Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 5, 2006, edition 1 / Page 18
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2C ®©o SP0RTS/1E|e C(STlotte Thursday, October 5, 2006 Bobcats look to move ahead Continued from page 1C “I feel a little more comfortable with Raymond making predic tions this year, than I did last year because I dunk him gaining that experience, along with other guys...we have a team more capable of making the playoffs and playing in the playoffs,” said May “if we do the things that are necessary..but only time will teU.” Wanting to win and makit^ the playoffs are completely dif ferent. With a young team - only five players who have been in the league five years or longer ~ the playoffs may seem like a lofty goal, but forward Othella Harrington said it’s a realistic ejqjectation. “They’ve got a great roster fix)m top to bottom. Right now the key is gelling and creatir^ familiarity” said Harrington “They weren’t winning games last year, but they were playing hard and making it competitive when they were minus a number of people. When you play hard, you put yourself into position to win games. Fm looking forward to a great season with these guys.” The Bobcats made a number of key acqxusitions in the off-sea son, including signing fi:Be ^ent Hanir^ton, drafting Murison and UCLA center Ryan Hollins, and re-signing Melvin Ely T think we have a lot of key pieces. I think the coaches did a great job of filling in the roles, just in case iryuries do happen this sea son. This team has a lot of depth and if injuries do happen, we have the players to stay on the pace we were at,” said small for ward Gerald Wallace. After sitting on the bench as spectators, and watching their teammates strode, May and Okafor are itching for the season to begin. ‘Tve been anxious to get back into tlie groove of things,” said Okafor, who missed 56 games due to a ri^t anlde injury T just want to get out there, doing basketball stuff, getting that rhythm and routine. The balance has been restored. People were playir^ out of position, and we were kind of under staffed in certain positions, it was just a littie kooky but this year, it’s a lot better than what it was.” Felton and Brevin Kni^t carried the brunt of the Charlotte offense after May and Okafor went out with injuries. Tt was tough. It’s tough to play with nine guys or ten guys and that’s what we were playing with,” said Knight. “But I think we a(^usted as well as we could have to the situation.” T thiiik even if we don’t make the playoffs, success for us will be havit^ a shot at the playoffs,” added Wallace. “Having our destiny in our own hands, where it’s not determined early in the season, but it comes down to the wire and it’s up to us., that would be a successful season.” Most of the players feel the key to success’is health. “If evayone sta)^ healthy we have the pieces,” said May who played in 23 games before sustaining a season ending right knee injmy in December. “My goal is to come out and help this team...not in a suit on the bench, butinmyjerseyonthe court.” The Bobcats’ first intrasquad scrimmage is in Wilmington on ' Sunday The first preseason game is Ttiesday against Indiana at 7 p.m. at Bobcats Arena. Wideouts lead Panthers offensive revival Continued from page 1C al but it kind of threw me off a little bit.” For the second straight week, Smitii’s presence made a difference to Carolina’s offense. He caught tiiree Jake Delhomme passes for 35 yards on a 91-yard drive that put the Panthers ahead 14-10 on Drew Carter’s 4-yard catch. Although the Panthers’ weren’t especially brilliant in the passir^ game (Delhomme passed for 169 yards), Smith and fellow wideout Keyshawn Johnson (six catches for 63 yards) did more than enox^ to provide bal ance for the run. DeSham Foster led Carolina with 105 yards on 16 carries, including a game-clinching 43-yard scorii^ run with 1 minute;, 45 ■ seconds left. As a team, the Panthers ran for 167 yards on 29 carries. ‘When the receivers are doing what Johnson they’re sup posed to be doing on the ec^s, the run ning game gets going and the running backs can do.some, things to open up the wide receivers,” Johnson said. Johnson’s blocking fi^ed Poster on his touchdown run, confirming why the Panthers pursued bim as a fi:ee agent. Johnson sealed the corner, Foster broke a pair of tackles and raced to the goal line for what became the winning score. “Key made a good block to the side and then it was off to the races,” Fost^ said. “He was like a