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November 04, 2007
Panthers report card
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Here’s the report card on the Panthers after their 20-7 loss to the Titans:
QUARTERBACKS. Wanted to give David Carr the benefit of the doubt until I saw him play a game healthy. All indications are, he was close to that at the start of the game. His mechanics were terrible and the word "skittish’’ might best summarize his demeanor. GRADE: F
RUNNING BACKS. Remember all that preseason talk about how the running game was going to be so much better because the new scheme was perfectly suited to the talents of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams. Yeah, like that matters. They combined to average 3.5 yards a carry and I dare you to remember a run that mattered. GRADE: D-
RECEIVERS. The Titans threw all sorts of coverage at Steve Smith. But other teams did that the past couple of years and Jake Delhomme still found him a way to get him the ball. Carr didn’t. GRADE: D
OFFENSIVE LINE. Seven sacks and no running game. What more needs to be said? GRADE: F
DEFENSIVE LINE. A few of the defensive linemen got pressure on Vince Young, but Julius Peppers wasn’t one of them. GRADE: C
LINEBACKERS. Jon Beason had 11 tackles and recovered a fumble. GRADE: C+
DEFENSIVE BACKS. Ken Lucas and Deke Cooper each had interceptions. The Titans had only 110 passing yards. GRADE: B
SPECIAL TEAMS. John Kasay missed a field goal attempt. Ryne Robinson didn’t do anything special, but he at least looked like a legitimate NFL return man for the first time in his career. GRADE: C
COACHING. At least the Panthers played hard. But the offensive game plan was a disaster. Maybe Dan Henning wasn’t the problem, after all. GRADE: D
Pat Yasinskas
Posted by Observer Sports on November 4, 2007 at 07:30 PM | Permalink
Comments
Steve Smith commented at the beginning of this season he was gunning for 2000 yards. While he intended for Jake to be the QB it still shows his self-centered nature. GREAT wide receivers get open. This guy may be the most overrated player on the team. But then again he is probally the best player on the team...so whatdoes that show you.
And the front office...pathetic....you have to get some action from at least a few of your draft picks...not just your first rounder. This team is run too much like a business and not a football team...
Posted by: Carl Leazer | Nov 4, 2007 7:43:59 PM
That was ridiculous! I suggest we trade DeShaun, Deangelo, Carr and our first round pick for the chance to get Darren McFadden from Arkansas. Did you see what Adrian Peterson did today! That's the kind of explosiveness we need. This team needs to give the fans something to cheer about. What we have now is a freakin J O K E !
Posted by: Chanrock | Nov 4, 2007 7:51:04 PM
You're right; compared to Davidson, Henning looks like a genius. And that's like saying compared to Carr, Weinke looks like Tom Brady.
Two draw plays on second-and-long and third-and-longer inside Titan territory. At least Henning actually attempted to convert on second down before giving up.
What's the definition of taking a step back from ineptitude? My guess is Davidson's play calling. But I'm not sure if it's all his fault, the play calling reeks of Fox.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 4, 2007 7:54:23 PM
Pitiful is the only word that comes to mind when I watch this team. Drastic moves need to be taken. Look at the patriots. I do not like that team and I believe they are dirty, but they win and they get away with it. Get Darren McFadden at all costs or draft dennis dixon have vince young jr play qb for us. We don't have a prayer at the playoffs this year.
Posted by: Clay | Nov 4, 2007 8:01:11 PM
Davidson is Henning in a very elaborate disguise...they never actually got rid of him
Posted by: Chanrock | Nov 4, 2007 8:03:39 PM
McFadden can play RB and QB for us. Bring the Wild Hog formation to Charlotte!
Posted by: Chanrock | Nov 4, 2007 8:06:14 PM
On another note, that Moore kid sure throws a mighty nice deep ball.
Credit the mighty duo for snatching him up off of the waiver pile.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 4, 2007 8:06:50 PM
How many times did we run the ball with nine defenders in the box? Not eight, nine. I stopped counting after the fourth time.
Putting the blame on Carr is misplaced. All he's done is what the coaching staff has set him up to do. When you run two WRs deep down the sidelines and a back or TE short across the middle, there's only so many things a QB can do. And if you were getting hit before you completed the third step of your drop, you'd probably look a mite skittish, too. He's no gem, but it's the coaches setting him up for failure. Where are the stop routes and slants they ran with Uncle Vinny in there? What about a screen or two? You can't run slight variations on the same play for 90% of your passes and expect to succeed in the NFL.
