to be a very long rest of the season.

Dante Wesley Is a Victim of Bad Timing...On His AND Clifton Smith's Part

Austin Penny — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:20:58 -0400

The Carolina Panthers learned Monday that special teams ace Dante Wesley will miss one game for the bone-crushing blow he delivered to Buccaneers' Pro Bowl return man Clifton Smith.

The play has been a large topic of conversation on blog sites and at water coolers across the country today and rightfully so.

The hit was late. The hit was brutal. The hit certainly warranted the 15-yard penalty it brought about.

But the ejection and the suspension? Not so much. Hear me out.

Watching the play live was shocking. I could not believe that Wesley had laid into Smith with that type of tenacity and ferocity before the ball got there. After viewing the replay, though, I felt a little different about it.

No, I don't think the play should be deemed as 'acceptable,' but Smith could certainly have done a lot more to protect himself than he did.

Wesley made a good play to beat his blockers and to be the first man down the field providing coverage. Panthers' punter Jason Baker did a good job of getting enough hang time to allow the coverage to get down the field before Smith and his dangerous skill set had a chance to reel of a return.

Wesley's position on the play is known as the "gunner." The sole job of the gunner is to get down the field and either force a fair catch by the returner or deliver a hit as soon as he catches the ball to prevent a return and possibly force a turnover. When a returner signals for a fair catch, you pull up and either A) run past him if you're coming too fast or, B) slow down enough to hang around the spot of the catch in the event of a muff.

Smith's job as a returner is to either fair catch the ball, catch and return the ball, or get as far away from the ball as possible and let it go. Being a returner in the NFL is one of the most dangerous jobs in the sport of football. You are putting your body on the line with no protection outside of a couple of blockers and your sense of location and timing. You are the epitome of "hung out to dry." So, the first thing you are taught when learning how to return kicks is to always protect yourself first and foremost. You are always taught to fair catch the ball if there is imminent danger of being crushed by a defender. This is the key 'rule' that Smith broke on the play.

In all reality, as malicious as it looked, Wesley only beat the ball by about a half-second or so. Yes, that is a long time in football, but it is not long at all on a play that has to be as perfectly-timed as a punt. Had Wesley been a half second or even a full second later on the play, he still would have demolished Clifton Smith and Smith would still likely have a concussion. Wesley was relatively untouched and was coming down the field on a full head of steam. As a gunner, he is looking for two things: a fair catch signal or a motion or movement that indicates the returner is in the process of catching the ball.

Smith had to step up to attempt to make the catch. He took a few steps and stopped just before Wesley lit into him, indicating that he had reached the point on the field where the ball would land, which in turn indicates that he was preparing to make the catch.

Smith showed next to no awareness on the play because he HAD to see Dante Wesley coming at him with the speed at which he was. He HAD to see that his blockers were beat. He HAD to see that he had absolutely no time to return the ball, regardless of whether or not Wesley timed his hit correctly.

There was nowhere near enough time between the time that Wesley made contact with Smith and the time the ball hit the ground for Smith to have called a fair catch, which should have been his only option on the play. The Bucs called the timeout and made the Panthers kick the ball to have a shot at a return, but this was not a shot at a return. It seemed like Smith was going to catch the ball at all costs and try to make something of the return, but he made himself a sitting duck.

As Wesley said after the game in his apology, it was simply bad timing. Wesley was definitely early on the play, no doubt about it. There's the penalty. But Smith was very late on the play in deciding what he wanted to do, and ended up making a poor decision in the end by never even attempting a fair catch. If he gets an arm up there, Wesley is every bit the "bad guy" he is being made out to be. No matter how fast you are coming down the field, you are taught to be keyed in on the returner and a fair catch signal is the equivalent of a pilot being forced to hit the eject button.

To make this clear once again, I completely agree with the general consensus that the hit was brutal. I agree with the penalty he received and if you want to get really specific, I agree with the ejection to the degree that putting Wesley back on the field after that play and the melee that broke out after it would be putting him directly into harm's way, which you simply cannot do.

The suspension is just the latest of a rash of over-reactions by the league to aggressive defensive plays. Wesley's hit was only a poorly timed attempt by a special teams standout to make a big play to inspire his team in a season where there hasn't been much fodder for inspiration. Had Smith not been diagnosed with a concussion when brain injuries and trauma have been in the news recently, I don't think Wesley receives anything more than a monetary fine.

Dante Wesley is not a dirty player nor should he be following this incident. The fault on the play should be split directly in half between Wesley and Smith. Smith would have gone nowhere fast if he had caught the ball, and Wesley delivered a crushing but legal blow with the intent of causing Smith to mishandle the punt.

The Panthers will miss Wesley, who is 10th in team history with 46 special teams tackles, on the field Sunday with the likes of Roscoe Parrish and company coming to town.

The Elevator: Double Trouble Makes a Comeback, Panthers Beat Bucs

Austin Penny — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:05:33 -0400

The Carolina Panthers knew heading into Sunday's game against the Buccaneers that if their running game was ever going to break out, it would happen in Tampa Bay.

The Panthers' wish came true as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the team's 28-21 victory.

Jonathan Stewart said via Twitter after the game that "Double Trouble is back," and it appears as though he may be on to something. The dynamic duo will have another weak run defense to dissect next week when Buffalo comes to town.

The Panthers have won two straight after starting off the season 0-3. The two victories have come against tumultuous teams, but are victories nonetheless. There are still several areas that need addressing before the schedule turns sour in November.

Special teams again failed the Panthers, allowing a blocked field goal attempt and a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Jake Delhomme returned to his shaky ways, completing nine of 17 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown to accompany two interceptions. His second interception was returned by Tampa Bay's Tanard Jackson for a 26-yard touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Further compounding the problems in the passing game, Steve Smith had one catch for four yards. Smith was double-teamed most of the day, and the other receivers looked lost in trying to get him free. When Smith was able to get open downfield, long throws by Delhomme sailed yards over his head.

The Panthers' defense, much maligned during the three-game losing streak that opened the season, has shown great improvement in the last two weeks. The defense held the Bucs to seven points, notched four sacks, and picked off a pass.

The game turned chippy just before halftime, when Panthers' special teams ace Dante Wesley delivered a crushing blow to the Bucs' Pro Bowl return-man Clifton Smith on a punt. The problem was, Wesley beat the ball to the spot and the hit was obviously very early. Pushing and shoving commenced as Smith lay motionless on the ground, and Wesley was eventually ejected from the game following the officials' discussion regarding the play.

The Panthers scored 21 consecutive points from the second quarter through most of the third. Touchdown runs from Williams and Stewart sandwiched Delhomme's one-yard touchdown pass to Jeff King that was set up by Thomas Davis' interception on the Bucs' first play of the second half.

The Bucs would not go quietly, however, and returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown before intercepting Delhomme on the Panthers' ensuing drive. The Bucs would be forced to punt, but would return another Delhomme interception for a 26-yard touchdown on the following drive.

The Panthers then put the game squarely on the shoulders of Double Trouble, embarking on a drive that lasted just over eight minutes and covered 80 yards. On that drive, the Panthers called runs on 15 of 16 plays with Williams and Stewart carrying eight and seven times respectively. Delhomme threw one pass, a four-yard completion to Steve Smith that would account for his only appearance in the stat book.

As they say, a win is a win no matter how ugly it is. Let's break down the particulars and see where the Panthers excelled and where they need to improve before Buffalo comes knocking.

Going Up...

/\ Double Trouble. The Panthers caught their first glimpse of the Double Trouble of old on Sunday, as Williams and Stewart combined for 262 yards and three touchdowns. With Delhomme's struggles continuing, the Panthers took the ball out of his hands and put it into the arms of the tandem that carried them to a 12-4 record and a playoff appearance a year ago.

/\ Julius Peppers. After an uninspired start to the season, Peppers has caught fire after the bye week. Pep recorded seven tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble on Sunday in what was by far his most complete effort of the year. Pep could be seen regularly chasing down ball carriers and wreaking havoc in the backfield.

/\ Everette Brown. For the second week in a row, the rookie defensive lineman earned his keep, providing a presence in the backfield nearly every time he was on the field. He didn't tally a sack, but did get credit for a forced fumble after reaching Bucs' quarterback Josh Johnson and stripping him as he prepared to pass.

/\ Charles Johnson. Another defensive end, you ask? Yes. Johnson was responsible for the other two Panthers' sacks and showed a bit of the talent that has raised the ears of Panthers' fans in the last couple of years. He also forced two fumbles.

/\ Thomas Davis. Davis continues to shine on defense for the Panthers. He lead the team in tackles yet again, notching eight solo tackles while recording the only interception for the Panthers on Sunday. His two pass deflections also led the team.

/\ Play Calling. Finally, John Fox and company figured out that handing the ball to either Williams or Stewart 40+ times a game will usually spell a win against a lesser opponent. In the last two weeks, the running game has set its anchor in the Panthers game plan. Regardless of what happens during the rest of the season, they will need to start each week by establishing their intent to run the ball.

/\ Defensive Scheme. The Panthers defense is finally starting to catch on to Ron Meeks' scheme. They are pressuring the quarterback and are not allowing many big plays. The Panthers allowed the Bucs to go down the field and put the ball in the end-zone on their first possession, but allowed no points after that. With the team's struggles on offense, the defense will have to continue to step up and improve.

Going Down...

\/ Jake Delhomme. Delhomme once again shook the foundations of this team's trust in his arm on Sunday by throwing two interceptions that were, in a word, bad. His inability to hit Steve Smith down the field was put under a microscope in Tampa, as the ball continuously sailed several yards over Smith's head on deep throws. With the success of the ground game in recent weeks, teams will be looking to stack the box and force Delhomme to beat them. If that's the case, the Panthers are in trouble.

\/ Steve Smith. Smith had this to say after the game: "I am no longer an asset to this team." When players start making statements like that, the ball starts rolling downhill. It is obvious that Smith is concerned about his lack of involvement in the Panthers' offense. However, Smith hasn't been able to get open or make the tough catches like he has in the past. Smith's stardom came about in large part because of his ability to go get balls that most other receivers couldn't and wouldn't. Sure, Smith would be better suited with a better quarterback, but his trademark style is slowly starting to lose a touch of its flashiness. Most importantly, though, those types of comments should stay behind closed doors.

