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November 17, 2008
Close wins cause for concern?
A few 9 a.m. Monday thoughts following Carolina's 31-22 win over Detroit:
The easy part of the Panthers' schedule is over and they got past the back-to-back Oakland-Detroit matchups with two wins to improve to 8-2. But is there reason to be concerned that they didn't dominate either game?
Not really.
They got the two wins they needed to to pad their record and they managed to do it without their optimum performance. That's actually the sign of a good team.
The NFL's 16-game season is long. The Panthers will need lots of focus and energy to make it through their final six games. Every game will be against a playoff contender.
There's lots of work ahead, but the Panthers have put themselves in position to have a special season. One way to think about it is even if they split their final six games, they'd finish 11-5. That would be the second-best record in franchise history.
One of the most important things about how the season has gone so far is that they Panthers are healthy. As long as that remains constant, they'll have a chance to make a deep run into the playoffs.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on November 17, 2008 at 09:13 AM | Permalink
Comments
There has to be SOME concern. Had this team dominated, fans would be feeling good, but when its a close game against a wretched team, you have to have some degree of it. Is it enough to make you think this team cant advance in the playoffs? No, but does this win make you think the Panthers are on the level of the Giants, absolutely not.
Posted by: matt | Nov 17, 2008 9:31:06 AM
I think Matt makes a good point, but Charles is right, when you play as bad as we did in Oakland and still win, that means you are truly a better team. And the fact that we haven't played our most complete game yet is good considering our last six opponents. You don't want to peak against Oak and Det. This team is so close to putting it all together. It seems ony two of the three phases play good on the same day. My hope is it continues to build in the right direction and we play our most complete game yet on Dec 21 in NY. We will need it.
Posted by: Chris | Nov 17, 2008 9:42:55 AM
you panther's "fans" are always pessimistic. i guess that helps you from being disapointed, but it goes to show i guess what a bunch of small market fans give to their team. i mean i guess it's better than being in Phily where if you throw one incomplete pass the fans are already called for your hanging, but geez come on. stick with your team. Carolina's 8-2....8-2!!! regardless of the outcome of games the W is there, and the team is playing good. I'm a real fan. And these so called "fans" that comment on this forum just seem to think that a team isn't good unless it's perfect. go tell the 07 Pats that and see what they tell you it'll get you. The Panther's aren't made to be a blow out team anyways. I'll tell you what is the real cause for concern. The fans. Keep this up and not supporting your team and in the next ten years you'll see your team up and move to Alaska or something....start supporting your team you babies
Posted by: Clay | Nov 17, 2008 10:08:24 AM
who isn't supporting their team. Everyone (I think) is glad to have the W, regardless of how the team played. But there is nothing about commenting aspects of the team that that makes you any less of a fan.
Posted by: matt | Nov 17, 2008 10:16:25 AM
Though last sunday's game wasn't as pretty as others may have liked, I was impressed on how were able to run the ball so successfully. I think this will pay dividends in raising our run offense's confidence. Though we are playing playoff contenders the next two games, don't forget that these teams give up alot against the run. We can use this to manage the clock and keep opposing offenses off the field.
Additionally, we all know that Jake is a very emotional quarterback. I look for his confidence to steadily increase as the season progresses. We are under a lot of team's radars. That is when we perform our best.
I will continue to be patient and push for Dwayne Jarrett to be activated for games.
FIREFOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: FIREFOX | Nov 17, 2008 10:17:48 AM
So if these WINS against bad teams make you think Carolina isn't on New York's level, matt, what is it that a 35-14 BLOWOUT to the Browns makes you think about the Giants?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 17, 2008 10:17:49 AM
Let's put it in the right perspective. C'mon people, that was Daunte Culpepper out there yesterday and the Lions have come close to winning a couple of their games even before he was picked up by them. Culpepper is a great QB and leader that the Lions just haven't had over the last decade and I think it showed yesterday that they are starting to put things together. I knew that the Panthers were not going to blow out the Lions. You just didn't bother to take into account the amount of talent the Lions really have. So quit whining about the Panthers not blowing out the Lions. We still got a win out of it.
Posted by: Staff | Nov 17, 2008 10:28:11 AM
I call the Giants loss to the Browns a fluke.....Derek Anderson's and Braylong Edwards one really impressive game all season long.
Posted by: matt | Nov 17, 2008 10:33:01 AM
Does anyone else have a problem with Peter King. Not only is his Monday Morning Quarterback articles always about the same teams, (i.e. Steelers, Cowboys, Redskins, etc.) he never writes about the Panthers. This week in his "Fine 15" he rates the Panthers at 9. The same team with the 3rd best record in football.
