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November 11, 2007
Panthers report card
Panthers report card from Sunday's loss to Atlanta:
QUARTERBACKS. You have to admire Vinny Testaverde’s courage. There’s no doubt he played through pain and he didn’t make any major mistakes. He just didn’t do anything very positive, and you have to start to wonder if the Panthers will get anything positive out of this position before next season. GRADE: D
RUNNING BACKS. So much for all that talk about how DeShaun Foster has dominated against the Falcons. He gained 59 yards on 20 carries. By the way, Foster and DeAngelo Williams combined for one catch for 5 yards out of the backfield. GRADE: F
RECEIVERS. Common sense would suggest that if Steve Smith is getting double (and, sometimes triple) coverage on every play, Drew Carter, Dwayne Jarrett and Jeff King might be able to take advantage of it. They didn’t. GRADE: D
OFFENSIVE LINE. There were times when it seemed like the Panthers intentionally left John Abraham unblocked. There were times when it seemed like the line wasn’t blocking anybody. GRADE: F
DEFENSIVE LINE. Mike Rucker got his first sack of the season, which puts him only .5 behind Julius Peppers. The run defense wasn’t bad, except for a 30-yard touchdown by Warrick Dunn on the opening drive. GRADE: C-
LINEBACKERS. If there’s been one bright spot (and you have to look long and hard) to this season, it’s the play of rookie middle linebacker Jon Beason. He might have the most secure future of any player (or coach). Beason had 11 tackles and Na’il Diggs produced a sack. GRADE: B-
DEFENSIVE BACKS. Ken Lucas picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown and had a solid all-around day. But safeties Chris Harris and Quinton Teal (playing for an injured Deke Cooper) somehow got blocked by a referee on the game-winning touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler. GRADE: C-
SPECIAL TEAMS. Return man Ryne Robinson had his best game yet. GRADE: C
COACHING. Even with a bunch of banged-up quarterbacks, you have to be able to beat the Falcons, especially at home. And those draw plays on third-and-long are the sign of a desperate team. GRADE: F
-- Pat Yasinskas
Posted by Observer Sports on November 11, 2007 at 07:21 PM | Permalink
Comments
Watched the entire game live and again on TiVo...Smith was RARELY double teamed. Pat, learn the game!
Posted by: Carl Leazer | Nov 11, 2007 7:35:34 PM
I hate to say it but watching th Panthers play is just no fun.
The only player on the team with any emotion is Steve Smith and you can't win without emotion.
We need different leadership to get this team fired up.
Posted by: Redlight | Nov 11, 2007 7:42:53 PM
No offensive line=no points, no matter who the QB is. Especially when 70,000 people know you are going to run a draw play on third and long! This O-Line has moe holes than swiss cheese. I am finally on board the fire Fox bandwagon. This pathetic nonsense has to stop but I guarantee we'll hear the same old same old out of Fox and Hurney. Maybe two more wins this season, if we are lucky.
Posted by: CPAMAN | Nov 11, 2007 7:45:12 PM
The panthers problem is the coaching staff is no good. John Fox is not the right person for this holding back the offense is seen in the perpartion of the team. The owners is no better letting this go on this far. It has been a disater after the NFC championship game. Not providing or wont to pay players to come and play here.
Posted by: The Truth | Nov 11, 2007 7:53:51 PM
CPAMAN....wow you're an optimist arentcha! Ladies and Gentlemen...the Carolina Panthers 2007 season is done. The only game we 'could' win this season is the SF game and well, since we play down to our compitition in addition to sucking this year, I simply do not see that happening either.
Oh and thanks, Fox, for putting Moore in on the very last play and helping to continue to ruin his stats. That was a nice touch!
Anyway, I'm headed to the grocery store to get my brown paper bag to match my Panther Jersey for the remainder of the year. See yall there.
Posted by: Panther Goddess | Nov 11, 2007 7:55:37 PM
Jon Beason is turning out to be great. I sure hope that the team doesn't decide to try their luck on Dan Morgan again, that would really stunt Beason's growth. It's time for Morgan to hit the road with Fox and for the Panthers to make Beason a captain and the heart of this defense for years to come.
