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December 17, 2007
Gross makes case for Pro Bowl
It's been written several times that with wide receiver Steve Smith far down in the reception rankings and no one else lighting it up on offense or defense, that the Panthers are likely to have no Pro Bowlers
this season. While that remains a strong possibility, a good case can be made for right offensive tackle Jordan Gross.
Gross has gone up against some pretty good DEs this year, and has allowed one sack. Not last week or last month -- one sack all season. No other O-line starter has given up fewer than four.
What brought this to my attention was the strong effort Gross had against Seattle's Patrick Kerney Sunday. Kerney came in sizzling, with nine sacks in his previous four games overall and a league-leading 13.5 overall. Kerney gave Gross considerable credit afterward, as did Panthers coach John Fox.
Gross, in his fifth season, has stepped up this year after three straight seasons in which he allowed 5.25 sacks or more. The NFC should strongly consider sending him to Hawaii. That said, I'm
wondering if you guys think anyone else deserves to go. Gross definitely does.
--STAN OLSON
Posted by Observer Sports on December 17, 2007 at 01:26 PM | Permalink
Comments
How about Chris Harris for the Pro-Bowl? He deserves as much, if not more, than Gross.
Posted by: mattdadddy | Dec 17, 2007 1:40:50 PM
I think Beason, Chris Harris, or Richard Marshall could merit selection, based on their stats alone (particularly Harris, whose 7 FFs are matched with his NFL defensive back-leading 84 tackles.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 17, 2007 1:42:48 PM
Gross has turned into Todd Steussie on the right: good at pass blocking, bad with penalties.
I'm also questioning the STATS number. I seem to recall at least three on him I noticed. Maybe I confused him with King (though I don't think so), or maybe STATS (mis?)assigned the sack to the RB or something.
Posted by: jdb1972 | Dec 17, 2007 1:46:57 PM
Are you kidding? No one on this team deserves to go to the Pro-Bowl. Jason Baker, maybe. Chris Harris is average AT BEST in coverage. The guy knows how to hit receivers and tackle ball carriers, but that doesn't warrant pro-bowl consideration. 84 tackles for a safety tells me that too many opposing rushers have been able to reach the 2nd and 3rd level of the defense. The MLB should be the leading tackler by a longshot in any 4-3 defense. Passes Defensed and Interceptions are much more important statistics for a defensive back. Also, Richard Marshall was getting abused yesterday until he recovered that fumble. There are far better players throughout the NFC at every position in comparison to the Panthers' starters.
Posted by: PMK | Dec 17, 2007 1:53:02 PM
Deshaun Foster, too. He is the best running back I've EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!!!
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 17, 2007 2:00:32 PM
Procton you must be smoking something if you think Foster is great he needs to go away
Posted by: steve | Dec 17, 2007 2:39:29 PM
PMK, obviously you know nothing about football. The strong safety is not the primary cover guy, it is the free safety. Chris Harris has been doing what he was brought here to do and that is make plays!!!
Posted by: Panther's Fan | Dec 17, 2007 2:45:02 PM
To all you people that get bent out of shape at Proctor's outlandish comments...good for you for taking the bait like good little sheeple you are.
As for Pro-Bowl selections, I believe Beason should get Rook of the Year but certainly not Pro-Bowl status yet. Otherwise everyone else on the team deserves exactly what they will be getting this year...a one way ticket to the Lazy boy to watch it from their homes. Of course they would be comfy there since it'd be their second time, the first being the SB.
Posted by: Panther Goddess | Dec 17, 2007 2:48:43 PM
Beason is a beast and a top rookie LB, but its hard not to say that if a LB is going to win Rookie of the year, it will go to Patrick Willis.
Posted by: funnyguy | Dec 17, 2007 3:06:58 PM
Panther Goddess try using spellcheck.
Posted by: Wayne | Dec 17, 2007 3:17:26 PM
Wayne,
Try adding to the actual conversation next time.
funnyguy,
I get you on that. My point is that Beason has been the only real excitement on the team as far as possible recognition goes. If they'd actually give it to him or not is always speculative.
