Welcome back to the 2018 edition of Step UP or Step OUT DJ Moore Color Rush Jersey , a series on CSR that is intended to look at players who are playing well and highlight a few that need to step their game up. Think of it as a heat index for the Carolina Panthers; guys who are playing well are stepping up and those who aren’t need to improve their game or. . . step out.This week we’ll look at a bunch of guys that continue to press on and play very well, helping lead the team to their 10th straight home victory at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expense. With the Pittsburgh Steelers on deck, they’ll need to keep the good times rolling. We only have one guy “Steppin’ OUT” this week, and hopefully the team can make some adjustments around him.Steppin’ UPCam Newton“Drip” Level: The #CAMVP train rolls on as it was another efficient day from the Panthers star quarterback both through the air and on the ground. Cam was accurate all day long with just a couple of exceptions, and continues to make a few unbelievable throws in tight windows to remind people just how good he is. He probably won’t win the MVP with so many other compelling campaigns going, but he is certainly worthy of it.Curtis SamuelHeat Rating: Whatever cheat code he put in to make this happenJUST GIVE THE MAN THE DAMN BALL. This is what happens when you do exactly that. It is becoming a weekly occurrence that one of our young wideouts puts highlight reel footage out there, if not both, and I say we keep feeding them. Both Samuel and his running mate D.J. Moore are incredibly exciting to watch, and the best part is they are just two of many special playmakers on this team.Christian McCaffreyHeat Rating: How HOT this tweet is...You gotta love the Panthers social media team... but without Christian McCaffrey pulling some high hurdle magic, that little clip isn’t even possible. McCaffrey continues to be the workhorse of this team, piling up yards from scrimmage like a doomsday prepper before Y2K. Some would say he could be even MORE involved in the offense, and while that is not a bad thing, there are just so many playmakers in need of touches... why tire any one individual out?James BradberryHeat Rating: A very hot glue gunMike Evans was targeted ten times on Sunday, and only managed to turn ONE of those into a reception. That is in no small part to what is hands down the best game James Bradberry has ever played. Eric Washington allowed his defensive backs more freedom to run press coverage at the line of scrimmage, and he was rewarded with a pair of interceptions and three sacks on the day. Bradberry has always possessed the physical tools to get a good jam at the line, it’s nice to see him be trusted to do so.Thomas DavisHeat Rating: Like a series of explosions beautifully orchestrated to classical musicThomas Davis, even at his age James Color Rush Bradberry Jersey , continues to be one of the most effective linebackers in the league. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t give much credence to the idea that this wouldn’t be his final season, but watching him come out on fire after his suspension and play as well as he ever has, that idea doesn’t seem quite so far fetched anymore. Against the Buccaneers, he led the team in tackles on the day, and if he gave up a catch in coverage I must have missed it.Donte JacksonHeat Rating: #DROYDonte Jackson came down with another interception on Sunday and this one might have been his finest yet. Not only did it seal the game for the Panthers, but it was highly contested by Desean Jackson, and a difficult catch overall. Donte was clearly the superior Jackson on the field Sunday.This is his fourth pick of the season, which is tied for the NFL lead, but he is also making a great impact in the run game, with a couple of key stops on the edge when he was left alone to defend it.Steppin’ OUTCaptain MunnerlynCold Rating: Overnight guard duty on top of the wall for the Nightswatch.Adam Humphries completely decimated Captain Munnerlyn in coverage on Sunday on his way to eight total receptions and two touchdowns. Captain is not the sole responsible party for each and every one, but there wasn’t a time where I saw Munnerlyn exactly joined to his hip either. On the whole, this has been a down year for the Captain, and it appears that the Panthers search for a truly reliable nickel corner will continue again in the offseason. Football is finally back, and that means it is time once again for the weekly barrage of delicious “Made from Scratch” recipes to resume their assault on your taste buds! When starting any football season, teams like to get not only a home matchup (finally), but also an opponent that looks on paper at least to be a bit of a tune up game.The Carolina Panthers get the Dallas Cowboys in week one Ian Thomas Jersey , and this version of the Cowboys’ team is the closest to a full offensive rebuild as I’ve ever seen it.The teams are equal in that the Cowboys will roll into town with a slew of injuries already affecting their offensive line, but the separation in talent really starts to show in the skill position department. While Ezekiel Elliott is certainly a great running back, the Panthers have a great one two punch in their backfield with both Christian McCaffrey and C.J. Anderson ready for action. The true disparity becomes apparent when you look at pass catchers, where the Panthers will finally bring a stable of weapons to the table in the wide receiver department, and the ever popular Greg Olsen once again at tight end. Any discussion of offensive firepower would not be complete without a quarterback comparison... and while Dak Prescott is one of the up and coming young quarterbacks in the NFL, he is no Cam Newton.Things could still go south quickly for the Panthers however, as we are not quite sure what we’ll get out of this patchwork offensive line we are currently rolling with. The Cowboys have a couple great defenders in linebacker Sean Lee, who while not as good as Luke Kuechly, is still a talented player... and in DeMarcus Lawrence, one of the NFL’s best up and coming defensive ends.On the food front, we’ve got a really tasty fridge to table dip on tap this week that is best when made ahead, and also makes a large portion for very little cost. This dish really needs a solid 24 hours to sit in the fridge and let those flavors penetrate deep into the veggies, like a bunch of little Kawann Short flavonoids rushing right through an overmatched bean based line. The beans, peppers, and pimentos in this Cowboy caviar just don’t stand a chance, and ultimately they’ll fall to the onslaught of flavor brought on by the dressing and vinegar.Texas CaviarIngredients2 cans black eyed peas, drained2 cans black beans Curtis Samuel Color Rush Jersey , drained1 can Hominy corn, drained (if you can’t find in regular canned food aisle, check the texmex section)1 can Yellow corn, drained1 large red onion, diced1 green bell pepper, small diced1 yellow pepper, small diced1 small jar red pimentos (1 chopped red bell pepper also acceptable)1 bottle Italian Dressing1 cup red wine vinegar1 bunch fresh cilantro, bottom stems removed, leaves chopped2 fresh limes, quartered1 large bag Fritos Scoops, Snyder’s of Hanover White Corn chips, or your favorite dipping Tortilla chipsDirectionsPrepare all Ingredients as notated aboveDump all ingredients except cilantro and lime into large bowl preferably with airtight lidStir until well combinedCover and allow mixture to marinate in refrigerator for 24+ hours for best resultsAdd and stir in Cilantro and the juice of the limes just before servingThis dip is very refreshing and highly addicting, just like we hope Sunday’s iteration of the Carolina Panthers will be, and also any leftovers will get more and more delicious as they sit longer and those flavors continue to meld. So settle onto your couch with this dip for the game or pack up the car and make your way down to Charlotte, North Carolina for what promises to be an exciting home opener, and remember...KEEP POUNDING.