Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Roman Harper: Why We’re Undefeated (A Must Read)


The Saltman

Recommended Posts

Man, what a great article by Roman Harper. 

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/12/03/nfl-roman-harper-carolina-panthers-undefeated

 

Quote

The Panthers are 11-0, something I’m proud to have a small part in. At 32, I’m no beacon of wisdom in the NFL, though our team is so young and my hair is so gray my young defensive backs are calling me Uncle Rome in the locker room. These days guys are beginning to realize how rare it is to go undefeated for this long. As a veteran of the 2009 New Orleans Saints, a team that started 13-0 and won a Super Bowl that season, I get asked about success, and winning, and what an undefeated team looks like.

The short answer is I don’t know.

Also... this is ridiculous... 

 

Quote

 Luke Keuchly, like Jonathan Vilma, has the authority to change any call on defense now, and it’s one of the biggest reasons we’re 11-0. There was a moment, two weeks ago against the Cowboys, that made me fall in love with football all over again.

 

Kuechly’s second interception against the Cowboys was a result of the freedom he’s given in Carolina’s defensive scheme.
Photo: 

Kuechly’s second interception against the Cowboys was a result of the freedom he’s given in Carolina’s defensive scheme.

 

During the Dallas game, Luke checked us completely out of a blitz at the very last moment, a scenario we hadn’t even practiced. Normally with that play we will just flip the side of the blitz if a change is needed. But Luke got everybody into a different coverage and communicated with the defensive line to rush Tony Romo with four men just before the ball was snapped. Then Luke saw the beginnings of a dig route by the slot receiver and recognized that Jason Witten was likely coming over the top, trying to work the gap between me and the linebackers. Luke just slid into the window, and Romo threw it right to him for his first of two interceptions in the game. And it all happened in the span of about five seconds.

It’s the kind of play that makes you proud as a player to be apart of something like that. That’s what football’s all about.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, we have loads of talent on both sides of the ball and are well-rounded, but so are a few other NFL teams. It's the intangibles Roman Harper talked about that sets this team apart from the pack.

My favorite part:

Quote

We have a bunch of really good football players, but most of them realize they wouldn’t be as good if they weren’t on this team.

It sort of reminds me of what Charles Tillman said when he was on First Take back in October: "The most dangerous thing you can have is 53 guys believing in one thing together. Right now, we have 53 guys believing that we are the best team in the NFL."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great article.  Thanks for posting it.

I also really enjoyed BBRs "oral & pictorial history" of our huge win last year in New Orleans that started our current 15 game winning streak. 

http://blackandbluereview.com/oral-history-of-the-panthers-2014-win-at-new-orleans/

Roman Harper is also one of the players whose comments are featured.

Really great to reread the highlights of that game, the players' comments, and see how certain trends we've seen all year began (eg. a turnover on NO's 2nd play of the game ... sounding so much like our wins against Tampa or Dallas this season...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

awesome article! For some reason I am obsessed with hearing players talk about the teams culture and the differences between this team and their prior teams. When you hear things like this from Harp and what we have heard from Tillman and Allen, it really makes me as a fan appreciate our team so much more! Go Panthers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • MHS, You are missing Claudin Cherelus is a LB that's in the mix for the 4th spot. He's been here for 2 years and had a couple injuries. I mean he was a wavier claim and been here for evero system, just had bad luck when given a chance. Jon Rhat is the current leader mainly cause of he is the ST ace. But Id say, Cherelus has the same % to make the roster.  CB has the recent wavier claim of MJ Devonshire a 2024 7th rounder. He's got the good-great combine numbers but he's small size. Still he's in the mix for backup duties, in fact all the non-UDFA are wavier claims.  ______________________________________________________________   Dam shame about Clowney. I view this as a bad move. I feel clowny is well worth the 7.7, even as a backup. He played hard the whole year without help. I just feel he would have helped more than either DJ Johnson or Barno.  My only cope is he's 32 and at any point his miro-knee could force him to drop off a cliff performance-wise. I wanted to keep him around at least until the trade deadline and if no chance at playoff, flip him for a anything. NFL is a meat grinder, no love for locals....
    • Might as well. We need to get these rookies on the field and see if they can play ASAP.
    • This hate this part of football and then you have to get down to the 53 Man Roster 🙁
×
×
  • Create New...