So the Panthers are now 0-3 in the preseason after their 17-13 loss to Baltimore at Bank of America Stadium Saturday night. Here's my column about the game and here are 4 things I didn't like about the loss (and 2 that I did):
1) Third-down conversions. The Panthers were 0-for-7. Baltimore was 8-for-13. No matter who was playing -- and in this game, it was mostly the starters -- that's ridiculous. It continues a trend, too -- Carolina's offense is now 5-for-30 on third-down conversions (16.7 percent) in the preseason.
2) Chris Gamble. He's the Panthers' "shutdown corner" but he was shut down by Baltimore WR Derrick Mason (and QB Joe Flacco) Saturday night, who beat him time and again on underneath routes.
3) 31-for-39. That's how many passes Baltimore QBs completed against Carolina's soft-as-a-pillow pass defense. Carolina's one interception came on a ball that should have been catch No.32, but it deflected off the receiver's hand. The cornerbacks time and again were way off the ball when the catch was made, and the linebackers (minus Beason and Davis) couldn't chase down the safety valve RBs quickly enough.
4) Injured Panthers. The guys I'm most worried about not playing in the opener? Beason and Jonathan Stewart. Both seem very iffy. The Panthers at least did not seem to sustain any more major injuries in this one.
TWO THINGS I DID LIKE
1) Mike Goodson. Given a heavy workload due to DeAngelo Williams and Stewart sitting out, Goodson flashed his potential once again. He held onto the ball, too, which was big for him.
2) Steve Smith returns. That was good news for an offense in sore need of him. Smith only caught 2 passes for 37 yards, but he seemed fine. "My body was feeling good, so there was no sense in waiting until next week," Smith said.
We're moving!
9 years ago
Posts
44 comments:
If the OFF Cordinator had any intelligence at all he would put Goodson in as a slot receiver. Goodson can catch and he needs to be on the field with the first team. Cut Jarrett and give goodson his number and turn him into a receiver NOW NOW!
The previous writer makes a very astute comment. One that I totally agree with.
Further, I find it emblamatic of the organizational thinking. For years, I have thought this team is way short on "deserve level" and self-esteem.
Not having your best playmakers on the field at every turn, because they have a "role" is laughable.
This team is possibly the most under-achieving team in the league, given its talent.
And that......Coach Fox, is on you.
Ray Lewis has more passion on one play than this team has had all pre-season.
No wonder Steve Smith punches people out.
I would too.
What a colossal waste.
Fix it Fox! Now!
Fix it, or leave.
Add in the fact that they need to keep Fiametta, and you may get your wish.
They may be short on the Line, but RB and LB depth can hopefully make up the difference.
You guys have no clue of the big picture. All we heard about in mini camp is putting Goodson in the slot, but all pre season all we have seen him as is at RB. Why because they are worried that J. Stewart injury is going to keep him out for a long period of time. I think they learned something from Thomas Davis's rookie year. You cant move these kids around everywhere and get anything out of them. Mike Goodson will be good anywhere we put him and Kenny Moore looks to kick Jarrett back to the bench so Goodson as a strong back up for D-will looks pretty good right now.
As Fox will probably say again, when questioned this week, "It is what it is". Shoddy defense dictates a loss like this one.
The two areas that I've been most dissappointed in so far are the defense's lack of playmaking ability and the offensive line's inability to open holes or protect. The defense was supposed to be rejuvenated this year the O-line was supposed to be a strength.
Oh well, it's still preseason. Getting too worked up now is still pointless.
chris gamble has stunk it up since he got here (except for his first yr fluke)...why they extended him and gave him that much money i will never understand...toast gamble has been burnt for yrs not just last night
Gamble is hugely overrated and gets beat mercilessly by even avergae WR's. Last night was not an abberation by a long shot. This entire preseason, Munnerlyn has outplayed him in every facet of the game.
Kenny Moore makes Jarrett look like a WR version of George Plimpton, for crying out loud. Looks like the kid from Butler and Wake is the real deal!
