Here are the 5 things I didn't like in Carolina's 20-10 loss to New England, which put the Panthers at 5-8 for the season:
1. Awful offense. The Panthers got a first-quarter touchdown on a 41-yard heave by Matt Moore to Steve Smith, but then just 3 points the rest of the way. Despite a defense that turned New England over three times and allowed a respectable 20 points, the offense ensured this one was going in the loss column.
2. John Fox's clock management. What was that all about at the end of the first half, when Fox kept getting Moore to throw the ball but wouldn't use his two timeouts? As it was, the Panthers just let the clock run and run and ended the half at New England's 12 after a pretty hook-and-lateral play that ended up with nothing.
3. The 96-yard drive. Although I thought the Panthers' defense gave a pretty good performance, there was one grave exception. Carolina allowed a 13-play, 96-yard drive that consumed most of the third quarter and put New England up, 14-7.
4. No sacks. Carolina's defense didn't get to Tom Brady once (shades of the Super Bowl, when Brady wasn't sacked, either).
5. Flying the flags. Carolina was penalized nine times for a season-high 92 yards, including critical ones against James Anderson for interference and Everette Brown for roughing the kicker and annoying ones like several "illegal shift" penalties on the offense. For a team that's already not that good, to make that many mistakes is going to guarantee you a loss.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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49 comments:
Scott, I know you're probably not allowed to do this because of professionalism, but I know you want to but "the officials" somewhere on that list badly---Right? The two pass interference calls were baloney, and the "roughing the kicker" should've been "running into the kicker" and still 4th down. Oh well, it's the Patriots, and we're the lowly Panthers. What should we expect?
The officials were one side it today.With that said bad officials or not.The panthers have a much bigger problem .And that is at QB.Matt Moore as much i was hoping that he was the answer Matt Moore the quarterback of the future.After today game it safe to say that he is not.He was very lucky not to end up with 4 Int.John fox is a good coach he will coach again in the NFL.But it time to fired him.Draft a QB early in the draft sign a good WR and this team next year could be playoff team again .This panthers team are 2 players away from being a very good team in the NFC
+1 with your comments about the defense...been pretty solid all year. Holding the Pats to 20 points in their house with an ineffective offense like ours takes a big effort. And taking injuries into account, Meeks has done a helluva job.
Moore was not the problem today. The defense fell apart with the balanced attack of the Patirots. The Patriots played Panther football better than the Panthers. Run the ball stop the run, and mange the clock. Some big plays by the defense negated any positve plays that they made from turnovers.
some of these comments are just un-readable
Scott, what do you think the chances are of the Panthers getting the Notre Dame combo of Charlie Weis for offensive coordinator, and then going out and making a deal(Peppers?) to go and draft Jimmy Clausen to be the qb of the future? I am by no means a Notre Dame fan, but Clausen seems to me like the best QB available and would be fantastic to build around especially with Weis as the OC(Weis and Fox are good friends as well).
The Refs got too involved in this game. Sometimes they gotta let the players play football. It was 1 sided involvement too, not like they were calling every little thing on the Pats like they were with the Panthers. Peppers wasnt making any plays because they were doubling up on him, they needed to bring more players in to get Brady. Peppers still rushed Brady a few times making him throw the ball away. Moore just needs some more games, then this off season they need to bring in some competition to compete for qb. They couldnt trade Peppers last year when he said he didnt want to play for the Panthers, no team is going to want to trade for him with a few games left in a season, & after the season they didnt have a contract with him to trade. They franchised him, in my belief, so they could trade him then he didnt sign the franchise tender in time for them to negotiate any trades. I expect them to franchise him again this year if he doesnt sign a long term contract, you cant just let a player like him go for nothing.
Too many problems on both sides of the ball....
No receiving corps, no defensive front play and oh by the way someone should cover Welker. News Flash!!!!
Deseparate team... Desparate coach... Time to rebuild....
So I guess it hasn't been Jake's fault all along after all, huh?
