Black and Blue Review

Black and Blue Review

Carolina Panthers News and Coverage for the Digital Age

Josh Norman Won’t Shy Away From Being a “Stat Sheet Stunner”

As things were getting tighter at Bank of America Stadium Sunday, the Panthers still had a somewhat comfortable 15-point lead with 5:05 to go. With the Packers facing a 4th-and-14 from the Carolina 44, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers heaved a pass in the direction of shutdown corner Josh Norman. What could go wrong?

Well, first, a slight slip could affect Norman's jump.

"My foot got caught in the ground, I tried to come up high and, shoot. My arm just went up, I had my hand on it and James Jones just came by and took it," Norman said Monday.

"He was coming back to it, I was coming at an angle at it, and his leverage got me. They make plays, too. Hats off to him. That was just a freaky play."

Added defensive coordinator Sean McDermott:

"[Rodgers made] as good of a play as I've seen in my 17 years in this league."

On the replay, you can see what Norman's talking about, starting with the moment his right foot kicks up turf:

NFL Game Pass
NFL Game Pass

But the second part of that replay is also key.

On 4th-and-forever, the smart play is to knock the ball away. But when Norman took off, he wasn't thinking about a pass breakup. He went for an interception, one that barely slipped through his hands. 

"I'm a stat sheet stunner, man. Stat sheet stunner, baby. I like to go for those big-time plays and end the game," he said.

Hold up. What's a stat sheet stunner?

"Everything you can do on a stat sheet line, you try to fulfill that."

Fair enough. But again, in that situation, guys are coached to bat down the ball and let the offense take over. Norman knows that, but, he also knows himself.

"Me right now speaking to you outside of that, yes, I would probably bat it down. But me inside that line, no," Norman said.

"Those situations come up, you might want to bat it down, but like I said, I know myself on that football field is going for the gusto. That's just how I play. That's just my makeup."

SHARE THIS POST
Share this post










Submit

One thought on “Josh Norman Won’t Shy Away From Being a “Stat Sheet Stunner””

Leave a Reply