Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 26, 2014 12:43:31 GMT
Panthers vs. Ravens preview
By Jamison Hensley and David Newton | ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith's much-anticipated reunion with the Carolina Panthers takes place Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
Smith, who was cut in March after 13 seasons in Carolina, is the Panthers' all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. He has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Ravens, and his 290 receiving yards are the second most by a player 35 years or older in the first three games of a season.
"Usually 35-year-old guys shouldn’t be doing this, right?" Smith said.
Although this is the major storyline for this game, there also are two prideful defenses looking to get back on track. The Panthers (2-1) were run over by the Pittsburgh Steelers on national television, and the Ravens (2-1) were picked apart in the secondary by the Browns' Brian Hoyer.
ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton and Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley discuss a few key elements of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET game.
Hensley: From your history with Steve Smith, is there any way that he doesn’t have a monster game against his former team?
Newton: Sure there's a way, Jamison. Nothing against Smith, but the Carolina defense is pretty ticked off after being embarrassed by Pittsburgh. That unit played at a high standard the first two weeks coming off a season in which it finished second in the NFL. This group prides itself on shutting down key players.
But as far as Smith specifically, I'll put it this way. Detroit's Calvin Johnson came to Charlotte after a monster opener in which he caught seven passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers held him to underneath stuff. He caught six passes for 83 yards, but no touchdowns. Again, no disrespect to Smith, but he's no Megatron at this point in his career. I know he'll be fired up, and he has played extremely well so far. But there are some pretty angry players on the Carolina side ready to prove last week was an aberration.
Since we're on Smith, what has he brought to the Ravens?
Hensley: Smith's biggest contribution is the ability to get open. This is why a quarter of Joe Flacco's passes have gone in Smith's direction. Even though Smith and Flacco have played only three regular-season games together, there is already a trust between them because Flacco believes Smith is going to find a way to get separation and Smith believes Flacco is going to get him the ball. It was evident in the season opener when Flacco hit Smith on an 80-yard touchdown that gave the Ravens the lead in the fourth quarter. That connection surfaced again this past Sunday when Flacco's 32-yard strike to Smith set up the winning field goal.
The reason the Ravens pursued Smith so aggressively in free agency -- they signed him two days after he was cut by the Panthers -- is because of this clutch play. The Ravens didn't have a go-to receiver in those pressure situations last season after trading Anquan Boldin. Smith has done more than just fill Boldin's role. He is on pace to have a better season than Boldin ever had in Baltimore. Boldin never caught more than 65 passes in a season and never had a 1,000-yard season. Smith is projected to finish this season with 96 receptions and 1,546 yards receiving.
The Ravens, though, are not as pass-happy as they were a year ago. Their commitment to the run has been strong despite not having Ray Rice. Are the struggles of the Panthers’ run defense a one-game blip or a sign of things to come?
Newton: I'm going with a blip. I have to admit I was shocked the Steelers rushed for 264 yards against a unit that had given up just over 170 yards in the first two games combined. The mistakes Carolina made defensively were very uncharacteristic. Two of them led to 130 yards. The only example I can think of to explain why I believe it was an aberration is last season's loss at New Orleans. The Saints put up 31 points against a group that had gone eight straight games without allowing more than 20 points. The Panthers didn't allow more than 20 points in the final four regular-season games after that.
The wild card in this is I'm still not convinced the team doesn't miss defensive end Greg Hardy, who went on the commissioner's exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved. And outside linebacker Thomas Davis, whose 2013 season was almost every bit as good as Luke Kuechly's, is doubtful with a leg injury. Those are two key components of a front seven that, before the season, was among the best in the league.
Since I mentioned Hardy, how have the Ravens dealt with the off-the-field distraction of Rice's domestic violence case that continues to draw headlines?
Hensley: The Ray Rice Saga really hasn't been much of a distraction, which sounds strange to say. This story has dominated headlines and airwaves across the nation, but the Ravens say it's not talked about much inside the team's facility. The players and coaches devote much of their time during the week to the practice field, the meeting rooms and the weight room. There's not much time to think of anything else except the upcoming opponent. Coach John Harbaugh referred to it as a "football cocoon."