\/ Receiving corps. Where is the Panthers' number two receiver? Matter of fact, WHO is the Panthers' number two receiver? Any takers? Buehler...Buehler...? Someone HAS to step up if for no other reason than to free up Smith a few times a game. Muhsin Muhammad has finally lost his mojo, it seems, and after that there isn't another receiver with enough experience to provide a legitimate threat. Dwayne Jarrett is a flat out bust. Kenny Moore doesn't get enough time on the field to make much of a difference. No receiver has caught a touchdown pass this year. Need I say more?

\/ Special Teams. If this Panthers' team decides they want to turn this season around, they will need to address their special teams units as one of their first orders of business. The Panthers gave up their second return touchdown of the year on Sunday, and allowed a blocked field goal attempt. That's a ten-point swing that could have cost them the game.

\/ Dante Wesley. This is an issue that will reach the NFL audience as a whole and I would be remiss if I didn't at least offer an opinion on the topic. I saw the play live and couldn't believe what I saw, and will be posting further thoughts soon. The bottom line is that Wesley beat the ball to the spot and delivered a crunching blow to a returner who really had no defense other than a fair catch signal. The ejection was an attempt to keep the game from boiling over by the referees, and the one-game suspension is likely a result of the concussion Clifton Smith has been diagnosed with because of the play.

\/ Overall optimism. Carolina: Where 2-3 feels like 0-5.

Up Next...

The Panthers will host Buffalo on Sunday in a 4:05 PM EST game at Bank of America Stadium. The Bills beat the slumping New York Jets yesterday in overtime, but lost starting quarterback Trent Edwards early in the second quarter to a concussion. His status for next Sunday is unclear at this point. The Panthers will wear their black jerseys at home for the first time this season.

Carolina Panthers First Quarter Awards

Austin Penny — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:46:08 -0400

The Carolina Panthers have played their first quarter of games this year without much cause for celebration. In sports and in life, though, there will be times when things aren't going quite the way we wish they would be. The key to getting through times like that is to keep everything as normal and as routine as possible. Therefore we will still be handing out awards for the first quarter of the season. After all, they don't cancel the Oscars if there aren't any good movies out, do they? Let's take a look at those who are lucky enough to call themselves 'winners' in the first quarter of the Panthers' season.

Begin Slideshow

Picking Up The Pieces: Carolina Panthers Look To Reverse Fortune

Austin Penny — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:17:14 -0400

For Carolina Panthers fans, the 2009 season has been brutal to date.

With expectations looming taller than the Bank of America building in downtown Charlotte heading into the season, the Panthers have failed to produce anything close to the level of football that folks in the Carolinas have come to expect.

After a 12-4 season that was abruptly and painfully halted in the team's first home playoff game since 2005, the excitement continued to surround a team that was set to return 21 of 22 starters in 2009.

Then came the Julius Peppers saga. Fans divided evenly amongst themselves into "Keep Him at All Costs" and "Let Him Walk" categories (although a few more choice words could be inserted into either of those labels). The team handcuffed itself to the bed post by deciding to apply the franchise tag to Peppers, knowing he had little interest in remaining a Panther.

Nonetheless, optimism was relatively easy to come by in Charlotte as the season drew nearer. That optimism evaporated quickly amidst the Panthers' opening day debacle against Philadelphia in front of the home crowd, and has since eroded further.

The Panthers improved in Atlanta but came home empty handed and they took a 7-0 lead into halftime in Dallas before completely crumbling in the second half and suffering their third consecutive loss to open the season.

It seems as though it's been ages since John Kasay kicked the game-winning field goal in Week 17 of the 2008 season. That kick gave the Panthers the NFC South division title also counts as their last victory as a football team.

After a one-and-done in the playoffs, a winless preseason, and now an 0-3 start to the regular season, it may feel to some like the Panthers will never win again; especially when you are watching a performance like the one the Panthers put on in the second half in Dallas.

As much negativity as there has been surrounding the Panthers so far in 2009, there is still cause for a bit of optimism.

The Panthers had their early bye in Week Four, which many players said they would use as a time to do some soul searching before heading into a stretch of at least 13 consecutive games. Soul searching is just what this group needs.

Where is the fire that ignited this team to the top of the NFC contender conversation at the end of last season? Where is the explosiveness that transformed us into one of the top offensive units in the league?

Wherever these traits are, hidden somewhere in the the halls of Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers must find them.

An 0-3 start is nearly fatal, but not quite. There is still a small glimmer of hope at the end of the proverbial tunnel that the Panthers will turn this season around and find a way into the playoffs.

For an 0-3 team coming off of their bye, the stretch of games the Panthers are about to open could not get much better.

The Panthers will play at home against Washington (2-2), at Tampa Bay (0-4), and at home against Buffalo (1-3) over the next three weeks.

None of these three teams have put forth much more than a decent effort to date if you exclude the Bills' near upset of the Patriots in the opener.

Washington has beat Tampa Bay and St. Louis, both winless, and has put up a total of 56 points this season. They will also go down in history as the team who lost to the Lions and broke their streak of 19 consecutive losses. With Jason Campbell continuing his mediocre quarterback play and the offense as a whole struggling to score, the Panthers could have the matchup that will spark their season this Sunday.

The Redskins will not roll over and play dead, nor will head coach Jim Zorn, who is finding the temperature in the seat of his pants increasing exponentially each week. There are still plenty of Redskins fans in the Charlotte area from the pre-Panthers days, and those fans will be out in full force at the game on Sunday. The Panthers need to make a statement to start this stretch out of their bye week to get some of the faith restored in their fan base.

It is never a good idea to look past an opponent, but it is tough not to with Tampa Bay and Buffalo waiting in the wings. A win in Tampa Bay would give the Panthers a division win and would generate some excitement with the Bills coming to town the following week.

The Panthers desperately need to regain the confidence that has been zapped out of them after this lackluster start, and a string of wins is just what the doctor ordered.

In three weeks, if the Panthers are sitting at 3-3, the attitude in Carolina will be changed, if only slightly, and there will be a new energy at Bank of America Stadium as the Panthers enter the meat and potatoes of their schedule.

Julius Peppers: My Worst Nightmare Coming True in Carolina

Austin Penny — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:22:51 -0400

Julius Peppers.

Where do I start? Where can I start? I'll start at the beginning.

Peppers was John Fox's first draft pick as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. The city of Charlotte, already excited about having George Seifert out of town and the prospects of Fox turning the franchise around, were ecstatic when then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that the Panthers had selected the University of North Carolina's own Julius Peppers with the second pick in the 2002 draft.

The love affair continued through Peppers' spectacular rookie season. "Pep" tallied 36 tackles, 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception on his way to earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He accomplished all of this in 12 games.

Peppers was suspended the for the last four games of the 2002 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Peppers insisted that the reason for the positive test was linked to a diet supplement he was given by a friend, and Panthers fans—for the most part—believed him. As then-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said, "Julius wasn't trying to beat the system, he's a good kid who was a little naive."

When Peppers' numbers slacked off in 2003 it went largely unnoticed as the Panthers made their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Following the 2003 season, he recorded three straight 10-plus sack seasons while reaching the Pro Bowl in each of them. The Panthers experienced intermediate success and Peppers was considered the key cog in a defensive unit that was known as a decisive force around the NFL.

Then came the 2007 season. Peppers' numbers diminished dramatically as he recorded only 2.5 sacks and 38 total tackles while, for all intents and purposes, completely disappearing. The local media, fans, national media, and even Peppers himself were all befuddled by the drop off. Was Peppers sick, hurt, or was he just lazy? Rumors swirled and people around Charlotte started to ride his back about his poor performance.

He missed the final two games of that season with a knee injury but the damage had already been done. The Panthers' fan base, frustrated by a second straight season without a playoff appearance after making it to the NFC Championship game in 2005, began to question Peppers' heart and determination.

He was accused of taking plays off, not having his heart in the game, and quitting on the team. He was a popular topic entering the 2008 season—his contract year. He turned down a long-term contract from the Panthers that would have made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL, adding fuel to the fanbase's fire.

When the lights came on for the 2008 season, however, Peppers was back to his old form. He notched a career-high 14.5 sacks and was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.

Still, Peppers was the target of plenty of negativity from fans who insisted he was a slacker and that he was taking plays off. His effort was questioned on a nearly week-to-week basis and it seemed as though any game that Peppers didn't put up Pro Bowl numbers, he was the main topic of conversation for the week in between games.

When the Panthers were eliminated from the playoffs in January of 2008 by the Cardinals, things turned ugly for Peppers and Carolina.

Peppers made it clear that he was not interested in returning to the Carolina Panthers for the 2009 season and was hell bent on playing as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system somewhere else.

The Panthers' decision to place the franchise tag on Peppers with their knowledge of his desire to go elsewhere is one of the most debated and heated topics in the history of this franchise.

Signing Peppers to the franchise tender would mean that the team would owe him about $16.7 million for the 2009 season, or roughly $1 million per regular season game.

The Panthers decided that Peppers was too valuable to let him walk out of the door with no compensation, and handicapped their offseason flexibility by applying the franchise tag to him.

The Panthers, following a 12-4 season that saw their rushing game burst onto the national scene behind a very solid offensive line, watched as the depth that made that line what it was slowly disappeared. Players who were free agents realized that their services could be used elsewhere for more money than the Panthers could offer and took those opportunities.

The organization was faced with a decision at the outset of the offseason to ink Peppers or Gross to a long term deal and franchise the other. Gross was much more receptive to the long term deal since Peppers was virtually uninterested, and the Panthers, rightly so, took that route.

To put Peppers' franchise tag cost in perspective, he accounts for roughly one-eighth of the Panthers salary cap for their 53-man roster.

After being stuck with the franchise tag, Peppers refused to sign the tender. He demanded out of Carolina by whatever means necessary. Peppers went as far as to make a list of four teams that he would accept a trade to, a list that included the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.

Neither the Patriots or the Cowboys, despite the rumor mill running rampant, ever made a serious offer for Peppers or displayed any real interest in acquiring the disgruntled defensive end.

