Profootballfocus reviews our preseason game

[thunderraiden]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/08/11/refo-bears-panthers-preseason-week-1/

 

Carolina – Three Performances of Note

Same Path

After grading 77th out of the 81 top guards in his rookie season, Amini Silatolu continued his struggles in the preseason opener. He surrendered a hit and three hurries on his 24 pass block attempts, graded at -1.4 in the running game, and even whiffed on a screen block in the open field. Bears defensive tackles consistently got inside Silatolu on running plays with a good example being DT Nate Collins beating him for a tackle at the 12:50 mark of the first quarter. Just a few plays later, pass protection issues crept up as DT Stephen Paea snuck past Silatolu and put a big hit on quarterback Cam Newton on his 3-yard touchdown pass. As always, one preseason game does not a season (or preseason) make, but Silatolu has some work to do if he’s going to move on from a subpar rookie season in 2012.

Rookie DTs

For the second time in three years, the Panthers have doubled up in the draft at the defensive tackle position with the additions of Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short. The strategy did not work well when Terrell McClain and Sione Fua were drafted in 2011 and graded as our 84th and 75th-ranked defensive tackles that year, respectively. McClain has already moved on, while Fua is currently battling for a reserve role on the roster.

For Lotulelei, it was a rather uneventful evening as he played only 13 snaps, 11 of which came against the pass. He was shut out as a rusher and was easily sealed out of the action by LT Eben Britton on one of his two running plays. Short was quite impressive in his extended action as he picked up a hit and two hurries on his 18 pass rushes to post a +2.6 pass-rushing grade that matched his overall mark for the game. If he continues to get after the quarterback, Short may steal some snaps from starter Dwan Edwards and join Lotulelei as the Panthers may be headed for another season playing rookies up front.

Bears QBs Find Norman

Both teams showed plenty of early-season rust as the entire game felt littered with miscommunications between quarterbacks and receivers. Panthers QB Derek Anderson and WR Ted Ginn looked as if they were reading completely different books at times, never mind not being on the same page, while Bears quarterbacks likely had a few words for their receivers after two passes ended up right in CB Josh Norman’s hands after questionable routes were run. The first was a slant attempt from QB Jay Cutler to WR Alshon Jeffery, but Jeffery spotted up instead while Cutler looked to hit him in stride. Norman was the beneficiary, though he made a nifty play to reach back and make the catch. The second, an out route from QB Matt Blanchard to Onubun, was thrown to a decent spot, but Onubun’s gator arms allowed the ball to sail over his head and into Norman’s waiting hands. One cutback later, Norman was in the end zone. While they weren’t the hardest interceptions in the world, Norman took advantage and was otherwise stellar in coverage on his way to a +3.0 grade.

 

They also say Luke showed great play in his limited snaps. And it looks like Norman's coverage was great as well outside of his opportunistic picks.

[top dawg]

Panthers QB Derek Anderson and WR Ted Ginn looked as if they were reading completely different books at times, never mind not being on the same page...

 

Not even the same book. Preach it!

[cbully]

Not even the same book. Preach it!

just watched the game again... I must say I think that's mostly on Anderson. He was very shaky and made pickles look nearly solid. we can't afford to have errors from our backup in the real games especially. this is not awesome for anderson. however gettis looked great with him. more so ginn should replace pilares.

[KendrickPanther]

I did notice Amini struggling.

[fieryprophet]

just watched the game again... I must say I think that's mostly on Anderson. He was very shaky and made pickles look nearly solid. we can't afford to have errors from our backup in the real games especially. this is not awesome for anderson. however gettis looked great with him. more so ginn should replace pilares.

 

Umm, no, it was definitely Ginn. Look at the coverages, then look at the routes that Ginn ran, they were almost completely opposite of what he should have done based on the coverage involved. Derek wasn't playing very well to be sure, but if most of the other receivers got the ball in their vicinity and yet Ginn was miles away, whose fault do you think that is?

[Kuech the Sneak]

I did notice Amini struggling.

Ditto, and I would have liked to see Chicago run more when star was in the game. Supposed to be his specialty

[Dash Global]

Good write up. Short really got after. Living up to the billing as the best pass rusher in last years draft. 

 

I see him and Edwards splitting time. And by next year Short taking over the starting role. Dude is a beast.

 

I hope Star can live up to his billing. 

[Gabeking]

Ditto, and I would have liked to see Chicago run more when star was in the game. Supposed to be his specialty

Well when trestman is your coach that's not happening..

[SgtJoo]

Good write up. Short really got after. Living up to the billing as the best pass rusher in last years draft. 

 

I see him and Edwards splitting time. And by next year Short taking over the starting role. Dude is a beast.

 

I hope Star can live up to his billing. 

 

Imo Star just eating space and double teams is good enough. It'll free up the rest of Monsters Inc. to get sacking.

[KendrickPanther]

I think the perfect matchup for Star is like the Bucs or Steelers.

[Udogg]

"After grading 77th out of the 81 top guards in his rookie season, Amini Silatolu continued his struggles in the preseason opener. He surrendered a hit and three hurries on his 24 pass block attempts, graded at -1.4 in the running game, and even whiffed on a screen block in the open field."

 

 

Thank God someone else sees it.  Like I said in my post last week, I don't know why Silatolu keeps getting free passes like he is going to be a pro bowl guard and the left side is good to go?  He worries me almost more than Garry Williams. 

 

 

 

[fieryprophet]

"After grading 77th out of the 81 top guards in his rookie season, Amini Silatolu continued his struggles in the preseason opener. He surrendered a hit and three hurries on his 24 pass block attempts, graded at -1.4 in the running game, and even whiffed on a screen block in the open field."

Thank God someone else sees it. Like I said in my post last week, I don't know why Silatolu keeps getting free passes like he is going to be a pro bowl guard and the left side is good to go? He worries me almost more than Garry Williams.

I'm not seeing two of the hurries they're blaming on him, and I rewatched all of his snaps twice just to see. PFF's single game analysis is sometimes hit or miss, especially depending on the writer. And I say this as someone who works with them.

[Catalyst]

How did both Kawann Short and Kyle Long end up with positive grades if they were working against each other most of the night? Seems like someone would have to come out on the losing end of that battle eventually.