Friday, October 1, 2010

Panthers-Saints notes and my prediction

Thoughts on the Saints-Panthers game Sunday (and a prediction):

-- A riddle to start: Try to figure out the next number in this sequence: 12, 3, 15, 3, 18, 7, 7. (Answer below)

-- Say what you want about John Fox, but the guy knows how to beat New Orleans. Fox is 11-5 in his head-coaching career against the Saints, and the Panthers have won seven of the past nine in the series. Fox’s “run-first” formula has seemed to work more regularly against New Orleans than against any other team.

-- DeAngelo Williams has absolutely creamed the Saints the last two times he has played them, rushing for 327 yards (163.5 per game). I think Williams will end up with the Panthers’ first 100-yard rushing effort of the season Sunday.

-- Drew Brees has thrown for 330 or more yards each of the past two times he has faced Carolina (he sat out the game at the end of last season). “I’m excited about this,” said Charles Godfrey, the Panther safety who leads the NFL with three interceptions. “We’re really going to get tested.” I wonder if Godfrey will still be that excited after the game.

-- Steve Smith has scored eight touchdowns in his past nine games against the Saints. The Saints take enough gambles defensively that No.89 should at least have some chances to make big plays Sunday. (And so should Brandon LaFell, who will be the subject of my Sunday column).

-- OK, back to the riddle at the top of this post. We won’t know the answer to that problem until 4 p.m. Sunday, after this game is over. Those relatively paltry numbers represent the number of points the Panthers have scored in their past seven games (including the 2010 preseason).

-- OK, a prediction. I'm 2-1 picking Panthers' games so far this season, missing on the Tampa Bay loss. Despite the Panthers’ recent success against the Saints, I don’t much like Jimmy Clausen’s chances on the road against Brees and a Saints team angry about losing last week. My prediction: New Orleans 27, Carolina 16.

20 comments:

Darin is an idiot said...

How in the hell are the panthers going to score 16 pts?

Hopeful said...

We can score 16. Somehow #s 34 and 28 will produce. Clausen will advance on his learning curve. AS to our defense, Brees' knee problem will hinder his effectiveness. Reggie Bush is out. Our chances are decent for an upset.

Anonymous said...

I can see as shocking everyone and winning like 27-20 or something, if everything bounces our way. If not, I can also see us losing 27-9 or something. Panthers odds of winning.. I'd say probably 25%.

BagOfHammers said...

The Saints will win 78-0

Anonymous said...

Why do you care? JR doesn't,he has lost me as a fan.

Unknown said...

I think the Panthers pull this one off. This isn't a statement of confidence in the team, just a feeling that Carolina matches up will, and the whole "any given Sunday" rule.

Unknown said...

The Panthers have had a streak of just plain bad luck. Receivers missing the ball when it hits their hands in key plays, fumbling, bad snaps. I think this week is when the bad luck stops. They will have nice weather, Clausen will hit the receivers & the running game will kick in. The Saints defense hasnt been that good lately. Brees will have a leg brace on, that has to make him less mobile & the Panthers have been pressuring every qb in the other games. The Saints wont have Bush, & Thomas may not play either. That gives me hope for a win.

Anonymous said...

What are the odds of Dwayne Jarrett being active this week? Any idea? If he's not active this week there something really wrong with the Panther front office! They know they made a mistake when they drafted Jarrett in the second round and they still continue to carry him four years after making this mistake. If they had any balls they would cut Jarrett and put the person who was really responsible for bringing him in on notice. We all know Don Gregory, the Director of College Scouting / 20 year scouting vet is just a puppet for Marty Hurney in the the draft meetings. Gregory should of stood up and said something when they drafted a "projection" at receiver position, A. Edwards from App. St. and gave up next years second round pick. They could of had the tight end from Iowa who's been making specatacular plays for Kansas City the past few weeks. How did you like his one handed catch in the back of the end zone last week. Cut your losses and move on already with Dwayne Jarrett.

Anonymous said...

How do you say if he isn't active this week something is wrong with the front office in 1 sentence, then at the end say cut him?

Anonymous said...

"They could of had the tight end from Iowa who's been making specatacular plays for Kansas City the past few weeks". How did you like his one handed catch in the back of the end zone last week?

Really, I thought that TEnd in KC was drafted in the 6th or 7th round? If so, why the fuck would they trade next year 2nd round pick for him.

Just because he made 1 amazing catch, the Panthers should have drafted him? Wow, I wish we could trade this fan base.

Anonymous said...

Tony Moeaki TE from Iowa was drafted in the 3rd round #93 overall by Kansas City.

Armanti Edwards QB/WR from Appalachian St. was drafted in the 3rd round #89 overall by the Carolina Panthers.

All I was trying to say is that Moeaki is a starter and his team is 3-0. Edwards hasn't even been active this season and his team is 0-3. The Panthers brain trust also gave up next years second round pick to get him.

I guess you have blinders on an can't see the the whole picture.

2nd round picks are suppose to be starters not inactive each week.

Get your facts right if you are going to post comments on any web site smarty pants.

Anonymous said...

"Really, I thought that TEnd in KC was drafted in the 6th or 7th round? If so, why the fuck would they trade next year 2nd round pick for him."

