Buccaneers vs Panthers: Five game-changing players for Week 8

Kawann Short

The Carolina defense isn’t what it was a few years ago. However, it can still be pretty formidable, especially along the defensive line. One of the constant forces in the trenches for the Panthers in the last several years has been Kawann Short. His numbers were impressive in previous years, even putting up 11 sacks from his interior position in 2015. But this year, he is even more dangerous. The Panthers get great pressure off the edge. That only helps someone as talented as Short.

Mario Addison is having himself a nice year so far, totaling four sacks and a forced fumble. The team leader in sacks, though, is a newcomer that is also a familiar face. Julius Peppers is back with the Panthers for the first time since 2009. He already has 6 1/2 sacks this season, which has his career total at 150. The pressure that Addison and Peppers bring off the edge is definitely benefiting Short on the interior. He has four sacks this season, along with one forced fumble and one recovery.

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What Carolina is getting from Short is what Tampa Bay should be getting from Gerald McCoy. McCoy is doing his part, clearly, but if he had even a little help on the edge, he would have even more of an impact. With the support from the ends, Short is getting to the quarterback and blocking up the middle of the field. The double-teaming of a dominant tackle is less and less plausible when there are other consistent guys on the line. The Panthers are seeing that. The Bucs, unfortunately, aren’t.