UPDATE: Mike Pennel has been informed of his release, according to Mike Reiss.
Pretty much said my piece on the defense, especially the starters, after Thursday night's game. And with the Panthers running just 41 plays total from scrimmage and being pretty conservative, there wasn't a ton of information to be gleaned in this game. But there were a few morsels.
The biggest takeaway on the defensive side of the ball, beyond the obvious? Nose tackle Mike Pennel came to play, and played very well.
The former Packer and Jet has been a bit of an enigma during training camp. He seemed like a smart signing by the Patriots at an area of need, and a likely starter. Tracked that way during the offseason practices and to start camp and then, poof, like Keyzer Soze, he was gone — banished to the third team, where he still remained on Thursday.
But the difference for Pennel against the Panthers? He actually came to play. In previous games, you could argue he appeared to be letting his situation dictate his play — Pennel appeared to be down about playing snaps normally reserved for future practice squad players. He was getting pushed around and didn't stay with play. He looked like he didn't want to be there.
Well, that changed against the Panthers. He was a force from his first snap to his last (which was the last defensive snap of the game). He stood up to double teams and even when he was pushed, he would counter and get off the block to get in on a play. He looked like a player who was playing for his job, and didn't mind that one bit.
By the end of the game, I had him for six impactful plays, including a half a sack and a hurry. No other defender had more than two.
Now, this was against backups at best, and that will be weighed heavily by the coaches. They want to see production against other NFL-caliber players. And why wasn't Pennel doing this before Thursday night? He should be dominating NFL also-rans.
We're not going to know the reason, but it's obvious someone got to him in the past week and found the right button to push with Pennel. It could very well be too late. There could be other circumstances at play, however, for his fall down the depth chart (personal matter, injury, possible suspension) that won't know about.
At least he's going out playing like the Pennel we thought the Patriots were getting, and perhaps he still has some value.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)