A very special play by Andre Neblett.

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 4:36 PM EST

In yesterday's game, most observers were probably aware of the great individual effort Neblett made, in blasting up the middle, and getting an early sack on Josh Freeman.

And most saw the vicious helmet-to-helmet collision that knocked him woozy, late in the game, when he and Charles Johnson butted heads, making a tackle, like two mountain stags. (Let's hope it isn't a concussion, keeping him out of the last game of the year.)

But here's another play I want to talk about:

It's in the 3rd quarter, 7:16 remaining, our lead 27-10. TB has the ball 1 and 10 on their 48. They pull their own trickeration play, with 2 passes (Freeman to Spurlock) leading to a completion downfield to Kellen Winslow, who tries to hurtle a tackler, leading to the ball coming loose, thanks to hard hits, as he's in the air, by Dan Connor and Sherrod Martin.

Who saw the Panther that dove in the pile, and recovered the fumble, at our 22 yard line?

It was Andre Neblett, trailing the play from his DT position - how many times has anybody seen that kind of hustle from a DT, being in on a key play, 30 yards from the LOS?

I'll tell you how many. Two. His DT partner, Frank Kearse, was right beside him, as the play ended.

This kind of team hustle sometimes gets overlooked, but shows the amount of effort these guys put in, and speaks to the coaching staff we've got. (As a comparison, remember back to the infamous video of Albert Haynesworth, lying on the ground at his LOS, with the play swirling around him.)

Andre Neblett, you're a keeper.

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He's certainly an intriguing player for next year.

Knowing how Rivera is able to maximize players ability with scheme and coaching I feel good about our current staple of DTs and the improvement that I’ve seen at the position.

"Hope for the best plan for the worst"
"They laugh at me because I'm different, I laugh at them because they're all the same"

by Efury on Dec 26, 2011 4:53 PM EST reply actions

I've quickly learned that this is something Al Golden preaches.

Neblett was at Temple with Golden of course.

Neblett isn’t overly talented, but he has a high motor. Much like Keiser – those guys tend to stick around the league and become fan favourites.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 26, 2011 5:24 PM EST reply actions

I've been intrigued by Neblett since last year, when he got noticed by PFF as being a valuable contributor, who they said deserved more snaps.

He never quits on a play, even when it’s away from him. This post points out a good example of that, and one where it paid off, for him and his team.

About 5-6 plays after that recovered fumble, we scored another TD, and the game was pretty much over.

To contrast, if any of you saw the Bears’ pitiful effort against the Pack, last night, Julius Peppers got no sacks, no tackles, and was seen most every play, just standing around the pile, as he so often did as a Panther. I’ll take a guy like Neblett over the overrated Peppers any day.

And speaking of effort – in the 4th quarter, when they had scored their last TD (11:00 left), they tried to pass for a 2 point conversion. Greg Hardy forced a fumble from Freeman, who was dropping to pass. The ball came out, from the blindside hit, before the QB’s arm ever went forward.

Why wasn’t Hardy credited with a sack on the play? (Just wanting him to get one, because I made a prop bet before the year started, on the Panthers getting more than 34 1/2 sacks. That would’ve been #32.)

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think stats accumulated during 2-point conversions count

Just like it wouldn’t count as a pass, reception, carry, etc. for an offensive player.

by JDeLong42 on Dec 26, 2011 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

That must be it, though I disagree with the premise. Thanks.

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

yeeeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

ill take a peppers over a guy like neblet

by hey. on Dec 27, 2011 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

If you were writing their paychecks, you might not.

by bigdavis on Dec 27, 2011 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

I remember a year ago Fox was talking about Neblett

He made the team (practice squad at first i believe) after the preseaon and Fox said that he was just a guy who made plays. When they brought him in they didn’t expect much from him but he just did very well in camp and preseason so they decided to hold on to him. It looks the same this year. No one expected much from him but he just gets the job done when in there

by pcroadrage on Dec 26, 2011 5:50 PM EST reply actions

Well, I now see he's got concussion symptoms, so I doubt he'll suit up for the Saints.

I look forward to his return next year. The experience he got as a starter the last few games will serve him well then. With him, Shirley, and Kearse in there at DT, I don’t think our hole at DT needs as much plugging as it appeared the first half of the year.

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Neblett has been a very pleasent surprise this season.

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

by SouthernPanther on Dec 26, 2011 6:10 PM EST reply actions

Reminds me of the game against Green Bay on 2008 when it was snowing.

JStew pulled up with a hammy after breaking through the line for like a 50 yard run and got caught/fumbled the ball on the 1 yard line, and it was Travelle Wharton who ran all the way down the field to recover that fumble.

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

by SouthernPanther on Dec 26, 2011 6:28 PM EST reply actions

Great memory to recall!

I was trying to remember when that was, myself.

Not too many teams are coached up to show those displays of extra effort, like the Panthers are.

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

Teams will almost always play the draft pick over free agents.

Some guys are better players in the GAME than in practice. They have to feel that it counts before the motor kick on.
Didn’t hear Peppers name a lot during the Packers game, hmm …

by criolle johnny on Dec 26, 2011 7:22 PM EST reply actions

The tough part is getting to play in the game if you don't do well in practice.

by tarheels24 on Dec 26, 2011 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

Apparently this is what stunted Delhomme's career.

He’s a better QB than Brooks, but he always looked crap in practice.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 26, 2011 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

Won't complain about that though.

"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 Dec 27, 2011 12:05 AM EST up reply actions

I've got to say, Neblett has become one of my favorite players on the team.

I can’t wait to see what he brings to the table next year.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 26, 2011 7:36 PM EST reply actions

Dear Mr. Hurney and BAMF,

Keep Ande Neblett around awhile longer as he has proven he is a solid DT and football player.

Sincerely,
CSR members

You get what you put in and people get what they deserve.

by Disciple of Carolina on Dec 26, 2011 7:52 PM EST reply actions

If you can replay the game, be sure to watch what he did on the fumble recovery I've described.

And then later in the 3rd quarter, slo-mo the collision he and CJ had, trying to get the sack.

Neblett took such a hard hit, I thought he’d be knocked out – yet he got up and just rubbed his head. Studly.

(not sturdy; studly)

by bigdavis on Dec 26, 2011 8:57 PM EST reply actions

I agree we have got to hang on to this guy

I think his play has been a big part of the improvement we have seen in our defensive line in the last few games

by allthatremainsstillowns on Dec 27, 2011 2:08 PM EST reply actions

Does anybody have the ability to link up a .gif of that play?

Seeing how he handled himself on that is a lot better than reading a description of it.

by bigdavis on Dec 27, 2011 5:59 PM EST reply actions

as a matter of fact I do…although it's in two parts

by jcbouche on Dec 27, 2011 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

Great work - thanks.

In the top, when the final pass is released, he’s just below the N in NFL.
In the bottom, he closes pretty fast for a big guy. And so does Kearse (99), right below Neblett.

If for nothing else, the pursuit those 2 showed on that single play will solidify their roster spots next year.

by bigdavis on Dec 27, 2011 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

I think you’re looking at Kearse in the top one, pretty sure Neb is the right DT. Makes it even more impressive if you watch his path, he gets washed almost to the sideline by the O lineman and comes all the way back. Great hustle

by jcbouche on Dec 27, 2011 11:41 PM EST up reply actions