Peppers was ripped to shreds in Charlotte through all of the possible outlets. You couldn't mention the team without somebody offering their two cents about the situation.

I was on the side of the organization at the time. You can't let a guy like Peppers walk out of the door with nothing but a lighter wallet. Especially not if he is planning on finding his way onto a roster of a team like Dallas, who is a contender (until December) year in and year out in the NFC, and a team the Panthers would see more often than an AFC team—the most likely destination in a trade.

In the end, Peppers reluctantly signed the franchise tender and declared that he was happy to be in Carolina for the 2009 season and that he was looking forward to building on last year's success.

This is where the story goes from ugly to disgusting. And then from disgusting to sickening.

Peppers entered training camp as the hottest topic for the Panthers. He characteristically ignored the media most days and offered vanilla responses when he decided to speak.

When the Panthers played poorly in their first couple of exhibition games, Peppers proclaimed that it was "just preseason" and that the team would be able to hit the switch when the regular season kicked off.

As it stands while I write this, we are three weeks into the regular season and I, along with 99.9% of Panther Nation, have yet to see any switch hit. If it has been hit, I believe it's time to call Duke Energy and pay the bill to get the power turned back on, because this team, particularly this defense, has looked like a junior varsity team thus far.

I could sit here and rip the entire team for their play so far this season, but I won't. I'm going to put the crosshairs right on their most expensive asset.

Julius Frazier Peppers.

For those of you who aren't aware, I am a lifelong North Carolina Tar Heels fan and have been a fan of the Panthers since I knew what football meant. You can scroll through my article archive if you need an idea of how deep in my heart my ties to this team go.

I can remember watching Peppers play for the Tar Heels in college. I used to watch the games as a young kid with my dad, who would always point out No. 49 and his intensity. He recorded the second-most sacks in Tar Heels history behind Lawrence Taylor—pretty elite company if you ask me.

In the winter, when football was over with, Pep would suit up for the Tar Heels' basketball team as a walk-on. Imagine the Incredible Hulk in a basketball uniform, and you'll get a pretty good idea of what he looked like on the court. His enormous hands, rebounding ability, and thunderous dunks were just a few of the reasons that fans in Chapel Hill couldn't wait for the mediocre football team (minus the 2001 Peach Bowl victory over Auburn) to finish up so that Peppers could come off the bench for the Heels.

Peppers playing two sports—and playing them well—for the Tar Heels led me to actively cheer for him seven months out of every calendar year. From September to March, Peppers was a staple on the television set every week.

Imagine my level of excitement when the Panthers drafted Peppers in 2002. My favorite Tar Heel was staying in North Carolina and playing for the hometown Panthers. It just doesn't get any better.

For the last seven years, I have watched and pulled for Peppers twice as hard, being a self-admitted Tar Heel homer. When his numbers took a nose dive in 2007, I stood behind him. He had to have been sick or injured. As I can remember telling friends at the time, "He's Julius Freakin' Peppers, he just doesn't have a season like this for no reason."

I proved my point while watching him amass his career high in sacks last year, and defended him against those who called him out for taking plays off. I endured argument after argument about how Peppers was still the best defensive end in the league, and how he seems like he is lazy because he is double and triple teamed by every opponent the Panthers see.

The offseason drama leading up to this season was painful for me. You're telling me that the guy who I have pulled for the hardest for the last ten years of my life wants out? We aren't good enough for him anymore? He can't maximize his potential in Carolina? He's Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred, and when he dies he'll be Tar Heel dead...and you're telling me he wants out?

Hard to accept. But, as they say at least once a day in the wide world of sports, it is a business. If he needs to go elsewhere to be happy, then go. With that being said, I also couldn't watch him walk away without the Panthers getting something in return.

If I knew then what I know now, I would reverse my position completely.

As a sports writer in any capacity whether it be for USA Today, ESPN, a local newspaper, or a blog site, it is common to have to sit at the table and eat a nice healthy plate of crow from time to time.

I refuse to eat this plate.

Its not that I or anyone who has an opinion on the topic is wrong about Peppers, it's that he just plum doesn't care.

Here is Julius Peppers' situation in every day terms we can all understand.

Imagine yourself at your job. You feel like you are overqualified for the job you have, and want to move on to something bigger and better. Your boss tells you that he isn't willing to let you go at the moment, but he'll pay you $1 million dollars a week for the next 16 weeks and basically give you a chance to audition for any company in your field that would have a use for you in their organization.

I, for one, would bust my ass to make sure that I made a good enough impression on somebody I wanted to work for that they would offer my current boss a deal to acquire my services that he couldn't refuse.

Peppers played well on opening day. Five tackles, two pass deflections, a sack and a forced fumble were credited to Julius in the team's ugly loss to the Eagles.

Peppers disappeared in Atlanta. He put virtually no pressure on Matt Ryan, he was owned on the offensive line, and he looked lost on several plays as the Panthers took another loss. Okay, a bad game. Happens all the time.

Monday night took the cake for me and completely changed my view on Peppers and his status here in Carolina. All week, and frankly since the schedule was released, it was a given that Peppers would go off in Dallas in front of Jerry Jones on Monday Night Football. Remember that Peppers included the Cowboys on his list of four teams he would accept a trade to in the offseason. Jones has been known to go after high priced, high risk players in the past and Peppers fits right into that mold.

I believe Peppers is still in Dallas, sitting in the locker room waiting for the game to start. I don't believe that I watched Julius Peppers play on Monday night. I watched the shell of one of the most gifted athletes I have ever seen absolutely go through the motions as if the season were already over.

Peppers was absent on short yardage situations, standing on the sideline with his helmet off looking like he was upset not to be on the field. In one of the few bright coaching moves by the Panthers so far this season, they took Peppers off the field in serious situations because he flat out didn't look like he cared what happened one way or the other.

I saw Peppers on at least one occasion tag a Cowboys' player with two hands on his way by him like he was running around his neighborhood where Mom's call for dinner is the final whistle. I saw Peppers get blown up off the line of scrimmage, then release his engagement with the offensive lineman assigned to him and allow the guy to go block a linebacker, cornerback, or even a safety to pick up a couple of extra yards.

Julius, you have got to be kidding me.

If you don't pick it up, you're going to be stuck in Carolina forever (or at least as long as Marty Hurney is here). If you really don't want to play here, convince somebody else to give you a chance. Obviously nobody is sold on you or your natural talents because if they were, you wouldn't be wearing the uniform you are disgracing.

You are picking the wrong time in your career to be turning an indifferent cheek to the organization you are contractually tied to. For $1 million dollars a week, don't you think you could at least pretend like you care? Don't you think you could at least fall down every now and then to make it look like you gave it a half-ass effort?

Would it kill you to show just a little bit of emotion, or to act like losing phases you?

What makes the situation worse for the Panthers is that they have Peppers teaching Everette Brown the ropes of the NFL. This is a kid we gave up our first round pick in 2010 for...in the second round. He's got a big enough hill to climb to earn approval in the eyes of the fans and pundits without having Peppers in his ear teaching him how to pout and act like a 230-plus pound baby.

Enough is enough, Pep. If this isn't the most difficult thing I've written while covering the Panthers, it certainly doesn't leave the top three. This goes deeper than the Panthers. Since I was 11 years old, I have looked up to you as one hell of an athlete, and a guy who is successful wherever you go.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out which jersey I should purchase to replace the No. 90 that I usually sport on my back each week. In fact, I think I'll mail it to you with a copy of this article.

Believe me, I would like nothing more than to sit in this exact spot and write a retraction of this piece at the end of the season, but I don't see it in the cards.

Pick it up, Pep...please, pick it up.

The Elevator: Panthers Stutter Into Bye Week After Loss To Cowboys

Austin Penny — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:19:31 -0400

The Carolina Panthers continued their depressing start to the 2009 season by losing their third consecutive game on Monday Night Football in Dallas.

The Cowboys overcame a shaky first half to score 21 unanswered points in the second half and beat a Panthers team that is nosediving quickly less than a quarter of the way through the season.

For Panthers fans, Monday night's loss was likely the most disconcerting of the young season to date as the team played uninspired football in the second half against a Cowboys team who was begging to be beat.

The numbers are startling from any angle you choose to look at them.

Let's get right into 'The Elevator' and try to figure out just what in the world is wrong with this team.

Going Up...

/\ Dante Rosario. Rosario leads all Panthers receivers with two touchdowns on the season. The catch? They are the only two that Jake Delhomme has thrown compared to his seven interceptions.

/\ DeAngelo Williams. DeAngelo averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 11 carries against the Cowboys. It's a shame he didn't have any more than 11 carries against the weak Cowboys run defense. Williams, one of the league's elite running backs, can't be impressed with the effort put forth thus far by the Panthers.

/\ Jon Beason. Beason had 11 total tackles and a sack on Monday Night, but is still a shell of his old self after a knee injury in the preseason. The bye week will help him get back to full speed.

Going Down... (hope you have a minute)

\/ John Fox. There is absolutely no reason why the Panthers ran only six rushing plays in the second half. After the Panthers allowed Dallas' first touchdown to make it 13-7, there was one rushing play in the next two drives for a one yard loss.

There comes a time when a losing team loses faith in the head coach and turns a deaf ear to the strategy and motivation he is trying to relay to the team. That time has apparently come in Carolina.

\/ Receivers. All of them. Muhsin Muhammad gave up on Delhomme's first interception and gave an unnecessary push in the back on a play that would have been at least a first down, if not the touchdown that was called back.

Steve Smith spent most of his time on the sideline jawing at Delhomme instead of trying to find a way to solve a simple Cowboys defense. When it was his turn to make a play, he took matters into his own hands and ran the wrong route trying to turn nothing into something, leading to Terrence Newman's game-clinching interception return for a touchdown.

Dwayne Jarrett still hasn't gotten off of the team bus, much less the line of scrimmage. Kenny Moore is the only receiver who did anything commendable, catching both passes thrown to him for a grand total of 19 yards.

You can knock on Delhomme all you want but when his receivers aren't attempting to catch the balls he's throwing, or are unwilling to bail him out on bad throws, he's in a position that will not allow him to succeed.

