Archives for October 2019

4 Man Forum

4 Man Forum

This week, we decided to take a few questions from some of our fans. Not sure if this will be a permanent weekly feature, but it’s something to get fans involved. We only received a few questions, so let’s start it off.

Do you think the offensive line will be able to handle San Francisco’s pass rush? – Thomas York III

The Carolina Panthers offensive line can handle the San Francisco 49ers defensive line IF…….they execute their blocks with lower pad levels. The 49ers play with high pads coming off the ball leaving their chest exposed. During trench warfare the ones who win with leverage aka lowest pads will be able to control the player in front of them. The last two opponents of the 49ers (Redskins & Rams) had great opening drive success running the ball down. If the Panthers OL can get lower pads and proper helmet placement while drive blocking then there will be huge running lanes for McCaffrey to take advantage of. – 4MR Kevin

With the emergence of Dennis Daley, what will the Panthers do when Greg Little comes back? – Jason Smith

This is a tricky question, since we have offensive line depth for the first time in forever. Little played well in limited snaps at left tackle but Daley has played well in consecutive games. No clue what they will do, but personally I think they should leave Daley in at left tackle. The concussions are concerning and Little shouldn’t be rushed back any time soon. Having seven quality offensive linemen on the roster is a good problem to have. Also, I included Tyler Larsen in the seven. It’s eight if you are part of the minority that considers Daryl Williams a quality lineman. – 4MR Norris

Should Alex Armah get the ball in short yardage situations? As great as CMC is, it’s clearly not his strength. –Matt Strand

I would say that’s not our offense’s strength as a whole. Our interior OL hasn’t played well and we don’t have the guys that can drive you off the ball and get movement to be effective in short yardage. Hopefully, that part of the offense improves with the return of Trai and Paradis getting back into form after his broken leg. Here are stats via Football Outsiders:

Adjusted line yards – 23rd..measures how many yards are created by the OL vs the RB. So the OL isn’t creating yards.

Power success – 30th shows that the OL isn’t getting movement on 3rd and 4th and short.

Stuffed % – 22nd shows CMC gets hit before he gets to the line of scrimmage more than your average RB. – 4MR Will

While Cam has been medically cleared to travel with the team, he will not be active. As far as pulling a struggling Kyle Allen, I just don’t see them benching him. The thing about Kyle is, he can make a mistake and then he shakes it off. He doesn’t let a bad play define his whole game. So, I really don’t see Carolina putting Grier in at any point unless Allen gets injured or we are up by 20 in the fourth quarter. – 4MR Norris

What does the Four Man Rush think SHOULD happen when Cam’s ready? Will Kyle Allen remain the starter if he’s still undefeated? – Matt Crinkley

Since this is the most talked about subject, we believe it requires multiple answers from the 4MR crew.

When Cam is healthy, the team will make the best business decision. In this case, you don’t leave the face of your franchise as well as 16 million dollars on the bench. Should Cam struggle or cost us games, Kyle Allen prepares in a way where he shouldn’t miss a beat if he were needed to come back on the field. – 4MR Lawrence

I personally think you have to ride the hot hand until Allen’s magic run comes to an end. Cam is obviously the franchise quarterback, and the team has a lot invested in him. However, I think this needs to be looked at as a week-by-week situation. I just don’t think you can yank a guy that keeps on winning. This also gives Cam time to completely heal and come back playing at a high level. All In all, this is a good problem to have. – 4MR Greg

I like Kyle Allen and think he’s done an admirable job at filling in. I’ve seen him get better each week and I’ve liked his confidence from day one. I do think that Cam deserves to start at some point this season, but only when he gets back to 100%. Cam has put his body on the line in every game he’s played and he’s earned the right to get his spot back. If he’s 100%, he gives Carolina an added weapon on offense that opposing defenses will have to account for. Cam played his most efficient season last year prior to his injury, and it was Norv Turner’s first year as offensive coordinator. If Cam struggles or gets hurt again, you know you have a capable backup. In my opinion, it’s no different than Bridgewater in New Orleans being undefeated, because you know Brees is getting his job back. It’s not a knock on Kyle Allen, but a healthy Cam is better than Kyle. That’s just my opinion. But, I don’t make the decisions and I’ll support whatever Ron does. I would understand if they decided to stick with Allen, but I don’t think that will be the case. -4MR Norris

Thanks for the questions and as always, Keep Pounding!

