–There are few players in football who create more problems for opposing defenses than Christian McCaffrey, who is one of only three running backs in the NFL with over 600 rushing yards and 495 receiving yards. Possessing great straight-line speed and unrivaled quickness, he’s proven capable of running between the tackles as well as lining up as a slot receiver.
“He does everything. He’s caught 60 passes already, so he’s a real focal point in the offense and he’s running the ball with good average and scoring both by the catches and from the ground,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “That’s a real problem and you just give him another dimension with Cam (Newton), and it just makes it really hard.”
The Seahawks have had trouble stopping the run in recent weeks, although they did limit Aaron Jones to only 40 rushing yards on 11 carries in last week’s win over Green Bay. With Newton and McCaffrey both capable of wreaking havoc on the ground and the read-option game a major focal point in Carolina’s offense, ratcheting up run fits and clean tackling will be critical for Seattle.
–Though the Panthers play in the NFC South, they’ve played the Seahawks five times in the regular season over the past seven seasons. In what has become a division rivalry of sorts, Carroll holds great respect for a defense that still features plenty of big names from prior contests, including two playoff games between the two teams.
“They’re really stout. You guys will recognize the names, all those guys that you’ve been seeing for years,” Carroll stated. “There’s enough of those guys that you can feel their old ways. You can feel their experience. You can feel the playmaking ability. You can’t fool these guys.”
Seattle has emerged as the NFL’s top rushing team, averaging north of 150 yards on the ground per game and eclipsing the 150-yard mark in seven straight games. The Panthers have the talent to counter, however, with a group of linebackers Carroll raved about on Tuesday.
“They’re really sharp and savvy and Thomas (Davis) is amazing and Luke (Kuechly) is an amazing player and Shaq (Thompson) is … their linebackers just jump out at you,” Carroll said.
Kuechly, a four-time All-Pro selection, once again leads the Panthers with 83 tackles, while Thompson has already enjoyed his finest NFL season, recording 61 tackles and 2.0 sacks. As for Davis, the 35-year-old veteran has showed little sign of decline, making 36 tackles in six games this year.
–Along with dealing with Carolina’s talented group of linebackers, Carroll name-dropped defensive end Mario Addison as a player Seattle will have to account for on Sunday, comparing him to Seahawks star Frank Clark. The 31-year-old defender has evolved from a long-time reserve into the team’s best pass rusher over the past couple of seasons and leads the team with 7.5 sacks.
“I just think he’s just grown in experience and he’s on his game better than he’s ever been just because he’s learned,” Carroll said while commenting on Addison’s ascension. “His quickness and his consistency and getting after the QB is really obvious and they have a really good push with the other big guys around him. He’s a nice complement. He’s exactly the kind of production that you’re looking for.”
Addison posted a career-best 11.0 sacks last year, but he’s not the only quality player on Carolina’s front four. Defensive tackle Kawann Short remains stout in the interior, though he hasn’t had quite as much success getting to the quarterback as prior seasons with only 2.0 sacks this year, while Dontari Poe and Julius Peppers give head coach Ron Rivera reliable veteran options in the trenches.
BY THE NUMBERS: 100.2 – Passer rating for Russell Wilson on first-down passing attempts, 10th best in the NFL.
