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December 09, 2007
Panthers' report card following Jaguars rout
Here's the Panthers' report card for Sunday's loss to Jacksonville:
QUARTERBACKS: Vinny Testaverde's a great guy and he's a perfect fill-in for a game or two. But this is what happens when you try to ride him for a season: 13 for 28 for 84 yards. GRADE: F
RUNNING BACKS: A week after DeAngelo Williams had a big game, he barely got on the field. It wasn't like DeShaun Foster was lighting it up. GRADE: F
RECEIVERS: Steve Smith had six catches, but was held to 44 yards. Starting Drew Carter over Keary Colbert was a nice move, but it didn't really matter. GRADE: D
OFFENSIVE LINE: Geoff Hangartner started at right guard in place of Jeremy Bridges. Testaverde had some time to throw, but didn't make anything happen. If there were holes for the running game, Foster couldn't find them. GRADE: D
DEFENSIVE LINE: The Panthers put some pressure on David Garrard, but couldn't sack him. The Jaguars rushed for 178 yards. GRADE: D
LINEBACKERS: Jon Beason had 12 tackles, but the linebackers also missed some tackles. GRADE: D
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Chris Harris had a game-high 14 tackles and forced a fumble. But the secondary helped make a very mediocre group of receivers look pretty good. GRADE: D
SPECIAL TEAMS: There weren't any major mistakes this time, but there was nothing special. GRADE: C-
COACHING: Might have been nice to see a few of those trick plays the Panthers used against the 49ers a week ago. When you know you've got issues on offense, you have to be creative. This game plan wasn't even close to creative. GRADE: F
-- PAT YASINSKAS
Posted by Observer Sports on December 9, 2007 at 09:54 PM | Permalink
Comments
SPECIAL TEAMS: There weren't any major mistakes this time, but there was nothing special. GRADE: C-???
huh? Kickoff out of bounds, 37 yard punt return, i think a C- is too gracious
Posted by: PantherFan | Dec 9, 2007 10:06:00 PM
It is what it is...
Posted by: John Fox | Dec 9, 2007 10:09:52 PM
I hope you guys had super duper fun out there!
Posted by: John Fox | Dec 9, 2007 10:17:51 PM
Its time for Zoolander to get a hair cut and toss some side arm passes to steve. The season is a loss, i cant watch this poor showings anymore. Time to blow up the team. Cut zoolander, rucker and foster, draft a power running back, a safety and some offensive line help. Get a new coach with some aggresion and courage to them. Play some rookies!! the worst thing to happen to the Panthers was that Vinny had a good first game. Go with Carr or Moore, vinny isnt coming back. Hang in there and hope we get a high draft pick. The season is over. I have Faith Jake will elad them back next year.
Posted by: Radicaldad | Dec 9, 2007 10:30:24 PM
Grade for ownership F
In Scott Fowler's column he stated that Jerry Richardson has been asked several times but refuses any interviews. What cattle defication. How does he justify hiding in the castle we all paid to build. That humble man who appealed to us all to help him build something special is now a damn Howard Hughes level recluse that feels no obligation to communicate with his customers. Tell us something Jerry, what are you prepared to do to give us a winner? This is a town that tolerates nothing less than winning in business, and is damned good at it. When are you going to stop giving us a .500 team? We want to believe, but you holing up in your castle doesn't help. It has to be you, Big Cat.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 9, 2007 11:07:50 PM
Its time for a complete overhaul.
Cut Foster, Colbert and Carr. Make Morgan retire. Draft a QB and O-linemen and a safety.
Posted by: TheLowDown Zen | Dec 9, 2007 11:20:16 PM
Oh yeah, make Gamble a nickle back or trade him. Starting Corners would be Marshall and Lucas.
Posted by: TheLowDown Zen | Dec 9, 2007 11:22:57 PM
Ithink we should fire fox and crew and bring in the offensive coordinator from the new england patriots.
Posted by: James | Dec 10, 2007 12:02:44 AM
Willy, I know you didn't like the .500 teams so this year I have decided to give you a 5-11 team. You got a problem with that?
Posted by: Jerry Richardson | Dec 10, 2007 12:15:09 AM
Deshaun Foster has got to go...i've given this guy a chance every year, but he clearly is not the answer. he's average at best, and that just doesn't cut it. why they don't given deangelo more chances i dont know. im not saying he's the answer either, but i have to believe at this point there's nothing to lose starting him over foster.
Posted by: Matt A | Dec 10, 2007 12:20:18 AM
Prescription for Panther woes:
1. Hire Pete Carroll
2. Draft Jake Long or Matt Ryan (both positions need to be addressed in the draft)
3. Find a true free safety in FA
This, I believe, is a firm start for a turnaround. The team already has Smith, Beason, Peppers, Marshall, Harris and Kalil to build on.
Posted by: Dave | Dec 10, 2007 2:44:59 AM
It is pointless to draft a QB until the OL is upgraded. Ditto a RB.
Start in the trenches. Fascinating that our former starter at G didn't start when our current starter went out. WTF? Is Kalil a bust too? Or was it nuts to try to make him a G?
Either one does not speak well of this staff.
Posted by: JAT | Dec 10, 2007 3:08:37 AM
let's be real here. I've played some football and watched a bit in my life. My observations are as follows:
Coach Fox has been figured out by the rest of the coches in the NFL. No more surprises.
For the most part on the offensive and defensive lines we have 2nd/3rd tier pros. leftovers.
