Friday, September 2, 2011

Things I liked and didn't in Carolina Panthers' 33-17 loss to Pittsburgh Steelers

Normally, I use my last blog of a game day to either write about 5 things I did or didn't like, depending on whether the Carolina Panthers lost or won.

Since this game was such a mixed bag, however, I'll do a mixed bag, too.

Things I liked:

1) Cam Newton looked like an NFL quarterback on his one drive and got the Panthers into the end zone with his first TD pass of the preseason.

2) Ron Rivera removed the tiny bit of suspense that was left postgame, announcing Newton as the starter for the regular-season opener.

3) Derek Anderson has apparently surpassed Jimmy Clausen as the No.2 QB, which makes a lot of sense given how they each performed Thursday.

4) Jeff Otah was back on the field at right tackle and obviously helped solidify the Panthers' starting line.

Things I didn't like:

1) Armanti Edwards had his hands on five balls that he didn't catch. Yes, five. Four hit the ground. One was tipped and intercepted. I'm not saying he should have caught all five -- the defense was very good on a couple -- but he should have caught several of them. Rivera says Edwards keeps trying to catch the ball with his body instead of his hands.

2) The Panthers' first-team defense again looked soft in the middle and couldn't get off the field on third down. It only played one series and allowed an 80-yard TD drive.

3) Clausen's pass rating of 33.2. He didn't have much help, but hey, Anderson was playing with backups, too. Anderson should be the No.2 -- he proved that Thursday.




50 comments:

BigMikey said...

Was Pike that much worse than Clausen? I would immediately seek a trade and try to shore up either line with a warm body, in exchange for a guy who can't play the position. I'd seriously consider cutting Edwards. Just flat out cut him. We got problems.

Anonymous said...

Yo Rivera. Anderson is your franchise QB. Wake up idiot. Its obvious why he signed so many TEs for Newton who was sloppy & ragged as usual scared to pass more than 2 yards shooting the gap. NO ARM. NO PASS GAME. The run will end soon with a bad injury.

Pro Bowler 28 yrs old Anderson with one of the strongest accurate arms in the league is & always has been the #1 real QB who has 10 yrs left. Not even close.

He is good for 8-10 wins but only if he starts all 16. Do the patheitc hapless CPs need an experimental pretender on training wheels 0-3 in preseason? What a joke.

Anonymous said...

Anderson was playing with backups but Clausen was playing with people that won't make an NFL team. Dude has def got the shaft this preseason. Not saying he will be good, but we hardly have anything to judge him off of.

Anonymous said...

We have a 1-9 record to judge him off of...At least this year on 3rd and long there will be some hope!!! Go Panthers!!!!

Anonymous said...

This idiot newstaff won't say an honest thing about Cam until we are nearing the draft with the #1 pick again-

Just go back now and look not only at the 58% of incomplete passes, but also 20% of the luckily completed ones.......

Cam is not accurate.... and thats NOT improving

Anonymous said...

There go the Clausen haters slicing his throat even though he is 1-0 as a starter against a top NYG team. Big fix. The game was over when Clausen came in.

He & Newt need to be duking it out for 2nd NOT Pro Bowler Anderson the real starter.

Had it been the Rook & Big Ben all 4 quartz this one would be in the obituary section.

RR knows a 2-14 termination in store for him since old guy has gone mad & DGAFFA.
He could be fired in mid-season.

Anonymous said...

All of you worthless, lack of football knowlegde, wannabe coaches, sorry Panther fans are a joke. You could spot talent if it was in your face with a sign on it. Just cheer for your team and STFU! I don't know why I even waste my time. 1 out of every 20 posts actually make sense. Go find another team and forum to be stupid in!

JB said...

Are there any Panthers fans here? Why with all the hate? Let Cam have his chance this season. I personally think he has made major strides. First knock was he wasn't smart enough to pick up the offense. I think he's doing OK for a rookie with a shorten training camp. Then it was he can't play under center. He looks pretty good to me when he drops back from center. You guys are judging him like he's a 5 year pro bowler. HE'S A ROOKIE THAT HASN'T PLAYED A FULL GAME YET! Give him a shot!

Anonymous said...

