Panthers Top 5 Lessons Learned from Loss to Falcons
by Jaxon on Dec 15, 2011 1:30 PM EST
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PrintIf the Panthers ever hope to be competitive again they have to learn from these tough losses. Blowing a 16 point half time lead falls in that category for me. The Panthers are the 2nd youngest team in the league and that seems to have a different way of manifesting itself on a weekly basis. For two game we were able to overcome it. Last week it returned for a vengeance.
So what can the Panthers (and fans) learn from last week's game or any from the previous 12? More importantly are there any lessons in particular that could help us win this Sunday in Houston against the playoff bound Texans? I've got a top 5, in no particular order:
Lesson 1: In spite of the low NFL ranking, the Panther defense can hold RB Arian Foster to below his 87 rushing yards per game average. The past two weeks they held Legarrette Blount well below his average (19 yds vs 67 avg) and kept Michael Turner within his (76 yds vs 82 avg). I think for the Panthers to win they must continue the streak even if it means stacking 8 in the box.
Lesson 2: The Panthers can win a game when Cam Newton causes a turnover. Though it's never happened yet it should have happened last week. Had Mare hit that 4th quarter field goal and then the defense held then the streak would have stopped at 8 losses and we would feel a lot better right now. Cam did enough to break the streak, the other two phases of the team is who let us down.
Three more after the jump...
Lesson 3: Fewer penalties sure makes it easier to get a lead. I know its hard to control the level of penalties on any given Sunday but if we could at least reduce the major ones that would be a good start.
Lesson 4: Good special teams can be huge. We saw both ends of the spectrum last Sunday. In the 1st quarter Captain Munnerlyn downing that punt inside the 5 yard line set up the defensive safety by DE Antwan Applewhite and seemed to give the Panthers a double dose of momentum and a 23-7 halftime lead. Then in the 4th quarter Mare misses the chip shot FG and the defense is so deflated it allows a 75 yard TD play. I admit this is not a new lesson for anyone just simply a great example of both ends of the spectrum.
Lesson 5: We need to adjust the halftime adjustments. How about this week after we set up the halftime adjustments we instead do just the opposite? Seriously, we seem to go from dynamic to predictable on offense and from stout to porous on defense during the halftime break. I think it time to rethink the halftime process.
I tried to stay away from singling out specific Panther player in this post because we have that discussion often enough. So without picking on single players what lessons would to add to this list?
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If the Panthers have the lead, the no huddle offense is coming.
Practice for it.
You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is 'never try'. -Homer Simpson
And that's EXACTLY the adjustment the Falcons made at halftime, that changed the game.
In the second half, our D was unable to counter their hurry-up.
It wasn’t that we weren’t in position on the DL – the opposite was true.
McDermott showed his defensive alignments too early in the playclock, giving Ryan (who had 20-25 seconds to see what we were up to, and then audibleing to take advantage of our setup)
A good MLB would then counteract the audible, with a late shift of his own. Anderson did this a time or two a few games back, but not vs the Falcons. If we were showing a corner blitz, and Ryan changed his play, we did nothing to readjust.
There needs to be some more creative stunts, with some misdirection thrown in. Last year, I recall we were successful late in the season, with the “Times Square” defense, where 6-7 guys all mill around the LOS, until the last few seconds, disguising who’ll be rushing, and from what gap.
I’d like to see that a lesson learned. If it’s apparent to me, why not to McDermott?
There were adjustments made
While I agree that the alignment may have been shown too early in some cases. I distinctly remember Senn and/or Connor making audible calls during the second half. Mora kept saying “look at the game of cat and mouse between Matt Ryan and the Panthers Defense.”
by REtaxNole on Dec 16, 2011 10:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Huh?
Lesson 1: In spite of the low NFL ranking, the Panther defense can hold RB Arian Foster to below his 87 rushing yards per game average. The past two weeks they held Legarrette Blount well below his average (19 yds vs 67 avg) and kept Michael Turner within his (76 yds vs 82 avg). I think for the Panthers to win they must continue the streak even if it means stacking 8 in the box.
