Carolina Panthers Vs. Minnesota Vikings- Defensive Preview
by James Dator on Oct 29, 2011 2:00 PM EDT
in Panthers Game Previews
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Earlier today I looked at the offensive side of the ball that looks quite favorable to Carolina, but what does the defense hold for the boys in black and electric blue?
X-Factor: Percy Harvin
While Adrian Peterson is definitely the most feared aspect to the Vikings' game, it's Harvin who's the wild card on Sunday. Doing a little bit of everything for Minnesota he is tied with Michael Jenkins leading the team in receptions with 27, he's run the ball 16 times for over 10 yards per carry and is gashing teams on special teams averaging 31.1 yards per kick return.
While I have no doubt Chris Gamble will eat him alive in the passing game it's this added utility that scares me a little. The Panthers' young defense doesn't deal with trick plays very well and the Vikings could use a heavy dose of trickery on Sunday to keep them off balance. This coupled with almost certain favorable field position on kickoffs could give the Panthers some major headaches.
Edge: Vikings
Carolina run defense Vs. Minnesota run offense
This is going to be a potential bloodbath. Adrian Peterson is on pace for over 1,600 rushing yards and his career long achilles heel, fumbles, seems to have corrected itself. Add eight rushing touchdowns in seven games and you have the perfect storm for Peterson to have a mammoth day.
The last time Carolina saw a runner of Peterson's caliber it was Matt Forte who ran for over 200 yards, except Peterson is vastly more talented. I expect the Panthers to stack the box, but I'm not sure that will even be enough with their bad gap coverage and poor tackling.
Edge: Vikings
Carolina pass defense Vs. Minnesota pass offense
Here is where Carolina can make some big gains. While the change to get rid of Donovan McNabb was necessary there will be growing pains as rookie Christian Ponder gets acclimated to the NFL. Last week Ponder showed flashes of his potential, but there were also plenty of 'WTF?' moments. This is the case for many rookie QBs, especially ones without a good receiving corps.
The Panthers are playing the pass quite well, and without a stud WR Carolina should be able to get to the QB a lot with their pass rush and shut their receivers down. In this area I'm not afraid of a the pass at all.
Edge: Panthers
Overall Outlook
While I have the six matchups scored 3-3 the reality is further from this. I think Jared Allen's pass rushing ability coupled with Peterson's running and Harvin's random playmaking will give the Panthers headaches, but nothing compared to what Cam Newton and Steve Smith will dole out. What we saw against Washington was a Panthers team who could move the ball the entire length of the field in 3-4 plays, and I expect more of the same on Sunday.
This is all about the Panthers pass vs. the Vikings rush in a game that could be extremely high scoring due to a lack of reliable defense. When it's all said and done I think a few critical turnovers helps the Panthers get the W on Sunday.
Final Score: Carolina 37 - Minnesota 21
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This is my first game this season
So its my first chance to see Cam in person. Its also the first time I’ll sit in the lower section every other time I’ve seen a game I felt like I was 10 feet from the Sun.
I only went to two games last year TB and Chi….. so needless to say I am really looking forward to this game.
GO PANTHERS!
Catches Bullets With His Teeth?
i feel for you i went to the chicago game
that sucked! this year will be 10 times better!
This has been a public service announcement.......
by CaptainPanther on Oct 30, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
For
Percy, all you have to do is give him one good lick and he will settle down.
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Good article.
Only thing I disagree with is the kickoff field position advantage. I think Mare will kick them all out of the endzone putting them at the 20 every time.
"Nobody wants to cheer for a loser". Cam Newton 2011
Harvin's 31 yd KR average is inflated by the 103 yd TD return in game 1, vs SD.
He says he’s playing in this game, despite a lingering rib injury.
Well, he's proven over his career he's a dynamic kick returner.
"If ya ain't first, you're last."
- Ricky Bobby's Dad
"There is no evidence that the tongue is connected to the brain."
-Frank Tyger
by KaiserBromley on Oct 29, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not so sure it will be that high scoring...
Considering the fact that the Viking’s primary objective will be to control the game clock and run the ball. They want to keep Cam off the field for as long as possible. That tactic alone should lower the score some.
While the Vikings do not have
a stud #1 Wr, they still have reliable TEnds to give the the lb fix. Any lb would look good vs these current lbs. 27-20 is my final score, I’ll just wait and see who actually wins lol.
by adam carter on Oct 29, 2011 2:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Go Panthers!!! (in my Arnold Schwarzenegger Voice)
Panthers 24 – Vikings 17
Christian Ponder’s intercepted by Captain in the final minutes.
"It is now official... Cam Newton is now the face of our franchise.
by Caro2daheart... on Oct 29, 2011 3:46 PM EDT reply actions
AP will fumble if you hit his hands or the ball.
If you hit his body, he hold on to it. Linebackers (and the Cap’n) will be smacking his fingers.
Speaking of potential fumbles, take another look at Chris Gambles interception return last week. He was holding that rock in one hand toward the inside of the field! He doesn’t carry it much these days and it showed on that play.
He HAS been a durn good cover corner this year!
This on Chris Gamble today, per PFF:
“Picking on Revis this season is yielding a QB rating of just 2.9. Yes, 2.9. The next best mark among starting corners is the 39.4 of the Panthers’ Chris Gamble and there are only three players under 50.”
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/10/29/stories-of-the-season-the-revis-10/
by bigdavis on Oct 29, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Wow... good stuff, bigd. I knew Gamble was rocking, but didn't know he was playing THAT well. And Revis is just amazing.
