Reeder's Take

   Well, just filed my final story to the Gaston Gazette and posted my last story on Carolina Growl.

   Again, I will miss you all. Time to begin a new journey.

   If you missed my goodbye column, here it is!

On injuries: Everybody (Greg Olsen, Jeremy Shockey and Thomas Williams) worked today that was capable of working. Omar (Gaither) and Jordan (Pugh) still are struggling. On who is the backup safety behind Sherrod Martin: Jermale Hines, he’ll be the third. If we get in an emergency situation, R.J. (Stanford) will be our emergency safety.

On how much he expects to use the 3-4 defense against the Washington Redskins: We’ll tinker with it. It’s a good changeup. It gives us a good mixup. It does present some problems for offenses at times. It also helps us to have a guy like an Antwan Applewhite who’s played that position for us.

 On if the 3-4 could evolve into the Panthers base defense: It can evolve as giving us some answers. If a team sits there and you get in an over front and they take the tight end and move him back and move him across, they can dictate what you’ve got to do. If we come out and we line up like this and they want to change the tight end, we can dictate to them. It gives us options is what it does. To talk about it as being a base might be a little premature. The big thing to do is we’d have to get a couple more linebackers like an Antwan Applewhite. What’s happening right now is he gives us opportunities and options, and I think that’s probably the biggest thing. You don’t want to get too heavy with those kinds of guys, because certain other positions become obsolete.

 On if down the road he wants the Panthers base defense to be a 3-4 or a 4-3 with 3-4 tendencies: Right now because of the personnel we have we’re looking at a 4-3 with the tendencies. With a Charles Johnson and a Greg Hardy, it makes no sense. You don’t want to take Charles and put him in a position where he could potentially drop (into pass coverage) every play or every other play. If he drops (now), it’s off of a zone pressure and it’s once in awhile. But tendencies to give them different looks, now all of a sudden they’ve got to prepare for a 4-3, they’ve got to prepare for a 3-4. What we’re trying to do is create some options and opportunities.

 On if he expects the Redskins to try to establish the run against the Panthers: I would given the fact that seems to be the modus operandi starting with the Bears. From them on, everybody has tried to (run the ball). What we’ve tried to do is we’ve tried to counter it. We’ve worked it and we’ve worked it and we’ve worked it. One of the big things we’ve worked on is setting the edges. We’ve tried to emphasize linebackers getting down, hitting the double teams and taking the double teams off of the three and the nose. That’s one of the things that has happened, too. We don’t come downhill; we tend to run sideways too much. We can’t run sideways – not in this defense. If run sideways in this defense, we’re just giving up yards.

 On if linebacker Jason Phillips is starting because he improves the Panthers run defense: Yes, that’s a big part of the reason why we’ve got Jason playing this week. Jason is a little bit more of downhill player. He understands playing downhill and fitting the run.

 On using the upcoming three-game home stand over the next four weeks to turn things around: Most certainly. We’ve got three games in the next four weeks at home. We’ve got an opportunity to do that. You always talk about one game at a time. But I told the players on Wednesday that I’m not just looking at one game at time. I’m looking at where we can be at the bye and then where we can go from the bye. Yes, it is one game at a time. We want to win this one, because to get a winning streak you’ve got to win one and then you’ve got to win two, and that’s where we’ve got to be.

Coach: Mike Shanahan, 2nd season with Redskins (154-109 overall in as a head coach).

Series History: 10th regular-season meeting. Redskins lead series 7-2. This is the first meeting between these two geographic rivals since Oct. 11, 2009 when the Panthers rallied from 15 points down to defeat the Redskins 20-17. Jake Delhomme completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jeff King and Jonathan Stewart ran for a score to give the Panthers a rare win over the Redskins.

Last week: The Redskins lost 20-13 to Philadelphia as QB Rex Grossman was intercepted four times. He’s been benched for this week and John Beck will get his first start since 2007 when he played in Miami.

