Sure, it’s just preseason. But it’s still worth pointing out the things I liked and the things I didn’t in Carolina’s 24-17 loss against the New York Giants:
5 THINGS I LIKED
1. Mike Goodson – It says something that the Panthers’ breakout player of the first exhibition also fumbled the ball twice and embarrassed Carolina on national TV by making a terrible throat-slash gesture after his TD (don’t try that one at home, kids). But Goodson has undeniable speed and – since Jonathan Stewart can be injury-prone – he’s another exciting option as a change-up for DeAngelo Williams. Now he just needs to keep both hands on the ball before they get him into trouble again.
2. James Anderson – Had a sack and blocked a punt for a safety while also filling in decently as a starter for injured LB Thomas Davis.
3. Dan Connor – Nice to see the guy who missed almost all of last season with a torn ACL come back and look like he still had his instincts.
4. Jon Gruden – The former Tampa Bay coach will be entertaining as an “MNF” analyst. He sure likes DeAngelo Williams: Gruden made the case in the broadcast that DeAngelo is the best back in the NFL.
5. Hunter Cantwell – The 4th-string QB threw Carolina’s only TD pass of the night with a minute left, then converted the two-pointer to tie the game at 17 (to the chagrin of many, including the MNF announcers, who obviously wanted to get the heck out of there and not see an overtime). Cantwell then obliged them with a turnover on the game’s last play from scrimmage that the Giants ran in for a gift TD and a sudden "Game over."
5 Things I didn’t like
1. Turnover Central: It was shades of the Arizona playoff game as Carolina’s offense at one point managed to turn the ball over three times in four plays (and nearly four in five, except Mike Goodson’s second fumble of the night was recovered). The Panthers ended up with 5 turnovers altogether.
Goodson obviously must work on ball security – it’s a problem with him and will concern John Fox a lot more than the throat slash gesture. Other than that, the biggest lesson here was the Panthers better not get any offensive linemen hurt, because the second unit isn’t ready.
2. First-team defense: There was little to like in the Panthers’ first unit, which played less than a quarter yet managed to allow a 6-play, 77-yard TD drive during that time. On the TD play – a 19-yard run by Ahmad Bradshaw -- Jon Beason was thoroughly blocked and Chris Gamble and Charles Godfrey both got run over.
3. David Carr – As any Panther fan with a decent memory might recall, Carr was once the Panthers’ next great hope at QB when Jake Delhomme went down in 2007. A bunch of jittery incompletions later, he went to New York as a backup – and managed to burn the Panthers’ second-teamers for a screen-pass TD Monday night.
4. Panther stars – Julius Peppers lined up mainly on the right side and had an invisible quarter while he played. Jake Delhomme looked somewhat lost without Steve Smith and had a desultory first quarter (although no turnovers) before checking out very early. DeAngelo was decent but didn't have enough time to be spectacular.
5. Run defense – The Giants’ top 2 runners had 9 carries for 66 yards before retiring early. Carolina obviously needs to sign another 330-pound DT – the Giants might have had 2 100-yard backs if this had been a regular-season game.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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54 comments:
Looks like a 7 and 9 season to me.As i predicted at the end of last season.Will Fox and Delhomie be gone ? We'll have to wait and see.For now i'll have to tough out this season.
Pretty much what you'd expect from a preseason game.
Lots of rust, but we can all look forward to a great season if we can pick up another DT in there(Hayden was pretty bad)
Lots of starters missing tonight.
Obviously ESPN has been all over there beloved NFC 'Least'
But that's just the way we like it.
Go ahead and take this victory NY, the next time(or two) around, things will be MUCH different =]
Go Panthers.
See that, the haters and the complainers are already out "predicting" the year after one PRESEASON GAME. What is funny is they call themselves fans. LOL
cade mcDown is horrid. yes I said mcdown as in moving mcdown the depth chart and hopefully onto waivers. it says something about yr GM when the backup is much, much worse than the 4th stringer. Did Mcdown study at all in the offseason or just show up from eating cheetos and watching reruns of gilligans island?
love Dan Connor's nose for the ball.
and yr right for once Scott, Gruden's going to be the hit of the season in the booth. very entertaining.
I`am tired of Jake Delhomme and his finger licking , annoying gestures and spitting !! Get a Nose Tackle and rid of Jake. Kudos to Jermey Leman played great tonight !!
Another preseason of reading comments from so called fans that know nothing about football. I love to read just for the laughs. I think it's hilarious that people call for Fox to be fired. uhhhh, his team did win the division last year. Jake is a good QB, however not good enough for the contract extention he was given. I wish the Panthers well in al but one game "Go Cowboys"
Jake got to go! and the panthers need to fix the fumble problem. That was embarrasing!
