Sunday, October 11, 2009

5 things I liked about Panthers' win over Redskins

Here are the five things I liked the most about the Panthers’ 20-17 win over Washington Sunday:

1. Carolina outscored Washington 11-0 in the fourth quarter.
In an imperfect game which had TD drives of 1, 12, 13 and 40 yards, the Panthers finally did something big when it counted.

2. Carolina blitzed a lot more (some credit is due to D-coordinator Ron Meeks here).
Linebacker Thomas Davis estimated he blitzed 10-15 times in this one. Davis is having a monstrous season – probably the best on the team so far – and in this one he was credited with a safety (on a run-blitz and helped along by Julius Peppers) and affected the play numerous times.

3. The naked bootleg. OK, it’s third-and-8. You need a first down to keep Washington from getting the ball back with two minutes to go. And you run Jake Delhomme on a naked bootleg to the right?
It was startling. And – thanks to Delhomme getting a couple of extra yards on his own against Washington CB DeAngelo Hall – it worked to clinch the game. Delhomme’s celebration was also priceless.

4. Quinton Teal’s shove. Who knew that you could shove the opposing blocker into his own punt returner without penalty? Teal did just that, causing the game’s biggest play and giving Carolina possession at the Washington 12.

5. John Fox’s defiance. The coach was pretty unvarnished in his postgame interview – especially for Fox. Although there was a Foxsports.com report Sunday that Fox had told some of his friends he expected to be fired at the end of the season, Fox denied it, laughing it off by saying he would tell his friends he expected a new five-year contract.

I also liked Fox going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in this game, even though it didn’t work. The coach has been more aggressive this year on fourth downs, and the Panthers need aggressiveness to get this season turned around. After this Sunday’s result, odds are that the first coach fired out of this game will be Washington’s Jim Zorn, whose squad lost a 17-2 lead to an 0-3 team.

54 comments:

Vikram said...

Scott,

What do you guys think of my predicting ability? Any analyst openings at the Observer?

My Predictions (6-10) made in August 09.

http://scottfowlerobs.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-panthers-sky-falling.html

Week 1: vs Philadelphia Eagles (L 14-21)
Week 2: at Atlanta Falcons (L 10-38)
Week 3: at Dallas Cowboys (L 10-20)
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs Washington Redskins (W 24-16)
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W 23-14)
Week 7: vs Buffalo Bills (W 21-10)
Week 8: at Arizona Cardinals (L 24-31)
Week 9: at New Orleans Saints (L 20-23)
Week 10: vs Atlanta Falcons (L 21-26)
Week 11: vs Miami Dolphins (W 27-20)
Week 12: at New York Jets (W 21-18)
Week 13: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W 30-16)
Week 14: at New England Patriots (L 10-35)
Week 15: vs Minnesota Vikings (L 16-24)
week 16: at New York Giants (L 14-28)
Week 17: vs New Orleans Saints (L 20-27)

Anonymous said...

Vikram, thats impressive. I wish you had made a 10-6 prediction.

Jennifer said...

Wow where are all the J&J (julius and jake) haters at today...

Your top five usually gets blasted with one or the other...maybe until next week, people can stay off thier n!ts.

Oh cant wait to hear the rundown on Peppers play by play from you Mr. Scott >:-)

John said...

"thanks to Delhomme getting a couple of extra yards on his own against Washington CB DeAngelo Hall "

A COUPLE? Hey Scott, it looked to me like Hall had him cold for maybe a 1 yard gain. That run was all Delhomme and just shows how hard this guy tries!

Anonymous said...

Peppers had little to do with the Safety or the defense as a whole. Good Job though Panthers. Great 4th Quarter.

Jennifer said...

I think Pep, could have 10 sacks, 4 safetys and 90 blocked kicks in one game and it still wouldnt be enough for some of these fug nut haters!!!

Unknown said...

LOVED the bootleg call!! Had the fake element of a playaction, but it kept the clock moving like a straight handoff. Caught me and the Skins defense totally off guard. And how about Jake going all Tim Tebow on Deangelo Hall, plowing his way for a first down! Love it! Nice to see Peppers play a game with a bit of intensity too. Davis got the safety, but Peppers' penetration into the backfield was the difference. The defense was solid today.

John said...

Jennifer,

It pains me to disagree with such a beautiful lady, but the reality is that this is the FIRST game in which Peppers has had any impact, and when you are being paid more than $1 million per game, more is expected. That goes with the territory. Peppers put himself in a bad situation many times, including the last game where he was shown on TV laughing and smiling while the team was losing to Dallas. That is just tailor made to anger the fans. Nobody did that to him, he did that to himself.

