Highlights from Wednesday's conference calls with Carolina Panthers media.

 

Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll

 

RE: Number one scoring defense of Seattle vs. the number one scoring offense in Carolina

"This is the most diversified offense that we see and the dynamics of what Cam (Newton) is able to do and the way that they’re willing to run with him makes this a really difficult offense to prepare for and you see everybody have trouble with it all year long so we’ll see if we can keep it down and try to keep the score within reach and see if we have a chance."

 

RE: If they stayed away from Josh Norman on purpose in the first meeting this season

"Always. Always, he had started off so fast and looked so good early in the season, we just didn’t work his way much. We think he’s a really good player."

 

RE: Does he see similarities between the two teams in how the organization is run even down to defensive schemes

"When you really emphasize defense as Ron (Rivera) has done and you really put your stock in the running game, as they have done and you find yourself with a mobile quarterback, a guy who can do a lot of things, you see a lot of similarities. I feel like this is a fairly classic approach for a defensive guy to take and I’ve watched Ron for a long time and watched him build this program and really respected how he’s done it and we really agree with kind of the formula ...
I think most of the guys who came up the way we came up really appreciate the running game. Of course we’re going to emphasize defense the best we can and we’re going to try to make that a strong part of our team, but I think also appreciate the running game and how that compliments the way you like to play defense."

 

RE: How do you manage a team with a lot of ‘Swagger’

"We found that our guys, the last thing I want to do is squash the personalities that are on this team. I want them to live life to the fullest, but they know that that entails living by the guidelines and what it takes to be a really good team member and our guys have been that to the max for a number of years and so we just have really high standards for how we operate and how we play. And we believe in celebrating the individuals as much as we can and we want them to be true to themselves."

 

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

 

RE: The wild play last week that led to first touchdown in Minnesota

"Well, the snap got by me there. I wasn’t quite ready for it yet. So I just raced back there and I was going to go down, but I kind of peeked over my shoulder and realized they weren’t there yet and I got back there and picked up the ball and just tried to scamper outside and find somebody and obviously Tyler Lockett got open there and did a great job and raced down to the three yard line and we ended up getting a touchdown on that drive, so that was a big play for us."

RE: The changes in personnel for the Panthers especially in the secondary

"You don’t see a drop off necessarily at all. You know, you see Josh Norman still making plays, you see, I believe, Kurt Coleman’s coming back too as well, (Roman) Harper’s doing a great job back there so they have a little bit of a mix-up in some of the cornerback position, but they’re still doing a really good job and they do a great job of getting to the quarterback, making plays, playing fast and securing the tackles. So you know their defense, as I said earlier, is as good as it gets. You watch them and you notice how talented they are and you know, you really respect who they are and their defense and the type of players that they have."

RE: If they avoided Josh Norman in the first matchup and if his presence limits what they want to do

"Obviously, Josh is a great player. I don’t think that we were necessarily trying to do anything like that, but you know, you have to know where he is, that’s for sure."

RE: Would he vote Cam Newton as NFL MVP

"Yeah, I would. I think that it’s been a tough matchup obviously with Carson Palmer and Tom Brady’s done a great job this year as well and Cam, but in terms of winning football games they’ve been able to win and they beat us so it’s one of those things where you have to give him respect for all the hard work that he’s put into it. So I think he’s played spectacular football."

RE: If the team “rolled their eyes” to the notion of playing the Panthers again

"No, I think that any time you get to play again it’s a great thing. I’ve been saying, you’re just grateful you have the opportunity to play the great game of football and you know, for me I play for God, my teammates and my family and just to be able to do that is an awesome experience and so, you know Carolina is a great football team so we know it’s going to be a great game."