I love the homers pounding their chest & exclaiming their fanhood, lol, like I'm any less of a fan than them because I want to see my team succeed & tire of seeing the same things every year that still havent been fixed. No effort made to get serious about the QB position, overpaying average players (Delhomme, Gross, Peppers, Gamble), and a defense that looks lost on all aspects from run stopping to pass coverage.
Let's put it bluntly. The Panthers S*cked. After seeing them at Fanfest, I told my buddy they looked sloppy and may win 6-8 games this year. After last nights game, I feel the exact same way. Missing Kemo is bad, no doubt. But that didn't cause the fumbles, missed tackles because of tackling high or having their head down when diving at the ball carrier. I saw a team that is fundamentally unsound. Fowler blames it on it being the Panthers first game. But,wasn't it the Giants first game also. They Panthers have a long way to go between now and Sept 13th. Let's hope for the best!
It's one preseason game. The first preseason game. I wouldn't be worried. If they are looking bad in the 3rd pre-season game, then I'd be worried. Let's not forget that Smitty wasn't playing, nor was Jonathan Stewart. I agree with what Peppers said though. They need another 330 pound guy in the middle. Hopefully someone will be come available once cuts from other teams start getting made. Heck, the Giants much have 50 Def Linemen!
Jake was 5 of 9 and didn't turn the ball over. He overthrew Moore, underthrew Jarrett, but the only other bad throw was the WR running a bad route. Other than that, he made good reads and throws. The fumble wasn't his fault, but our all-pro OT Gross. I'm more concerned with us running a Cover 2 defense and playing plain schemes. I hope we don't switch to a Cover 2, and I really hope that Meeks doesn't strip our D down to basics and rely on our guys to make plays. We don't have a strong enough defensive front for this. I can see this D looking exactly like the Colts defense has looked the last 7 years.....SOFT! The only difference is, we don't have teh offense to put up the numbers the Colts did to bail their lack-luster defense out. Meeks, pull your head out of your ass and get creative!
I think it's funny the Panthers rejected QB's (Collins, Carr) end up in NY and get better.
I do hope the kinks get worked out over the next couple of games. We've got a team capable of being great - they just need to play like it.
Scott... how did you miss Jeremy Leman not being on your top 5 things you liked??? Did you even watch the game??? This kid played his heart out and you're giving kudos to Gruden?? You need to seek this kid out in the locker next time and apologize for your lack skills as a reporter
We were off after the snap WAY too early. Meeks is looking for us to improve our speed - well, goal accomplished but we're too quick to not look for the screen. We were burned with the screen too many times last night.
Hey Meeks: BLITZ ONCE IN A WHILE!
The Linebackers need to watch the offensive linemen closer and drop back a little further. And don't get me started on our secondary! C'mon boys!!!!!! Eat some wheaties... get some strength. We got bowled over last night by mediocre receivers and running backs.
Jake - I don't know where to begin.
Rookie Brown needs to bulk up and stop twirling around. That's not going to work with a 350 veteran defensive lineman. Get below their waist and push!!! They're top heavy and will topple easily. Then use your quickness to get back up and TACKLE!
LOVE THE PANTHERS! C'mon Guys! LET'S GET IT DONE THIS YEAR!
Panicking after the first preseason game is pointless. Do they have a lot of work to do--sure they do. There's time though. Just calm down folks.
The Panthers will be fine. This is just one preseason game. They will get better before the regular season starts. Get off of Jake. He took this team to 12-4 last year and will do a great job this year as well. Defense will get better as well, we need a Vet DT and that will solve that. GO PANTHERS
I'm gonna agree with that-Leman looked like a maniac out there...He's the kind of guy we need to keep for both depth and special teams...He's a hitter, plain and simple. Delhomme looked atrocious, and the fact we are talking about Hunter Cantwell's performance makes me shudder. We have ZERO quality depth behind Delhomme and he has clearly reached the twilight of his career. I hope DeAngelo and JStew are up for 400 carries apiece this year.
Yes, come here for the worst fans on the planet-what is this philly?
You posers need to get another team-get rid of Fox? The best coach in the NFL right now? Wow-do some research
Williams was decent? I think i saw him escape out of a 3 on 1 at least 3 times and gain at least 5 yards every time. He didnt have any 20 yard gains but the yards he picked up he did it on his own stiff harming and juking. He looked better than decent to me
Who cares about David Carr's touchdown, I want to hear more about how his hair looked.