You are obviously a very loyal fan, and that is to your credit. Please continue to remain so, you are a breath of fresh air on this, mostly bashing forum. I only wish that Peppers would start living up to your loyal support!

Hang in there! :-)

Jennifer said...

John

First of all thanks, because I am and will forever stand behind JP...I know more than the player wearing the #90 jersey, I know the person...

Has JP played shi!!y in games ...ABSOLUTELY...but dont keep hanging this million dollar crap over his head because as I said earlier, no matter how good or bad he plays in ANY game this year, he carries the stigma of being THAT GUY!!..

Julius asked to leave, made it very clear, he wasnt happy in Carolina, and they chose to keep him....and the pressure and having to live up to that figure isnt fair to any player, I dont care who you are...He isnt GOD, no matter what his price tag is...

With that being sad, I dont care what his mannerism's are...because I know if I was in a postion in my job, that I didnt want to be in, I probably wouldnt perform to the level others would hold me at either...

This season alone hasnt defined Pep, (well obviously to some it has) so he lived up to and earned my support LONG AGO!! and it will continue to stay there no matter where and with whom his future leads him...

John said...

But Jennifer,

He had a contract... the only people to whom that doesn't seem to matter are athletes!

Do you have a mortgage? Would you expect to be let out of that mortgage agreement if you no longer wanted to comply with it? Of course not, contracts apply to the rest of us. THAT is the big gripe that most fans have. If you own a PSL, the team demands that you honor it, but JP thinks that shouldn't apply to him?

I'm sorry, if there is anything more than his salary, that JP hasn't earned so far this season, it's the loyalty of wonderful fans like you! Believe me, there is nothing I'd love more than to see him live up to it! You deserve it!

Question, have you tried out for the Top Cats? They couldn't do better, and I'm talking about your team spirit, not just your (obviously stunning) looks!

Anonymous said...

Looking at the schedule, I could still see this team going 8-8 or better...I'm crazy I know

Anonymous said...

Two huge inaccuracies from posters on this thread about Peppers:

1. Peppers had a HUGE role in that safety. He knocked the LT back into the runner and gave him no place to go and Pep and Davis both had him on the tackle.

2. Peppers did NOT have a contract. His contract had expired when they tagged him.

MrBernz said...

Jennifer, Peppers waited until it was too late to be traded to sign that franchise tag offer, that is the problem i have with him. If he wanted out he should have signed it on day 1 so deals could be talked about, instead, he waited until after the draft to sign, by then it was too late to trade for a draft pick. Since he waited, that tells me he wanted to atay more than he wanted to be traded, so he should play like he wants to be there since he accepted the offer in the end.

MrBernz said...

Anonymous said...
Two huge inaccuracies from posters on this thread about Peppers:

2. Peppers did NOT have a contract. His contract had expired when they tagged him.

When he signed his last contract, the franchise tag is part of the next contract. Therefore he was still under contract, thats the nfl rules.

John said...

Jennifer said: "With that being sad, I dont care what his mannerism's are...because I know if I was in a postion in my job, that I didnt want to be in, I probably wouldnt perform to the level others would hold me at either..."

Based on the passion of your posts... I sincerely doubt that... I'd be willing to bet you'd do the best you could possibly do no matter what because loyalty is important to you. We just don't see enough of that from the players!

Jennifer said...

So youre saying the fans should be as fickle as contracts....

If he has a good year, you stay loyal, if he doesnt its piss off? I'm reading that right (correct)....double standards dont apply with me ...(sorry)

As for my mortage...If someone were willing to pay it off, then you try making that deal, especially when the foundation is cracking...I sure wouldnt put 18 million dollars more into it, when it was well documented that the heart of the home was no longer there..

Just saying....and haha on the bobcats, my cheerleading on the sideline days are over...but thanks !!

John said...

Anonymous 7:54

The fact that he could be tagged as a franchise player was PART OF THE CONTRACT and he knew that going in. It's like having a one year option. If he has a beef, it's with the Players Union which accepted that provision. YES, he WAS STILL UNDER CONTRACT!

Jennifer said...

Oops that should say TOPCATS...

Sorry was watching the final of the Denver, NE game and Im sincerely thinking about ordering that Bronco uniform for Halloween...

Werent they quite Octoberish in a festive kinda way..

MrBernz said...