Newton is erratic gangley and has zero natural professional poise to his snap takes. Analystically using meta-biological physics his irregular unsymetrical off balance method of delivery displays abnormalist jerkly stride-less irregular movement form as opposed to a fluid smoother true passer who instinctly comprehends the correct methodology precisely on how lay out seamless transitional follow through pattern when releasing the ball at the exact perfectionist angle and velocity required depending on distance and the angle of his reciever keeping the defender in mind all done in split second timing. True passing QBs are fully developed long before they hit the pro ranks and a have that G-d given gift talent that comes 2nd nature and natural without extensive training.

JB said...

So by that logic, Aaron Rodgers would be the exact same QB he is today if he would have started as a rookie and not sat on the bench behind Favre. Meaning he didn't need the extra time to develop him in to a professional QB because, by your logic, QBs are "are fully developed long before they hit the pro ranks".

Big D Growler said...

We should have drafted Marcel Dareus in April and held out for Luck next year... smh.

I guess we can look forward to getting Alshon Jeffrey in the offseason now.

Anonymous said...

Why the hate? Cam is learning on the fly, all you can do is hate and talk crap. We are strides ahead from where we were last year. Fake fans! 3 years from now he will be one of the best up and coming young QB only if he improves accuracy. Go dig your own ditch and die

Anonymous said...

I have to agree that the Panthers have the worst fans in the NFL. Doing the wave on offense, and posting their ignorance on every site I can find.

This is the preseason. who cares about the record. The offense did look better. (Awful but better) The defense has a long way to go.

Just remember that we were 2-14 for more reasons than Clausens awful year. The D-Line and Secondary, and the O-Line and receivers all were terrible.

We will get better slowly. And we will have no idea how good Newton is going to be until those other areas shore up.

Sportsdon said...

Clausen is Clausen. No smoke and mirrors he can't make it happen with 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th string. The game is too fast for him at this level.

Edwards looked bad, despite the obvious effort to give him a chance to prove he could do it. The interception was Clausen's fault, Edwards was covered the whole way downfield and should not have been thrown to.

I won't miss listening to Mike Rucker during games he is Captain Obvious in a booth and brings nothing to the listener. The butt kissing session with Hurney in the booth was equally disappointing and happened while Edwards was dropping passes. Accenting one of his poorest decisions as GM. That DT the Patriots got with the Armenti pick would be nice to have right now wouldn't it?

Anonymous said...

Cam is just a circus monkey, drafted because Luck wasn't there and no one offered to trade up for him.

Just a circus monkey that will run around and make goofy faces while throwing 40% completion passes, but no one will care since he will sell tickets to the non-football savvy folks.

Next year, some bad team gets Andrew Luck, a REAL NFL qb, and they will be set for years.

We'll hover around 6-10, 8-8, for a long time while they sell Cam jerseys, and talk about how 'athletic' he is.

What a BS situation we're in with Scam Newton

Anonymous said...

Clausen came in with the game in the hole with no possible hope and got blamed for the bad snap and the deflected pass interception. At least he took a chance. Newton runs instead.
Some love to hate Clausen and hated his guts for 2 yrs now. They never change. They are very sick people.
Its a very bad team worst than 2010 with a rookie coach who is clueless and a 24 million $$ scammer rookie QB who is just awful.

Anonymous said...

@Big D Growler said...
"We should have drafted Marcel Dareus in April and held out for Luck next year... smh"

Smdh, if Luck wanted to be a Panther then he should have declared this year. Get over it, any QB is a hit or miss, Luck must be the savior/god in your eyes.

Anonymous said...

"Anderson is your franchise QB. Wake up idiot. Its obvious why he signed so many TEs for Newton who was sloppy & ragged as usual scared to pass more than 2 yards shooting the gap. NO ARM. NO PASS GAME. The run will end soon with a bad injury.

Pro Bowler 28 yrs old Anderson with one of the strongest accurate arms in the league is & always has been the #1 real QB who has 10 yrs left. Not even close.

He is good for 8-10 wins but only if he starts all 16. Do the patheitc hapless CPs need an experimental pretender on training wheels 0-3 in preseason? What a joke".

What drugs are you on? Really, a guy who has a 52.6% pass compeletion % has one of the strongest accurate arms in the league? Oh wow. A guy who had failed at QB for 2 different teams in both Browns and Cardinals sure didn't see him as a franchise Qb. If he couldn't get 8-10 in the weak nfc west with the Cardinals, what the fuck makes u think he can get 8-10 wins with the Panthers. Your the real idiot and thank goodness you aren't running the team.

Unknown said...

