Jeremy Igo

Today the Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals. The winner goes to the Superbowl, the loser goes home. Not much else needs to be said. 

Preview Video:

 

 

 

Panthers Keys to Victory

- Run the ball, Run the clock. The best way to limit the offensive firepower of Carson Palmer and his outstanding receivers is to keep them off of the field. Time devouring drives featuring runs by Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton will keep the defense fresh and the game at a pace the Panthers excel at. 

- Harass Carson Palmer. When the defense does take the field, they need to make sure Palmer is on the ground early and often. Apply as much pressure as possible through creative blitzing. I am not saying hit him after the play, I am saying make sure he is on the ground when it is close enough not to draw a flag. He is a stoic 36 year old QB that has looked less than stellar so far in the playoffs. Do not let him get comfortable. 

- Sound special teams play. If I have one worry about this game, it is special teams giving up a big play and causing a momentum shift. Last week they allowed a huge return just after the half to setup the Seahawks first touchdown. I don't need to remind you what happened after that. 

 

This is the first time in Panthers history they have hosted the NFC Championship game. No matter the outcome, this day will be remembered as Panthers lore for generations to come. Enjoy it. 

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With the most important game in Bank of America Stadium history coming up on Sunday, we thought we would ask Zack Lutrell, friend of the Huddle and founder of the Roaring Riot, for a few tips on maximizing your own personal volume this Sunday. 

Here is what he had to say.....

 

Step One: Stand and Cheer for the Panthers…

It says it right there in the fight song:

 

 

Be respectful and polite to those around you…but come on! Get on your feet, and make some noise.

 

Step Two: …But not on offense.

Yes, this includes the wave. Do not do the wave when the offense has the ball. With Cam under center it’s time to reflect in deep, abiding, uninterrupted silence. Perhaps ponder on your life choices, think back to the one that got away, or best yet, do an internal top ten list on your favorite Panther players, Panther plays, Panther games, Cam Newton dances, Panther gear that you own. You get the idea. 

 

Step Three: Get to your seat early, get back to your seat on time, and stay in your seat to the end.

We get it, security lines are too long and tailgates are too short. You gotta use the facilities, you need to stock up on “refreshments”. Trust me, we get it. But there are some critical times you need to be in your seats:

Player entrances. Get there before kickoff. Whatever time you think you need to leave for the game, take 15 minutes off it. 
The start of the 3rd quarter. We’ve heard a lot about the Panthers coming out flat after half time…take a look around the stadium as the 3rd quarter kicks off. We, as fans, need to do our part. Try leaving during the first timeout of the second quarter, or during the kickoff and timeout between scoring plays.
The end. It’s going to be cold. Wrap up for the elements. When you dress think about how you will feel if the game goes to overtime. Don’t worry about traffic, don’t try and beat the crowd. Stay until the bitter end…no matter how much you think the game is over. 

 

Step Four: Keep Participating in Keep Pounding

We can’t lie, we originally thought the “Keep Pounding” chant might be a little corny. It’s not. It sounds great on TV and helps pump the crowd up at the right times. Jump on the bandwagon with us and let’s make “Keep Pounding” rattle through the concourses.

 

Step Five: Be louder than the person to your right

Look right. Is that person louder than you? Then step it up! If they aren’t then inform them of the “be louder” challenge. Get that opposing QB’s teeth rattling in his head.

 

Step Six: Layer Up, Son

Panthers Hat, Panthers Gloves, Roaring Riot Scarf, Panthers Snuggie (they are real), Panthers thermals, Leicester City jersey, Panthers undies, Panthers hoodie, Panthers sweatpants. This will prepare you for the elements and keep you warm into the fourth quarter when the team needs you most. 

 

Step Seven: Defense best practices

A few notes on when to make noise:
All downs matter, not just the 3rd.
Start when the other team hits that huddle and stop when the play is over. Noise disrupts huddles, audibles, hot routes, on-field awareness. Everything. Don’t give them a second’s peace.

