Post by Panther on Sept 4, 2012 22:35:25 GMT -5
Game is Sunday (9th) at 4:25 PM (EST).
Q:
A: HELL YEAH!
Welcome to week one of the NFL Regular Season!
Keys to Victory:
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM - Cam must have a great game to make all the haters, as Chad81 would say, go in "HUSH MODE". Newton has a great matchup vs the suspect Buccaneers defense rushing the ball and passing. Panthers beat the Buccaneers by a total of 51 points in the two games last season. I expect Cam to have a big game.
Good play by our Linebackers - I am worried Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount will run over us this game. I really like Martin as a RB and with our below average run defense, it is a concern. Ron and Dwan Edwards (of no relation) have never played a down in Carolina and will be the starting Defensive Tackles in Carolina. What does that mean? They will probably not play too good. So the Panthers linebacking core with Jon Beason, James Anderson, Thomas Davis, and the rookie Luke Kuechly (Luuuuuuuuuuuke). I think our linebackers have to step up in the run game to stop the Buccaneers rushing offense.
Get to Josh Freeman - We know this: The Panthers DL is average, the Buccaneers OL is average at pass blocking. So, the battle in the trenches will be a hard thought battle between two sides that have no edge. I expect Charles Johnson to get to Freeman at least once, with Thomas Keiser (pass rushing DE) to pressure Freeman from the other side. If Freeman is off track, he could go back to form like he was last year, something the Buccaneers DON'T want.
Things that concern me:
Dwan and Ron Edwards - Neither have played a down in a Panthers uniform, now both are starting for us? Clearly a concern for us, espically when our Defensive Tackles were poor for us last season.
Josh Norman - I don't like Norman to go up 1v1 against Mike Williaims (YET). I think Norman can be better than Chris Gamble (Linky. It would be good for Norman long term to let Williams score once or twice, but that could be very bad for the Panthers as a team considering this will be a close high scoring game.
Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber - I am worried the two of them will be catching passing from Newton, which could be bad for the Panthers considering Talib and Barber play for the Buccaneers. Talib is a big play guy who will either get an interception or let a the reception happen, while Barber is a vetaran moving to FS and will be watching Cam all day. The two of them will be in a battle with Cam the whole game.
Stat Predictions:
Panthers:
Cam Newton - 29/37 (78%), 348 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 INT. 5 ATTs, 37 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.
DeAngelo Williams - 13 ATTs, 89 Yards, 1 TD.
Jonathan Stewart - 6 ATTs, 46 Yards, 0 TDs. 1 rec, 7 yards.
Steve Smith - 6 Recs, 130 yards, 1 TD.
Brandon LaFell - 3 Recs, 46 yards, 0 TDs.
Louis Murphy - 4 recs, 67 yards, 1 TD.
Greg Olsen - 6 recs, 51 yards, 1 TD.
Sacks: Charles Johnson X1 and Thomas Kesier X1.
TOs: Josh Norman intercepts Josh Freeman. Luke Kuechly strips LeGarrette Blount, recovered by Thomas Keiser.
Buccaneers:
Josh Freeman - 20/31 (64%), 306 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 INT. 1 ATT, 6 yards.
Doug Martin - 19 ATTs, 97 rushing yards, 2 Rushing TD. 3 Recs, 34 yards, 0 Rec TDs.
LeGarrette Blount - 5 ATTs, 20 rushing yards, 0 TDs, 1 fumble.
Vincent Jackson - 4 Recs, 61 yards, 1 TD.
Mike Williams - 6 Recs, 73 yards, 1 TD.
Sacks: Adrian Clayborn X1.
TOs: Aqib Talib picks off Cam Newton.
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