Posted by: Matt West | Nov 11, 2007 8:06:05 PM
Hey Truth, didn't ya hear the exciting news? You don't have to get an ordinary brown paper bag. Now you can get the custom Panther bags to wear over your head! The only difference from a plain paper brown bag, is that these have been painted with the team colors!! All the better to match your jersey with. Oh, and these bags will also pull in more marketing money for the team and ownership, which seems to be the only thing that matters to them anymore. Winning certainly doesn't!! :(
Posted by: Sammy | Nov 11, 2007 8:58:26 PM
Well Vinny did pretty good. It's just sad when a 44 year-old is your best QB.
Ryne Robinson finally looked like a decent returner.
Dwayne Jarrett made it on the field!
Drew Carter should be starting even when Keary Colbert comes back.
Other than Beason, Lucas, and Harris our defense is horrid.
Why does Kris Jenkins jump offsides every game?
Baker isn't punting it very well anymore.
Fox's play calling is ridiculous. Everyone booed on all his stupid third and long draws.
Carr should be cut, and Fox should be fired.
Posted by: Matt West | Nov 11, 2007 9:02:11 PM
One of those winless teams you beat up on early in the season came into your house and beat you up.
You couldn't score an offensive TD on one of the worst teams in the league.
I don't like the Panthers, and even I figured they would win this one. And they still lost.
How about an F all around?
Posted by: Will | Nov 11, 2007 9:37:05 PM
Man the Panthers suck. I dont understand how this team went down hill so fast. I know the QB situation hurts, but I thought the Panthers had enough skill at other positions to get by better than they are. There is going to be a lot of changes to this Panther organization in the off season. Look for a new coaching staff, a new left offensive tackle, perhaps a new running back, a 2nd wide reciever to compliment Smith, and a new defensive end. If these moves are made, then the Panthers will be much improved.
Posted by: Ace | Nov 11, 2007 9:58:44 PM
Does anyone know if ticket holders are allowed to wear paper bags, or is it against some weekly rule. I intend to have a bag next home game against the saints. It is funny how the saint (aints they were called) is our next opponent. I plan to write AINTHERS on my bag.
Posted by: pslholder | Nov 11, 2007 10:03:01 PM
Does anyone know if ticket holders are allowed to wear paper bags, or is it against some weekly rule. I intend to have a bag next home game against the saints. It is funny how the saint (aints they were called) is our next opponent. I plan to write AINTHERS on my bag.
Posted by: pslholder | Nov 11, 2007 10:03:37 PM
Do you actually watch the game? The special teams get a "C"? Not only do they never get us good field postion, but our opponents always seem to get good field position. This group deserved a "D-". Testaverde deserved a "B" He couldn't help it that his receivers opted not to catch the passes he threw to them.
Posted by: Bill Parcells | Nov 11, 2007 10:15:15 PM
I doubt they care as long as you are giving them your money.
It's not like the owner cares about the atmosphere inside the stadium.
Posted by: Will | Nov 11, 2007 10:15:28 PM
This is the most underachieving team in the NFL by far. Even when Jake D was in the starting lineup, they underachieved. At some point we need to clean house, starting with this pathetic coaching staff. Fox and his staff are morans who should be coaching midget league not in the NFL.
Posted by: gapantherfan | Nov 11, 2007 10:18:28 PM
Er, Pat... Abraham was blocked all day long. It was Coleman that ran wild out there. Watching replays of the previous game doesn't help you cover this one.
Posted by: jdb1972 | Nov 11, 2007 10:26:50 PM
John Fox is content with a 3 point lead in the second quarter and letting his "Defense" win the game. That is the thinking of a looser. And those 3rd and long draw plays are the biggest example of that. World class NFL teams (well, any NFL team for that matter) play four quaters of football every game. I have to say that the best this team has looked, even with the wins we've had was in the 1st quarter against Indy.
Posted by: Will | Nov 11, 2007 10:33:04 PM
After watching our Dline play they are perhaps the worst coached line ever in the NFL. We have really hit rock bottom. The talent level in the league is all really close the coaching and the scheme decide everything that is why we are what we are.SHARPEN THE PEN REPORTERS &SHARPEN THE AX JERRY. From a real panther diehard who has almost had it.
