WEEK 2: Panthers WIN versus San Francisco: Stats & Analysis

[KB_fan]

Billy M has some film analysis posted:

 

[KB_fan]

Fun seeing Fozzy on this list:

 

[KB_fan]

Just was checking out the latest ESPN power ratings just for the heck of it...  (Panthers are at #4)

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17547005/nfl-2016-week-3-power-rankings-new-england-patriots-pittsburgh-steelers-arizona-cardinals

I still can't get over the stat they're quoting about our recent 7 home games at BoA.  I've read it multiple times now in tweets and articles, and I KNOW it's true, but WOW.  This is really exciting.  I still have trouble believing that this is reality and not just a nice dream:

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There's no place like home. The Panthers got their first win of the season at home in Week 2 and host the Vikings in Week 3. In their past seven home games (including playoffs), the Panthers are averaging 40.4 points per game.

Really, it's true! 

Here are the last 6 home games of 2015. 

 

Add in the 46 - 27 win over San Fran.... and yes, really, we're average 40.4 points at home in that time frame.  Wow.  I don't want this dream to end!

(I mean dang, those scores make the 31 points we put up against Seattle in the playoffs look like a poor showing!)

 

And for a bit of perspective on our loss to Denver, the ESPN comment on the Broncos doesn't change anything, but it does make me feel *JUST a TINY bit* better:

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How good is the Broncos' defense? Their past five games (including playoffs) have been against Cam Newton (twice), Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Andrew Luck. Those QBs combined for three passing touchdowns, five interceptions and 21 sacks.

Yeah, dammit, those ponies have a good defense and they're beating good QBs and good teams.  I guess misery loves company.  Hope someone figures out a way to stop them.   REALLY REALLY don't want to play them again any time soon.

 

 

[panthers_fan_in_tx]

Never realized that about Denver.  Wow..

[Jimmy]

On 9/19/2016 at 8:44 AM, KB_fan said:

Since they're handy and ready to post, let me post my summary tables for rushing & receiving even though I don't have time to add any commentary this morning:

Here are the tables for rushing - for week 2 and the season to date.  I hope to post such tables every week. 

Fozzy really stepped up / balled out in a big way yesterday!

Note: the tables are not sorted in a meaningful order.  This is actually the order of the week 1 leaderboard.  I forgot to re-sort the tables for week 2 and season-to-date.  Sorry about that.

6.3/yards per attempt for Fozzy. Nice

[Ricky Spanish]

21 minutes ago, panthers_fan_in_tx said:

Never realized that about Denver.  Wow..

their defense was historically good last year and it doesn't look like they've missed much going into this year. Time will tell with Ware going down and more film on Siemien throughout the season, but they still look really damn good. 

[thefuzz]

11 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

their defense was historically good last year and it doesn't look like they've missed much going into this year. Time will tell with Ware going down and more film on Siemien throughout the season, but they still look really damn good. 

As good/dangerous as I have seen in a long time.

 

[KB_fan]

I've just finished my weekly game book analysis / statistical highlights article for Jeremy.  It should be up on the main page tomorrow.  I'll post those tables here once the article is posted....

[KB_fan]

In the meantime, a few more articles popping up.

Great piece at Panthers.com on the huge 78 yard TD pass to Greg Olsen:

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Nice-changeup-leads-to-touchdown-strike/52461936-864a-4309-9478-c08bf3d97782

Here's an excerpt:

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What are our tendencies? What are the tendencies of our opponent?

Coaches ask themselves these questions on a weekly basis, hoping a break in tendency can catch the opponent off guard for a big play.

That’s exactly what happened when quarterback Cam Newton connected with tight end Greg Olsen for a wide open, career-long 78-yard touchdown catch against the 49ers.

The Panthers got the look they were hoping for from the 49ers defense as offensive coordinator Mike Shula dialed up a play for Olsen to attack the middle of the field. It appeared as though safety Antoine Bethea was expecting an outbreaking route from Olsen, something he and Newton have had great success with over the years.

“If you’re preparing for us and I’m there in the slot, a lot of the passes I’ve caught have been corner routes and outbreaking routes,” Olsen said. “It was a nice changeup off that, and we hit the right coverage at the right time with the right place.

“Pre-snap, they had two high guys, and my job is to try to lean that guy out and cross his face, and we had some routes on the back side to worry the backside safety. The backside safety jumped Kelvin (Benjamin), and the frontside guy was really worried about my outbreaking stuff. So I was able to slip inside and just go.”