A Look Ahead: 49ers

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers
VS
49ers
Game Time: 4:05

Who else is glad that the bye week is over? That was a brutal week without Panther football. It’s time for Carolina to march into San Francisco to play the undefeated 49ers. Kyle Allen looks to extend his winning streak to 6-0 for his career. Will he be able to withstand the Niners stout defense? Here’s a look ahead to the 49ers:

San Francisco 49ers

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

Kyle Shanahan

Defensive Coordinator 

Robert Saleh

Key Acquisitions 

DE Dee Ford (via trade)

LB Kwon Alexander

RB Tevin Coleman

WR Emmanuel Sanders (via trade)

Key Losses

CB Jason Varrett (IR)

WR Pierre Garçon

Key Draft Picks

DE Nick Bosa

WR Deebo Samuel

San Francisco has remained unbeaten through the first seven weeks, although they barely beat Washington last week. Granted, they played in really sloppy conditions. Their defense, led by Dee Ford and rookie, Nick Bosa, has dominated teams, as they only allow an average of 10.7 points per game. This defense will be a test for the Panthers, as this will be the hardest defense they’ve faced all season. Carolina will utilize McCaffrey in both the running game and passing game and try to keep the Niners defense guessing.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

Key Losses

WR Chris Hogan (IR with designation to return)

DL Kawann Short (IR)

QB Cam Newton (Foot injury)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

49ers
20th– 353.0 yds/gm
Total Offense
7th– 387.2 yds/gm
22nd– 223.5 yds/gm
Pass Offense
25th– 214.5 yds/gm
9th– 129.5 yds/gm
Rush Offense
2nd– 172.7 yds/gm
5th– 27.7 yds/gm
Scoring Offense
11th– 26.0 yds/gm
12th– 344.0 yds/gm
Total Defense
2nd– 223.5 yds/gm
7th– 225.0 yds/gm
Pass Defense
1st– 133.5 yds/gm
23rd– 119.0 yds/gm
Rush Defense
8th– 90.0 yds/gm
15th– 22.2 ppg
Points Allowed
2nd– 10.7 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina Panthers

Ok, Kyle….We see you. This was Allen’s first game with no fumbles and he was looking more comfortable in the pocket. He still has some work to do, but he’s still a young quarterback making the most out of his opportunity. Allen is doing exactly what Carolina was hoping he’d do if Cam got hurt. The 49ers will be a huge test for Allen, who was named the starter on Monday since Cam Newton hasn’t started practicing yet (As Expected). San Francisco has one of the best defenses in the league right now. Make no mistake about it, their defense will be gunning for Allen. Hopefully the offensive line will continue to give him the time he needs to hit his open targets. Norv Turner will likely call a lot of quick passes and three step drops against this defense. He will probably enlist the help of Olsen and Manhertz for blocking as well.

Last week Christian McCaffrey was shut down on the ground, but that didn’t stop him from scoring twice. He will once again be a key part of this offense Sunday, as the 49ers allow an average of 90 yards rushing per game. The 49ers haven’t played a running back of McCaffrey’s caliber yet and it will be interesting to see how they handle him. Especially with this Panthers defense playing as well as they are. If this defensive unit continues its play and gives Allen and McCaffrey good field position, look for McCaffrey to handle the load and be productive. The 49ers seem to play with high pad levels, so McCaffrey should be able to have some success on the ground.

In London, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel and Greg Olsen all had fairly productive games. Allen may have a little more trouble against this stout defense, but these three receivers plus McCaffrey will be his main targets when he throws. It’s likely that Moore will run a lot of shorter routes, since San Francisco will be pressuring Allen. Plus, he can get a lot of yards after the catch. McCaffrey will be getting a lot of work in the passing game as well. Also, look for Ian Thomas to be involved in more snaps this Sunday. Rivera said that the absence of Thomas was due to his injury putting him behind. Rumors have it, that the staff haven’t liked what they’ve seen in his blocking. Coach Rivera started in a press conference that Thomas has improved and has earned more reps.

Carolina’s defense has been playing at a high level for the past 4 games and looks to keep it going against San Francisco. The Carolina defense is second in the league in quarterback hits, with 50 (NE is first with 51), but Carolina has played one less game than the rest of the top six. That’s something that the Panthers need to continue against San Francisco, as Jimmy Garoppolo seems to struggle when being pressured. Garoppolo has thrown 6 interceptions, has been sacked 8 times and fumbled 5 times. In order for Carolina to win this game, the defense needs to cause Jimmy G to make some mistakes and cause some turnovers. The formula Carolina has used in the past four games is to dominate on defense and give Allen great field position.

