I wasn't in Atlanta for John Fox's final game as a Panther head coach, but after reading about it and watching a number of video highlights, I feel like I've seen it before.
I think I saw it three weeks ago, in fact, when Atlanta beat Carolina by an identical 31-10 score. Atlanta led 21-0 at halftime Sunday and 17-0 at halftime three weeks ago when the two teams met. I sense a pattern.
So now, an abbreviated "5 things" blog, just because it's tradition, and then we're off this season and onto whatever comes next, which absolutely has to be better than what just happened.
5 things I didn't like:
1) Jimmy Clausen. Not much help as usual, but still... he never threw for 200 yards in a single game all season, and he ends the year with three TD passes to his own guys and two TD passes to the other guys.
2) Jonathan Stewart. His recent surge officially ended, with 13 carries for a pedestrian 31 yards.
3) Punt coverage. On the Falcons' 55-yard punt return, it was like 7 Panthers all ran down in an exact same line, and then when the Falcons broke through it, it was over. It was the "Red Rover, Red Rover" version of special teams.
4) Lack of a mercy rule. Once again, a Panther game could have used one. If you watched every play of this one, you are a true junkie.
5) Pass defense. Matt Ryan dissected the Panthers -- again. That secondary is going to need some remaking this offseason.
We're moving!
9 years ago
Posts
23 comments:
nobody cares
Fire Marty Hurney and Don Gregory and be done with this season already.
The Panther"s should be giving those two a Wunderlick tests instead of the players!
Stevie Wonder could select a player like Andrew Luck. I wouldn't let Hurney and Gregory in the draft room after selecting plyers like Dwayne Jarrett, Jimmy Clausen, and Armanti Edwards.
Hurney and Gregory have set this organization back not John Fox.
Peace!
There's always next season. Hopefully, we'll do better.
Well Robert H if those had been their only picks that would be a good post. But they have made more picks than that so it isn't. They picked Beason for example. You win some you lose some in the draft.
Oh well, it could have been worse. What if the NFL had an 18-game schedule this season? The Panthers would still have to play 2more games!
everyone is to blame for this season, hurney and richardson gave fox players he couldnt win with, fox gave his usual stubborn, predictable play calls and stuck with cLOSSen even when it was obvious that he wouldnt work out...
lets all continue our nightly prayers that luck comes out...
It'll be fun to watch whoever gets hired build a new team from scratch. Life is about new beginnings.
@ John
Jon Beason was a top 10 pick on many draft boards. He fell because he didn't have all the ideal measurables. He also had a shoulder or knee injury and was playing a new position. I believe he was a safety / fullback / linebacker at Miami.
It's not a surprise he's played this well.
Why isn't Hurney FIRED?!?
I'm not sure if someone (Marty Hurney) who started as a Journalist is qualified to be an NFL GM. That's right, the Panthers have a former Journalist as their General Manager!
Anyone who traded away a 2nd Round pick to MOVE UP to pick A. Edwards should be FIRED!!!
Anyone who couldn't recognize WHY ALL those team passed over J. Clausen should be FIRED!!!
Was E. Brown worth trading away a pick?!?
Sure, Hurney made some decent picks over the past few years...anyone can get lucky. But trading away those draft picks over the past are the most boneheaded moves EVER. The Patriots really don't need to reload this offseason, but they'll be licking their chops in this year's Draft.
HURNEY needs to go NOW!
For the first time in two years owner Jerry Richardson will be holding a press conference on Tuesday. Beat writer Darin Gantt answers "Yes" when asked if this will be of 'major importance'.
This follows news earlier on Sunday that GM Marty Hurney will wait to address the media the same day, conveniently postponing his Monday conference in favor of watching the Orange Bowl. Though some see this as an indication he's there trying to woo Jim Harbaugh (which is very possible) it's also possible he'll just be there to do some in person scouting of QB Andrew Luck, should the Stanford QB decide to declare.
