Second-year cornerback Daryl Worley is a big part of the Carolina Panthers’ young secondary; after being thrust into a starting role last season as a rookie, Worley has shown improvements in his game and is currently rotating with new addition to the defensive backfield Kevon Seymour opposite fellow second-year corner James Bradberry.
Worley brings a different style than Seymour, so having both players as an option helps defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to attack opponents’ passing games; Wilks said about the competition that he “loves the competition” after last week’s game against the New York Jets in which Worley played 74% of the snaps. “I love guys competing, love guys on that edge and ready to play. I think those guys are doing that. Seymour, as you look at it: man-to-man skills, phenomenal quick feet, good change of direction. Worley, a guy that plays with great vision, he’s smart, he understands formations and receivers, so their styles are a little different, but both effective.”
We had a chance to sit down with Daryl for a few minutes the day after the Panthers lost 31-21 to the Saints in New Orleans to thrust Carolina headfirst into the wild card race; Worley played only 45% of the snaps in this game, his lowest since Week 9 vs. Atlanta and his third-fewest of the season.
Obviously, disappointing yesterday, but what’d you see on tape from New Orleans yesterday?
I mean, it was us. We were beating ourselves, whether it’s the turnovers we had, two fumbles to guys not doing their jobs. That was the one thing we had emphasis on was everyone just doing their job and doing their part, and we would have come out with a better result.
What do you take away from a game like that where you beat yourself? How do you move forward from that?
It’s simple; everyone needs to do what they need to do, not guys trying to do other people’s job, not everyone just trying to make a play at the same time, let the plays come to them; honestly, don’t press to make a big play. Just honestly, everyone’s just doing what they have to do and being their part of the team.
Coach Wilks said that on that Kamara fourth-down touchdown run, that you had seen that exact play from the Saints in Week 3 and you got in the backfield and busted it up; what was the look pre-snap to know what was coming?
Honestly, that comes from film study. Just knowing what’s going to come; they ran the same exact thing, I remember exactly what happened, they used Ted and they motioned in front of him, they just did it the opposite way, they motioned from our defensive right to our defensive left, so basically they flipped the play and ran the same exact play.
What’s the mood in the defensive locker room after a performance like yesterday?
Same thing it always is. It’s only one game, it happens any given Sunday you can lose, any given Sunday you can win. We’re not really depressed over it, we watched it; we know what we have to do to get better, I mean, we cleanse it all out and get ready for Minnesota.
How do you think that your play has progressed from your rookie season to this year?
Just being able to do my part in the defense and being more consistent, it’s a key part. Honestly, just trying to be the player that everyone expects me to be and that’s what I’m focused on.
Are you able to find a rhythm in that rotation with Kevon as you come in and out possession by possession?
I mean, I wouldn’t really call it a rhythm, I guess I’ve just got to look at it one play at a time; every time I’m in there, just got to focus on what my job is going to be and just executing.
Was Ted [Ginn. Jr] talking smack to you, former teammate, I know he’s a talker.
Oh no, Ted’s my guy. We never really did the trash talking, we’re pretty good friends, so…
Are you a trash talker when you’re out there?
Nah, not at all. I don’t have to say anything; honestly, most guys don’t say anything to me, so I don’t worry about things like that.
