Game 4 Preview: Panthers
Published: September 28th, 2007By Bucstats.com weblog
Five Things You Didn't Know About The Panthers
- Backup QB David Carr was sacked twice jogging off the field on his way to the locker room last Sunday.
- John Kasay is the last remaining original Panther. No one on Earth hates teal more than this man.
- The Panthers are 44-45 all-time at home during the regular season. They actually have a home team disadvantage.
- During the offseason, linebacker Dan Morgan uses his hyperbaric chamber to store his extra-collectible Transformers.
- The inexplicably named TopCats are not all hot, bi-curious, alcoholic sluts who will take both you and your girlfriend into a public bathroom stall and leave you confused and covered in blisters. Some of them are, in fact, not hot at all.
Jake Delhomme hasn't practiced because of a strained elbow. Right guard Jeremy Bridges has been out for the past three games and his replacement is Ryan Kalil, a rookie center who has never played guard until this season. Dan Morgan is injured, and so is his replacement, Adam Seward. Those are pretty significant. Delhomme's injury by itself is big. The Bucs defense may gain more ground in sack yardage on Carr than the offense does rushing.
Let's also add the fact that despite DeAngelo Hall's big mouth, Steve Smith was held to one catch for ten yards last week. Of course, the Panthers still won, but I think that has more to do with the fact that the Falcons really, really suck than with Carolina's ability to win despite shutting down Smith. I think the Bucs can take Smith out of the game and still play the running game hard like they have been. Carolina's strength is in DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams (how many guys are really named DeAngelo?) but Barrett Ruud, Cato June and Jermaine Phillips are fast enough to keep them from doing too much damage. And I don't know what's wrong with Julius Peppers, but he has taken himself completely out of the games this season. Six tackles and no sacks for one of the league's premier linemen? I'm thinking Jeremy Trueblood can keep him in check. Bucs by 6.
