Tom Talks

It's 2009 all over again for Panther offense, and that's not good

    Carolina’s offense wasn’t bad against the New York Jets Saturday. It was abysmal. Unless a player made a great individual play, the Panthers had nothing.

 

 Matt Moore, who played the first half, did not look like a starting quarterback. Rookie Jimmy Clausen played the second, and he had moments. But he also threw a rookie interception. And when he moved around and beat the rush his inclination always was to throw the ball out of bounds rather than look for a receiver.

 

    In Clausen’s defense, the blockers he played behind appeared to have sent party invitations to New York’s defensive line.

 

    WHERE: Carolina’s backfield.

 

    WHEN: Whenever you feel like it.

 

    DRESS: Business casual.

 

    WHO CAN I BRING:  Linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks and third-teamers.

 

    The Panthers are 0-2 in exhibitions. The losses are not particularly important. But the inability to score – the offense has yet to score a touchdown -- is.

 

I know that star receiver Steve Smith has yet to play. Star cornerback Darrelle Revis has not played for the Jets. 

 

    The offense has been so predictable, ineffective and boring that it reminds me of last season.

 

     You remember last season. For the first time under John Fox the Panthers lost all four practice games. Then they lost their first three regular-season games. They averaged fewer than 13 points in the three losses. It was as if they were perpetually running underwater, into the wind and up a hill.

 

    Even though they rallied to finish 8-8, it was a dismal 8-8. As the season wound down, they beat teams that didn’t have to win, or didn’t care to. True, Fox’s teams don’t quit on him. But they didn’t win for him when it mattered.

 

Under Fox, however, preseason performance has never foreshadowed regular­ results.

 

    The Panthers went 4-0 in practice games in 2003, ’04 and ’06.

 

    In real games they went 11-5 in ’03, 7-9 in ’04 and 8-8 in ’06.

 

    The Panthers won 11 regular season games in ’05 and 12 in ’08. They went 2-2 in the preseason in each of them.

 

New Orleans, which won the Super Bowl last season, went 3-1 in practice games. It beat Indianapolis, which went 1-3.

 

    Even if Carolina’s performance in August is not an indicator of its performance in the fall, the offense isn’t working. If it continues to perform the way it has, somebody will pass out buttons that say, BRING BACK JAKE, and a few people will wear them.

 

    You know, of course, that there never has been a must-win game in the history of exhibition football, and there never will be. But the Tennessee game at Bank of America Stadium Saturday is important. The third exhibition always is because it most closely approximates a real game. Starters spent more time on the field and offensive and defensive coordinators spend more time developing  game plans.

 

    Saturday is an opportunity for Carolina's offense to establish that it no longer is 2009.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger, what were you thinking, and in related news, do you think?

   Anybody who watched or listened to Roger Clemens testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee can't be surprised he was indicted for lying to Congress. He thought he could overpower the government, apparently. But he lost his fastball. The longer he talked, the less credible he became. He got what he deserved.

   I've looked at the numbers and tried to find a way for Kenny Moore, the former Butler High and Wake Forest star, to make the Panthers. I've yet to find one. Steve Smith makes the team. So does Dwayne Jarrett. So do rookies Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards. So does special teams specialist and receiver Wallace Wright. Moore is classy and he works hard and you couldn't dislike him if you tried, even if you went to Independence. It's OK to pull for the good guys, right? Also, he can play.

    My Wednesday began in Spartanburg in the sun at Panthers' practice and ended more than 11 hours later in the rain at Waddell high's practice. Long day, but it's not as if I have a real job. I'm not sure which practice I enjoyed more. Reminded me why I love this game.

   

 

What year is it in Arkansas?

    The Arkansas radio personality and Florida alum who wore the Gators cap to the Arkansas football news conference made a poor fashion choice. But radio personalities aren't known for their fashion sense.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, who all but left the Atlanta Falcons in the middle of the night, made an unfortunate choice when he told Renee Gork, "And that will be the last question I answer with that hat on."  