 

 

[KB_fan]

Fun tweet from the film analysis guy at MMQB:

 

 

[KB_fan]

Kelvin gets some PFF love - he's named to the team of the week, and his week 2 grade is his best-ever PFF grade.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-best-player-at-every-position-in-nfl-week-2/

Wide receiver: Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers, 88.9

Cam Newton won the NFL’s MVP award last season without his best weapon at wideout, and you can see the impact getting him back has already made in 2016. Kelvin Benjamin caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way agains San Francisco, gaining only 6 yards after the catch because they were mostly catch-point wins over defenders—a huge boost for Newton.

[KB_fan]

Another gem at Panthers.com.  Bryan Strickland has some great stats in his weekly "Ask Bryan" article:

1st he answers a question about DE depth and pass rush.  Here's a portion of his reply.

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Just one sack has come from a defensive end so far, but Rivera is pleased with the production given other factors.

"In the last two football games, getting pressure against Denver was tough because they were going with three- and five-step (drops) and getting the ball out very quickly, but we affected two balls that got intercepted. That's huge. That's part of productivity," Rivera said. "Against the 49ers, it was a mobile quarterback that we got out of the pocket several times. We only sacked him twice, but they came at opportune moments.

"I like where were are. We can become better. We're going to become better. I'm confident in those guys."

The individual players at defensive end aren't off to what would be considered hot starts. Starters Charles Johnson and Kony Ealy are still seeking their first sack, as are reserves Ryan Delaire and Lavar Edwards , who played some at defensive tackle in his Carolina debut. Still, the pass rush that they're associated with is getting the job done in a variety of ways.

The Panthers' four sacks aren't an overwhelming number but still rank 15th in the league so far, and pressure has helped Carolina tied for the league lead with four interceptions.

 

But here's the part of the article I really loved.  It's a fun research question - what teams hasn't Cam yet victimized with a rushing touchdown...
 

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I know Cam Newton recently broke Steve Young's record for rushing touchdowns. Cam certainly has the most rushing TDs against NFC South teams. How many teams are left before Cam can say that he's had a rushing touchdown against every team in the NFL? – Gene in Southwick, Mass.

With a rushing touchdown in Week 1, Newton broke Young's NFL record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with the 44th of his career. Newton didn't find the end zone with his legs Sunday against the 49ers, who still stand beside the Rams as the lone NFC teams to not be victimized by a Newton touchdown run. Alas, he had to settle for four touchdown passes.

All told, Newton has rushing touchdowns against 21 of the other 31 teams and will have chances to reduce that number later in the season against the Rams, Chiefs and Chargers. Only two teams remain that have faced Newton more than once without yielding him a rushing touchdown – the 49ers and the Jaguars.

Of the 21 teams Newton has reached the end zone against, he's done so in the first meeting with 15 of them. The majority of the six exceptions are notable ones: the Texans last year on his highlight-reel flip for six; the Titans last year in the debut of the "Dab"; the Seahawks last year in the breakthrough victory at Seattle; and the record setter this year at the Broncos.

Newton has recorded 19 of his 44 rushing touchdowns against NFC South foes, with Tampa Bay easily his favorite target considering the number of games played... eight rushing scores have come [against the Bucs] against the Falcons and Saints, Newton has six and five rushing touchdowns.

As a rookie, when Newton broke the single-season record with 14 rushing touchdowns, he lost each of his six games with a rushing touchdown. Since, he's a sparkling 25-5-1 when finding the end zone.

 

 

[KB_fan]

Nice clip of a Vernon Butler highlight:

And speaking of #92, a nice write up about him at Panthers.com

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Vernon-Butler-making-immediate-impact/5e9fa614-f4bc-44f3-a6a6-d540fcebbe68

Like his work ethic & attitude:

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Butler credits his excellent tutors along the defensive line for helping him fit in so quickly.

“In my first game, they (Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short and Paul Soliai) were the men that helped me develop with everything, like with the plays, technique and stuff,” said Butler. “It’s the little things like work habits, coming out before practice and getting work in. Sometimes we’ll stay after, me and Paul. Sometimes we stay after for film. It’s just the little things to get the edge on our opponent.”

 

 

[KB_fan]

Jeremy was able to get my article prepped and stuffed with great pix earlier than I thought he would.  It's now posted

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/2016/09/20/carolina-panthers-week-2-statistical-highlights/

Of particular note:

1) I reviewed Panthers current home dominance - including doing some research to find other teams that have been similarly dominant at home.  You may be surprised at the company the Panthers are keeping!  Pretty impressive stuff.

2) Looked briefly at Panthers' 500+ total yards and franchise history

I then spent the bulk of the piece reviewing 5 areas of  big improvement from week 1 to week 2:

1. Run defense
2. Panthers passing offense
3. Stopping opponents on 3rd down
4. Opportunistic scoring on opponents' turnovers
5. Better protection from the Oline

Enjoy