I think the play/decision that will utlimately seal Fox's tenure as head coach of the Panthers, if it hasn't already been decided by Mr. Richardson was the decision to attempt a 53 yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. At that point of the game we were playing John Fox football...conservative, attempting to control the clock, field position, putting us in position to win ugly in the 4th. On that particular drive we were up 7-0, and finally had favorable field position. Our defense was playing well, and the Patriots appeared that they didn't even want to be there. Then came 4th and 3 from New Enland's 36 yard line. My first thought was punt the ball and make them drive the length of the field. You could possibly go for it there as well, but the way the game was going I thought punt and gain the field position battle back in our favor. This however wasn't the case, Fox had Kasey attempt a 53 yarder in the rain. In reality, what is 3 points there really going to help? Kasey missed the field goal and we gave the ball to New Enland nearly at mid field. All of the hard work to gain some field position was lost. The missed field goal changed the momentum of the game and led to New England's first score of the game. After that we were just trying to hold on. Later in the game, Brady showed he could lead the Pats on a 96 yard drive, but I don't think that was the case prior to the missed field goal. That decision by Fox really didn't make a whole lot of sense. Also, did we even have Welker on the scouting report? Unreal....I thought the guys fought and props to the Defense causing 3 turnovers. We had to play perfect and the Patriots had to struggle for us to win...the opportunity was there and we missed. I appreciate everything that Fox has done for us in his tenure, but a change is needed. With only one year left on Fox's contract and no extension in sight the writing is on the wall that changes are coming shortly after the Saints game.
The defense played pretty well but I just don't understand allowing Wes Welker to run all over the field. It's pretty obvious he was Brady's blanket on several possessions late in the second half but we stuck to the zone. Without a pass rush you can't let Brady sit back there.
My biggest complaint is the D giving Tom Brady enough time to send a few text messages in the pocket before throwing the ball. That and the refs did a pretty poor job today. I'll still take Moore over Jake. Jake would have tossed about 4-5 INT's today. At least 2 would have been returned for 6 points
I agree the stupid field goal attempt decision swung the momentum to New England and let them get back in the game. It's hard to believe that you could consider NE out of the game down only 7 late in the first half, but the lethargic way they were playing it was true.
It wasn't just the fact it was raining, but also the cold temperature... the ball simply will not go as far when it's cold as it will normally. In 70+ degrees, Kasey might've made that one, but not in NE in December. Going for it on 4th would've at the least, given the Patriot's 7 or more yards further to go. The field goal attempt just didn't make sense. Oh, and Kasey didn't "miss" it, it was just too long and that wasn't his fault.
John Fox reminds me of British Field Marshall Montgomery from WWII... too conservative most of the time, only to get aggressive at the worst possible time, place and way!
I think it's time to get rid of coach and qb.... Matt is doing good ... can't help if everyone else sucks.. He hasn't played that much so can't blame him.. The boys are ready for the season to be over and done with.. you can just tell it in the way they play.Hope in off season they can get their stuff together and come back with a new coach, let Matt see what he can do and maybe we can get things back on track..
Matt Moore is clearly not QB for future! Keep him for next year.
Draft QB next year but Panthers don't have first round pick. Pick an athletic QB for wildcat or If Panthers are lucky to get first round QB for next year pick, if its fall to second round.
Keep Fox, I don't care what everybody say about Fox. Fox is clearly best coach that Panthers had. This year is fox's worst year. He just need to rid of Jake.
Make sure sign or franchise Pepper. If he don't want stay with Panthers, TRADE HIM for first round and additional pick.
Panthers offensive strategy is terrible. Why Jeff Davidson is still around is beyone me. They have quality running backs, O-Line and receivers. I know QB has been tough this year, but their play calling is just bad.
Defense played well today. Giving up only 20 at New England is pretty good. Should have been only 13 if it wasn't for the bad interfernce call at the end of the 2nd quarter. The challenge has been that the D is on the field so much that they get tired late in games. That is not their fault, the offense needs to put more points on the board and help them out. I like Meeks, this defense is pretty good overall.
