BAMAPHIN 22
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Here are a few comments made by the Carolina coach on the Dolphins and important stats that the Dolphins should know:
Comments:
On injuries: Ken Lucas (shoulder), Will Witherspoon (knee), Mike Minter (calf) and Stephen Davis (neck) are all questionable. None of the four practiced today. Probable are Dan Morgan (back), Jordan Carstens (ankle) and Brentson Buckner (knee). They are all day-to-day.
On who will start at free safety if Mike Minter cannot play: We have options and we'll prepare for that either way as the week progresses.
On if Idrees Bashir is an option at free safety: Yes. He went in late in the game against New England when Mike (Minter) came off. Mike tried to go as long as he could, and then Bashir stepped in. He's started in this League and he's a guy we have a lot of confidence in.
On Bashir's role: His role is maybe not exactly what he was looking for, but he has played a lot of snaps for us in the kicking game, and we put a lot of priority on that. One thing in this business, you are one play away from being the starter, and he understands that. That's the way he'll prepare regardless of how it ends up when we pick the dress list for Sunday.
On the Miami Dolphins: They've got gifted receivers. They've got a tight end (Randy McMichael) that leads their team in receptions. Their running game, they've got a stable of backs that run it pretty good. They've got a big, physical offensive line. Defensively, they've been playing very, very well. They're in the top 10 in the League in defense after two games.
On what concerns him the most about the Dolphins: Everything about them. I think they are well coached. They've got talented players. And we're playing at their place, so we're going to have a hostile environment. Everything concerns me every week, regardless of who we play.
On how playing in the South Florida heat will affect the Panthers: It's hard for me to say. Every week it's a dogfight, no matter who you play or when you play them. We expect that same kind of dogfight there.
On the playing surface at Dolphins Stadium, which changes from grass to dirt because of the baseball infield: It's a change going from grass to dirt with every player. Your kicking people - the holder, snapper and kicker. It's different. It's something we'll get some work at this week as we prepare for doing that down there. On how his approach to motivating the team changes after a win compared to a loss: It's just like everything. Everyday, you're either dealing with adversity or you're dealing with prosperity, and they're both hard things to deal with. It's just part of the business.
Important Stats:
*The Panthers are one of just five teams that rank in the top 10 in both rushing offense and defense. Carolina stands ninth in rushing offense, averaging 122.5 yards per game, and sixth in rushing defense, surrendering just 70 yards per contest.
*The Panthers are second in punt return average at 21.3 yards per return, and tied for first in punt return coverage, allowing 0.0 yards per return.
* Running back Stephen Davis leads the NFL in scoring with 24 points and is 11th in rushing with 158 yards on 38 attempts.
Carolina is tied for first with four fumble recoveries. Overall, they are even in take-aways/give-aways with five of each.
* The Panthers are fourth in red zone offense with four touchdowns and one field goal in five possessions inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
* Wide receiver Steve Smith is tied for 12th in the NFL with 12 receptions and ranks 15th in receiving yardage with 172 yards. Smith is tied for second in the NFL with four receptions of 20 or more yards. He is also sixth in the NFL in punt return average at 10.4 yards per return.
* In two previous games versus Miami, Carolina has scored a total of 15 points. The Panthers 7.5 scoring average against the Dolphins is their lowest versus any team.
* This is the Panthers second trip to Miami after losing to the Dolphins 23-6 in 2001. Previously, Carolina has defeated Green Bay, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia and St. Louis on a second visit after dropping the first contest in that city.
* Six former Panthers are on the Dolphins active roster: Offensive linemen Joe Berger and Jeno James, defensive backs Eddie Jackson, Reggie Howard, and Travares Tillman, and defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina.
* Stephen Davis has played in 117 games but has never faced the Dolphins. He has played against the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins, the two teams he has played for, a total of six times.
