Rivera emphasizes to Panthers: 'Let's get physical'

Aug 21, 2017 - 7:45 PM CHARLOTTE, n.c. -- If the Carolina Panthers lost their edge during the disappointing 2016 season, head coach Ron Rivera is trying to make sure they get it back with physical play.

That has been one of the overriding themes during the preseason, with the re-emphasis on physicality impacting just about every assessment of the team.

The Panthers had some ups and downs in that department during Saturday's 34-27 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Rivera, though, is looking for who can bring a consistent physical presence.

So, a 4-yard rush for veteran running back Jonathan Stewart might have seemed rather ordinary, but for Rivera it was something special because it came on a play that didn't appear to have any openings.

"That, to me, is what we have to get back to," Rivera said. "We've got to get back to playing physical football."

Players who played physical in Rivera's evaluation received the most praise.

"We've got to be a physical football team if we're going to give ourselves opportunities to win games," he said.

That's not to say that a smash-mouth style has to be the only direction for the Panthers. After all, running back Christian McCaffrey continues to dazzle with his quick moves and bursts of speed.

But Rivera has signaled the physical theme again even when it involves McCaffrey. Stewart could be an ideal fit with the rookie.

"If we can be physical in nature up front and kind of dictate the defense that we're playing and then you switch it up with Christian, I think that's what you look for," Rivera said.

The physical component is important because the Panthers made their 2015 season so special by feeding off the physical play and a dominant defense. It could become critical again this year because if the team is lacking key players at the start of the season, it will be a matter of excelling with physicality until they're up to full speed.

The Panthers got away from ball control at times last season, and with quarterback Cam Newton limited so far in training camp, it's possible that backup Derek Anderson will need to direct the team at some point. That might call for more physical domination along the line of scrimmage without a quarterback who can tuck the ball and run regularly.

While Newton is a playmaker capable of dazzling performances, the Panthers probably will be more prone to keep things closer to the vest without him. If that's the case, the work along the line of scrimmage could be magnified.

Notes: Newton is on track to do more throwing in practice leading up to the third preseason game. He threw in team drills Monday and looked sharp at times. Still, it's unclear if he'll play Thursday night at Jacksonville. He has yet to play in a preseason game this summer after offseason shoulder surgery. ... Wide receiver Curtis Samuel, a rookie out of Ohio State, had his most active session of the preseason with Monday's work. Yet, head coach Ron Rivera said it's undetermined if he'll play in Thursday night's preseason game at Jacksonville. He has been dealing with a hamstring issue since spring.

LB Luke Kuechly didn't play in the second preseason game because of sore ribs. ... Linebacker David Mayo started the second preseason game at middle linebacker in place of Luke Kuechly. That gave Mayo a chance to play with the first unit, considered a valuable opportunity. ... Running back Christian McCaffrey, a first-round draft pick, said he doesn't have any particular plans for the ball that was saved for him after he scored his first touchdown, albeit in a preseason game.