Carolina also needs to limit San Francisco’s run game, as they are second in the league in rushing yards per game (172.7 per game). Carolina has struggled to stop the run this year, but hopefully they will learn to stop the run on the way to the quarterback. Carolina leads the league in sacks with 28 (in one less game than the top six) and they’re second in takeaways with 15. While both of San Francisco’s offensive tackles will likely be out again this week, the players filling in (Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill) have done well. However, they haven’t played a defense like Carolina so far. Hopefully, Carolina has another 7 sack and 7 takeaway game and beat the Niners.

San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is finally healthy for the 49ers and has the team undefeated through the first six games. He isn’t carrying the team, but he’s being a game manager. Much like Carolina, Garoppolo’s defense puts him and the offense in position to win. Having a good running game helps, but Garoppolo makes the necessary throws when he needs to. If he wants to take his team to 7-0, he will need to limit his mistakes against this opportunistic Carolina defense. While both offensive tackles have been out for consecutive weeks, the backups have played pretty well in their absence. They will have a test on Sunday, as they haven’t played a defense as dominant as Carolina.

San Francisco has a solid running back trio in Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert. This will be a test for Carolina’s 23rd ranked rush defense. This is a very dynamic backfield that can be utilized in both the running and passing game. The 49ers rank second in rushing and will look to keep that going this Sunday.

The main target in San Francisco is tight end, George Kittle. Kittle leads the team with 376 receiving yards. The receiving room consists of Marquise Goodwin (181 yards), Deebo Samuel (168 yards), Kendrick Bourne (139 yards) and Richie James (108 yards). However, there’s a new guy in town, as the 49ers have traded for Emmanuel Sanders this week. Sanders will give the team a proven target that is sure to enhance the offense, if Garoppolo has time to throw. With any luck, Carolina will put more pressure on Garoppolo than he is used to.

The 49er defense is stout. They have five first rounders on the defensive line and they are playing lights out. This will be a tough test for Kyle Allen and the Panthers’ offensive line. The defense has 20 sacks and 35 quarterback pressures. Look for the defense to blitz at a higher rate to get Allen to make mistakes. The secondary of San Francisco is also one of the best in the league, but their pass rush is one of the main reasons they’ve been successful.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run McCaffrey early and often (as always). The 49ers rank 8th in rush defense, so he will have his work cut out for him. CMC is a volume runner, which means the more you give it to him, the better he gets.

• Protect Kyle Allen. The line needs to give Allen time to find his target. The San Francisco defensive line will be coming for him.

• Moore and company need to get separation. Continue to mix things up with Samuel in the run game.

• Pressure Garoppolo. He makes mistakes when he’s pressured and doesn’t like to leave the pocket. He rarely extends plays with his legs. Pressuring him will shake his confidence.

• Bradberry and the Panthers defense need to continue their solid play, as the 49ers are stacked with speedy receivers. The (likely) return of Donte Jackson will help with that.

• Defense needs to cause several turnovers to give Allen less field to work with. Playing against a stacked defense could make it hard on Allen and the offense, but good field position will make things easier.

• Protect the ball! If the 49ers defense sacks Allen, he needs to hold onto the ball. He did that last week, so hopefully he continues to get better.

Key Matchups

• Christian McCaffrey VS 49ers Defensive Line

• DJ Moore/Curtis Samuel VS Richard Sherman/Ahkello Witherspoon

• Emmanuel Sanders/Marquise Goodwin VS James Bradberry

• Greg Olsen VS Kwon Alexander

• George Kittle VS Luke Kuechly

• 49ers Running Back Trio VS Carolina Defensive Line

Injury Report

Carolina Panthers

Carolina should get Trai Turner and Donte Jackson back this week and it comes at a good time. Allen will need all the protection he can get in this game. Cam is still out this week, but he has been practicing on the side with trainers, as he continues the rehab process. Greg Little is still in concussion protocol, but is progressing nicely. The team will be bringing him along slowly since this is his second concussion this year. The emergence of sixth round pick, Dennis Daley, has eased the effects of losing the second round tackle.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers will be without their starting right tackle, Mike McGlinchey, and Full Back Kyle Juszczyk. They will likely be without their starting left tackle, Joe Staley, again also. The backup tackles have played well in Staley and McGlinchey’s absence, but Carolina’s defense is unlike any they’ve faced.

