Transcript: Panthers Head Coach Press Conference

How does the loss this week prepare you for the next game?

While a loss is always disappointing, it provides us with an opportunity to learn and grow. We've studied the game tape thoroughly and identified areas where we fell short. Warner's performance on the Saints side was impressive, and it exposed some vulnerabilities in our defense that we need to address. We also need to work on reducing turnovers, as Richardson's interceptions were costly.

This loss has given us a clear picture of what we need to improve on. We're going to take these lessons into our practices and game planning for the next week. We're focused on turning this setback into a setup for a comeback. Our team is resilient, and we're eager to get back on the field and show that.

Can you talk about what it's like to prepare to go against a player like George Kittle?

Preparing to go against a player like Kittle is always a challenge. He's one of the most dynamic tight ends in the league, with an exceptional ability to both block and receive. His performance in our last game, where he had 218 receiving yards and a touchdown, is a testament to his skill set.

When preparing for a player like Kittle, we focus on understanding his tendencies and the ways the Saints like to use him in their offensive scheme. We study game film, looking at his routes, his blocking assignments, and how he reacts in different situations. It's a chess match, trying to anticipate what he'll do and how we can counter it.

Our defensive players, especially our linebackers and safeties, have to be at their best. They need to be physical at the line of scrimmage, disrupt his routes, and stay with him down the field. It's a tough task, but it's the kind of challenge our defense is eager to take on. We learn from each experience and continuously work to improve our strategies.

How has Derrick Henry's experience in the league helped the team so far?

Derrick Henry's experience in the league has been invaluable to our team. His understanding of the game, work ethic, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping our young roster. On the field, his ability to read defenses and make decisive moves has helped us in crucial situations. Even though his stats in the last game weren't as high as usual, his presence on the field always commands respect from the opposition, which opens up opportunities for other players.

Off the field, Henry has been a mentor to our younger players, particularly our running backs like Donaldson. He sets the standard for professionalism and preparation, and his influence has helped create a culture of excellence within our team. We're fortunate to have a player of Henry's caliber, and we're confident that his contributions will continue to be a significant factor in our success.

What makes Saquon Barkley so good?

Barkley is an exceptional talent. His combination of speed, power, agility, and vision makes him one of the most dynamic running backs in the league. He has the ability to turn any play into a big gain, which always keeps defenses on their toes.

One of the things that sets Barkley apart is his versatility. He's not just a threat on the ground, but also as a receiver out of the backfield. This dual-threat capability makes him a difficult player to defend against because he can hurt you in multiple ways.

His balance and ability to break tackles are also remarkable. He can bounce off defenders and keep his legs moving to gain extra yards. This physicality, combined with his agility to make sharp cuts and find holes in the defense, makes him a consistent threat on every down.

What were some of the contributing factors to the loss this week?

There were several contributing factors to our loss this week.

Firstly, turnovers were a significant issue. Our quarterback, Richardson, threw four interceptions, which not only halted our offensive momentum but also gave the Saints additional opportunities to score.

Secondly, we struggled to contain the Saints' passing game. Their quarterback, Warner, threw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. Their tight end, Kittle, also had a standout performance with over 200 receiving yards and a touchdown. We'll need to improve our pass defense moving forward.

While we had a solid rushing game with 147 yards, we were unable to convert these into more points on the board. We'll need to work on our red zone efficiency, as we only managed to score on 50% of our red zone visits.

These are areas we'll be focusing on in our preparation for the next game. We're confident that we can make the necessary adjustments and improvements.