Posted by: Steven | Nov 17, 2008 10:33:13 AM
We will be fine the next few weeks. Jake historically plays well against better teams, and if we go into the fourth quarter trailing, even better. Now, if we get up by 2 touchdowns on any of these teams, Panthers fans BEWARE. When we take a lead into the fourth quarter, you can almost feel the Jake thrown pick-six before it happens. After long consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Jake doesn't have a killer instinct. He seems to always want to let the opponent stay close so they don't feel like losers or something. He wants to win, but not by too much. But in this stretch run to the playoffs against all good teams and IN the playoffs, there are few QBs I would rather have.
Now I have a couple questions:
Is anyone besides Procton still riding the "Peppers sucks" bandwagon, or has he sufficiently put everyone's stupidity to bed by now?
Also, where are all of the people who said that Thomas Davis was a bust, that Chris Gamble can't tackle, and that D-Will wasn't good enough to start? Davis is all over the field and on pace to finish with 110+ tackles at the Will position, Gamble is on pace to amass 100 tackles AS A CORNERBACK, and D-Will should (barring injury) become just the 3rd 1,000 yard rusher in team history.
Finally, I remember this blog being blown UP during the offseason with people saying that Hurney and Fox can't scout and draft worth a ****. Where are those people now?
Posted by: Steve | Nov 17, 2008 10:41:57 AM
Ultimately NFL teams are measured by wins and losses. What was the result against Detroit ? Enough said. If we win a Lombardy Trophy with this type of performance I'm all for it !!
Posted by: Joe Pro | Nov 17, 2008 10:44:36 AM
we wont go far if jake keeps playing like a stiff.he was so bad at one point that the panthers had to run every down out of necessity.thank goodness the off line came thru.
i thought the def played well but they werent tackling well,especially davis.it was good to see the tight ends get involved, if only jake could hit them.we should have won this 50-22 if we had a q.b that didnt have his head completely up his ass.
i really am starting to think that jake is stupid.he still has to read the plays off his wrist on every down.brett favre learned the jets off in 1 week.
Posted by: ray | Nov 17, 2008 10:47:15 AM
I agree with staff, in that Daunte Culpepper is a good quarterback and has lifted this team. I mean did you see him stretch even just play for the TD pass. Had they had Culpepper since week one the Lions might be where the Vikings or Falcons are right now (only my opinion, no one needs to lose their head over it). I think the only real concern we should have, other than some of Jakes throws, is the receivers dropping balls. Many of them potential first downs.
Posted by: ANILORAC OG | Nov 17, 2008 10:51:01 AM
Oh yeah... I think this final stretch against quality teams is a great thing for us. It sure will be the measuring stick for how deep in the playoffs this team can go, and I'd rather have them build that confidence in games against true competition rather than the bottom teams.
Posted by: ANILORAC OG | Nov 17, 2008 10:57:22 AM
Clay makes a good point, even though I'm definately guilty of being negative myself. I kind of feel like McCain with that crazy hick who called Obama an "A-rab." I feel like I've created (or at least played a hand) in creating a monster that has gotten out of control. The fans booing Jake yesterday was not the reaction I was hoping for. My only intention (other than hoping that somehow Jake gets motivated by these blogs) is to shed some reality on who the real contributors are. The last thing we need is fans swaying who stays or goes on a team roster. But please don't boo your team on gameday... no matter what.
Steven makes an even bettter point. With all of the accomplishments this year, why aren't the Panthers the buzz (especially after yesterday's rushing performance)!??
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 11:05:56 AM
I think that the reason so many people on here, like myself, are skeptical of this team is our recent history. In the playoffs one year out the next. For years it was hard to put two wins together. One week good, next week bad. There has not been real consistency with this team in a few years. So I think that explains a lot of peoples frustration with yesterdays game. However, I think they are a vey good team, especially with D-Will and Stew in the backfield. Yes Jake is shaky but, hey hasn't he always been. Smitty has made him LOOK a whole lot better than he really is. Remember the superbowl run when they were dubbed the "Cardiac Cats" ...because of Jake. One thing I don't understand is Dwayne Jarrett?? He made some crucial receptions against Arizona a few weeks ago, then he's been inactive, replaced by Hackett? Has he even caught a pass? I think he made it on tv yesterday for a holding call.