As an owner Richardson shies away from the limelight, in fact there are scant few occasions he himself holds a press conference. From my brief glancing at the history I can only find a few occasions when Richardson has spoken in a press conference environment:
- When Carolina got a franchise in 1993
- In 1994 to announce the hiring of Bill Polian
- In 1999 to announce the hiring of George Seifert
- In 2002 to announce the hiring of John Fox
- In 2008 to announce he needed a heart transplant
In fact, in the some 17 years Richardson has owned the Panthers these were the only times I could fine he held a conference. So, expect some big news on Tuesday. I get the feeling this wont just be 'thanks for sticking with us, remember to renew your PSLs'.
Panthers fans, what do you think? Do you expect a big splash on Tuesday?
HURNEY IS A BACK STABBING SON OF A YOU KNOW WHAT!
HE SCREWED JOHN FOX LIKE NO OTHER.
HURNEY HID FROM THE MEDIA ALL YEAR LONG WHILE JOHN FOX TOOK ALL THE BULLETS.
I WOULDN'T TRUST HURNEY IF HE STANDING BEHIND ME OR IN FRONT OF ME!
RICHARDSON DESERVES HIM!
Fox is not the only problem here. Hurney is inept and Mr. Richardson can't seem to see it. We always seem to throw away draft picks by grasping at straws. Now we have to live with the 33rd pick in the draft going to NE. Just like last year when we didn't have a first round pick. Fox was a decent coach but stuck in a very predicatable scenario. Our offense is terrible. Our defense is middle of the road. Our special teams are atrocious. Our injury list is out of control. So....I have one question to ask....why is this not Hurney"s fault also? Build from the ground up Mr. Richardson while you still have a fan base. This year's team was the worst in the NFL. Our offense was the most pitiful that has been in the NFL in ages. Take everyone out (including Hurney...I know the coaches are gone) and be like the Phoenix rising from the ashes.
Marty Hurney is picking the next coach it will probably be the the current head coach at App State to go along with this years 33rd overall pick in the draft Armanti Edwards. Isn't that the Head Coach, QB combo they want? HA!
Why does Hurney get a free pass for this season while Fox and everyone else takes the blame? Hurney is a joke.
I agree M. Hurney is in part to blame. Richardson needs to end his contract before the next draft round and certainly before the next coach is picked. However player performance rests with the coaching staff and the individual players.
PLEASE EXPLAIN why Hurney isn't FIRED?!?
I'm not sure if someone (Marty Hurney) who started as a Journalist is qualified to be an NFL GM. That's right, the Panthers have a former Journalist as their General Manager!
Anyone who traded away a 2nd Round pick to MOVE UP to pick A. Edwards should be FIRED!!!
Anyone who couldn't recognize WHY ALL those team passed over J. Clausen should be FIRED!!!
Was E. Brown worth trading away a pick?!?
Sure, Hurney made some decent picks over the past few years...anyone can get lucky. But trading away those draft picks over the past are the most boneheaded moves EVER. The Patriots really don't need to reload this offseason, but they'll be licking their chops in this year's Draft.
HURNEY needs to go NOW!
^ To reiterate the comments above: Hurney wanted to trade DRAFT PICKS last year to MOVE UP to draft Jimmy Clausen!!!! I can't believe how that would be viewed now?!?
Hurney is clearly the problem and is hiding behind the John Fox firing. Panther fans won't see true change unless Hurney if fired too! The Falcons true change and success began with a real GM. It's time the Panthers find one too.
Robert H., you're right. Not completely, but you're right.
Hurney should be fired also! He is one of the culprits who has been spared. Every year, he comes up with a move that mortgages the future of the team.
Not saying Hurney doesn't deserve at least some blame for this mess. But when your owner isn't willing to spend money (as Richardson wasn't this season), 2-14 is about what you get.
This failed season wasn't due to bad coaching, nor was it due to an inept front office. It's because Jerry Richardson decided to throw in the towel on 2010 and prepare for a lockout in 2011.
The Big Cat is leading the NFL owners in pushing for a lockout, and he was willing to sacrifice this season for long-term changes in the way the league does business. Whether that's right or wrong is questionable, but blaming the coach and/or GM misses the big picture.
It's obvious you didn't watch. Stewart did well. The o-line was pathetic. The Falcons were fired up and dominated the LOS. It was Goodson's fumbles that I didn't like.