I'd offer both Gamble and Jarrett up as trade bait for a quality DT and move on. I'd even consider just releasing Jarrett outright to make cap room.
Isn't it about time everyone just accept what their eyes are telling them?
Fox is rigid, Delhomme is limited and the defense plays without heart.
This will be an 8-8 season -- at best. And hopefully, it will be our last with Fox and Delhomme.
There was one other positive and one other negative.
Positive: No fumbles or other turnovers. Against Baltimore, that's really good.
Negative: Too many penalties.
The Def needs to cut the cushion from 5 yards to 3 and re-learn how to tackle.
Dang, I want hate to be in the trenches with you guys. Sure we suck right now, but as we've seen time and time again, this team generally improves during the season. Also, realistically, did any of you think we were going to win the Super Bowl this year? This is another 7-9 year, I am hoping we get lucky and go 9-7. So just enjoy whatever good comes out of this season, and dream like I do, that one day we get a QB who plays consistenly good.
"Fox is rigid, Delhomme is limited and the defense plays without heart (tenacity)" - this was hard criticism, but unfortunately, pretty much correct (the tenacity, I added)...the defense is also one of the most 'reactionary' ones in the NFL: They wait for the play to be made in front of them and try to make a tackle...it's been SO long since I've seen a starter (Gamble) truly play man-to-man/then make a play on a ball to deflect or intercept it (first year Lucas? Rookie year Manning Jr.?)...I bet management thought the contract would make him more committed and a leader out there; but it just looks like the same, wait-to-see-if-they-make-a-mistake defender (and defense) to me...sorta sad, actually - it really does seem as if there's Asomugha-like potential, but where's the focus, heart and tenacity?
this team is going no where, infact, I'd have a hard time believing they will win a game this year
I would have let Peppers go, with the money, they could have found players WITH HEART!!!!!!
You are exactly correct. Peppers plays with no heart at all. All he wants is to sit back and collect his millions and not get hurt or put forth any effort. I would much rather have a younger, cheaper player that is hungry to make it in the league and plays with tenacity and heart. Pretty much, most of our defense is very soft except for Beason, Davis and Harris. Gamble is horrible and has always been horrible. Every QB in the league salivates when they are going to play the Panthers. Our defense scares no one.
We all knew there was no chance for a Super Bowl this year but I still hoped for some decent football. I have seen more exciting high school games thus far. Boring, Boring and more Boring. Carolina has a flat atmosphere. Just like any organizations it starts at the top. Fox is not a leader nor is Jake. Comments like "Hey Jake played good, no turnovers" proves what we expect. Jake plays cautiously just like the defense. We have the good ole boy system in place. Somebody needs to grow a set look at the numbers and put the best players on the field. It is getting past ridiculous. This is a business it is about money! Honestly what other team would allow Gamble to stink it up this bad.
And off subject how boring was halftime. Wave your VIC card and you can toss the football and win a $100 Gift Card Oh wow like we haven't done this for the last umpteen years. Wave your AAA card and we will register you with the other 90 million people in a drawing for a trip to Myrtle Beach. Hold up your finger to answer our question and win a
beach towel. I guess they have no money left to pay promotion employees due to having to pay Peppers 9 million for an almost tackle.
Our only chance of any excitement is when Steve Smith loses it. He is better than this team. He must be so frustrated.
Yes for you people that say it is only preseason you have a point. Maybe when Jake knows the games count he will become aggressive and a motivator. Maybe Gamble will actually play. Maybe the defense will actually tackle someone AFTER they let them catch the ball.
Oh and first and foremost! Hey NFL if we are third and long we will be running the ball up the middle for minimum yards. Be on the look out. This won't change after preseason we have been doing it for years.
If all Gamble had to do was cover a player, then fine, criticize him. But to single him out because we don't have a defensive line or group of LB's that have the ability to pressure Flacco is just plain shoddy journalistic analysis. If I wanted to read a tabloid, I'd go to TMZ. Deion Sanders in his prime can't cover a WR when the Qb of the opposing team has all day to throw the ball. Shame on you Scott, even you should know better.
