Pacing, pads could change slow starts

Pacing, pads could change slow starts
Fox tries to refresh his team by quickening practice, working out without gear more.
By David Scott

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/panthers/story/381144.html

Carolina Panthers coach John Fox has changed things around this week. The Panthers practiced without pads Wednesday and Thursday, a move Fox hopes might help shake off the early-game doldrums that have plagued them recently.

“I like changing up,” he said. “When you become stale, you've got to change the way you practice. I think sometimes change is good to refresh yourself mentally and physically.”

The Panthers (8-3) fell behind the Atlanta Falcons 17-0 Sunday on the way to a 45-28 defeat. The week before, Carolina trailed the winless Detroit Lions 10-0 before rallying for a 31-22 victory. The Panthers also trailed the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Oct.26 before winning 27-23.

Fox wouldn't say if the Panthers would go without pads today as they prepare for Sunday's game at Green Bay. He'll make his decision based on intuition – and experience.

In 2005, the team mostly practiced without pads until a late-season victory against the Atlanta Falcons. They practiced in pads throughout the playoffs that season, eventually losing in the NFC Championship Game to the Seattle Seahawks.

Fox said the Panthers practiced in pads most of 2003, when they made their Super Bowl run. The following season, Carolina started 1-7 while practicing in pads. They went without pads the rest of the season – and won six of their final eight games.

“I don't think anybody's got it all figured out,” said Fox, who also has increased the speed of practices this week in an attempt to help the team come out more quickly against the Packers. “It's a revolving deal. We evaluate the production on Sunday and go from there.”

Linebacker Adam Seward (ankle) was the only player to miss practice. The Panthers had the afternoon off and will practice one hour later today so the players can attend meetings in the morning they normally would have been in Thanksgiving afternoon.