The Falcons are the 25th-ranked team in run offense (by DVOA). The Bucs are 11th, but they are 26th in pass offense (so there’s not much worry about stacking the box against them). Houston is 9th in rushing and 4th in passing. Just because the Panthers slowed Turner and Blount does not give an apples-to-apples comparison for determining whether they can stop Houston. Not to mention, the Falcons were Top 5 (2nd, iirc) in run defense when Houston played them. Foster had 111 - the first RB to put 100+ on them since week 1 of 2010.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter | About MDC
Are you gonna fart out a link on any of this or should we take it at face value?
You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is 'never try'. -Homer Simpson
by Swamp Panther on Dec 15, 2011 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
yeah Foster and Tate and the Texans Oline is a different Animal when it comes to running the ball.
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
No doubt about it, I still want a link.
You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is 'never try'. -Homer Simpson
by Swamp Panther on Dec 15, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
DVOA is Football Outsiders
Link is here…I verified his numbers are correct. But the point of the post was not ‘stats’, it was ‘Lessons’.
Here's a Lesson for Texan fans...
Don;t get all froggy cause you finally made the playoffs. The football Gods have a way of humbling a fan base that gets to full of itself. We are still in the ditch from our playoff slap down in 2008 after going 12-4 and having a 1st round bye.
by Jaxon on Dec 15, 2011 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I went to the nfl site to see what is being said in the Panthers/Texans game thread
and those Texans fans are all full of themselves. It was like they are all the ones posting at the C.O. so I had to leave.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
Fanbases who are used to winning normally turn into the worst when they finally do….no more perfect example than Aints fans
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
by MMA_PITBULL on Dec 15, 2011 3:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
They have bragging rights for now
Even if they lose to us, they go to the playoffs..
The comments at NFL.com
for any game/team are terrible.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter | About MDC
Tell that to New Orleans fans...
Hasn’t worked on the Big Easy…
Their fans are the league’s biggest smack talkers, but they still have amnesia about the 70s. 80s, 90s, and the first half of the 2000s. The football God’s need to knock them down a peg or two as well.
Iranian Air Defense Site: 'Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'
Air Defense Site: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!'
Air Defense Site: (... total silence)
by Tarheel Soldier on Dec 15, 2011 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Reality will give them hard backhanded slap to the face
When Brees retires. Then they’ll all crawl back into their holes until their next savior arrives.
I was under the impression they were both the same.
According to the Saints fans, they took the “who dat” saying from the LSU fans.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
For some they seem more obnoxious when following LSU though. Someone told me it came from Southern, one of the black colleges here. Not sure, as I am not from her, just have been here for 5 years.
Part of the reason could be that LSU has had a tradition of being good
The Saints were terrible for a long time, creating at least a somewhat more humble fan base.
I don't always fail, but when I do...
I do it awesomely.
by BusyBeingAwesome on Dec 15, 2011 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
The only team in the league whose catchphrase is a taunt
Think about it
No one is all froggy whatever that means.
we are happy of finally making it to the playoffs after sucking for so many years. Even know we are getting hit by injuries on a weekly basis with the latest being our defensive coordinator.
We are enjoying the ride but by no means are we arrogant. we are just finally confident that we can actually win games. not just compete or show up and play ok but actually win them. You guys should come on over to brb and join the fun. im looking forward to seeing what cam can do.
- Feeling the five stages of grief since 2002.
"It's either gonna make you a man or a coward. One of the two. I'm a be a man. I ain't never seen a coward, heard a coward, coward not in ma vocabulary." - Lawrence Vickers
by NoSafetiesNeeded on Dec 15, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe you haven't read all the comments at the NFL site.
All the Texans fans that have come here to chat have been great. But go to that site and click first posted, and read a few pages.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
No one is getting "froggy."
At the same time, no one is willing to pretend like the Texans are not a very good rushing offense. Nor should you.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter | About MDC
I figured anyone who cared enough about team
to frequent the comments of an SBN blog would know what DVOA was and where to find it. My bad.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter | About MDC
Regardless of Turner's averages he always kills the Panthers
this is the first time I can remember holding him in check in forever. The point of the ‘Lesson’ is that stats and prior performances does not necessarily mean foster will run all over the Panthers if the defense plays like they have the past two weeks.