    The general manager of KAKS made an even more unfortunate choice when he fired Gork. Don't you love it when your employer has your back? The KAKS general manager said, "We are very biased. We support the Razorbacks 100%."

    Don't know if the guy was wearing an Arkansas cheerleader outfit when he said it.

    What year is it in Arkansas? How supportive does the radio's talent have to be? Is a KAKS employee allowed to wear, say, an Alabama T-shirt or use a Tennessee towel in his or her own home?

    "Hello, this is KAKS. I can't take your call right now. I'm washing the car of Bobby Petrino, and I'm using Arkansas water. Leave a message, and after I get the coach and his staff coffee, I'll get back to you."

One more practice and they're free

The humidity at Carolina's next to last practice of training camp Tuesday was so enveloping that even a mannequin would sweat. But there was joy to it, especially the last half hour. After Wednesday morning's practice, camp ends.

    Tight end Jeff King was asked earlier about the light at the end of the tunnel, and he said he couldn't see it, not with an afternoon practice Tuesday and a morning practice Wednesday. By late Tuesday afternoon,  however, everybody could see the light.

    When the session finally ended, players joked, tossed towels at each other, signed autographs and counted down.

    On Wednesday veterans undoubtedly will tape rookies to the goal post and then they'll leave the field and then they'll leave Spartanburg. I-85 between Spartanburg and Charlotte will look like a showcase for expensive cars. They'll be in the left lane.

Life in the slow lane: Spartanburg on Monday morning

   A quick look at Carolina's first practice Monday:

   There was shade, there was a breeze, life was good. There wasn't shade on the field. There was shade on the side, where the media stood. It can't always be about the players.

    Almost saw a fight. Rashawn Jackson, a rookie fullback out of Virginia, and Sean Ware, a rookie linebacker out of New Hampshire, pushed and shoved during a scrimmage and then -- and then it ended. The altercation is believed to be the first in Panther history that involved a player from New Hampshire.

   Marcus Hudson, the new special teams specialist, sprinted to prevent a punt from bouncing into the end zone. He grabbed the ball in stride at the goal line and flipped it behind him. He turned to Wallace Wright, who trailed him on the play. Did he save it?

    Not quite. The ball appeared to touch the goal line. Next time.

   On successive plays, Jimmy Clausen hit Dante Rosario for a touchdown and then looked off running back Dantrell Savage in the flat and hit him in stride along the right side line.

   On interesting matchup: DeAngelo Williams, who had split wide, working against Jon Beason. But the quarterback went elsewhere.

   Prettiest pass of the day might have been Hunter Cantwell hitting rookie Brandon LaFell over the middle for a TD.

   

Good day for the rookies and for Jeff King

   Quick hits from Carolina's practice Thursday:

    It was a good afternoon for rookie receivers. Brandon LaFell, the third-round pick out of Lousiana State, plays as if he understands. He runs a nice route, knows how to create space near the goal line -- dumb phrase, but he finds room where little appears to exist -- and he's 6-2 and 211 pouinds.

    Armante Edwards, who was taken 11 positions after LaFell, made one of those plays that entices you to look at whomever is standing next to you and ask, "You see that?" Edwards caught a ball over the middle and as safety Charles Godfrey cut him off, Edwards took off. I mean, Edwards did everything but wave and say, "I'll be sure and write." 

Edwards has not had a great camp. But his sudden acceleration was impressive.

Tight end Dante Rosario also grabbed a pass in front of Godfrey, and as Godfrey ran him out of bounds, he gave him a good shot. Godfrey is 5-10, 210 pounds, Rosario 6-4 and 250. After Godfrey gave Rosario the shot, he gave him a little tap on the helmet. Smart man.

Rookie defensive end Greg Hardy beat guard Kurtis Gregory with a quick step and a double spin move and reached the backfield almost unimpeded. There was no quarterback to sack; this was a drill. But I tell you, Hardy has been one of the stars of camp. He's 6-4 and 277 pounds and was drafted in the sixth round out of Mississippi.