I'm going to make this simple, the other teams we have played have better players and coaches than we do. Only a remake will fix this. It's not about wins and losses in the peseason, but it is about performances. the other teams perform better than us because they have better players and better coaches. Mr Richardson, I think you suspect what I said above. fix this before next season.
The Carolina Pussycats are a poor excuse for an NFL team. Sure it is only exhibition season, and these games dont count. Jake is a Flkake and the secondary, if that is what you want to call it, is down right pitiful. The team plays with no emotion, only shows emotion when they look at their bank statements. They will be lucky if they win three games. Signing Jake to a extended contract--what a joke. I hope and pray that I am wrong
0-3 in the preseason, but 1-0 (so far at home) in draining your wallet. That's the bottom line folks.
The Panthers don't have to win to be successful. They have only you to thank for their lavish lifestyles. Not bad for being able to drop out of college and PLAY A GAME.
I agree with the previous post a total flat atmosphere. It took effort for me to clap. Hey it seems we all have something in common with Peppers, none of us want to be there!
5 Things I don't like about the Panthers. It is going to take a lot more beer to get through this year and I can't afford it now.
just an observation: Detroit was 4-0 in preseason last year. Did them a lot of good.
Cool out.
I agree with alot of you about Jarrett. I wonder if we could get any good trade value for him? He was a high draft pick. Kenny Moore gets open better than him and looks more like the 3rd best receiver on this team. But, knowing Fox he'll probably continue to be loyal to Jarrett.
K.S.
Did you see Gamble wiff on even going for an INT when in front of Heap? First time I've ever seen a corner get alligator arms.
Gamble's the Todd Pinkston of cornerbacks.
Mr. Gamble: Maybe now you understand why last year's coaching staff didn't put you "One on One" against Larry Fitzgerald last January. It's difficult to tackle when you are looking at the ground.
Stop hating on the Panthers and Fox. Since he came in, we have had the sixth best record in the league(behing Indy, Pats etc.) and have a winning playoff record. We play smart. We keep games close. Did anyone think Arizona was going to the superbowl in preseason last year? Midseason?
THE PANTHERS AIN'T NEVER GONNA LOSE AGAIN!!
You guys all make sure to come back and post here when we're 10-6 or 11-5. You all know more than John Fox, but for some reason NFL teams aren't lining up to hire you. I guarantee if Fox left, he'd have his choice of teams to coach.
The preseason doesn't matter. I thought last night was successful in that no one got hurt. Yeah, third downs sucked and our defense is lacking but jeez look at the injuries. We'll be ok.
Those 3rd downs will be easier with DeAngelo in the game too.
Freakin' bandwagon fans.
One good thing with our defense... we don't have to worry about a roster spot for a punt returner!
bigjohn said...
You guys all make sure to come back and post here when we're 10-6 or 11-5. You all know more than John Fox, but for some reason NFL teams aren't lining up to hire you. I guarantee if Fox left, he'd have his choice of teams to coach.
The above is a moronic argument. None of us have chosen to take up pro football for a living. Does that mean we can't see obvious deficiecies. STUPID CONTENTION..and a bit narrowminded.
Man, I would love it if we could get a fiery coach like Rex Ryan, who now coaches the Jets, for the Panthers, instead of old "it is what it is" Fox. I'm not a bandwagon fan by any means but, rather, am a fan who's tired of the lack of passion and overwhelming conservatism that this team constantly displays.
By the way, there's a reason why all of those defensive coaches defected from the team last year, it was because they wanted to escape from the same old "it is what is is" mindset that coach fox is always exhibiting. Why do you think Peppers wants to leave, and go to a team that offers him better opportunities and new horizons? It's only a matter of time before Steve Smith wants to leave as well, as he's surely just as tired of the old "it is what it is" mentality that poisons this team.
