Sunday Morning Stats: Pre-Seahawks

SLOW STARTS, OFFENSIVELY

Average First Quarter Points

The Panthers are averaging 2.428 points in the first quarter this year.

Their scores by quarter: first – 17, second – 36, third – 34, fourth – 68.

In their three losses, they’ve scored a total of 3 points in the first quarter (field goal vs. Pittsburgh).

PANTHERS QUARTERBACK CAM NEWTON:

“I’ve got to get more completions early. Put the ball in places that my guys can make plays, and get the offense going faster. Because Sunday versus Green Bay was unacceptable, and it’s my job to make sure that ship is driving straight.”

BAD STARTS, DEFENSIVELY

First Half Touchdowns Allowed

Panthers defense during the first half in 2013:

6 touchdowns and 110 points allowed.

Panthers defense during the first half in 2014:

12 touchdowns and 96 points allowed.

PANTHERS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR SEAN MCDERMOTT:

“After two games you guys were asking me, ‘Is this defense better than the year before?’ and I said, ‘Wait for 16 games.’ I’m going to tell you wait for 16 games. We still have a lot of work to do, we’ve got nine games, we’re sitting in first place — let’s not forget that. I’ve got a bunch of guys in that room that have a ton of heart and they want to play well. And they’ve played well at times. They’ve helped this football team win three games and tie the other one. Is that good enough? No, it’s not good enough. We’ve got to do a better job, and we will.”

RUSSELL’S RUNNING

Rushing Yards

Russell Wilson leads all quarterbacks with 327 rushing yards. He’s rushed for more than 100 yards in two of Seattle’s last three games.

SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK RUSSELL WILSON:

“What I try to do is I just try to extend the play. I always try to keep my eyes down field. I’m not trying to run it that’s the last thing I’m really trying to do. If it is there, I will take it and try to get a first down.”

SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL:

“We want Russell to run the ball whenever he can do it conveniently and get out of harm’s way. We don’t expect him to get hit. He’s not going to take the challenges of trying to run the ball up in there. It’s much different the way Cam (Newton) runs the ball. Our expectations are that if he takes off, he’s going to do everything he can to get down and get out of bounds and take whatever he can get. He has a very good conscience about that, and he has a real knack for it. If he didn’t, we would discourage him much more so.”

OLSEN’S OPPORTUNITY

Touchdowns Allowed to Tight Ends

Through six games, the Seahawks have given up eight touchdowns to opposing tight ends.

Greg Olsen, who already has five scores this season, could be in for another big day (despite his coyness in the quote below).

PANTHERS TIGHT END GREG OLSEN:

“Teams happen to have hit some big plays to the tight end, but there’s nothing on tape that jumps out and says, ‘Oh, man, that’s something we have to attack.’’’

ILLEGAL(?) CONTACT

Illegal Contact Penalties

Many believe the NFL targeted Seattle’s physical defensive backs by making illegal contact and defensive holding “points of emphasis” this year. But the Seahawks haven’t yet been flagged for illegal contact, and they’ve been called for defensive holding three times.

SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL:

“We said from the start of it, we figured if the rules come in, there might be some kind of an indication that they were directed at us. We’re just going to do right by the rules. So we’ve worked hard to do that. I don’t think it has anything to do with anything because we’re playing the same way that we have in the past. We haven’t changed techniques at all. Just our awareness of what is allowed has just been heightened.”

PANTHERS HEAD COACH RON RIVERA

“They still get their hands on people. They still play how they did last year.”

BENJAMIN VS. SHERMAN

Inches

6-foot-5 rookie Kelvin Benjamin usually has a significant height advantage, but not against Richard Sherman. Seattle’s talkative shutdown corner is 6-3.

PANTHERS CORNERBACK JOSH NORMAN

“I think (Sherman’s) a good motivator for himself. He doesn’t think he’s a sorry player, by any means. He probably thinks he’s the best player out there. Which, you’ve got to have that in you when you’re playing the outside. As an analyst looking in, you probably think, ‘That guy, he’s always talking. He’s cocky. He’s got a big mouth.’ But at the same time, you’re looking at three or four guys in your face running down the field, what are you going to do? I hope you’re going to be cocky. I hope you’re going to have some sort of moxie about yourself.”

PANTHERS RECEIVER KELVIN BENJAMIN:

“I might come off a little harder and block him a little harder, but that’s on him — how much he talks.”

PANTHERS QUARTERBACK CAM NEWTON:

“If the play is called for me to read it to Richard’s side, then by all means I’m going to do it. And I’m going to give each and every receiver an opportunity to make plays. I’m not going to force it. I’m not going to be an idiot, but I’m going to do a great job of protecting the football and being aggressively patient.”