Takeaways missing as Panthers give away season

[Thelt]

Takeaways missing as Panthers give away season
By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer
December 23, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Ever since coach John Fox took over the Carolina Panthers, they've had a knack for creating turnovers.

Except for this season.

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After leading the NFC with 42 takeaways in 2005, the Panthers have just 18 this year, and none in the past three games. It's another reason why the Panthers (6-8) are one of the NFL's biggest disappointments.

"It's been that kind of year. It's been as frustrating as I've ever been associated with and I'm sure for the fans and I know for the players," Fox said. "Sometimes, the ball just doesn't bounce (your way)."

It didn't used to be that way. The Panthers have forced 157 turnovers in Fox's five seasons. Only Baltimore (166) has more during that span. When the Panthers reached the NFC championship game last year, they were buoyed by a plus-16 turnover ratio.

This season, Carolina's minus-9 turnover ratio is fifth-worst in the NFL. In the Panthers' eight losses, they've forced a total of three turnovers.

"I don't think anyone in the organization can put their fingers on why the turnovers have been so low this year," said cornerback Ken Lucas, who had six interceptions last season, but only two this year. "We've had opportunities to get some, but we haven't been fortunate enough to get a lot of them. If there's a ball laying on the ground, the other team recovers it.

"It just seems like people are being extra careful playing against us."

Injuries have played a role. Linebacker Dan Morgan was lost for the season in the opening week, and cornerbacks Lucas and Chris Gamble have battled injuries. The Panthers have also struggled to replace Will Witherspoon, who signed with St. Louis in the offseason.

Rookie cornerback Richard Marshall has done his part, with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He's also scored the team's only defensive touchdown.

But no one else has more than two takeaways. Chris Draft, with one fumble recovery, is the only linebacker to force a turnover.

"We've had balls on the ground. We've had interceptions we've dropped, so we've had our chances," safety Mike Minter said. "You know what, it's one of those years. I think turnovers are a funny thing."

The lack of turnovers is not by a lack of trying. The Panthers work on stripping the ball and defensive backs catch passes nearly every practice.

Part of the problem is the Panthers' trouble stopping the run. In seven of their eight losses they've allowed 100 or more yards rushing. With all the runs, there is less of a chance for opponents to make mistakes.

"I think here as of late, we've seen a lot more runs in the last two weeks," Fox said. "It's a little bit harder to get it away. But I don't think it's been one thing."

It's not the only thing that has baffled Fox and his players in a season many thought would end in the Super Bowl.

"I would have never thought in a million years we would be 6-8," Lucas said. "If you look on paper, we have to be one of the most talented teams if not the most talented. But for some reason we have not put it together this year. I don't know what it is.

"I wish it was like a video game you could hit the reset button and go back and replay all these games we messed up."

 

[Thelt]

I did not realize just how much the turnover differential had changed. If we were +25 in the turnover differential from where we are now then we would be a whole lot better than 6-8. I do think that giving up rushing yards has been a big part of the problem. Other teams make less mistakes when they run on us and they tire out our defense. For all our talk about the quarterback and OL maybe the run D is the biggest culprit?

We have to upgrade our linebackers in the offseason.

 

[Clay]

I don't know if it's scheme, the play calls, or the players, but it does seem like we've been much less aggressive this year. At least to me, and that's frustrating.

 

[Fred Smoot's Father]

I did not realize just how much the turnover differential had changed.

The lack of takeaways is disturbing. It's one of the main reasons we're stuck at 6-8.

 

[Elric]

Not as aggressive and sometimes the ball really doesn't bounce your way. Plus the piss poor tackling and lack of ESPN style hits (aka Jacked UP> doesn't help. I've said it before but this is the absolute worst tackling Panthers team I've seen. Everybody seems to think dropping a shoulder and trying to knock someone off their feet is the right way to tackle. WRONG.

 

[HAVEPSL]

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/nfl/carolina_panthers/16287249.htm

 

[Black&Blue]

:fuckingobvious:

 

[Collin]

Not having our cornerbacks healthy has been the biggest reason for the drop in interceptions, while the decline in fumbles is mostly attributable to the defensive line. We're not getting to the quarterback as often, and thus haven't stripped them for fumbles. Our linebackers actually didn't account for that many of our turnovers last season. Add in Jake's 15 turnovers through 12 games plus Weinke's plus Foster's plus the return game and there you go.


Oh and Thelt, being +25 at this point would be ridiculous. Baltimore is currently leading the league in turnover margin at +15.

 

[Black&Blue]

It's not that they haven't been "there", though. We've missed some fumble recoveries, dropped key interceptions at Cincinnati and Philly, and dropped a couple against Atlanta that could have turned that game, too. For whatever reason, we haven't taken advantage of those. Sometimes it's the bounce of the ball, sometimes it's a lack of focus, and sometimes it's a combination of both. I don't see any dramatic change in coaching or scheme that's caused it, though a lot of people like to blame Trgo for anything and eveything that goes wrong defensively.

Yeah, the drop-off in QB hits hasn't helped matters. Our giveaways have been untimely, to say the least.

 

[magnus]

:fuckingobvious: