Carolina @ Tampa Bay ReFocused.

[thunderraiden]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/10/25/refo-panthers-buccaneers-week-8/

Always like reading these things. Call me a circle jerker, I dun care.

 

 

Carolina – Three Performances of Note

Newton Shows His Dual Threat

In a performance more about efficiency than spectacular plays, Cam Newton (+2.6) displayed the composure and patience to simply take what the Bucs gave him so generously — even if he did need to occasionally evade a pass rusher to exploit the blown coverage by the Bucs, such as for the opening touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. Working mostly in the short areas, Newton was afforded the time to pick his spots with an average depth of target of only 7.1 yards (season average of 9.4) in spite of holding the ball for on average 2.6 seconds. 23 of Newton’s 32 targets were aimed within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, completing all but four of those for 161 yards and both of his touchdowns. Newton added to this with 50 yards and a score on the ground doing, as ever, good work on designed runs (four attempts, 23 yards) and on scrambles (four attempts, 30 yards) which also included his touchdown. Newton did all he needed in this game to usher the Panthers towards the victory without adding (or needing to) the spark that might have brought this game to life.

Star Continues to Rise

After his setback against the Vikings in Minnesota, Star Lotulelei has re-discovered the form with which he started the season earning positive grades in each of the two games since and adding the stats to the fine work he does off of the stat sheet. Still doing the selfless work he needs to do against the run, Lotulelei matched his pass rushing record from the victory over St Louis on Sunday (a hit and two hurries) and added another three stops (including one chasing down a pass in the left flat) to take his total in the last two weeks to nine, more than in his first five career games combined. After another strong outing against the run in this game Lotulelei now possesses our third-highest run defense grade for the season among defensive tackles (+9.1) ahead of the rest of Week 8 — only Damon Harrison and Brandon Mebane lead him in that regard. The improvement that Lotulelei is helping to provide inside for the Panthers, even if he hasn’t been as consistent as Sheldon Richardson in the race to be rookie of the year, is filling Panthers fans with optimism that their long-term struggles at defensive tackle are over.

Tolbert Back to Prominence

The Panthers’ backfield combination of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams wasn’t the dominant force for as long as would have been hoped, but in his second season in Carolina the third member of that backfield, Mike Tolbert is rising to prominence. Last season’s poster boy for versatility in the backfield was Marcel Reece, but Tolbert is doing his best in recent weeks to remind people of his claim for that title. Tolbert has racked up five touchdowns this season and put up a combined 64 yards on the ground and through the air against the Bucs last night. This marked the second time in three weeks that Tolbert has earned a +1.0 grade or higher as both a runner and a receiver in the same game after doing so against Minnesota two weeks ago. The only blot on Tolbert’s performance was some suspect pass protection, surrendering a sack and a hurry in the second and third quarters,  respectively.

Game Notes

-  Having gone six straight games without surrendering a sack Demar Dotson allowed one for the second game in a row last night.

-  For the second straight week, Mike Tolbert played more snaps (38) than DeAngelo Williams (30) and the two are now tied for the most snaps in the Carolina backfield (Newton aside) with 264 each.

-  Lavonte David, as ever, recorded the most defensive stops on either side in this game taking his season total to 38, one behind Paul Posluszny for the league lead after seven games.

PFF Game Ball

Making the Buccaneers pay for poor defense on the ground and through the air Cam Newton put in a display plenty solid enough to take the Panthers above .500 for the first in his career.

 

 

[the butch]

Star really is beasting this year.  It would be awesome to have him win DROY, but even if he doesn't, we will be SOLID at DT for years to come.  Now, we need to upgrade our secondary.

[Mr. Scot]

After a thorough review of game tape and painstaking examination of the stats, I have come to the reasoned and informed conclusion that Greg Schiano sucks really bad.

[bleys]

- For the second straight week, Mike Tolbert played more snaps (38) than DeAngelo Williams (30) and the two are now tied for the most snaps in the Carolina backfield (Newton aside) with 264 each.

reports coming out last night again saying Stewart looks amazing. With these numbers and knowing Stewart is a much better option than Tolbert, I fully expect Stew will get his fair share of touches.

[The Golden Child]

sweet

[carolina-chuck]

I didnt even know that Josh Thomas was "inactive" last night!!!!!

 

I hope it stays that way. White shouldve and should be the starter!