   Also having a good camp is safety Jordan Pugh, another rookie and another sixth-round pick. He played at Texas A&M. Pugh tipped away what would have been a touchdown pass to wide receiver Oliver Young.

   Best catch of the day: tight end Jeff King, bringing down the ball with one hand in the back of the end zone.

    I asked King, out of Virginia Tech, if he worried about the Hokie's opener against Boise State.

    "We fear nobody. We'll play anybody."

    Sounds like an inscription on a T-shirt.

Watching practice was Wesley Walls, who despite King's catch had the best hands of any tight end in Panther history. I asked Walls, who played from 1996 to 2002, if he was tempted to run onto the field.

    "No," he said. "I was when I first left. I looked at the money these guys were making and I would have then."

       

One hundred degrees in the shade

   Some quick observations from training camp:

    A player who has consistently looked good is C.J. Davis. A guard out of Pittsburgh, Davis, 6-2 and 308-pounds, signed with the Panthers as a rookie free agent. He tore up his right ankle before the 2009 season began. He's healthy now, and lends depth to the offensive line.

    Dwayne Jarrett caught a pass on the right side and was immediately wrapped up by safey Charles Godfrey. Jarrett angrily shook him off and kept running. Two guys who aren't going to fight in camp: Jarrett and Godfrey.

   Fullback Tony Fiammetta broke open for a pass from Jimmy Clausen in front of linebacker Jamar Williams.

    Josh Vaughn, a free-agent running back out of Richmond, grabbed a screen pass, put on a pretty move and suddenly was free.

    After several short passes and screens, Hunter Cantwell hit rookie David Gettis deep. Gettis beat cornerback R.J. Stanford and safety Marcus Hudson, and Cantwell hit him in stride.

    When somebody gets open deep, it often is Dexter Jackson out of Appalachian State.

    Practice culminated with a goal line drill, offense versus defense, white jerseys versus blue. The defense stuffed the offensive early. Linebacker James Anderson celebrated loudly after a defensive victory. So did linebacker Mortty Ivy.

    Then the offensive pounded it in. And then Cantwell found tight end Dante Rosario alone in the end zone for a touchdown.

   "I liked your end zone dance," DeAngelo Williams told center Ryan Kalil.

    "No. I was trash-talking," Kalil said.

    This is what training camp is for.

    One area in which the defense dominated: volume. Defenders make more noise.

Great work, Charlotte 49ers

    Charlotte 49ers, I salute you. You have been criticized by almost every constituency in the state for daring to start a football program. And now it's offiical; you have it.

Detractors constantly claim that the economy is terrible, so why would you invest in football now? But when was the economy football friendly? The expenditure was always going to be criticized.

    Football is a way to introduce Charlotte, a town that often considers you peripheral, to what you have. If there's a more effective way to advertise, tell me what it is. If there's a more effective way to give graduates a reason to return to campus, what is it?

    Much of the criticism supersedes the economy and the cost of football. Eliticism is at work here. The established schools in the N.C. system get to have football. Charlotte ought to be content with volleyball, perhaps.

    Detractors want you to know your role.

    By standing up to them, 49ers, you have shown that you do.

   Congratulations.

Favre is really gone this time perhaps

   Maybe Brett Favre is finished. Maybe he will never throw another pass. Maybe, after his sensational 2009 season, and the thudding playoff loss with which it ended, Favre will limp away.

    But skepticism is required. I asked Larry Brown, coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, last season about a rumor that he was going to the Philadelphia 76ers. I asked this after Charlotte's fourth straight loss to Orlando, and Brown was offended. I understood.

    However, the question was legitimate because Brown has a history of leaving. And skepticism about Favre's departure is legitimate because he has a history of staying.

    If Favre is gone, I salute him. Although he's a diva, albeit a diva in Wrangler jeans, he was compelling. He was too big a gambler to be the quarterback that Peyton Manning or Tom Brady are. He believed his arm could overcome double-coverage, and often it did. But to gamble is to lose, and he often did.

    I admire the bravado. The league won't be the same without him. If he's gone, I mean.