Could Foster still light up the Panthers? Certainly…
Turner
His total against the Panthers was his highest in the last four games (60-MIN, 44-HOU, 76-CAR, 61-JAX). Atlanta has struggled running the ball since about Week 8. Hanging your hat on the last two games, against a team who is struggling to run and a team that is struggling to have offense at all, doesn’t make a ton of sense when the other 11 games this year haven’t exactly been good for Carolina’s rush D, especially when you’re trying to use those games to predict what the Panthers’ run D will do against a team that runs the ball really, really well (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/htx/2011.htm). Only three teams have held the Texans under 100 rushing yards this year: BAL, OAK, and JAX. CAR’s run D is not in that class by a long shot.
I’m not trolling or anything. I just don’t get the idea that what happened the last two weeks for the Panthers is demonstrative of anything vis-a-vis the Texans.
I have not yet begun to defile myself.
The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter | About MDC
The Panthers are not a 4th quarter or second half team
In games where we have the lead, or in games where we need a 4th quarter drive to win, we don’t seem to be able to execute late in the game. Is conditioning a problem?
Probably but I would say a big cause is how young this team is...
So many rookies and 2nd and 3rd year players…still adapting to the NFL schedule without the benefit of TC
You looking for Rivera perhaps signing a few more Vets.
I know with Olsen, Shocky, Leneena, and even Edwards (DT) we added alot of exp.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
How about not only trying to play for 4 full quarters but
we try for a full 2 quarters. That stopping what got us there at the end of the first half last week was quite a let down for us fans. When something is working, keep doing it until it fails to work. (Then try it again later)
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
Football Outsiders did a "first Three Qtrs v 4th Qtr" perofrmance
and the Panthers Defense had the worst drop-off in the fourth quarter of any team.
TEAM Q1-3 DEF RK Q4 DEF RK DIF
CAR 9.1% 24 42.7% 32 33.6%
{pulling finger…}
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2011/fo-mailbag-dvoa-without-fourth-quarter
by panthersnbraves on Dec 15, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
I lol'ed @ "pulling finger"...
I kinda like power running football though. It’s iike a bloody violent ballet…
When it was working it was a thing of beauty to me. - Vagus
(Please note that from now on I shall only refer to Cam as "The Newt" and Rivera as "BAMF")
Jerry Richardson: "Bitch slapping the NFL one signing at a time" - MMA_Pitbull
by The Duke Dude on Dec 15, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions
Good lesson's
Staying true to the agressive nature of the offence is as imporant as ensure proper halftime adjustments. Rivera mention the need to keep the foot on pedal. I has seen a few times when we get a lead we back off. With 1:40 or so on the clock 3 clear rushes and a punt is Fox ball, and not what got us 23 points. With that much time you do not call it a half you go for the throat and groin (More like Suh less like OJ) and twist the knife.
What makes the Patriots, Mannings Colts, Saints, and Packers so tough is that they do not just back of on hold what they got… They grab for more like a fat kid (me) under a pinata.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
note to self..
… should not write wry comments that pop in to his.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
In case you were wondering...
yes this post is supposed to be about the top 5 defensive plays from last week but I’m bored with that topic so I switched it to something I found more interesting and useful. So I’m a rebel, get used to it!
Just go buy a Gillette Pro Glide and all is good!
I tried to get a demo sample or five out of them but no luck…I was going to shave an outline of a Panther in my back hair! ;) lol
EWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!
-1
Just kiddin’ Jaxon!
Iranian Air Defense Site: 'Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'
Air Defense Site: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!'
Air Defense Site: (... total silence)
by Tarheel Soldier on Dec 15, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions
lol, Whatever floats your boat.
Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."
by Son of a Newton on Dec 15, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
I heard an interview a couple of weeks ago
and they were talking with a number of former players and coaches and they said something really interesting (well a number of things, but this one jumped out at me)
Halftime adjustments are a myth.
That’s right. They all said that there is so much going on with trainers, moving people around and whatnot that there really isn’t any time for “half time adjustments.”
shrug
Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing you will be an idiot in the future and common sense is knowing you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques
I don't always dress like a pirate...but when I do, I do it in this picture.
NFL halftimes are 12 minutes long
They were saying it take 2-3 minutes just to walk from the locker room to the sidelines. By the time they get it’s almost time to turn around and go back. One of the guys said it was a waste of time and the rest heartily agreed.
Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing you will be an idiot in the future and common sense is knowing you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques
I don't always dress like a pirate...but when I do, I do it in this picture.
I think the Half Time adjusmetns is more for the Coaches thatn the players.
