Eugene Monroe will be a key to Jaguars success on Sunday

by Adam Stites on Sep 20, 2011 11:23 PM EDT in Jacksonville Jaguars Game Preview

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Kevin Kolb #4 of the Arizona Cardinals gets tripped up by Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers in the NFL season opening game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 11, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

The Carolina Panthers defense has struggled in their opening two games of the season. They have allowed the sixth most points and the seventh most yards in the league and have allowed more yards per play than any other team. The Panthers have struggled to stop the run and, with the exception of cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, have struggled to stop the pass as well.

With the loss of linebacker Jon Beason to injured reserve, one of the sole threats on the Panthers defense is defensive end Charles Johnson. Johnson just received a six year, $72 million contract in July and has already shown flashes of why he received the money he did, recording a sack in each of the Panthers first two games. Johnson's 11.5 sacks in 2010 ranked 7th in the NFL and his two sacks in 2011 rank him 8th.

Rushing off the right side of the defensive line, Johnson will almost certainly face Eugene Monroe of the Jaguars on Sunday. Monroe has had a very strong start to the season, doing well at keeping pressure away from McCown and Gabbert and plowing ahead as a run blocker.

With Gabbert set to start in his first career NFL game on Sunday, Monroe's performance against one of the league's premier pass rushers will be paramount for the Jaguars to succeed.

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future best LT in the NFL!

i’m optimistic.

by Dawool Huh on Sep 20, 2011 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

I was too hard on him in preseason

He looks good so far.

by smy on Sep 20, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

we have to be optimistic.

by FgallosJAGS on Sep 21, 2011 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Very good even

But it is week 2

by smy on Sep 20, 2011 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

I'm pumped for this game!

Our #1 corner Chris Gamble is actually having a great year. He held Fitz to 3 catches, and he basically shut down Greg Jennings.(Jennings had 1 catch for 6 yards when Gamble was covering him)

Panther Pride 'till I die.

by mangoes52 on Sep 21, 2011 1:10 AM EDT reply actions

its too bad that

we don’t really have an exclusive number 1 receiver like that

by Dawool Huh on Sep 21, 2011 2:15 AM EDT up reply actions

That means they are gonna waste him on Hill

so M80 and others can make plays
but still we should run on them a lot

by Nikola R on Sep 21, 2011 4:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Will Britten start

by Marqice. on Sep 21, 2011 1:41 AM EDT reply actions

Cam Newton vs Blaine Gabbert

Mike Thomas vs Steve Smith
2 great rushing teams

Lots of similarities between these match ups.

JAGWARS FOOTBAWWW

by SexonvilleShaguars on Sep 21, 2011 1:53 AM EDT reply actions

The Panthers

Are not a great rushing team

by JohnnyBiceps on Sep 21, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Captain Munnerlyn?

What was his parents thinking? Where do the jokes even start?

by dan073eb on Sep 21, 2011 6:44 AM EDT reply actions

older sister = major
younger brother = lieutenant

Sean

Pax Armis Acquiritur

by cuffs007 on Sep 21, 2011 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions

If Eugene can shut him down, hes legit actually gonna have a stellar season.

by FgallosJAGS on Sep 21, 2011 8:21 AM EDT reply actions

Eugene is a #8 pick...

That’s higher than Blaine! He needs to shut down pretty much everyone.

by CheapSeat on Sep 21, 2011 8:56 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly

He has been really good so far, but he has to keep it going, or else the team will end up spending another high pick at tackle in the near future. As it stands, Britton is a major question mark. I guarantee the team is holding its breath on his development. It may take half the year before he is strong enough to even be a functional lineman again. Wilkerson ate him up a couple of times last Sunday. His game is predicated on strength, and without it, he offers very little.

by smy on Sep 21, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

A little problem with this assessment

Johnson primarily plays LDE, not RDE. While he does move around, he seems to get most of his action at LDE and inside on passing downs. Are you going to move Monroe around to follow him, and do you have parity on the other side to manage Hardy (who is playing almost as good)?

by ppalm on Sep 21, 2011 1:00 PM EDT reply actions