Rucker: Ready to regroup

 
Thursday, September 14
Panthers.com
Brett Borden

 

Mike Rucker has been with the Carolina Panthers for eight seasons now. He’s seen it all. Fast starts with slow finishes. Slow starts with fast finishes. He knows that one bad game doesn’t spell doom any more than one victory means playoffs.

Coming off a very humbling performances in the regular season opener versus Atlanta, the Panthers look to reassert themselves as they travel to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, a building they have played in five times, more than any other non-division opponent’s stadium.

“I think overall with the team this week is about finding what we do best and regrouping a little bit,” said Rucker, who had three sacks the last time the Panthers played at Minnesota (9/22/02). “We didn’t have the outcome we wanted last week, but it’s a new week so we have to move on. If we let last week creep into this week, it will be a domino effect.”

The dome effect is already a concern. Noise bounces around the cavernous Metrodome to the point where a player’s ears will ring even after the game is over.

“It’s one of the louder places,” acknowledged Rucker, who has played there three times in his career. “But we’ve played up there before. We’ve also played in Indianapolis, Atlanta, and some other places. We’ve played in domes before.”

Brad Johnson has played in just about every situation before. The 15-year veteran’s career has come full circle. He started in Minnesota in 1992, moved to Washington in 1999, then it was on to Tampa Bay (where he eventually won a Super Bowl) in 2001 and finally back to Minnesota in 2005. He played against the Panthers at least once in each of those places. The uniforms have changed. The quarterback hasn’t.

"Brad Johnson has been around a long time and he’s seen a lot of things,” said Rucker. “It’s hard to fool him. He’s got a quick release. We saw him last year when Daunte (Culpepper) went down. They’re committed to running the ball, so he knows when to pick his spots.”

The Panthers couldn’t pick a better spot to have a good performance. They don’t want to put themselves in an 0-2 hole, after all.

“We dropped the ball last week,” said Rucker. We have to pick it up this week, rally around the flag and keep pushing forward.”