The Panthers have now dropped to 1-8 with their 31-16 loss to Tampa Bay Sunday in Tampa. The Bucs, now 6-3, only won three games a year ago, and they are the model for where Carolina would like to be in 2011. For now, though, it's time for the traditional "5 things I didn't like" after a Carolina loss.
(You may not remember that I also write a "5 things I did like" blog after every Panther win -- that just hasn't come up much this season).
1) Touchdown anemia. The Panthers have now scored only nine TDs in nine games (Sunday's was by Josh Vaughan). No one else in the NFL is close to that bad -- entering Sunday's games, the Dolphins' 12 TDs was second-worst.
2) Defensive letdowns. For once, it was the Panthers' defense that really messed this game up. The Panthers allowed 421 yards, made Josh Freeman (134.2 QB rating) look like a Pro Bowler and gave up a 45-yard touchdown run on third-and-10 late in the fourth quarter to seal the loss.
3) Jason Baker. Carolina's reliable punter for once really had an off game. He had five punts, none longer than 35 yards, and had a net average of only 30.6.
4) Tight-end coverage. The Panthers D seems very susceptible to good tight ends, and that was certainly the case Sunday. Kellen Winslow had six catches for 65 yards and a TD, and second-string TE John Gilmore had three catches for 52 more.
5) Quarterback sneaks. Not that it would have done much other than make the final score more palatable, but two QB sneaks from Jimmy Clausen on the last 2 plays?! Really? Tampa Bay, not surprisingly, knocked Clausen backwards.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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Here are the 5 things that I don't like about the Panther Organization:
1) Jerry Richardson - Owner
2) Martin Hurney - General Manager
3) Don Gregory - Director of College Scouting
4) Jeff Davidson - Offensive Coordinator
5) Charlotte Observer - (They are on the Panther's payroll).
Charlotte Observer accused of being some sort of shill for the Panthers is an astonishingly stupid attempt at an insult, yet a plainly obvious observation. Local paper cheering for a local team? Thanks for the heads up, champ. Look forward to more gems from you!
The TWO calls for Clausen to attempt a sneak ... are perhaps the WORST TWO CALLS I've EVER seen in football ... ... was surprised the first time ... could hardly believe the second one!
5 thinks I liked:
1. No fumbled snaps by Pickles.
2. Other than the fumble, a good game by Goodson.
3. Quick decisions by Clausen.
4. Smith looking out for his QB on the last play.
5. I stayed awake the entire game.
I think John Fox wrote the 5:24 PM comment!
The young Panthers actually looked like an NFL team today. Vaughn looked good and the long throws from Clausen to different receivers looked good too. A small step forward.
My favorite play was produced by Ryan Kalil. TB blitzed early and often, yet when the Middle lb blitzed on play, Kalil just stood there and blocked air. Barrett Ruud was all over Clausen on that play, but, by God, Kalil kept that gust of wind from doing any damage.
The one thing I don't like about this column.....IT STINKS! Scott, nobody gives a crap about what you do and do not like! Give it up!
This year is a throwaway so I look for positives out of every week. Did not have a single one last week but this week several:
- Clausen looked very good. He looked comfortable, made good decisions, and would have had more completions if his tight ends could catch a cold. I noticed he was not wearing his mouth piece this week - I think that helps his communication under center.
- Goodson looked good - I think this helps us feel comfortable as him as a number two if/when we decide to trade one of our #1s.
- Receivers (other than the TEs) looked competent today.
- How the Dallas Cowboys react to a coaching change. A little spark is always good. Take notice JR.
I agree with some of the good takeaways from this game...like other reasonable fans, I can only look for progress and talent evaluation for next year. Clausen looked better, but still has a long way to go. I'd still like to see some attempts on those 3rd and long plays rather than panic/throw away (every once in a while is okay, but he does it a lot). But I'm definitely interested in seeing his progress through the end of the year...the season may be a throw away, but this "try out" for our QB position isn't.