Peppers didnt sign the tender, he let his agent try and negotiate deals and none of the teams his agent talked to wanted him, so Peppers did want to stay with the Panthers. It was his last option, so he took a big fat paycheck he needs to play like he deserves it. I think he played well today, he needs to continue it if he wants 1 of his favorite 4 teams to want him next year.

John said...

Jennifer posted "Sorry was watching the final of the Denver, NE game and Im sincerely thinking about ordering that Bronco uniform for Halloween..."

LOL, if you do, PLEASE post the pictures! Just kidding, but you walked right into THAT one! ;-)

Jennifer said...

haha...

I bet brady has nightmare about those yellow and brown striped leggins (lol)

Wonder if they would glow in the dark.?? Nice 0T win wearing them though...so shush my mouth !!!

Crohnkiller said...

Hey Jennifer..I am still here and was impressed with Jake adding to his interception collection..8 with 3 touchdowns. Still really lopsided if you ask me. Peppers is still a piece and so are the Panthers. I haven't changed my mind on anything. This team beat a team that is pretty horrible with a whole lot of problems starting at the owner who thinks he has a perfect fantasy team. This team may also beat Tampa Bay, who is also REALLY bad. But after that, that may be it. Possibly they beat the waste of talent Buffalo Bills. But then the Vikings, the Saints, the Jets..Not many more wins past 4 or 5...But I am a die hard Eagles fan that is stuck in the Carolinas..for now..Anyone want to buy a house so i can go home??

Jennifer said...

Had to repost this....Mr. Scott maybe you should have asked Davis himself about the safety!!

Julius Peppers made his presence felt for the first time since the opener against Philadelphia with two sacks, two tackles for loss and three QB hurries. Davis credited Peppers for creating the safety.

"You could see he was lively out there," Davis said. "He was running around and making plays. What he was also doing was keeping guys up. Whenever something bad happened, he stepped in as a leader and told us to keep our heads straight."

Why do the haters go into hiding when Pep has a good game? Mark my words, they will be back out in full force next time he doesnt...

Vikram I cant wait to see how close you are on the point spread in the Saints games.

John said...

Just going through and watching the recording of the game again and I can't help but wonder what the heck the officials were thinking on that 4th & goal that was called a touchdown and then overturned.

To overturn, the replay is supposed to be irrefutable, yet on the review they overlooked that the play was called a touchdown and put the burden on the Panthers to prove they broke the plane. The NFL needs to review this and discipline the officials involved as this clearly violated the rules!

Crohnkiller said...

I still think peppers is over rated..He had an OK game..Settle down Jennifer. There are players in this league making less that make much bigger impacts. Take Trent Cole with the Eagles. Jake Delhomme has always been and always will be an average quarterback at best. He keeps up his interception numbers with every game. Good quarterbacks can go a whole season with what he has thrown already and there is a whole lot of games left, with teams with great defenses. The Panthers won a game against a horrible Washington team and now the proud Panthers fans are standing tall. I want to see the yapping after say the Saints or Vikings or Patriots..Beat a good team, then yap...

Anonymous said...

You guys are incorrect. The franchise tag is part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, not part of the contract. Peppers did NOT have to sign the tender.

During the time between his contract expiring and his signing that tender, he was NOT under contract to the Panthers, but his rights were held by the Panthers.

Jim said...

C'mon Scott, what you have to say about Peppers now? His performance today makes that article you spent all that time and effort writing kind of irrelevant now, doesn't it?

John said...

"You guys are incorrect. The franchise tag is part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, not part of the contract. Peppers did NOT have to sign the tender. "

ROTFL... the CBA IS PART OF THE CONTRACT! In fact, it is the format under which the contracts are written! DUH!!!!

Come on, let's use our heads here. If the franchise tag weren't part of the contract, it would be unenforceable... yet it IS enforceable, so therefore, it IS part of the contract.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but for me, my word is more important than anything else... I don't go looking for loop holes to get me out of a commitment, I keep my promises. Likewise, I make no apologies for expecting others to do the same!

John said...

"Jim said...
C'mon Scott, what you have to say about Peppers now? His performance today makes that article you spent all that time and effort writing kind of irrelevant now, doesn't it?

October 11, 2009 8:49 PM"

It will take more than ONE game.

Jennifer said...

I can "YAP" as you say anytime I please...

If you refer back to Mr. Scotts blogs, I am here every week...yapping away ....

I have my opinion just like you do, thank god we dont all agree and like the same things, how boring would life be without diversity..

And Mr. Jim...(cough) on Mr. Scott acknowledging Pep doing anything remotely close to having a good game...

People have their mindset and all they see is that HUGE CONTRACT!!

