Panthers Status

I wonder what our record is after being eliminated from playoff contention? I bet we are playing .750 ball

 

Not Collin.

And I agree with you about scheme. Fox's approach is valid, it's execution and lack of imagination that's got me steamed. Run-first works if you impose your will on the opponent, which then sets up the pass offense to be more effective. The problem with Fox occurs when the scheme isn't working, or opponents make adjustments. When was the last time we saw an opponent off balance?

Anyway, I'll probably feel like griping until the winning starts. If Martin makes his INT (which resulted in 7, by the way, for Cincy) or Gamble makes his (which would have been a sure-fire pick 6) or Goodson doesn't trip over a clump of grass or Smitty takes a flatter angle to the slant pass that Hall intercepted or Stewart doesn't do the chicken-wing with the football in a pile, the outcome might have been different and the whole mood changed.

Maybe if Fox goes back to dipping things will improve.

 

Welcome. Great first post.

I think what you're saying is that seeing the same faults for multiple years is no fun to watch. You want to see progress. I don't see it on the offense. And, shocker, you can't win if you don't outscore your opponent.

 

Fox's or Davidson's or Richard Williamson's offense all work great when you have a quarterback that's playing well.

We don't, and haven't for a bit. If there was one thing I liked about Hurney's interview with Gantt his statement about this.

I said it when people were calling for jake's head ( and i agree with cutting jake, and agreed with benching him ) to be careful what we wish for. It might not just be draft picks we go through to get a qb, it might be multiple front offices and a decade of losing. See SF, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, St Louis, Cleveland.....even Denver.

So - I hope to fuck Clausen is the real deal, because if he isn't, who the fuck is and when does he arrive? ( or commit to college? )

 

I have said it here before...Everyone loves the backup, until he is the starter.

Everyone looks to Indianapolis and New England as the prototype 'model franchises' of the past decade. And in the 90s it was Dallas. 80s it was San Fran. all of them had one huge common component. A hall of fame QB. Dudes like that don't grow on freaking trees.

It was time for Jake to go. But people have no idea how good we had it while he was under center. Most fans think that you just throw someone like him in the garbage and another one will miraculously appear.

 

I am happy with a ball control run first offense. The problem is though that part of that is creating opportunities for the passing game. If the defense is playing the run then the passing game should open up. So even in a run first offense you have to be able to pass the ball well enough to take advantage.

With a solid run game and Steve Smith drawing double coverage our second and third wide outs should be open a lot. Even an average WR should put up good numbers here. It has not happened though and I am not sure why. Either the guys we have had absolutely suck or there is a flaw in our offense.

Whether Fox stays or goes I still hope to see us be a run first offense.

 

Yep. Jake's the best thing that's ever happened to this franchise, better than smitty, even. 3 playoff appearances, an NFC ring and a superbowl appearance. I knew it when he came back against Jax week 1 2003, and watching last week it really sank in. I was hoping we'd landed a nice bridge in Moore.

Again - I hope Clausen is the guy. Looking forward to Sunday, hope he doesn't fumble a snap. Williams is coming after him.

 

We don't have to have a HOF QB, as was shown with Jake, could possibly have been shown with Moore, and may yet be shown with Clausen.

I complained about the OL for years until they seriously addressed it but we've been missing the right side, our best run to side, this season. That is the difference. We were running against 8 man fronts when we had the OL straight.

And as far as philosophy, while obviously you must have talent at the skill positions, I believe the game is won in the trenches. A conservative offense and strong defense do not bore me (on the contrary), if they are good and the team is winning.