Panther Paw Prints: Buc Bashing Edition

Do not feel sorry for them Panther fans for they would feel no such pity for you! You are what you say your record says you are and the Bucs are 0-6. Try on 1-15 at least once and then I'll stop, the time being. Nope...still not feeling any pity. So let's keep it going for just a little while! ;)

I have to start off this edition of prints when today's theme:

Bucs find heart, still lack muscle. - Buc 'Em
Both Carolina running backs went over 100 yards each, as the Panthers took the ball and marched down the field on a Bucs defense that was helpless to stop them.

It's been a while since I've seen an NFL team so helpless to stop a running game. 15 of 16 plays at the end were runs.Continuing from Buc 'em here's another piece that should be a warning to the Jake Haters:

Lack of commitment continues to haunt the Bucs - Buc 'Em
We all know the lack of commitment to quarterbacks over the last few years. Now, whether you agreed with it or not at the time, we can all recall the Gruden era that featured a new quarterback every 8 games, or so it seemed. We are now in the "Life after Gruden" stage and the Bucs still seem unable to commit to a quarterback. We saw the battle in the preseason between Leftwich and McCown, with the job ultimately going to Leftwich. After 3 games, the reins were handed over to Johnson, and if you go withpopular opinion, it seems that in three weeks against Green Bay we will have yet another starting quarterback in Freeman. If that happens, that will be five different quarterbacks who started a game in the last 11 games dating back to last year and not including preseason. It's tough to develop consistency with a changing of the guard every few games. To this day, the inability to develop a quarterback or commit to one hangs over the franchise.

So what am I trying to say here? I'm not sure...But Jakes says..

...the obvious.

Minutes: Panthers overcome giveaways
"We need to be more precise in the pass game; I don't think there's any doubt, and I think we're all working towards that," said quarterback Jake Delhomme, who finished the day with nine completions in 17 attempts for 65 yards, a touchdown and the two second-half interceptions. "We're lucky it didn't come back to bite us today. It's something we're working towards. If teams are going to play us the way they've been, we've got to run the football like we did."

DE Julius Peppers is doing his talking on the field. But will it be enough?

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
After his two-sack performance Sunday, Fox said DE Julius Peppers was excelling. "He's played as well the last two games that I can remember," Fox said. "He's played exceptionally well." Fox cited Peppers' "maturity" as one of he biggest reasons for his surge.

It is hard to imagine Peppers will remain in Charlotte after this season. This post lays it out pretty bluntly.

Time for the Panthers to part ways with Peppers - Panthers/NFL - News & Observer
But taking into account the team's 1-3 record and imposing November-December schedule, a failure to trade Peppers would be like under-cooking one chicken leg because you over-cooked the other. One misstep can be rationalized. The other can't.

This was expected. Wesley just needs to take his punishment and return the following week.

The Associated Press: Panthers DB Wesley suspended 1 game for hit
"The prohibited contact in this case went well beyond simply interfering with the receiver," Anderson wrote in a letter to Wesley. "Instead, by striking your defenseless opponent in the head and neck area, you committed an unnecessary and unnecessarily dangerous act that is specifically prohibited by the rules.

I'm not too concerned by WR Steve Smith's comments, though now I wonder if he wasn't kidding about some earlier ones.

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
"It’s bittersweet," Smith said quietly as he headed for the shower. "We get the win, but I have a limited role. So, obviously, I see this game as showing I’m no longer an asset to this team."

Who is he trying to kid, the next OC we face?

The perfect week 6 slogan for the Panthers:

The Elevator: Double Trouble Makes a Comeback, Panthers Beat Bucs | Bleacher Report
Carolina: Where 2-3 feels like 0-5.

One last link to get you torqued up. Keter Ping chimes in with his stretch of a NFC Championship game. Heck, it's only week 7, this takes lots of analysis:

Drew Brees' New Orleans Saints are best team in NFL - Peter King - SI.com
I think a Minnesota-New Orleans NFC Championship Game would be one of the most anticipated football games of this era. Think of it: Brees and his all-world offense in one corner. Brett Favre, if he survives the year, in the other corner, with his sidekick Adrian Peterson. God, don't let any of those three men get hurt before January.

Sorry but the Panthers swept the Saints last season so until they beat us they haven't beat anybody! (Did I say that out loud)