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Grades from the Panthers-Saints game on Nov. 8
QUARTERBACK
Grade: C minus
Comment: Jake Delhomme managed the game well early and played efficiently throughout, but still isn’t connecting with Steve Smith and other receivers enough to give the Panthers a formidable passing game. For the second consecutive week, Delhomme didn’t throw an interception. The bungled handoff attempt near the goal line wasn’t Delhomme’s fault, but rather was the result of an inexperienced linemen playing fullback and not getting out of the way.
RUNNING BACKS
Grade: B minus
Comment: DeAngelo Williams ran extremely well and scored twice, but lost a fumble near the end of the game that resulted in the Saints’ game-clinching TD. Jonathan Stewart also fumbled and battled for yardage throughout. The Panthers definitely missed fullback Brad Hoover. Tyrell Sutton did an admirable job filling in and also rushed for 15 yards on three carries.
RECEIVERS
Grade: C minus
Comment: Smith caught a late 46-yard reception, but was mostly held in check either by the Saints defense or the fact that the Panthers were focusing early on running the ball. Dwayne Jarrett had four receptions but couldn’t make a key grab of a deep throw in the second half. Gary Barnidge made an extraordinary catch for a 16-yard completion and a first down despite the fact that pass interference was called on the defender. Tight end Jeff King had two false start penalties in the first half.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C
Comment: The run blocking was mostly good, as the Panthers rushed for 182 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. However, after the score got close, the Saints’ defensive line got some heavy pressure on Delhomme. Left tackle Jordan Gross had some difficulty blocking Saints defensive end Will Smith, who had two sacks.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C minus
Comment: The Panthers held the Saints to 84 yards rushing and 3.7 per carry, but weren’t able to get much of a pass rush. Carolina had no sacks. After four consecutive big games, Julius Peppers had one tackle and a quarterback hurry. Rookie end Everette Brown deflected a third-down pass and also picked up an obvious offsides penalty.
LINEBACKERS
Grade: B plus
Comment: Jon Beason and Thomas Davis were tremendous for most of the game, using their speed and aggressiveness to shut down running plays and keep Saints receivers from turning short passes into long gains. Beason had a team high 11 solo tackles and added a fumble recovery, deflected pass in the end zone to prevent a touchdown and a tackle for loss. Before suffering a fourth-quarter knee injury, Davis had six tackles, including two for losses.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Grade: D plus
Comment: Playing against an offense as explosive as the Saints, it doesn’t take many plays to lower grades quickly. Between the end of the second quarter and the end of the third, Saints quarter Drew Brees completed passes of 45, 63 and 54 yards that essentially sunk the Panthers’ upset attempt. Cornerback Chris Gamble missed a chance to stop Robert Meachem’s 54-yard TD catch, but also had a key interception and 41-yard return to set up a Carolina field goal.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grade: B
Comment: It was one of the more solid performances of the season for this much-maligned unit. The Panthers held the Saints’ kickoff and punt returners in check, but didn’t break a return themselves either. Nice job by punter Jason Baker and Quenton Teal to get a punt downed at the New Orleans 2 early in the fourth quarter. John Kasay made both of his field goal tries after missing practice last week with a groin injury.
COACHING
Grade: C minus
Comment: The Panthers’ coaches put together a solid game plan, especially considering the fact that they were out of fullbacks. However, this team’s limitations were glaring, especially the passing game on offense. So far, the coaches haven’t found an answer for that, making wise their decision to try to ride the running game as much and as long as possible.
-- Charles Chandler