John said...

Keep yapping Jen. even when we don't disagree, I'm happy to hear your point of view! The knock on Pep coming out of college was that he took too many plays off and unfortunatly, that seems too often to be true.

He had a good game today, and I sincerely hope that he has many more. I want this team to do well and they depend on his play to do so! I'm going to continue to call for him to do more until he lives up to the potential that he clearly have's (just as Jon Beason did this week) That isn't "hating" on him, that is challenging him to play better.

I want him in the NFL Hall of Fame and right now, he isn't getting that done!

Crohnkiller said...

It isn't really a contract..It is a signed Tender..Bit of a difference..But the fact is he does take plays off and doesn't play with heart. Wanna see a good player that never takes off and EARNS his money? Dwight Freeney of the Colts. Best in the business. I think people get upset because he does make 1 million a game and plays like 50,000 a game most of the time. His stats aren't that good Jennifer. But he will be in Dallas next year eating his brisket.

John said...

Totally fat fingered... getting late ;-)

Meant:
" Keep yapping Jen. even when we don't agree, I'm happy to hear your point of view! The knock on Pep coming out of college was that he took too many plays off and unfortunatly, that seems too often to be true.

He had a good game today, and I sincerely hope that he has many more. I want this team to do well and they depend on his play to do so! I'm going to continue to call for him to do more until he lives up to the potential that he clearly has (just as Jon Beason did this week) That isn't "hating" on him, that is challenging him to play better.

I want him in the NFL Hall of Fame and right now, he isn't getting that done!"

John said...

"It isn't really a contract..It is a signed Tender.."

Symantecs, but means the same thing.

Rowdy said...

Crohnkiller - today's interception falls squarely on the hands of Moose, not Jake. Jake hit him right in the hands with that ball, out in front of him even, and Moose didn't catch it, tipping it into the dfender's hands. I'll agree that Jake has definitely had terrible games on occasion, and sometimes throws ill-advised passes that end up intercepted, but he was right on today when he got intercepted...

John said...

"Rowdy said...
Crohnkiller - today's interception falls squarely on the hands of Moose, not Jake. Jake hit him right in the hands with that ball, out in front of him even, and Moose didn't catch it, tipping it into the dfender's hands."

I'm a big supporter of Jake but I have to at least partially disagree with this statement.

The ball was thrown behind Moose but Moose DID get both hands on the ball and HAS TO COME UP WITH IT at this point! They shared responsibility on this INT but you also have to wonder if the pass was thrown too late or if Moose was in the wrong place... that's the part of the equation that we, as fans, usually don't know. Yet we judge.

Crohnkiller said...

Rowdy...He still has 8 no matter how or why..8 with 3 touchdown passes. That is 8 if you missed it at 4 games...That is horrible...I know he is smiling with that extension he got...

Jennifer said...

John I totally agree with you...

I have never said Pep was playing to his potential..I know personally he can do better...

The only thing I am saying is this....if people week after week are gonna ride his n!ts about his bad perfomance games, then give him the same credit he deserves when he has a good one...


When they cant, they are indeed haters...sorry JMO

I'm out ....least we dont live in Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Kansas City and a few others....imagine what their message boards are like today!!

Cya next week, yapping away!!

John said...

" Crohnkiller said...
Rowdy...He still has 8 no matter how or why..8 with 3 touchdown passes. That is 8 if you missed it at 4 games...That is horrible...I know he is smiling with that extension he got..."

Smiling? Not a chance. Even his worst critics (who actually know something about football) admit that. He has taken full responsibilty and makes no excuses... even when there are reasons he isn't to blame.

Jake is a class act and that is why the team is fully behind him. Maybe the fans need to take the hint?

Have we really forgotten what happened the last time Jake didn't start? We were so bad we took snaps WITHOUT a QB ON THE FIELD???

John said...

Some perspective here, no matter who has been the head coach, no matter who has been the QB... the Panthers have NEVER in 14 years had back to back winning seasons. The Atlanta Falcons in 41 years have also never had back to back winning seasons.

The Panther's schedule this season is the SECOND TOUGHEST in the NFL... let's keep that in mind!

eric lane said...

okay lets think 4 games 3 sacks.At that rate that will be 12 sacks at the end of the season.sounds like jp is on the way to the probowl.I find this funny almost every year this site dose a posting that is "what wrong with jp".For those who don't see it yet jp tends to get a large portion of is sack in the last 8 games of the season and actually the only time he started of hot was in his rookie season.

