A look at Carolina Panthers coverage around the web.
Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated and Josh Norman break down the Carolina cornerback’s film:
I had a safety over the top, and on that play, I just looked at it and anticipated the throw. I was just trying to crouch down like a tiger [laughs] so the quarterback wouldn’t see me. Kind of disguising it. I don’t think he saw me at all, and when he put the ball up, I said, “I cannot believe this—this is really coming to me!”
Read it on SI.com.
Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer breaks down the early-season performance of the rookie class:
LB Shaq Thompson, first round: Thompson has started all four games this season, making those who questioned the Panthers drafting him look silly. He is tied for seventh on the team with 16 tackles and is one of six Panthers with a sack.
Thompson has shown his ability to fly to the ball and make hits. But the most recent game was his worst – Thompson missed three tackles after being overly aggressive against the Bucs.
Read it on CharlotteObserver.com.
Max Henson of Panthers.com writes how special it was for A.J. Klein to be a captain:
“It was something that was really special,” Klein said. “An amazing opportunity to go out there with the rest of the captains. It’s something I take a lot of pride in.”
Read it on Panthers.com.
Bucky Brooks at NFL.com selects Norman as his early Defensive Player of the Year:
The term “elite” is loosely tossed around when describing some of the top cover corners in the game, but it is time for Norman to enter the discussion as one of the premier players at the position. The fourth-year pro leads the NFL in interceptions (four) and pick-sixes (two) while exhibiting exceptional ball skills, awareness and instincts in coverage. Playing behind a ferocious pass rush that forces quarterbacks into errant throws, Norman’s swipe skills make him the front runner for this award at the quarter mark.
Read it on NFL.com.
David Newton of ESPN.com makes a case for the Panthers as Super Bowl contenders:
The defense ranks 10th in the NFL, and that is without two-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Luke Kuechly since the first half of the Sept. 13 opener. Coach Ron Rivera said Monday he is “pretty optimistic” Kuechly will be cleared to return from the concussion protocol before the Panthers’ next game, Oct. 18 at Seattle. This unit no doubt will be better when Kuechly returns. Defense wins titles. Meanwhile, quarterback Cam Newton is playing at arguably his highest level.
Read it on ESPN.com.
Steve Reed of the AP on how the Panthers have won despite injuries:
Unheralded players including linebacker A.J. Klein, wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Brenton Bersin and last week’s practice squad pickup Ryan Delaire have stepped up and become huge contributors, while veterans such as quarterback Cam Newton, cornerback Josh Norman and linebacker Thomas Davis have taken their games to another level.
Read more from the Associated Press.
Kelvin Benjamin shares an interesting story on “This is Gross”:
Watch on Panthers.com.
Charles Tillman joins ESPN First Take:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1yQtebbdJY
Bob Berghaus of The Citizen-Times remembers the 2003 Panthers’ 4-0 start:
Rodney Peete started the season as quarterback for the Panthers, but when they fell behind 17-0 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jake Delhomme took over, threw three touchdowns passes and rallied his team to a 24-23 win, the first of seven game-winning drives he had on the team’s final possession during the regular season.
The Panthers beat the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers 12-9 in overtime and followed that with a 23-3 win over Atlanta and a 19-13 victory over the Saints.
The combined record of those four teams after four games? A meager 4-12, the same combined mark of the teams that have fallen to the 2015 edition of the Panthers.
Read more at Citizen-Times.com.
Devin Funchess sits down with Jeremy Igo and Sammi Jo Francis on the Huddle Podcast:
Listen or download the MP3 on CarolinaHuddle.com.