The Coaches get to speak to one another about they should do to change things up. THe OC breaks down is his thoughts to WRs, TE, RB, QB, and line Coach and the same for the DC. It is nto like they hold a team meeting more like they give information that is to be deciminatied afterwards… that is of course after Bamf takes his foot out of some butts.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
Well when are they going to have that conversation?
The OC is up in the booth and if he goes to the locker room…that’s a good 5 minute trip one way. I guess they could talk on the phone. I dunno guys. I’m just regurgitating what a roomful of ex-coaches and players said. They said it was a myth and if teams relied on changes at halftime they’d be out of a job. Said changes in the NFL are made on the fly and constantly throughout the game.
Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing you will be an idiot in the future and common sense is knowing you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques
I don't always dress like a pirate...but when I do, I do it in this picture.
I guess where most people get it from
is when the ex coaches, players, and other annocers speak of teams that can adjust in the second half of a game to things that were giveing the problems in the first. Some coaches/teams are known for it.
I understand that the “High School Halftime” were the team gets 15 or more minutes to listen to the coach curse them or praise them is not like the nfl… The coach gets a lot less time to curse.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
I imagine it is more of something that became a part of the lexicon
of football-speak and over time has eventually phased out more and more.
Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing you will be an idiot in the future and common sense is knowing you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques
I don't always dress like a pirate...but when I do, I do it in this picture.
I believe that in the new cba,
coaches aren't allowed to curse a group more than 14 times a season.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
by MrBernz on Dec 15, 2011 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
LOL
Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."
by Son of a Newton on Dec 15, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions
Well played.
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
lol nice
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
by bigred28655 on Dec 15, 2011 11:11 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sure the radios don't just shut down during halftime.
Everyone can still talk to each other and make some adjustments.
We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time. ~ Vince Lombardi
by ThePanthers! on Dec 15, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
I bet the Patriots have the opposing teams' frequencies.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
by OldhamA on Dec 15, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
LOL
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
Halftime 4th quarter 1st quarter…Coaches got to adjust defense offense special teams on the fly compared to what the other team is doing not doing working not working etc…Half time no half time our staff has to do a better job of plugging the holes in a sinking ship..It seems when things go wrong Chud panics and the entire gameplan goes up in flames
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
As another poster (FB Expert perhaps?) rightfully stated:
Chud isn’t very good at making adjustments. He clearly has a plan before the game starts (which leads to us scoring quick points early), but once the opposing team’s D starts adjusting to what we’re doing he doesn’t do a very good job at countering.
So either he needs to trust his players and ask for their opinion – what is the D showing us, what do you think we should do to counter it. Or he should have a Plan B, C, D, E etc drawn up during the week – so when he recognises that, for example, the defence is taking away the deep routes he has a binder with a number of plays to go to (let’s say Plan C) to counter that. Rather than having to adjust on the fly.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
by OldhamA on Dec 15, 2011 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
^This.
I really would like to know how Chud prepares for games – if he does have Plans B, C, and D ready to go. I would hope so, but if he does, it doesn’t always show.
The offense scores quickly and frequently in the first half. Then, it suddenly stalls. It happens over and over and over again. Hence, increased time on the field for a defense that quickly wears down because it is grossly lacking in depth (and it doesn’t help that every DB not named Chris Gamble has little or no discipline). Sometimes, the offense puts together a good drive right in the closing minutes of the game – but they too often fizzle out right at the RZ, and Mare misses a chip shot. Or, Chud suddenly goes eccentric and gets too aggressive (see 4 consecutive shots at the EZ when you have a monster QB who is at the top of the league in converting 3rd downs as a rusher).
I feel like Chud consistently comes in with a brilliant, creative, and aggressive gameplan, but he freaks out when the opposing DC effectively counters it and can’t make quick adjustments.
Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.
"When you get into coaching, you strive to be a Super Bowl-winning head coach. That’s what my goal is, to come here and become a Super Bowl-winning head coach and to sustain an atmosphere of winning." - Ron Rivera
I've heard something similar.
Basically at half time everyone just catches their breath and gets patched up. They don’t have an Al Pacino inspirational speech or anything.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
by OldhamA on Dec 15, 2011 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Joe Person
Panthers WR Steve Smith on Tim Tebow vs. Cam Newton — no comparison, Cam the “more complete player.”