\/ Offensive line. Delhomme has taken a beating so far this year, and the line simply isn't creating the holes it did last year to allow the Panthers to establish their running game. If the Panthers are going to call more passing plays per game in a close contest than rushing plays, the offensive line has to give Delhomme some protection.

\/ Charles Godfrey. Charles, your jockstrap is still on the field in Dallas.

\/ Ability to score points. The Panthers have scored 37 points in their first three games-one point shy of the total that Philadelphia put on the Bank of America Stadium scoreboard on opening day.

\/ Effort. Can you remember the last time a team took a 7-0 lead into the half, made no adjustments and came out for the second frame like they had already lost the game?

\/ Julius Peppers. Stay tuned.

\/ Cheering for this team. Make no mistake about it, I'm one of the biggest Panthers fans you will ever come across. I eat, sleep, breathe, drink, and live for this team. From Sunday to Sunday I chomp at the bit for the chance to watch this team, my hometown team that I have grown up watching since I figured out what a football was.

As embarrassing as it is right now to admit the above, its true. I watched all 16 games of the 1-15 season in 2001 and never once reached this level of frustration and anger. At least that team acted like they cared.

At least they fought during most games and lost at the bitter end. Sure, Seifert sucked in his last year here, but there was never a point in that season when I wished that any one of the other 31 teams was my team.

Now? I'm not so sure. My allegiance to the Panthers has been pledged and will never change, no matter what, but right now it is downright painful to sport the black, blue, and silver that I and many others were proud to display.

The bye week in the NFL is normally a time for teams to take a bit of a mini vacation in the middle of the season. The players spend some time with their families or in the community, practices are light, and injuries are allowed some time to heal.

For the Panthers, they will lick their wounds and endure a relentless flurry of anger and disgust from both the local media and the fans.

Beason should heal up some, Chris Harris should be ready to go after the bye, and perhaps some soul searching for a week will do this team good. The only chance that the Panthers have, realistically, is to win their first three games out of the bye.

They face Washington, Tampa Bay, and Buffalo in those three before the schedule kicks into fifth gear and they spend the rest of their season in a street fight.

The good news for Panthers fans is that I can guarantee the team won't lose this weekend. The bad news just keeps coming.

Carolina Panthers' Defense Must Allow Double Trouble to Punish Dallas

Austin Penny — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:22:11 -0400

The Carolina Panthers' season has not started quite the way they envisioned it would.

Last year's NFC South division champion and the recipient of a first round playoff bye has opened up 2009 in far from impressive fashion. Back to back losses, albeit to playoff teams from 2008, has fans in Charlotte up in arms and calling for heads across the board.

Regardless of which name you choose to drag through the mud, be it Jake Delhomme, Julius Peppers, John Fox, Marty Hurney, or even Jerry Richardson, chances are there are valid points out there to backup your case.

That's what this team has been reduced to. Instead of showing up on Sundays to pull for the home team, or flocking to the local bars in droves to outnumber opposing fans for away games, this fan base has morphed into a pessimistic group of head hunters.

The Panthers made strides between their season opener and their loss last week in Atlanta, but that fact was overshadowed by the fact that Julius Peppers, making roughly $1 million per game, didn't have a sack and only recorded two tackles.

A victory in Dallas has the potential to completely turn the tables in Charlotte and across Panther Nation.

Wade Phillips, Tony Romo, and the rest of "America's Team" have their own questions swirling around them. Much like the Panthers, their first two games have been riddled with a poor pass rush and shaky quarterback play. The only glaring difference is that the Cowboys were graced with Tampa Bay in Week One and were able to notch a victory.

The Panthers defense will be the key on Sunday night but not necessarily because of their production. The defense will be instrumental in making sure the Panthers' most effective weapon can reach its maximum potential.

That weapon, of course, is none other than the double-edged sword that has been dubbed "Double Trouble." The running back combo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart burst onto the scene last year and is widely regarded as one of the top duos in the game. The two combined for over 2,300 yards last year while punching in 28 touchdowns.

The two have picked up where they left off last year but have not had the chance to shine because the Panthers have been playing from behind for most of the year.

Williams has two touchdowns in two games while averaging 3.9 yards per carry, while Stewart is averaging about 5.0 yards per carry but hasn't reached the promised land yet.

The Panthers' best chance to come away from Dallas with a tally in the win column lies in the hands (or legs) of this tandem. The only way they will get the chance to lead the team to victory is if the defense can keep Romo and friends from jumping out to an early lead.

Though the Panthers put forth a better offensive effort last Sunday in Atlanta, the team was forced to call 41 pass plays compared to just 25 run plays due to the balance of the scoreboard being tipped in the Falcons' direction. Williams averaged 4.9 yards per carry and Stewart averaged over seven, but the flow of the game wouldn't allow the running backs to be featured like the Panthers would have preferred.

The Cowboys' defense is giving up an average of 135.5 rushing yards per game in 2009, and is giving up 4.7 yards per carry. Tampa Bay ran wild on Dallas, and although they were able to keep Brandon Jacobs pretty much in tact, the Giants were still able to control the ground game.

If the Panthers can score first for the third straight week, then put together a couple of solid defensive possessions to keep the Cowboys from responding right away, then Double Trouble should be able to hunker down and put in a solid body of work. Establishing the running game would take unneeded pressure off of Delhomme and would allow the play action pass to be a viable option as the game grinds on.

It is also important that the Panthers' coaching staff play into their strengths on Monday. The lights will be bright and the building will be packed, but nerves cannot interfere with the gameplan. A three and out on the opening drive does not mean that Delhomme needs to come out slingin' on the second.

For this team, the running game is the bread, the butter, and the knife that spreads it. Delhomme isn't the kind of guy who can take the offense under his wing and win games week in and week out.

John Fox and his play-calling cronies have been notorious for abandoning the running game early on in recent memory. Keeping the ball on the ground is the main key to winning this game for Carolina, and to get away from that too early will spell doom and could lead to another Delhomme meltdown if we're not careful.

The Panthers' defense has been unimpressive to say the least this year, but playing with a lead would be a welcome change of scenery for those guys. Perhaps this scheme will click and the light bulb will come on if they have a chance to go out on the field with something to protect rather than trying to keep the situation from getting worse.

Whichever way you slice it, the Panthers need to establish the ground game to be successful not only in Dallas, but every week.

Carolina Panthers DT Leonard Headed to IR; Team Signs Antwon Burton

Austin Penny — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:49:19 -0400

The Carolina Panthers have designated defensive tackle Louis Leonard to the injured reserve, ending his season.

The Panthers acquired Leonard from the Cleveland Browns near the end of the preseason for a late-round 2010 draft pick.

Leonard was having a solid game on Sunday before he went down on the Panthers last defensive snap of the game, fracturing his ankle. Team doctors have said it is a clean break, but that Leonard will require surgery and a six month recovery period.

To fill the roster spot vacated by Leonard, the Panthers signed free agent Antwon Burton. Burton was cut by the St. Louis Rams as they trimmed their roster down to 53 players.

The 6'2", 325-pound Burton's only NFL experience came in the 2007-08 season with the Denver Broncos. Burton recorded four tackles and a pass deflection in six games.

Burton may be in line to start on Monday night in Dallas if the injured Nick Hayden cannot recover from a toe injury that sidelined him against Atlanta.

The Elevator: Panthers Defense Allows Ryan, Falcons to Flourish

Austin Penny — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:24:27 -0400

The Carolina Panthers suffered their second consecutive loss to open the 2009 season on Sunday, but did so in a manner that was far less depressing than their Week 1 debacle against Philadelphia. The Atlanta Falcons, donning throwback uniforms from the 1966 season, beat the Panthers 28-10 in the Georgia Dome.

The main issue for the Panthers on Sunday was their defense. Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan could likely get away with not washing his uniform after he was relatively unaffected by the Panthers' fruitless pass rush. Ryan finished the day with 220 yards on 21-of-27 passing with three touchdowns and an interception.

The Falcons were also able to move the ball on the ground, gaining a team total of 151 rush yards—105 of which were picked up by Michael Turner.

The Panthers' main problem on the day was, as is apparent by the above two paragraphs, the defense. Again, for the sixth consecutive game including the preseason, the opposing team was able to catch the ball, turn and move up the field before encountering a Panthers defender.

When the opposing quarterback only has six incomplete passes for the game, one of which being an interception, you know that something is wrong in the pass defense. Coupled with a pass rush that simply could not apply pressure, Carolina was left with little chance of victory.

The good news for the Panthers is that it doesn't appear that there are any hangover effects from the Week 1 performance that had fans edging closer to various ledges throughout the city.

Jake Delhomme rebounded nicely with 308 yards while completing 25-of-41 pass attempts with a touchdown and a relatively irrelevant interception. The touchdown pass to Dante Rosario gave the Panthers a fighting chance at the end of the game to come back and tie.

Double Trouble put together an impressive performance, combining for 144 yards on 25 carries. DeAngelo Williams had the lone touchdown, a three-yard run early in the second quarter.

Jonathan Stewart averaged 7.2 yards on his nine carries and notched the game's long run of the day with a 28-yarder off of a draw play.

Let's take a ride on the elevator to see what positives the Panthers can take from this loss and what needs to be addressed in the long week leading up to their Monday Night Football affair in Dallas.

Going Up...

/\ Jake Delhomme. Delhomme's performance on Sunday provided Panthers fans with a collective sigh of relief. While most were likely again thinking, "there's no way that can happen again," I'm sure they were more skeptical of that phrase after seeing last week's performance. Delhomme didn't force the ball too much. He made one very boneheaded play, where instead of throwing the ball out of bounds, he threw it lazily into the air where only Falcons defenders could reach it. Luckily, no Falcons defender was able to make a play and the ball fell harmlessly to the turf. Delhomme led the offense to a touchdown when he had to and took the team down the field to set up an opportunity to tie at the end of the game. A solid performance is just what the doctor ordered for Delhomme and the Panthers' offense.

/\ Dante Rosario. Rosario caught three of the four balls that were thrown his way on Sunday including the lone touchdown pass from Delhomme. He averaged over 10 yards per catch.

