Panthers vs Falcons round 2 game thread....

BEST WIN IN YEARS.

 

That's true in the sense of gambling when things are pretty well in hand. Speaking of GAMBLING - do we need Gamble anymore?

 

I still would. The other guys have played above expectation in what some call a soft scheme, but only Gamble's really excelled in essentially all defenses - man, c2, c3, and so on.

But, he makes enough that there's some logic to moving on, too.

 

I don't know how I feel about this team. Good enough for the playoffs? Absolutely. Bad enough for the first overall pick? At times.

Unless we get the right coach and GM, I see a lot of 6-10 all the way to 9-7 seasons in our future.

I still think we need playmakers on the outside, and the pass rush just disappears for long stretches. The Atlanta win is sweet, but the reality is, the Falcons will get a first round bye and see what they can do in the playoffs, and we will see what we can do with our 8-15 first round pick, which will no longer be Star Lotulelei. It's hard for me to be happy about this win.

 

477 total yards. Fuck ATL.

Props to Rivera. And Fuck Mike Smith.

 

I don't know that the rush disappears, it's having nothing inside lately. If Lotuleilei isn't there there are other good tackles - people that piss and moan about the draft being shitty are looking at the lack of an elite skill player prospect. For what Carolina needs most - DT, and maybe OT* - you have a lot of good players. I do think Allen at WR is a good fit too.

Either way, good young DTs will solid up that run D and get real opportunities. DEs got, I believe, 4 hits on the QB to go with the two sacks, that's not bag against a fast-armed Ryan. Give the Falcons enough credit that they adjusted from last game, where they abused Clabo, to go shorter in the pass game to get the ball out.



*I don't mind our tackles as much as our RG issue, but Gross and Bell have struggled a bit more lately, and an elite tackle probably moves the two starters around, solving the problem overall.

 

I want the high pick, but it's Atlanta.

 

Thanks for your solid analysis. I was hoping for really good impact with that first pick. At DT, I don't know who gives you that other than Star. Allen will probably be a solid #2, but IMO we have 2 of those now in Smitty and LaFell.

 

I don't agree on Allen. I mean, it'll depend on his knee and all that as to whether he's a top ten, but he's got playmaking skill. Not where I want to go, but there's an option there I do like.

Behind Lotuleilei, all of Hankins, Sheldon Richardson, and the massive Jenkins are all guys I've seen in the top 15. Not everybody's high on everyone, but I do think there's room. I'm sure, however, with the season technically not over, at least one will fall.

 

Don't know if they showed it on tv, but after DeAngelo's score, Tolbert lifted him up & dropped him on his back on the ground and then was smacking his helmet. And no way DLo was letting Cam give THAT football away. Fun day. Falcons fans pretty quiet and I didn't see any fights when usually there are tons with Atlanta fans there. First ball Cam gave away there were actually Falcon fans reaching for it - right, Cam is going to give it to them.

Smitty is a fantastic blocker.