Steve Smith on 1-dimensional Tebow: "Versatile would mean you can throw the ball very accurately, run the ball, create things. …
“…And the only thing he’s creating is running."
Shots Fired! you know Skip Tebow will rebut the hell out of this…..My friend told me this morning Stephen A Smith said you can’t mention Tebow with Cam and Skip smiled and said i agree…Cam is 4-9……..I HATE ESPN
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
They are only painting a bigger target on Tebow and the Broncos back….If teams would stop adjusting their defense at the end of games this would not happen…stop going to prevent and stay in what worked for 3/4th of the game Dumbass
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
by MMA_PITBULL on Dec 15, 2011 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I know Skip is now a shock jock just trying to piss people off and keep his name on their tongue….it is sad really he was a very good sports journalist at one time…now he is a ratings whore..how the ratings keep going up is beyond me…how much of that crap can people listen too…
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
Well it's working for him.
He still has all you people that hate or love Tebow talking about him and his show.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
He's 60
If there’s one thing I’ll give him credit for, it’s that he’s aged well. I didn’t think he was nearly that old.
They get you every time...
Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."
by Son of a Newton on Dec 15, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions
I thought he was younger
But I think that might be more due to how worked up and energetic he gets rather than how he looks.
7-1. Plus he's clearly in God's favour. Tread carefully, Smith.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
You mentioned it…and it is a taboo topic but i heard them say on ESPN when they was down against the Bears Tebow told one his teammates not to worry about it “because God has spoke to me”……Not getting into a religious debate so nobody respond about that fact of it…but why would “GOD” care about who wins a football game….is all the Christians on the other sidelines not equal to Tebow? Personally i think the dude likes the smell of his own farts too much
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
I think there was a similar debate on here a while back
The large majority of NFL players are Christians. To think God favors him over all the other Christians he’s playing against is a bit arrogant.
If you believe in god, why is it ridiculous to think God cares who wins a game?
Remember this. God works in mysterious ways.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
I think the thing that bugs me when people talk about Tebow
is that he can’t be mentioned without someone bringing up religion.
I don't always fail, but when I do...
I do it awesomely.
by BusyBeingAwesome on Dec 15, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
@ Yes but Jerry Jones said God is a Cowboy fan@
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
I rezad an article at the NFL site
& in the article McGahee said he calls Tebow “baby Jesus”.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
Dear Baby Jesus...
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
Almost every time I watch this scene, I end up laughing so hard that I cry.
Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.
"When you get into coaching, you strive to be a Super Bowl-winning head coach. That’s what my goal is, to come here and become a Super Bowl-winning head coach and to sustain an atmosphere of winning." - Ron Rivera
It is one of the best parts in the movie.
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
He is, without a doubt, viewed by the league, as The Great White Hope
And the NFL has enlisted ESPN in promoting that image.
In recent years, there have been so many negative stories of spousal/girlfriend abuse, club shootings, arrogant behavior, and criminal prosecutions of NFL players. And I would assert that well over 90% of them involve Afro-American players (I wanted to say blacks, but even I yield to politically correct descriptions.)
So is it any wonder that the powers that be would want to shift viewers’ and fans’ attention from these troublemakers, criminals, and malcontents (and I’ve got to belatedly include the thugs who commit all the fineable late hits, stomps, and repeated helmet-to-helmet shots, then blithely Tweet/Facebook that they’re “moving on” from the acts they “apologize” for)?
I am calling it like it is, like it or not.
Whether it’s playing up the Christian angle with Tebow, or the Caucasian angle, or both, it’s media hype – and as long as the Broncos FG kicker keeps winning games for them, it’ll continue.
And despite the facts that Cam Newton has been a model citizen, is handsome and engaging, and is setting numerous records, there are still those who tout Andy Dalton (another Great White Hope) as the OROY.
Consider what I’m saying, dispute it if you like…but it’s the unvarnished truth.
I am not a racist, but there is a reverse race card being played here.
What's that sound?
That’s the sound of 10’ poles being thrown to the curb.
Interesting response to the ideas I put forth.
Since you ask, do you think he’s not?
It always amuses me, when one presents a well thought-out premise for discussion, and the only reply manages to dumb it down to the least common denominator of superficiality.
It was the only part worth responding to.