Some players have mentioned that it has helped bond the team even more. They've had to take a bunker mentality because of the outside perception of the team. The numbers back up the Ravens' claim that it hasn't been a distraction. The Ravens routed the Steelers four days after cutting Rice, and they won at Cleveland three days after ESPN.com's "Outside the Lines" feature ran a story headlined "Rice case: purposeful misdirection by the team, scant investigation by NFL."
If the Ravens want to extend their winning streak to three games, they're going to have to put as much pressure on quarterback Cam Newton as the Steelers did Sunday. How concerned are the Panthers about their ability to protect Newton?
Newton: It's not so much about the line protecting Newton as Newton protecting himself. Other than two occasions against Pittsburgh, he didn't try to scramble out of trouble. That was totally uncharacteristic and a sign that the surgically repaired left ankle might be giving him issues. But the bigger concern is the injury situation at running back.
The Panthers hope DeAngelo Williams (hamstring) is back after missing the past two games. Besides being a threat as a runner, he's extremely effective in picking up the pass rush as a blocker. If he's not ready, the running game could fall into the lap of an undrafted rookie, Darrin Reaves, signed off the practice squad Saturday. Jonathan Stewart is doubtful with a sprained knee suffered against Pittsburgh, and Mike Tolbert (fractured leg) was placed on short-term injured reserve Tuesday. If Newton can't run, the Panthers might be very one-dimensional. That's usually trouble against the Baltimore defense.
Carolina's passing game has been successful. I read where Baltimore's secondary has struggled. What's been the issue there?
Hensley: Other than the Ravens' struggles covering and tackling, everything is perfect with the secondary. Seriously, Sunday's game in Cleveland was one of the worst performances by a Ravens defensive backfield in recent memory. The Ravens made Hoyer look like Peyton Manning. He had only two incompletions through three quarters. Strong safety Matt Elam is a liability in coverage, and free safety Darian Stewart doesn't have great instincts. Cornerback Lardarius Webb (back) looked stiff in his first game back, and now cornerback Jimmy Smith (knee, ankle) is not at full strength. The other cornerbacks, Asa Jackson and Chykie Brown, have had their problems with missed tackles, too. The best way for the Ravens to take pressure off their secondary is to put more pressure on Newton.
By Jamison Hensley and David Newton | ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith's much-anticipated reunion with the Carolina Panthers takes place Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
Smith, who was cut in March after 13 seasons in Carolina, is the Panthers' all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. He has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Ravens, and his 290 receiving yards are the second most by a player 35 years or older in the first three games of a season.
"Usually 35-year-old guys shouldn’t be doing this, right?" Smith said.
Although this is the major storyline for this game, there also are two prideful defenses looking to get back on track. The Panthers (2-1) were run over by the Pittsburgh Steelers on national television, and the Ravens (2-1) were picked apart in the secondary by the Browns' Brian Hoyer.
ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton and Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley discuss a few key elements of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET game.
Hensley: From your history with Steve Smith, is there any way that he doesn’t have a monster game against his former team?
Newton: Sure there's a way, Jamison. Nothing against Smith, but the Carolina defense is pretty ticked off after being embarrassed by Pittsburgh. That unit played at a high standard the first two weeks coming off a season in which it finished second in the NFL. This group prides itself on shutting down key players.
But as far as Smith specifically, I'll put it this way. Detroit's Calvin Johnson came to Charlotte after a monster opener in which he caught seven passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers held him to underneath stuff. He caught six passes for 83 yards, but no touchdowns. Again, no disrespect to Smith, but he's no Megatron at this point in his career. I know he'll be fired up, and he has played extremely well so far. But there are some pretty angry players on the Carolina side ready to prove last week was an aberration.
Since we're on Smith, what has he brought to the Ravens?
Hensley: Smith's biggest contribution is the ability to get open. This is why a quarter of Joe Flacco's passes have gone in Smith's direction. Even though Smith and Flacco have played only three regular-season games together, there is already a trust between them because Flacco believes Smith is going to find a way to get separation and Smith believes Flacco is going to get him the ball. It was evident in the season opener when Flacco hit Smith on an 80-yard touchdown that gave the Ravens the lead in the fourth quarter. That connection surfaced again this past Sunday when Flacco's 32-yard strike to Smith set up the winning field goal.