Posted by: jdb1972 | Nov 4, 2007 8:07:13 PM
Well, the bright side is that we might actually have a high enough pick to grab McFadden... or Busty McNo-name.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 4, 2007 8:10:28 PM
I agree with the earlier posts, by and large. My comment is simple: Bench Carr, (as if we didn't know, he was such an asset to the Texans organization...) START MOORE!!! He's got a cannon. The reason Carr doesn't throw down the field is because he can't (it's a question of mechanics)!
Posted by: Matt | Nov 4, 2007 8:12:38 PM
Carr = square peg, Davidson's offense = round hole.
To be fair, the kid didn't have too many options. But he had enough to move the offense--he just didn't see them. Like it or not, the kid has Weinke syndrome.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 4, 2007 8:17:54 PM
It's kinda hard to run or throw the ball when the line can't block. They basically man handled our offensive line today. It's a shame to because I thought our defense played lights out. What's pathetic is the fact that we get the ball on their 30 yard line and instead of scoring we LOSE 5 YARDS!!! Give me a break. For the guy who dogged Smitty...get real dude. He's the best wideout in the game. How can you get Smith the ball when he has four guys on him. You ever tried to catch a footbal w/ four people covering you? Have you ever tried to catch it with one person covering you? It's the same old problem as usual...we do not have a #2 receiver...nothing even close. Until we get that our offense will always be inconsistent. Our special teams coach is a joke and should be fired at the end of the season. The commentators for the game were commenting on some of the difficulties they have had in their return game and sure enough after they say it...they guy busts off like a 30 yard return. Here's an idea Davidson...when they are blitzing you every down right up the middle and on the weak side, instead of calling 3 step drops try running a frickin ROLLOUT!!! Henning called those stupid draws on third & long as well. To me those are called by a coach that is lost and is grasping at straws. Davidson was lost for the entire game...they handed him his arse. Funny how high powered Clevelands' offense is this year without him running it. They couldn't score last year to save their lives now they score at least 20 points every week. Now we know why.
Posted by: JT | Nov 4, 2007 8:21:24 PM
Carr is permanently rattled. He has no clue what he's doing and he's scared out of his wits. It was obvious everytime there was the slightest hint of pressure.
Plus... look at his reactions when the D jumped offside or there was an interference call... he freaking jumped up and down like he completed a 94 yard bomb to a tackle who checked in eligible.
Absolutely awful... and Fox takes half the blame for this. No way should Carr have stuck around after that fumble... he was running away from the defenders OFF THE SNAP.
Posted by: Moore For Starter! | Nov 4, 2007 8:23:57 PM
I agree with the Darren McFadden choice,WE DO NEED THREATNING RUNNING BACKS,That is so true,BUT most of all, it is still a QB issue,Understand this,No team today would have any success without a good QB,We should all know this by now,And I disagree with the Henning loss,this team was the same with him,And Jake was the QB also,I like the way the team is playing,they just NEED A QB,If we stick with David Carr?,I can not see them going to the play-offs,its impossible!! And talkin about the Dan Henning error is OUT! WE NEED BETTER THEN ALL THE MESS IN THE PAST! Fox (WAKE UP!)GO FOR MATT MOORE YOU'LL GET MORE!!!!!!!
Posted by: #1 Fan | Nov 4, 2007 8:39:42 PM
McFadden wouldn't do us any good with the O-line we have. DeShaun and DeAngelo are both good running backs. They just don't have the benefit of consistently good blocking. Look at guys like Joseph Addai and Adrian Peterson, they both have great run blocking. Our guys simply don't have that benefit.
Hartwig was awful today and has been no better than average all season. Wahle, supposedly our best lineman, is overrated. Gross, Bridges and Wharton are all below avg. to average. When you have a line like that you are not going to get a lot of production out of your offense.
We need to go ahead and start Matt Moore. Yeah, he threw a pick but we aren't going anywhere with Carr, so we might as well see what the rookie has. Well, whatever happens with the QB situation, it's clear that Carr is not the future of the team.