The standard that every one is holding him to he is going to get 25+ sacks to make you guys happy,never happened and never will.

Here is something people one this page just don't get.NFl GMS are not dumb you don't pay a guy a million dollars a game because you think he is going to get a lot of sacks(guessing hats what everyone wants to see)But because every time he lines up one the field he makes every one else better.Football is 11 on 11 when he take double teams on more than 75% of his passing plays he free others up to make plays.

So here is something that some will never understand.Football is not just about the numbers but you win and loose by the little things that fans don't see tacking up block so others can make plays,
hurrying the QB,ect.

Anonymous said...

Moore >>> Moose at this point... and it's going to be at the end of the season till they starting throwing him the ball

Anonymous said...

Fox doesn't deserve this kind of media pressure after just one bad strech. Even if we lost 10 games, I'd say he should still be retained. He lost a lot of assistants in the offseason, it's clearly affected us badly. But he's been a great head coach, not the type you throw under the bus like that. If Jerry Richardson's goal is a stable, consistent franchise modeled after Pittsburgh and like the Panthers have been since Fox took over, he'll give Coach Fox the breathing room he's earned. We should do the same and stop being fair-weather fans.

Julie said...

I still think we're going to go 7-9. It won't be easy with our schedule, but 7-9 always seems to be our record. It's a Panther tradition. At least if we finish 7-9 I won't hate that we lost our first round draft pick.

eric lane said...

I agree we are on the way to a 7-9 season but the bad part is that it would be a 10-15 pick in the draft witch we gave away.

Anonymous said...

Did anybody see the kids playing at halftime...We could have signed a few of those kids from the Winston-Salem team!! Great job

Anonymous said...

Chronkiller,

I could not agree with you more. I am a die hard panthers fan, and have had PSLs since day 1. But the fact of the matter is the panthers are on a fast path to destruction. It is time for a major change in carolina starting with Fox, Jake, and Pepp. We should have been looking for a new QB three years ago. Our running game got us where we were last year not Jake, and that was proved in the Arizona game that Jake lost. We also have a very expensive offensive line that is doing absolutely nothing this year. As far as pepp goes he is awful. If you watch him play he takes plays off and doesnt play to his ability. Regardless if you want to be here or not you have a job. If you want to watch a real DE watch Dwight Freeney he is insane...

Our front office is another problem. They don't make changes when they need to be made and they over pay players. Somebody please tell me what Chris Gamble has done to earn any of the 53 or 54 million he is getting. But its not just Gamble or Pepp its the whole defense. I see nobody on that side of the ball with a real passion for the game besides Davis and Beason. Then Jake goes and gets six turnovers in a playoff game at home and gets 40 million wow!!! This season they are getting that 40 million shoved right up there b***. Im not denying Jakes passion or intensity but he doesnt have it anymoree. He has no arm left and he doesn't see the field.

This team will not win more then 4-5 games. Its time for Bill Cowher to come out of retirement!!

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who thinks "Jennifer" is not a female and his little thumbnail pic is fake too. It was funny reading all the compliments he received, but does anyone really believe Jennifer watches this much football and has time to comment incessantly on this blog???

eric lane said...

people who are saying that jp had nothing to do with the safety need to look at the tape.

Crohnkiller said...

Hey John..I watched a bit of the game again today as there is squat on TV..The interception WAS Delhomme's fault. It was behind Muhsin Muhammad and he stretched out to try to grab it...So, once again, another to add. Maybe you should watch it again...I read somewhere here where Carolina will try to draft a quarterback. Kind of don't have the draft picks to do that. The Panthers gave it up for a 2nd round talent..

MrBernz said...

Where can you go to look at the tape? I would like to see some of it.

Jennifer said...

Anon ....

There are some females that actually do know watch and know a little something about football...

I am a diehard Panthers fan...and I have just as much right to voice my opinion on a blog, as any male on here does....

So with that being said...coming from someone that is definitely ALL female, deal with seeing me here, because I dont give a rats a!! what you believe...

What compliments....that I was very vocal about giving credit when credits due to a guy that had a good game?

Get over yourself and hate on something or someone else...

Smiles...

Jennifer said...

Just for the record ANON....since youre sooo smart, I have stated many times that not only did I attend school with Julius, I cheered for him in basketball and football...

Be a douche get a SNSH yearbook and look for the pic...I havent changed that much...

Or you can keep on running off at the mouth and sulking because I probably know more than you do about the game...

Have a great week Mr. Scott..enjoyed the article on Pep getting rejuvenated...

Anonymous said...

What affect did changing coordinators have on losing games