safety out there.” After starting 0-2, Carolina is back in the NFC South hunt. Although the Panthers have issues, namely a revolv- ir^-door offensive fine and injuries that forced juggling among the linebackers, they’re in better shape with Smith on the field. “All the games we play at home we need to win them and ccsntinuously be consis- teit on the road like we have been prior,” he said. “I think we’ll come out fine. We do have a lot of room to improve. Myself, I think I need three or four better routes and give Jake a bett^ option- We all have room for improvement.” J.C. Smith linebackers lead Division n in tackles Continued from page 1C ers and outside linebackers to excel as pass rushers. The scheme plays to his strer^ths. ‘T loved'it because that’s what I played in junior col lege,” Wilson said. “When (defensive coordinator Eric) Puryear told me we were switching, I was right at home.” The linebackers’ success is the byproduct of Smith’s down linemen disrupting opposing finemen VTth end D.J. Haynesworth and 6-0, 350-poim.d nose tackle WUliam Burgess occupying blockers, Williams and 'TOlson are fi^ to clean up the leftovers. “At the beginning, I was skeptical because there was no one over the guards,” Williams said. “The way we design our defense, 'William Bui^ess is taking on two or three blocks and it allows us to get to the baU.” ‘It’s a lot of teamwork,” said 'TOlson. “The outside guys are forcing them to us and the guys up fixint are hitting their marks. In this schane we run, with the double teams up fixnt, that leaves me and Fred fixe.” Smith, which plays at Livingstone Saturday is in the middle of the pack among CIAA defenses in most cate gories. A telling reception is red zone defense, where the Bulls allow a league-low 55 percent success rate. Moving the ball is one thing; scoring is anoth^. ‘T look at it as in the middle of the field, they can run away fixm us,” Williams said. “But inside the 20, they don’t have as much room.” That’s the goal on every down Get in position to make plays- “Our defense is just so quick, it’s liko we’re (ri^t) there,” Wilson, said. “We just meet at the ball.” N.C. Central moves on after Warren quits team By Bonitta Best FHETR/ANGLETRfBUNE D'QRHAM-Adrian Warren is gone. Again. The N.C. Central quarter back did not travel with the Ea^es to Baton Rouge, La., when the Eagles played Southern two weeks ago and coach Rod Broadway had not heard fi'om him. Warren’s absence fikely confirms the senior is finished with foot ball. He quit the team before fall drills, only to return. Broadway said true fixsh- man Chris Webb will be the backup to Stadford Brown, and, if push comes to shove, wide receiver Charles “Stix” PutreU could be used. “Stix is always an option, and I would never rule him out,” Broadway said Warren was the designated starto heading into presea son training but quit the team a week before practice began, leaving Brown and Webb to battle for the posi tion He returned to the team a week before the season began, but Brown was given the starting nod against Albany State, and has kept it ever smee. “Stadford continues to make good decisions, and he continues to get better,” Broadway said. Bowie State is team No. 2 of a four-game road trip for the Ea^es. The Bulldogs, who obviously looked past Livingstone College last weekend, will be without starting QB Lamar Manigo and running back Isaac Redmon. If the Eagles win this week end, they will be halfway to an undefeated season. Of the five remaining games, only Langston and Johnson C. Smith are at least .500. Of course, records mean nothing when it comes to rivalries and revenge. ‘T want die players to feel confident that they can win every game, but anybody can beat anybody at any time,” Bpoadway said. Note: Athletics Director Bill Hayes said Southern will reimburse the players for their stolen personal items during last weekend’s game. Hayes also said no champi onship rings were taken, as pi-eviously reported. 0 mazDa ffnmmmif MMn li mmmmm wmmmm Public Sales Event iSi^’ralte $6^ Perl\\onth CX-7 mRP$24,3tO mazda Ta^ $6,000 Tribute OFF airoe Tributes wWedE mUP $23,135 rin fXazda Inventory Offered To The Public dt Drastically Deduced Prices. This Event is For ^21988 DPhTTmss omu tO^QQS • Special lender Financing dvaiiabie dli Trades dccepted Regardless Of What Vou Owe! Can Vou Ftnswer Ves To The Foilowina Questions oDommajoB? 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Oct. 5, 2006, edition 1
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