So much to be done, and so few people willing to do it for me.
i call BS on that Revis rating!
he got toasted by welker….all day long! just that game would inflate that rating higher than a 2.9!
This has been a public service announcement.......
by CaptainPanther on Oct 30, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I'm pretty sure you are right
He’s been targeted 33 times and has allowed 10 catches. He’s given up 261 yards, with 0 TD’s and 4 INT’s.
If you calculate the QBR based on 10-33-261-0-4, the QBR would be 20.7
Just in the NE game, he was targeted 8 times and allowed 5-124-0-0 for a QBR of 118.8. Welker “toasted him”, but the only receiver with more than 1 catch against him was Brandon Marshall and he only caught 6 of 13 targets.
With that being said, he’s still dominate and the best in the league. A QBR of 20.7 would make Jimmy Clausen look like Joe Montana.
Not sure what that says about Gamble, really don’t feel like looking up targets/catches/yards/etc. since the Panthers have been in zone as much as man to man, but Gamble is playing extremely well.
by FF Companion on Oct 30, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Our best defense in this game is going to be our offense.
We need to torch their secondary early and often in an attempt to make them have to pass the ball. If we can make it to where they feel like they have to pass to keep up, we’ve got the game locked up.
Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91
So wait I’m confused. The offensive and defensive edge goes to the Vikings yet we are favorites.. I strongly disagree with the previous post that Vikings have the edge on offense. Stop AP what do they have?
We have basically 3 star RBs in Cam, Deangelo and Stewie. A great QB with Cam with weapons like Smitty, Olsen and Shockey. I don’t see how anyone can give the Vikes edge offensively.
by PantherTrain on Oct 29, 2011 5:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I surely don't.
Our offense is twice as potent as theirs.
Percy H is a nice quality Wr who can do it all.
They also have 2 quality TEnds that the lbs suck ass in covering every week.
by adam carter on Oct 29, 2011 6:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He also has banged up ribs and had to come out last week. Percy doesn't do well with pain, and ribs hurt like hell.
So much to be done, and so few people willing to do it for me.
If PT said it, it must be so!
"If ya ain't first, you're last."
- Ricky Bobby's Dad
"There is no evidence that the tongue is connected to the brain."
-Frank Tyger
by KaiserBromley on Oct 29, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I just don't see Jared Allen as that big of a threat.
Cam has taken sacks this year but I can’t think of a sack that has really affected the outcome of a game. I think he will get one maybe two sacks on first or second down but I feel like we will still convert on third. It seems like that is a trend. I could be wrong, I always leave that possibility open.
Go ugly early beat the rush.
Yeah, I dont sweat him either. Cam has faced Peppers, Matthews, Urlacher, Vilma etc and has done fine. Every week it seems like people create a new boogeyman for Cam to be scared of and come Sunday Cam ends up owning them
by PantherTrain on Oct 29, 2011 5:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm worried.
The man has 11.5 sacks in 7 games. That is no easy feat.
"If I know that you like Pancakes on Tuesdays, I might as well bring you the syrup" -Cam Newton
by Son of a Newton on Oct 29, 2011 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
He's on pace to shatter the single-season sack record
Jared Allen terrifies me.
Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91
by Jake Humphrey on Oct 29, 2011 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Good thing, then, that Jordan Gross is playing LT, rather than you. :-)
He might get a sack, even two, but there are still about 60 other offensive plays we’ll have, to get the job done.
Will he line up against Gross all day?
Because if he lines up against Bell I could see him being a serious problem for our offense.
Not if the Vikings are smart.
Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91
by Jake Humphrey on Oct 30, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
Harvin is good and Jenkins isn’t.
Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91
by Jake Humphrey on Oct 29, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really
Jenkins is their leading receiver this season.
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Oct 29, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Numbers don't tell the whole story.
Harvin >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jenkins
"If ya ain't first, you're last."
- Ricky Bobby's Dad
"There is no evidence that the tongue is connected to the brain."
-Frank Tyger
by KaiserBromley on Oct 29, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Jenkins is a good WR he carved us up for years in ATL!
harvin=jenkins in WR
This has been a public service announcement.......
by CaptainPanther on Oct 30, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
He's an average WR at best
In his best year he put up 50 catches for 777 yards, which isn’t bad, but was far and away his best season.
Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91
by Jake Humphrey on Oct 30, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
beating us by 16 I guess it happened against Chicago
but not many other teams have but up double digit wins on us. But then I can see with your record the reason you think this is going to be a blow out. :D
Good luck to you all.
Putting Ponder in isn't the question, it's the answer.
I'm not sure we will win by 16.
I see it more as 34-24 Panthers. However, as soon as it becomes a two score game, Ponder will be forced to air it out, and that could be where it becomes a blow out.
"If I know that you like Pancakes on Tuesdays, I might as well bring you the syrup" -Cam Newton
by Son of a Newton on Oct 29, 2011 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey!
we’re also counting on your coaching staff to take AP out of the game in the second half. cause that’s the only way we’ll see AP out of the game. :P
good luck to you as well.
by Lost_terrapin on Oct 29, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Darius Butler will not be playing
which leaves RJ Stanford as his replacement. His daughter had heart surgery this week in Florida. Hope everything goes well with her and he’s able to return next week.
by Swamp Panther on Oct 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
expect james anderson to have an absolutley huge game
I wouldn’t be surprised if he out does his performance last week. I honestly think he could be the difference maker if he can get his teeth stuck into AP. Go panthers
Save us Pilares
by LimeyPanther on Oct 29, 2011 9:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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