Today's Tweets - Shula & McDermott comments

[KB_fan]

Panthers.com now has an article posted with some of Shula's and McDermott's comments.  No audio or video posted yet, that I've seen.  Maybe it wasn't recorded..., but just a sit down with reporters... we'll see.

Here's what they note from McDermott's comments:

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Three-Takeaways-from-Coordinators-Conversation/d6d2620f-7182-438b-9af4-0b95b426a476

SOUND START FOR DEFENSE: McDermott was encouraged by a lot of what he saw when he reviewed the first four games of the season.

"The number one thing – we are keeping people off the scoreboard, for the most part," said McDermott, whose defense ranks fourth in points allowed per game (17.8) and 10th in yards (339).

But he was particularly disappointed with a touchdown Carolina allowed in the final minute of the 37-23 victory against the Buccaneers. Many of the starters had been pulled from the game at that point, and McDermott felt there was too big a drop-off.

"I wasn’t happy with the last score we gave up in Tampa Bay and how they drove the ball on us," McDermott said. "The guys that come in the game have got to play at the same caliber of level that we start the game with. That has got to improve."

It all starts with fundamentals and technique for McDermott, and in that regard, his unit is off to a strong start.

"Fundamentally, I think we are doing the right things," he said. "We are tackling better at this point in the season, I feel like, than we’ve done in other years. We are getting off blocks. We are catching the football when we have opportunities."

[KB_fan]

David Newton's now posted some of McDermott's remarks:

http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/16326/panthers-need-a-pause-button-when-facing-seattles-russell-wilson

Outside of Carolina’s Cam Newton, few NFL quarterbacks pose a bigger threat as a runner than Wilson. The two-time Pro Bowler arguably is a bigger threat because he runs more to keep plays alive.

Newton has more designed runs.

“It’s a challenge,’’ McDermott said. “And you see people when they do get him on the ground; the sideline erupts because everyone knows that’s such a big threat.

“Extending plays, those scramble situations, if you will. He’s a big-time threat.’’

With issues on Seattle’s offensive line, Wilson is scrambling more than ever. He’s already been sacked a league-high 22 times, which puts him on pace for 70 on the season. His career high was 44 in 2013, when he led Seattle to a win in the Super Bowl.

Wilson was sacked four times by the Bengals on Sunday.

But Wilson also makes big plays when scrambling. He’s arguably the best in the league at getting defenders to leave their feet with a pump fake, so discipline will be more important than ever for Carolina.

“We’ve talked extensively about that,’’ McDermott said. “Any time you face a mobile quarterback, you want to try to stay on the ground so you don’t leave your feet.

“It’s discipline down the field. Assignment football. Assignment, disciplined, tough football is what you have to play against a good offense like this.’’

The Panthers have done that in their last three regular-season meetings against Seattle. All have been defensive struggles, with Seattle winning 16-12, 12-7 and 13-9.

Wilson’s best performance against the Panthers came in the January playoff game at Seattle. He completed 15 of 22 pass attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns for a rating of 149.2.

He also rushed seven times for 22 yards.

“I know there’s a stat that he’s thrown the ball more outside of the pocket than any quarterback the last three years or so,’’ McDermott said. “It’s out there. He’s moving around, he’s throwing the ball from outside the pocket and he’s a great athlete’’

[Galvatron]

No losses at home. No wins on the road. 

Hopefully that changes on Sunday

[KB_fan]

And here's Jonathan Jones' write up for the Observer:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article38835828.html

The Seahawks blew a 24-7 lead to lose 27-24 to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime on Sunday. It was the third time this season where Seattle had a fourth-quarter lead and eventually lost the game, and it would have been a fourth had Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson not fumbled at the 1 in Week 4.

Are we witnessing the end of Seattle’s era just as the Panthers prepare to travel there this weekend?

Not so fast.

“You know what’s ironic? In my opinion they’re as good or better (than previous years),” Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula said Monday. “(Sunday) was a tough day. Cincinnati just hung in there. If you turned the game off at the start of the fourth quarter, you’re saying that’s as good a defense as you’ve seen play, especially against Cincinnati the way they’ve been moving it. Then Cincinnati made some plays. There were some near misses on both sides and they ended up making the plays to win the game.

“We all know they’re good, and they’re even better at home. That’s going to be a huge challenge.”

 

 

Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said it’s tough to pinpoint why Seattle hasn’t put teams away like the Seahawks usually do.

“It’s the way this league is. You saw the scores (Sunday). They’re back-and-forth all the way and you just hope you can live through it and come out on top,” McDermott said. “It’s hard to put a team away in this league. The quarterbacks are so good. The offenses are so good. Typically the other side of the ball has three or four players that are dangerous, play-making type players. So it’s hard to do that.”

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson is completing 70 percent of his passes, but he’s been sacked a league-high 22 times. Seattle has finally started integrating tight end Jimmy Graham into its offense, but the team has also been missing running back Marshawn Lynch the past two games because of injury.

That has limited the offense, which has only posted 27 points in the past two games combined.

Wilson has had to deal with a porous offensive line, but his scrambling ability has extended plays. He has rushed for 198 yards this season, more than any other quarterback.

“That quarterback still makes things happen,” said Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who is 0-4 against Seattle with the Panthers. “I’ve watched him now for a number of years. In this league it’s always been about winning. And I bet he’s one of the top winners, and yet we don’t hear a lot of people talk about him deserving some awards. It’s just amazing.

“I think sometimes we get caught up in numbers too much. I know his numbers aren’t flashy. But the one that seems to matter is he’s winning. I think he’s a special player.”

[KB_fan]

BBR write up focusing on McDermott comments:

http://blackandbluereview.com/sean-mcdermott-panthers-preparing-for-russell-wilson/

the Seahawks are struggling to keep their quarterback upright, even if McDermott was leery about putting too much of the onus on the guys up front.

"Some of that gets spread around probably; they get blamed for it. Their offensive line does a nice job," McDermott said. "They ran the ball for almost 200 yards. They're an effective group when they play well together and I think that they have at times."

McDermott's nearly right about the success Seattle had on the ground in Cincinnati. It was 200 yards on the dot, led by running back Thomas Rawls, who totaled 169.  ...

"You look at the body types and they're somewhat similar. I do think both of the backs are very dangerous,” McDermott said. "Rawls, the one thing you notice about him in the two games of late has been his acceleration through the line. I think he brings a nice spark to that offense in that way."

It's too early in the week to know if Lynch will return to face the Panthers, but he's had a surprisingly quiet recent history against Carolina. In the Seahawks' four wins since 2012, Lynch hasn't scored while being limited to 249 yards on 66 carries. That comes out to an average of 3.77 yards per carry, nearly a yard less than his overall average the past four seasons.

But the Seahawks added to their role as Panthers' nemesis when they made an offseason trade for a guy who's long been a thorn in their side. When he was with the Saints, tight end Jimmy Graham racked up 56 receptions, 700 yards and eight scores in 10 games against the Panthers. His targets have nose-dived in Seattle, but if the Seahawks ever feel like using him, Graham can still be a dangerous threat.

“What we know of Jimmy from being in the division is certainly a threat over the top, certainly a threat above the rim," McDermott said.