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December 16, 2007
Panthers' report card after beating Seattle
Here's the Panthers' report card for Sunday's victory against Seattle:
QUARTERBACK: He wasn't perfect, but Matt Moore kept the offense moving in his first career start. That's something veterans Vinny Testaverde and David Carr hasn't come close to doing in recent weeks. GRADE: A- 
RUNNING BACKS: The Panthers finished with 114 rushing yards and DeAngelo Williams had a 35-yard touchdown run. But, once again, you have to wonder why the coaches start DeShaun Foster over Williams? GRADE: C+
RECEIVERS: Steve Smith had eight catches and rookie tight end Dante Rosario had a huge catch in the first quarter that gave Moore and the offense some confidence. GRADE: B-
OFFENSIVE LINE: The Panthers knew they'd have to keep the pressure off Moore and they did. Right tackle Jordan Gross shut down Patrick Kerney, who had 10 sacks in his previous four games. GRADE: A
DEFENSIVE LINE: Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins had a key sack. Rookie Charles Johnson did all right after replacing an injured Julius Peppers. The Seahawks gained only 44 yards on the ground. GRADE: B+
LINEBACKERS: Thomas Davis and Na'il Diggs each recorded a sack and Jon Beason tied for the team-high with eight tackles. GRADE: A
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Matt Hasselbeck threw for 274 yards, but not a lot of them mattered. GRADE: B
SPECIAL TEAMS: John Kasay made two-of-three field goal attempts on a very windy field and the rest of the special teams didn't make any big mistakes. GRADE: B-
COACHING: John Fox might have solidified his job by finally taking a gamble and going with a rookie quarterback. GRADE: A
-- PAT YASINSKAS
Posted by Observer Sports on December 16, 2007 at 04:30 PM | Permalink
Comments
Because Foster is a better pass protector and knows that you have to run forward to gain yards, something Williams OFTEN has trouble with: how many of his runs go for 1, 0, or negative yardage?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 16, 2007 4:33:59 PM
And how is it that you continue to ignore Kasay's inability to get the ball into the end zone on kickoffs without going out of bounds?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 16, 2007 4:35:26 PM
Does this save john fox and hurney??
I hope not
Posted by: doesthissavethefoxylady | Dec 16, 2007 4:37:21 PM
The o line is bad but foster needs to go after this season he has had his chances.
Posted by: steve | Dec 16, 2007 4:44:22 PM
I'm trying to figure out what's worse---The Observer's sports reporters or Michael Procton...geez...
Procton, save it, we don't give a damn...You've proven you're an idiot, we get the point.
Hey Patty Y lets hope that finally playing young talent at the end of the season, which we all agree should have happened weeks ago, doesn't "solidify" Foxy's job...Bye Foxy, Bye Hurney, Bye Foster..Go help Colbert and Peppers pack their crap...
I'd like to see one person at the Observer actually have an opinion about whether or not Foxy should keep his job...Keep walking that fence.
Posted by: Red | Dec 16, 2007 4:45:49 PM
Thank you for the insight, Michael Procton. You are not wasting time and proving yourself to be an arrogant know-it-all jerk. Not at all. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: John Fox | Dec 16, 2007 5:26:12 PM
I watch football for the men in tight pants.....oh yeah and they play with balls.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 16, 2007 5:38:59 PM
what game are you guys watching???? take away the 35 yard TD run and Williams did nothing...the running game is terrible, but it is not the running backs....the o-line is horrible....they had their best day this year in pass blocking....this team needs a stud left tackle....then the running game will change.....right now Williams is a 3rd down back....not a knock....he could be very effective....look at Faulk in new england....fox needs to get his choke hold off of the offense and concentrate on the defense.....good to see johnson finally dress out....Rosario is a player....
Posted by: MILF Hunter | Dec 16, 2007 5:52:27 PM
Thanks MP
I think I hear your Mom calling, better go take out the trash and you probably have school tomorrow
Posted by: Red | Dec 16, 2007 5:59:46 PM
All of you still whinnig about the Panthers not doing a good job, even after they beat a great team like the Seahawks, need to back off. Moore did an amazing job for his first start and you should all respect that. I certainly hope Fox keep his job there is really no other coaches to hire that are better than him at this moment!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sandra | Dec 16, 2007 6:02:09 PM
Sandra-You are one dumb broad.
