Scouting Report: Panthers at Falcons

Falcons-Panthers Preview Pack 

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons haven't gotten off to the start that anyone associated with the team would have liked, but Sunday's game against the Panthers at the Georgia Dome offers more than a shot to play in front of the home fans for the first time in 2007.

It offers a chance at redemption.

The NFC South is dotted with losses. Two teams are 1-1. Two teams are 0-2.

“We are excited about preparing for our first division game," Head Coach Bobby Petrino said. "The good thing about the NFC South division is that there are two teams 1-1 and two 0-2. So, if we get a win this week, we are right in the race. I think our players are focused on Carolina and they went out to practice with a lot of energy. I am impressed with our leadership and the fact that our players are practicing hard.”

The Panthers are looking to rebound from a 34-21 loss to the Houston Texans.

They too will rely on veteran leadership to rebound, but the Falcons have one key advantage -- the home crowd.

ON THE GROUND: One of the biggest threats on the Panthers defense plays a factor both on passing and running downs. His name is Julius Peppers and he's widely regarded as one of the most athletic players in the league.

Peppers hasn't recorded a sack yet this season but is credited with 10 tackles and a quarterback pressure. The three-time Pro Bowler ranks first on the Panthers all-time sack list (53.5).

As a team, the Panthers rank 12th in the league against the run (97.5 yards per game). The Falcons are still looking to get the running game going, having completed two games without cracking the 100-yard mark.

"Believe it or not, they do create creases and they do create some holes," running back Warrick Dunn said of the team's offensive line and running game. "The systems are different (than last year). It's going to take us a little bit to get adjusted. I think the first year of the other system it took us a while to get adjusted. Once we got adjusted, big plays came. Those guys have to get used to pulling and those types of things and we have to be patient as runners also, because it's not just right or left. We have to do different things in reading and knowing our keys."

But the Panthers aren't taking the Falcons lightly.

"We've seen they've given up 13 sacks but we also see they've got Warrick Dunn in the backfield," Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said in a conference call with Atlanta media. "They have Jerious Norwood. They have Joe Horn. They've got Roddy White (and) Michael Jenkins. We know they have all the weapons and all it takes is to have one game to put it together and they can be right back on top."

Carolina won the last meeting with the Falcons almost strictly with the run. The Panthers attempted just seven passes in 10-3 win at the Georgia Dome, splitting 49 carries between DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams.

The duo have combined for 49 carries and 209 yards in two games this season. Carolina has not recorded a rushing touchdown this season, however, under first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson.

"Anytime you have a new offense and they're only two games into it there's some growing pains," Panthers head coach John Fox said Wednesday about the Falcons. "That's typical with anybody with a new offense. We're still only two games into a new offense ourselves and we're not a well-oiled machine."

THROUGH THE AIR: Through two games the Panthers appear to be a much different team relied heavily on the run last season.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme has thrown for 508 yards and six touchdowns thus far in 2007. Most of that (274 yards to be exact) can be attributed to Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith. Smith has accounted for 51 percent of the team's points through two weeks.

"He is a very good football player," Petrino said. "He is a guy that does everything well because he can catch the deep ball, run great routes and run after the catch, which is my main concern. We have to be able to tackle him right when he catches the ball. We will certainly know where he is every play."

The rest of the Panthers receivers have combined for 16 catches.

The Falcons haven't had the success they'd like in the air due in part to giving up 13 sacks in two games. Pass protection was a focus this week in practice, but Petrino also made a point to correct everything associated with the problem, not just the offensive line.

"Like I’ve said before, it’s not all on the offensive line," he said. "Any time you are taking sacks, it’s your quarterback’s responsibility to get in the right protection and get the ball out of his hands. It’s the receiver's responsibility to get open on time and it’s the responsibility of the offensive line, tight ends and running backs to protect and do their assignment. Obviously, we haven’t done a good job at that when we’ve been in situations where we need to throw the football.”

“I will try to get better," Quarterback Joey Harrington said. "I am here to do whatever I can to help this team. From day-one my job is to help this team get better. So, if Coach Petrino wants me to do some different things, I will do that.”

A bright spot has been White, who leads the team with eight catches for 110 yards and has shown flashes both over the middle and on deep pass routes.

"Right now I think he is playing with a lot of confidence because he knows that the ball is coming his way," Petrino said of the 208-pound receiver. Therefore, he has prepared himself to be ready in those positions."

On a stat note, The Panthers have allowed 389 passing yards this season with no interceptions.

SPECIALTIES: The Falcons made a distinct detour from the path of "getting younger" when they signed 47-year-old kicker Morten Andersen Monday night. But with age comes skill and experience.

The 25-year veteran is the league's all-time record holder in points (2,435) and gives Atlanta immediate consistency in the kicking game. It's not his first trip to Flowery Branch, either. Sunday marks the beginning of Andersen's third-stint with the team.

"He knows his way around the building," special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said. "He knows his way around the football field. He's coming in here with a great deal of poise, skill and experience. Morten is going to be able to give us field goal percentage.

"The opportunity to have our offense drive down the field and put Morten on the field... Everyone is going to feel good about sending him out there."

The move doesn't come without concerns, however. Former kicker Matt Prater also handled kickoffs for the Falcons to take pressure off punter Michael Koenen. With Andersen, Koenen will go back to kicking off. He also changed his holding style to accommodate Andersen, a left-footed kicker.

SHUFFLING THE CARDS: Tackle Wayne Gandy returned to practice this week after missing most of the Jaguars game with a pulled hamstring. Rookie Renardo Foster would have to deal with Peppers if Gandy is unable to go Sunday.

Safety Chris Crocker also returned to practice and showed no ill effects from a bone bruise that kept him out for more than a month.

"I've been out for a month now so I'm really anxious," Crocker said Wednesday. "(Lawyer Milloy) had to slow me down saying I was doing too much.

"It's a freak injury and you can't play scared in this game. I rehabbed for a month. I'm not the type guy that would go out there and hinder the team if I wasn't ready. I'm confident that I'm healthy."

Crocker split time with second-year man Jimmy Williams in practice incase the injury flares up.

NUMBERS, NOTES AND COLORS:

Some numbers, facts and pigments to get you ready for Sunday's home opener against the Panthers...

• The Falcons will be wearing red Sunday against the Falcons... The alternate, black, jerseys will have to wait.
• The Panthers haven't had much luck in the Georgia Dome, sporting a 3-9 record.
• Carolina trails in the overall series, 15-9.
• As if he needed an introduction, kicker Morten Andersen has 2,435 career points.
• 22 players in the Falcons locker room were not born when Andersen entered the league in 1982.
• Renardo Foster is the tallest player on the roster (6'7").
• Warrick Dunn moved into third place on the Falcons rushing list last week.
• There are 2,619 words in Andersen's bio on AtlantaFalcons.com.
• The losing team hasn't scored more than 11 points in the last four meetings between the Falcons and Panthers.
• Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme comes into Sunday's game with a 111.6 passer rating.