Last week: 29 (+0)

Record: 2-7

Last week’s loss was only their 2^nd loss by more than a touchdown all year. They aren’t to be overlooked the rest of the way. Cam Newton is obviously having a major sophomore slump, but for all of their offensive struggles, they’ve been noticeably improved defensively this year. They’re allowing 3 points per game fewer than they were last year and even more impressive is that they’re doing this with Jon Beason and Chris Gamble out.

In fact, since week 6, their first game without those two, they’re allowing just 21.4 points per game, thanks to guys like Luke Kuechly and Greg Hardy breaking out. The rookie Kuechly has really improved over the last few weeks, probably because he moved back to his collegiate position of middle linebacker from the outside, and is now a defensive player of the year candidate. It’ll be interesting to see if his emergence in the middle leads to Jon Beason (owed 6.5 million in 2013) getting cut. The man who gave him that ill advised massive contract, ex-GM Marty Hurney, has already been fired and all of his guaranteed money has been paid.

Studs

C Geoff Hangartner: Did not allow a pressure on 51 pass block snaps, run blocked for 2 yards on 2 attempts

RG Jeff Byers: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 51 pass block snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

TE Greg Olsen: Caught 9 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 attempts on 40 pass snaps, 5.6 YAC per catch, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 4 pass block snaps

LE Charles Johnson: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 2 quarterback hurries on 34 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 pass deflection

MLB Luke Kuechly: 8 solo tackles, 3 assists, 5 stops, caught 2 passes for 38 yards on 5 attempts, 1 pass deflection

FS Sherrod Martin: Allowed 2 catches for 3 yards on 2 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops

Duds

QB Cam Newton: 21 of 36 for 241 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, 1 throw away, 4 hit as thrown, 1 batted pass, 1 drop, pressured on 18 of 45 drop backs (7 sacks, 1 scramble, 2 of 10, 1 interception, 4 hit as thrown, 1 throw away)

LG Amini Silatolu: Allowed 1 sack and 3 quarterback hurries on 46 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards on 4 attempts

RT Byron Bell: Allowed 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 1 yard on 4 attempts

RB Jonathan Stewart: Rushed for 31 yards (20 after contact) on 8 attempts, 1 broken tackle, 1 fumble, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 6 pass block snaps, caught 2 passes for 23 yards on 2 attempts

WR Brandon LaFell: Caught 4 passes for 29 yards on 5 attempts on 50 pass snaps, 6.5 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to, 1 penalty

WR Steve Smith: Caught 1 pass for 19 yards on 4 attempts on 39 pass snaps, 5.0 YAC per catch

WR Louis Murphy: Did not catch a pass on 2 attempts on 26 pass snaps, 1 penalty

CB Captain Munnerlyn: Allowed 6 catches for 51 yards on 7 attempts, 1 penalty, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle, 3 punt returns for 10 yards

CB Josh Thomas: Allowed 5 catches for 97 yards on 6 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop

LOLB Thomas Davis: Allowed 4 catches for 25 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop, 2 missed tackle

DT Dwan Edwards: Did not record a pressure on 28 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops

RE Frank Alexander: 1 quarterback hurry on 25 pass rush snaps, no tackles

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]