Feeling pretty good about the Carolina game

[kearly]

I've made a lot of comments this offseason about how week 1 in Carolina is the perfect storm for an upset loss. But ever since we completed our roster a few days ago, I've felt a surge of confidence for some reason.

I think doing the DVR reviews made me fully realize how much trouble our defense is going to give Carolina's offense. Seriously, keeping them under 200 yards is not out of the question one bit. Our defense has a huge matchup advantage and though our pass rush will probably be less than great, Newton hasn't been doing much with extra time to throw lately.

Now, Pacific time zone defenses tend to struggle in the 1st half of 10am starts (someone at ESPN charted that, maybe Sando), so we might see a couple of solid drives by Carolina early, but getting into the endzone might require a trick play for them. And in the 2nd half, once body clock is less of an issue, I could see them getting shut down completely.

Their defensive front seven is tough as nails though and it wouldn't surprise me one tiny bit if Carolina led 6-3 or maybe 10-6 at halftime. But I see us dominating the 2nd half so much, they would probably need to have a 20-0 halftime lead to hold on.

Or to put it another way, it will look a lot like last year's game against the Jets. Seattle won that game 28-7 and the Jets only TD came on defense. The 28-7 score made it look like a blowout, but it was actually just 14-7 in the 4th quarter before Seattle finally broke through and salted it away. I think that's what we'll have in this game too. Too close for comfort before Seattle puts Carolina down with a pair of long 4th quarter drives.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I hope this team flies out to Carolina on like Thursday to better mitigate some of those internal clock issues.

Really, Seattle should be throwing the ball early and often. We have five guys that can go out there and beat Carolina's secondary with regularity. I see no reason to run Lynch and Turbin for two-yard gains to establish the run.

 

[Trrrroy]

I know that this is arguably the most talented team in the NFL, yet I still feel very worried about this game. I don't know. I think I'm broken. I'm an eternally pessimistic fan. Too many years of watching the Mariners and Ruskell's teams, I guess.

 

[ImTheScientist]

16-0

 

[12th_Bob]

Have not been worried about the Panthers for a while, they have some good pieces but they are not quite there yet.

The fact that Seattle felt comfortable about releasing so many DT's either means they all sucked (which I find hard to believe since a few were claimed by other teams) or the injuries to our starters are not very severe and they are sold on McDaniel as a run defender and impressed with Mayowa in the LEO role. I think that also means Avril and possible Clemons are playing the opener. Going to have to watch for who's is practicing fully though during the week.

 

[goseahawks2012]

I read somewhere that carolina first team offensive didn't score a touchdown all preseason. Is that true?

 

[Joat]

Less than 200 yards of offense?

Lol.

 

[Joat]

I read somewhere that carolina first team offensive didn't score a touchdown all preseason. Is that true?

No.

 

[rideaducati]

Less than 200 yards of offense?

Lol.

It happened last season. The Prancers gained 190 yards on offense that game.

 

[Jazzhawk]

I read somewhere that carolina first team offensive didn't score a touchdown all preseason. Is that true?

No.

4 TD's in the pre-season, I believe. Ranked 29th in the NFL in total yardage for the pre-season.

 

[BobinLaConner]

I agree with your assessment Kearly,

Preseason was exciting, but I am sure looking forward to a "non-pretend" game where both teams are actually game planning and playing starters. It's going to be different after some of our surprising cuts down to 53 (Mike Rob), but there is a huge amount of talent on the Hawks this year (probably more than I have seen on the Hawks...ever).

I see a lot of trash talk against the Hawks on the Carolina boards, but that's really just hopeful expectations and false bravado talking as many fans would do. This hawks team has been hyped up beyond anything we have ever seen and I'm pretty sure every team will be looking to bring down the media darlings (which for the first time is us). The real fans who know football will know this will be another hard fought battle and the Carolina Panthers will come out swinging.
Hard to tell from last year's game film against these guys on how we will do, but both of these teams have improved this offseason. I have some serious respect for Koechly and a few of the other talented guys on Carolina, but I think Pete is coaching our guys up for this week's challenge and they know this is a potential trap game. One thing I do know, is these Hawks don't give up and they play physical. Anyone can come out swinging, but when you keep getting knocked on your ass by this defense, it gets harder to keep fighting. It will be great to see how it all comes together.

I am optimistic about our chances, but really want to see this first regular season game to gauge all these predictions and accolades. I am excited, not because I can pound my chest and tell you what the exact score will be...but because this is one hell of a team to watch on every front, both defense and offense and even special teams. Us Hawk fans need to remind ourselves that this Carroll Schneider Wilson era will be one for the ages and remember to appreciate it while we are living it. Media predictions aside, this is going to be a fun ride.

But I have to say in response to the one Carolina fan who spouted off about our grunge, coffee, Microsoft, rain and whatever other cliches he could cite.... So Seattle gave the world Microsoft Windows, the Starbucks you probably drink every morning, The Boeing Airplanes you fly on, Amazon for your internet purchasing and some great Musical talent that is probably on your IPod. Sounds like a pretty impressive list to me, and you're dissing us about that...really? What is Carolina famous for again...(other than the wright brothers)?

Bring it on! Go Hawks!

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Less than 200 yards of offense?

Lol.

It happened last season. The Prancers gained 190 yards on offense that game.

Last season, the Panthers only had under 200 total yards once - against us. The next lowest total for them was gaining only 250 against Denver, also at home.

So, unless Joat can explain how the Panthers got significantly better on offense in the offseason, SSS seems to indicate that elite defenses are capable of holding the Panthers to 200 yards and some change. I think the O/U for total yardage gained by the Panthers in this game is 225, and holding them to 200 or under seems a possibility.

Note that as Jazz stated, the Panthers were 29th in the preseason for total yardage, gaining 264.5 yards a game. Preseason, I know, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Joat]

The Panthers got significantly better on offense since that game. The O was generally terrible at the beginning of last season.

We also re-signed Travelle Wharton, a guy who never should have left Carolina, who will really bolster the left side of the OL.

I do like the arrogance that reverberates here, it's...comical.

To here you all talk Seattle boasts the greatest defense the NFL has ever seen. Another reason the Seahawks have been contenders for the Lombardi all these years.

 

[Scottemojo]

The Panthers got significantly better on offense since that game. The O was generally terrible at the beginning of last season.

We also re-signed Travelle Wharton, a guy who never should have left Carolina, who will really bolster the left side of the OL.

I do like the arrogance that reverberates here, it's...comical.

To here you all talk Seattle boasts the greatest defense the NFL has ever seen. Another reason the Seahawks have been contenders for the Lombardi all these years.

The smack again. You are in the wrong forum if you want to talk shit. We stole your pimp walk and you all pissy.

 

[Hawks46]

I've been saying it all preseason, but I don't care what our roster looks like, if we go out there with basically what we had last year, we beat them. If Wilson starts off strong, we probably curb stomp them.

I agree with our defensive matchups. We have a major advantage there, and it could be embarassing if our interior DL can keep them from running on us. We don't need to double Smith, and in true Panthers fashion, they went out and got nobody opposite him on the field.

I really like their front 7, especially up the middle, but we also have real advantage on offense too. Their secondary is one of the worst in the league. If we don't try to pound the rock right away (which they will probably expect us to), I can see us lighting them up early. Do the ol' Holmgren "use the pass to set up the run". Our WRs and TE's will shred that secondary, as will Wilson. Baldwin looks in good form, Rice is healthy, and Tate looks to be keeping up his late season form from last year. This is a better WR group than it was when we played them last year.

I've seen Bevell start the game going 4 and 5 wide, and I think this is the game to do this in. If we do that, and score on our first two drives (even FG), I don't think this game is close. Even if the Panthers keep it close, I think we blow it out in the 2nd half.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

The Panthers got significantly better on offense since that game. The O was generally terrible at the beginning of last season.

We also re-signed Travelle Wharton, a guy who never should have left Carolina, who will really bolster the left side of the OL.

I do like the arrogance that reverberates here, it's...comical.

To here you all talk Seattle boasts the greatest defense the NFL has ever seen. Another reason the Seahawks have been contenders for the Lombardi all these years.

Well, uh, this was like maybe a fourth of a decent post. I've got "Travelle Wharton is an upgrade" and some whining about how mean the Seahawks fans are.

I know that Cam Newton's accuracy got better after they toned down the option stuff, but how do you figure that Carolina's offense is better? They generally performed unevenly last year. They put up under 300 total yards on offense three times last year, in Weeks Five, Ten, and Sixteen. They put up over 400 total yards on offense five times, in Weeks Two, Four, Eight, Fifteen, and Seventeen. This team did not get clearly better over the second half of the year. They were inconsistent, generally.

Quick, how many times did Cam Newton throw for over 300 yards last year?

Answer: Zero times. I know some Panthers fans are all about Brandon LaFell breaking out, but outside of homeristic views, I don't know why anyone would have a lot of faith in the Panthers' passing game being that improved beyond Cam Newton being improved as a passer.

This is fine if you have a running game, but Jonathan Stewart is hurt, which is a problem for them. Let's see what the Panthers' record was when running for less than 150 yards as a team!

Answer: 3-5, including a loss to us.

I think the Panthers are significantly better on defense, but some homer Panthers fan telling us that Travelle Wharton is going to fix all their problems on offense against our also-improved defense isn't convincing anyone. Come with something better.

 

[FlyingGreg]

The Panthers got significantly better on offense since that game. The O was generally terrible at the beginning of last season.

We also re-signed Travelle Wharton, a guy who never should have left Carolina, who will really bolster the left side of the OL.

I do like the arrogance that reverberates here, it's...comical.

To here you all talk Seattle boasts the greatest defense the NFL has ever seen. Another reason the Seahawks have been contenders for the Lombardi all these years.

And yet we have the same number of Lombardi trophies as you Kittens. Your smack is lame.

FYI, if it was up to me Panthers fans would be banned from this board until 2015. We beat your asses so bad in the NFC Championship game it should have triggered a 10-year ban.

Total domination.

 

[Lady Talon]

Statistical evidence points to an elite Seahawk D.

To hear Panthers fans talk, they expect a top 5 D out of a Panthers squad with that secondary. You do need more than a DL and Keuchly to do that.

But you're right we should bow to the wisdom of the perennial Superbowl contenders Carolina, and their fans.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Statistical evidence points to an elite Seahawk D.

To hear Panthers fans talk, they expect a top 5 D out of a Panthers squad with that secondary. You do need more than a DL and Keuchly to do that.

But you're right we should bow to the wisdom of the perennial Superbowl contenders Carolina, and their fans.

But, but, but, they just signed Quentin Mikell! Elite secondary!

 

[Pantherfan527]

Panther fan here, not here to talk smack, just football.

Since the schedule has came out, I have been worried about this game. We are not facing the same Wilson we faced last year. His training wheels have came off after that game, he has gotten better and to be frank our offense has regressed in a since. The OL needs to gel early, with Kalil back and Wharton back we should be about the same or average, Bell, Amini and Gross are struggling. Gross could have struggled because of the rookie playing next to him. IDK

I do believe it will be a close game, but I think with Irving being out, and Avril and Clemons being ? marks, the OL will not look as bad!

But Wilson is mobile enough to get away from the MonStar Inc, and make plays, same as Cam going up against yall DEF......

I am excited for this game, two young Stud QB's going at it, while two good DEF not wanting to give up an inch......