You could name a lot more than five in this one, but here are a few (check out the comments below, too, as they seem almost evenly split between "The sky is falling" and the "It's only preseason" camps):
1) No pass rush. The Panthers led the NFL with 60 sacks last season and there has been some talk about whether they could break the NFL overall record (72). Not like this -- Tom Brady's uniform never got dirty, and no Patriot quarterback came close to getting sacked. This team is predicated on getting to the passer, first and foremost -- it is why GM Dave Gettleman has spent so many draft picks and so much money on the D-line. It has absolutely got to do better, starting Thursday at Pittsburgh.
2) Rushing game. One of Panther coach Ron Rivera's favorite stats is that in 15 of 16 games last season Carolina rushed for at least 100 yards. Not this time: Carolina ran for only 63. There were hardly any holes, and the running backs didn't do much, either. No run was for more than eight yards. "Double Trouble" was no trouble, with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combining for nine carries for 20 yards.
3) Cam's back. Newton suffered a hairline fracture in a rib, which will sideline him for the final exhibition vs. Pittsburgh and puts his Week 1 status at least in doubt. The last thing Newton needs is another nagging injury to join his problematic ankle, but now he's got one after getting kneed to the back while going down trying to avoid getting hurt (Newton must learn to slide). That he got sacked three times in this game (see above pic) and pressured a lot more wasn't helpful, either. Newton ends the exhibition season with no TD passes and five sacks. Here's more of my thoughts on his injury in the column that was published in Monday's newspaper.
4) Julian Edelman. He made every Panther defensive back look silly at one time or another, and a lot of their special-teamers, too. Edelman caught all eight passes thrown toward him for 99 yards and returned two punts for 51 more. And he's not close to the best receiver the Panthers will face this season. And the Panthers better hope middle linebacker Luke Kuechly stays healthy (he has a thumb injury that won't keep him from playing for now), because when he was out the Pats ran roughshod over Carolina and made second-year linebacker A.J. Klein look silly on a wheel route that turned into a 40-yard TD.
5) The offense in general. There were a lot of things going wrong here, which is why Carolina didn't score until the final two minutes when the score was 30-0 and third-stringer Joe Webb was in the game. Other than rookie Kelvin Benjamin, it's hard to point to a bright spot. But I worry most about the Panthers' offensive line, which looked half-baked in this one. Webb will get a lot of playing time Thursday vs. Pittsburgh, and it's now quite likely he's going to make the team since the Panthers can't go into the season with 2 QBs with Newton banged up like he is.
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14 comments:
What do you think about the Panthers putting Brandon Williams at slot in the end zone with Olsen at TE and KB and avant/ cotchery at the other wide out? Plus Stewart or Tolbert in the back
I left a comment on one of these boards stating I was worried about our offensive line and several posters jumped on me stating we would be fine without Steve Smith and the absence of Jordan Gross ... well the were right about one thing. Steve couldn't have bailed us out of this mess either. It looks like Cam is going to be running for his life since we can't run block or pass block. I'm afraid tonight's game is no fluke. We aren't only going to be a 26th rank offense this season ... it's going to be worse ...
the panthers lose w/o kuechly to bear hug the receivers.
Cam is still missing open receivers like Olsen and these other receivers that were brought in Avant...Cotchery...they never get open or at lest not in pre season??????? I think our success is in us keeping the receivers that did the best in pure season which from what I saw are Brenson Bersin...Benjermin...King....and all 3 tight end....Makes you think what kind of team we will have this year
Brandon Bersin should be starting with the 1st team' If he gets cut I guarantee G-bay or Denver or any other pass happy team will scarf him up and he will start. Our running game as usual looks vannila, seems our offensive run plays are terribly drawn up please compare with NE running plays and see the aggressive difference.Our 1st team O AND D got it handed to them , not even close...
Poor play, poor coaching, not a good sign
Why is it that Joe Webb's attitude is better about the game then Cam or Derrick? Both act as if they are scared to look taller then the other. Neither appear they want to own the position. I know they can play better than that. And why can other teams always run the ball on Carolina's DF ,But Car can neeeeever run on any teams DF? Something's been wrong with the offense line for waaaay too long!
I think the Panthers need to get to the red zone first. By the way, is this some magical lineup that can't be stopped after a good defense hasn't seen it a couple of times?
This is exactly what I expected after most of the talent left at the end of last season.
This is the condition I expected Cam to be in after they used him for a direct snap running back last season.
You can't put a lot of stock in preseason, but they better fix the O line or Cam better not suit up in white! Carolina is the highest team picked to be first to worst. So many of them made it just that easy for Ron cut the roster. Love to have been a fly on the wall when Ron let'em Have it! For Ron to be coach of the year, this was embarrassing!
wow. Same naysayers, different season. It's preseason folks. During this time coaches evaluate players. The game was close when our starters on defense were on the field. Yes Brady looked good. In other news they sell lots of tea in China. I expect we challenge for the division and win 10 games.
It was hard to watch but don't forget a couple things that contributed: Cam got hurt early on, Cam has been basically "grounded" from running until the regular season to let the ankle continue to heal, this was a very short week and a lot of guys weren't completely healthy or full power.
All that being said... wow, NO sacks, no rushing and Web continues to look like the best QB... I realize he's beating up on 2-3rd string but come on. And what's up with Cotchery and Avant not catching anything ... what 2 or 3 balls in 3 games between the two of them!? We do need some work in the O-line, secondary to be sure!
It's preseason people! These guys don't want to get hurt in games that don't count. Take 2 aspirin, forget about Pittsburgh next week, and get ready for the start of the regular season.
Its time to blow up the team after that debacle...a pre season loss to lowly New England???....I would look right away at trading Cam and Luke , Benjamin , the running backs..release all the 'big money' players and fire the coaching staff..this is a 2 win team AT BEST ...blow it up...restart from scratch...instead of winning 2 this year lets watch them lose 16..get a boatload of top picks and try again..in 3 or 4 years the team could be a winner...of course won't be able to keep all the high draft picks as they will all want max contracts..if so..blow it up and try again..maybe by year 40 this will be a winning franchise under the corporation that owns the team by then..YaY
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