The enemy is getting better

by usana_gaines on Apr 23, 2009 5:20 PM EDT Comment 24 comments

So here we go again...after the Bucs get Kellen Winslow, the Falcons get Tony Gonzales. Although TB has no real QB, the Falcons do have Matt Ryan. You think those teams noticed that the division winning Panthers couldn't cover anybody down the stretch? Meanwhile, we guarantee that Jake's 80 QB rating from last year will be with us until he is 39 years old. I think that is just a salary cap ploy, and next year will be Jake's last year as our starter. At least I hope so.

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You hope so?!?

What do you mean you hope so? If that is the case so be it, but that would mean that he has a bad year in 2009. If Jake has a bad year in 2009, then so will the Panthers. I would never hope for that!

Will Parker

by WillParker81 on Apr 23, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe..

just a mediocre year and younger talent will get a shot this year or next. It’s up to Jake, he has the coaches behind him so now he just has to prove his worth.

by Davejinxer on Apr 23, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping Jake...

makes all his detractors speechless when he wins the NFC South yet again. Hey, we know the Falcons offense will be good. The question is will they improve their defense which still remains to be seen.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 23, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They probably will

they have a first rounder, which will give them a solid CB/LB/DT (whichever position they pick). And their 2nd rounder they gave up is from next year, so they’ll have a late 2nd rounder this year to also attack a need.

True Blue Jazz
RIP Nick Adenhart. 4/9/09

by UtesFan89 on Apr 23, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Panthers running game will be even better in '09

Meeks will bring new enthusiasm to the defense and a new scheme that will take the rest of the division time to adjust to. A tougher division will make us a tougher team to beat in the playoffs.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 23, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly

Jake’s 80 QB rating will win the NFC South again, because it’s riding the back of a dominant running game.

But what happens if this year Smitty DOESN’T hold onto all those 4th quarter tough catches, to take the lead and squeak out a win? How does Jake look then?

on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city

by southtunnel on Apr 23, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm...

Strikes me that he was doing ok when he was willing the team to victory in Weeks 1 and 2 without Smitty.

by MichaelProcton on Apr 23, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Better Jake

I think Jake could be poised to have one of his best years in 2009. After the end of last season he will be pushing himself to understand what he did wrong and fix it. Hopefully this turns into Jake moving the ball around a bit more as in week 1 & 2 from 2008.

by LittleKing on Apr 23, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He "moved the ball around" just fine...

Muhammad’s 923 yards were the most by a Panthers #2 wideout since Donald Hayes 926 in 2000 on a pass-heavy team, and would have paced the team in both 2001 and 2002

by MichaelProcton on Apr 29, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, sometimes I think we expect too much from the passing game

on a run-oriented offense. What we need is someone to inspire some 3rd down throws from Delhomme other than Smitty. He has to stop forcing it to him on critical downs.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 29, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not all Jake...

When guys have shown the ability to get open and hold on to balls, they get looks (see: Jarrett, Dwayne.)

by MichaelProcton on Apr 30, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not all jake,

but don’t deny his mistakes. He forces a lot of passes. I look at the Colts, though, for what I want out of our passing game. Jake won’t be a Peyton Manning, but can we get all of our receivers to run the correct routes at a 100% effort on 100% of the plays. I mean you could see Gonzales running hard as a rookie when he knew he was the #5 option after Harrison, Wayne, Clark and Addai. And it’s sad to say that when you watch Jarrett, you know he’s better than Drew Carter and COlbert.

by usana_gaines on Apr 30, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think too much is made of being able to 'stretch the field'

creating space is more important ie…running good routes

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 30, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

The Raiders draft WR’s every year for that exact purpose. Look where they are now. I’d take a short gain for a first down over a home run ball that might or might not hit its target every time.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on May 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget.

The offensive line is returning with all 5 starters. It has been a long time since we have done that. With another year of practice together, their game has nowhere to go but up.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Apr 23, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

jake

WillParker, I do hope next season is Jake’s last year as our starter, but not because he has a bad year, but because we have better options. As it stands now, we may draft a QB early in 2010, and that guy could be our starter after a year of learning behind Jake, which would make Jake our starter for atleast two more years. So I think with that thought process in mind, Jake spends two years starting and one as a backup and gets his $20 million guaranteed in three seasons. Then he retires at 37.

Jake played well last year, as Procton pointed, but my problem is his games after a week off – the Raiders game (7 of 27 for 72 yds and 4 INTs) and, of course, the playoff game. I really want to see how Jake plays after a week off, and I’m sure everything I’ve noticed about those games has already been pointed out by the Panthers staff. On the flip side, in the 2nd half of the loss to the Giants, he should’ve thrown the ball more.

Either way, i feel it’s not worth arguing if our defense gets worse, and the offenses of other teams get better.

One more thing, though…Jaxon will tell you, I am an optimist, and after the draft, I’ll make some absurd predictions because I’m like that. Last August I predicted D-Will would get 2,000 all purpose yards and 20 TDs and that we’d go 13-3.

by usana_gaines on Apr 24, 2009 6:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I do not see Jake sitting on the bench with that much salary.

He gets 20 mill guaranteed over 5 yrs = 4 mill/season. Then break down the other 22.5 over the 5 yr time frame with an annual raise. That’s a lot of money siting on the bench.

If we get a QB this year or next, that player will be the one sitting the bench until Jake hangs it up.

Will Parker

by WillParker81 on Apr 24, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully he'll retire.

And we won’t have to pay him his later salary.

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on May 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree...sort of

It is too much money to sit on the bench. I think he proves next year that we need to draft a QB, and so we get one early in the draft. Jake will still start in the 2010 season, but the new guy will start after that, and Jake will have his contract renegotiated, or retire. I really don’t see Jake playing more than 3 more years regardless of what anyone else does, though.

by usana_gaines on Apr 24, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt Furney will ever spend I high pick (if we don't trade it away 1st) on a QB

They will go after a FA first

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 27, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox has said over and over...

That he thinks high-pick QBs get paid way too much and usually aren’t ready to contribute for at least a season. He’d rather get somebody in who can compete on ST or in formation packages while they learn if they’re going to. QBs rarely can contribute in those areas. (…although Cody Pickett did cover kicks for the 49ers a few years back.)

by MichaelProcton on Apr 29, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the last few drafts

Hurney might change his mind one day, but if you look at the last 10 years, how many guys were predicted to be sure things as high-priced QBs and failed. As much as we hated on Jake, there are tons of teams that have drafted QBs in the 1st rd since 2003 and wish they had a Jake Delhomme instead. So I understand his sentiment, but Jake has got to play better next year.

And just to reignite my favorite argument, I stand firm that I want us to trade up and get Tim Tebow next year.

by usana_gaines on Apr 30, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The price might be hefty

but of course if he falls to a certain point the Panthers certainly won’t hesitate to offer their 2010 1st rounder

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Apr 30, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The talk at the moment is that Tebow is a 2nd-3rd round pick.

This could be a great situation for us sitting there in round 2 next year. Tebow can come in and have some special packages to utilize his abilities, while he is being groomed 2-3 yrs down the road. He definitely has the intangibles and leadership the front office looks for. I would love the pick, however a lot can happen in a year, both with the Panthers and Tebow. We’ll see.

Will Parker

by WillParker81 on May 1, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs