So this week the Panthers will get another breather to try and find their game. The Bucs are truely a pathetic team. Will the Bucs get their first win of the season? Or will the Panthers continue to improve? (As marginal as that improvement may be.)
The Bucs' schedule has included a few lousy teams such as the Bills and the Redskins. The Panthers so far have played teams that have jumped out of the gate a little stronger, including one loss teams Eagles and Falcons. On offense the teams are almost statistically identical. They both hover around the high 20s in the major statistical categories. This leads one to believe that as poor as the Panthers have played, they have done a little more against better teams. The main difference is in the defensive categories. Here the Bucs still rank in the mid to high 20s and even up to 30th in points allowed per game. The Panthers (some how) rank 2nd in the league in pass defense. The Panthers are also 15th in yards allowed per game. Let's take a minute to consider a few things before we assume both of these areas are bright spots.
Let's consider the reasons why the pass defense is ranked so highly. First, the rush defense for the Panthers is horrendous. So why throw when you can run? Second, the Panthers have only played one good quarterback all season, Matt Ryan. I exempt McNabb from this because he did not play the full game. Other QBs faced include Campbell, Kolb and Romo. None of these guys are ranked inside the top 15 in QB ratings. This week the guy under center is Josh Johnson, who ranks almost dead last in QB ratings. The Panthers should not be tested again by a QB this week but I still wait to see what will happen to the pass defense when a good QB comes to town.
Josh Johnson
As for the decent ranking in yards allowed per game. As many fans can attest by watching the games, the opposition's offense usually has a very short field to drive. The Panthers' defense has the 29th worst starting field position in the league. Hopefully our offense can work on not turning the ball over this week.
A few issues I wonder about when watching games:
- Why do the Panthers not use Steve Smith more? We have to get the ball to him as much as possible and it seems we are not trying as hard as we should be.
- Where is Peppers? He showed up a little bit last week but we need him there every down. If he shows up that makes the other D line guys' jobs easier.
- Why can our defense not stop a runner? It seems the only guys out there making plays are Davis and Beason.
- Why does our secondary seem so incompetent? I know that the lack of pressure up front does not help their job but still, they seem to give up plays left and right.
If we see success this week in these, and other, facets of the game I wonder if the success can be carried on to future games.
Each week the Panthers have been able to improve a little bit in parts of the game. Not hard considering they came out of the gate looking like a high school team. I expect that the overall superior talent of the Panthers should get them a win this week. I think the Bucs' game plan will be to run against the Panthers defense. I believe this for two reasons: one, to get the ball out of Johnson's hand as much as possible and two, the Panthers' running defense is not that strong. If the Panthers are able to coral the Bucs' running game I predict that the margin of victory for the Panthers will be slightly higher. If the Panthers can run effectively that will open up Smith. Everyone knows this but it seems to never happen. Keep the Bucs from running and the Bucs are helpless. Should be a boring game but hey, here's to hoping the Panthers start to turn it around.
Carolina OVER Tampa Bay 20-13
Give me the ball!
Players to watch on Tampa Bay:
Barrett Ruud - LB - top 5 in tackles (49)
Jimmy Wilkerson - DE - one of top sackers (5) also has 2 FF
Aqib Talib - CB - tied for second in interceptions (3)
Clifton Smith - kickoff returns, is near top 5 in average (28.1)
Let me know what you think (please!)
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