Prediction

This will be a tough match against an undefeated team, but in reality, the 49ers haven’t played anyone with a winning record. So, this will be a huge test for them, too. Essentially, these two teams are almost mirrored from each other. Dominating defense, good running game, game manager quarterback and solid offensive line. This will be a defensive battle (obviously) and will likely be a somewhat low scoring game. Carolina is currently averaging 27.7 points per game, but San Francisco is allowing 10.7 points per game. Norv Turner having two weeks to prepare makes a difference, as Carolina wins on the road, 24-17. Led by Christian McCaffrey and a great defensive effort, San Francisco is no longer unbeaten. #KeepPounding

A Look Ahead: Bucs

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris


Panthers

VS

Buccaneers

Game Time: 9:30 AM

Welcome to the Christian McCaffrey Show. He’s the best running back in the league right now, if not the best overall player. With Allen in at quarterback, the offense runs through McCaffrey. What a performance by CMC, as he had 175 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving and 3 total touchdowns. Kyle Allen struggled with pocket presence and ball security once again, but he helped the team just enough to win. Allen is doing his job as a back up, but it will be a nice change when Newton comes back. Either way, both Allen and Newton need the fans’ support. Now, it’s off to London! Here is a look ahead to the Bucs:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Head Coach

Bruce Arians

Offensive Coordinator 

Byron Leftwich

Defensive Coordinator 

Todd Bowles

Key Acquisitions 

DT Ndamukong Suh

LB Shaq Barrett

S Darian Stewart

Key Losses

DT Gerald McCoy

WR DeSean Jackson

DE Vinny Curry

Key Draft Picks

LB Devin White

Tampa comes to London with a record of 2-3, even though they’ve scored more points than anyone in the division. The Bucs have been up and down all year, as has Jameis Winston. One thing that has remained consistent for the Bucs is their run defense. Tampa Bay has only allowed 349 yards on the ground in five games, which is good enough for third in the league. The Bucs are capable of beating the Panthers, which is evident due to this happening in week two. One difference is, an injured Cam Newton was playing quarterback for Carolina. Linebacker, Shaq Barrett, is having a superb season so far, as he has 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 interception so far.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

Key Losses

WR Chris Hogan (IR with designation to return)

DL Kawann Short (IR)

QB Cam Newton (Foot injury)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

Buccaneers
14th– 370.0 yds/gm
Total Offense
17th– 359.8 yds/gm
23rd– 226.4 yds/gm
Pass Offense
12th– 250.4 yds/gm
4th– 143.6 yds/gm
Rush Offense
19th– 109.4 yds/gm
10th– 25.8 ppg
Scoring Offense
5th– 29.4 ppg
8th– 331.4 yds/gm
Total Defense
26th– 393.4 yds/gm
4th– 197.0 yds/gm
Pass Defense
32nd– 323.6 yds/gm
24th– 134.4 yds/gm
Rush Defense
2nd– 69.8 yds/gm
11th– 21.4 ppg
Points Allowed
29th– 29.6 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina Panthers

Kyle Allen is doing his job as a backup quarterback, as he isn’t doing anything to lose the games. His fumbling is still an issue, as he had two more last Sunday. He needs to get better pocket presence, but that comes with time. This Sunday, in jolly ole London, Kyle will likely be throwing a lot more. Tampa Bay’s pass defense is ranked dead last, and Carolina would be wise to get Allen going. The offensive line played well last week with Dennis Daley at left tackle, so hopefully they can keep Suh and Barrett at bay and protect Allen.

Christian McCaffrey is having a historic season so far, as he leads the league in all purpose yards and is on pace to smash the record set by Chris Johnson in 2009. Whether or not he can keep it up, is yet to be seen. Look for Carolina to try to get him going early, even though Tampa’s rush defense ranks second in the league, and they only allowed CMC to get 37 yards in their last meeting. Hopefully, he can break a few long runs, as he’s done several times this season, to keep the defense honest. McCaffrey will be used heavily in the passing game due to the Buc’s porous pass defense. Look for Carolina to give Reggie Bonnafon a few carries on the heels of his successful game last week.