Again, shout out to DVR for letting me FF through non-game time to quickly push through what is a painful thing to watch (2 QB sneaks at the end? Awful).
Jen, I hope you are finding other reasons to dance this year!
"
Anonymous said...
The one thing I don't like about this column.....IT STINKS! Scott, nobody gives a crap about what you do and do not like! Give it up!"
Yet you took not only the time to read it, but the effort to respond... I'd think if you didn't care, you wouldn't have clicked the link...
How in the world does Marty Hurney keep his job?
1 thing I liked:
1) Buffalo won. We're tied for the #1 pick!
Who has some new socks updates this week ?
One can only hope and pray the majority of sports fans in Charlotte will eventually get it and come to realize ... regardless of sport - it ALL comes down to money and whether the owner is willing to pay to win.
Charlotte continues being walked on by worthless owners i.e., George Shinn, Bob Johnson, JERRY RICHARDSON - because we allow the same. Being loyal is respectable -- but being blinded by loyalty is foolish.
Jerry Richardson writes the checks - or in his case, pockets the profits. This team is 49 million dollars UNDER the cap, hired an offensive coordinator fired from the Cleveland Browns ... trades away future draft choices like kid trading bubble gum, cut the number of scouting staff, did not budge on any free agents, and raised ticket prices.
Furthermore, the "big cat" (really the "Fat Cat.") thinks himself too big, too important to do interviews or EVER interact with the loyal fans paying his bills. It pains me to see so many continuing to blame the wrong people.
It is Jerry Richardson's team and ultimately, EVERYTHING - good and bad, is HIS responsibility. As for the "fat cat" himself - perhaps P.J. O'Rourke said it best -
“No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.”
A perfect summation of the Panther's front office ...
STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE, GREED, and LOVE of POWER.
Until Jerry's pocketbook feels it - NOTHING will change.
Has this crossed anybody's mind... Is it POSSIBLE that the upper crust of the Panther's organization actually were looking to have a cruddy year to help plan for next year??? There have been rumors since the end of last years season that barring a miracle, this would be Fox's last year. With that being the case, is it possible that they let go of high dollar talent, as well as not go after high dollar talent in anticipation of a new coaching staff after this season is over? By having these "lowered paid" athletes on the team, the new coaching staff would have the ability to go after who they want and not use the players of the Fox era. Again, just trying to make heads and tails of this super awful season. This is beyond growing pains..... hopefully next year will be a little better.
Congratulations Scott! Your Dallas Cowboys won their 2nd game. Not too late for your Superbowl prediction to be resurrected.
Nah, that's still the worst SB pick ever. Seriously, Dallas? What were you thinking?
"Vince Lombardi said...
November 14, 2010 5:24 PM"
You worthless piece of trash dare defile the great Vince Lombardi with such ridicule? Green Bay would cut you up into tiny pieces and feed you to the mice for such slander and libel.
Why are scumbagz like YOU not on the field playing & winning games?
Its preposterous to think the CBA is no factor for Richardson coming into the season. For financial reasons, its actually smart to not sign anybody since the NFL could have a lockout next season. You’re going to tell me that the Panthers releasing almost all of their 30+ aged players had nothing to do with the CBA?
Who the Panthers will pick in the first round is a huge question. Do they stick with Clausen or pick Andrew Luck (and deal Clausen). If they decide to stick with Clausen, do they use the #1 overall pick or do they try to trade down and stockpile picks to rebuild the offensive and defensive lines? The Panthers offseason is going to be very interesting with the new coach being hired, the probability of the #1 overall pick, what they'll do with the free agents they have on the team like DeAngelo, Thomas Davis, Ryan Kalil, Richard Marshall, Beason (coming up), and all the cap space they'll have from the salary dumps last offseason. The decisions they make this offseason will determine if they're a good or bad franchise for the next ten years.
The UFL is looking to expand their football league.
They should be looking at the Panthers organization.
