Falcons vs. Panthers Game Recap
by Jaxon on Nov 12, 2007 12:50 AM EST
in Panther News
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PrintThe Panthers continued their home losing streak (0-6) and overall downward spiral with a 20-13 loss to the previously 2-6 Atlanta Falcons. In what has become a very foreboding trend, the defense put up another solid effort only to have the offense put up 7 three and outs and a fumble.
It seems every week there is a defining play that represents the snake-bitten nature of the Panthers season-to-date. This week it came courtesy of the much anticipated Steve Smith – DeAngelo Hall match-up. Smith made a beautiful catch over the top of Hall at the 2 yard line and looked like he was about to tie the game and answer the Falcons opening score. Hall recovered in time to knock the ball loose from Smith and through the end zone for a touchback. It was as close as the Panthers offense would get to a TD the rest of the day.
Game notes and observations:
• Ken Lucas put up the defenses first TD of the season with a fumble return for the Panthers lone TD of the day. After getting off to a slow start, Lucas is quietly putting together a nice season. Anyone else get a kick out of Lucas’ lone wolf looking howl he makes when he makes a big play?
• Jon Beason led the defense with 9 tackles and 2 assists. It won’t be long before we come to expect outstanding performances from Beason on a weekly basis.
• Vinny Testaverde (13 for 28, 153 yards) struggled on a gimpy foot and was basically a statue in the pocket. At times Vinny made some good throws and handled the Falcons pressure well. Other times he made bad throws or no throw. There is one consistency I’ve seen across all of the Panthers QB’s this season: the look a anguish at the site of another dropped pass or poorly run route.
• Ryne Robinson had a career long 33 yard punt return and overall ran with more confidence, made several nice cuts and ran with power. Maybe he has turned the corner.
• The kick coverage was terrible again at the worse possible time, allowing a 23 yard punt return to give the Falcons good field position prior to their winning TD drive
• The Falcons bottled up DeShaun Foster who finished with a 3.0 yard per rush average (20 carries for 59 yards) and a long of nine yards. This is really the area where the Panthers should have helped themselves and Vinny but the o-line couldn’t produce any holes.
• LB Adam Seward (1 tackle) got on the field for the first time this season and WR Dwayne Jarrett (2 catches for 28 yards) returned as well. Neither though had an impact on the game.
• The Panthers recorded two sacks and now appear out of danger of setting the NFL record of fewest sacks in a season
• I know SS Chris Harris (5 tackles, 1 forced fumble) has played well for the most part and many people are giving him props but... he missed tackles on both of the Falcons TD’s. On the Warrick Dunn TD he tried to tackle him high and got a stiff arm when he could have gone for his legs.
In spite the poor state of the offense and the Panthers 4-5 record they still remain only one game out in the NFC South. There is still time for the Panthers to turn things around but with the 8-1 Packers up next 4-6 is looking more likely. Time is running out on the Panthers season.
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changes needed
Our defense is doing what we expected all along. If they showed up in the beginning of the season, we'd probably have five or six wins. Ryne Robinson is starting to return kicks better. So where do we go from here. Yes, I'm talking about the draft. I think John Fox, because of our injuries, might bet a bye and still be the coach next year. The truth is that if Jake was playing, we might have a couple more wins, and coaches don't get fired (except Schottenheimer) when they go 6-3. So we'll blame the injuries for now. However, changes must be made. First of all, we need to draft a QB of the future, or go find one somewhere. It's not Carr or Vinny. Jake will start for the next couple years, so that's not the immediate cure. The immediate move needs to be better offensive linemen. One thing that will make them better is starting Williams over Foster. He's averaging 5 yards a carry to Foster's 3.8, and with 100 more carries, Foster has 2 TDs to Williams 1. Foster is one TD from his career high of 3. Jarrett got in the game and may prove to be what we all were hoping for by season's end. Until then, we'll get our 6-10 or 7-9 season and another mid first rd pick.
Don't worry, next year I will once again predict a Super Bowl Victory for us.
Die hard to the end
You're just like me. I can't throw in the towel yet on this season when the NFC South is so weak. This loss really hurt. With the defense putting up a score we should have hung 30+ points on ATL.
Yeah, as far as a QB I wondered last year if we should not have taken Brady Quinn. We could gotten MLB David Harris in the second and a safety in the 3rd. Just a thought.
the draft
Our offense will be better next year with Jake, and the maturation of Jarrett and Kalil. I think they'll both be good for a long time (but not great). I say we draft the best OT available with our first pick, and a QB later on. None of the QBs look all that impressive except maybe Tim Tebow, but he'll be picked before we can take him. None of the other QBs available are guaranteed to be better than Matt Moore and Drew Olson, but certainly younger than Vinny, and not as shell-shocked as Carr. I've called Williams a possible 1st rd bust, and it will be official if we never give him the ball. I think we should use him kind of like the Saints use Reggie Bush if we're so dedicated to Foster. Foster gets 3.8 yds a carry, and Williams is getting 5.0 yds a carry.
So next year, Fox (who gets a bye this year due to injuries) should get a QB, OL and maybe a LB and Safety. Next year, McGlover and Beason will be starters and Charles Johnson will be our younger version of Al Wallace (too bad it took a 3rd rd pick for that). I have no idea where Morgan will be. If he can be a back-up, then we can draft a safety.
Why can't we switch back and forth like NE between the 3-4 and 4-3? Morgan is in on the 3-4, and on the bench in the 4-3.
by usana_gaines on Nov 12, 2007 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
Willimas is not touching the ball enough. I like the idea of switching back and forth from the 3-4 and 4-3 if you have the personnel to do it. We need a Safety for sure and Tackle too. Until we get an idea of where we are picking it will be tough to estimate who may be available. I'm getting this sinking feeling we're going to end up 7-9 or 6-10.
question
They are targeting him
but I have seen both Smith dropping the ball (a few) and bad passes (many). Though he's being targeted teams are playing him tight at the line, jamming him to prevent the quick pass int he flat. They are then also playing a safety over the top to prevent the deep pass. Smith will never be completely effect as he has been in the past until we get another consistent threat.
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