CSR’s weekly heat index of the Carolina Panthers continues with a fresh batch of hot and cold players to spotlight and critique heading into our upcoming game.
Welcome back to the 2018 edition of Step UP or Step OUT, a series on CSR that is intended to look at players who are playing well and highlight a few that need to step their game up. Think of it as a heat index for the Carolina Panthers; guys who are playing well are stepping up and those who aren’t need to improve their game or. . . step out.
This week we’ll look at a bunch of guys that despite the team losing, played very well against the Detroit Lions. With the Seattle Seahawks up next, they’ll need help from some of their friends, especially the ones who are steppin’ out, in order to secure a victory.
Steppin’ UP
Cam Newton
“Drip” Level: The pink ooze river beneath New York City in Ghostbusters 2
While no one is going to call this a signature game, Cam did about a well as any quarterback could be expected to given the amount of pressure he was under. He also wasn’t helped at all by the amount of drops clanging off the hands of Devin Funchess. The Panthers should and could have won this game on so many levels, but Cam certainly did his part to try and make that happen, leading yet another late fourth quarter comeback that just wasn’t enough in the end.
Curtis Samuel
Heat Rating: Some piping hot Thanksgiving day macaroni and cheese
It’s just not a fun game anymore without Curtis Samuel making at least one play showing why he needs as much playing time as possible. In this game, it was a very nice touchdown reception at a crucial time, as well as several more catches of a more routine nature. He’s a huge weapon with the ball in his hands, and its obvious that he has a bright future ahead of him.
Le touchdown de WR Curtis Samuel qui se défait de son CB et va chercher cette passe de Cam dans la endzone. Comme disait Olsen, on peut pas lui donner la balle à chaque snap ? pic.twitter.com/8r7cpADIyC
— Carolina Panthers Fr (@NFLPanthersFr) November 18, 2018
Yeah, the Tweet is in French. I know.
D.J. Moore
Heat Rating: Steaming hot apple pie
We’ve already talked about Curtis Samuel, now let’s talk about another great young playmaker the Panthers are lucky to have on their roster. D.J. Moore got off to a slow start this season, but quickly started making some of those eye popping dynamic plays that made him a stand out star at Maryland. He’s incredible after the catch, and certainly plays a lot larger than he actually is, routinely pushing through contact to gain extra yards.
DJ MOORE MAKIN' PLAYS pic.twitter.com/zBJLRD7MHx
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 18, 2018
Steppin’ OUT
Graham Gano
Cold Rating: Vanilla Ice Cream that’s been in there since last Thanksgiving
What an awful kicking performance. An extra point and a field goal shorter than an extra point, both missed. It also led to the ill-fated two point try near the end of the game, which they probably should have let Gano try anyway, but he only has himself to blame for not getting to attempt it. Graham has missed an extra point or two, but his field goal streak heading into this game was pretty spectacular. Hopefully this was just a one week case of the yips.
Chris Clark
Cold Rating: The turkey you took out way way too late to thaw properly
It was another bad game from Clark, and at this point it is becoming a significant pattern. He allowed two of the three sacks on the day (the third was on Cam), and a couple more pressures to boot. No surprise answers here at the left tackle position, and as usual, the team is going to have to select one in the draft to hopefully fix the issue long term. Matt Kalil will provide a very mild amount of relief when returns from injury, but obviously is not the answer.
Devin Funchess
Cold Rating: Clearly dipped his hands in liquid nitrogen before the game
It’s pretty clear why Devin is on the list this week. So many drops, costing this team first downs or points on the board. He has been prone to a drop or two here and there over the course of his career, but this was probably the worst streak that I can remember. If he plans on securing a decent contract at the end of the season, he has to show he can be a reliable pass catching target, because he’s more of a possession receiver than anything.
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