Posted by: Panther Goddess | Dec 17, 2007 3:26:17 PM
He may only have given up 1 sack but I bet he is the most penalized player on the O-line. Plus, he only does half of his job well. We all know that nobody on that line can run block worth a damn.
Posted by: Jerad | Dec 17, 2007 3:40:08 PM
Panther Goddess Kerry Colberts drops do add excitement to the game
Posted by: Wayne | Dec 17, 2007 3:59:21 PM
matt moore to probowl. he did what two number one picks couldn't do.... make the panther offense bearable and somewhat exciting
Posted by: Matt Moore | Dec 17, 2007 4:07:28 PM
Yes it's been a very crappy season, and I question whether most of these guys deserve to go to the pro-bowl, but what about Chris Harris? Harris leads the league in fumbles forced, and he is quickly gaining a reputation as a safety that will light you up. What do you all think, Harris to the pro-bowl?
Posted by: Matt West | Dec 17, 2007 4:21:21 PM
No one on the offensive lines deserves to go, not even Gross. Like Jerad said, Gross does more than the rest, but only half of his job. No one on the line run blocks worth a crap, which really sucks with a slow starting back like Foster. They need a new O Line coach, because their technique is so bad. They stand up too straight and always lose leverage, and get pushed backwards, and get no movement on the defense at all. They all need to be replace with better talent.
Posted by: J P | Dec 17, 2007 4:51:32 PM
You hit the nail on the head, JP.
The O-Line has talent, but no coaching to speak of.
The team needs coaches who know how to work with the talent one-on-one, and help them learn the intricacies of their positions. There's a ton more to playing on the line than just pushing on the man in front of you.
But the same can be said about the majority of the position coaches on the team.
The D-Line is in a perpetual decline; the wide receivers have regressed; the running backs, mainly Foster, haven't lived up to their potential; special teams aren't so special anymore; other than Beason, the linebackers don't seem able to mentally grasp their role in the scheme.
So with all the talent on the current roster, why isn't this team's performance reflecting it?
Because of poor coaching, that's why.
Posted by: hillbilly | Dec 17, 2007 6:00:37 PM
here we go again!! Now Stan is doing it! This hack just got his Christmas bonus from Gross to post this garbage! Gross is in the middel of contract negotiations and his agent makes sure good things are said about him to increase is fan support and thereby increasing his value. Thing is, Gross is constantly causing false start penalties and killing drives. Moreover, his versatility is very limited since he only makes a decent LT. Let's not overlook how many times he has allowed an opponent to reach around him to cause Delhomme to fumble! This guy is good for a 4M/yr contract; give or take. Anything more would be robbery. On the upside, aside from Whale, he probably is the best OL the Panthers have. If you are truly a Panther fan, you will keep it simple and true for the sake of the team, not your most publicized player. Merry Christmas.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 17, 2007 7:43:52 PM
As far as who deserves to go, it's a tough call... Hmmmmmm..... I would like to say Beason or Whale, but the poor performance of the OL overall and the better pro-bowl considerations for LB in the NFC (Patrick Willis, to name one) nullifies that consideration. Why not send Steve Smith and Kris Jenkins on past merit. Maybe then can gripe about their contracts again next year after another pro bowl selection. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 17, 2007 7:49:52 PM
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh... I forgot all about Julius Poopers!!! How could I have done that???
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 17, 2007 7:51:10 PM
Panther " wanna b" Goddess, you must be the Silly24whore, who post articales on the board, but has no idea what the F your talking about. Procton Marshall hasnt played enough to be waranted for probowl consideration. If Beason would have started the season he would have won Defensive rookie of the year no doubt. Remember folks, (even the silly24whore) should know this that there id a rookie of the year for both offense and defense.
Posted by: Stfu | Dec 17, 2007 11:46:59 PM
What about Mike Wahle???
Posted by: DST | Dec 18, 2007 12:18:49 AM
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Posted by: hiuvmojfzq | Dec 18, 2007 8:10:00 AM
Harris
Smith
Gross
Posted by: CS | Dec 18, 2007 9:02:14 AM
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