/\ Steve Smith. Smitty returned to his usual form on Sunday, catching eight balls for 131 yards. He made two great sideline catches and was Delhomme's primary target, as usual. He was able to gain separation from the Falcons defense and catch the ball in-stride to pick up yards after the catch.

/\ Thomas Davis. Davis has been on a tear since this season began. He notched his second straight 10-plus tackle game to start the season, finishing with 12.

/\ Quinton Teal. Teal has filled in nicely for Chris Harris in the first two games of the season. He recovered a fumble on Sunday after a long drive on the first Atlanta possession of the second half while adding three tackles.

/\ Louis Leonard. Leonard started in place of the injured Nick Hayden at defensive tackle on Sunday and was pretty effective in stopping the run until a fractured ankle knocked him out of the game. It's unclear at this point how much time he is going to miss.

Going Down...

\/ Defense. I could use a different section to blast each defensive unit, but I'll give them their lashing as a team. When you're only making a play on six out of 27 balls thrown, something is clearly wrong. No opposing receiver had to do any more than run to a soft spot in the zone, sit and wait to get the ball. Where is the defense that the organization was so excited about in the offseason? Where are the players collapsing towards the ball? Where are the strips and the gang-tackles? I haven't seen any of that. The defense got their second interception in as many games and also recovered a fumble, but that doesn't count for anything if you allow the opposition to run and pass all over you throughout the rest of the game. For the second week in a row, the defense started the game off with a three-and-out, then disappeared. I'm sure Drew Brees has the two Panthers games circled on his calendar at home.

\/ Punt team. In the season opener, this unit had a punt returned for a touchdown against them. In the second game of the year, they had one blocked. Yes, Jason Baker took too long to get the ball off. But from what I saw, the snap wasn't on point either. When a punter receives a snap it should be a tight spiral that the punter can catch on a level angle so he can rotate the ball to put the laces up and drop it directly onto his foot. The snap looked like it was at an awkward angle, which threw Baker off of his rhythm, causing a snowball effect. The bigger problem is the missed block that allowed the Falcons defense to be in the face of Baker. The protection guys made a half-hearted attempt to get in the way of who was coming, but didn't sustain the block long enough for him to have gotten the kick off even if the snap was perfect. Games can be won and lost with the punt unit and the Carolina unit certainly hasn't helped their team's case in the first two weeks.

\/ Rhys Lloyd. I like Rhys, but he got embarrassed by Michael Koenen in the kickoff department yesterday. The Panthers did not get the opportunity to return a single kickoff on Sunday. Lloyd had five kickoff attempts, of which only two were touchbacks. That is a relatively good day for a normal kicker, but when you are consuming a roster spot for the sole purpose of kicking the ball off deep to prevent returns, you have to do better. The problem is magnified when the Panthers coverage allows the opposition to return kicks for an average of 34 yards.

\/ Injuries. The team lost Brad Hoover, Na'il Diggs and Louis Leonard on Sunday to injuries. Hoover's absence meant that rookie Tony Fiammetta had to step in. He dropped the only pass that came his way. With the lack of depth on the defensive line, the loss of Leonard will hurt for weeks to come. For a team that obviously hasn't grasped their new scheme on defense, they need their starters in there as much as possible.

\/ John Fox. Fox has major work to do if he wants to make another trip to Spartanburg as Panthers head coach. If this team continues to lose, he will find his seat quickly heating up—especially because there are so many reputable coaches out there right now. Terry Bradshaw brought up the Bill Cowher conversation on Sunday during the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show—a realistic option if Fox gets the boot. His sidestepping in press conferences, shady information on injuries and team news and inability to show passion, win or lose, has frustrated fans in Carolina for a long time. It's starting to reach a boiling point.

The Panthers performed better on Sunday than they did the week prior, but 0-2 is no way to start a season. Next week's game doesn't get any easier. The Panthers will travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys in their brand new, billion-dollar stadium, which will make its first ever Monday Night Football appearance. The defense will have to step up and keep Tony Romo from picking them apart the way Matt Ryan did. If that doesn't happen, regardless of how the offense plays, they could be staring 0-3 right in the face.

Breaking News: Panthers Sign QB A.J. Feeley, McCown Headed To IR

Austin Penny — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:21:10 -0400

ESPN.com is reporting that the Carolina Panthers have come to terms with free agent quarterback A.J. Feeley and have placed Josh McCown on injured reserve, ending his season.

The Panthers reiterated Monday that Jake Delhomme was the team's starting quarterback despite his atrocious performance on Sunday afternoon.

Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown in the Panthers' 38-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCown was hurt while playing for Delhomme, who was pulled in the third quarter.

His official injury is a sprained left knee and foot, but he was in a boot on Monday and was walking with the assistance of a crutch.

He was placed on IR later in the day.

The signing of A.J. Feeley gives the Panthers their best option at backup quarterback in recent memory.

The signing of David Carr before the 2007 season was supposed to provide the team with a solid option to challenge Delhomme, but he ended up being a major bust when he was thrust into action following Delhomme's season ending Tommy John surgery.

Matt Moore and Josh McCown were heading into their second season as the Panthers' backup quarterback tandem, a duo that has been criticized for not pushing Delhomme to get better.

Despite reports from Panthers training camp that Delhomme had improved his footwork and accuracy, nothing of the sort showed up on Sunday.

Feeley's last regular season action was in 2007. He played in three games and threw for 681 yards and five touchdowns to go along with eight interceptions. In his career, he's thrown for 4,070 yards, 27 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 23 games.

It is likely that Feeley will be the number two quarterback, and Moore will remain the team's third and emergency quarterback.

The Elevator: Carolina Panthers Turn Season Opener over to Philadelphia

Austin Penny — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:14:51 -0400

The Carolina Panthers kicked off the 2009 season with a performance that rivaled their season-ending performance of a year ago.

That's not a good thing.

Jake Delhomme forced Panthers fans to relive the nightmare that was their playoff exit in the last meaningful game played at Bank of America Stadium.

Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble before being benched in the third quarter as the Panthers fell to the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 38-10.

Seventeen of Philadelphia's 38 points can be traced back to Delhomme turnovers, and the Panthers ground game had to be abandoned before it was established—a recipe for disaster in Carolina.

The defense wasn't able to stop the Eagles attack, but were faced with several short-field situations. There was a noted increase in defensive intensity in the second half, but the outcome of the game was pretty much decided at that point.

Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb left the game in the third quarter after scampering for a touchdown, and early indications are that he suffered a fractured rib. Kevin Kolb replaced McNabb.

The Eagles added a punt return for touchdown to their scoring resume on Sunday, with DeSean Jackson returning the first Panthers punt of the year 85 yards for the score.

Let's take a look at the positives (we'll have to look hard) and negatives from Sunday's disappointing performance.

Going Up...

/\ The Opening Drive. The Panthers looked great, aside from a couple of untimely false starts in their opening drive. They marched 70 yards in 13 plays and capped it off with an 11-yard DeAngelo Williams touchdown run.

/\ Thomas Davis. Davis had a huge game, tallying 16 tackles. It wasn't often that you saw a play being made for the Panthers run defense that didn't have No. 58 involved. A good sign considering Davis' knee injury during the pre-season.

/\ Second-half defensive line play. Julius Peppers and Louis Leonard both tallied second-half sacks, and the unit played much better than it did in the first half. The Eagles only scored once in the second half.

/\ Jason Baker. His 55.8 yards-per-punt average is impressive, but will be overshadowed by DeSean Jackson's 85-yard return for a touchdown on his first attempt.

/\ Final drive. The Panthers made a valiant march down the field on their last possession. The drive would eventually end as the Panthers ran out downs, but it was good to see Matt Moore be able to lead the team down the field.

Going Down...

\/ Jake Delhomme. Hate to state the obvious, but Jake picked a bad day to have a bad day...again. Five turnovers in this one brings his grand total for 11 in the Panthers' last two meaningful games.

\/ Zone defensive scheme. There is clearly a flaw in the Panthers' defensive scheme. It seemed as though nine times out of 10, the Eagles receivers had the opportunity to catch the ball, turn, and make a move before encountering any resistance from Panthers defenders.

\/ Punt coverage. Captain Munnerlyn was guilty of over-pursuing DeSean Jackson on his 85-yard return for touchdown, and the rest of the unit is guilty of not coming close to bringing Jackson down.

\/ Offensive line. Looked good early, but Delhomme was on the run all day and got hit several times. Josh McCown suffered a knee injury after being hit as well.

\/ Play calling. Just like the playoff loss last year, the Panthers abandoned the run way too soon. They forced Delhomme into some questionable situations, ultimately leading to the meltdown.

\/ Mike Goodson's butterfingers. Goodson fumbled in some of his first live NFL action...not a good sign seeing as how he had trouble holding onto the ball in the pre-season as well.

Up Next...

The Panthers don't get a break in the action, as they head to Atlanta for a rivalry matchup against the Falcons. The Falcons beat the Miami Dolphins 19-7 on Sunday.

Opening Day Sparks Quarterback Controversy in Carolina

Austin Penny — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:44:35 -0400

The Carolina Panthers season could not have opened on a more disappointing note Sunday, as they were manhandled by the Philadelphia Eagles and saw the scoreboard read 38-10 at the end of the day.

The Eagles' victory can be attributed mainly to the play of Jake Delhomme. For the second straight meaningful game, Delhomme was painfully bad, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble.

Delhomme started out crisp on the team's first drive, but things quickly turned sour. The first interception of the afternoon came on the Panthers' next drive and was followed by a Delhomme fumble that was recovered for a touchdown.

The first drive was quickly overshadowed, and Delhomme threw another interception before the first half came to a close, which led to another Eagles touchdown.

After halftime, Delhomme's downward spiral sped up, as he threw interceptions on the Panthers' first two drives.

Then, a moment that some Panthers fans have been waiting for for a long time happened.

Jake Delhomme was benched by John Fox.

Josh McCown came into the game and was very unimpressive. McCown finished 1-6 for two yards and took a sack. To make things worse, McCown left the game after taking a hard hit in his left knee.

That meant that the Panthers would have to go to Matt Moore, the emergency quarterback.

Moore was perhaps the brightest spot of the day for the Panthers' quarterbacking crew. His numbers aren't overwhelming but, considering the other options available, they are the most enticing.

Moore finished 6-11 for 63 yards and an interception while taking a sack as well. The positives come from the last Panthers drive of the game, where Moore was 5-8 for 58 yards and had four consecutive completions at one point.

The Panthers now have the one thing they were adamant about not having in training camp, a quarterback controversy.

Whether the coaches choose to believe it or not, it is upon them.

Delhomme desperately needed at least a decent game on Sunday afternoon to rid the bad taste of January's playoff debacle once and for all.

He did not get that, and his performance was nearly as deflating as it was in that game.

There has been a smattering of Panthers fans who have continued to call for Delhomme's head all postseason but it is hard to believe that anybody envisioned a day quite like today to open the season.

Expect John Fox to stick with Delhomme for the time being and to downgrade the importance of his benching. The thing is, it is a huge deal for this team, as Delhomme has never been benched in all the poor performances he's suffered through in his time as a Panther.

The bigger problem for the Panthers is that there is not another established quarterback on the roster. McCown and Moore are both shaky at best when it comes to talking about starters.

It is likely that we will see Delhomme start in Atlanta next Sunday, but you have to think his leash will be pretty short. Hopefully its just another one of Jake's classic breakdowns, but the fact that it happened on opening day is a startling idea.

Carolina Panthers-Philadelphia Eagles Game Guide: Eagles Visit the Bank

Austin Penny — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:22:58 -0400

The Carolina Panthers will kick off the 2009 season on Sunday with a visit from the Philadelphia Eagles, last year's NFC runner-up.

Both of these teams met a similar fate last year, falling to the Arizona Cardinals amidst their Cinderella-esque run to the Super Bowl.

The Panthers and Eagles both head into 2009 with high expectations—Philadelphia more because of its reputation and Carolina because of their 12-4 record a year ago.

Success will not come without hard work for either club. Both have questions about their defense and will be looking to maintain a high powered offense.

The Eagles have already lost starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley to a season ending knee injury, while the Panthers lost their monster-sized run stuffing defensive tackle in Ma'ake Kemoeatu to an Achilles injury on the first day of training camp.

Coping with and adjusting to these losses are the focal point of the coaching staffs as they look for a way to replace key cogs in their defensive units.

The Panthers have not been able to do much in the absence of Kemoeatu with Nick Hayden being the only serviceable option for much of the preseason. Hayden led a core of inexperienced reserve linemen with two career games played.

The Panthers have since traded an undisclosed draft pick for DT Louis Leonard from Cleveland. The 6'4", 325-pound Leonard recorded 25 tackles for the Browns a year ago in 16 games.

Carolina also signed Ra'Shon "Sunny" Harris, a rookie defensive tackle from Oregon after Pittsburgh cut him.

Series History

The Eagles hold a 4-2 series lead against the Panthers, and have displayed dominance since Carolina's win in the 2003 NFC Championship Game.

Philadelphia won the last meeting between the two teams, a 27-24 victory on Monday Night Football in the 2006 season.

The last time these two teams met at Bank of America Stadium was during the 2003 regular season, with the Eagles winning 25-16. The overall series at "The Bank" is tied at one game a piece.

What To Watch For

Panthers' D-Line vs. Eagles' Running Game - The Panthers will find out what kind of success their rotation of reserve defensive tackles will have against one of the elite running backs in the league, when healthy, in Brian Westbrook.

If the Eagles are able to establish the run early, they could wreak havoc on the Panthers' secondary throughout the game. Penetration from the front four will be key for Carolina in this game.

Philadelphia LB's vs. Panthers Running Backs - Omar Gaither will start in place of Bradley, and the Philadelphia linebacking corps could be in for a long afternoon against the outstanding double-headed rushing attack of the Panthers.

The Eagles linebackers will see a lot of "Double Trouble"—the nickname given to the combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart—because of their uncanny ability to make the first man miss.

Donovan McNabb sans-Vick - McNabb will have two games to play without the shadow of Michael Vick behind him. Although McNabb insists that he is comfortable with Vick as his back up, you can't help but wonder what a couple of lackluster games might bring him once Vick is reinstated.

McNabb may be comfortable, but will Philadelphia's fans be as patient?

Jonathan Stewart Returns - After not seeing the field during the preseason, Stewart practiced towards the end of last week and is ready to go for Sunday's game. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the first few hits of the season, seeing as how he hasn't taken a lick since January.

Williams will continue to get the bulk of the carries, but the burst that Stewart gives off the bench fuels this Panthers offense.

Can Brian Westbrook Stay Healthy? - Brian Westbrook is the most dangerous threat on the Eagles roster, but he has been unable to stay healthy in the last couple of years. Westbrook was limited in practice during the week, and if he isn't healthy then LeSean McCoy will have to shoulder the load which will cause a noticeable drop in effectiveness.

Offensive Rhythm for Carolina - The Panthers need to establish the rhythm of their offense early so as not to leave their defense in positions where they could be easily exposed. The running game is the anchor of the unit, so chewing up yards on the ground is a must out of the gates. Once the running game is established, Jake Delhomme will be able to go to work finding Steve Smith and his other receivers.

Injury Report

PHILADELPHIA

OUT- OT Shawn Andrews (back), G Todd Herremans (foot), LB Joe Mays (shoulder)

CAROLINA

QUESTIONABLE- S Chris Harris (knee), CB Sherrod Martin (knee)

There is nothing like opening day in the NFL, and the Panthers are lucky to be able to open the season at home. Carolina was undefeated at home last year in the regular season with an 8-0 record.

There is a lot of negativity and doubt surrounding the Panthers in Charlotte, and a victory against the Eagles would be the easiest way to erase some of those clouds and boost the morale of the fans.

Regardless of the outcome, the season is upon us.

Happy New Year, NFL Fans: Please Buckle Your Chinstraps

Austin Penny — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:02:03 -0400

I'll open with the five words that made Bruce Buffer famous:

"Let's get ready to rumble!"

The wait is over, my friends. Since the waning moments of the Pro Bowl in February (and for some, a month earlier) we have all been looking forward to the coming weekend with sad, puppy dog eyes.

Seven months. Seven entire months of speculation, predictions, assessments of unproven players, rankings, and an endless search for relevant news on our teams.

Some of us resorted to "America's pastime," digging into the division races and the steroids fodder, searching for the sleepiest of the sleepers for our fantasy baseball leagues. Exciting? Sure. Football? No.

Some of us vacationed to exotic lands or warm beaches with excellent scenery in more ways than one. Relaxing? Sure. Football? No.

Some of us worked on our golf swing or our jump shot. Needed? Definitely. Football? No.

Some of us continued to gather at the local sports bar or, more conveniently, our local couch on Sundays to cheer for some of our favorite athletes. Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Derek Jeter (no, this isn't sponsored by Gillette). Thrilling? Absolutely. Football? No.

Nothing compares to the NFL football season in the sporting world, at least in this country.

'Tis the season where friends and enemies alike are made in the trenches of your local sports bar or in the stands at the stadium. Where joy can turn to sorrow before your wings come out, and where the reverse can happen between the exit and the car.

No more poring over preseason statistics, over-analyzing a player or unit's output in those games, speculating on old injuries, or tearing apart the league schedule looking for a sleeper prediction.

It's time to buckle the chinstraps, adjust your shoulder pads, and hit the gridiron.

The storylines are overflowing the cup of every fan, as they do every year about this time.

Will top pick Matthew Stafford be able to perform in Detroit after beating out Daunte Culpepper for the starting job?

Will Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco duplicate and improve upon their impressive rookie campaigns?

What will Tom Brady do coming off of a horrendous knee injury?

Will Matt Cassel be able to perform at the level he did in Brady's absence with his new teammates in Kansas City?

Will Josh McDaniels be able to right the ship in Denver before its too late?

How will the Wildcat formation work out for Miami this year, or for any team that installed a version of it?

Michael Vick is back, but Plaxico Burress is now the resident NFL star locked behind bars as a season kicks off.

Peyton Manning will go sans-Dungy for the first time since he broke out as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

I could go on for days. Each team has at least a couple of topics for sports bar conversation this weekend and each team will develop a few over the coming weeks.

We can predict, break down, and simulate until the blue in the face, but the fact remains the same that none of us know what is going to happen.

That is the beauty of this game. That is why the phrase "any given Sunday" rings so true.

Football affects us all—I don't care what type of fan you are.

To the persistent pessimist, the relentless homer, the hardcore fan, the casual supporter, and the uninterested observer, I have a challenge for you.

When you watch the players burst out of the tunnel and the fighter planes fly over the stadium, then listen to the crowd rise to their feet and realize that kickoff is upon them, and that realization creeps into your bloodstream, I dare you to keep the hairs on the back of your neck from standing up.

The wait is over, and kickoff is upon us. Here's to the return of normalcy. Here's to football.

The Elevator: Carolina Panthers Drop Preseason Finale To the Pittsburgh Steelers

Austin Penny — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:17:58 -0400

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up a forgettable preseason at home on Thursday night, losing to defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-10.

This loss was unlike any of the other three the team has endured this offseason, mainly because they pretty much dominated the stat sheet.

After looking at some of these numbers, it's hard to believe the Panthers lost this game.

The Panthers ran 74 total plays—30 more than Pittsburgh—and picked up eight more first downs than the Steelers. There was also a 109 yard difference in total yardage, again favoring the Panthers.

Carolina picked up 123 more yards in the air than Pittsburgh, and just about leveled with them in the ground gain. The Panthers converted almost 44 percent of their third downs, while the Steelers converted 20 percent.

The Panthers had a more than 10 minute advantage in time of possession, and both teams scored one offensive touchdown.

How, then, do you explain the 21-10 loss?

For starters, I'll introduce the Carolinas to one Stefan Logan, who scorched the Panthers punt coverage team for an 80-yard return for a touchdown after the team's first possession. Logan would also tack on 27 rushing yards on two carries.

Logan, a former player in the CFL entering his second year out of South Dakota, looked like the created player that we've all created at least once in our lives on Madden. You know, the one with 99 speed and 99 agility that is just about impossible to catch or even lay a hand on.

