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January 29, 2004
Early Survival
Capers likes Panthers' chances if they can stay close during the first 10 minutes
By Joe Menzer | JOURNAL REPORTER
HOUSTON
If the Carolina Panthers can survive the first 10 minutes of Super Bowl XXXVIII against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, an old friend likes their chances of emerging victorious.
The old friend is a current resident of Houston: Dom Capers, the first head coach in the history of both the Carolina Panthers' and the Houston Texans' franchises. Capers' Texans played both Super Bowl participants at Reliant Stadium during the 2003 regular season - beating the Panthers 14-10 on Nov. 2 and losing to the Patriots 23-20 in overtime on Nov. 23.
Capers admitted yesterday that he will be pulling on Sunday for the Panthers - the team he coached from the franchise's first season as an expansion team in 1995 through the 1998 season. He met briefly with team owner Jerry Richardson, Richardson's wife Rosalind and Coach John Fox on Monday and wished them luck.
Asked to deliver a prediction on Sunday's game yesterday, Capers admitted that he likes both teams. But he added that he believes how the Panthers handle the first 10 minutes of the game will be of vital importance.
"Boy, I think this game could go either way. I really do," Capers said. "To me, the first 10 minutes of the game are going to be key. Because the Patriots have an edge in experience - having been there two years ago and won it, and they have a number of guys who have been there. But I think if the Panthers can withstand all the stuff that happens in the first 10 minutes of the game, it's going to be a heck of a football game and I think their chances to win then go up."
Pressed for more specifics, Capers smiled and added: "If the Panthers can make it through the first 10 minutes of the game and either be up or even, I would pick 'em. But it's hard to go against that experience of the guys who have been here. If I'm coming in here with a new team, that's my biggest concern - playing a team that was here just two years ago. That's my biggest concern.
"You have to find some way to, in that initial surge, not get all caught up in the peripheral things that come along with this game. Just do what got you here. Like they did in the NFC championship game. No turnovers. Good field position. Find a way to force the other team to beat themselves.
"That's what they did to the Eagles (at Philadelphia in the NFC championship game). They kept the pressure on the Eagles and the Eagles finally just collapsed. You get four takeaways and you aren't going to lose the game."
Capers said that the Panthers' running game will be difficult for the Patriots to stop.
"I'm going to be real interested to see if New England can hang in there and stop that power running game. And if they do, can (wide receiver) Steve Smith (of the Panthers) make a big play in the passing game? He's done it before in these playoffs," Capers said.
Capers sees Smith as a pivotal player in the game.
"To stop the run, (safety) Rodney Harrison (of the Patriots) is going to have to get up there and get involved, and then it's a matter of whether Steve Smith can win his one-on-one battles outside," Capers said.
"New England is going to have to bring Rodney Harrison up in there. Now, New England will take some chances (with blitzes on defense). They'll overload you and play some straight man coverage. Then the key is can (quarterback) Jake (Delhomme of the Panthers) get the ball to Steve Smith, because I think Steve Smith is the one guy that can beat 'em. I think Steve Smith will be one of the real keys to this game."
Along with the first 10 minutes, of course.
"I think the first 10 minutes are going to be key for a team that hasn't been there," Capers said. "And I'll bet John is thinking this way, too. You've got to keep them (focused) because they're going to be so hyped and so charged up that you can't go out there and turn the ball over or give up the big play, that type of thing, early in the game. But after the first 10 minutes of the game, it becomes another football game - because all that other stuff is gone."