DJ Moore is on pace to have 1,100 yards receiving this year, and looks to capitalize on the Buc’s 32nd ranked pass defense. Moore seems to be coming into his own and is showing fans why he was a first round pick. He made a nice leaping catch last week, where he went up and plucked it out of the sky with ease for a 52 yard gain. Curtis Samuel will also get plenty of looks in the Carolina offense this Sunday. He was used in the running game for a couple of plays last week, but was relatively quiet. This was due to Christian McCaffrey’s amazing day. Greg Olsen was held without a catch last week, even though he was open on several plays. He gives Allen a big target in the red zone, and he will be used this Sunday in London.

The Carolina defense had a few hiccups Sunday, as they allowed Gardner Minshew to throw for 375 yards. With Donte Jackson likely returning to the lineup, that will help tremendously in coverage. They will have a huge test again Sunday, as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will get a lot of looks. This is a revenge game for the team and they’ll be looking to stop Chris Godwin this time around. With Tampa’s right tackle and right guard likely out with injury, Carolina should get good pressure and keep Winston on his back. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention defensive lineman, Efe Obada, who heads back home to London. Expect to see more of him this Sunday, so he can play in front of his home crowd, which should give him more motivation. #Keep£ing

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jameis Winston is having a relatively good season, as he has 1,371 yards, 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. That’s good enough for a 97.2 QB Rating. That’s a little misleading, considering that in the last 4 games he hasn’t had less than a 103.4. Winston has developed a rapport with wide receiver Chris Godwin, and it has translated to the field. In week two, Winston had 208 yards and a touchdown against Carolina. Carolina has a very different defense than they did in week two. Look for Winston to struggle against Carolina’s pass rush. Especially on the right side, as both his right guard and right tackle are expected to miss the game.

In the week two battle, Peyton Barber has 82 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. Barber will look to have an even more successful day against a Panthers defense that ranks 24th against the run. If Carolina doesn’t get their run defense in check, Barber could have a field day.

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are one of the best wide receiver tandems in the league right now. Godwin is having an All Pro season, as he has 511 yards and 6 touchdowns in 5 games. He had 121 yards and a touchdown in the Thursday night debacle. Mike Evans is having a decent season, as he has 368 yards and 4 touchdowns. They’ll look to get going against Carolina Sunday, even though it’ll be tougher than it was in their first meeting.

The Buccaneer defense has been excellent against the run all year. In week two, they held Christian McCaffrey to 37 yards rushing. It’s going to be hard to do that the second time, now that CMC is in the zone. Their pass defense isn’t good, as they rank last in the NFL. They’ll look to hold McCaffrey in check and make Kyle Allen beat them with his arm. Shaq Barrett is playing out of his mind this year. Carolina will have their hands full once again Sunday, although their offensive line seems to be getting better each week, no matter who’s playing. Dennis Daley stepped in at left tackle and played well.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Scheme ways to get McCaffrey the ball. The offense runs through CMC and he will be needed on Sunday. Get him the ball early and often.

• Protect Kyle Allen. Sixth round pick, Dennis Daley, stepped in and played well at left tackle while Greg Little is injured. Hopefully, Allen can become a little more comfortable and learn to step into the pocket.

• Protect the ball. No matter who it is, hold that ball tight. No fumbles this week.

• Rush the passer. Carolina needs to get pressure on Winston while not letting him get out of the pocket. Winston is dangerous when scrambling.

• Contain Peyton Barber. Carolina needs to learn how to stop the run.

• Get Greg Olsen going against this porous Bucs’ defense.

Key Matchups

• Donte Jackson VS Chris Godwin

• James Bradberry VS Mike Evans

• Panthers’ Defense VS Buc’s banged up Offensive Line

• Christian McCaffrey VS Buc’s Defense

Injury Report

Both teams come into this game with key injuries, but perhaps the worst injuries are to the Buccaneers offensive line. They’re not as prepared for offensive line injuries as the Panthers are (sounds weird for Carolina to have offensive line depth). Carolina gets Donte Jackson back, and it comes at a good time. Hopefully, Shaq Thompson and Eric Reid are ready to go Sunday. All signs point to them playing.