Just got back from the game and i thought carolina should of had this game...their defense played great...i thought the penalties really hurt them...i thought williams should have carried the ball a little more...i think he was getting close to breakin one...the panthers are a qb away from being a good team
Oh were to start. Fox is a decent coach but I echo the comments posted here his run in clt is over. Today's clock mgmt was an abomination. Play calling was awful, and yes the refs were one sided, which is exactly the moment when u want ur coach to raise some hell. Of course Moore is not the solution esp if he only has so very little playing time. Had Fox not stuck with Jake at least by now we've know if Moore is the solution or not. And can someone pls explain why we signed AJ Feeley?? I live in Boston and all the commentators were rejoicing he wasn't playing. He has killed the Pats in previous occassions. Dumb, dumb, dumb coaching staff. Davidson needs to go yesterday!
I think the refs did a great job - Since their job is obviously protecting the Patriots.
Two total BS pass interference penalties, a roughing the kicker where the player slid on top of the kicker's big toe, and a 15-yard face mask where the player's fingers brushed Brady's mask.
The Pats obviously have a little red button they push when they need a flag thrown.
The reality of today was something that's lived in the Panther's all year - Offensive Coordinator. If Davidson had a playbook, he left it under his dining table (which is probably kind of large).
The same stupid run play up the middle for 1-2 yards, or negative yardage will NEVER work if the o-line can't open the hole. Watch the better teams execute this. If your o-line can't open the hole...then STOP running the same stupid useless play.
I thought Matt did ok. Seems to be building confidence, and you know, in my opinion, he's no worse than Jake.
I agree that some of the calls were bad. But I'm not sure it would have reversed the outcome.
This team is tired. The article today about Fox in the Observer was clear. But the problems with this team are not just coaching.
The first one to go has to be the GM. Hurney picks terrible talent, it goes wasted on the field, and he gives away much needed draft picks in the process.
If he and Fox are a package deal, out they go. I'd get rid of Hurney first.
Davidson should go next. Unless there is something hidden that others know about this clown, I don't see how someone can't see the problems that EVERY commentator sees - we ALL see it. Terrible o-line openings for running backs.
Still out on Fox. If he is controlling the offense, then he goes.
Really tired of this product. And how Jerry R can't see how bad this product is, and how fans are tired of footing the bill for this, is beyond me.
Hope it turns soon. Otherwise you'll see fewer fans in the seats, fewer jerseys sold, and PSL's turned in at an all time high rate.
This needs fixing.
Matt Moore is not the slightest bit better than Jake. There really is no QB debate that matters for this team.
The offensive scheme and play calling is juvenile. Even mediocre teams run a better offense, complete simple passes, and show some creativity. Ineffective play calling and mistakes are just comical.
HOW BOUT DEM REDSKINS????????????????
As for the offense, this still goes back to preseason when the mantra was, "it did not work this game, but it will in the next one".
I agree with clock management - it was the same in the Miami game at the end of the first half.
As for defense, we played too much reaction and did not even cover Welker on several plays. Anyone else notice that Richard Marshall shies away from run support and hates to stand his ground and make a hit (ala a certain FSU grad and Dallas Cowboy CB of days gone by).
The Panthers just have not gotten it together at all this year and John Fox is powerless to change it...
i have to agree. the officials were bullshit. u cant deny that
Moore not better because he did not throw enough interceptions? Who are the folks that post these comments? Wait I am anonymous too. Still Matt is getting better QB rating last week 72.1 this week against better competition 82.2 no INT's. Progress takes time. I still think that Fox should stay for one more year with a QB competiton that does not include Jake.
You idiots!!! Most of the comments appear to have been written by illiterate 12 year olds by the look of the spelling and grammar.
As for Jake and John, 2 things. They have taken the Panthers to the Super Bowl and 2 NFC championships. Lastly how would you like it if you and your families had to read every day in the paper and hear on TV and radio how you should be fired?
I bet you would be screaming bloody murder if your mistakes in your pathetic jobs on the loading dock or flipping burgers were in the paper every day and people were calling for you to be fired.
I don't think John Fox knows how to spell clock management. I've been saying this for over 2 years: Get him out of here.
It's always the officials fault.. what about our seven other losses? Were those all the officials? Quit blaming the refs for poor coaching and ineffective play. The defense played decent, but the offense leaves a lot to be desired...
If you want to crown their a... then crown'em
But
The Panthers are who we thought they were, and Mr Richardson let them off the hook!
