Panthers notes: Defensive key Kemoeatu on crutches
December 16
Charlotte Observer
"Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, injured during the second half of Sunday's 30-10 victory against Denver, left Bank of America Stadium on Monday on crutches and with his right ankle in a protective boot.
Coach John Fox said it would be Wednesday before he would have anon the nature and severity of Kemoeatu's injury.
The presence of the 6-foot-5, 345-pounder in the middle of the defensive line would be key in Carolina's upcoming game against the New York Giants, who are tied with Atlanta for the NFL lead in rushing at 148.7 yards per game.
The Giants' Brandon Jacobs, who missed Sunday's game at Dallas with an injured knee, has rushed for 1,002 yards, but his status for the Panthers game is uncertain.
Calling the Giants game "our newest biggest game ever," Fox said he didn't know whether Jacobs would play. "We might not know until an hour-and-a-half until kickoff," Fox said.
Fox respects Jacobs and his running mates - Derrick Ward (733 yards) and Ahmad Bradshaw (327): "They're very good. They're one reason why they're sitting on top of the NFC and won a world championship."
Notes
Fox always has fancied himself a run-first kind of a coach. So it was with more than a hint of sarcasm that he answered a question about what was involved in the Panthers' success in the passing game against the Broncos.
"There are a lot of working parts to a passing game," Fox said. "That's why I like to do it so much."
Fox went on to describe what makes an effective pass offense work - but it's clear he's more comfortable with a quarterback handing off to a running back.
Opponents have been trying to stop the Panthers' fourth-ranked rushing attack early, hoping to force Carolina into a passing game that has been inconsistent at times. But quarterback Jake Delhomme completed 17 of 26 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown Sunday.
"You have to protect, get open, then put it in the hoop, or complete the pass," Fox said. "We're doing that better than we were six weeks ago, which is what we want."
Fox said the Panthers adjusted well to what the Broncos' defense was doing, "stacking" eight players at the line of scrimmage and sometimes playing with four linebackers. He said offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson switched the Panthers to a no-huddle offense for much of the team's first drive, which resulted in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to Steve Smith.
"I thought our players and coaches did a great job with something we hadn't seen," said Fox. "Part of that was shifting into formations they hadn't seen, with the no huddling."
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