My list, as watched from the stands
1. Jimmy Claussen - that's a given.
2. Jonathon Stewart? - uh... no.
He was one of the true highlights in this game
3. Punt coverage - low hanging fruit is always an easy pick. another given.
4. Lack of Mercy rule - really? as if there aren't enough team performance issues in this game to choose from?
5. Pass Defense - So true. The gaps were amazing. From the stands, it appeared that we spent the majority of the game running away from the receivers.
my list, as watched from the stands:
1) Jimmy Claussen - 3 & outs are apparently the way to earn your paycheck.
new nickcame: Jimmy "3 & Out" cLOSSen
(Can we say - Chris Weinke?)
2) Pass Defense - Absolutely abyssmal.In conjuction with #1 above, it made for a painful day.
3) The Sideline Activity - From the stands, our sidelines looked "out of touch" with the fact that a game was actually being played.
almost the entire team sat on the bench listless and lifeless. Very few stood the sidelines actively watching the game. The coaching staff
seemed pre-occupied with their own conversations around the cooler and away from the field of play. In fact, the majority of them, for the majority
of the game, had their backs to the field of play. It was as if almost NO-ONE was paying attention to the game. Truly pathetic.I had no good
answer when my 16yr old asked me - "What are they doing? Do they even know a game is going on? I don't know who these people are, but that's not my team."
4) The Playcalling - Now I know this is a common point of impalement for this team but... what the Hell?! 4th and 2, let's go for a long pass.
3rd and 27, let's run the ball.(Not just once, or on isolated occasions... but as a matter of predictability.) Even the Falcons fans in our section were scratching
their heads and looking at us like - WTF?! - I could only shrug, roll my eyes, and wait for the next embarrassment.It genuinely appeared that plays were being
called specifically to fail.
5) The Offensive Line - Truly a Chimpanzee with it's tail in the air. They were submissive and got dominated. This in turn resulted in the lack of both
passing and running game. I cannot count the number of running plays up the middle where the intial gap collapsed before JStew could get there.What a tease for him, and
disappointment for us.
6) The Coaching (or lack thereof) - From listless sideline activity, thru suicidal playcalling, to disorganized onfield performance. This team looked un-coached, unprepared, and
uninspired. It's pretty pathetic when a fan, sporting your team's jersey, shows up on the road for you and cares more about the game than you do. Onside kick?! Really?! Just because
"We really wanted to be able to do one..." not "It made the most sense to get\keep us in the game"... the same with the 3pt field goal, it's not that" Going for 3 makes the most
sense in that situation"... it was "We really wanted to try the onside kick and didn't think we could score again in the game, so we decide to take the 3 so we could try the onside
kick"... WTF?! It's still the 3rd quarter and you don't think you can manage another score for the rest of the game?!
My list, as watched from the stands
1. Jimmy Claussen - that's a given.
2. Jonathon Stewart? - uh... no.
He was one of the true highlights in this game
3. Punt coverage - low hanging fruit is always an easy pick. another given.
4. Lack of Mercy rule - really? as if there aren't enough team performance issues in this game to choose from?
5. Pass Defense - So true. The gaps were amazing. From the stands, it appeared that we spent the majority of the game running away from the receivers.
my list, as watched from the stands:
1) Jimmy Claussen - 3 & outs are apparently the way to earn your paycheck.
new nickcame: Jimmy "3 & Out" cLOSSen
(Can we say - Chris Weinke?)
2) Pass Defense - Absolutely abyssmal.In conjuction with #1 above, it made for a painful day.
3) The Sideline Activity - From the stands, our sidelines looked "out of touch" with the fact that a game was actually being played.
almost the entire team sat on the bench listless and lifeless. Very few stood the sidelines actively watching the game. The coaching staff
seemed pre-occupied with their own conversations around the cooler and away from the field of play. In fact, the majority of them, for the majority
of the game, had their backs to the field of play. It was as if almost NO-ONE was paying attention to the game. Truly pathetic.I had no good
answer when my 16yr old asked me - "What are they doing? Do they even know a game is going on? I don't know who these people are, but that's not my team."
4) The Playcalling - Now I know this is a common point of impalement for this team but... what the Hell?! 4th and 2, let's go for a long pass.
3rd and 27, let's run the ball.(Not just once, or on isolated occasions... but as a matter of predictability.) Even the Falcons fans in our section were scratching
their heads and looking at us like - WTF?! - I could only shrug, roll my eyes, and wait for the next embarrassment.It genuinely appeared that plays were being
called specifically to fail.