This season has been pure rubbish and if Richardson called me, I would hang up on him. His apologies are not sincere, and if he were truly interested in getting the team where it needs to be, he would have signed some free agents during the offseason and/or before the signing date this fall. Instead we are saddled with crap play, crap playcalling, and crap ownership whose own financial interests have risen above those who have made him rich(er) - the fans and the PSL owners.
Thanks Jerry, we wont be forgetting this. Feels an awful lot like George Shinn came back to town this year........
If Shinn came here you'd be so lucky since he got this little backwater in the pros in 1985. Too bad he is in sunny south Florida on the beach front living like a king making millions annually with "HIS" Horners (not yours) after you spoiled ungrateful brats ran him off.
He is laughing all the way to bank Mr Sourpus.
Memo to "Vince Lombardi" :
MARTY Hurney is GM of the Panthers. Have no idea who MARTIN Hurney is.
Your assertion should read "Observer - on the Panthers payroll" (apostrophe there is incorrect).
Get your facts straight and your grammar correct before you spew your mess.
Mike Goodson is clearly the biggest positive from the game. I've been saying for weeks we need to get him in the game plan more, out in space where he can use his speed. Too bad we have a coach who is stuck in 1965 and thinks any runs outside the tackle box are against the law.
Kasay's fieldgoal from almost the 50yard line made me dance Curtis..
Thats about it this season <:-(
Just one phrase if the Panthers organization keeps up their current ways..... "Los Angeles Panthers"
Vick doesn't exhibit the high morals and Christian convictions that the owner wants his players to have. Besides, why pay him a ton for one year when you are doing your level best to have no season next year, lead the NFL owners to a player lockout, and break the union. That is the legacy Jerry "I forgot where I came from and the people I knew along the way" Richardson wants. You can say it's all about the fans all you want to, but your actions betray that statement. So, Jerry "No interviews because I am king" Richardson just sits in the ivory tower worrying because the crown is too heavy on his head... and you think you've got problems...try being a rich NFL owner. Whew, I know it's tough on you "Big Cat", those empty seats you see on Sundays aren't cause people are buying another $8 beer, they are staying away. You have taken the people that put you there for granted, hope you come back before it's too late.
Once and for all, I think everyone who is still going to Panthers games at this point should put a bag over their head. The only suggestion that I might add is that you should get a blown up picture of Jerry Richardson with an X over his face and tape it to the front. And then on the back, you should write in huge letters “WE DEMAND EXCELLENCE!”. Why? Because we are going to go 1-15 this year people, mark my words. And this whole debacle is totally JR’s fault, yet he never appears in the media or says anything about what is happening to our team. He is giving no indications whatsoever that he intends to do anything about this situation, or that he even cares that we stink this bad. And I know that there are a lot of you out there that think that there is nothing he can do, but I totally disagree, because we ARE going to go 1-15, so he needs to do SOMETHING, even if it doesn’t help, because it can’t hurt. And we need to send JR a message, that this is totally UNACCEPTABLE, that he needs to speak out and do something that shows the fans that he acknowledges that this is unacceptable, because we can not fire him. A lot of you folks are forgetting – this is not the first time that he has let this team go 1-15, and this will be the second time in 11 years that this has happened. And if we just sit here and accept this and not do anything, this is sending JR the message that it’s perfectly OK. There are sports franchises in this country and in this world that stink. Every year they stink, but they make a profit, and their owners don’t care, as long as they make a profit and get lucky every once in a while and have a winning season. Do you want the Carolina Panthers to be a team like this? And i totally disagree that this is detrimental to the team. It is important for us to send a message to JR that he needs to put winning ahead of profits, and it will help to prevent him from letting us have disastrous seasons like this in the future. The Carolina Panthers deserve to have a storied tradition of winning each year, every year. So i commend you guys on wearing those bags, you are true fans. And when those fake fans try to accuse you of not being true fans, tell them what I stated here today. We deserve a storied tradition of excellence!
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