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Wounded Panthers 'D' now faces top-ranked run attack........

AKPantherFan

By AKPantherFan,
in Carolina Panthers

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AKPantherFan Apprentice

AKPantherFan

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CHARLOTTE – You don’t have to tell middle linebacker Jon Beason just how important it is for the Carolina Panthers to come away with a victory Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Vital is an understatement,” said a stone-faced Beason. “Hey, 0-3 is not a possibility. This is a must-win.”

Beason knows a key component to Carolina capturing its first win of the season will be stopping the Cowboys running game, which ranks first in the league (184.5 yards per game) after two weeks.

The Cowboys could be without star tailback Marion Barber, who injured his quad in Sunday night’s loss to the New York Giants, but second-year tailback Felix Jones has proven to be quite a big-play threat averaging an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry. Third-string back Tashard Choice had some success last year when both Barber and Jones were out and would see additional work if Barber doesn’t play.

“I don’t see a big difference between Choice and Barber,” Beason said. “I think Barber (who is averaging 6.3 yards per carry) is a great running back but I know Choice from college and he runs just as hard. They don’t lose much at that position.

Beason said he fully expects the Cowboys to run right at the Panthers and look to establish the line of scrimmage early.

He said Monday night’s game is going to be a “slug fest.”

“They probably have the biggest offensive line in the league,” Beason said. “Those guys are run-blockers and that is what they want to do. We have to go out there and bring it to them. We have to use our speed to our advantage and they’re going to use their size. They’re going to come right after us. It’s part of their game plan to try to come in and run the ball, try to pound us.”

Coach John Fox said limiting points scored, causing turnovers and stopping the run are all points of emphasis this week.

As far as Carolina’s run defense, he said players need to work on their gap fits. In the first two games players haven’t done a great job of being in the sports where they’re supposed to be. Part of that can be attributed to learning a new defensive scheme.

The good news, Fox said, is the problem is correctable with the players they have.

“Most of it has been mental, not physical,” Fox said.

It might sound like an excuse, but it doesn’t make things easier when your defensive tackle position has been a revolving door.

Ever since losing Maake Kemoeatu on the first day of training camp, it seems the Panthers have struggled for continuity at that position. Following Kemoeatu, they lost third-round draft pick Corvey Irvin to a season-ending knee injury. That forced them to make a trade for Louis Leonard, who was fitting in nicely until fracturing his ankle against Atlanta.

The latest defensive tackle to join the Panthers is Antwon Burton, who practiced for the first time with the team on Thursday.

He’ll play a role for the Panthers, but Nick Hayden is expected to start.

For defensive tackle Damione Lewis, it’s been a case of another week, another new player lining up next to him.

“It's not new,” Lewis said. “We've been doing it since the preseason. We'll keep battling through it and get the guys ready that we are going to have available.”

Beason believes Burton will pick up the defense pretty quick.

“I think the good thing is it will be some carryover from where he’s played before (in St. Louis),” Beason said of Burton. “I’m not saying it’s easy, but once you learn the fronts and listen to the calls he can get it. Big L (Leonard) got it pretty fast, too.

“We’re not going to put much on him but when he does go in there we just need him to beat his guy. That’s all we ask at this point."

MORE.... http://www.shelbystar.com/sports/run-41934-attack-top.html

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thunderraiden Veteran

thunderraiden

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Coach John Fox said limiting points scored, causing turnovers and stopping the run are all points of emphasis this week.

A+ coaching. I bet the 31 other coaches don't know that the defense is supposed to stop the offense. Just revolutionary thinking.

ahhh come on dont break character man, you're supposed to be speaking in first person.

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frash.exe Apprentice

frash.exe

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Coach John Fox said limiting points scored, causing turnovers and stopping the run are all points of emphasis this week.

A+ coaching. I bet the 31 other coaches don't know that the defense is supposed to stop the offense. Just revolutionary thinking.

yes

next he'll tell us scoring more points than the opponent is a crucial factor when trying to win.

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2jakefansinva Newbie

2jakefansinva

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Vital is an understatement,” said a stone-faced Beason. “Hey, 0-3 is not a possibility. This is a must-win.”

LMAO. How many times on this board have you heard posters say that there are no "must win" games this early in the season. At least the players get it. They should pull out all the stops to win this game. They have nothing too lose.

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