The Panthers are sticking with Haruki Nakamura.
The free safety gave up a pair of touchdown passes to Roddy White and allowed White to get behind him for a 59-yard reception in the final minute to set up the game-winning field goal last weekend in a 30-28 loss to the Falcons.
But defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and secondary coach Steve Wilks called Nakamura in Tuesday to tell him he was still their starter.
This is a first-class organization. Week in and week out, we're trying to turn this thing around. We want to turn this into a winning organization, potentially a championship organization. And with those type of errors, you're not going to get there, Nakamura said.
For them to still have confidence in me and look me in the eyes and say, 'We know what type of football player you are. Those mistakes are correctable.' But at the same time they expect more.
The decision says as much about the Panthers' lack of faith in Sherrod Martin, a two-year starter who has become a special teams player since Nakamura's arrival as a free agent. Martin angered management last season with a series of missed tackles in the open field.
There was 164 plays in that game. There were not 163 perfect ones, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. The guy (Nakamura) had an interception in the red zone. The guy knocked away a ball in the end zone. To do a complete turnaround and shutdown, I don't know if it's warranted.
Source: Charlotte Observer
Attached Thumbnails
The free safety gave up a pair of touchdown passes to Roddy White and allowed White to get behind him for a 59-yard reception in the final minute to set up the game-winning field goal last weekend in a 30-28 loss to the Falcons.
But defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and secondary coach Steve Wilks called Nakamura in Tuesday to tell him he was still their starter.
This is a first-class organization. Week in and week out, we're trying to turn this thing around. We want to turn this into a winning organization, potentially a championship organization. And with those type of errors, you're not going to get there, Nakamura said.
For them to still have confidence in me and look me in the eyes and say, 'We know what type of football player you are. Those mistakes are correctable.' But at the same time they expect more.
The decision says as much about the Panthers' lack of faith in Sherrod Martin, a two-year starter who has become a special teams player since Nakamura's arrival as a free agent. Martin angered management last season with a series of missed tackles in the open field.
There was 164 plays in that game. There were not 163 perfect ones, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. The guy (Nakamura) had an interception in the red zone. The guy knocked away a ball in the end zone. To do a complete turnaround and shutdown, I don't know if it's warranted.
Source: Charlotte Observer
Attached Thumbnails
Original Story:
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October 05, 2012