 

Step Eight: Unify Your Voice

A cacophony of sound is great at times, especially on defense, but the real impact (especially for the TV audience) is a good old unified chant. If you hear the beginnings of a “Let’s Go Panthers” make it your personal aim to ensure every voice in that stadium ROARS (see what we did there) in unison.

 

Step Nine: Secure your libations.

Nothing is more of a downer than spilling your drink. The only comparable feeling is having a drink spilled on you. Keep those refreshments secure. Soggy feet are for amateurs.

 

Step Ten: Remember, we are all in this together.

There will be people around you griping. There will be people with ridiculous opinions. There will be people who don’t know any of the players. The game will be intense and high pressure. There will be opposition fans sitting in Panther PSL seats. Don’t lose sight of the main goal. Support the team as best you can. Stay united and put petty things to one side….and let’s do our part to get this team to the Super Bowl.

 

For more information on the Roaring Riot visit www.roaringriot.com

 

 

And remember folks, this Sunday.. 

 

GET LOUD and KEEP POUNDING!

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This week I continue the bird watching tour of 2016 with a hunt for a rare bird known as a Cardinals fan. When googling communities for fans of the Arizona, I was left with few options. 

Heck, the Huddle came up as a first page result.... That's a new one. 

 

But, there is no shame in having few fans. I actually prefer it to teams like the Seahawks who have a large (but decreasing) amount of fans that know nothing about the team. For the most part, these Arizona fans seem to be knowledgeable. A nice change of pace after last week. 

On the Panthers defensive line

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DL—Here is where, IMO, the game will likely be won or lost for the Cardinals. The Camthers interior DL is very strong. Short and Lotulelei will be the strongest set of DTs the Cardinals face this season. They have faced a similar player in Aaron Donald and have had success. (The Vikes DTs are very good too, just not at this level, IMO). The difference is that Short is almost as good as Donald and Lotulelei is close behind, so the Cards Gs and C will have their hands full. Short is especially disruptive as a pass rusher. On the DE side, the Camthers are less talented. Jared Allen is older and now hurt, while Charles Johnson’s play has slipped precipitously from 2 years ago. Ealy has flashed, but is still inconsistent. The interior guys are the key to the kind of night Palmer is going to have. 

Aside from the "Camthers" nonsense, a pretty fair assessment. Can't disagree with much here. 

On Panthers linebackers

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LB---Without question the LBs Davis and Kuechly form the fastest and best duo in the league and will present problems. They play the run and pass equally well and both cover sideline to sideline with scary tenacity and efficiency. I believe Kuechly may be the best defender not named Watt in the league. How the Cardinals scheme around these two is the 2nd biggest challenge of the game. Shaq Thompson is fast but young and isn’t at the level of Davis or Kuechly. Somehow the Cardinals must protect Palmer and their route scheme must create space away from Davis and Kuechly, who each had 4 INTs on the year. A tall order and easier said than done. 

Again, pretty fair. It is hard for anyone to argue that Luke and TD are not the best linebacker duo in the league. 

On the Secondary

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DBs & S---Here is where, if Palmer has time, the Camthers are most susceptible. Their back end is probably below average with the notable exception of Josh Norman. They’ve had injuries to the other 2 starting corners, who weren’t great in coverage either. Norman is elite, but their scheme keeps him the outside, and they do play zone a lot. So the Cardinals can work Brown and/or Fitz in the slot and should be able to get favorable matchups with the other DBs. The safety position isn’t much better. Roman Harper is smart but slow and Kurt Coleman, despite his 7 INTs, can be had, as well. As a group, they do have 15 INTs, so Palmer can’t be trying to play pitch and catch like he tried with GB last week. The Camthers have given up more points in the 2nd half over the last half of the season than any other team. Certainly in some of those games the scores were such that it didn’t matter, but Indy, GB, NY and SEA all made serious 2nd half runs and none of those teams have the offensive firepower of the Cardinals. Most of that production came at the expense of a very suspect secondary when the pass rush wasn’t getting home. 

