Jadeveon Clowney says stopping the run against the Chargers is as simple as 3 words

It still bothers Jadeveon Clowney, the Carolina Panthers’ All-Pro EDGE rusher born right down the road, how his defense was handled in the run game in Week 1.

You could hear it in his voice Thursday.

What else could you hear? A simple solution to how this defense can be better against the run in Week 2, featuring a three-word phrase:

“Whoop somebody’s ass.”

“It’s a pride thing when it comes down to the run game,” said Clowney, who was limited in practice Thursday with an ankle injury but indicated he’d be a full go Sunday. “It don’t really matter what the coach calls. It’s about somebody whoopin’ somebody in front of them. It’s a grown man’s game. And you got to show it and impose your will on the man. So (the Saints) imposed their will on us, and I don’t like that feeling because as a man, I ain’t ever want to be counted like that.”

He continued: “That’s why I take pride in the run game because it don’t matter what the call is, you just whoop somebody’s ass in front of you and make the play. I just try to get down ahead of you, whoop somebody’s ass, and just do what you gotta do.”

In all, including in the quotes above, Clowney said some variation of “whoop somebody’s ass” five times when discussing how to stop the run with reporters Thursday. Perhaps it is that simple. The advice at least has worked out all right up until this point for Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowler who might be paid for his pass-rushing prowess but has perhaps contributed most to the defenses he’s worked on with his run-stopping ability.

But is stopping the run truly that simple? And even if it is, are there ways to scheme for it?

The Panthers will have a chance to answer those questions Sunday when the Chargers come to town. Carolina at the moment possesses one of the worst run defenses in the league, and the team will go against one of the best rush offenses in the league — one that carries the physical philosophy of head coach Jim Harbaugh, fresh off a college football run that saw his Michigan Wolverines bulldoze into a national championship.

Ask safety Xavier Woods, and he thinks stopping the run this week will require all three elements coming together: scheme, technique and sheer will.

“All of them combined,” Woods told The Observer. “It’s about effort, physicality, scheme, playing within your scheme, staying in your gap, being physical in your gap — maybe taking up two gaps.”

Obviously a lot of the run game relies on the defensive front: The inside linebackers filling gaps so running backs can’t get to the second level of a defense; the outside linebackers setting the edge; the defensive linemen getting an important push and taking away gaps in the line — something the now-out-for-the-season Derrick Brown did with such aplomb last year.

But defensive backs play an important part in the scheme, too, Woods said, and will be needed Sunday. He discussed the need for safeties and cornerbacks to execute crack-replace fundamentals — a tactic offenses use when running the ball outside, when a receiver seals the edge by finding a linebacker or a safety to block and requiring the cornerback to fill in for that LB/safety.

The linebackers need to do their part, too, according to team-leading tackler Shaq Thompson.

“Stay in your gap,” Thompson said. “That was the biggest thing if you watched the film. Some guys just weren’t in the gaps. Some linebackers got downhill, but you gotta play off the D-line. That’s the biggest thing I would say. Jim Harbaugh is going to stick with it. He’s always been sticking with it when he was with the 49ers, back in college, coming back — he’s going to stick with it.

“I love that. It’s downhill. It’s football. And I’m one of those type of backers who loves that type of contact.”

Thompson and Clowney probably have that in common.

Like Clowney, Johnson had never been part of a Week 1 like that

Diontae Johnson wasn’t coy about the fact that he hadn’t been part of a loss like the 47-10 one the Panthers were dealt Sunday in a long time. How long?

“Since high school,” Johnson said.

Johnson, the receiver the Panthers traded for to be their No. 1 guy this offseason, finished with two catches for 19 yards. He was targeted six times — one of those passes was the first pass of the game, which resulted in an interception; another was a first-half crossing route that, if on target, could’ve gone for 30-plus yards.

It wasn’t a good showing on offense, and the veteran said that while the loss still lingers, it’s a motivation tool.

“It happened,” Johnson said. “It’s in the past. Onto the Chargers this week.”

Quick hits

▪ The Panthers released a long but hopeful injury report. Only two players did not participate — Raheem Blackshear (personal matter) and Taylor Moton (vet day). A long list were limited participants: Clowney (ankle), Johnny Hekker (back), Robert Hunt (shoulder), Josey Jewell (groin), Damien Lewis (groin) and Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back). Offensive tackle Yosh Nijman (tibia) was back as a full participant Thursday.

▪ Xavier Legette had a good Week 1 all around. Coach Dave Canales called the rookie’s NFL debut “fantastic,” and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik made a point that he kept up with the game’s pace with ease. He even notched a kick return in special teams, to which special teams coordinator Tracy Smith offered insight: “He looked great. That’s something that he’s done before. He has experience handling the ball, obviously, being a returner in college. And he’s an outstanding blocker when he doesn’t have the ball.”

▪ Follow Observer reporters Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) and Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05), and columnist Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler), on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the latest Panthers news and highlights.