A Key to a Panthers Victory!!!

Something I’ve noticed about our Carolina Panthers this year. The Defensive End rotation hasn’t yielded the results we need to be successful, specifically focusing on the backup rotation. All of our sack this year and the majority of our quarterback pressures have come from our starting Defensive Ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. Outside of those sack we have none… none by any other player, at any other position. Take a second to think about that, no other DE, DT, LB, CB, SS, FS, Tom, or Jerry has toppled the quarter back in the back field.

This is a significant stat because every other team in the NFL has a higher sack total with the exception of 3 others who are tied with Carolina (ranked 25th) with 6 sacks, and four others with 5 or fewer. The corollary is that without that pressure on the quarterback… we’re not getting interceptions either, we’re currently tied with 7 other teams (ranked 24th) in the league in interceptions. More after the jump...

I really don't like fruit, but get a load of these apples they're sweeeeet…

via www.panthers.com

This is the reason I believe that Double "R" (Ron Rivera) brought in Antwan Applewhite to help spark the reserve Defensive End Rotation. Applewhite last year accounted for 59 total tackles and 3 sacks which should be a tremendous upgrade from George Selvie who managed to muster 2 whole tackles in as many games. Worst case scenario with bringing in Applewhite would be that he’s a sound tackler when given the opportunity. Hopefully the extra push up front should result in more opportunities for the defense to stop the opposing offense or cause them to turn the ball over. Eric Norwood in limited playing time has accounted for 4 tackles, but maintains his position because of his versatility to switch to line backer. This kind of production makes you kind of wish that we had Everette Brown back in the rotation. Last year Everette accumulated 25 tackles 3.5 sacks in the backup role even if his spin cycle had run its course.

With the New Orleans Saints next up to bat this defense should see plenty of opportunities to get at the Quarterback. Drew Brees has been sacked a total of 9 times in 4 games in 2011 so the opportunities for pressure and sacks are there (release the Kracken!!!), couple that with it being a road game and not in a dome it should increase our chances to pull off the upset. Our Line Backing unit is the area I’m concerned with the most. New Orleans Tight-end Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles lead the team in receptions. If we focus too much attention on those two (which we should) then we could easily get beat deep by Colston, Meachem, Moore, or Henderson. Our secondary will be on full display on Sunday, so Butler, Munnerlyn, Gamble, Pugh, Martin, Godfrey get ready!!! To blitz a corner or a safety in this game could prove detrimental unless we have a great lead, so the pressure on the quarterback will have to come from the front seven.

via t0.gstatic.com

A loss to New Orleans doesn’t spell the end of our season but it definitely reduces our chances of finishing the season with a winning record. We do have Cam so anything is possible and a home victory against a divisional opponent could be like Red Bull to our season. So let’s pray that our defensive front get up close and personal with Brees enough to know what type of after shave he’s wearing.

via t2.gstatic.com

My pick… time to get the real playoff run going this week. We manage our mistakes and Carolina pulls off the upset and wins this one 28 to 21 off a Sherrod Martin walk-off interception. Madden 2012 says we lose... but this isn't a video game, it's really your brain that Caro try and hit with those things... Be Careful!!!.