* Kicker John Kasay has attempted seven career field goals against the Dolphins, making six. His only miss was a 53-yard attempt in 2001 that was wide right. Kasay's two field goals last week from beyond 50 yards gave him 28 for his career, seven of which have come since he came back from a sports hernia in 2002.
http://www.panthers.com/news/newsroomNewsDetail.jsp?id=20733
Comments:
On injuries: Ken Lucas (shoulder), Will Witherspoon (knee), Mike Minter (calf) and Stephen Davis (neck) are all questionable. None of the four practiced today. Probable are Dan Morgan (back), Jordan Carstens (ankle) and Brentson Buckner (knee). They are all day-to-day.
On who will start at free safety if Mike Minter cannot play: We have options and we'll prepare for that either way as the week progresses.
On if Idrees Bashir is an option at free safety: Yes. He went in late in the game against New England when Mike (Minter) came off. Mike tried to go as long as he could, and then Bashir stepped in. He's started in this League and he's a guy we have a lot of confidence in.
On Bashir's role: His role is maybe not exactly what he was looking for, but he has played a lot of snaps for us in the kicking game, and we put a lot of priority on that. One thing in this business, you are one play away from being the starter, and he understands that. That's the way he'll prepare regardless of how it ends up when we pick the dress list for Sunday.
On the Miami Dolphins: They've got gifted receivers. They've got a tight end (Randy McMichael) that leads their team in receptions. Their running game, they've got a stable of backs that run it pretty good. They've got a big, physical offensive line. Defensively, they've been playing very, very well. They're in the top 10 in the League in defense after two games.
On what concerns him the most about the Dolphins: Everything about them. I think they are well coached. They've got talented players. And we're playing at their place, so we're going to have a hostile environment. Everything concerns me every week, regardless of who we play.
On how playing in the South Florida heat will affect the Panthers: It's hard for me to say. Every week it's a dogfight, no matter who you play or when you play them. We expect that same kind of dogfight there.
On the playing surface at Dolphins Stadium, which changes from grass to dirt because of the baseball infield: It's a change going from grass to dirt with every player. Your kicking people - the holder, snapper and kicker. It's different. It's something we'll get some work at this week as we prepare for doing that down there. On how his approach to motivating the team changes after a win compared to a loss: It's just like everything. Everyday, you're either dealing with adversity or you're dealing with prosperity, and they're both hard things to deal with. It's just part of the business.
Important Stats:
*The Panthers are one of just five teams that rank in the top 10 in both rushing offense and defense. Carolina stands ninth in rushing offense, averaging 122.5 yards per game, and sixth in rushing defense, surrendering just 70 yards per contest.
*The Panthers are second in punt return average at 21.3 yards per return, and tied for first in punt return coverage, allowing 0.0 yards per return.
* Running back Stephen Davis leads the NFL in scoring with 24 points and is 11th in rushing with 158 yards on 38 attempts.
Carolina is tied for first with four fumble recoveries. Overall, they are even in take-aways/give-aways with five of each.
* The Panthers are fourth in red zone offense with four touchdowns and one field goal in five possessions inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
* Wide receiver Steve Smith is tied for 12th in the NFL with 12 receptions and ranks 15th in receiving yardage with 172 yards. Smith is tied for second in the NFL with four receptions of 20 or more yards. He is also sixth in the NFL in punt return average at 10.4 yards per return.
* In two previous games versus Miami, Carolina has scored a total of 15 points. The Panthers 7.5 scoring average against the Dolphins is their lowest versus any team.
* This is the Panthers second trip to Miami after losing to the Dolphins 23-6 in 2001. Previously, Carolina has defeated Green Bay, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia and St. Louis on a second visit after dropping the first contest in that city.
* Six former Panthers are on the Dolphins active roster: Offensive linemen Joe Berger and Jeno James, defensive backs Eddie Jackson, Reggie Howard, and Travares Tillman, and defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina.
* Stephen Davis has played in 117 games but has never faced the Dolphins. He has played against the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins, the two teams he has played for, a total of six times.
* Kicker John Kasay has attempted seven career field goals against the Dolphins, making six. His only miss was a 53-yard attempt in 2001 that was wide right. Kasay's two field goals last week from beyond 50 yards gave him 28 for his career, seven of which have come since he came back from a sports hernia in 2002.
http://www.panthers.com/news/newsroomNewsDetail.jsp?id=20733