Better late than never I always say. I’ve taken a hard look at the Panthers first half performance against the Eagles which was staffed mainly by 1^st teamers. I was very critical in my initial post on this game but after taking the time to review each play it wasn’t as bad as I thought, at least on offense that is. The defense was helped greatly by Eagles miscues but there is no hiding the fact the Panthers still failed to generate much of a pass rush.

One positive I failed to mention in the first post was how well the kick off coverage performed. Though each of Rys Lloyd kicks were returned the Panthers consistently pinned the Eagles inside the twenty. It was a very nice improvement over the Colts game.

So here it is series by series:

Panthers 1^st Offensive Series (Eagles 22):

1^ST Down – I-formation - DeAngelo Williams sweeps left– T Jordan Gross handles his man, Wharton pulls with TE Jeff King standing up the DE and FB Brad Hoover taking the CB out. Yet D-Will was tackled from behind by Eagles DT Patterson. At first I thought either LG Travelle Wharton or C Ryan Kalil missed their assignment but it was actually RG Keydrick Vincent who essentially whiffed on his block. If Vincent keeps Patterson out of the play Williams get the corner and goes for at least 5 to 10 yards if not more. Instead it’s a 2 yard loss.

2^nd – Jake Delhomme throws a quick slant to Moose. The pass is to the inside shoulder allowing Eagles CB Samuel to deflect the pass. If he goes to the outside shoulder its complete for 5 to7 yards.

3^rd – Panthers execute a nice dump off to D-Will in the right flat. King makes a decent block on the Eagles LB Bradley but doesn’t hold it quite long enough as Bradley makes the play after 10 yards. Panthers punt.

 On the punt the Panthers Donte Curry gets cited for a false start but then on the punt return he lays a wallop on the punt returner.

Panthers 1^st Defensive Series:

The Eagles drive the ball using short passes and gain a couple first downs. As they approach Panther territory the drive ended:

1^st down – Sweep right, FS Charles Godfrey shows his quickness by coming up to make the plays and limit it to a 2 yard gain.

2^nd – Screen left - DE Tyler Brayton makes the play from the other side of the field.

3^rd – Eagles receiver drops a sure first down pass, Eagles punt.

2^nd Offensive Series:

1^st – Jake has to rush his throw because TE Upshaw fails to slow down the DE who basically disrupts the pass play.

2^nd – D-Will of RT, gets no push, no gain.

3^rd down – King makes the catch over the middle but for only 8 yards. Panthers punt.

2^nd Defensive Series:

The Eagles pick on CB Ricardo Colclough with quick slants to WR Curtis. DE Tyler Brayton gets close to a sack as the ball is dropped. Eagles drive the ball into Panther territory, but then comes the one hour lightning delay. After the delay, Marshall makes a beautiful play to from behind and knock away a pass to Baskett on a seam route. CJ Wilson then makes a nice play to stop a sweep left, coming up to make a solid tackle. The Eagles then attempt a fake FG that results in Richard Marshall’s Sports Center highlight INT. Panthers up 7-0.

3^rd Defensive Series:

LB Jon Beason makes a quick hit in the Eagles backfield to drop the RB for a loss. Marshall gets a pass interference penalty that was a legit call. This drive is stopped after McNabb gets caught throwing a 1^st down complete after he had crossed the line. The ref’s missed it but Ol’ Foxy didn’t and threw the red flag on it. Eagles Punt.

3^rd Offensive Series:

The Panthers finally sustain a drive into the Eagles red zone highlighted by a D-Will 23 yard scamper off the right side. Otah blew his man away, Vincent held his block, Jeff King held up the LB and Moose entertained the CB. The drive included a few shorter D-Will runs, some short pass completions to Jason Carter, Moose and King. The one bad play was run stuff by Eagles tackle Bunkley who ran over Wharton. The drive ends with an incompletion to Moose in the end zone that I thought he caught at first. But Eagles S Brian Dawkins nailed him with a helmet to helmet hit that I’m surprised he didn’t get a concussion. FG Panthers 10-0.

4^th Defensive Series:

Panthers force a quick punt as LB Landon Johnson covers a screen play nicely and the Panthers get good pressure on the QB though no sack. The Eagles WR’s drop two more balls.

4^th Offensive Series:

Moose drops a pass and a short pass to D-Will in the flat is stopped for no gain. The drive is killed after LT Jordan Gross gets two false start penalties back to back. On 3^rd down the Panthers run their favorite 3^rd and long play, the draw, which goes for about 8. Panthers punt.

On the punt coverage Eagles WR Jackson makes a nice return but Panthers gunner Donte Wesley hits him from the backside and jars the ball loose. Unfortunately it bounced 10 yards forward right to an Eagle, inside Panther territory. Damn, just missed it.

5^th Defensive Series:

CB Colclough jumps the short out route but instead of an INT for a TD he bats the pass down. You HAVE to catch those! Panthers run a series of blitzes that disrupts the Eagles passing game and then Eagles kicker Akers misses the FG.

5^th Offensive Series:

Two short passes to Taylor and King net 13 yards but then Jake throws either a very bad pass or Jeff King blew the route. My guess is the pass was off but the result is an easy Eagle INT.

6^th Defensive Series:

One bad pass and two drops by the Eagles result in another punt. The Panthers then get the punt and kneel down two plays to end the half.

Though the Eagles won this game with a 4^th quarter comeback they have to be worried about the state of their WR with all the drops. The Panthers didn’t set the world on fire either but they got just enough done to lead at the half if that counts for anything.