5) The Offensive Line - Truly a Chimpanzee with it's tail in the air. They were submissive and got dominated. This in turn resulted in the lack of both
passing and running game. I cannot count the number of running plays up the middle where the intial gap collapsed before JStew could get there.What a tease for him, and
disappointment for us.
6) The Coaching (or lack thereof) - From listless sideline activity, thru suicidal playcalling, to disorganized onfield performance. This team looked un-coached, unprepared, and
uninspired. It's pretty pathetic when a fan, sporting your team's jersey, shows up on the road for you and cares more about the game than you do. Onside kick?! Really?! Just because
"We really wanted to be able to do one..." not "It made the most sense to get\keep us in the game"... the same with the 3pt field goal, it's not that" Going for 3 makes the most
sense in that situation"... it was "We really wanted to try the onside kick and didn't think we could score again in the game, so we decide to take the 3 so we could try the onside
kick"... WTF?! It's still the 3rd quarter and you don't think you can manage another score for the rest of the game?!
My list, as watched from the stands
1. Jimmy Claussen - that's a given.
2. Jonathon Stewart? - uh... no.
He was one of the true highlights in this game
3. Punt coverage - low hanging fruit is always an easy pick. another given.
4. Lack of Mercy rule - really? as if there aren't enough team performance issues in this game to choose from?
5. Pass Defense - So true. The gaps were amazing. From the stands, it appeared that we spent the majority of the game running away from the receivers.
my list, as watched from the stands:
1) Jimmy Claussen - 3 & outs are apparently the way to earn your paycheck.
new nickcame: Jimmy "3 & Out" cLOSSen
(Can we say - Chris Weinke?)
2) Pass Defense - Absolutely abyssmal.In conjuction with #1 above, it made for a painful day.
3) The Sideline Activity - From the stands, our sidelines looked "out of touch" with the fact that a game was actually being played.
almost the entire team sat on the bench listless and lifeless. Very few stood the sidelines actively watching the game. The coaching staff
seemed pre-occupied with their own conversations around the cooler and away from the field of play. In fact, the majority of them, for the majority
of the game, had their backs to the field of play. It was as if almost NO-ONE was paying attention to the game. Truly pathetic.I had no good
answer when my 16yr old asked me - "What are they doing? Do they even know a game is going on? I don't know who these people are, but that's not my team."
4) The Playcalling - Now I know this is a common point of impalement for this team but... what the Hell?! 4th and 2, let's go for a long pass.
3rd and 27, let's run the ball.(Not just once, or on isolated occasions... but as a matter of predictability.) Even the Falcons fans in our section were scratching
their heads and looking at us like - WTF?! - I could only shrug, roll my eyes, and wait for the next embarrassment.It genuinely appeared that plays were being
called specifically to fail.
5) The Offensive Line - Truly a Chimpanzee with it's tail in the air. They were submissive and got dominated. This in turn resulted in the lack of both
passing and running game. I cannot count the number of running plays up the middle where the intial gap collapsed before JStew could get there.What a tease for him, and
disappointment for us.
6) The Coaching (or lack thereof) - From listless sideline activity, thru suicidal playcalling, to disorganized onfield performance. This team looked un-coached, unprepared, and
uninspired. It's pretty pathetic when a fan, sporting your team's jersey, shows up on the road for you and cares more about the game than you do. Onside kick?! Really?! Just because
"We really wanted to be able to do one..." not "It made the most sense to get\keep us in the game"... the same with the 3pt field goal, it's not that" Going for 3 makes the most
sense in that situation"... it was "We really wanted to try the onside kick and didn't think we could score again in the game, so we decide to take the 3 so we could try the onside
kick"... WTF?! It's still the 3rd quarter and you don't think you can manage another score for the rest of the game?!
Marty Hurney, his boy Don Gregory, and the rest of the Carolina Panther's Front Office should be shown the front door after this 2 win season.
If Hurney doesn't get fired then there is something seriously wrong with the Carolina Panthers brain trust.
If Fox's contract hasn't been renewed than Hurney's shouldn't have been renewed.
Post a Comment