A Josh McCown fumble led to the Steelers' only offensive touchdown, a 10-yard bulldozer-esque run by Isaac Redman, who disposed of both Julius Peppers and Chris Harris on his way to the endzone.

The Panthers managed a one yard touchdown rush by Jamall Lee in the third quarter before Matt Moore was hit on a play and had his pass picked off by Ryan Mundy and returned for a touchdown.

A John Kasay field goal in the fourth would cap the scoring.

Now that the preseason is over, the time where the questions are supposed to be answered and the wrinkles ironed, the Panthers are left with an 0-4 record, a banged up group of starters, and several glaring questions as they await their Sept. 13 showdown with Philadelphia in the regular season opener.

The good news, though scarce, is that the Panthers again looked better. I think it is safe to say that the Panthers made improvements from each preseason game to the next, no matter how small. Often times in the game of football it can be the smallest improvements that spark the most important ones.

Let's take a look at what happened on Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium in the final preseason version of 'The Elevator.'

Going Up...

/\ Mike Goodson. It was tough to decide between the up and down for Goodson, but I think I have a pretty strong case for putting him on the up side. Goodson averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 15 attempts on Thursday night, finishing the preseason with just under 200 total yards. No other Panthers running back tallied more than 80, and although the success came with the annoyance of three fumbles (one Thursday on the goal line), it is clear the team will have a helluva rushing attack for opposing teams to deal with. Goodson also poses a threat from the slot receiver position, adding another dimension to a Panthers offense that came into the preseason pretty much ready for live bullets.

/\ Nick Hayden. Congratulations, Nick. You have worked your way out of my personal cellar, and have earned a spot near the top of the elevator. With three tackles tonight—including a hit-stick type blow delivered to Rashard Mendenhall on the Steelers' first offensive possession—and half of a sack, you may have done enough to find yourself in the starting lineup next Sunday. Keep up the improved work.

/\ Charles Johnson. Yes, he is still on this team. That might have been hard to tell for most of the preseason, but Johnson made his name known with a sack-and-a-half on Thursday night. The Panthers will need to put pressure on the quarterback with the front four this year, as the secondary looks as though they should be playing on Friday nights at this point.

/\ Dwayne Jarrett. Call off the amber alert and throw away the old milk cartons—Dwayne Jarrett has finally shown up. Jarrett caught four passes for 44 yards on Thursday night, doubling the total number of receptions he had in the first three preseason games combined. I realize that a lot of his production Thursday came against reserve defenders, but seeing him making plays period is an improvement.

/\ Kenneth Moore. The bad news for Jarrett, however, is that Kenneth Moore is looking more and more like he could be the Panthers number three starter heading into the regular season. Moore, who was plucked off of the Lions' practice squad last season, came into training camp this year to battle for the fourth receiver position with Ryne Robinson, Jason Carter, and Jason Chery. Robinson and Carter—the two most likely candidates—have already been cut. Enough said. Moore caught six balls for 59 yards on Thursday.

/\ Third down conversion rate. The Panthers were 7 of 16 on third down on Thursday night, a week after going 0 for 7 against the Ravens. A good sign from the Panthers offense.

/\ Sustaining drives on offense. The Panthers had the ball for over 35 minutes Thursday night, and at one point put together four 10-plus play drives. This is good news, but Carolina needs to finish a few more of these long drives.

Going Down...

\/ Special teams. Whether its the punt team getting embarrassed, or the vast array of kick/punt returners stricken with a bad case of the butter fingers, the special teams units have got to improve. They are called special for a reason.

\/ Turnovers. The Panthers committed nine turnovers this preseason. This team has to hold on to the ball, especially with all of the questions surrounding the defense. Carolina will not be able to afford any gift points to opponents.

\/ Backup quarterback play. Perhaps its just me, but I believe the Delhomme debate can be safely put to rest until we acquire another quarterback, one who has a realistic chance of touching the seasoned Cajun vet. McCown likely wrapped up the number two spot on Thursday night, but I will still be starting a collection fund for a human bubble for Jake to reside in Mondays-Saturdays.

\/ Pass defense. I'm not sure if the Steelers game planned to run three times as many running plays as passing plays, or if they just got tired of being so successful through the air and resorted to something a little more challenging. The three Steelers quarterbacks who saw the field Thursday combined for 74 yards on 8 of 10 passing.

\/ Momentum. The Panthers will limp into the season opener next Sunday, with a good portion of their fanbase standing firmly on the proverbial ledge. The first team defense forced a three-and-out on their first possession, a good way to end the preseason for a club that has been ridiculed for their lackadaisical play all preseason. However, the powers that be sent the first team 'D' back out for a second go-round, and they gave up a touchdown on a marquee display of poor tackling.

Up next for the Panthers is the season opener on Sept. 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Bank of America Stadium. There are no more exhibitions to be played or lessons to be harmlessly learned for this squad—it's showtime.

Breaking News: Carolina Panthers Name Danny Morrison New Team President

Austin Penny — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:46:31 -0400

The Carolina Panthers announced Wednesday that Danny Morrison will fill the position of team president that was vacated by Mark Richardson earlier in the week.

Morrison is familiar with the Panthers organization, having worked previously as Director of Athletics at Wofford College and being instrumental in the fund raising effort that boosted Wofford's facilities in a way that made it possible for the school to host an NFL training camp.

Morrison was commissioner of the Southern Conference after leaving Wofford from 2001-2005, when he went to TCU to become the athletic director for the Horned Frogs. Under Morrison's direction, the TCU athletics program became one of the best in the nation. In the 2008-09 season, 16 of 20 TCU sports were represented in postseason play and five programs were in the top eleven in the nation in their respective sports. The Horned Frogs' football team finished seventh in the nation.

Everywhere he has been it seems that success has followed, and some in the Charlotte media feel as though the addition of Morrison to the front office actually provides an upgrade over Mark Richardson.

As the Panthers' team president, Morrison will be responsible for the business side of things related to the team and Bank of America Stadium. He will also represent the team in a number of league matters.

The relationship between Morrison and Panthers owner/founder Jerry Richardson is a very strong one, and it can only be positive that the person brought in to replace one of his own sons is a guy that "Big Cat" has such a high level of respect for, both business-wise and personally.

Morrison is expected to assume the responsibilities of team president in about a month.

Panthers Preseason Spotlight: Kenneth Moore

Austin Penny — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:33:44 -0400

There isn't a better definition of a hometown hero on the Panthers roster than Kenneth Moore.

Moore grew up in Charlotte and attended Butler High School in Matthews, NC before heading to Wake Forest University for college in Winston Salem, NC.

A standout at Wake Forest, Moore was on the Demon Deacons team that won the ACC Championship from out of nowhere as a junior and was a large part of the reason.

As a senior, Moore had 98 receptions for 1,011 yards--setting a school and conference record for most receptions in a season.

He also came within 42 yards of former Panther Ricky Proehl's school record for receiving yards.

Moore's college successes caught the eye of the Detroit Lions, who selected Moore in the fifth round with the 136th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Moore made the practice squad with the Lions, but had a dream come true in October.

The Panthers plucked Moore off of the Lions practice squad, and Kenny got to come home to play for his hometown team, something very few players ever get to do.

Moore spent the rest of 2008 on the Panthers squad and came into camp with an outside chance at making the roster for 2009.

That outside chance has quickly moved inside, as the two players with whom Moore was battling for the Panthers' fourth receiver spot have been cut since the preseason began.

Moore's chances of earning a spot on the 53-man roster have increased dramatically, as has his level of play. Though the numbers aren't eye-popping, Moore has six receptions for 76 yards through three preseason games for the Panthers, and has been the first option for starting quarterback Jake Delhomme on numerous occasions.

In Saturday night's loss to the ravens, Moore had three catches for 40 yards, including one ball he nabbed just past the line of scrimmage and took 19 yards.

Look for more to be a viable option in the slot on occasion for the Panthers this season.

Spotlight Update

+ Jeremy Leman has now posted a total of 12 tackles this preseason, and has not lost a bit of the intensity we saw in the Giants game. With Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, and Landon Johnson all having suffered injuries during training camp, the longevity of the linebacking corps could be in question, which is potentially good news for Leman.

+ Captain Munnerlyn notched three tackles on Saturday night against the Ravens, and continued to look impressive with his tackling and aggressiveness on defense. He didn't get a chance to return any kicks, as the Ravens only punted twice and didn't offer a return on either, while Mike Goodson handled kickoff return duties.

The Elevator: Analyzing The Panthers' Preseason Loss To the Ravens

Austin Penny — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:00:58 -0400

For all intents and purposes, the preseason is over for the Carolina Panthers' starters. The third game is known as the final dress rehearsal for the starting units around the NFL, and is used to gague the progress or lack thereof that any given team has made.

For the third game in a row, the Panthers took the loss and left the field with questions flying around the team as to what happened to last year's 12-4 squad that took the NFC South title.

However, the Panthers are looking better. From the first preseason game to Saturday night's contest, they have made improvements in nearly every area to some degree. That doesn't fully answer the questions facing this team but it doesn't leave fans void of hope that, come September 13th, this team will remain a contender.

DeAngelo Williams sat out after tweaking his knee earlier in the week during practice, but Mike Goodson filled in nicely. Jon Beason is still sidelined with a sprained MCL, but said after the game that he is optimistic about his chances of playing in the team's regular season opener.

Let's take a ride on the elevator to see just what went down on Saturday night.

Going Up...

/\ Backup running backs. Mike Goodson and DeCori Birmingham looked like a formidable duo as they filled in for Double Trouble. Goodson had 11 carries for 52 yards to go along with three catches for 26 yards. He often made the Ravens defenders miss after changing directions, and blocked well in the passing game. Birmingham racked up 27 yards on three carries and scored the Panthers' only touchdown of the game, a one-yard plunge on fourth-and-one.

/\ Downfield receptions. Four 25+ yard receptions by four different Panthers on Saturday night. Dante Rosario, Jeff King, Steve Smith, and Muhsin Muhammad all found space to create big plays for the offense. What makes this stat more impressive is that two of these catches are credited to tight ends. That leads us to...

/\ Jake Delhomme. Being the game manager he is supposed to be. In his return to the site of the worst day of his career, Delhomme was much better. He completed 10 of his 16 passes for 180 yards. To date, Jake has yet to throw an interception in the preseason, and has looked much more aware in the pocket.

