September 25, 2025 • 22 mins
This week on Sideline Pass, Kristen and Sharon react to the Panthers 30-0 win over the Falcons, preview this weekend's road trip to New England, and so much more - including an exclusive sit down with Chau Smith-Wade.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Wow years.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Kristin Balboni and Sharon Thorps loved it with your Sideline pass.
It's that time of the week.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
It is sideline passed with your sideline reporters Kristen and Sharon.
Sharon oh Man, I have been so excited to talk
to you after the panthers thirty to nothing win over
the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
It's a good Wednesday here.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Oh my gosh, you aren't kidding. I mean, that was
just such a fun game. Not only shod you get
the win at home against the division rival, but the
manner in which they did it. You're shutting out the
Falcons like that and just rolling up the score. I mean,
it was so so much fun to see them be
able to accomplish that.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
And you know, we talk about not just a win,
but as you said, the manner in which they did it.
So the Panthers have not had a shutout in five years.
I actually remember that game. It was against Detroit when
Matthew Stafford was still there, which feels like forever ago, right,
and it was during the COVID years, so I think
I was the only person I was doing sideline for
that game. It was like one of the only people
in the in the stadium during those times where it
(01:02):
just felt like you were watching like a joint practice sometimes, So.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It was that.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
And then also so in addition to being the first
time in five years for the Panthers, this was the
first game that a team shut out another team in
the NFL this season so far. Now Grenam were only
three games in, but I mean, just what an accomplishment
to be able to do that, And you know, especially
with this defense that we've seen taking strides every single week,
but gosh, what a win to hang your hat on,
(01:29):
especially for that d oh wow.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
The defense just like took a light years jump there
with what they were able to do, because and the
first game of the season where was like, well, what's
going on? And the defense was, you know, obviously very
unhappy with that performance. And they came out and really
clamped down in game two against Arizona, particularly against the run,
and did a great job and it was sort of
overshadowed by the offense not being able to get enough
(01:52):
points up there on the board of the turnovers. But
then this third game against the Falcons, it's like they decided,
all right, we are really going to come out and
make a statement, and the way they were able to
force the turnovers and the pick six and the interceptions,
and just being able to just completely put the clamps
on Michael Pennix Junior. He just couldn't do anything. Looked
so discombobulated out there. The defense just really turned it
up a note. And I saw a stat which was
(02:13):
like sort of mind blowing if they said, if you
take away the points that the Panthers had allowed off
of turnovers this season, that the Panthers defense is like
number one in the league in points allowed. They're just
just a bit amazing. So what they've been able to
do so they have not gotten enough credit, I don't
think for what they have been able to accomplish here,
because that's quite a turno, and especially from last season
(02:34):
when things were really rough on the defensive side of
the ball, to be able to turn it around and
it was like they flipped a switch and came out
and we're just like, all right, we were getting it done,
and they sure did.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, sure, I don't think they've allowed a point in
the last six quarters. Yeah, you know, really, I mean
since the yeah, the end of the first half at Arizona.
So to be able to see them on this run,
as you said, and especially building off of where things
ended last season, just what an accomplishment that has to
feel so good.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
For those guys.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You look at a guy like Derek Brown, who is
you know, third game back from his injury and just dominating.
Oh my goodness, that's the Derek Brown that made the
Pro Bowl, that you know, broken NFL record for tackles,
and it's just it's so fun to see him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Especially, you know, we've known him for five years. His
first year was my first year.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So this is I you know, since twenty twenty is
when he got drafted, and to see him and how
much you know he's grown, and then also to recover
from this injury. It's just you just root for guys
like that, of course, and it's just so neat. It's
so special to be able to witness these players growing
and then coming back and doing so well. So, as
you one thing I wanted to mention to you, and
(03:40):
if anyone listening was at the game, then hats off.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
With this being a home game, it the.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Crowd featured so much in this game, and I know
you know that as well, but gosh, this it was
a it was a sea of blue there, and this
crowd was so into it, and it was just a
huge boon to the players as well, especially on those
defensive third downs. I mean, and Jeron, you'll appreciate this,
But I said it on the broadcast a few times.
(04:07):
You know, we have our ear pieces in and I
had to turn my earpiece up twice to be able
to hear the game. Hear a niche share our producer
David Langton talk over the crowd. That's how loud it was.
And you know, I've got it pretty loud to begin with,
but that is always a good sign. That's something that
I will never complain about, because that means it is
so loud in the stadium that it is hard to
(04:29):
hear what else is going on.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So to me, there's no better sign than that.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Absolutely. It was just so much fun to have the
crowd involved like that and to have the team give
them something to cheer about and to.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Get that excited about.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
And I know players just loved it, and they were
talking about it again Monday in the locker room that
how much they appreciated the fans out there on Sunday
and how loud they were, and how they just really
played a big part in the game. I mean, because
that makes a difference for Atlanta too. You know, when
they're on offense trying to hear in our crowds going
crazy and stuff. So and the Panther fans just showed
up in a big way, and you know, you could
(05:00):
tell they so appreciated what was going on in the field.
It's not always a lot of fun sometimes on Sundays
around here, and they've you know, it's this was big.
