If the Carolina Panthers had rallied to win Super Bowl 50, defensive end Kony Ealy probably would have been the game’s MVP. Eight months later, he’s MIA.
Heading into the Week Seven bye, Ealy’s sack total is stuck on zero. You don’t need many fingers to count his quarterback hits, either. He has two of those.
After an offseason when Ealy was a popular “breakout” candidate, he’s seemingly snoozed through the start.
“You see what Kony is capable of doing. You saw that in the Super Bowl,” coach Ron Rivera said Monday. “Maybe we put a little bit too much on his shoulders. But we think he has that kind of ability.”
It takes more than luck to become the first player in Super Bowl history to record multiple sacks and an interception in the game. Ealy also forced a fumble, and he did it all in just 23 snaps.
“That’s last year,” Ealy said. “My performance last year did raise a lot of expectations, (but this is) a totally different team.”
And one that needs him to be more productive, which means there’s more pressure on him to — provide pressure.
“That ain’t got nothing to do with it. I’m a professional athlete. At the end of the day, I’ve got to do my job,” Ealy said.
“You guys are putting too much pressure on myself if anything. I understand it’s a process you have to go through play in and play out. It’s not about getting sacks all the time.”
No question. The importance of sacks — or a lack of them — is often overblown. But someone with Ealy’s talent should be able to stumble into at least one in six games.
Not only do basic stats make Ealy’s season look disappointing, but for what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus hasn’t been impressed by him, either. They have him as their 71st-ranked edge defender overall and fourth on the Carolina Panthers behind Mario Addison, Charles Johnson and Lavar Edwards. His grades are a bit better as just a pass rusher where he’s at No. 54 overall.
When asked if a second-round pick like Ealy should be showing up more in this, his third season, Rivera said:
“In terms of production, yes. Right now, for a six-game stretch you’d like to see a little more production. It’s not like he’s not trying. It’s tough because of the way people approach us now and look at us.’’
The Carolina Panthers have faced a tough opening stretch for pass rushers. Most of their first six opponents either game-planned to get the ball out quickly or naturally did that as part of their offense. And because teams aren’t worried about Carolina’s secondary, they’re using more max protections in passing situations.
Still, Johnson’s found a way to hit the quarterback 12 more times than Ealy, who’s been incredibly streaky in 37 career games.
As a rookie, Ealy had just one sack before he finished the regular season with a sack in three straight games. He didn’t get on the board last year until he started a five-game streak in Week Eight. Then he went on a seven-game drought that was eventually broken by his Super Bowl explosion.
“That’s one of the things we’re hoping,” Rivera said, “to get him on a hot streak.”
Shoot, just a couple good pressures would be welcomed right now.
“I know he would like to have more production at this point and I would like to see him have more production,” defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. “I have a lot of confidence in Kony and I’m looking for him to continue to grow.”
Kony Ealy: start pounding.
It’s obvious what the problem is with this team. If you underperform to the detriment of the team (see Gano’s game losing misses, Ted Ginn Jrs brick hands, TD dropping, punt fumbling, 5 yd deep kick off returning, entire Defensive line, unconscionable in-game coaching decisions) your job is safe. There is no impetus to improve, or to even do fundamental things correctly. Way to go Carolina Jaguars.
What? What about Benwikere? To say the staff hasn’t sent the message that poor performance will put your job in jeapordy is ridiculous. If anything the Panthers problem is personnel. As the article hints, our Secondary is terrible. A bad secondary means QB’s get the ball out fast, or can keep extra blockers in because they know their receivers can beat even double coverage. A good pass rush makes a bad secondary look good, but you have to have at least a competent secondary to give your pass rush a chance.
We just don’t have that game breaking edge guy. Johnson and Ealy both need someone to draw more attention to be effective. They are both great number 2/ 2 down kind of guys. Ealy is a Johnson replacement on a team that needed a Hardy/Peppers replacement.
“That’s one of the things we’re hoping,” Rivera said, “to get him on a hot streak.”
Your coaching strategy is hope based?!? You hope he can pick it up later in the season so we can get to 7-9? Oh I see…you really want that middle of the first round pick next year. Brilliant strategy!
“Carolina Panthers Still Waiting on Kony Ealy”
Don’t hold your breath.