Posted by: torn | Nov 17, 2008 11:07:07 AM
Good call...we ran the ball "out of necessity," not because we were averaging 8+ YPC.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 17, 2008 11:07:31 AM
has DeAngelo proven himself as an every down back and not just a "skatback"? The guy runs hard and doesnt just go down on contact, regardless of how people perceive his running style
Posted by: matt | Nov 17, 2008 11:15:45 AM
Torn... they were not dubbed the cardica cats because of Jake (that is if you are suggesting that he regualrly saved the day). They were called the Cardiac Cats because the team had close victories that the TEAM had to fight tooth and nail to get. In fact, there were too many times that they were put in bad situations (as a team) because of fumbles and interceptions.
The only game that Jake was accrdited for that stands out in my memory was the first one of the season where he came in the second half. Again, what people always overlook in that game was the second half performance of Stephen Davis. He was held to nearly nothing in the first have, and came out pounding and running the defense over in the second half.
That being said, since the beginning of last year, Jake has shown major improvement. I think that had to do with his going back home and shoveling sh*t. He said that brought him back down to earth. He is truly at his best when he knows his place (or when he throws the ball with reckless abandon and his teammates come up with crazy catches for him). But hey, Trent Dilfer is still considered a hero for being able to minimize mistakes. I can't see why Jake can't get that same type of credit some day; and I truly hope that he comes to earn it.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 11:27:11 AM
I think the Panthers should be concerned about their performance the last two weeks. Because Jake sucked big time against Oakland and didn't look sharp against the Lions. The defense let Oakland run big against in part last week and Kevin Smith appeared to run at will against them yesterday. They play like this next week and Turner will have 200yrds and Abraham will have 4 sacks.
A win is a win, but the Panthers allowed them to stay in those games. Do that in Atlanta and they lose.
Posted by: jbw | Nov 17, 2008 11:33:34 AM
Ahhh...another quality win by the Carolina Panthers. Hmmm...lets see they lost their (2) games by a total of only 34pts (avg margin of defeat 17pts) or else were staring at another 10-0 team! Their only two losses were to MIN & TB. Of course TB lost their (3) games by a total of 10pts (avg margin of defeat 3.3pts) and a$$ whooped the Pretenders in their only true test so far this season, plus beat the only other team to whoop Carolina. Yep..Nice to load up your win total the past two weeks against OAK, & DET. Real impressive. If any of you fans actually believe they will be at best 13-3, 12-4, or even 11-5 after facing ATL,GB,NYG, & NO on the road, plus TB & DEN at home I want some of what your drinking. Jake scares nobody and as far as your running game...again easy to rack up yards on the ground against the #25 & #30 ranked defenses of the Raiders and Lions. You saw what happens when they run or try to run against a real defense such as TB's - result? running game shut down - passing game shut down - 24pt loss on the scoreboard. And the sad part about all this is that I'm not even implying the Bucs are world beaters, there good - not great, and you saw what happened there...so how can any of you even have the kahunas to talk about playing the Giants for Home field advantage when Jake is smelling up the place and your rb's get shut down whenever they face a decent defense? reality is this: the Panthers will be fortunate to come out of the remaining schedule 2-4 and might..MIGHT slip in with a 10-6 record as a #6 wildcard team. They just as easily could lose 5 or all 6 of their remaining games with the way Jake is palying. They WILL NOT win their division - let alone have home field advantage.
Posted by: rob20819 | Nov 17, 2008 12:17:40 PM
Rob, lets see if your still around Dec 9th.
Posted by: Will Parker | Nov 17, 2008 1:02:28 PM
Charles: I saw that the Panthers practiced a few times last week in the stadium concourse during the rain- is that right? Don't most teams have an indoor practice facility for days like that? I know the Titans do and think that we'd be in the same boat as Nasheville, TN. Do you think that hurt our preparation?
Posted by: RDU Cat | Nov 17, 2008 1:05:59 PM
RDU Cat has made a great point. We are an NFL team, get an indoor practice field. This is not high school. This is a sport and team that generates hundreds of millions of dollars.
Posted by: Steven | Nov 17, 2008 1:22:20 PM
Will Parker:
I'll be around as I live in the area. You may have missed my point, that being Panther fans should temper their expectations till they actually play the meat of their schedule. And btw...never said the Bucs were going to win the division or even make the playoffs (all though I believe both to be true) they just happen to be much more balanced (#5 Def, #9 Off) at the present time than Carolina is (#7 Def, #18 Off) The Panthers will be home on their respective couches come playoff time if Jake doesn't start playing better - thats a fact. They face not only good defenses - but even better offenses in the coming weeks - lopsided efforts like yesterdays will not get it done - especially on the road.
Posted by: rob20819 | Nov 17, 2008 1:23:52 PM
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