I mean, this was just huge to be able to
come out and have that type of performance in the
home opener, and you know, when everybody's had such high
expectations for this team this year, to go out and
validate that and show them that this is the team
they can be was just was just awesome. So it
(05:22):
was great to hear it. It was just so loud.
It was just great.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Absolutely. So I want to know from you, who was
there a moment.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Or a player that just really stood out to you,
Whether it's someone that you've been keeping an eye on
throughout the season so far, or just a play something
that you were like, oh wow, I'm clocking that.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
You know, one person that I was really keeping an
eye on this game was Trevin Wallace. He had a
little rough start to this season, a lot of there's
a lot of talk coming in about how he was
going to take the next step. You know, got forced
into a starting role last year as a rookie and
really sort of had to learn on the fly. But
coaches have always had good things to say about him.
Really thought he was going to take off to the
next level here this year. Was off a little slower
(06:01):
start at the beginning of the season, but I thought
he played extremely extremely well on Sunday, and I think
he had four or five tackles, but he was just
always around the football, always around trying to get in
Michael Pennix's face. I mean, he just really seemed to
track the ball well, do his job, and really held
down the inside of that linebacker group. And I thought
that he played extremely well. And then I loved the
(06:22):
play of Mike jack Mike Jackson, Holy cow, he has
just been such a great addition to this defense since
he came at the very end of the preseason a
year ago, and the way he and j. C. Horn
are just clicking out there and turning into yes, really
one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, and
it was so much fun to see him get that interception,
even though he as he sort of ran out of
gas there at the end and couldn't bring it all
the way home. But I mean, it was so fun
(06:43):
to see him be able to pull that down. Now
he and JC both have a pick and so so
that that was a lot of fun to watch too.
That that secondary is and the defense as a whole,
but the secondary seems like just really turning things up
a notch as well.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
One hundred percent. And that's something you noticed with Mike Jack.
The interception, of course, was the flashy play. We had
some great tackles in that game. You know, all of
a sudden, he's grabbing a guy's foot that could have
broken off for you know, twenty thirty yards, and like
you said, just just really making an impact. He and
JC together. I'm going to go with Shaw Smith Wade.
You know, we talked about the Mike Jack interception, but
that pick six. I was standing right there and to
(07:15):
get to see it in real time and just kind
of the recognition on his face of oh, I've caught
it and now I'm going to run in and the
joy Sharon, I'm going to be talking to him in
just a little bit on this podcast, which I'm so
excited about.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But the unbridled joy. Of course, anyone getting a.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Pick six is exciting, but he just you couldn't help
but smile watching him celebrate.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
He had handshakes with everybody, he had the turnover belt.
It was just a joy to watch.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
And that that pick six right there put the Panthers
up from ten to nothing, which is already a great
lead to have to seventeen nothing.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And I remember just going, oh, okay, well that just feels.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Totally different, you know, and you now have a seventeen
point lead in the second half.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, that was huge obviously. And shaw Smith Wade another
one of those young guys, you know, coming off a
really solid rookie season when he learned a lot to
taking it up a notch this season as well. And
he's always got a smile on his face. He's always
so polite and pleasant to talk to, but then when
he gets out there on the field, he really really
gets aggressive. And the way he was able to track
(08:15):
that ball to pull it down and then run it
all the way in for the touchdown good for him.
So and hopefully he can continue on that trajectory that
he's on. And he's such a versatile guy too. I
know they love the way that he can play inside, outside,
come down, you know, in the slot, whatever. He's been
able to do a lot in this defense already. And
getting that pick six was nice to get that with
the old turnover belt too, which I think is a
(08:36):
really fun thing that they've put together this season.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
It is it is whatever that whatever that thing is
that gets guys. It's always fun to see kind of
what that's going to be. So Sharon, now, now the
Panthers go back on the road. So this is their
third road game in four games, and you will be
with them, of course as the roadsidebline reporter. And you know,
it's interesting you have this huge momentum at home, you
(09:01):
start out on the road zero and two, and Jaran,
you've been covering this team for a long time and
traveling with this team, So what do you think about
going from having that home field advantage and that huge
crowd to now going back on the road.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
You know, I think that it's going to be a big,
a big confidence booster for the number one, but also
just to try to ride that momentum. You know, they
see what they're capable of. You know, they see how
good this defense can be when everybody's playing together, when
they come out fast, when they do their job, when
they all execute and just and really do they're tackle properly.
(09:34):
Everything that everything that came together for them, they see, Okay,
we know what we have to do, we did it,
and we see the results that come from it. A
lot of the guys were talking about that on Monday.
Nix scored in particular. You know, we see what we
had to do, we knew what we had to do,
we did it, and now we won. And now they're
going to just carry that with them, I think going
into New England, and this is a Patriots team that
(09:55):
same record one and two as the Panther's coming off.
Just an absolutely brutal loss to the Steeler and they
turned the ball over not once, not twice, four tis,
but five times in their opponent's five yard line. I
mean they were like in the red zone within five
yards of the end zone five times and either fumbled
or through an interception. So it was it was brutal.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Insane.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, it was brutal. So they're going to be a
little I rate. So I think this Patriots he is
probably a little bit better than maybe their record would show.