Offensive player to watch: TE Fred Davis. He’s emerged as the top tight end in the Washington offense and leads the Redskins with 343 yards receiving. He’s second on the team in catches with 22, one behind WR Santana Moss.

Defensive player to watch: OLB Brian Orakpo. The former first round draft pick has been living up to his billing leading the team with 3.5 sacks. Look for him to apply all sorts of pressure to Panthers QB Cam Newton.

Special teams player to watch:  K Graham Gano. He’s struggling a bit with the Redskins, having converted 9 of 12 field goals with all three misses coming from between 30-39 yards. Outside of the four he’s 3-for-3, including 2-for-2 from beyond 50. It’s just the chippies he’s struggling with.

By the Numbers: 8 – Number of touchdowns the Redskins defense has allowed in six games this season.

My take: The Redskins have a really good defense and this will certainly be a good test for Cam Newton and Co. Look for them to throw all sorts of looks at Newton designed to confuse him and force him into mistakes. In all likelihood this will be a low scoring affair as the Redskins offense is averaging just 15.3 points per game over the last three weeks. They’ve also turned the ball over eight times during that span.

   The Play 60 bus has pulled into Charlotte and guess who’s driving?

   You know those PSA commericials featuring NFL players driving in on a bus with kids? Well, the Panthers have filmed one and it’s pretty good. It features Cam Newton and Steve Smith prominently along with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson driving the bus. It’s part of the NFL initiative to convince kids to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.

   Here’s the video.

Opening Statement:

 Here is the interview from Wednesday with GM Marty Hurney over the decision to place Jeff Otah on injured reserve.

   Opening statement: We are going to place Jeff Otah on injured reserve today with a left knee injury and we will sign Reggie Wells. As you all know, Jeff has been working really hard since training camp to strengthen that left knee that kept him out last year. He’s worked hard but was never able to get over the hump and he’s had concurrent issues. He’s been listed as questionable the past two weeks due to a back injury. We met with Jeff over the past few days and decided the best thing to do was to put him on IR so he can concentrate on strengthening that knee and essentially take an eleven week loss for a long term future gain.

 RE: How has the development of Byron bell played in to this decision?

 They are two separate issues, obviously Byron is a good young player, but it’s a very hard decision to put a player of Jeff Otah’s caliber on injured reserve. Again, he has worked very hard to strengthen that knee but he has never made it over that hump. That, along with the concurrent issues, helped us decide that in his best interest and our best long-term interest the best thing to do was place him on injured reserve so he can concentrate on getting his knee as strong as possible.

 RE: This was a two-year type injury, what was the extent of it initially and was it made worse this time?

 There’s no specific recipe for every player to come back from a certain injury. Especially an injury to a person of Jeff’s size, a big offensive tackle, every injury is different. It’s hard to go into length of time, we know when he hit training he was working very hard. Unfortunately we didn’t have him for the offseason like we usually would due to the lockout. But when he got to training camp, we had a plan and he worked very hard with Joe Kenn to strengthen the knee and was able to play a few games but was still never able to get over the hump. What we want to do is let him focus on the knee, get him out of the pounding of practice and games to eventually get over that hump.

 RE: Is it an ACL injury?

 No. I will find out the definition of the injury later today. Any time you are operated on, it is a significant injury. It’s just about getting that knee to the strength where it won’t cause any more problems and to get it as strong as a possible.

 RE: He’s been listed for back injury the last couple weeks, does that have to do with the knee?

 Yes, that is one of the concurrent issues he’s had to deal with. He’s been listed as questionable the past two weeks because of it.  I think any time the knee is weak it can lead to other problems. That’s why we want to make sure we give him as much time as possible to strengthen that knee.

RE: What was Jeff’s reaction to the decision?

He was very disappointed. Jeff’s a competitor and wants to be on the field, but he understands it. He wants to play like every other player.

RE: Any thought of moving Travelle Wharton to the right tackle spot?

No, we haven’t discussed it. Travelle does have flexibility, as does Reggie Wells.

RE: After Jeff sat out last season, were you confident this was past him?

Well, it goes back to how injuries never have a finite explanation. Each injury is unique and different. Again, not being able to have him in the offseason didn’t allow us to get as good of a feel for the injury as we wish we had. We just came in to camp with a plan that everyone felt good about, he approached it and worked hard. But unfortunately he was unable to get over the hump.

   Panthers starting RT Jeff Otah has been placed on injured reserve, GM Marty Hurney announced Wednesday.

   Otah will not need surgery, but the weight issues contributed to his problems with knees and back. Otah missed two games this year and has missed 25 of a possible 54 games since coming into the league as a first-round draft pick. Otah’s knee issues stemming from the two surgeries have led to back problems that have plagued him this year.

   “Knee injuries, every time they’re operated on, they’re significant,” Hurney said. “It’s just getting that knee to the strength it needs to be and to not cause other problems and to get it strong as it can.”

   As for Otah’s back issues are the result of his knee problems, Hurney said, “Anytime the knee is weak, but that could definitely lead to other problems.”

   Asked if he’s worried about Otah’s long-term future, Hurney said, “I think we’re confident and I think he’s confident that he can work and get it stronger and the future will be bright.”
 

   Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has benched quarterback Rex Grossman in favor of John Beck for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

   “I’m excited,” Beck said at a press conference Wednesday at the Redskins facility. “There is a lot of hard work that has gone into this. You try to stay ready. I just want to go out there and do my best.”

   Grossman was intercepted four times in last week’s 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Redskins are still 3-2 and alive in the race for the NFC East division title. Beck relieved Grossman on Sunday and completed 8 of 15 passes for 117 yards. He also ran for a touchdown.

   “This team has a good feeling about it,” Beck said. “When it’s game day we feel good about it.”

   The Redskins are also down two starters on the offensive line and tight end Chris Cooley due to injuries.

   Beck started four games in his career, all of those coming in 2007 with the Miami Dolphins.

   “You have to have guys to step up and make plays,” Beck said.

   Before the start of his press conference Friday, coach Ron Rivera squelched any rumors of the Carolina Panthers being interested in making any trades prior to Tuesday’s deadline.

   “We are not talking to anybody about any trades,” Rivera said. “I knew that (question) was coming. As of right now we have no intention. We like our circumstances with our guys. All of this stuff breaks last night and then you hear it all morning and guys are asking. So I want to make sure people understand.”

   There had been reports out of Denver the Panthers might be interested in Brandon Lloyd, but those are false.

   As for the injury report for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, LB Omar Gaither (sprained MCL) is out, while OT Jeff Otah (back) and S Jermale Hines (illness) are questionable and DE Charles Johnson (hip) is probable.

   Otah worked on a limited basis Friday after missing the last two days of practice and coach Rivera said he’s feeling “better and better” about the big man’s chances of playing. “He worked a little bit today and moved around pretty good,” Rivera said. “Now we’ll just see how he is Sunday morning.”

   Johnson is expected to play after sitting out practice Thursday.

   The Denver Post is reporting the Broncos are actively trying to trade wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who will be a free agent after the season. The report, citing NFL sources, said the Broncos are seeking a third, fourth or fifth round pick for Lloyd and the Carolina Panthers are one of the team’s believed to be interested in him. The Tennessee Titans are also among the “three or four” teams that have expressed interest.

   Lloyd, 30, led the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards last season and could represent a potential upgrade over starter Legedu Naanee. He’s top on the Broncos this year with 283 yards on 19 receptions. However, he’s not a great fit in John Fox’s offense.

   The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday.

The Atlanta Falcons (2-3) have some injury concerns coming into Sunday’s game against Carolina.

Falcons rookie receiver Julio Jones will miss Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury, while Pro Bowl receiver Roddy White is questionable with a knee injury. Also, defensive end  John Abraham (groin) and center Todd McClure (knee) sat out practice. However, Panthers tackle Jordan Gross said the Panthers are preparing as if Abraham will play.