The Carolina Panthers franchise has always had a blue-collar, ‘bring your hard hat’ kind of appeal to its teams. Even its flashiest offensive superstar, quarterback Cam Newton, smiled while getting into fist fights during camp, and didn’t need a couple of grown men pushing his tush to gain a yard on a sneak.
The ‘Keep Pounding’ mantra and identity were born from linebacker Sam Mills, who was one of the best examples of never giving up and attacking every fold of life with fervor. A tough, will-inflicting defense has been synonymous with the Panthers’ name and a point of pride for their fans.
Carolina Panthers Defense Is Once Again the Hammer, Not the Nail
Defensive lineman Derrick Brown, cornerback Jaycee Horn, and safety Tre’Von Moehrig have been standout performers on the resurgent Panthers’ defense so far this season. Each of them makes highlight-reel and impact plays with regularity.
EDGE Pat Jones II was somewhat underappreciated. Still, his designation to season-ending injured reserve after Carolina’s Week 6 home victory over the Dallas Cowboys created a luminous spotlight over the vacancy left at the OLB spot.
When the question was asked to Nic Scourton about how the team will fill that void before the following matchup against the New York Jets, he responded, “Just a call to action, you know, for if you’re behind him, you know. Me. Princely (Umanmielen). T.I. (Thomas Incoom) Just a call to all of us. We got to step our game up.”
For anyone familiar with the 6’3”, 257-pound rookie OLB, it should come as no surprise that Scourton has jumped at the opportunity. His smile-driven, approachable personality and flip-switching tenacity appear to have permeated the defensive unit organically.
Scourton (PFSN EDGEi grade of 67.3), a native of Timpson, Texas, had Texas A&M University tabbed as his school of choice after graduating from Bryan High School, but they didn’t extend an offer. That could have been the kindling needed to light the fire he played with at Purdue University, where he produced 72 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks before transferring to Texas A&M.
In a feature by Panthers staff writer Kassidy Hill from June of this year, Scourton says of his reaction to things, “I take everything personal too. I’m one of those, I’m the worst person to joke with. I take everything personally.”
Relentless Play Begins to Yield Results
For the third time since Week 3, the former Boilermaker and Aggie logged the most defensive snaps of any OLB in the Panthers’ active lineup. His role has expanded dramatically from the 40 combined snaps through the first two weeks.
Much of that can be attributed to his work ethic and versatility. Scourton had never even played defensive end/EDGE until the All-American Bowl game in high school. He played inside linebacker before that foray. His athleticism and off-ball experience are evident when he drops back on replacement pressures or when defending the flat.
The run defense has been the pillar for Scourton staying on the field, ultimately. The rookie is impressive in his ability and consistency, setting the edge. His motor runs hot, and he takes good angles in backside pursuit. Nic doesn’t shy away from the messy work either, violently destroying pull blocks and initiating collisions to spill second-level defenders.
The Panthers have stretched him out as a rush backer to a wide 9-technique on certain fronts, while also kicking him inside to 4i (like his A&M days) on sub packages and NASCAR fronts.
The pass rush is heating up, as well. Through nine games, Scourton is credited with 16 pressures, placing him in a tie for third-most of all rookies. Fourteen of those have been generated in the last six weeks, where he’s had at least one pressure point in each contest. The epitome of ‘playing with his hair on fire’, Nic has three sacks thus far.
In Monday’s press conference, Carolina head coach Dave Canales shared the following praise for this Panthers team coming off their most recent victory:
“That’s what I was proud of too with the group, is all the way through the game, through the finish, offense, defense, special teams, it was a group that’s flying around, playing this game full speed, playing with great effort and violently the way it’s supposed to be played.”
That sure sounds like a team buying into their identity. An identity that fits Nic Scourton like a glove.