These are some of the dumbest comments I have ever seen. I thought Atlanta Braves fans loved to hate on their own team , but this is just silly.

Cam has looked fine. I remember when Troy Aikman came up with the Cowboys and that first year all the folks paid no attention to how he looked and his obvious natural talent and said he was a stupid number 1 draft choice.

Claussen had a bunch of regular season games last year and never showed the potential Cam has shown.

And at least with RR in their and John Fox out no matter what it is it won't be be boring.

These are not comments from fans but 15 year olds who watch too much ESPN.

Go Panthers!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Clausen was not even supposed to be the starter in 2010 you moron. Moore had won the last 4 games of 2009 and was starter but was injured so Clausen was thrown to the wolves as a rookie.

Word has it Smith didnt like Clausen because he didnt like his 2older brothers who were QBs at UTenn so he engineering the lack of blocking for him thus the 20 sacks plus the team played half ass to lose wanting more money. What a laugh.

Clausen beat top tier NY Giants as his only start with blocking in 2011 & is 1-0. Newton is 0-3.

People know Newton would be the starter come hell or high water. Its a fix you idiot. JR had put 24 million on his head in spite of his bad baggage.

He will die on his own sword.

Anderson is the true QB & the staff knows this. Newton was picked 8 months to be starter as a political move as and why the CPs are the worst and most overpaid team in the league.

The local disturbed socialist media reporter rats dictate what JR & the CP are required to do. They run the show.

Unknown said...

Dude, you have severe paranoia problems. Football teams want to win to generate money. They do not care one bit about politics left or right and they do not listen to local reporters.

I wish I did have the power to control the Panthers, I would have fired Fox a few years ago and spared us the agony of seeing draw plays called long every long third down.

Really, I understand your football passion and I am glad you root for the Panthers, but if you think things are run being based on politics and media whims you are way off base. Money drives the NFL, nothing more, nothing less.

Anonymous said...

Clausen is not the answer and never was but the Panthers have serious problems on both sides of the ball again in 2011 and the media has been disingenious on the QB issue also. The jury is still out if it matters. When Newton fails he will be replaced with Anderson. Thats a reality.

Bottom line the Panthers are predicted to be cellar dwellers again in 2011 by all the so called experts.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/795508-2011-nfl-predictions-10-teams-that-will-be-cellar-dwellars-in-2011

Unknown said...

Ah, experts who trade 5th grade level insults on the internet. That's who Jerry Richardson should be listening to. We could go 2-14 again!

Anonymous said...

would someone please show an article that the CO printed during preseason that exposed Cam's lack of accuracy?

Wouls someone give a reason that NO TEAM made an offer to move up to #1 to take the Almighty Cam?
After all, all the owners KNEW, including JR, that there would be a rookie wage scale reduction, and they wouldnt have to give 50% of what Bradford got.

NO, there is NO exposure from the CO regarding his lack of accuracy. All anyone says is "He's so athletic!" "Look at him RUN!" COMPLETELY IGNORING the fact that alomost 60% of his passes were inaccurate. -- Blaming it on driopped passes etc. --

Guess what folks? -- Go back and look. That wasnt the reason for such a high rate of incompletions. There were also 4-5 dropped int's. In addition, if you look at the passes that WERE caught, many of them were very lucky to have been grabbed, being so poorly thrown.

You think Steve Smith is going to complain about Cam? -- HELL NO --
He is black. Smitty will cova fo his brutha.

And the CO has been put on notice by JR and Co., to cover Cam in a 100% positive light.

All these hacks know ESPN etc as well as mainline sports mags etc are anxious to get any positive articles they can to reprint. The CO has NEVER gotten so much attention outside of the carolinas.

They have lost what little objectiveness they had by the national spotlight on Cam.

-- and if ANYONE says theyd rather have a traditional style QB, who is a great pocket passer AND accurate..........

Well they may as well be a card carrying member of the KKK, because thats what theyll be accused of.

This was nothing more than a marketing ploy, with the HOPE that he'd be better than average.

Rivera's Assistant said...

Anderson has looked better even than Newton (Clausen...I'm giving up on him), BUT I don't blame RR for going with Cam for the time being. You take out Anderson's one magical year with the Browns and his QB rating cumulatively is only about a 60 (from actual stats), so that may be his real ability. At this point, he seems a very capable no 2, who may end up being no. 1.

Anonymous said...