But I think this Pieters team now is really going
to be riding that confidence. They know what it feels
like to win, they know what it feels like to
play well. The offense did enough to get the job done.
I think that they played clean football too, which is
another big thing to hang your hat on. So I
(10:35):
think that they're gonna be confident and really sort of
have a little swagger going up here to Jillette Stadium
and see if they can't start a win streak now.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, and that confidence is going to be key because
you know, despite that record by the Patriots, that defense,
especially that D line looks good under Mike ray Bowl
and then Drake May of course. So I'm wondering, Sharon,
as you are scouting the opponent, what are you seeing
that the Panthers really need to have their eyes open about.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, I think you mentioned it there on that front seven.
They have nine sacks already this season, which is I
think tied for fifth in the league. Yeah, they really
upgraded that defense across the front. Brought in Harold Landry,
who used to be with Rabel out there, think with
the Raiders, and so they brought in a couple of
really key guys to boost up that front seven, and
(11:24):
they are getting after the quarterback in a big way.
And they didn't even have any sacks last week against
the Steelers, so that was all in the first two
games they have all those sacks, So that's one thing
I do think they're vulnerable against the past. Though Christian Gonzales,
they're all pro quarterback, has not played yet this season.
He's been dealing with the hamstring injury since training camp.
He might be back on Sunday. He did start practicing again,
but without him out there, they're twenty ninth in the league,
(11:46):
allowing a ton of passing yards to over two hundred
and fifty six passing yards a game, So that is
a place where they are susceptible. When you look at
the other side of the ball. You mentioned Drake may
Fell a tar heel go go down hills. We want
Drake to do well except for this Sunday, so exactly.
And he's been having a pretty solid year. He showed
a lot of flashes last year as a rookie and
when he finally was able to win that starting job,
(12:08):
and he sort of picked up where he left off
five touchdowns, does have two interceptions. He has been sacked
quite a few times. Actually, he's been sacked five times
already this season. So that's an area where I think
that our defensive front is going to be looking to
get after him and get our edge rushers after him
because he's he's been given up quite a few sacks.
They do have Stefan Diggs at receiver now, brought him
(12:28):
in Mac Collins, another former Tar Hill, and there are
running backs having some issues holding onto the football right now,
Antonio Gibson, Romandro Stevenson. They each fumbled last week a
total three times. So they've got a really good rookie though,
Traveon Henderson, who can run the ball, and of course
they've got a solid tight end and Hunter Henry, so
they've got plenty of weapons across that offense. But they
(12:49):
are susceptible to giving up the sack and have not
been particularly good running the football. They're much better passing
the ball. So if our defense can make Drake May
uncomfortable and you know, flush him out and grab a
few sacks along the way, I think that the defense
could have another good day.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Well they certainly were able to do that with another
young quarterback, Michael Pennix Junior. So we will see what happens,
and Sharon, hopefully we are talking about another big Panthers
win when we are back next Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Absolutely, and to become a go to go to five
hundred after an zero and two start. If this team
can end up two and two after the first quarter
of the season, that would be just an unbelievable feat.
And then you come home after that for two straight
home games, so I'm the you know, against teams that
are also looking a little vulnerable with the Dolphins and
the Cowboys. So this could be the start of something
really good if this team can go up there and
really get the job done against the Patriots and move
(13:38):
to two and two on the season.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
All Right, we're speaking it into existence.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Thank you so much, Seron, all right, thanks Kristin.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I am joined now by our first repeat guest, mister
pick six himself, Shaw Smith Wade Shaw.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Okay, first of all, congratulations on a the shutout and
that entire performance. I know you're on the field almost
the entire game, and then also on that incredible pick six.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It was just awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
So I have to tell you I was on the
sideline doing my sideline reporting and I was standing right
in front of you as it happened, and it was
amazing to see like it bobbled for a second, and
I could see it in your eyes where you were like, oh,
I've got this ball, and then immediately started running. And
I'm wondering, do you even register in that moment like
an athlete that has that split second reaction?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Are you does your mind comprehended or is it just
muscle memory that takes over.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yeah, I think it's the muscle memory. You know, as
soon as I've seen the ball, I just went to
go attack it. You know, he went to the flat slate,
so I kind of had a chance to kind of
gauge and anticipate the ball going to the flat, so
I just jumped it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
And when the ball was in my hand, I noticed
that I tipped it a little bit, like yeah, said,
bobbled it. I noticed that I did bobble it a
little bit, but it was kind of like it was
on purpose.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Oh yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yes, so I could recatch it and gain possession of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
And it was like one fluid motion.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
It was just it was incredible what happened in the
span of a second in which you secured the ball
and you were just immediately on your way to the
end zone. I want to play something for you. We
have the best Spanish broadcasts. I think we're the best
English broadcast in the league too. Because I'm a part
of that, I'm biased, but our Spanish broadcast is so good.