The reason the Ravens pursued Smith so aggressively in free agency -- they signed him two days after he was cut by the Panthers -- is because of this clutch play. The Ravens didn't have a go-to receiver in those pressure situations last season after trading Anquan Boldin. Smith has done more than just fill Boldin's role. He is on pace to have a better season than Boldin ever had in Baltimore. Boldin never caught more than 65 passes in a season and never had a 1,000-yard season. Smith is projected to finish this season with 96 receptions and 1,546 yards receiving.
The Ravens, though, are not as pass-happy as they were a year ago. Their commitment to the run has been strong despite not having Ray Rice. Are the struggles of the Panthers’ run defense a one-game blip or a sign of things to come?
Newton: I'm going with a blip. I have to admit I was shocked the Steelers rushed for 264 yards against a unit that had given up just over 170 yards in the first two games combined. The mistakes Carolina made defensively were very uncharacteristic. Two of them led to 130 yards. The only example I can think of to explain why I believe it was an aberration is last season's loss at New Orleans. The Saints put up 31 points against a group that had gone eight straight games without allowing more than 20 points. The Panthers didn't allow more than 20 points in the final four regular-season games after that.
The wild card in this is I'm still not convinced the team doesn't miss defensive end Greg Hardy, who went on the commissioner's exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved. And outside linebacker Thomas Davis, whose 2013 season was almost every bit as good as Luke Kuechly's, is doubtful with a leg injury. Those are two key components of a front seven that, before the season, was among the best in the league.
Since I mentioned Hardy, how have the Ravens dealt with the off-the-field distraction of Rice's domestic violence case that continues to draw headlines?
Hensley: The Ray Rice Saga really hasn't been much of a distraction, which sounds strange to say. This story has dominated headlines and airwaves across the nation, but the Ravens say it's not talked about much inside the team's facility. The players and coaches devote much of their time during the week to the practice field, the meeting rooms and the weight room. There's not much time to think of anything else except the upcoming opponent. Coach John Harbaugh referred to it as a "football cocoon."
Some players have mentioned that it has helped bond the team even more. They've had to take a bunker mentality because of the outside perception of the team. The numbers back up the Ravens' claim that it hasn't been a distraction. The Ravens routed the Steelers four days after cutting Rice, and they won at Cleveland three days after ESPN.com's "Outside the Lines" feature ran a story headlined "Rice case: purposeful misdirection by the team, scant investigation by NFL."
If the Ravens want to extend their winning streak to three games, they're going to have to put as much pressure on quarterback Cam Newton as the Steelers did Sunday. How concerned are the Panthers about their ability to protect Newton?
Newton: It's not so much about the line protecting Newton as Newton protecting himself. Other than two occasions against Pittsburgh, he didn't try to scramble out of trouble. That was totally uncharacteristic and a sign that the surgically repaired left ankle might be giving him issues. But the bigger concern is the injury situation at running back.
The Panthers hope DeAngelo Williams (hamstring) is back after missing the past two games. Besides being a threat as a runner, he's extremely effective in picking up the pass rush as a blocker. If he's not ready, the running game could fall into the lap of an undrafted rookie, Darrin Reaves, signed off the practice squad Saturday. Jonathan Stewart is doubtful with a sprained knee suffered against Pittsburgh, and Mike Tolbert (fractured leg) was placed on short-term injured reserve Tuesday. If Newton can't run, the Panthers might be very one-dimensional. That's usually trouble against the Baltimore defense.
Carolina's passing game has been successful. I read where Baltimore's secondary has struggled. What's been the issue there?
Hensley: Other than the Ravens' struggles covering and tackling, everything is perfect with the secondary. Seriously, Sunday's game in Cleveland was one of the worst performances by a Ravens defensive backfield in recent memory. The Ravens made Hoyer look like Peyton Manning. He had only two incompletions through three quarters. Strong safety Matt Elam is a liability in coverage, and free safety Darian Stewart doesn't have great instincts. Cornerback Lardarius Webb (back) looked stiff in his first game back, and now cornerback Jimmy Smith (knee, ankle) is not at full strength. The other cornerbacks, Asa Jackson and Chykie Brown, have had their problems with missed tackles, too. The best way for the Ravens to take pressure off their secondary is to put more pressure on Newton.