I mean, think about it, who would you rather have coaching you? A coach who's always preaching it is what it is, or one who says, "men, we can't give up the fight and have to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight back like the warriors that we are!" "It is what it is," to me, sounds a lot like, "oh well, maybe we'll get 'em another day, we'll see....yawn."
This team needs a complete overhaul, starting with the coaching staff, the quarterback position and the defensive backfield. Even though I'm greatly disappointed with the decisions made by the coaching staff, I'll still root for this team as that I'm a committed fan.
It's funny, however, how those who used to ridicule what I've been saying about this team are now in agreement with me about it.
Kenneth Moore easily supplants Jarrett, so I don't see keeping his bloated salary. Let's save some real money and get real offensive and defensive coordinators. The talent level is far better than the team has played. If the coordinators can't generate a decent plan and can't motivate, put them on the street. Meeks doesn't have Peyton anymore, and Davidson got lucky by having great running backs handed to him, not because he can do anything that looks like an offensive plan.
"This team needs a complete overhaul"
You do realize we went 12-4 last year, right?
A team that can't get the QB won't win. Read and react defenses are OK when you have the offensive firepower to outscore the other team. But this team doesn't have Peyton Manning at QB to score and maintain drives to keep the defense off the field (are listening, Ron Meeks?)
The Pittsburgh Steelers always contend because they play aggressive defense. So do the Eagles, Ravens, Bears, etc. A blitzing, attacking defense that puts pressure on the opposing QB is the surest way to success in the NFL.
That will only come with a new coach.
Given that we have a much more difficult schedule this year (our reward for winning the division) and the fact that our defense looks as weak as the Seifert era, I'd say that we would be lucky to sniff 500 this year.
Agree with your dislikes. I think the 3rd down problem will be at least partially solved with DeAngelo in there. The Gamble problem has been with us forever and now it costs us more money. He got torched by a 35 year old man. Goodson if he can keep his head straight will be a good addition in the offense. Worry more about the Stewart injury because we don't hear anything from him or the team. Same as last year. Other than Goodson some other unexpected positives have been Anderson, Munnerlyn (?), Rosario, and the kid from Illinois.
I agree with one comment that was made, but in a different way. "I would hate to be in the tenches with some of you. I agree there are some problems with this squad, but it is not like they can't be fixed. With all the injuries going on right now, I would not play that hard for a game that means jack. I would rather play my hardest for games that at least matters. You guys have no loalty at all. If you are a fan, that means through good and bad. Everybody wants to win, but wow guess what, there's no perfect team in the league. GO FIGURE.
"0-3 in the preseason, but 1-0 (so far at home) in draining your wallet. That's the bottom line folks."
Good thing its deep.....real deep. :) :) :)
we should hire the old steelers coach that lives in NC.
what is his name?
this team is good but lacks passion, execution, and effort, that comes down to coaching.
Gamble couldn't cover my 94 year old grandma!
if the team played with half the passion of Goodson we'd be a whole lot better.
I agree that gamble is awful, cut him fast.
I think this is it for Fox.
I saw Basanez playing for Chicago last night, he's twice the QB jake is.
why did we sign jake to a longer deal?
we did some stupid stuff and deserve to get worse...which we no doubt are.
Do you all really think "It is what it is" is preached in the locker room? Are you kidding me? Fox-speak, as it's called, is for public consumption. It's what you read in the papers. It's press conference material, nothing more.
You can bet that Fox isn't pleased with the way the team has played this preseason. But why say that in public? Fox was more candid after this game than I've ever heard, calling the play of the defense "shoddy" at best. In fact, everybody on the defense is embarassed, and rightfully so.
Did you know that Jake finished the night with a 106.2 passer rating? Despite having only 19 plays in the first half (due to a "shoddy" defensive outing)?
Did you know the run defense improved over previous weeks?
Nobody is denying the defense needs to step it up. But to expect that to be said in public to satisfy your lust for controversy is just plain juvenile. If you want drama, follow Buffalo or Philly.
We will never win a super bowl with Fox & Delhomme. It's that simple
Post a Comment