You have got to listen to their call of your
pick six and tell me what you think.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Okay that copio DoD chot dotchda dotch dodge.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Dodge dam.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Job why dots by lay by my lads, coil.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Pearlase, ghettos, Cocktail shrimp with Chilian.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, that's total, that's to.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
How good is that?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
You gotta put that on a T shirt somewhere, just
cocktail shrimp with Chilian.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Gotta definitely do numbers.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
That's so good. Yes, yes, oh yeah it did. It's
on the Panther's main Twitter account or x account. That's
so good.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I also want to say.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
That watching you, I don't know that I've ever seen
a player enjoy, like just genuinely enjoy that moment more.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You were smiling from ear to ear.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
You had handshakes with everyone, You got the turnover belt,
and it was just it also what it did for
the sideline, I mean a to go up from ten
to nothing to seventeen nothing and then to just really
set that and it just seems like you guys really
enjoy playing the style football and playing together.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
We definitely do.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
I think that, you know, from a defensive perspective, you know,
we really banded together on a fed up level, like
you know, I'm talking to a Rob, I'm talking to dB,
I'm talking to JC, and you know, we we look
back at last year and we don't never want to
be that.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You know, we want to be a top defense.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
We want to band together and make those plays and
you know, ultimately come together at the end of a celebration.
So you know, we we know what we want to be,
we know what standard that we have voted and it's
just tough to see, you know, it all play out
like that, like you can't ask for more than a
shutout in your home opener, and the way that you
(17:50):
know we dominated defensively is.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
It's just amazing, and you know you crave it. You
crave it.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
What does that do for you guys now as you
prepare for the Patriots and the rest of the season,
to say, okay, we have the ability to do something
that this this Panthers team has not done in five years.
And you were the first NFL team to shut out
another opponent this season. So what what does that do
for you guys to know that that's what you're capable of.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Yeah, it allows us to reflect in, you know, like
you said, to see our capabilities. We know what we're
capable of now, and that's the standard. You know, we
have to uphold that standard in you know, it allows
us to reflect and look at it like, okay, so
this is what we did right, this is what we're
going to continue to do right, and here's where we
(18:33):
can fix. So it allows us to really reflect and
ultimately just come up with the same results.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, it was such a such a great game. Every
moment was good. I want to know.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Okay, So going back to the handshakes, though, I noticed
that you have handshakes. It looked like you had handshakes
with a lot of different people. Here's what I want
to know as an adult, how do you say to
a guy like, we need.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
A handshake together?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Like is this like like on the play gund like, hey,
we need to see her handshake or does it just happen?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
How does that happen?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
We always see football players with a lot of different
handshakes with teammates.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
What does that process look like?
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, I mean in the locker room.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
You know, a lot of guys still carry a youthful
love for the game. So I would I would say
that it's a it's just a you know, that youthful mindset.
It all goes back to when you first started playing
the game. And you know, we have fun with each
other a lot, we band together a lot. It's almost
like we have to have a handshake, like what are
(19:34):
we gonna We see guys around the league celebrating doing
their thing? What is our thing? And that's what it
comes down to. So, you know, I would have to
give credit to Lathan Ransom. He actually got it going.
He was the guy who said, look, I.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Need a handshake with you, I need a handshake with you.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
You it could be guys on offense he has a
handshake with him, So you know, it just it's nice
to see. Okay, I got my handshake with Lathan. Okay,
I can look at Mike Jack, I have my handshake
with you. It's a never ended celebration, and you know
it allows us to band together and create a relationship
with each other.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
You ever forget one in the moment, like you had
a lot of handshakes going on after that celebration, right, Yeah,
that's got to be part of it. Yeah, you can't
forget it. You can't forget it. I love that.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
So I was I've listened to these guys over the
course of I think Lathan, I know JC guys have
talked about the fact that you are somebody that pulls
guys together and is vocal.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I remember hearing JC say over training camp.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
He was like, that kind of communication, especially coming from
a young guy, is invaluable. And I've heard Jac on
the sideline saying to people like, you can never communicate enough,
you can never communicate enough. And so I'm wondering, as
a young guy, how did you develop that and how
did you know? Okay, there's a need for me to
kind of fill this role and make sure that I'm
being vocal even though I'm very new to this.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, you know, it's it has to come from the vents.
You know.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Those guys made me comfortable to be able to voice
anything that I have the voice, you know, whether it's
a player, whether we're outside of football. You know, they
breed confidence in me as I do them And that's just, honestly,
the result that you get from that, just me being
able to communicate on a high level. I feel comfortable
talking to these guys on and off the field, so
(21:18):
it allows us to get those.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Type of results.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
So my last question for you, Scheane before I let
you go is last year when I had you on
this podcast, we talked about the stuff that you had
to get when you were a rookie, the stuff you
had to get for the vets, and I think you
told me that you had to go get bunk cakes
at one point. What are the things that you are
asking the rookies for this year now that you get
to be in that position.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Yeah, honestly me, I haven't really I haven't been tough
on the rookies.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Oh nice, but that standard is still uphill.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
There's a lot of guys that still want those bunk cakes,
any variety of bunk cakes rookies are going to get.
You know, we we put in orders for restaurants that
any of the guys may want, and the rookies, you know,
they they've been doing a good job getting those things.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So you know, bunk Cakes is definitely still at.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
The time the bunk Cakes live on SEW. Congrats again,
and congrats to the entire defense on a great game.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
And thank you so much for.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Doing this, Thank you so much, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
And thank you to everyone who listened to this week's
edition of Sideline Pass.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
We will see you next week.
