Backups are part of the equation for sure, but guess PFF's two highest graded players vs Texans.

[top dawg]

Someone said there would be a surprise player last night. And, no, in my mind it wasn't Damiere Byrd. But if you guessed Byrd was one of the players that received the highest grade from Pro Football Focus, you'd be right. I mean, "Byrd" was the word seemingly three quarters of the game. The other player whom you may have overlooked was Bryan Cox. Cox earned the highest grade of the night.

"On offense, Damiere Byrd earned the highest grade of the game from Pro Football Focus at 83.7:

'Byrd shredded Texans CB Robert Nelson for four receptions – on four targets – for all 98 of his receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Backup QB Joe Webb connected with Byrd for scoring strikes of 50 yards and another from eight yards that proved to be the game-winning score. Byrd posted an impressive 6.13 yards per route run average over 16 snaps in route.'

"On the other side of the ball, defensive end Bryan Cox got the highest mark at 86.4, courtesy of two QB hits and four hurries:

'The Panthers need support from the backup pass-rushers this season, and got just that from Cox tonight. He flustered Houston edge blockers all night, racking up two QB hits and four hurries on just 21 rushes. His pass-rush grade of 83.9 and run defense grade of 84.2 were both tops for Carolina.'

"Both players are in tough position battles and certainly helped their cause on Wednesday night. Their counterparts Kelvin Benjamin and Daeshon Hall also scored strong."

 

I noticed that Cox was making some noise, I just didn't realize how much.

PFF is exactly right, we need depth at both positions, but it shouldn't be lost among all the chirping about Byrd that KB and Daeshon Hall (who was getting notable push) played well also.

http://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2017/08/10/damiere-byrd-bryan-cox-earn-highest-pff-grades-for-panthers-vs-texans/

[CarolinaSamurai]

I'm excited for some rushing cox.........he has to make it for his name alone!

[Ace_Aladdin]

Nice, quality depth is what will propel this team to #1 seed in NFC.

[tiger7_88]

26 minutes ago, CarolinaSamurai said:

I'm excited for some rushing cox.........he has to make it for his name alone!

Back in the Paleozoic Era when I was in college, Vanderbilt had a point guard whose name was Phil Cox.

The Auburn students would taunt him by yelling at him "Phil Cox? Is that your name?  Or your hobby?"

Auburn had, for the most part, terrible basketball... we had to amuse ourselves somehow.  (P.S. Then Charles Barkley arrived and changed everything.)

[LinvilleGorge]

I have a fraternity brother named Phil Cox. Honest to god.

[Butterflyj30]

 

[t96]

PFF is rating them against their competition though which is all lower level scrubs. Not saying these guys didn't ball, but to say they were better than like Luke or any of the starters also going up against Texans starters is ridiculous.

[tiger7_88]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I have a fraternity brother named Phil Cox. Honest to god.

Did he play point guard for the Vanderbilt Commodores, circa 1981-82?  

[tiger7_88]

5 minutes ago, Butterflyj30 said:

 

Ummmm... apart?

[top dawg]

 

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, tiger7_88 said:

Did he play point guard for the Vanderbilt Commodores, circa 1981-82?  

Nah, he was probably born around 1981.

[Khaki Lackey]

I'm just glad we have the possibility of seeing Peppers Love Short Cox on the DL lineup.

[tiger7_88]

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Nah, he was probably born around 1981.

Phil Cox Jr.?  lol

[beastson]

Hmm at this kid