How about the 53 yard field goal in the rain on 4 and 3.D Williams averaged 8ypc today!He could of at least punted it.That was the turning point.Then the D sitting back with no blitz plays.It all comes down on FOX!Bryant80
Like i said a month ago, it's time to blow this team up, from coaches, player personnel, to the players who don't want to be here.
Bite the bullet for 2-3 years and move on. We certainly don't have any help in next years draft.
Are you guys idiots? What do you expect Matt Moore to do when he hasn't played much and he is going against a Bill Belichek coached team.
Its hard to judge him after two games, Matt wasn't responsible for the illegal motion penalties or holding penalties. The defense let them down.
The one issue with this loss is you can't blame it on Delhomme. I think Moore is a good QB, just suffering from lack of playing time. It is obvious that Fox has thrown in the towel on this season. I only hope Mr. Richardson makes some wholesale changes at the end of the year. It will mean another couple of years before winning again, but it's less painful than suffering through this season with a reasonably talented team that has no motivation or good coaching behind it.
Anybody notice who was returning kickoffs and punts for the Pats? Mulroney and Welker, their starting RB and WR. If Fox wants to play a game of field position, maybe we should put Smith and Williams back on kicks.
I think the biggest shame this season is that the coaches waited until the literally had no choice but to put Moore in...in reality, he should have been in after the Buffalo game. But since they didn't, Jake held on just enough to torpedo the season (culminating in the Miami and Jets games). If Moore had been in when he should have, the little things that killed us today (like illegal shift penalties) would have been worked out by now. Moore would have established himself better and had more confidence going into this rough stretch. Instead, you have the team trying to get on the same page in the toughest stretch of the season, and we watch our miniscule shot at a wild card go down in flames the past few games.
I agree, the refs today called Jordan rules for the Pats...but, let's not let our coaches off the hook either. Going for a punt block at that point in the game...where instead of getting the ball back at the 20 down by 7 you give it back to the Pats to go up by two scores...will kill you. Simply put, you can't afford to make another mistake in that game and putting a player in that position brings too many chances for mistakes. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
The Pats really did want to give us that game today...I mean, 3 turnovers? Players checked out? If not for Welker, who would you have noted as having a great game for the Pats today? Exactly.
I think Moore started out rough today (i.e. high passes) and he lucked out that some of his passes weren't picked. But I still see flashes of a guy who just might be able to play IF he can pull it together and play with some consistency. I'm not sure yet if he's the answer, but I know at this point it ain't going to be Jake anymore.
I argued up and down against this in the offseason, but frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing Vick come down here after this fake "season" in Philly and compete...if nothing else, the guy would bring some serious excitement to this offense.
We could have capitalized on more of the Patriot's erros. We should have had Moore start much earlier in the season and he would have been better in this game.
But having said that...
You can't completely dismiss the refs being too involved in this game! It was ridiculous how many things were called against us and not them. The two phantom pass interence in the first half gave the Patriots 7 points, and then the "roughing the kicker" should have been running into the kicker and that bad call gave the Patriots 3 points. We lost by 10 points! Even with our errors it should have been a close game, but the refs made sure the Patriots won this game. Very frustrating.
I'm not sure about all this business about Matt Moore would have been better today if he had played earlier. That's more than a little speculative.
His arm is not really any stronger than Jakes - he threw some ducks out there. He was high and off target many times and he was extremely lucky not to have a few interceptions. All in all, about the same at QB.
On the remarks about the coaches or players having to read about how they should be fired....
Do you think for one minute when they are cashing/depositing their multimillion dollar paychecks they care about the fans opinions?
Come on. They took this job, they take the huge payroll that comes with it (whether they perform or not), and they know coming in that they are under the microscope for the rest of their career.
I agree with many here - scratch 'em all off the page and start over.
I agree with some of you that we haven't seen enough of Matt Moore yet to know if he is an NFL starter or not. I hope he gets better over the next few weeks. But we still need some new blood at quaterback in here to compete after the season is over. This person can come from the draft or free agency. However, the kid from Notre Dame doesn't look like he has the potential to be much better than what we already have in Jake and Matt Moore on the NFL level. He can't make all the throws and he's only 6 feet tall maybe.
