October 14, 2009
We got the win on Sunday against the Redskins and we’re relieved, but we know we’re capable of winning games. I know the character of these guys and the talent that we have. A comeback win like this will hopefully be a morale booster and we can get some momentum off of it.
The bye came at a good time for us. I’m looking at it like we’re 1-0. After watching the film, I didn’t feel like I played a great game. Technique-wise I could’ve been better, so I’m a little disappointed. Sometime soon I’ll hit my stride and be more dominant.
I think Jake played well the last three games, not just against Washington. He’s had some turnovers, but if you watch the film you can see he’s making the right reads and good throws.
Tampa this week is a dangerous team for us. They’re talented on defense, the front four and the front seven is solid and they have Ronde Barber in the back. We can’t overlook them just because their record isn’t good. I know we feel like we’re a good team, and our record is not that good either.
They’re looking to find points and develop an identity. It could be one of those frustrating games for us because they’ve got that elusive quarterback now, he’s like a young Michael Vick. He’s a very talented guy and they have a great running game, plus Kellen Winslow is always dangerous at the tight end position.
We just have to go out there and take care of business and not look at the stats, because that’s how you get beat.
Carolina Panthers All-Pro middle linebacker Jon Beason writes a blog for www.playerpress.com at www.jonbeason.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jonbeason.
July 30, 2009
One of the best parts of training camp is the camaraderie, hanging out with the guys. You’ve got guys who are married, guys with kids, single guys, rookies, a lot of personalities, and it’s amazing how quickly through football you can become somebody’s friend, and a close friend at that.
It’s a beautiful thing. People around the world should really look at teams in general. We’re just a bunch of guys, white, black, whatever, just trying to coexist together.
I actually just did some acting for a website. They went around and filmed some guys working out, then filmed some skits with us to show a lot of our personality. It’s funny, it’s about pro athletes picking a Fantasy team of office workers. They let us do a lot of improv and they said I was a natural actor, that I acted like the camera wasn’t even there. In one scene I had to pretend I was having a phone conversation with Bryant McKinnie. We started talking about who we would draft in our office worker league and I was lying on a bed, acting like a 12-year-old girl chewing gum and twirling my hair. We used football terms to describe the office workers and why we would draft them.
Dante Rosario was involved, too. We did 3 or 4 scenes together, a chess scene, a workout scene. It was funny. It should be posted in 3-4 weeks.
One thing about training camp I’m not looking forward to is sleeping in the dorm at Wofford College. I can see the logic in going off-site where it’s not as comfortable. I had a good conversation about it with the owner, Jerry Richardson. He actually went to Wofford and is the only owner to have played in the NFL. The conditions are not the best but it’s all about football. It’s hot down there and the coaching staff will get a good indication of what players can make it if they get through the hot, muggy weather. It’s humid and there’s no breeze whatsoever.
Sleeping on those old dorm mattresses can be tough for some of the guys. There are definitely certain guys who could do without it. I just heard that 17 NFL teams have camp at their own facility. They stay home and sleep in their beds. Knowing that makes it tougher. If the whole league did what we do, no one would complain.
But I have complete faith in Mr. Richardson. He can relate. He’s not one to tolerate guys who can’t stay out of trouble, he knows they’re no good for the locker room and he knows that can bring a team down. He’s done a great job with this franchise the last 15 years.
Some people have asked me about Michael Vick. All I can say is I think it’s human nature to learn from your mistakes. Unfortunately, even if a guy has paid his dues and gone through the justice system, society still holds their mistake over their head. They never really get away from it.
I think Mike is like any guy who gets out of jail and no one wants to hire him even though he’s paid his debt to society.
Hopefully someone will go out on a limb and pick him up. I absolutely think half of being a great quarterback is just having “it,” God-given ability. Some guys are born to be great in that position and then have to develop the skills and the work ethic. Vick has proven he has the God-given ability and I don’t think two years off will hurt him.
And I’m pretty sure he’ll come out with a chip on his shoulder.
Carolina Panthers All-Pro middle linebacker Jon Beason writes a blog for www.playerpress.com at www.jonbeason.com. Follow him on Twitter as jonbeason.
July 7, 2009
Michael Jackson: Best there ever was, best there ever will be.
Jon
Written By Jon Beason
November 20, 2008
Matt Ryan has established himself as a polished quarterback, a guy with a lot of heart, a lot of guts, and you can see he has all the intangibles. I’m fairly impressed with how far he’s come along since college.
In college, I was not a fan.
When I was at Miami and he was at BC, we rattled him that day, our front four put on the pressure and it really got to him. I got a sack on him and we beat them, though we didn’t kill them. I think it was 17-14.
We know going into the game their offense is based on how well they run the ball with Michael Turner. If they can run it, it opens up the field for Ryan and Roddy White to throw the ball downfield. We have to do all we can to make their offense one-dimensional.
Statistically, we do better against the big-name backs. It’s been the rookies and guys who don’t have that mystique that have done well against us. With a big back like Turner, I find the best way to stop pressure is to meet it with equal or more pressure. You’ve got to hit a big back hard, and know that the calvary’s on the way. We have to gang-tackle and swarm.
At 8-2, I can start to admit that we have a pretty good shot at getting to the playoffs at this point. Ten is still the magic number, though. You can’t sit back and hope and wait until you get into the playoffs, you have to take care of your own business and make sure you get in the playoffs.
We didn’t play too great on defense against Detroit. Everybody’s getting on our offense, but anytime you put up 31 points and have a positive takeaway percentile, I’m fine with that. On defense I thought we played down to what we thought would be the level of competition, and to our surprise they’re a talented group. They kept coming after us.
It’s important that we keep winning, because home-field advantage would be huge for us. We’re 6-0 at home, 8-0 including the preseason, and we feel confident that if a team comes into the Panthers Den, our 12th man will really help us out.
Carolina Panthers starting middle linebacker Jon Beason writes a blog for playerpress.com at www.jonbeason.com.