/\ Defensive line. Now, before you jump all over me, consider this: Before Saturday night, the defensive line looked like that of a Pop Warner All Star team. Nick Hayden has been used and abused all preseason, but he did a good job of pretty much holding his own against the Ravens running game. Tyler Brayton notched a sack on a play that worked perfectly for the Panthers. Julius Peppers brought pressure from his old left side of the line, freezing Joe Flacco with a huge leap just long enough to give Brayton enough time to bring Flacco down from behind. Peppers also made a nice hit on Flacco, garnering a polite response from the fans. Everette Brown was again able to put pressure on the quarterback as well. After pretty much resting on the ground floor all preseason, the defensive line made a budge up the elevator.

/\ Turnover margin. For the first time this preseason, the Panthers won the turnover margin. Carolina managed to hold onto the ball and forced an interception from Ravens backup quarterback Troy Smith.

Going Down...

\/ Penalties. The Panthers amassed 70 yards of bad behavior, having the laundry tossed their way nine times. To make matters worse, most of these involved our first team, meaning the loose ends that should be tied up by the third preseason game are still dangling in the wind. The outcome of this game would have likely been different if the Panthers could have lowered this number, and also if they could have capitalized on...

\/ Third-down conversions. The Panthers were 0-for-7 on the night in these critical situations, which explains the measly 13 points on the board. Not ONCE did the offense find a way to extend the drive when they faced third down. That is cause for concern at any level of football, and should never happen in the NFL.

\/ Secondary. If the secondary was a pair of your favorite boxer shorts, your girlfriend would be nagging you to throw them away. You could drive a pickup truck through some of the holes that were present in the Panthers' secondary on Saturday night. Lucky for the Ravens, all they had to do was run players through them, which explains Flacco's stat line of 23-of-28 for 247 yards and a touchdown. Whenever a receiver has time to catch the ball, turn up field, square his body, take a bite of his sandwich, check his watch, and start to head up field before he realizes there are guys trying to tackle him, its time to figure something out defensively. Ron Meeks' new defense is supposed to play to the strengths of our defenders, but so far it has embarrased them. None more than...

\/ Chris Gamble. In the words of the prophetic Charlie Brown..."Good grief." Gamble was beat like he stole something on Saturday, and claims his efforts were the result of poor technique. If that's the case, Gamble's technique needs to file for bankruptcy. Perhaps the intricacies of the new defensive scheme have not yet been revealed to the public, or perhaps the personnel we have doesn't have the skills that the playbook is based on. Whatever the case, the Eagles won't have any qualms about exposing the weaknesses when they come to town, so the defense better take a long look in the mirror in the little bit of time left before the opener.

The Panthers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night and will then have until Saturday to trim their roster down to the 53-man limit. Expect to see a series, MAYBE two from the starters, but mostly a final tryout for the bottom dwellers on the depth chart. For the casual football fan the last preseason game is nearly unwatchable, but for the diehard, its the most interesting.

Carolina Panthers Cut WR/KR Robinson, Two Others

Austin Penny — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:48:35 -0400

The Carolina Panthers have made the first step towards slimming their roster down to the Sept. 1 deadline of 75 players.

Monday, the team released WR Ryne Robinson, OT Gerald Cadogan, and DT Lorenzo Williams.

Robinson's is the most recognizable name from this list, as most fans will remember his time spent as the team's kick returner during the 2007 season. Robinson didn't live up to expectations then, and missed all of 2008 with a knee injury.

Much was expected of Robinson heading into 2009 with Mark Jones having left the team in free agency during the offseason. Robinson was supposed to be quicker and more experienced coming off of his injury, leading him to be tabbed as the heir apparent to Jones in the return game.

That changed after rookies Mike Goodson and Captain Munnerlyn had terrific camps in terms of showing their hand at the return game as well as showing an ability to come in and make a difference on offense or defense.

Robinson didn't get out of the gates with enough steam to ever keep up with Munnerlyn and Goodson in the kick return battle and will be most remembered this preseason for his mistake in Miami that led to the Dolphins' game clinching touchdown.

The emergence of wide receiver Kenneth Moore, however, is what sealed Ryne's fate. Heading into training camp, the depth chart at wide receiver after Dwayne Jarrett at the third spot looked something like Robinson/Jason Carter/Moore. Robinson and Carter were both coming off of injuries and were guys that the organization liked.

Based on what we've seen in the preseason to date, it wouldn't be much of an understatement to say that Kenneth Moore deserves the three spot more than Jarrett.

When Charles Godfrey went out with a broken hand after the Miami game, the Panthers cut Carter to make room for depth at the safety position, narrowing the race to Robinson and Moore. When the Baltimore game came and went without much more than a sighting of Robinson, it was clear the decision had already been made.

Cadogan was an All-Big Ten offensive lineman for Penn State in 2008 and was expected to be a third or fourth round draft pick, but wound up falling through the cracks and being signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent.

Williams was last cut by the Baltimore Ravens following the 2008 preseason.

The Panthers will need to make one more roster move to slim down to 75 players by Tuesday after they placed offensive lineman C.J. Davis on injured reserve, ending his season.

After that, the Panthers wrap up the preseason on Thursday with a final audition against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following the Steelers game, the team will perform the final 22-man cut, trimming the roster down to the 53-man mark by Sept. 5.

Carolina Panthers Game Guide: Back To The Bank As Ravens Fly In To Town

Austin Penny — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:43:42 -0400

The photo above depicts Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox the last time he observed the team's pre-game routine at Bank Of America Stadium. Little did he know that by the time the seats behind him returned to their empty status, his team would be packing its bags for an early offseason after being embarrassed by the Cinderella-esque Arizona Cardinals.

Tonight, the Panthers will take the field at "The Bank" for the first time since that dreadful night. Jake Delhomme will come under center in front of the home fans for the first time since throwing five picks and losing a fumble in that game, solidifying his title of public enemy No. 1 around Charlotte.

For the last seven months, Jake's name could be heard in the same sentence as the terms washed up, over-rated, and dead weight. The worst part? Those are only the printable insults.

Jake has become the Panthers fans' favorite target. If you tune into WFNZ 610 AM any time during the week, you'll hear caller after caller metaphorically hang Jake from a clothesline. You'll hear debate after debate about how the Panthers will never win anything with Jake running the offense.

All of this was hidden inside these people and Jake's performance the last time he stepped on that field proved the straw that broke the camel's back. The floodgates were opened and things have never been so rough in Carolina.

Jake has his first chance to work towards redemption tonight.

The Baltimore Ravens will come into town to face the Panthers on Saturday night. After two mediocre preseason performances, the Panthers will get to try their hand inside the friendly confines of The Bank.

Yes, I'm aware that this is preseason and this game will mean nothing in a few weeks. However, this is that "all-important" third preseason game where the starters play into the third quarter and there is a game plan and all that jazz. At least, that's how its supposed to be.

The Panthers find themselves in somewhat of a catch-22 at this point in the young season. They return to their home field for the first time since being blown off of it, yet they can't afford to lose anyone else before the games start counting.

What to Look For on Saturday

+ Look for an explosive beginning to the game. Whether we start with the ball or on defense, look for the Panthers to be firing on all cylinders out of the gate. I guarantee you that I am not the only one who remembers Saturday, January 10, 2009.

Ron Meeks has preached all offseason about explosiveness and getting to the ball, but we haven't seen a bit of it. Perhaps the home crowd will be the motivation needed to get some heavy hitting underway.

If Jake gets the ball first, look for us to establish the run. The last thing that we need is Jake throwing an early pick. The boo birds are perched and are ready to swoop down upon him—as well as Ray Lewis—if he makes a mistake.

+ Look for a break from the norm. The Panthers will likely not play their starters at the skill positions into the third quarter like most teams will in the third preseason games. They are simply too banged up to risk anymore serious injuries—especially with a hard-hitting Ravens defense waiting in the wings.

DeAngelo suffered a mild knee injury during practice this week, so why overwork him and risk having both Double and Trouble watching from the sidelines when Philly comes to town?

Steve Smith isn't quite 100% yet, so why put him on the line for a meaningless game? Besides, we have a dogfight for the fourth receiver position on our hands between Kenneth Moore and Ryne Robinson. Let's see what these guys can do against the Ravens' secondary.

+ Look for someone to make a difference. I'm holding out hope that one of the defensive tackles we have on our roster will make a case to start. At this point, its very likely that the guy who will line up shoulder-to-shoulder with Damione Lewis on Sept. 13th isn't a Panther yet.

It would be nice to see one of the guys already on the team step up and stake his claim for the job. Marlon Favorite was impressive in camp but hasn't gotten much first-team action. Nick Hayden has been tagged as the starting guy as of right now, but it is evident he isn't ready for that role.

Keep in Mind...

This is a shell of our team. We aren't as deep as we have been in years past, and the coaching staff will likely continue to err on the side of caution. We haven't played spectacular ball, but we also haven't had our weapons loaded either. Jake might not look great, but he doesn't have Smitty and Moose out there. Even if he does tonight, it won't be for long.

The defense is missing Jon Beason, so it's very likely that our defense could be abused as the game wears on, especially if Ray Rice is on the level he has been so far this preseason.

What to Take Away From This Game...

A level head. Keep remembering that we aren't in full force, and won't be until the opener. You cannot read too much into this or any of the other preseason games we have played.

Watch the offensive line. They are healthy and they are all back, so the chemistry on the line should be impressive. See what kind of holes the Panthers backs have to run through, whether or not they hit them.

Watch the return game again. Right now, I'd have to call advantage Captain Munnerlyn after his 58-yard dash against Miami. See if Robinson or Larry Beavers can make a case to keep their roster spot.

Kickoff is at 8:00pm ET, and can be seen locally on Panthers TV (local Fox station).

Radio coverage is on 1110-AM WBT.

***If you're heading to the game, stop at your local grocery store and pick up a few school supplies. There will be collection bins outside all entry gates, and the supplies collected will be distributed to under-privileged kids in the Charlotte area. Even if it's one notebook or one highlighter or one folder, every bit helps***