–The Panthers tend to have some good responses after defeats. One veteran has called for the same thing after winning.
“Even after a win, we challenge ourselves to get better and make progress,” defensive end Julius Peppers said.
Peppers’ message has been clear that the Panthers need to make similar improvements after winning – as they did in their most recent outing against Cincinnati – as they do after stumbling.
“We still have to improve on some things,” Peppers said.
The Panthers didn’t play last weekend. They’ve won the last three years after their open date.
–The Panthers are looking balanced in the short term under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner even if the passing numbers have lagged behind the league average.
But with a league-best 166 yards per game on the ground, it’s bound to open more passing avenues in the games to come.
“It’s just keeping defenses off balance,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “Keeping a balanced run game, balanced pass game, taking shots when they’re there.”
Because the Panthers have shown the ability to move the ball in multiple ways, it should help expand the possibilities.
“When you’ve got a team playing confident like we’re playing, it makes us hard to beat,” Newton said. “We know we can’t let off the pedal.”
–The Panthers felt it was necessary to restock on the offensive line, which has been hammered with injuries. So they traded for tackle Marshall Newhouse from the Buffalo Bills.
Newhouse is a nine-year veteran with time on a Green Bay Packers team that won the Super Bowl. He has made 70 starts, also playing for Oakland, the New York Giants and Cincinnati.
In many ways, the Panthers are patching it together up front.
“We thrive on being called a makeshift O-line and we’ll just continue to do our job,” center Ryan Kalil said.
Newhouse has been listed as a backup at both tackle spots, but the Panthers won’t be afraid to put him on the field. With the open date, he has had nearly two weeks to prepare for his debut with the team.
BY THE NUMBERS: 27 — Yards needed by Panthers QB Cam Newton to post the most rushing yards by a quarterback with one team. Randall Cunningham had 4,482 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