Wow years.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Kristin Balboni and Sharon Thorps loved it with your Sideline pass.
It's that time of the week.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
It is sideline passed with your sideline reporters Kristen and Sharon.
Sharon oh Man, I have been so excited to talk
to you after the panthers thirty to nothing win over
the Falcons.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
It's a good Wednesday here.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
Oh my gosh, you aren't kidding. I mean, that was
just such a fun game. Not only shod you get
the win at home against the division rival, but the
manner in which they did it. You're shutting out the
Falcons like that and just rolling up the score. I mean,
it was so so much fun to see them be
able to accomplish that.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
And you know, we talk about not just a win,
but as you said, the manner in which they did it.
So the Panthers have not had a shutout in five years.
I actually remember that game. It was against Detroit when
Matthew Stafford was still there, which feels like forever ago, right,
and it was during the COVID years, so I think
I was the only person I was doing sideline for
that game. It was like one of the only people
in the in the stadium during those times where it
(01:02):
just felt like you were watching like a joint practice sometimes, So.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It was that.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
And then also so in addition to being the first
time in five years for the Panthers, this was the
first game that a team shut out another team in
the NFL this season so far. Now Grenam were only
three games in, but I mean, just what an accomplishment
to be able to do that, And you know, especially
with this defense that we've seen taking strides every single week,
but gosh, what a win to hang your hat on,
(01:29):
especially for that d oh wow.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
The defense just like took a light years jump there
with what they were able to do, because and the
first game of the season where was like, well, what's
going on? And the defense was, you know, obviously very
unhappy with that performance. And they came out and really
clamped down in game two against Arizona, particularly against the run,
and did a great job and it was sort of
overshadowed by the offense not being able to get enough
(01:52):
points up there on the board of the turnovers. But
then this third game against the Falcons, it's like they decided,
all right, we are really going to come out and
make a statement, and the way they were able to
force the turnovers and the pick six and the interceptions,
and just being able to just completely put the clamps
on Michael Pennix Junior. He just couldn't do anything. Looked
so discombobulated out there. The defense just really turned it
up a note. And I saw a stat which was
(02:13):
like sort of mind blowing if they said, if you
take away the points that the Panthers had allowed off
of turnovers this season, that the Panthers defense is like
number one in the league in points allowed. They're just
just a bit amazing. So what they've been able to
do so they have not gotten enough credit, I don't
think for what they have been able to accomplish here,
because that's quite a turno, and especially from last season
(02:34):
when things were really rough on the defensive side of
the ball, to be able to turn it around and
it was like they flipped a switch and came out
and we're just like, all right, we were getting it done,
and they sure did.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, sure, I don't think they've allowed a point in
the last six quarters. Yeah, you know, really, I mean
since the yeah, the end of the first half at Arizona.
So to be able to see them on this run,
as you said, and especially building off of where things
ended last season, just what an accomplishment that has to
feel so good.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
For those guys.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
You look at a guy like Derek Brown, who is
you know, third game back from his injury and just dominating.
Oh my goodness, that's the Derek Brown that made the
Pro Bowl, that you know, broken NFL record for tackles,
and it's just it's so fun to see him.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Especially, you know, we've known him for five years. His
first year was my first year.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
So this is I you know, since twenty twenty is
when he got drafted, and to see him and how
much you know he's grown, and then also to recover
from this injury. It's just you just root for guys
like that, of course, and it's just so neat. It's
so special to be able to witness these players growing
and then coming back and doing so well. So, as
you one thing I wanted to mention to you, and
(03:40):
if anyone listening was at the game, then hats off.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
With this being a home game, it the.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Crowd featured so much in this game, and I know
you know that as well, but gosh, this it was
a it was a sea of blue there, and this
crowd was so into it, and it was just a
huge boon to the players as well, especially on those
defensive third downs. I mean, and Jeron, you'll appreciate this,
But I said it on the broadcast a few times.
(04:07):
You know, we have our ear pieces in and I
had to turn my earpiece up twice to be able
to hear the game. Hear a niche share our producer
David Langton talk over the crowd. That's how loud it was.
And you know, I've got it pretty loud to begin with,
but that is always a good sign. That's something that
I will never complain about, because that means it is
so loud in the stadium that it is hard to
(04:29):
hear what else is going on.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So to me, there's no better sign than that.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Absolutely. It was just so much fun to have the
crowd involved like that and to have the team give
them something to cheer about and to.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Get that excited about.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
And I know players just loved it, and they were
talking about it again Monday in the locker room that
how much they appreciated the fans out there on Sunday
and how loud they were, and how they just really
played a big part in the game. I mean, because
that makes a difference for Atlanta too. You know, when
they're on offense trying to hear in our crowds going
crazy and stuff. So and the Panther fans just showed
up in a big way, and you know, you could
(05:00):
tell they so appreciated what was going on in the field.
It's not always a lot of fun sometimes on Sundays
around here, and they've you know, it's this was big.
I mean, this was just huge to be able to
come out and have that type of performance in the
home opener, and you know, when everybody's had such high
expectations for this team this year, to go out and
validate that and show them that this is the team
they can be was just was just awesome. So it
(05:22):
was great to hear it. It was just so loud.
