Three to Focus on: Panthers @ Colts, Week 12(interesting stats)

[jtnc]

With every snap of the ball the Indianapolis Colts look more and more likely to go 0-16 this year. A quick glance at our cumulative rankings would leave Colts fans seeing red, literally. On offense, only center Jeff Saturday (+11.3) has a grade above +1.8 and, on defense, even the normally stellar defensive end duo of Dwight Freeney (+5.0) and Robert Mathis (+4.9) have had their struggles.

It’s a very different kind of frustration in Carolina where the Panthers were never expected to do much this year, but the impressive start to Cam Newton’s NFL career has kept them in some game you wouldn’t have expected them to be in. But therein lies the frustration, they are merely staying in these games, not winning them.

This game is a chance for the Panthers to show where they are headed beyond this year by taking down a lesser opponent. For the Colts, you have to wonder how committed they are to winning this year when they are willing to play a quarterback who played for the last 0-16 team in the NFL.

Carolina’s Pass Rush v Indianapolis’ Offensive Line

Charles Johnson (+10.1) has missed practice this week but is still expected to play on Sunday. That’s good news for the Panthers as he has seven sacks, four hits and 21 pressures on 289 pass rushes. Despite those healthy totals, Johnson has been slightly outperformed on the Panthers’ defensive line by Greg Hardy (+11.4):confused:. Hardy is our 10th-highest-rated pass rusher among 4-3 defensive ends with three sacks, seven hits and 23 pressures. Outside of those two, however, the Panthers have struggled to find much pass rush. They benefit this week from playing a Colts offensive line that has struggled this season. Rookie Anthony Castonzo (-3.5) hasn’t looked awful but he has still allowed two sacks, three hits and nine pressures in six games this year. Jeff Linkenbach (-8.3) has been up and down as a pass blocker but has yet to repeat the lows of his seven pressures allowed performance in Week 1. Both will need to be at their best to slow down Hardy and Johnson.

Steve Smith v Indianapolis’ Cornerbacks

Nobody has benefitted more from Newton’s emergence than Steve Smith (-0.4), who is putting up some ridiculous numbers this year. Smith already has 992 yards through the air with an average of 17.7 yards per catch. He has dropped the same number of passes (5) as he has caught touchdowns and has forced seven missed tackles. Prone to picking up a big play, Smith has a reception of more than 50 yards in four games this year. Based on his opponents this week, Smith could be in for a huge game. Jerraud Powers (-3.1 in coverage) is allowing a completion percentage of 69.6% on passes thrown his way while giving up 13.6 yards per catch. Opposing QB’s have a QB Rating of 103.0 when throwing at him. Opposite Powers, Kevin Thomas (-2.4 overall) replaced Jacob Lacey (-12.3) after one poor performance too many, but in just four games Thomas has allowed 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns to go with a completion percentage of 80.8%. Thomas has allowed a QB Rating of 157.2 – yep, just 0.9 away from perfection.

Smitty gets to 10,000 career yards :party:

Cam Newton – Going Deep

It’s not too much of a surprise that Newton (+28.2) has had some success running the ball in his rookie year. The big surprise, for me anyway, has been just how often and how much success he has had throwing the ball downfield. No QB has thrown more passes beyond 20 yards than the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft. He’s been accurate too, with a higher completion percentage of those deep balls than Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Matt Ryan – to name just three. Of course it helps to have a deep threat like Smith, but there is no denying how good Newton has been. With the weakness of the Colts’ secondary highlighted above, this game marks a good chance for Newton to put up some big numbers through the air and tighten his stranglehold on the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/11/25/three-to-focus-on-panthers-colts-week-12/

[Jangler]

Cam throws for a record 7 TDs in one game.

[Marguide]

The Panthers desperately need this win.

Players are going to lose faith in the system and coaches if progress doesn't begin to show in the win-loss column. As a young player with a lot of expectations on his shoulders, Cam needs the win. Our running backs need it to keep them engaged in spite of their limited roles. Our D needs the self-respect.

They just have to get this one, or things could turn real ugly (chemistry-wise) by the end of the year.

[jtnc]

The Panthers desperately need this win.

Players are going to lose faith in the system and coaches if progress doesn't begin to show in the win-loss column. As a young player with a lot of expectations on his shoulders, Cam needs the win. Our running backs need it to keep them engaged in spite of their limited roles. Our D needs the self-respect.

They just have to get this one, or things could turn real ugly (chemistry-wise) by the end of the year.

I doubt players will lose faith in the coaches or the system, we're depleted at defense with injuries, there are simply not enough playmakers on defense.

[Marguide]

I doubt players will lose faith in the coaches or the system, we're depleted at defense with injuries, there are simply not enough playmakers on defense.

I hope we don't have to find out, but you can't keep talking about how we are growing and progressing if you fail to beat the worst team in the league. Players are no different than anyone else in any other type organization. They have to see progress and hope or they lose motivation.

The 3rd string guys and practice squaders will play hard for the rest of the year no matter what. The vets and the high-talent guys are the ones I'm worried about.

[Jangler]

Be something if Rivera released a high dollar vet to send a motivational message to the team.

[panthers55]

If we play up to our potential, then we should have a great chance to win on Sunday. Last week we played a great first half but awful second half. This week we need to play a complete game for 60 minutes on offense and defense. If we do that, I will be fine with the results no matter what. Can't see that we wouldn't win if we do that, though.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Yeah I'm sure those players sitting on the team thinking:

"Man, i'm just not a good football player. I'm certainly not good enough to help my team win without Jon Beason, i am a pretty average player afterall"

marguide is right. We have got to start winning games. There are more important things than having a high draft pick, we have got to start building a culture of winning here, build a habit of it, or it doesn't matter how much talent we stockpile, we won't be able to become dominant team. Losing is a mentality, and if it gets stuck in your head, if you get used to it-it may ruin everything the team has been working so hard to build.

There is a reason that teams that are overrated from a talent standpoint-like New England- won't just lose-they don't know how. Finishing the year on a strong note is very important. The players aren't going into the offseason making excuses for why they weren't good enough this year-ala injuries-they are just ping to know they weren't good enough. Winning, showing we are building something, goes a long way towards correcting that mentality.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Be something if Rivera released a high dollar vet to send a motivational message to the team.

"Team parts ways with Steve Smith; Cam retires"

[pantherclaw]

The Panthers desperately need this win.

Players are going to lose faith in the system and coaches if progress doesn't begin to show in the win-loss column. As a young player with a lot of expectations on his shoulders, Cam needs the win. Our running backs need it to keep them engaged in spite of their limited roles. Our D needs the self-respect.

They just have to get this one, or things could turn real ugly (chemistry-wise) by the end of the year.

so our players are not intelligent enough to know that with our hurt defense, that there will be struggles?

Can't say i agree with that.

That being said, the panthers should win this game.

[PhillyB]

Be something if Rivera released a high dollar vet to send a motivational message to the team.

what high dollar vet are we paying that should be released over motivational issues?

[bauss]

what high dollar vet are we paying that should be released over motivational issues?

Hurney...

[Donald LaFell]

Be something if Rivera released a high dollar vet to send a motivational message to the team.

the only high dollar guys who have anything to prove are the ones we signed this offfseason.

[Jangler]

what high dollar vet are we paying that should be released over motivational issues?

IDK I'm sure PFFL or one of his posse can find one.