Carolina Huddle

by Greg Bailey

Once Jake Delhomme joked with reporters about “being late” for his interview session today I knew the Panthers were in good shape. Despite what a good chunk of the Carolina faithful would have you believe Jake is fully aware that he hasn’t played his best the past two weeks. Delhomme has seen the tape and he’s worked with coaches to make it better. Denial is nowhere in sight.

I asked Carolina’s quarterback two pointed questions about the passing game today, and he brushed both of them off like a weak-kneed sack attempt. “Sure, we haven’t been as sharp as we would have liked” was Jake’s basic message, but he also reminded us that before the bye week we were all asking questions about the Panthers struggling ground game. We’re not asking those questions any more.

Carolina’s locker room is relaxed and professional today. Everyone we talked with relishes the challenge they’ll face in Atlanta. Big game with a division rival fighting to stay in the playoff race. No one backed away from the reality that the Panthers need to play better than they have the last two weeks. Na’il Diggs admitted that the Panthers have “played down” to the level of their competition against lowly Oakland and Detroit.

Tackle Jordan Gross talked about needing to get back to a balanced attack.

The players respect the Falcons, but they also talk like a team far more curious about what they can accomplish, not what some opponent might do to them. Through 11 weeks of the season Carolina has earned the right to be intrigued with what’s possible. It’s a great place to be. Not perfect like last year’s Patriots (up to the same point in the season) but awfully good. We’ll see just how good on Sunday afternoon. See you on Panthers Gameday live after Football Night in America on NBC.

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