Posted by: Jerry Richardson | Dec 16, 2007 7:21:42 PM
I'm sorry I'm venting. The Bobcats traded Primoz Brezec, the greatest player in the history of the NBA, this week and I just can't deal with it.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 16, 2007 7:26:39 PM
Michael,
Again, it is a matter of choice. Foster has the fumbles, and he clearly shouldn't be given the ball. He fumbled near our own end zone today, but thankfully recovered it. Plus, with DeAngelo, at least you have a chance a routine play can turn into a big play. Foster has lost whatever skill he had in that regard. However, I am disappointed in Williams, he goes down on one tackle typically and also wastes time not going North and South. We all still dearly miss Steven Davis, and his style of running - hit the hole hard, knees pumping high, make one cut at full speed and run over anyone in front of you. He is the last punishing back we had. But, you have to choose someone, and I would much rather have Williams than Foster. Fewer fumbles, big play ability, and his pass protection can't be that much worse. It was good to see Robinson get some snaps at receiver, good not to see Colbert dropping passes and smiling his stupid smile. Gross is MVP of this game though, he did a great job on Kearny, and showed, in my opinion, why they should have put him at left tackle this year. Run blocking - either we just don't understand the zone blocking scheme or don't have the right people to do it. However, if we can open the field up with passing it will free up the running game more. Should be an interesting meeting with Dallas now - they can't afford to sit their starters as they are fighting for home field with Green Bay, so they will bring all they've got. Any bets that Fox starts Vinny at QB that game?
Posted by: Willy | Dec 16, 2007 7:36:09 PM
Fox only makes good decisions when fate forces him to. If Vinny had been healthy, he'd have started, and we'd have lost. Bank on it.
Moore really looked good for a first time starting. I think he's a keeper. He's actually more accurate and poised in the pocket than Jake is. Get this kid some seasoning and we might have our QB for the future.
Posted by: Authority on Everything | Dec 16, 2007 7:39:58 PM
Saying Moore is better than Delhomme after one start is a stretch. BUT, I certainly have cautious optimism that if Moore continues this level of performance that we will have a great QB of the future to groom and backup Delhomme next year and maybe start the year after. Just go on ahead and deactivate Carr and have him clean out his locker.
Posted by: Pres. of Delhomme Fan Club | Dec 16, 2007 9:15:54 PM
A. Procton is an idiot.
B. thats what she said.
Posted by: Aaron | Dec 16, 2007 9:30:41 PM
Is this guy serious with the grading of this offens?!? Can you say bias?? They only put up 13 points, and over half of that came when the game was already over!!
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 16, 2007 9:44:02 PM
If your not Happy with a Panther Win.
"Keep Crying"
Posted by: KingDaddy | Dec 16, 2007 10:00:26 PM
"Because Foster is a better pass protector and knows that you have to run forward to gain yards, something Williams OFTEN has trouble with: how many of his runs go for 1, 0, or negative yardage?"
All very true!
Posted by: Roger | Dec 17, 2007 12:50:52 AM
And for all of you Trvo haters out there... eat sh*t and die!!! Merry Christmas. :)
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 17, 2007 2:00:32 AM
So the conclusion for Procton is that its better to have a back in there who is better at pass protection but has a tendency to give the ball to the opposing team?
Posted by: funnyguy | Dec 17, 2007 4:18:49 AM
I'm with Procton on Williams. I knew it was going to happen and still don't believe all these people compeltely oblivious to the fact that DeAngelo hardly ever gets over a yard. Yes, he had a long TD run but the blocking/holding was so good that even I could have ran through it. If this guy stays on the field, there is no way the chains keep moving often enough to give the D a rest.
Posted by: jason | Dec 17, 2007 5:44:44 AM
Ok Williams might not be an every down back at the moment, but he does break big plays.
Him and Foster are too similar, Foster takes up more of the cap and has had his chance. So....we need get a power back through free agency to compliment Williams and cut Foster.
Also we should use Williams more in the passing game for the rest of the season instead of Colbert who will be gone by the end of the season.
Williams can be our version of Reggie Bush by using him at certain times in the running games and out of the backfield as a receiver and getting YAC.
Posted by: C | Dec 17, 2007 6:11:51 AM
How can you trust a guy averaging 3.5 yds/carry and twice as many fumbles as td's as being your everydown back?
Posted by: funnyguy | Dec 17, 2007 6:20:06 AM
SYRPIS,
I would tell you the same thing except cannabilism is illegal.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 17, 2007 7:56:17 AM
Did anyone watch Brandon Jacob run for the Giants last night. Now that is a running back!!! He couldn't catch a cold but he converted on almost every short yardage carry.
