« Monday's Panthers-Cardinals links | Main | Fox 'lauds' Lloyd's tackle »
November 02, 2009
Panthers still No. 1 in pass defense and other notes
-- After holding Arizona's Kurt Warner to 242 yards, the Panthers still have the NFL's top-rated pass defense (160.6 yards per game). Carolina has the league's seventh-ranked defense overall (288.1 yards per game). Carolina's five interceptions of Warner moved them from 23rd in the league in percentage of passes intercepted to sixth.
-- Arizona, which had the No. 1 rush defense in the league before allowing the Panthers 270 yards, dropped to ninth in that department. The Cardinals were averaging 67.5 yards entering the game. That went out the window in one play, when DeAngelo Williams broke off a 77-yarder.
Williams, who became the Panthers' all-time leading rusher Sunday with his 158 yards, is now third in the league this season with 619 yards. He trails St. Louis' Steven Jackson and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, who are tied for first with 784 yards. Jonathan Stewart (360 yards) is 13th.
-- After forcing six Cardinals turnovers, the Panthers moved from last in the league in turnover ratio (minus-8) to tied for 28th with Tennessee and Washington.
-- DE Julius Peppers, who had a sack against the Cardinals, has seven this season, which ranks sixth in the league. Minnesota's Jared Allen leads the league with 10.5.
Fox said Peppers is becoming more acclimated to a different system put in place by new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks.
"He's getting more and more comfortable," Fox said of Peppers. "Anytime that happens with a new job or situation, you're going to get better."
-- Some of these rankings might change after Monday night's game between the Saints and Falcons.
-- Panthers coach John Fox said Monday he had nothing new to report on injuries sustained Sunday by QB Jake Delhomme and FBs Brad Hoover and Tony Fiametta.
Delhomme bruised his chest in the victory against Arizona and Hoover sprained his right ankle. Fiametta has a head injury. Fox won't have any kind of update on the those or other injuries (including R Muhsin Muhammad's knee and S Charles Godfrey's ankle) until Wednesday.
-- Fox didn't say if the Panthers would need to sign a fullback this week if Hoover and Fiametta remain injured. He said tight ends Gary Barnidge and Jeff King filled in at that spot Sunday when the two fullbacks had been knocked out of the game. Injuries elsewhere also forced safety Chris Harris to play some on the punt-return team. -- David Scott
Posted by Observer Sports on November 2, 2009 at 03:21 PM | Permalink
Comments
D is NASTY. We are starting to look better as the season goes on. We got some tough games coming up but a few games that looked tough at the beginning of the season dont look quite as tough. NYJ NYG ATL. Forget the way we started, when an NFL team gets on a roll they get on a roll. Somebodys gotta beat NO at some point this season. Why no the #1 pass defense in the league???!!!!!!!!
Posted by: cppro | Nov 2, 2009 3:57:12 PM
Chris Harris needs to stay on the punt team.
Posted by: KCPanther | Nov 2, 2009 3:58:54 PM
I guess it just took the D a few games to fully understand the new scheme.
Posted by: Authority | Nov 2, 2009 4:15:32 PM
Observer Sports Team:
Will the panthers start Sherrod Martin over Charles Godfrey since he is way better.
Posted by: GodFaTh3r | Nov 2, 2009 4:19:32 PM
GodFaTh3r is right. Martin was sick out there. He made good sound tackles and had a nose for the football
Posted by: randy | Nov 2, 2009 4:37:46 PM
DeAngelo is 3rd in the NFC not the league. He is 6th in the NFL. BUT GAINING FAST!!
Posted by: Ron | Nov 2, 2009 4:48:29 PM
martin is like darius byrd on the bills
Posted by: GodFaTh3r | Nov 2, 2009 5:08:56 PM
This "getting acclimated to the new system" is a load of crap. Peppers is playing like a man possesed for the past few weeks.
I wasn't happy that they kept Peppers, I thought he was lacking in the effort department (and I still believe he was). If he finishes this season the way he has been playing the past few games, he is going to have a Defensive Player of the Year title to go with all his Pro-Bowls.
Keep it up, Peppers! You're a monster!
Posted by: jeff | Nov 2, 2009 6:31:21 PM
Good win, but we still need a QB. I like Jake, but he no longer has the ability to win games for us, the only thing that we ask of Jake is not to "LOSE" games for us. DOULBE TROUBLE is in full effect!!
Posted by: Chuck | Nov 2, 2009 7:39:43 PM
Wow!! "...Williams, who became the Panthers' all-time leading rusher Sunday with his 158 yards, is now third in the league this season with 619 yards. He trails St. Louis' Steven Jackson and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, who are tied for first with 784 yards. Jonathan Stewart (360 yards) is 13th."
"Fox said Peppers is becoming more acclimated to a different system put in place by new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks." ---Conversely, if that PUNK had is a$$ in summer camp, minicamp and voluntary workouts, he would have gotten acclimated much sooner!!
"Injuries elsewhere also forced safety Chris Harris to play some on the punt-return team." ---Maybe he should do that the rest of the way. Those coverage teams were on faiahh!!!
Seeing that this (Jake's injury) is the only way for some fans to get rid of the guy, it was one of the best high points of the game. That being said, it is good to hear his injury was not serious. Conversely, it is really horrible news knowing it was not serious enough to keep him out for for season.
If it were not for the trick play, a fake smoke, which I suggested to Fox two seasons ago on his talk show when the QB rotation was having a hard time connecting with Smith, Jake would have less than 40 yards passing an no TD's on the day! Thank goodness the rushing attack looked much like that of 2003, when Davis (and Foster) was plowing through those eight-man fronts.
GO BOJANGLES!!
Posted by: SYRPIS | November 03, 2009 at 03:38 AM
Posted by: SYRPIS | Nov 3, 2009 3:49:56 AM
Martin should be the starting free safety after the plys he made. Godfrey hasn't made plays like that and this is his second yr. I feel like he could be a asset at cornerback since we are playing a Cover 2 scheme and on special teams if he already isn't on any of them.
Posted by: Gee | Nov 3, 2009 8:28:20 AM
The Panthers need to put relentless pressure on Brees next Sunday. Forced fumbles won't hurt either.
Posted by: EffnA | Nov 3, 2009 8:57:19 AM
Don't let this stat fool you. A big reason why the Panthers are 1st in Pass Defense is because of Jake Delhomme throwing the ball to the other team. Also we haven't faced a strong QB since we played in Atlanta and Matt Ryan torched us. Sunday could be a long one...
Posted by: mbspilla | Nov 3, 2009 3:07:49 PM
Well this is the first time I have read these comments and not all of them were hating on their own team. Makes me smile :) GO PANTHERS!!!!!!! 10-6 this season
Posted by: mr.garcia | Nov 3, 2009 5:52:29 PM
11-5 HA!!
Posted by: mr.garcia | Nov 3, 2009 6:22:30 PM
last time i checked the panthers were like,3rd or 4th defensively. i watched the saints game and they are beatable.they and the falcons def suck.we need to keep brees off the field and double colston.
Posted by: ray | Nov 3, 2009 6:34:36 PM
Post a comment
Advertisements