This is the same team we watched have no offense and a soft defense that can't get 3 and outs since the preseason. I predicted a 6-10 finish then, unless the Saints lose and don't try to win in 2 weeks it will be 5-11. Boring candyass coaching that is very uninspired and predictable.
Our offense and the lack of a passing game has killed us all season. The defense has actually played pretty well most of the year. Today we held a Patriot team that averages around 35 points a game to 7 in the first half and only 20 for the game. Those of you that want a new offensive coordinator should realize that if the coordinator changes we'll still have the same boring offense under John Fox.
For all you Jake haters who have been begging for Moore since the first of the season- are you happy now?!?!?!?!?!?!?
After being in this town for three years now I'm convinced it does not deserve an NFL franchise. Shame on you. Practically the entire coaching staff turns over (including the QB coach that made the most difference) and you line up to blame it on the QB, the head coach, Peppers or anybody else you see more than twice a game on TV. You want to draft an "athletic QB" to run the wildcat, huh? What about the OC you fired after an 8-8 season who went to Miami and PERFECTED the wildcat.
Sit back, hold your water and pull for your team. I'm a transplanted Redskins fan, and I've weathered some horrible, horrible seasons at home. But I feel badly for the Panthers; seems like they don't have much of a home here.
Anon @ 10:52 PM...shut up. You don't know what you are talking about. I hear other fans try to criticize us for doing the exact same thing they do.
Give me a break...I hear it all the time about Dan Snyder, Zook, Spurrier, Campbell, etc. freaking etc. If you think you are part of some immune fan base that doesn't call for firings or that complain when the team doesn't perform, you are just fooling yourself.
Do yourself a favor and google what Riggins is saying about your team, your coach, and your owner. After you do that, come on back and tell us that your fanbase and some of your greatest players aren't "worthy of a NFL franchise".
The problem with getting a new OC or DC is quite simple and proven over the test of time. Fox only hires Yes Men, Henning's success in Miami clearly demonstrates that Fox is the problem not Davidson!
The difference between the Trgovac D and Meeks D is not very noticeable either. Has anyone noticed that the Colts D is better this year and ours is the same as last year?
My comment is simple... "Tell Gamble and Harris to shut the hell up. Look at the scoreboard before you talk". I'm not a Moss fan at all, rather I despise him. Don't watch us lay a big egg and talk trash about someone else. Shut the hell up. We sucked.
Moore is still Moore. He is the essense and definition of mediocre. Give him a 5.5 rating out of 10.
Also the Patriots dropped a few easy interceptions. Funny how defenses never drop a single interception when JD is QB.
My issue with the Panthers during Fox's tenure have been their "feast or famine" nature. The pattern of winning season, losing season, winning season, losing season is certainly not coincidental. It's quite telling. This is a football team hanging by a thread. One little change will upset this apple cart in a big way. A tough schedule; injury to a key player; turnover at the assistant coach level; or finally a poor contract extension due to something as ephemeral as "loyalty."
Depth wise, we're light. Continuity is almost non-existent (except for the HC and GM), and the players Fox puts a lot of stock in are marginal at best. We don't have any franchise players on this team. DWill is close on offense, and Beason is close to being one on defense, but even those two aren't that important or replaceable.
We need a new coach and GM. We need a different approach and a new evaluator of personnel.
RE: @ Annonymous
"the officials were one side it today.With that said bad officials or not.The panthers have a much bigger problem .And that is at QB.Matt Moore as much i was hoping that he was the answer Matt Moore the quarterback of the future.After today game it safe to say that he is not.He was very lucky not to end up with 4 Int.John fox is a good coach he will coach again in the NFL.But it time to fired him.Draft a QB early in the draft sign a good WR and this team next year could be playoff team again .This panthers team are 2 players away from being a very good team in the NFC"
Yo it like dis, shee'it! It no thang when you do dat stuff and and uh keep doin' it not right, dig? Cuz' if you do do dat right and and sump'm come up nice and you try to like do sump'm betta, you know like the John Gleazon thang, you got to take advantage of the "sit-u-asian" and bring all you got to da table...and uh uh...make that muthafuckah happen! I mean...ya got to!! got to! I'ma wordless sometimes in theses problemations and uh..slow wit the assumptions, but..its like...uh..problematic..or sump'm..
Peace Out!
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