Posted by: Scott | Nov 11, 2007 10:37:17 PM
I watched Peppers every play. I cannot believe how much they have him dropping back into coverage on passing plays. DE or LB, decide. Jenkins playing well? He averages 1 tackle per game, teams run right up the middle for 4 or 5 yards at a crack until Beason or Harris tackle them. Is anyone in charge here? Is this the vision? I hate to agree, it is all about the money, in my opinion. PSLs pay whether they show up or not, the team is worth tons more than when it was bought, Bojangles is where the Panthers money supplied by the fans went. I feel like I am being treated as if I should be grateful for the chance to spend my dollars with them. Everyone desperately wants their team not to just win, but they want to be proud of them, they want to identify with them. All those years in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were annually the worst team in the NFL, but they had loyal fans who felt they were important to franchise. This is a corporate team, paid for by tax write-offs, with no identity, no soul. Are we a headknocking defensive team? NO. Are we a sophisticated offensive machine? NO. We are just so average in every aspect of the game - on a good day. Come on Panthers, we want to believe in you, we really do. Become something other than apathetic losers, which is what you are at this moment. That is what it is.
Posted by: Willy | Nov 11, 2007 11:28:51 PM
Obviously I'm not the only one here that thinks we need a make-over in the off season. I'm a HUGE panthers fan, and I will always stick by them. But I have been tired of Fox all season. Our obvious problem is our offense. If we could move the ball and score, it would keep our defense off the field and make 20-7 losses more like 24-20 wins...but we can't score. This year is done, we need to dump Carr, start Matt Moore see what he has, and have Vinny be our backup. Start Steve BUT keep him healthy. And start Dwayne Jarrett opposite him. Then in the offense actively recruit, and also consider any way possible to get a Larry Fitzgerald or someone who wants out. Dump Morgan in the off season, and DON'T, I REPEAT DON'T give Peppers a extension until he proves he can still live up to it. I don't mind rebuilding, but we need to go ahead and start the process. Next year, we'd be better off starting Delhomme, back up with Brett B, and have Matt Moore as our third. WR we'd have Smith, a Fitzgerald/C. Johnson type, and then Jarrett and Carter(yeah drop Colbert). RB we'd be better off just gettin one in the draft and consider starting Williams until that happens. We have so many needs, that just by watching the games, I'm suprized we won 4 so far this year. I'm actually pretty impressed. But our offense is horrible. Anyone know if we could convince say, Mike Martz to move over and help us out? He's always been an offensive genius. Just some thoughts...
Posted by: clayb | Nov 11, 2007 11:43:07 PM
FIRE FOX!
Posted by: Roger | Nov 11, 2007 11:51:15 PM
Ace, I'd go for "Can'thers" on the paper bag. Maybe we should all show up in black and gold for the Saints game to fake the away game atmosphere
Posted by: Josh | Nov 12, 2007 12:21:51 AM
Sammy, I'm not spending another dime on the Panthers. I do however, have an empty Panthers tissue box and I'll cut out the logos from that and glue them on there.
I feel sorry for the die hard actual fan individual PSL owners right now. You folks got screwed big time. Didn't the PSL and ticket prices increase over the past two or three years? And out of that yall can see commercials on the jumbo-tron between plays, and there's white picket fencing and rocking chairs out front fo the stadium. Wow I guess they knew Vinnie would be here this year huh?
Posted by: Panther Goddess | Nov 12, 2007 8:55:38 AM
Its time to see what Matt Moore can do. He has a live arm and isn't afraid to use it. Let Dwayne Jarrett get in their to make his rookie mistakes on the field. He has size and some ability to catch the ball. The defense was fun to watch yesterday. Other than that this team is BORING.
Posted by: Dangerous Dan | Nov 12, 2007 9:08:30 AM
I am still a Panther fan, but I can't support fox's position on 3rd and short or long run up the middle when everybody on the field,in the stands, and watching tv knows what is coming, he seems to do the expected, and the other team does the unexpected.in order for the panthers to go, Fox should GO. come on Mr. Richardson do something even if it is wrong, at least try.
Posted by: lacy shrewsbury | Nov 12, 2007 12:54:52 PM
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