This is why we have Preseason Games....Don't forget this was the first one....I love how people want to throw the Panthers under the bus after the first preseason game...Is there a website that I can go to and read comments from true Panther Fans
Carolina is a great farm team for quarterbacks . First Collins, then Carr . When Jake is groomed to our teams disslike , he will be sent to a team where he can win a Super Bowl ! Go Jake ! ( while you're young )
Why do people keep saying Jake won 12 games last year? He did have a few good game winning drives but when we started to excel was when the running game took shape not the passing game. People talk about his completions but a majority of those are 10 yard passes that a HS QB can make. Anything over 10 yards is out of his range of accuracy period if you disagree go back and watch the old games and tell me any of those actually caught were great passes. The receiver had to chase the ball out of their route then try to make a play which is why Smith being so elusive is the only one who can get any YAC. No one comes back from Tommy John the same as they were before. I love Jake's heart and what he has done for the team but he is done playing. I hope he pursues coaching QB's because he is a great motivator and understands the position very well but he can only do what his body is capable of doing.
They are a good team. This was practice, and Meeks is trying to get the D comfortable with a new scheme so they focused on the basics. I'm glad he did not reveal his hand in the 1st preseason game.
Oh and the game winning TD against SD was all Rosario not Jake who actually overthrew the ball yet again. Jake was out performed by all of his backups. If he doesn't improve by the third preseason game Fox must evaluate and make a decision that is best for the team not his friendship with Jake.
Why do people think Carr looked great last night? He's OK for a #2QB against our 2nd and 3rd teams. Nothing more. Their dominant running game set up him up to hit some short passes. Oh...and his hair...gone! I enjoyed seeing Beavers perform. Caught a pass for 25 yards, returned kicks pretty well. No fumbles! Kenneth Moore showed more than Jarrett. Come on defense...Peppers where were you?
I've always wondered (lick) if Jake (lick, lick) has ever (lick) wondered if all (lick) that slobber (lick, lick) affects his (lick) accuracy (lick)?! Lol!!
Anyone bothered by the inability to tackle? Gamble & Godfrey seem scared to get in Jacobs way.
Some defenses hit and drive through a tackle, it appears our secondary tries a slightly less aggressive approach, grab on, hold and wait until the runner gets tired of dragging our defender and falls.
I'd love to see Bill Cowher as the next head coach of the Panthers !
Yes- its the first preseason game...so nobody should be jumping off a cliff yet. BUT ....the issues from last year that needed work...still need work. Run D was Shredded ! Giants D line was overpowering for panthers O-line. Jake is not a very accurate passer.
Corners are soft and got run over ! I dont know if more practice can fix whats broken. With this tough schedule, thin to no back-ups, and a QB that looks shaky...it could be 9-7 year. We shall see how they react in next game.
I really wish u guys out there would remember this is the 1st PRE-SEASON GAME! get off of ppl's backs. yes there were some things u can take from watching that game but c'mon, stop hating on them so soon. there are fans who hope for the best and carry a great positive attitude towards their team. and then u have supposed fans who just want to be the 1st to say the season is over.
To the commenter about McCown: I was upset with his play too, until I realized it was 2nd team vs 2nd team. The Giants 2nd team DL could start on most teams in the NFL. Though, it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
Moore looked OK and Cantwell showed some promise. Jake was a little lost without Smith, but then again eveyone looked rusty (except D-Will).
The lack of blitz is not surprising. The Panthers showed a very vanilla defense. I think that was on purpose, since they play the Giants again in December. Overall, the play was sloppy on both sides of the ball, but it's not really much of a concern except for the DT situation. If that can be resolved (and it will), the defense will be fine.
Remember this is a new defensive scheme and it takes a few games to get it right.
The running game got the Panthers to 12-4, certainly not Jake Delhomme. I keep saying it...when they Panthers win its in SPITE of Delhomme. When they lose, its usually BECAUSE of him (unless its John Fox trying to run a reverse handoff on a punt when your LEADING...my goodness.)
1st game...just pre-season so no need to jump off a bridge yet. But i do wish we could have pulled MIKE VICK off that bench in the 2nd half. PANTHER FANS...he's gonna be good, AGAIN!
NICE GAME from Leman!!!! Beason, Davis and Leman. That kid is CRAZY!!!!
I liked Cantwell, and Lehman was going completely ape sh#t out there. Goodson has promise but has major butter fingers. I liked the DT #91 as well. he might need some work on his fundamentals but he goes hard every snap.
I dont think Meeks needs to show his hand this early, esp if we're gonna have to face the Giants again late in the season which could have many implications as to how the season ends for us.
DT #91 - That is actually DE #91, Everette Brown. He's showing promise. Definitely needs to bulk up a little, but he has moves.
I keep looking at the schedule and come up w/ 6-10 season over and over. Turnover and an overpriced over rated Peppers which cost this team depth will be the down fall. When will Big Mistake Jake learn its more important to keep the ball and take a sack vs throwing an INT or a fumble??????????????????????
Did anyone else notice how slow Brown was coming off the ball?? If he's going to be a factor he's got to get better at that. The tackles were coming off faster than him!!