It was just great.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Absolutely. So I want to know from you, who was
there a moment.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Or a player that just really stood out to you,
Whether it's someone that you've been keeping an eye on
throughout the season so far, or just a play something
that you were like, oh wow, I'm clocking that.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
You know, one person that I was really keeping an
eye on this game was Trevin Wallace. He had a
little rough start to this season, a lot of there's
a lot of talk coming in about how he was
going to take the next step. You know, got forced
into a starting role last year as a rookie and
really sort of had to learn on the fly. But
coaches have always had good things to say about him.
Really thought he was going to take off to the
next level here this year. Was off a little slower
(06:01):
start at the beginning of the season, but I thought
he played extremely extremely well on Sunday, and I think
he had four or five tackles, but he was just
always around the football, always around trying to get in
Michael Pennix's face. I mean, he just really seemed to
track the ball well, do his job, and really held
down the inside of that linebacker group. And I thought
that he played extremely well. And then I loved the
(06:22):
play of Mike jack Mike Jackson, Holy cow, he has
just been such a great addition to this defense since
he came at the very end of the preseason a
year ago, and the way he and j. C. Horn
are just clicking out there and turning into yes, really
one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, and
it was so much fun to see him get that interception,
even though he as he sort of ran out of
gas there at the end and couldn't bring it all
the way home. But I mean, it was so fun
(06:43):
to see him be able to pull that down. Now
he and JC both have a pick and so so
that that was a lot of fun to watch too.
That that secondary is and the defense as a whole,
but the secondary seems like just really turning things up
a notch as well.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
One hundred percent. And that's something you noticed with Mike Jack.
The interception, of course, was the flashy play. We had
some great tackles in that game. You know, all of
a sudden, he's grabbing a guy's foot that could have
broken off for you know, twenty thirty yards, and like
you said, just just really making an impact. He and
JC together. I'm going to go with Shaw Smith Wade.
You know, we talked about the Mike Jack interception, but
that pick six. I was standing right there and to
(07:15):
get to see it in real time and just kind
of the recognition on his face of oh, I've caught
it and now I'm going to run in and the
joy Sharon, I'm going to be talking to him in
just a little bit on this podcast, which I'm so
excited about.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But the unbridled joy. Of course, anyone getting a.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Pick six is exciting, but he just you couldn't help
but smile watching him celebrate.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
He had handshakes with everybody, he had the turnover belt.
It was just a joy to watch.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
And that that pick six right there put the Panthers
up from ten to nothing, which is already a great
lead to have to seventeen nothing.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
And I remember just going, oh, okay, well that just feels.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Totally different, you know, and you now have a seventeen
point lead in the second half.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah, that was huge obviously. And shaw Smith Wade another
one of those young guys, you know, coming off a
really solid rookie season when he learned a lot to
taking it up a notch this season as well. And
he's always got a smile on his face. He's always
so polite and pleasant to talk to, but then when
he gets out there on the field, he really really
gets aggressive. And the way he was able to track
(08:15):
that ball to pull it down and then run it
all the way in for the touchdown good for him.
So and hopefully he can continue on that trajectory that
he's on. And he's such a versatile guy too. I
know they love the way that he can play inside, outside,
come down, you know, in the slot, whatever. He's been
able to do a lot in this defense already. And
getting that pick six was nice to get that with
the old turnover belt too, which I think is a
(08:36):
really fun thing that they've put together this season.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
It is it is whatever that whatever that thing is
that gets guys. It's always fun to see kind of
what that's going to be. So Sharon, now, now the
Panthers go back on the road. So this is their
third road game in four games, and you will be
with them, of course as the roadsidebline reporter. And you know,
it's interesting you have this huge momentum at home, you
(09:01):
start out on the road zero and two, and Jaran,
you've been covering this team for a long time and
traveling with this team, So what do you think about
going from having that home field advantage and that huge
crowd to now going back on the road.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
You know, I think that it's going to be a big,
a big confidence booster for the number one, but also
just to try to ride that momentum. You know, they
see what they're capable of. You know, they see how
good this defense can be when everybody's playing together, when
they come out fast, when they do their job, when
they all execute and just and really do they're tackle properly.
(09:34):
Everything that everything that came together for them, they see, Okay,
we know what we have to do, we did it,
and we see the results that come from it. A
lot of the guys were talking about that on Monday.
Nix scored in particular. You know, we see what we
had to do, we knew what we had to do,
we did it, and now we won. And now they're
going to just carry that with them, I think going
into New England, and this is a Patriots team that
(09:55):
same record one and two as the Panther's coming off.
Just an absolutely brutal loss to the Steeler and they
turned the ball over not once, not twice, four tis,
but five times in their opponent's five yard line. I
mean they were like in the red zone within five
yards of the end zone five times and either fumbled
or through an interception. So it was it was brutal.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Insane.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, it was brutal. So they're going to be a
little I rate. So I think this Patriots he is
probably a little bit better than maybe their record would show.
But I think this Pieters team now is really going
to be riding that confidence. They know what it feels
like to win, they know what it feels like to
play well. The offense did enough to get the job done.