Unfortunately, this is realistic as well. Admittedly, the Panthers depleted secondary is the biggest weakness on the entire team. To make matters worse, they are facing the most talented WR corps they have all season. The good news? Carson Palmer is their QB. Palmer looked like a guy who had never won a playoff game in his entire career last week, because he hadn't up until that point. Look for the Panthers to feast on this statue of a QB early. Once banged up, the game is over. 

On stopping the Panthers offense... 

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 Well, first and foremost Cam. He had a hand in 45 TDs…unreal. If the Cardinals can force him into an average or poor game, I think we win. Secondly, Olsen. Dude balls out every week and he must be limited. Figure out a way to keep those two in check and the rest of their team isn’t enough to beat us.

....and here it is. I have posted this same exact thing from almost every opponent this NFL season. Contain Cam... Double Olsen... easy win. Yet the Panthers are now 16-1 and have the highest scoring offense in the league. 

On Cardinals Fans traveling to Carolina

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Anybody else planning on going to the Carolina game? I'm considering driving out for the game from Indy but I'm curious to see where any other fans are sitting

Can you imagine that drive home... freezing cold with no Superbowl thoughts to keep you warm? I recommend he reconsider. There will be 99.5% Panthers fans at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. It won't be pleasant for visitors. 

On the Panthers turf... 

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I would hate to see it, but we may well do so, the cruddy field in Carolina being the difference between winning and losing.

Routes that require sharp cuts are easier to make than to defend when the conditions underfoot are bad, even when you have the right cleats on.

Same for making adjustments at the line on defense, the RB knows where he is going long before the D, who must react, when footing is treacherous that can be the difference between making and missing the tackle. 

The Panthers have a home field advantage from more than just their home fans, their home turf (swamp) is something that could impact all aspects of the Cards game on both sides of the ball and special teams.

I wonder if BA has the fire-hose out for practices this week!

Looks like the Seattle turf excuse made it into the ether and it is now "a thing". The turf is fine. If football teams can't handle playing in outdoor conditions, they don't belong in the playoffs. Stop whining. 

I must say, for the Cardinals to be in the NFC Championship game it was really rough trying to find anything interesting they were saying. Either they do not expect to win this game or the Cardinals fan base is made up of mostly 75 years olds who stick to AOL chat rooms. 

 

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Each week, win or lose, I bring to you the best of what my camera lens manages to find. This week the Panthers take care of business against Seattle. 

Without further ado....

Along the Sidelines - Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

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I am giving away....

2 Panthers - Seahawks Tickets (section 522)

2 Pregame Field Passes (hottest item in Charlotte)

 

 

Who wants em? 

 

TO ENTER

 

1. Be a registered member of CarolinaHuddle.com

2. Reply to this topic with your love of the Panthers. 

 

Random winner will be chosen on Saturday before noon.

 

Tickets and field passes will be left at stadium will call. 

 

 

Keep Pounding 

Ted Ginn was back as well. 

 

 

Jonathan Stewart returned to the Carolina Panthers practice field today with his usual sense of humor. 

 

Stewart participated fully in all drills that media was allowed to see. He took the first team snaps as usual . I did not witness any lingering issues with his foot that there may have been. However, all eyes will be on him tomorrow to see how the foot reacts to his first day back with a helmet. 

In my opinion, we will see Stewart full speed ahead on Sunday. 

 

Other practice notes: 

- Kurt Coleman was the first player on the practice field. His presence will be needed badly against the Seattle passing attack. 

- The receivers looked sharp, no dropped ball from what I was allowed to witness. Usually there is one or two. Devin Funchess has improved a great deal since the Panthers - Seahawks game earlier this season. He could be a big factor in the outcome. 

- Cam Newton was his normal self, laughing and cracking jokes during stretches.  The team seems loose but focused on the task at hand. Confidence is in the air. 

 

 

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Josh Norman stopped by the Huddle Studios for a conversation on many things including the upcoming Seattle game. 

 

Have a listen.... 

 

Direct MP3

 

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Every week I bring to you what fans of the opposition are saying. This week, I ventured over to Seahawks.net to gauge that the feelings were. 

