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’ll look to identify who helped save the day against the New York Jets, and who didn’t do much of anything to help the winning cause. It will take a great effort top to bottom to beat the New Orleans Saints, so let’s hope everyone can get their act together.
Steppin’ UP
Luke Kuechly
Heat Rating: Ever put metal in a microwave?
Since coming off a short absence due to a concussion, Luke Kuechly has been absolutely ablaze. Tackling everything that moves, making critical interceptions, and this week returning a fumble for a touchdown that really flipped the game into the Carolina Panthers favor. This is the level of play we have always expected from Luke, and he generally always delivers. He definitely deserves his NFC defensive player of the week status this week.
Devin Funchess
Heat Rating: Red Curry made “Thai hot”
Likewise on a hot streak of his own, Devin Funchess has been like a brand new player since the spotlight shifted to him upon Kelvin Benjamin’s departure. The Funch has embraced his new role as the X receiver, and has turned into Cam Newton’s top target while Greg Olsen still works his way back onto the field full time. The Panthers need someone to be more consistent to start on the opposite side, and Funchess still has a few rough edges to smooth before he can be considered a true WR1, but his green arrow is definitely pointing up.
Vernon Butler
Heat Rating: A crock pot full of delicious slow cooked stew
Speaking of stock that is rising, it is becoming more and more apparent why the Panthers decided that Vernon Butler was worth a late first round pick. The second year player has been thriving in his rotational role all season, and turned in what was hands down the best performance of his career on Sunday. I gushed about him in the Hog Molly Report, and Jaxon also pointed out some of his accolades bestowed by ProFootballFocus. With Butler, like Star Lotulelei, it is more about the eye test than raw statistics. There are things you watch him do that help his teammates more than himself on a regular basis. He is elite in his initial movement off the snap, he consistently gets his hands up resulting in tipped passes, and the penetration he creates leads to several run stops for no gain as well as sacks (like the one recorded this week by Julius Peppers). Impressive and improving... two words I would definitely use to describe him this year.
Steppin’ OUT
Cam Newton
Cold Rating: A hypothermic penguin
This performance was a real stinker for Cam Newton, even though it was turnover free. The amount of times he missed his receivers was staggering regardless of any pressure. His thumb certainly appears to have been an issue that affected his accuracy and there were also some issues with players dropping balls or not providing him a little more help. We expect more out of Cam, and we’ll need him to be on his game against New Orleans if we hope to win.
Russell Shepard
Cold Rating: A puddle of ice at the bottom of your freezer that you don’t see
Despite posting a big ole bagel in the stat column, Russell Shepard definitely played on Sunday. With the Panthers wide receiver depth chart ailing, the team desperately needs him to be more of a factor. Not much else to say other than that.
Charles Johnson
Cold Rating: Frozen in Carbonite
In what might be the truest definition of someone needing to step out the way, Charles Johnson is playing to the best of his ability, but it just isn’t good enough anymore. He provides a stabilizing force on run downs, but his inability to close in and make the tackle are extremely apparent anytime he is out there, run or pass. He has had a great career for the Panthers, but it looks like that career is coming to a close.