Welcome to Step UP or Step OUT, a new for 2017 series on CSR that is intended to look at players who are playing well, and highlight a few that need to step their game up. Think of it as a heat index for the Carolina Panthers; guys who are playing well are stepping up and those who aren’t need to improve their game or... step out.
This week, we are looking at the defense, who stepped up in the game against the Chicago Bears, and the offense, who need to get their act together if we plan to not be .500 after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Steppin’ UP
Mario Addison
Heat Rating: Super Mario touching a fire flower
The coaching staff’s hope that Mario Addison could develop into a legitimate three down defensive end received a major shot of confidence on Sunday, as Addison had by far his best game on the edge against the run. Addison set a good hard edge, and often forced Jordan Howard back inside to the waiting arms of a linebacker. When he was on the back side of plays, he showed excellent technique in working his way down the line of scrimmage to secure cutback tackles of his own. Add on to that the fact he recorded one of the sacks on Mitchell Trubisky’s paltry amount of drop backs, and you have to be impressed with the direction he is heading.
David Mayo
Heat Rating: When you ask your waitress for hot and she gives you “Thai Hot”
When the Panthers had to let A.J. Klein walk during the offseason, fans were concerned if David Mayo was going to hold up as a quality backup to Luke Kuechly. So far those fears have be assuaged as Mayo has proven himself capable of maintaining good gap discipline, and even showcasing a touch of those Luke-like instincts. Mayo was an integral part of the Panthers big goal line stand that kept the Chicago Bears out of the end zone on their only real opportunity of the day.
Daryl Williams
Heat Rating: The inside of a pepperoni pizza Hot Pocket fresh out of the microwave
This marks the second week in a row where Daryl Williams has been a stand out contributor on a line full of guys who can’t seem to put any consistency together. He and Trai Turner were the only guys who were able to generate push in the run game against the Bears, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to get the run game going due to stacked boxes and poor TE play. In pass protection, he held his own most of the game save for one sack that might have in reality been the fault of a running back. Williams has been a bright spot this season, and hopefully Taylor Moton can follow in his developmental footsteps.
Steppin’ OUT
Matt Kalil
Cold Rating: An ice cube on skates during a Carolina Hurricanes game
This was the first truly awful game from Matt Kalil since the Saints game, but boy, it was a stinker. Although his official sack counter was at zero, many people count him as having upwards of six or seven pressure, two of which are likely sacks if Cam Newton isn’t who he is. Beyond those deficiencies in pass protection, his run blocking effort was one of the worst I’ve seen from any regular starting offensive lineman. He lacks any kind of a mean streak, and pretty much never finishes plays. At this point, if I had to make a decision to take the out on his contract after this season, I would release him. He is a better pass protector than Mike Remmers was, but his run game deficiencies are dreadful.
Curtis Samuel
Cold Rating: Fat free sugar free ice cream
What’s the point right? Why even eat ice cream in that case? Kind of sums up the fanbase’s opinon of the team’s second round draft pick from this year. He hasn’t done much of anything, and this week he cost us a touchdown on a pitch that should have easily been handled. At this point, missing training camp is not an excuse. You’ve had seven weeks of regular practice to get your footing. It’s time to start producing. We don’t just need him making plays out of the backfield, we also need him to stretch the field and take that Ted Ginn jr. role that we are sorely missing. Right now with no appreciable deep threat, the running game is facing even more difficulty than it needs to.
Mike Shula
Cold Rating: That look Cam Newton gives you when you ask a stupid question
What else can I say that hasn’t already been said?
It’s time for a philosophy shift on this team offensively, whether Shula is the real cause of our issues or not. His voice has gotten stale, and the offense has become complacent. The time for arguing is over.
#FireShula
What do you think Panthers fans?
Poll
Who needs to STEP UP the most against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
This poll is closed
-
26%
Matt Kalil
-
9%
Curtis Samuel
-
64%
Mike Shula