Here is what I discovered...

On Carolina Huddle and Panthers fans in general... 

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I liken Carolina fans to a child beginning to walk. This is new territory, so excuse them if they look goofy as hell.

Seahawks fans telling Panthers fans they are like a child beginning to walk? Seems strange coming from the least knowledgeable most bandwagon containing fan base of all time. True story: Riding the light rail in Seattle to the game, I asked four sets of Seattle fans the best way to get to my gate. They could not help me, as none had ever been to a Seahawks game. You would be hard pressed to find four groups of folks walking to the Panthers game that were Bank of America Stadium first timers. 

Once the game had started, I had to explain to front row Seattle fans that in the NFL a player is only down by contact. They told me I was crazy. In no other stadium has this ever happened. 

Also... this is a screen grab from their first page. I mean.... really? Greg Hardy joining Dallas was only the biggest NFL story of the offseason. But then again, the vast majority of members on that site joined later than 2011. Shocking. 

 

I really have no issue with Seahawks fans. They are a polite bunch who mostly were uninterested in the NFL until a few years ago. They are pleasant folks for the most part. Overall I was very impressed with Seattle. 

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Panther fan: Wilson sucks from the pocket, he's not a real QB
Seahawk Fan: He has a 118.6 QB rating from the pocket, highest in NFL
Panther Fan: Uuuhhh thats because he's captain checkdown
Seahawk Fan: He has a 8.33 yard per attempt average, 4th in NFL
Panther Fan: Stats are stupid, CAM IS A GOD!!!
 

Not sure where they read this. Everyone here knows Wilson is a good QB. Most of us watched him before anyone in Seattle ever knew he existed. Many teams would trade their starting QB for Russell Wilson. Not Carolina, but many teams. 

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For the most part you are dealing with mouth-breathers that like NASCAR and bleed gravy when injured. Some Panther fans are cool but many more are just jumping on the bandwagon.

You read that right.... Seahawks fans playing the Bandwagon card mixed in with a few ignorant southern stereotypes. This guy was definitely wearing a Cowboys jersey not long ago. 

 

On Russell Wilson vs Cam Newton

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Seattle has a better offense and Wilson by the numbers is simply a better QB than Newton. 

Wilson had a good half season for sure. Cam is the MVP for the entire season. That is all you really need to know. I have seen many Seahawks fans downplay Cam's rushing touchdowns claiming (incorrectly) that most were on the 1 yard line. Even so, Such a strange thing to downplay considering how they lost last year's Superbowl. 

On Norman vs Baldwin

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 don't care if Baldwin has a great game or not. Norman is pretty good wherever he goes, and can keep Baldwin in check, although Baldwin has really come on the 2nd half of the season.

I just don't see anyone covering Lockett or Kearse.

This is actually a legitimate concern that Panthers should have. First of all, Norman won't be covering Baldwin all that much. I am sure the Seahawks will use Baldwin much like the Giants used OBJ. 

With their number 2 and 3 corners on IR, the Panthers are left starting two guys who were in street clothes until recently. Although, I must say Finnegan has looked so much better than I ever imagined he would. The nickel spot in the Panthers defense suits him well. 

The good news here for the Panthers is that Jimmy Graham, who accounted for over half of Wilson's passing yards against the Panthers in October, is also on IR. This evens things out a bit. The Panthers historically have had issues covering TE's. Look for the corners to get plenty of safety help all game long. 

On the Panthers wearing white jerseys on Sunday... 

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Maybe they're a little superstitious and believe because they beat us in their whites they can do it again? It sounds stupid but sports is one thing that treats superstitions like religion.

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Pee is less noticeable on white pants than it is on dark pants. That'd be my only guess.

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"We're playing Seattle, so let's try something different!"

We're used to getting into opposing teams' heads.

So much energy discussing the opponents jersey color. Strange. 

Anyways, white is the traditional playoff color for Carolina and was worn on some of their most impressive playoff wins. But I don't expect newcomers to the NFL to know that. 

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