Posted by: B | Dec 17, 2007 8:00:36 AM
It's better to have a back in there that has a chance to get a quality run once a series rather than once a month. Williams may "break big plays" on a very rare occasion, but outside of his 35-yard gallop at the end of the game, he averaged 1.86 YPC. That run, in addition to the 75-yarder, also distort his YPC for the year, bringing it all the way down from 4.7 YPC to 3.8.
I'm certain Foster is unhappy about the fumbling issues he's had, but I'm also sure that the guy is more than capable of holding on to the ball, and he's also proven to be much better at not running straight backwards if the blocking isn't perfect. In short, Williams can make something out of what he's given, but Foster can create a 2 or 3 yard gain that Williams would take for a 3 or 4 yard loss, which keeps us out of the 2nd- and 3rd-and long situations which close the playbook and force us into the safe draws that all of you hate so much.
(And P.S.: for all of you that somehow think Foster fumbled yesterday, the only fumbles shown in the stats are the pair committed by Golden Boy Moore.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 17, 2007 8:00:37 AM
"John Fox might have solidified his job by finally taking a gamble and going with a rookie quarterback."
Statements like this make me want to F'IN PUKE. If anything John Fox solidfied his case for being fired. Matt Moore should have been given a chance long ago. He might have led us to 1 or 2 more victories than we have now, which puts us in the playoff picture. John Fox played David Carr because we spent so much money on him.
It was a COLOSSAL BLUNDER not giving this guy a shot earlier in the season when Carr was stinking up the joint and VT just didn't have what it takes to QB behind a super-sub-par O Line (no disrespect intended to VT, you are a f'in stud and I could only wish to be in that good of shape at 44).
FIRE THIS F'IN CLOWN. Go do your run middle, run middle and then force the QB to convert 3rd and long offense somewhere else!!
Posted by: jpw | Dec 17, 2007 8:07:10 AM
Are you unhappy that Moore did OK? Are you unhappy that we won? Are you unhappy that you were wrong about Moore? Are you just unhappy? It's Christmas, really, lighten up, and stop being the turd in the punchbowl. Enjoy the win for a day or two.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 17, 2007 8:08:23 AM
For those who feel Carolina should fire John Fox (there are a lot here) I tell them coach Fox made NFL history yesterday being the first coach to win 4 games with 4 different starting QBs in the same season. That's right; John Fox won a game with a starting QB Delhomme, a soon-to-be out of football QB David Carr, a 44-y/o QB Vinny Testaverde and an undrafted rookie QB Matt Moore. The Carolina Panthers offensive line had by far its best game and the NFC west sucks resulting in my sucky Panthers defeating the division champion Seattle Seahawks. Fox can coach the problem is the Panthers drafting sucks and they need to segregate coaching & drafting responsibilities. Fox and worthless GM Marty Hurney do the draft. Fire GM Hurney, get a GM who can draft good, then demand Fox he focus on game day coaching and player development. He is a lot better coach than an evaluator of talent.
Posted by: Matt | Dec 17, 2007 8:20:51 AM
Williams may not be a pounding back that gives you a guaranteed 2-4 yards a carry, yes he dances too much and often loses yards or goes down with no gain and at this point in his career he may be a solid #2 back. That does not mean that Foster is a good starting back. Foster is not reliable enough and not consistent enough to get the bulk of the carries every week. He's had two years to prove himself as a starter in this league and has failed. Dont get me wrong, he is a good back and shows flashes, but still not a #1 back in the league, contrary to what Procton may think.
Posted by: mattdadddy | Dec 17, 2007 8:46:28 AM
Lets put the RB issue in perspective. Foster makes $5.5 mil, Williams and Hoover $1.0 mil. Now is Foster 5.5 times better than Williams(I would like to hear someone make that argument). Fosters cap%/production has got to be one of the lowest in the NFL. Because of the cap and Fosters cap% we can't AFFORD better o-linemen. Another Hurney faux pas, investing in overpaid underachievers.