Did the defense get the memo that last nights game was a tackle football game? They looked like they were playing flag football! The amount of missed tackles was ridiculous. No doubt about it, without Kemeatou in the middle, any team with a good running back is going to eat us up... we need a true run-stopping replacement a.s.a.p.
I love all the delhomme haters who fail to look at the guys w/l record over his career. And then fail to recognize that the years he didn't have a winning record there was no o-line, no 2nd receiver, and no running game. dude is upper echelon. you can have drew brees in the pro bowl going 8-8 every year or you can have jake and be a contender.
For those of you looking to "forecast" regular season outcome from the pre-season (much less the first pre-season game), bear in mind the DETROIT LIONS have not lost a pre-season game in two seasons. For a myriad of reasons, there is nothing that can be gleaned from these games that will meaningfully forecast a team's regular season success.
Just chill out folks. The starters played one quarter. Hardly reason to say throw in the towel on the whole season. They will work through it. We got a month to get ready for the eagles.
Panthers had their opportunity to get a franchise QB who could have been here for the next 10 years by moving their Starting QB and packaging in a signed Julius Peppers to get a 25 yo Jay Cutler.
Ok you say that is a bad deal; FINE. BUT the Panthers did not even enquire as to what the availability of Cutler.
The Panthers did not even bring in a veteran backup who has won games in the NFL and there were PLENTY around this past off-season.
Why does every position need depth and 'competition' on this team except QB?
There is a reason for preseason. I do not think our whole 2009 should be judged by 1 preseason game played by 2nd & 3rd string players. We learn from mistakes and we move on. I wish my panthers well.
Go Panthers………..A True Panther Fan
I am a Panther Fan as much as anyone else, but let's look at history, even if Jake gets us to the playoffs, he loses the big game. Julius know that, thats why he wants to leave. I wish Bill Cowher would consider coming out of retirement to guide the Panthers. Then you would see some changes! Go Panthers!
I don't get all the love for Bill Cowher? He's a good coach but not a great coach. There wouldn't be much of a difference than what we have now.
To anonymous 3:13, are you just an idiot? "even if Jake gets us to the playoffs, he loses the big game". Yeah I guess 2003 when he led Carolina to the Super Bowl and if Kasay hadn't kicked the ball out of bounds he would've been the MVP in the Super Bowl. Or in 2005 where he took the Panthers to the NFC Championship game where they lost after they were down to their 4th or 5th(can't remember) RB and Seattle could afford to triple cover Smitty w/o worrying about not having enough coverage for the other guys. I still contend that he was hurt in the last playoff game, something about coming off a bye(see Oakland game) didn't work for him because of his arm but his arm should be fine this year.
Yeah, it's just the first preseason game, and we'll wait and see about the depth of both lines, and if Ron Meeks will really be allowed to bring a different defense. (After Dan Henning left the offense really didn't change that much). But there's one prediction I can make today that I absoloutely know will come to fruition during the season. Jake will suck like he has every year he's been here. Our offensive success will depend on what it always has depended upon. The years in which we have a good running game to counter Jake's mistakes we make it to the playoffs. The years we don't run the ball well like when Deshaun Foster started and when we've had average offensive linemen we don't make it. Again it's still early but after watching Jake and our backup quaterbacks my neigbbor's dogs were saying that for 1.6 million dollars we could have signed Michael Vick.
K.S.
What about J Leman? He was far and away the most intense person on the field vs. the Giants.
It's definitely true that no one should panic because it was only the first pre-season game. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned after Monday's performance. It wasn't just that the Panthers didn't play all that well, but we saw the same deficiencies we've seen for the past several seasons - poor tackling, the defense giving up big plays on third down, multiple three-and-outs by the offense, errant Delhomme passes, etc. It just seems that the Panthers are never going to fix these problems under Fox. I guess if we win the division again though, it won't matter.
Why is the "throat slah" such a big deal in the NFL? The announcers feel like they have to be PC and act like it is a big deal and offended, yet I don't think anyone is offended. People use that gesture all the time in mundane situations to convey, "cut" "stop" "enough" "stop". Even in it's most malevolent form it means "you're dead" "we killed you" common expressions if not ubiquitous terms in sports. Everyone who is offended needs to get off their soap box and get a life. In regards to Goodson, he did more of the "cut it out" motion than pantomiming a real throat slash. No big deal! His only offense was it's a rule no matter how ridiculous and he should know better.
If Jake was sooo bad why did his peers select him to the pro bowl If he was so bad why did was he a she in for MVP in the superbowl befor our Kicker and defense let the game slip away. Remember he threw the TD to Rick P to make us take the lead with less than 2 left in the game. If he was so bad how did he win the quarterback challenge against some of the top QB's in the league. You guys are the so called loosers probably been that way for a long time based on your constant negative coments
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