Just because he made 1 amazing catch, the Panthers should have drafted him? Wow, I wish we could trade this fan base.

Nice language! This just shows your true intelligence. You must be related to a Richardson.

Anonymous said...

Panther's front office is smoking dope. They took Jarrett 45th overall and Kalil at 59th overall in the 2007 draft. Why is Jarrett still here in Carolina? Someone high up in the organization sure doesn't want to come out and admit an obvious mistake. Come on step up and get rid of the dead weight!

Anonymous said...

AS IF any additional proof is necessary - read the interview / article on Hurney. Money talks, BS walks. And it is obvious ALL Richardson cares about is money. And the paper, Mark Packer, and other local radio talk shows, continue cowtailing to Richardson and the Panther organization. WHY? Same thing ... MONEY. When the Panthers spend money with a company, do you think anyone from the same is EVER going to say it like it is? Not hardly. The Panthers have become nothing more than a source for a good joke on monday mornings. Pathetic!

Anonymous said...

The Panthers probably won't win, but it would change everything, wouldn't it? The division would get a lot tighter. The Saints certainly haven't appeared invincible.

I think Smith can be Clausen's souped up NFL edition of his ND Tate. If the defense can make a couple picks....oh Sunday morning for the hopeful Panther fan.

Anonymous said...

The only way to get Richardson's attention is by not attending these home games. Empty seats will cause moreof a stir than posting blogs about this football team.

"What you do speaks so loudly, people can't hear what you say."

Hey by the way Richardson isn't getting any younger and we know he's coming off a heart transplant, do we know if he's trying to sell this team in the very near future? I know he fired his two sons before last season. Has this owner/father just gone completely bonkers?

Anonymous said...

Jerry Richardson (born July 11, 1936 in Spring Hope, North Carolina) is the current majority owner and founder of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.

Jerry Richardson is a native Carolinian whose dream was to bring NFL football and the world championship he knew as a player in the League to his home. With the Panthers in their second decade, Richardson has firmly established the NFL into the Carolina landscape while dedicating his efforts to making the rest of his vision a reality.

On October 26, 1993, Richardson became the first former NFL player since George Halas to become an owner when the Carolinas were unanimously awarded the NFL's 29th franchise.

A lifelong resident of the Carolinas, Richardson and his wife, Rosalind Sallenger Richardson, have two sons, Jon and Mark, and a daughter, Ashley Richardson Allen, of Charlotte. The Richardsons have nine grandchildren and live in Charlotte.

Richardson remains an active owner of the team, but generally has allowed his front office staff and coaches to make all decisions regarding player personnel and game strategy. He has always supported the Panthers in good and bad times, having never missed a Carolina home game until he was hospitalized before a December 8, 2008 Monday Night Football matchup against division rivals Tampa Bay. His connection with the team has led to the nickname "Big Cat".[1]


Richardson was hospitalized in Charlotte at Carolinas Medical Center in early December 2008, one month after receiving a pacemaker. Richardson, who had a history of heart trouble and had undergone quadruple bypass surgery in 2002[2], was placed on a donor waiting list for a new heart two days later. He received a new heart on February 1, 2009 and his doctors report that he is recovering well from the transplant.[3]

He also opened the first Hardee's franchise in 1961 under Spartan Foods. He was later CEO of Flagstar, controlling 2,500 restaurants and 100,000 employees and retired in 1995.

Anonymous said...

According to the American Heart Association, there is a five-year survival rate of 72% for heart transplant recipients. There are more than 2,000 transplants performed in the United States every year. Richardson has been placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list.

The median wait is two months for a donor match at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where Richardson will have the procedure done if a donor is found. But it could also take much longer. There are 2,700 people nationwide on the waiting list; six at CMC.

"It's not exactly a slam-dunk procedure, but they are as optimistic as they can be," Mara said. "Mark said his dad's spirits are very good."

Roger Goodell, then Paul Tagliabue's right-hand man, worked closely on the expansion process when the Panthers were awarded a franchise in 1993 to begin play in 1995. He spent time with Richardson when he was in the hospital two weeks ago.

Anonymous said...

MARTY HURNEY IS A "SNAKE!" WATCH HIM CLOSELY THIS YEAR! HE'S IN HIS ELEMENT RIGHT NOW AND HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE FOOLED IN THE THE PANTHER ORGANIZATION!
JERRY RICHARDSON BROUGHT IN A NEW PRESIDENT LAST SEASON TO REPLACE HIS SON, BUT THIS NEW PRESIDENT DIDN'T COME WITH ANY NFL EXPERIENCE WHAT SO EVER. IN FACT, THIS NEW PRESIDENT RECENTLY CAME OUT TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEW STADIUM IN CHARLOTTE SO YOU CAN SEE RIGHT AWAY HE DOESN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT WINNING ON THE NFL LEVEL. IT'S NOT HIS FAULT, HE'S JUST NOT A "FOOTBALL GUY."
YOU NEED A PRESIDENT THAT HURNEY CAN'T WALK ALL OVER. YOU NEED A PRESIDENT THAT'S HAS COME UP THROUGH THE NFL RANKS. YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS THE NADS TO STAND UP TO HURNEY IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

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