Preseason sends serious message to those who come to Charlotte

The Carolina Panthers pulled off the huge win…

Last night’s game had an early moment of serious drama when Cam Newton wound up landing on his head from a tackle while scrambling. He only missed one play, and the net effect of some personal toughness by their leader in the 25-14 victory over the Patriots should send a serious message to visitors about some fear and things being different in Charlotte this year.

Kuechly and Shaq Thompson cleaned up whatever Dontari Poe and Kawann Short didn’t snuff– Pats only got 28 yards on 11 carries– so the first team defense is on point again, even better than #7 defense of 2017. Donte Jackson’s ‘no first down here!’ tackle to make the Pats first possession a three-and-out was duly noted, part of a total team effort in determination, with futures/starters jobs on the line.

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It looked a little strange to see Panthers jamming CMC down Patriots throat 5 yards at a time on the first drive of game, but nearly half his touches for the game came on that 16-play, 10 minute drive, and several were through Moton’s position. While there won’t be a Luuuuke! type cheer in the stadium for wherever the desirably flexible Taylor Moton is keeping his opposite number off Newton or a ball carrier, on a night where the offensive line needed to produce answers about injuries and opportunities, Moton was low-key and articulate about how prepared he was during sidelines interviews, all business when he was on the field.

• McCaffrey didn’t throw a 70-yarder into his totals this week, but as Newton was spreading the joy on offense, CMC made a significant contribution to Newton staying clean, taking out a Patriot pass rusher to give him time for a completion down to the sixteen. Although the drive stalled, it really seemed Panthers ran whatever they wanted. Two throws to Funchess were back shoulder throws, and he was *covered* both times and came up with the grabs.
• Brady’s (12/18, 102 yds.) offense only gained 14 yards in the first period and trailed 6-0.
• The Carolina Panthers used end of first half to get Newton an opportunity to run a two-minute offense, with Olsen and Jarius Wright both doing their jobs well on a nine-play drive. Wright converted a pair of 3^rd downs with 8, 11 yard catches, and Olsen caught a pair, although an official signaled him down in bounds at the six on the second, which caused the clock to run down and the Panthers to settle for another of Gano’s contributions (4/4) on the evening.
• Individual plays: Lorenzo Doss has been hitting with a purpose throughout camp, and after beating a block, he created a fumble with one on New England’s Colin Jones. Panthers had D.J. Moore (no catches last two games) back on punts a couple times, but Damiere Byrd did himself a *serious* amount of good with a 31-yard return. Corn Elder will probably find a spot on 53 man roster—things are thin in secondary is one reason, and while he missed an ideal INT on New England’s last possession, he got his hand in the way with 1:39 left and made a tackle with :40 left.
• Heinicke’s throw on Samuel’s 31 yarder was pretty sweet, standing in to take a hit on the throw, and you can’t argue about his wheels when he scored on a 4^th down keeper at the pylon for 15-3 lead. In whats a serious position battle to be Newton’s backup, Garrett Gilbert made a zap! throw to Mose Frazier to the 12 at end of 3^rd quarter, then gunned it to him again for a six-yard TD shortly thereafter. Yes, the guy can spin it, as a color announcer proclaimed. Local players on the current roster: UNCC product Austin Duke made it into stat sheets, while Elijah Hood didn’t get a real chance to improve his situation.

On a night when the offensive line needed to produce answers about injuries and opportunities,during sidelines interviews, Moton was serious and articulate about how prepared he was, very definitely all business on the field.

• The Carolina Panthers had seven penalties for 92 yards, three of them costing the team first downs. Carolina was the least penalized team in NFL in 2017, so expect those negatives to be ironed out shortly.
• Newton was 26/38 (68.4%) for 315 yards, 1 INT/1 TD in preseason. Experts should take the Panther QB seriously- this will not be a middle of the pack offense.

• Injuries have made the Carolina Panthers thin in some places, but none so far have been season enders.