Posted by: Jerad Howell | Nov 4, 2007 8:41:02 PM
this "team" has no competative fire. The only bright spot thus far, has been Beason. They ar lacking a "bad ass" mentality like a Rodney Harrison, or a Ray Lewis or a Brian Westbrook. Players like this give their entire teams attitude. Our guys have no attitude. They seem like they're just collecting a paycheck. Our recievers stop routes short, our defense seems proud when a RB only gets 8 yrds. Until we put together a group of coaches and players with attitude; we'll keep getting out-manned and embarrased. Jerry- I hope you read these posts...it starts with you.
I like the Darren McFadden idea!
Posted by: paper bag panther | Nov 4, 2007 8:59:49 PM
It's time to clean house, and the O-line is the first room. Hartwig has been a fraud from day one. Wahle is underachieving and Wharton isn't a starting LT anywhere else in the league. Bridges is just average and Gross is slightly above average. We're overpaying for underachieving. Answer: Cut Hartwig in the offseason and get Kalil up to speed. Draft a LT with our high 1st pick. Go to free agency for a RG. Fire the OL coach and spend some money on a real one. We had one once, and he left after one glorious season.
Posted by: Authority on Everything | Nov 4, 2007 9:11:33 PM
Carr is shell shocked. He looks scared out there and you can't have that. I'd much rather have Moore in there. I can deal with his mistakes, but I can't deal with a QB that looks like a deer in headlights and just braces for the sack when the defender is just starting towards him. He has been sacked so many times, he just assumes the position. You can't have that out there. Carr should be the #3 QB with Vinny starting and Moore #2.
Posted by: Will Piner | Nov 4, 2007 9:34:16 PM
Underachieving is an understatement. This is the most talented line we've had--ever--yet they play like they've never met a position coach. All they had to do was look across the field today to see a real collection of coaches dedicated to prying the most out of their players.
I mean did you see the way the Titans O-line blocked, and how their D-line played like they were unstoppable. We have more talent on our lines, yet the Titans simply outplayed us.
I wonder why? Could it perhaps be coaching?
No, I could never insinuate that; it would be blasphemy.
Getting new parts wouldn't make any difference unless the mechanics knew how to use them.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 4, 2007 9:47:45 PM
mcfadden?why trade up since we'll prolly be in the top 5 picks. besides, he sucks.
this is carolina's offense, or at least should be. Steve Smith as QB, and Foster and Williams and the rb's, When the ball is snapped, everyone spins and the other teams doesn't know who has the ball. thats right, SINGLE WING!! Hey, it's gotta be better than what we have now. Watch it sometime, its pretty sweet, the single wing that is and not our current "o".
notice how well the browns offense is since they got a new cordinator?
Posted by: Chris Norman | Nov 4, 2007 9:50:43 PM
Peppers is the one that's holding our defense back.I think the thing with him is the fact that he doesn't want to be great.If peppers would bring just a little bit of fire our whole defense would respond.
Posted by: wayne | Nov 4, 2007 9:56:47 PM
First of all, I don't agree with such a low grade for the wrs. It is not their fault the qb couldn't get them the ball because he is too hesitant.
Matt Moore needs to start from now on. Testaverde is ok, but he won't be with the team next year. We need to help ourselves for the long term in case Jake is never the same. I also think that we would have a better chance to win with Moore than Carr.
Posted by: Start Moore | Nov 4, 2007 10:11:25 PM
Maybe Peppers should have entered the NBA instead of the NFL.
Posted by: pslholder | Nov 4, 2007 10:17:43 PM
Peppers isn't a bad fball player, but he was sooo good in previous seasons that people expect him to get a sack in every game and that just isn't going to happen!
Posted by: Start Moore | Nov 4, 2007 10:26:37 PM
The team is pretty bad. Steve is not getting the ball and the entire team is struggling. The defense played well enough to win, but Carr is not the answer. I like Fox, but he is not doing a good job. I can predict the play calls just like when Dan was calling the plays. The panthers are not doing well.
Start Moore because he seems to be a good player. Carr has not shown me anything and Vinnie should be number 2. Moore can play until Jake gets back and I understand why they do not Moore to start. He is a rookie and this team thinks it can make the playoffs. Realistically, there is no chance. We look awful on offense.
We do not have the recievers, DeAngelo is okay and so is Deshaun. They are not great and I would rather have the Arkansas kid, but the line has to get better. The coaches suck, the receivers suck, the o-line was bad today but good against the Colts. We need an overhaul
Posted by: fayton washington | Nov 4, 2007 11:13:30 PM
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