I think that they played clean football too, which is
another big thing to hang your hat on. So I
(10:35):
think that they're gonna be confident and really sort of
have a little swagger going up here to Jillette Stadium
and see if they can't start a win streak now.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Yeah, and that confidence is going to be key because
you know, despite that record by the Patriots, that defense,
especially that D line looks good under Mike ray Bowl
and then Drake May of course. So I'm wondering, Sharon,
as you are scouting the opponent, what are you seeing
that the Panthers really need to have their eyes open about.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, I think you mentioned it there on that front seven.
They have nine sacks already this season, which is I
think tied for fifth in the league. Yeah, they really
upgraded that defense across the front. Brought in Harold Landry,
who used to be with Rabel out there, think with
the Raiders, and so they brought in a couple of
really key guys to boost up that front seven, and
(11:24):
they are getting after the quarterback in a big way.
And they didn't even have any sacks last week against
the Steelers, so that was all in the first two
games they have all those sacks, So that's one thing
I do think they're vulnerable against the past. Though Christian Gonzales,
they're all pro quarterback, has not played yet this season.
He's been dealing with the hamstring injury since training camp.
He might be back on Sunday. He did start practicing again,
but without him out there, they're twenty ninth in the league,
(11:46):
allowing a ton of passing yards to over two hundred
and fifty six passing yards a game, So that is
a place where they are susceptible. When you look at
the other side of the ball. You mentioned Drake may
Fell a tar heel go go down hills. We want
Drake to do well except for this Sunday, so exactly.
And he's been having a pretty solid year. He showed
a lot of flashes last year as a rookie and
when he finally was able to win that starting job,
(12:08):
and he sort of picked up where he left off
five touchdowns, does have two interceptions. He has been sacked
quite a few times. Actually, he's been sacked five times
already this season. So that's an area where I think
that our defensive front is going to be looking to
get after him and get our edge rushers after him
because he's he's been given up quite a few sacks.
They do have Stefan Diggs at receiver now, brought him
(12:28):
in Mac Collins, another former Tar Hill, and there are
running backs having some issues holding onto the football right now,
Antonio Gibson, Romandro Stevenson. They each fumbled last week a
total three times. So they've got a really good rookie though,
Traveon Henderson, who can run the ball, and of course
they've got a solid tight end and Hunter Henry, so
they've got plenty of weapons across that offense. But they
(12:49):
are susceptible to giving up the sack and have not
been particularly good running the football. They're much better passing
the ball. So if our defense can make Drake May
uncomfortable and you know, flush him out and grab a
few sacks along the way, I think that the defense
could have another good day.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Well they certainly were able to do that with another
young quarterback, Michael Pennix Junior. So we will see what happens,
and Sharon, hopefully we are talking about another big Panthers
win when we are back next Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (13:16):
Absolutely, and to become a go to go to five
hundred after an zero and two start. If this team
can end up two and two after the first quarter
of the season, that would be just an unbelievable feat.
And then you come home after that for two straight
home games, so I'm the you know, against teams that
are also looking a little vulnerable with the Dolphins and
the Cowboys. So this could be the start of something
really good if this team can go up there and
really get the job done against the Patriots and move
(13:38):
to two and two on the season.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
All Right, we're speaking it into existence.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Thank you so much, Seron, all right, thanks Kristin.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I am joined now by our first repeat guest, mister
pick six himself, Shaw Smith Wade Shaw.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Okay, first of all, congratulations on a the shutout and
that entire performance. I know you're on the field almost
the entire game, and then also on that incredible pick six.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
It was just awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
So I have to tell you I was on the
sideline doing my sideline reporting and I was standing right
in front of you as it happened, and it was
amazing to see like it bobbled for a second, and
I could see it in your eyes where you were like, oh,
I've got this ball, and then immediately started running. And
I'm wondering, do you even register in that moment like
an athlete that has that split second reaction?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Are you does your mind comprehended or is it just
muscle memory that takes over.
Speaker 6 (14:33):
Yeah, I think it's the muscle memory. You know, as
soon as I've seen the ball, I just went to
go attack it. You know, he went to the flat slate,
so I kind of had a chance to kind of
gauge and anticipate the ball going to the flat, so
I just jumped it.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
And when the ball was in my hand, I noticed
that I tipped it a little bit, like yeah, said,
bobbled it. I noticed that I did bobble it a
little bit, but it was kind of like it was
on purpose.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Oh yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yes, so I could recatch it and gain possession of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
And it was like one fluid motion.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
It was just it was incredible what happened in the
span of a second in which you secured the ball
and you were just immediately on your way to the
end zone. I want to play something for you. We
have the best Spanish broadcasts. I think we're the best
English broadcast in the league too. Because I'm a part
of that, I'm biased, but our Spanish broadcast is so good.
You have got to listen to their call of your
pick six and tell me what you think.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Okay that copio DoD chot dotchda dotch dodge.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Dodge dam.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
Job why dots by lay by my lads, coil.