Prediction

Coach Rivera said that he’s keeping the schedule as normal as possible for Friday and Saturday, so the players can have some continuity in their routine. This will prove to be beneficial, as the players will be well rested and ready to go. This will be a tough game for both teams, but Carolina will find success through the air. Carolina wins on the road, yet again, 27-24. Carolina goes into the bye week with a record of 4-2. #Keep£ing

 

CMC for MVP?

Prime Cuts with Norris


There are quite a few people out there that think Panthers’ running back, Christian McCaffrey, deserves to be in the conversation for NFL MVP. On one hand, it’s only week six and it’s a little early for that talk. On the other hand, it is fun to think about. After all, there really aren’t many positive things to think about this season, aside from the defense and McCaffrey. Yes, Kyle Allen is doing decent at quarterback, but everyone knows Cam will be back soon.

Back to the topic at hand. Christian McCaffrey is having a really good start to the season, with the exception of the Tampa Bay game. In five weeks, CMC is leading the league in all-purpose yards by over 120. He is currently on pace for 1,878 yards rushing, 893 yards receiving and 22 total touchdowns. That’s a pretty solid stat line for any running back, but is it MVP worthy?

That’s kind of a loaded question, as there are many variables involved. First, the league usually gives the MVP award to the best quarterback in the league. Right now, the only quarterback playing well enough to earn the MVP award, is Patrick Mahomes. Russell Wilson of Seattle is also starting to heat up. In most cases, when a running back has won the MVP award, the quarterbacks in that same year have struggled. For instance, in 2012 when Adrian Peterson won the MVP award, the top 3 quarterbacks were Matt Stafford, Drew Brees and Tony Romo. Stafford threw 17 interceptions and Brees and Romo both threw 19 interceptions. All three quarterbacks struggled to get wins, too.

Speaking of wins, that’s another thing that the league looks at when deciding who deserves the MVP award. Since 2004, of all the teams who had MVPs, their respective records have been at least 12-4. There have been two exceptions, as Matt Ryan’s Falcons won 11 games and Adrian Peterson’s Vikings won 10 games. Bottom line is, every team in the last 20 years that has the MVP, has made the playoffs. With Carolina sitting at 3-2, it’s hard to tell how their record will fall. It’s still early in the season, but the defense and CMC look like they can keep it going, at least until Cam is able to come back and take some pressure off of McCaffrey.

When Adrian Peterson won the MVP award in 2012, he had over 2,000 yards rushing. In the last 20 years, four running backs have won the MVP award. Of those four, they all had either over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, or 25+ touchdowns. Given McCaffrey’s current pace, it’s not outside the realm of possibility for McCaffrey to have over 2,500 yards from scrimmage. He could also have over 25 total touchdowns, given he has a penchant for getting multiple touchdown games.

Other MVP award winning running backs:

• 2006 Ladanian Tomlinson – 1,815 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards and 22 total touchdowns

• 2005 Shaun Alexander – 1,880 rushing yards, 78 receiving yards and 28 total touchdowns

• 2000 Marshall Faulk – 1,359 rushing yards, 830 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns

If McCaffrey can keep this train going, he is on pace to surpass these four running backs. As a matter of fact, he’s on pace to surpass Chris Johnson’s record of most yards from scrimmage in a season by 262 yards. In 2009, Johnson had 2,509 yards from scrimmage. If McCaffrey does break the yards from scrimmage record, that could help catapult him ahead of everyone in the MVP race. Oh, and McCaffrey has joined NFL Hall of Fame great, Jim Brown, as the only other player to average 175 yards from scrimmage in four of his first five games. The NFL record for most 175 yard games in a season is six, and McCaffrey has the potential to tie that record in week eight.

Christian McCaffrey is one of the most exciting players in the NFL and he’s really fun to watch. There’s little doubt that he will be in the MVP race for the rest of the year, given the pace at which he plays. As a matter of fact, if voting were done today, he should be the odds all favorite to win. The guy exemplifies hard work on and off the field. If CMC keeps this going, it’ll be a historic season for him and the Panthers. With any luck, Carolina will keep pumping out wins while McCaffrey puts the team on his back. Again, it’s far too early to name the MVP, but McCaffrey has been great through the first five weeks. He’s earned the right to be in the conversation. So until it’s time to vote, enjoy the greatness…..because you could be watching history in the making.

