Panthers keep QB Ryan under wraps this time

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- The first time through, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan had his way with the Carolina Panthers.

This time, he looked like a young player still learning his way through the professional game.

The Panthers picked off Ryan twice Sunday in their 28-19 win over the Falcons, with both picks leading to touchdowns.

The first came in the second quarter, when rookie Sherrod Martin continued an effort which could earn him the starting free safety job when Charles Godfrey returns from an ankle injury. The rookie from Troy, the team's second second-round pick, has blossomed since replacing Godfrey, with three picks in as many weeks.

“He's a guy who a month ago, quite frankly, we didn't know him,” Panthers coach John Fox said. “We drafted him. We knew what he did in college and his capabilities. We knew his flexibility both being a corner type athlete with safety size. We didn't have a chance to play him much. He got hurt and missed a lot of time.

“The first time we watched him play was a couple of weeks ago against Arizona. I thought he had a whale of a performance. He's a guy who has been given an opportunity and seized it in a good way.”

The second was the dagger, after the Panthers had to punt to the Falcons late in the fourth quarter, clinging to a 21-19 lead.

Ryan was again looking for Michael Jenkins, but linebacker James Anderson stayed under Jenkins' post route, forcing Ryan to put a little air under the ball.

That left Richard Marshall there to collect, and effectively clinch the game with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left.

“That pick was all James; James did his job,” Marshall said. “That's what we have to do, play defense as a team.”

The Panthers didn't do that in Atlanta in Week 2, as Ryan threw a career-best three touchdowns in a 28-20 win in the Georgia Dome.

This time, so much was different.

Even though Ryan wasn't sacked, the Panthers got consistent pressure on Ryan and forced some hurried throws.

“He's a mobile quarterback and he's very good at throwing the ball on the run,” linebacker Jon Beason said. “Any time you can get pressure on the quarterback when he's running around it's always a good thing.”

PLAYING WITHOUT PEP — Defensive end Julius Peppers was severely limited by what appears to be a broken right hand suffered last week in New Orleans.

Peppers wore a large cast Sunday and was limited to passing downs early. That took him off the field for most of the Falcons' run plays, as well as short-yardage situations (he often would start out to the field, then run off).

“He has a messed-up hand,” Fox said. “They had it protected. I think it surely limits you. You are not 100 percent. Guys play with those type of things. I thought he played well without seeing the tape.”

Backup Charles Johnson started in his place and took most of the early reps. That gave him a longer workday than normal, since he usually is limited to rushing from inside on passing downs.

“We kind of knew that was going to be the case,” Johnson said. “It's not really pressure; you just have to step up and do your job.”

BAKER'S BIG PLAY — Jason Baker is the latest Panthers punter to demonstrate some tackling skills.

“It was nothing that every guy in this locker room shouldn't expect from every other guy in this locker room,” said the soft-spoken Baker, who was acquired in the 2005 trade with Denver for Todd Sauerbrun. “It wasn't a situation where letting him go by was much of an option.”

Most players were impressed with Baker's fourth-quarter stop, during which he shoved Falcons returner Eric Weems out of bounds at the end of a 24-yard return.

“It wasn't too textbook, but I liked the intensity,” Beason said.