National Football League

Panthers, others struggling with preseason blitzes

Published Aug. 27, 2010 2:37 p.m. ET

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Carolina Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross remembers facing base defenses almost exclusively in preseason games early in his eight-year NFL career.

Slowly, as defenses have become more complex and blitz-happy, that's changed. And it hasn't worked out so well for several teams, including Carolina.

Facing constant pressure from all angles, the Panthers have yet to score an offensive touchdown and have allowed 11 sacks entering Saturday's third preseason game against Tennessee at Bank of America Stadium.

''It seems like more of the defense is installed for the teams when we're playing them,'' Gross said Friday. ''It's almost like a real game as far as the packages that are getting thrown at us. It's definitely tough.''

The reason is the Panthers, like most NFL teams, do little to no game planning in the preseason because they're still putting in their own plays. While coach John Fox has remained old school - not wanting to show much on defense in fear it will tip off regular-season opponents - the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens peppered Carolina with exotic defensive packages.

The result is an offense, led by new starting quarterback Matt Moore, desperately seeking confidence and success Saturday night when the starters will play into the third quarter.

The Panthers, often struggling to figure out who is responsible for which pass rusher, have managed three field goals in 28 preseason possessions. They've lost seven straight exhibition games dating to the 2008 season.

''I think it's easy to say when it doesn't go well that it's just the preseason,'' Gross said. ''But the bottom line is we want to be more productive.''

The Panthers aren't the only team looking to protect the quarterback better in this new-age preseason that has often overwhelmed backup linemen and tight ends.

Chicago's Jay Cutler was yanked from the Bears' first game after just eight plays because of aggressive blitzing by San Diego.

A week later, Dallas coach Wade Phillips said the Chargers ''blitzed every time on third down'' and ''we haven't seen all those blitzes.''

St. Louis quarterback A.J. Feeley was sidelined with a right thumb injury when he was hit on a blitz last week against Cleveland. And on Monday night, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt acknowledged ''we didn't prepare against those kind of blitzes'' when the starting unit went three-and-out in the first three series against Tennessee.

Now the Panthers will likely face the same Titans' defensive schemes on Saturday night,

''Arizona admittedly was caught a little off guard from our aggressive approach early in the game,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

Panthers rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen took a beating playing the second half last week against the Jets, when he was sacked twice. He aggravated a chronic toe injury and missed practice on Monday. Clausen is expected to finish Saturday's game,

''You've got to go in and watch tape on your own ... To be honest, that's the hard part about preseason,'' Clausen said. ''Playing good defenses like that, you really don't get to game plan against them.''

Many defensive players shrug off talk they're throwing too much at teams who are mostly looking to evaluate personnel. Blitzing has become a much more prevalent and part of everyday schemes, so they need to practice them in exhibition games.

''We could blitz or we could just say we're going to play base defense and beat you up and be more physical than you at the end of the day,'' Titans defensive tackle Jovan Haye said. ''It's about us being physical guys knowing assignments and executing.''

Fox has spent much of the week downplaying Carolina's offensive struggles as it plays without receiver Steve Smith (broken arm), whose status for the rest of the preseason is uncertain despite his return to practice.

While Fox has been upset with the pass protection, he's mostly declared Moore and Clausen blameless. And while the more aggressive defensive packages hasn't changed his decision to limit game planning, he's hopeful the barrage of looks the Panthers have already faced will help when the games start counting on Sept. 12.

''You're going to see just about anything during a given season, and the more looks and the sooner you see things the better,'' Fox said. ''It may not work out statistically the way you want it to, but those things all come into play, helping you as you work through the preseason.''

Notes: Panthers reserve DE Hilee Taylor was to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery, Fox said after Friday's practice. Taylor entered camp facing difficult odds to make the 53-man roster. ... Titans rookie defensive end Derrick Morgan is expected to make his NFL debut against Carolina. The 16th overall pick missed most of training camp with a calf injury.

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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.