A Look Ahead: Jaguars

Prime Cuts with Norris


Panthers
VS
Jaguars
Game Time: 1:00
Game Time Temperature: 79 degrees 30% chance of rain

Despite the severe fumblitis by quarterback Kyle Allen, Carolina pulls off their second win of the season. The stout defense of the Panthers carried the team, as they sacked Deshaun Watson six times, intercepted him once, forced a fumble with a recovery and held him to 160 yards passing. Christian McCaffrey had another solid game, as he had 93 yards rushing and 86 yards receiving and one touchdown. Hopefully, the defense keeps this train going and they put a halt to all of this Minshew mania. Here’s a look ahead to the Jaguars:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Head Coach

Doug Marrone

Offensive Coordinator 

John DeFilippo

Defensive Coordinator 

Todd Wash

Key Acquisitions 

QB Nick Foles

TE Geoff Swaim

WR Chris Conley

Key Losses

QB Nick Foles (IR)

RB Carlos Hyde

DT Malik Jackson

S Tashaun Gipson

Key Draft Picks

DE Josh Allen

OT Jawaan Taylor

QB Gardner Minshew

The “Mississippi Mustache” is coming to town and he’s bringing a nation of fans with him. The Jags have a 2-2 record and are in a four-way tie for the AFC South division lead. The Jags are averaging 23 points per game over the last two weeks, both of which they won. Rookie quarterback, Gardner Minshew, has exceeded expectations for the Jaguars and will look to continue against Carolina. Leonard Fournette will look to feast upon Carolina’s 24th ranked rushing defense.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

WR Chris Hogan

Key Losses

WR Chris Hogan (IR with designation to return)

DL Kawann Short (IR)

QB Cam Newton (Foot injury)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

RB Jordan Scarlett

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

Jaguars
17th– 351.3 yds/gm
Total Offense
14th– 364.0 yds/gm
17th– 243.0 yds/gm
Pass Offense
21st– 228.8 yds/gm
17th– 108.3 yds/gm
Rush Offense
5th– 135.3 yds/gm
11th– 23.8 ppg
Scoring Offense
20th– 21.0 ppg
4th– 287.5 yds/gm
Total Defense
18th– 366.3 yds/gm
1st– 156.8 yds/gm
Pass Defense
22nd– 266.8 yds/gm
24th – 130.8 yds/gm
Rush Defense
13th– 99.5 yds/gm
11th– 20.0 ppg
Points Allowed
12th– 21.0 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina Panthers

Ok, Kyle….hold onto the ball. Allen did decent as a game manager last week, but he needs to improve his pocket awareness. On two of his lost fumbles, the offensive line did well at pushing the defenders past the pocket, but Allen refused to step into the pocket. With Greg Little starting at left tackle and Daryl Williams playing right guard, the Panthers offensive line looked much improved. Greg Little graded out at 89.5 (per Pro Football Focus) in pass blocking and didn’t allow a single pressure in his first NFL start. That’s great, considering that Carolina had the worst pass blocking team in the NFL prior to last week. Allen will look to improve his ball security and pocket awareness this week at home against the Jags. It will be a tough task against Calais Campbell, who has played lights out this year. Allen will get pressured, so he better shore up that fumblitis. All we can ask is for him to win a couple more games against a weaker stretch of our schedule until Cam Newton comes back.

Christian McCaffrey continues his possible MVP season. He is getting more touches and making the most of them. He is putting the team on his back and being one of the main factors for Carolina’s success. Not only does he lead the league in rushing yards, but he also leads the league in total yards from scrimmage by 105 yards. However, he played 100% of the snaps last week (he touched the ball 37 out of 62 snaps) and it’s concerning that he will be worn down towards the end of the season. Carolina needs to involve Reggie Bonnafon and Jordan Scarlett more this week, especially if the Panthers take an early lead. Yes, McCaffrey wants those touches, but sometimes the coaches have to look long term and save players from themselves (see Newton, Cam).

One thing that Allen does well, is evenly distribute the ball. DJ Moore (261 yards, 1 TD) and Curtis Samuel (208 yards, 1 TD) are almost even through 4 games in terms of yardage and touchdowns. Greg Olsen, who is seventh in yardage among tight ends, has 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. If the offensive line can hold, Kyle Allen will look to get back on track and distribute the ball amongst his weapons. Obviously, Christian McCaffrey will continue to be heavily targeted in the passing game as well. While he doesn’t get talked about much, Jarius Wright deserves some praise. Wright had five catches for 59 yards against Houston. He continues to come through when the team needs him. Wright is a valuable part of this offense and will be looked upon again this week.