September 3, 2011 10:00 AM

excellent and so true

Anonymous said...

Lil Jeffyboy is queer as a 3 dollar bill ...

Anonymous said...

No question whose in charge but The Iron Curtain Observer with its android programmed minions driving the ship dictating orders and commands to Richardson and Rivera. Any who dare get in the way or step out of line will suffer the ill fated consequences.
For reasons unknown reporters and others all over America have mysteriously vanished into thin air by the tens of thousands never to be seen again similar to Hoffa way back who dared make the fatal mistake to question the Detroit Pravada and was never seen again allegedly kidnapped cut into tiny pieces alchemy mixed with the concrete pilings holding up the 50 story Motown convention center since demolished.

Dont even think about it or else. Big Brother watches closely for his next victims.

Anonymous said...

John says:

Newton's NOT the solution and didnt commit turnovers because he is a coward to throw long knowing the world will know. RR is covering for him. The day of reconing is coming. A scam artist is always exposed plus he is awful.

You dont committ turnovers when you dont take chances. Newton is a fake. He shoots the gap only because he's scared to throw long to WRs knowing how weak & inaccurate his arm is. Backyard garbage ball.
He is not a runner or a passer.

Anonymous said...

Your mad that Cam runs 19 yards on 3rd and long picking up a first down, while Jimmy throws an interception in a similar situation? I think Anderson should get the start because he knows the game better, and let Cam develop. Clausen is not an NFL qb. I'm really not sure he's even a decent option as backup for anyone either. Cut him loose and sign a CB or OL or DT. Jimmy is doing nothing but wasting money and roster space

Anonymous said...

Anderson should be the starter. Newton is a political starter only and will fall on his face. Terrible.

A real coach NEVER leaves his best players on the sidelines espec at QB.
RR knows this. Thats why he signed 2 big name TEs with Olsen and Shockey.

Why no WRs signed? What a joke.

Newton is NOT an NFL QB.

Sorensen 100% on target. 0-13.

Anonymous said...

If Anderson couldn't succeed consistently with the Browns and Cardinals, what in the heck make u think he can here? This fanbase sure does love the back ups until they suck as starters to throw them under the bus.

"Sorensen 100% on target. 0-13."

Lmfao Tom S predicition was 3-13, when have they started playing 13 games?

Anonymous said...

Sorensen finally got something right advising RR to immediately switch to his All Pro QB or suffer a 3-13. Anderson is only 28 still has 10 good years left & his real franchise QB. No shortage of RBs. NFL QBs are mainly for passing and only scramble 5% of the time.

Anderson can rifle 60-70 yard perfect TD bullets to even a washed up SS to go 10-6 and make the 'offs as a pure passer with a strong accurate arm & professional mature demeanor intellect wisdom experience & knowledge. Thats why he was ALL PRO.

Sorensen makes a good point also to switch Newton to WR to take over for aged SS who has one foot in the pasture already.

Anonymous said...

good call. 3-13 = perfecto

Anonymous said...

Derek Anderson bio

Ht: 6' 7" Wt: 255 Age: 28
Born: 6/15/1983 Portland, OR
College: Oregon State
NFL Experience: entering 7th season
Selected Pro Bowl 2007

Career Passing:
Completions: 756
Attempts: 1436
Yards: 9148
TD: 60
Interceptions: 53

JCB said...

I think half the rants on these posts are biased (half racists) opinions from worthless persons who couldn't hack it as neither a player or reporter. And to the racist who called Cam a "Circus Monkey", go to a game and be man enough to say it to his face. Be a fan, state facts and not innuendo or stay home beat your wife and/or meat and stay off the posts.

I do agree that Cam is tentative and has not thrown an interception because of being too cautious. I think he needs to take shots down-field (unless he's being held back from doing so in preseason).

Let's get this straight! Clausen looked awful in college in which he played a pro style offense under Charlie Weiss and drafting him was a HUGE mistake. He is a workaholic but consistently throws behind his receivers and is consistently inaccurate throwing on the run.

As stated many times in previous posts, Derek Anderson is a consummate pro, but is best as a backup QB. I don't think he's damaged goods, and can possibly be a game managing type QB.

This TEAM has a ways to go - fans included - Cam may or may not be the answer, but addressing the O-line is the most effective way of knowing this. If our run game remains healthy and we fix that hole in the middle of the D-line those aspects should keep us in enough games to win more than 3 games.

