The Panthers defensive line turned in another dominant performance, piling up five sacks and limiting a potent Vikigns rushing attack to just sixty yards from their running backs; while the usual suspects of Julius Peppers and Mario Addison grabbed a sack each with Addison adding a forced fumble to his stat sheet, it was the interior defenders that did the bulk of the work. Kawann Short had two sacks and was constantly forcing Keenum to move around in the pocket and Kyle Love added a sack that was a source of contention in the locker room after the game. Butler, Love, and Peppers all felt as if they had a case to argue for the sack, but it was all in good fun as Love and Butler argued heartily with big smiles in their face after the game.
We had a chance to sit down with Butler and Love about how the line is playing, which of the defensive ends are legends, and how to prepare for facing Aaron Rodgers next week.
Kyle Love
Can you walk us through that play where everyone thought they got the sack?
I mean, everything just happened so fast. I saw Pep hit him, and I thought he was down, but I just went to tackle him just in case; I’m just trying to be at one level of the defense and trying to play hard. So, it’s never a good time to just assume something on the field like ‘Oh, I thought he was down’ then you just relax a little bit and he’s gone, you know what I mean? We don’t have no room for error when it comes to plays like that, we’re just trying to get a win today.
First it seemed like Pep had the sack, and then Bryan thought he had the sack, but you actually got the sack in the stat book.
Yeah, I hit him.
**Vernon Butler pokes his head into Love’s locker**: So nobody saw me, huh?
Hey listen, I hit him and then they all were like hitting me and I was the one on top of him and they were on top of me so I don’t know how they thought they had the sack at the end of the day, but, you know, it was a good team effort.
You have two guys on the defensive line with 9.5 sacks and other players getting it done, how dynamic has this d-line been?
Aw, man. Right now I’m hearing a lot of rumors saying we’re the best d-line in the league and I’m kind of liking that right now.
Are you starting those rumors?
I’m not starting them, I’m just not avoiding them. You’ve got two legends, I’m going to say two legends, Mario and Peppers; and it’s just amazing to be beside those guys and being able to get sacks with them. If they share a little bit. Just trying to be the next man up or whatever and play hard with them guys, you know? I say all the time it’s like a dream come true to just play beside Pep, because I watched him in high school, so that’s kind of cool.
Peppers will play it off like he doesn’t know who is the sack leader, but it must be fun to see those guys competing.
Oh yeah. When you see those two guys in, you know it’s going to be trouble. If we ever get a team in a situation where we have got them in, it’s going to be hard to beat us. Anytime, any day, whatever. That’s kind of cool.
The depth on the rotation, obviously, KK made two crucial sacks and you had your sack. What’s the rotation bring to the table?
That’s the beautiful thing about our d-line. I don’t know how other teams look at us, but when we bring in the next line, the second line or whatever; there’s no fall off. We all can rush, we all can play the run. I don’t know if people underestimate us, but it’s beautiful to go out there and be out there and there’s no drop off in play, so we just all go out there and feed off each other and play hard.
Kyle, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you this happy.
I’m really happy right now.
Is that because you guys won a big game in December? How important are these December games?
Listen, the month of December is the most important month of the football season. Especially when you’re in the running for the playoffs. We’ve just got to come together and just keep doing what we’re doing; finish games a little better and keep winning.
Did you realize after Thursday Night that the division is still up for grabs?
I mean, you’re not going to ignore it. You know that it’s up for grabs and we’re out here to take it. We’ve got to keep on rolling.
Vernon Butler
Other teams had trouble getting to Case Keenum, but you guys were able to get home. What was the difference for you guys?
I mean, it’s just preparation during the week, you know. Coming out with coach Washington Wednesday through Friday, we’re rushing and watching film and stuff like that. Plus when you’ve got guys like Julius Peppers, Kawann Short, Star, and Mario Addison that can get to the quarterback, it’s something pretty special.
Is there a competition in the defensive line room? Do those guys just go back and forth?
You know it.
It seemed like Pep had the sack and then Mario got one back to tie for the lead. I don’t know if you know, but they gave that sack to Kyle [Love].
They gave it to Kyle? **deep sigh and a chuckle**
Did you think you got it?
Oh yeah. I got there first. I may send that one in. But it doesn’t matter, man, as long as we get to the quarterback, that’s all that matters.
Is it harder facing a slippery QB like Keenum?
You’ve just got to get him off his spot and make sure you wrap up; you can’t let him get out of the pocket.
On a sudden change after the interception and then the Vikings are inside the ten, what’s the mind set of the defense?
Go out there and hold them to a field goal, at the very least don’t let them in the end zone. Make them kick a field goal. Get to the quarterback.
Tough matchup again next week if Aaron Rodgers does return-
Doesn’t change our preparation. We rush and just keep doing what we’re doing.
Do you think this team has the talent to win the NFC?
No doubt. We’ve got special people. When we’ve got leaders like Luke, Cam and Julius, there’s no doubt.
