A look at Carolina Panthers-related news and nuggets from around the web.

 

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus raves about Panthers DT Kawann Short:

Short has now moved ahead of Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt in our interior defenders rankings, and has done so with excellent grades as a pass-rusher and defending the run. He gives the Panthers defensive stars at every level, with Josh Norman in the secondary, and linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly also playing at an extremely high level.

Read it at PFF

 

Robert Mays of Grantland.com analyzes Carolina’s 6-0 start:

The Panthers averaged 4.03 yards before contact per rush (against the Eagles), comfortably their best mark of the season and more than enough for a guy with Stewart’s talent. Carolina’s formula is simple: It’s going to play great defense, run the ball well, and let its quarterback make the occasional spectacular throw to put it over the top. Through seven weeks, it’s worked like a charm.

Read it at Grantland.com

 

Doug Farrar of SI.com shares his takeaways from the Panthers’ latest win:

In an era when the buzzwords all seem to be about multi-receiver sets and the decline of the physical game, the Panthers come across like something from another generation. They’re not, really. What they’re doing on offense isn’t very different than what the Seahawks and 49ers have put together in their recent tenures of success.

Read it at SI.com

 

Victory Mather of The New York Times explains how the Panthers are shocking the league:

The defense has been sharp, especially against the pass. It ranks fifth in points allowed and third in yards per play allowed behind Denver and the Jets. Newton’s adjusted yards per attempt figure of 6.3 looks poor until it is compared with the league-leading 4.6 figure that the Panthers’ defense is allowing. Carolina has essentially turned every quarterback it faces into Matt McGloin.

Read it at NYTimes.com

 

Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer details another coach’s praise for LB Thomas Davis :

Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis’ hit on Eagles running back DeMarco Murray, in which he folded up Murray on a short gain, got plenty of reaction from fans and gave energy to his team.

But it was another Davis play that had a fellow NFL coach call Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott on Monday to praise his defense’s fundamentals.

Read it at CharlotteObserver.com

 

Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com on how coach Ron Rivera plans to keep veterans fresh:

Allen, much like running back Jonathan Stewart on the other side of the ball, proved they have plenty left in the tank at end of games like the one Sunday, but Rivera said Monday that he wants to make sure they still have something to give at the end of the season.

Read it at Panthers.com

 

Jeremy Igo of CarolinaHuddle.com shares photos and observations from the sideline:

Read it at CarolinaHuddle.com