Anonymous said...

Circus monkey is a common cliche. Whats racist about it? Explain your rationale please.

Why drag out the card? Cant intelligently discuss an issue so resort to the SOS broken record? Get a life loser.

Anderson is THE MAN. He is a deadly accurate passer taller bigger stronger tested highly experienced proven with a BS degree in mechan engineering from OSU grad with a 4.0 GPA. He made 1500 out of 1600 on his SAT so he is intelligence.

He also knows what a WR is and how to use them effectively not just TE dumps or running for cover. No contest.

Anonymous said...

Circus Monkey Urban Dictionary defined:

A term for any person or group of people that can not and/or should not be trusted with even the simplest tasks. Could also be anyone that will constantly amaze with their hyjinx and chicanery. That circus monkey just sold his car for gas money!!

Anonymous said...

Derek Anderson bio

Ht: 6' 7" Wt: 255 Age: 28
Born: 6/15/1983 Portland, OR
College: Oregon State
NFL Experience: entering 7th season
Selected Pro Bowl 2007

Career Passing:
Completions: 756
Attempts: 1436
Yards: 9148
TD: 60
Interceptions: 53


Where's DA pass compeletion percentage %? I guess a career 52.6% is very accurate? Lmfao, you probably was one of many wo wanted Jake D back.

Kenneth said...

I would rather the Panthers start Derek Anderson and let Newton learn from the sideline myself.But I do believe that Newton will develop into an impressive NFL quarterback. Unlike many of you who want Anderson as the starter just because you will never accept Newton. It's convenient for you to call for Anderson, but the truth is if he wasn't here you'd call for Clausen or whichever other quarterback that would be on the roster.

Anonymous said...

Marty Hurney and Don Gregory are two of the worst evaluators in NFL history! Don Gregory is only in the NFL because he is a sorry ass minority and Marty Hurney is in the NFL because he was a sorry ass reporter that sucked up to Bobby Beathard and now he is sucking up to King Ding Dong himself, Jerry Richardson.

Anonymous said...

Agree Sorensen not as dumb as he seems & accurately proclaims the All-burn dropout should switch to WR. CPs badly need a WR & Smith could help train b4 his retirement. Taller slender quicker Newton is a tailor made NFL WR as Sorenson surmises but even a broke clock is right twice a day.

Anderson can give aged Smith who has sucked for yrs some final glory passes b4 being sent to Green Acres rest home. Newt is a nail in his coffin as it stands.

Crackheads who QB pump this pretender couldnt carry water for a pee wee team.

Anderson would be 95% had his other coaches used double TEs but he only threw long to WRs since thats what real NFL QBs do. Double TEs are only for blocking & dumps when a team has no real QB.

Anonymous said...

Sorehead blows but could never get as bad as the other Jr who couldnt write for Fred Rogers much less the PGA or NFL. Something about those suckified Jrs. The others not far behind.

Anonymous said...

"Marty Hurney and Don Gregory are two of the worst evaluators in NFL history"

Hmm Matt Millen, Vinny Cerrattoo( however you spell it), and Jerry Angelo, and Mike Dita are likely candidates for worst talent evaluators in nfl history. Hurney does suck a@@ though.

Anonymous said...

Agree Tom spot on with his 3-13 prediction moving eye of Newt to WR letting All Pro Anderson start all 16 games to get off on the Goot Foot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oQRmx6M8-U

Anonymous said...

The BUM went 0-3 preseason at QB.
Nice.

ABC Anybody But Carolina

GO CARDS
Looks like a blowout

0-16.

Anonymous said...

Hey fellow armchair quarterbacks...Does it really matter who's playing quarterback when they are on their ass in the backfield because the Oline can't block anyone ?

Anonymous said...

I seen in the AP sports this morning Rivera thinks the Panthers can win 10 games this year ???? Whats he been smoking ???

Anonymous said...

OL still better than the sorry defense even with Beason. Panthers dont have a chance with Newton at QB. Even CW who could thread a needle at 6'6" 245 lbs with 70 yard missiles cant help him.

Tampoco tenes dont o usted y su clara que este pretendiente no tienen por lo que buscas en sople derrotas sin lugar a dudas y nada puede guardar los perdedores fue derrota con el estafador al timón.

Unknown said...

So...how do you Cam haters feel now? Oh no, that guy can't play at all...should have started Anderson. Haaaaaa!!!!!!!!