We have exactly one pro receiver
Deshuan Foster is a back-up in this league because mentally he can't put together a full season. You can bet the other teams expect him to cough it up in the clutch too.
Our special teams are sissies and the coach is useless.
This team plays scared in most games.
Chris Gamble is a nickel back...too soft...even before the broken hand.
Even Hurney will be surprised if he returns next season.
Come on 08/09 season.
Posted by: sid smith | Dec 10, 2007 4:26:23 AM
"For the most part on the offensive and defensive lines we have 2nd/3rd tier pros. leftovers."
Ding ding ding!
Again, ask yourself who on this OL would start elsewhere in the league? Gross probably everywhere, Wharton many places -- as G. Never as a T.
That's it.
Now DL. Pep, but I guarantee deployed differently and with none of the mystery surrounding his playing weight. If he is only 250, then he is a passing situation platoon guy lotsa places. That is IF he got his motor up -- otherwise he sits.
Jenk might get some run a runstopper on 1st down.
And that's it, although I like Lewis as a change-up DT. He would contribute lotsa places.
And you're right about Foxy being figured out bigtime. Ever since the NFC title game. D -- Eight in the box, and roll toward Smith. O -- 3-step slants, middle of the field, TE, gash the edges. Go hurry up if you get behind, cuz Foxy will shut it down up 2 scores, giving you a chance to catch him.
We need to start over.
Posted by: JAT | Dec 10, 2007 5:50:37 AM
The Panthers should try to get Jack Del Rio as next coach. The man puts out a solid product each year. The move to get rid of Leftwich and start Gerrard. Two hard chargin running backs. Solid on defense. He built the defense that carried the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 04. He could move to the NFC South and win 3 more games each year, than in the AFC South which the Panthers were a perfect 0-4 against. I am not 100% sold on Cowher but I think he would be an improvement over what we have now. Patriot coord. I don't think Weiss and Mangini are burning it up right now.
Posted by: B | Dec 10, 2007 8:20:21 AM
Up until this game I wasn't sure letting Fox go was the right idea. This loss sealed his fate. Time to dismantle and retool. How about Jimmy Johnson in Charlotte? He is one of the best in the draft and a hell of a coach.
Posted by: MoreMoore | Dec 10, 2007 8:48:25 AM
Update from Sunday:
I bet against us with the Money Line and the Over. Honestly speaking, I have never done that before. I never bet with my team. But for those out there trying to hit parlays. The Panthers are as good a lock for losing as the Patriots are for covering and winning. I give the Panthers an "A" for helping me win my money back that I invested in them to begin with. I give Vinny an "A' for acting his age. He is playing the same way he last played......OLD! I hate to say it but let's go Packers. At least I can watch an old man make history. Panthers Suck!
Posted by: dubbya | Dec 10, 2007 9:17:46 AM
Well there is one bright side: if there is ever a tornado or hurricane in Charlotte we will all be safe at BoFA stadium because it will never touchdown there.
Posted by: funnyguy | Dec 10, 2007 9:22:28 AM
I love it how everyone was on Lucas several weeks ago and now everyone is on Gamble. Why don't we just rid of both? Trgovac needs to go. We need a better defense scheme. Teams have seen us play this way for far too long and know how to attack.
Posted by: Bryan | Dec 10, 2007 10:26:44 AM
If Bill Cowher is going to coach next year, Panthers need to pay him. We need a coach that is gritty and tough. Someone who knows how to win almost all his home games.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 10, 2007 10:55:05 AM
Ok , We have been out of playoff contention for a while and we know we are BAD!. Time to look at what we have , evaluate the young talent, and get ready for next year. Please FIRE ! Hurney..... As a GM he has drafted 1 probowl player (Peppers #2 pick overall) and not built any offensive line or any position to greatness. We are slding backwards and depending on 8 year vets without much else behind them. A new GM who has talent scouting credentials will decide Foxx's fate.
Why Hurney should Go:
Cant build through the draft. In todays NFL you have to build through the draft and other than first round Marshall is the only player he has drafted worthy of being on the field on a good team
Posted by: Reggie | Dec 10, 2007 11:03:10 AM
This week Carolina was a big mistake. This was the worst performance of the whole weekend. The best part of the game was Fred Taylor, and the whole Jag team. PANTHERS SUCK!!!!!
Posted by: James Harris | Dec 10, 2007 11:13:06 AM
Pat, Stan, NFL Network, ... will somebody in the press corps PLEASE ASK JOHN FOX some hard questions! These interviews I read are ridiculous! Pin him down. Ask him how he thinks Jerry feels right now. Ask him if he realizes that the fans are calling for his head on a platter.
Can we please get a few reporters with some ballz?
Posted by: Ask John Fox | Dec 10, 2007 11:23:32 AM
Special Teams? For the Panthers the "Special" in Special Teams is alot like the "Special" in Special Olympics.
Fox does not know the meaning of the word accountability. Players should be benched and assistant coaches should be fired. By not doing do, Fox condemns himself.
Posted by: Hopeless | Dec 10, 2007 11:23:51 AM
Holy mackeral is this team bad or what?
They say a team takes on the personality of their coach. This one has.
No effort, energy, enthusiasm, edge, coaching....nothing. Watching this team is as exciting as watching poker on TV.
It is time for a fresh start in Charlotte.
Posted by: Bad football fan | Dec 10, 2007 11:34:05 AM
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