It was the first Tampa Bay game this season, on Sept.19, that really gave Panther fans the shudders.
The season opener – a 31-18 loss to the New York Giants – could be justified in some ways because Matt Moore threw three end-zone interceptions and it was on the road against a good team.
But getting whipped 20-7 by Tampa Bay in Charlotte – that was very different. A 13-point home loss to a Bucs team that had gone 3-13 the year before?! That made everyone understand that the Panthers were the worst team in their division and one of the worst in the league.
So, a few notes about Sunday:
-- The Panther receivers have to man up. Tampa Bay safety Ronde Barber chided them after the first game by saying: “They don’t have a lot in the way of threats over there at wide receiver.” Proving Barber wrong today will be the only way this offense could possibly get going, unless Mike Goodson somehow goes wild.
-- In the first Tampa game, the Panthers’ defense was good on just about everything but third-and-long. It got Tampa Bay in third-and-9 or more on six occasions – and allowed the Bucs to convert five of those. That’s got to change. Quarterback Josh Freeman must be gang-tackled – that guy is enormous.
-- I wish the Panthers would use Armanti Edwards in the Mountaineer formation for at least a few plays. That’s conceivable, given that Edwards will be the No.3 emergency quarterback and thus could play in the fourth quarter for a couple of plays and still allow the Panthers to substitute Jimmy Clausen or Tony Pike back in at that point. But given Carolina’s reticence to use the formation, I’d say it’s unlikely.
-- I’m 5-3 picking the outcome of Panthers’ games this season, which isn’t very good but is better than Carolina’s 1-7 record. The pick for Sunday: Tampa Bay 23, Carolina 10.
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9 years ago
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14 comments:
"Proving Barber wrong....."
Exactly how do you prove Barber wrong when he's exactly right...and everyone knows it???
You can "justify" three end zone picks by your starting QB? Please. That was just the proof anybody with eyes needed that Moore is NOT an NFL starter. The wobbly duck to Barnidge into QUINTUPLE coverage is the sort of play that defines his career when the games actually matter.
Uninteresting.
Pierre St John?
Truly it is discouraging to keep hoping and arguing to get Edwards into a game at his natural position.
And both the fools on the coaching staff and those on this blog who can't see past their various prejudices make commenting on the situation like slogging though chest deep mud.
However, eventually the light may dawn, the coaches may give him the work in practice to prep him for game situations, and we can see whether he can compete or not with his fellow rookie QBs.
At the very least, play him at end and get him game time. Once he gets in his groove, he'll make everybody around him better.
You think the Panthers will score 10 points? You should sober up before writing the column......
I'd rather have a root canal than go to a panther's game.
This year, going to a Panthers game is like a root canal!
We are going to score 10 points? Well, that's definitely a step in the right direction.
We are going to score 10 points? Well, that's definitely a step in the right direction.
Man up? Are you a Teabagger? Let's hope the Panthers just make it a respectible game. Don't count on Clausen playing any way but scared.
28-9 Bucs. I just want that 1st pick. Andrew Luck!
When Moore was starting, Fowler wants Clausen. When Clausen is starting, Fowler wants Moore. Now he wants Armanti.
Anybody see the pattern? He's just dangling QB controversies like bait in front of the fans to drive interest in his articles.
Don't rely on him for honest analysis - he's just a muckraker.
Panthers will not score 10 points more like 3 on Tampa Bay turnover if forced.
Hire Cowher as GM and give him what he wants...Browns hired Holmgren and they are already " competitve" compared to a dismal past five years..They beat New Orleans on the road and the Patriots in Cleveland ...Get some new blood in at the top...The fish stinks from the head...
Hire Cowher as GM and give him what he wants...Browns hired Holmgren and they are already " competitve" compared to a dismal past five years..They beat New Orleans on the road and the Patriots in Cleveland ...Get some new blood in at the top...The fish stinks from the head...
Bill C will not want to rebuild the whole team over from scratch, as much this fanbase lacks patience. He would be thrown under the bus, fans in general expecting the team to be great in his first year.
Hired Bill Parcell or Marty S as the GM/Team president. JR isn't going to pay Bill C what he wants.
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