Speaker 8 (16:10):
Pearlase, ghettos, Cocktail shrimp with Chilian.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
No, that's total, that's to.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
How good is that?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
You gotta put that on a T shirt somewhere, just
cocktail shrimp with Chilian.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Gotta definitely do numbers.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
That's so good. Yes, yes, oh yeah it did. It's
on the Panther's main Twitter account or x account. That's
so good.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I also want to say.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
That watching you, I don't know that I've ever seen
a player enjoy, like just genuinely enjoy that moment more.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
You were smiling from ear to ear.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
You had handshakes with everyone, You got the turnover belt,
and it was just it also what it did for
the sideline, I mean a to go up from ten
to nothing to seventeen nothing and then to just really
set that and it just seems like you guys really
enjoy playing the style football and playing together.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
We definitely do.
Speaker 6 (17:08):
I think that, you know, from a defensive perspective, you know,
we really banded together on a fed up level, like
you know, I'm talking to a Rob, I'm talking to dB,
I'm talking to JC, and you know, we we look
back at last year and we don't never want to
be that.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
You know, we want to be a top defense.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
We want to band together and make those plays and
you know, ultimately come together at the end of a celebration.
So you know, we we know what we want to be,
we know what standard that we have voted and it's
just tough to see, you know, it all play out
like that, like you can't ask for more than a
shutout in your home opener, and the way that you
(17:50):
know we dominated defensively is.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
It's just amazing, and you know you crave it. You
crave it.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
What does that do for you guys now as you
prepare for the Patriots and the rest of the season,
to say, okay, we have the ability to do something
that this this Panthers team has not done in five years.
And you were the first NFL team to shut out
another opponent this season. So what what does that do
for you guys to know that that's what you're capable of.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Yeah, it allows us to reflect in, you know, like
you said, to see our capabilities. We know what we're
capable of now, and that's the standard. You know, we
have to uphold that standard in you know, it allows
us to reflect and look at it like, okay, so
this is what we did right, this is what we're
going to continue to do right, and here's where we
(18:33):
can fix. So it allows us to really reflect and
ultimately just come up with the same results.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Yeah, it was such a such a great game. Every
moment was good. I want to know.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Okay, So going back to the handshakes, though, I noticed
that you have handshakes. It looked like you had handshakes
with a lot of different people. Here's what I want
to know as an adult, how do you say to
a guy like, we need.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
A handshake together?
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Like is this like like on the play gund like, hey,
we need to see her handshake or does it just happen?
Speaker 2 (19:02):
How does that happen?
Speaker 3 (19:03):
We always see football players with a lot of different
handshakes with teammates.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
What does that process look like?
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, I mean in the locker room.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
You know, a lot of guys still carry a youthful
love for the game. So I would I would say
that it's a it's just a you know, that youthful mindset.
It all goes back to when you first started playing
the game. And you know, we have fun with each
other a lot, we band together a lot. It's almost
like we have to have a handshake, like what are
(19:34):
we gonna We see guys around the league celebrating doing
their thing? What is our thing? And that's what it
comes down to. So, you know, I would have to
give credit to Lathan Ransom. He actually got it going.
He was the guy who said, look, I.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Need a handshake with you, I need a handshake with you.
Speaker 6 (19:50):
You it could be guys on offense he has a
handshake with him, So you know, it just it's nice
to see. Okay, I got my handshake with Lathan. Okay,
I can look at Mike Jack, I have my handshake
with you. It's a never ended celebration, and you know
it allows us to band together and create a relationship
with each other.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
You ever forget one in the moment, like you had
a lot of handshakes going on after that celebration, right, Yeah,
that's got to be part of it. Yeah, you can't
forget it. You can't forget it. I love that.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
So I was I've listened to these guys over the
course of I think Lathan, I know JC guys have
talked about the fact that you are somebody that pulls
guys together and is vocal.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
I remember hearing JC say over training camp.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
He was like, that kind of communication, especially coming from
a young guy, is invaluable. And I've heard Jac on
the sideline saying to people like, you can never communicate enough,
you can never communicate enough. And so I'm wondering, as
a young guy, how did you develop that and how
did you know? Okay, there's a need for me to
kind of fill this role and make sure that I'm
being vocal even though I'm very new to this.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yeah, you know, it's it has to come from the vents.
You know.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Those guys made me comfortable to be able to voice
anything that I have the voice, you know, whether it's
a player, whether we're outside of football. You know, they
breed confidence in me as I do them And that's just, honestly,
the result that you get from that, just me being
able to communicate on a high level. I feel comfortable
talking to these guys on and off the field, so
(21:18):
it allows us to get those.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Type of results.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
So my last question for you, Scheane before I let
you go is last year when I had you on
this podcast, we talked about the stuff that you had
to get when you were a rookie, the stuff you
had to get for the vets, and I think you
told me that you had to go get bunk cakes
at one point. What are the things that you are
asking the rookies for this year now that you get
to be in that position.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
Yeah, honestly me, I haven't really I haven't been tough
on the rookies.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Oh nice, but that standard is still uphill.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
There's a lot of guys that still want those bunk cakes,
any variety of bunk cakes rookies are going to get.
You know, we we put in orders for restaurants that
any of the guys may want, and the rookies, you know,
they they've been doing a good job getting those things.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So you know, bunk Cakes is definitely still at.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
The time the bunk Cakes live on SEW. Congrats again,
and congrats to the entire defense on a great game.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
And thank you so much for.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Doing this, Thank you so much, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
And thank you to everyone who listened to this week's
edition of Sideline Pass.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
We will see you next week.
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