CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Panthers have become a team of extremes.
The defense, with numerous questions after an offseason roster overhaul, has been stellar. Who needs Julius Peppers? The Panthers have a whopping 18 sacks in three preseason games and have nearly completely shut down the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans the last two weeks.
The offense, meanwhile, has been downright unwatchable. Bring back Jake Delhomme? The Panthers still haven’t scored an offensive touchdown and appear further away from identifying a No. 2 receiver than when training camp started.
Maybe the return of injured receiver Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart will be the cure. Or perhaps this speedy, no-name defense will have to carry the Panthers, a scenario few could’ve predicted.
ers don’t have any guys. Everyone’s gone. They’re going to struggle,”’ linebacker Jon Beason said of a unit without six starters from last season, including the five-time Pro Bowl pick Peppers.
“I’ve seen everybody pick it up. It’s been great. There are so many new faces, but we’ve really gelled.”
The contrast of a proud Beason to the bewildered look of offensive players on the other side of the locker room was striking after Saturday’s ugly 15-7 victory over Tennessee.
Quarterback Matt Moore, who replaced the released Delhomme, claimed there’s been steady improvement on offense, but was hardly convincing. Left tackle Jordan Gross insisted they can get it turned around before the regular-season opener Sept. 12 at the New York Giants.
“There are a lot of excuses. It’s preseason, we don’t have all our starters, all that stuff. Bottom line is we’ve got to keep working,” Gross said. “That’s something I’m very optimistic about with this group. I don’t think there’s anywhere we’re going to go but up.”
While Carolina has skewed its normally run-oriented offense to work on the passing game in the preseason – 117 pass attempts to just 70 runs – the results have been dismal.
games.
Moore’s accuracy has been suspect at times – he overthrew an open Dwayne Jarrett for what should’ve been a touchdown in the first quarter – and has been unable to sustain long drives.
Still, Moore remains the clear starter ahead of rookie Jimmy Clausen, who also hasn’t led a touchdown drive.
“There are some throws that I missed that are unacceptable,” said Moore, who was 4-1 as a starter to close last season. “You’ve got to hit those opportunities because they’re big plays.”
Moore is getting little help from a group of unheralded receivers that hasn’t met even the low expectations it had coming into camp.
While Smith is being held out of preseason games as he recovers from a broken arm, it’s becoming clear that again the Panthers don’t have a clear No. 2 receiver, an issue that’s been unresolved for years.
Jarrett has good hands but struggles to get open. Kenny Moore is inconsistent and prone to fumbling. Brandon LaFell has good moves but suspect hands. Wallace Wright lost a fumble Saturday and then hurt his shoulder. Rookie Armanti Edwards is still learning the position. And undrafted rookie Trent Guy is raw.
t, definitely nothing to throw up an alert over.”
While the Panthers hope somebody can step up to start with Smith, and Stewart (heel) returns to join DeAngelo Williams for a potent 1-2 running back punch, the defense has exceeded anyone’s expectations.
When Peppers took his 81 career sacks to Chicago in free agency, the Panthers were left with 13 defensive linemen with a combined 36 1/2 career sacks. They have half that total in three preseason games, and Carolina has allowed just three touchdowns, none by the first team the last two weeks.
Charles Johnson, the fourth-year pro who replaced Peppers at left end, was dominant with two sacks and two quarterback hurries Saturday night. Everette Brown had another sack and has three in the preseason. Surprising sixth-round pick Greg Hardy had his third sack, too.
Nine players have at least one sack and Carolina has 45 tackles for a loss in three games.
“Everybody is getting sacks. I think that’s the more surprising thing,” Brown said. “We’re playing fast.”
But the offense sure isn’t, an issue that must be resolved if Carolina is to have any shot in the difficult NFC South.
“We’ve got one more game to prepare for the regular season, but yeah, the tape is there,” Gross said. “We’ve got work to do.”
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