Carolina has the number one pass defense in the league, as they’ve allowed only 156.8 yards per game through the air. That’s 25 yards less than the second place, New England. Thieves Avenue is back, but this time, there’s a new number 24 leading the way. James Bradberry is having a career year and is proving to be one of the best young corners in the league. Donte Jackson, who was out last week, had two interceptions against the Cardinals and should be back this week against Jacksonville.

Carolina also has 14 sacks in two games and 18 so far this year, which is tied for first with New England. This feat was accomplished without Kawann Short, which is amazing in itself. The one thing that this defense needs to improve on, is the run defense. They’re 24th against the run, and with Leonard Fournette coming to town, they need to find a way to improve. A lot of this could be attributed to the scheme change. Carolina will look to hold Fournette to under 100 yards this week. One way to do that is to keep the defense off the field, so that they remain fresh. Kyle Allen and the offense needs to sustain long drives. Also, Mario Addison and Shaq Thompson are playing out of their minds. Brian Burns will look to continue his impressive rookie season. Carolina’s defensive front needs to put pressure on the right side of Jacksonville’s offensive line to disrupt Minshew. Carolina has been solid getting pressure on the quarterbacks, as they have 45 pressures on the season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gardner Minshew has taken the world by storm, with his outlandish outfits, long hair and swag (sound familiar?). Minshew has 905 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception through four games, which is good enough for a quarterback rating of 106.9. He’s a rookie, so he makes some mistakes. He’s held onto the ball too long and took some sacks. He’s missed some deep routes when under pressure. He’s had open receivers and picked the wrong read. That said, the guy is more polished than any other rookie quarterback right now, and will get his chance to shine this week if he can pick apart the number one pass defense. Minshew will see pressure early and often, so it remains to be seen how he handles it. One more thing to watch: of the 77 points that the offense has scored with Minshew at the helm, 48 of those points (62%) have been in the second half.

Leonard Fournette is having a really good start to his season, as he is third in both rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage. It should be noted, however, that 225 of those rushing yards came last week. Fournette could have another big game this week against a weak run defense.

Jacksonville has a nice core group of receivers. Chris Conley, DJ Chark and speedster Dede Westbrook are a well rounded group, although it looks as if Chark is Minshew’s number one guy. After seeing Houston’s near success on a couple of missed deep passes last week, look for Minshew to try to go deep a few times. The Carolina defense is first against the pass, so it will be a task. Especially if Donte Jackson comes back this week.

Jacksonville’s defense is ranked 18th in total defense, 23rd against the pass and 13th against the run. They have a pretty good pass rush, as they are tied for sixth in sacks with 13. They are also tied for second in quarterback pressures with 53.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Protect Kyle Allen. Carolina’s offensive line will get a huge test this week. With Greg Little likely out with another concussion, it may be difficult to hold off the Jacksonville pass rush.
• Get McCaffrey the ball. While it’s not sustainable for CMC to get 35-40 touches per game, it’s imperative to get him the ball that much while Cam is out.
• Defense! Defense! The defense needs to get to Minshew and force him to make mistakes.
• Protect the ball! The ball is your baby. Don’t drop your baby.
• Run defense needs to contain Leonard Fournette, no matter how tough it is.

Key Matchups

• Christian McCaffrey VS Jaguars’ defense

• Gerald McCoy VS Jawaan Taylor

• James Bradberry VS DJ Chark

• Leonard Fournette VS Panthers’ Defense

• Kyle Allen VS Jaguars’ Pass Rush

• Gardner Minshew VS Panthers’ Pass Rush

Injury Report

For the Jaguars, the only impact player that isn’t expected to play is, corner Jalen Ramsey. The Panthers, however, have a lot of impact players that could potentially be out. With Greg Little and Trai Turner likely being out, the offensive line will shift again. Williams will likely be back at left tackle, with Dennis Daley playing right guard. Hopefully something positive happens with Donte Jackson, as it would nice to have him back. Ross Cockrell will fill in again if Jackson can’t go. With any luck, this injury report will shrink significantly by Sunday.

Prediction

First and foremost, I predict that there will be a lot of cheers and tears when the four new members of the Hall of Honor give their speeches. This will be a defensive battle with some success on the ground by both teams. Ultimately, the Panthers’ defense stymies the Jaguars and Carolina wins 21-17.