Posted by: B | Dec 17, 2007 9:48:08 AM
I wasn't wrong about him...I have no problem that we've found a decent backup with the capability to not lose a game in a dumbed-down offense when the defense plays up to its absolute peak. He's just not Joe Montana, and unlike everybody else on here, I watched a player who isn't perfect yesterday.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 17, 2007 9:49:53 AM
who claims the man was perfect? who claimed he was joe montana? who annointed him the 'qb of the future'? The truth is, the man had a good game, great when compared to some of the games of Carr and Vinny have posted. Whether he won the game or just didnt lose the game, the team won with him at the most important position on the field. Yes the defense played its best game of the season against a division winning team, but isnt it the case that the defense was so successful because the actually got some rest now that the offense can muster a few drives and convert on 3rd downs.
Posted by: mattdadddy | Dec 17, 2007 10:02:14 AM
I have to agree with Procton on this! Foster does have fumble issues, but I'm sure he is aware of this and is addressing that. He's in a bit of a slump in that regards. I'd like to have back next year along with Williams. I still feel like it's the O-line's problem of not opening up holes for whoever the running back is.
Posted by: Juan | Dec 17, 2007 10:07:03 AM
Juan, the only way you address fumbling issues is to stop fumbling. So, either Foster isn't aware that he fumbles, or whatever he did to address it didn't work. Remember how Tiki Barber made a complete change in the way he carried the ball because of fumbles? Foster has fumbled more and done less to fix it. Uh...I just have to hold on to the ball...is not a fix.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 17, 2007 10:24:45 AM
Foster is neither a power back nor a scat back--at least he hasn't shown that ability for the past three years.
When he first came into the league he had the ability to make a defender miss in the open field and break an 80-yard game changing run. But now, all he can do is fall forward into a pile of defenders.
He is not the same back that he was then. He is no longer an elite-type back. He is mediocre at best.
It is time to move on.
Posted by: hillbilly | Dec 17, 2007 2:11:52 PM
Lighten up on Moore MIKEY
Posted by: jeff | Dec 17, 2007 4:29:47 PM
"I tell them coach Fox made NFL history yesterday being the first coach to win 4 games with 4 different starting QBs in the same season. That's right; John Fox won a game with a starting QB Delhomme, a soon-to-be out of football QB David Carr, a 44-y/o QB Vinny Testaverde and an undrafted rookie QB Matt Moore".
Amen!
Show me a coach in the NFL who has had the quarterback issues we've had and who has managed to win as much as we have.
If Fox and the Panthers had lost as many games as we've lost with a consistent quarterback, then I'd say maybe its' time for Foxxy go go.
But based on the challenges this team has had...I think we're holding our own pretty darn well!
Now let's kick some cowboy axx!
Posted by: panthergrrl | Dec 18, 2007 8:43:16 AM
Fourth and 1 two weeks ago--run toward the middle, no gain. Sunday, fourth and 1, same call, no gain. How about something, anything the defense does not expect.
Posted by: scicaster | Dec 18, 2007 9:45:15 AM
Michael Procton may get on your nerves, but he is right about John Kasay. He has been TERRIBLE on kickoffs this season, constantly kicking it out of bounds. Many times it's been at points in the game where where it really hurt as well.
I disagree with his assessment of Foster though. DeFumbles Foster can't hold on to the ball and while he may move forward, it's rarely enough to matter.
I would rather have someone who rushes for 0, 1, 20, 1, 3, 15 than someone who rushes for 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, etc.
If Foster was steadily picking up 4+, that would be a different story...but he isn't.
Posted by: Derek | Dec 18, 2007 12:44:28 PM
But Williams doesn't run for the line you wrote...he runs for: 0, -3, -6, 12, 1, 0, 3.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 18, 2007 3:28:17 PM
Wow, I can pull a couple of totally random lines from a totally random game, too! And they're actually real!
Foster: 2,0,1,3,5,4,2,1,4,2,0,1,7,3,1,0,6
Williams: 2,-5,9,11,6,4,75,13(TD),0
One negative yardage play for Williams and a 13-yard TD, while Foster had just three carries for more than 4 yards and no carries that were longer than 7 yards.
Now guess what team these two backs were running against--the Cardinals.
Foster could't even break off a single run of 10-yards or more against the flimsy Cardinal defense. He had 17 carries to Williams 9, and he still couldn't find a seam.
Give me Williams any day.
Posted by: hillbilly | Dec 18, 2007 8:20:03 PM
And by the way, that 75-yarder that Williams broke off was not a statistic error; it's real.
When was the last time Foster came anywhere close to sniffing a 75-yarder? Never, that's when. His career long was 47, and that was back in '05.
The longest run he's had the past two seasons is 23.
Posted by: hillbilly | Dec 18, 2007 8:30:39 PM
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