The four best QBs in the league are white, only one has any sort of negative stories around him (Roethlisberger), so there’s no ‘Great White Hope’.
The NFL haven’t enlisted anyone. ESPN are running with the Tebow story because it drums up interest. Love him or hate him, people are talking about him. It’s Journalism 101. At the end of the day all ESPN (and their advertisers) care about is how many people are watching their channel or reading their website.
Tebow isn’t the first polarising figure they’ve used as a lightning rod and he won’t be the last.
"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury
Thanks. Unwittingly, perhaps, you just made an intelligent response, to what I'd hoped would be a catalyst for discussion.
Had I said anything about Madden, a slew of posts would have appeared :-)
That arrogance is what I've been complaining about.
It’s not ridiculous, it’s arrogant.
How many wars have been fought, under the banner of “God is on our side”?
Among other things, a tenet of Christianity is “Blessed are the meek,” not those who trumpet their religion.
What arrogance?
For the most part, All Tebow has done is praise God when he does something good.
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
I second Bernz's comment.
Tebow is nothing if not meek.
Yes I'm a dude.
by Flowing Willow on Dec 15, 2011 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Not directed at anyone specific
But if we can’t bring up Tebow without bringing up religion, then we shouldn’t be bringing him up. This is a football blog and there’s been a lot of discussion on Tebow and his Christianity. I’m guilty of it, too.
I don't always fail, but when I do...
I do it awesomely.
by BusyBeingAwesome on Dec 15, 2011 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
vets vs rookies
What I see as a lesson learned is that the veterans need to quit making mistakes that rookies usually make. The miscommunication between the corners to allow the long TD at the end of the Atl game was something that never should have happened. Although the rookies made some mistakes that hurt us, the vets did too. (cough, missed FG, cough) So when the veterans keep having to relearn lessons it turns into a long season for us.
Steve Grogan? Never heard of him.
by Saul Good on Dec 15, 2011 3:11 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions 2 recs
rec
very true. They are some vets that never learn lol. False Start Gross is one of them, but that funny when were winning annoying we lose.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
eww the evil cousin of false start.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
by bigred28655 on Dec 15, 2011 11:14 PM EST up reply actions
Lessons Learned
It appears to me that Cam was so hard on himself after the first interception against the Falcons that he started to throw missiles instead of footballs. He seems to do this everytime he throws an interception.
Why doesn’t Chud calm Cam down by putting in 4 TE sets with no receivers and only one RB? After a few running plays like this, perhaps Cam might calm down and begin to have his “touch” back to accurately throw passes again.
Lol, we don't activate 4 TE's on Sundays :^)
I understand/ agree with your statement, but It’s just not very professional for Cam. As a QB Cam is supposed to have a short term memory, and forget every bad play. Whether or not he does this is very questionable though.
Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."
by Son of a Newton on Dec 15, 2011 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
Don't have to be listed as TE's
Could put in Third tackle as “eligible” or shift WR’s close to the rest of the guys. It would look like a FG try – 9 guys up front, two in the back.
by panthersnbraves on Dec 16, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
Huge Task
The Texans are a true 2 headed monster. Foster gets most of the caries but Tate will gash you too.. It will be a huge task to stop both. I’am more worried about their pass game. They have 2 good te’s. We can win this game but we need to play a complete game. Not a perfect game. Mistakes will be made . Just keep them to a minimum. Also, our OL is going to have to be solid.
I think we need to trail Johnson with Gamble.
We can’t allow Cap’n to be on Johnson one-on-one. Not once.
I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.
Id like to see Hogan this week….and if Butler is healthy id have him start at 2 and let Cap play Nickel like the Wizard intended
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
The problem is when we are in base Cap is the #2. Wish he would play safety in base and NB in nickel.
I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.
With as poorly as he's played at times this year, I tend to agree.
He’s a tough guy who makes plays on special teams and won’t back down from anyone. But as a #2 CB I don’t think he has been a success.
I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.
Only guy 5’7 i want starting for the Panthers is on LSU…..Honey Badger Dont Care!
Proud member of the Panthers Mafia!
Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time
'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF
Put it back in. Shame on you, oldpanther.
So much to be done, and so few people willing to do it for me.
by Rick Bates on Dec 15, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
LOL
I don't always fail, but when I do...
I do it awesomely.
by BusyBeingAwesome on Dec 15, 2011 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
And green.
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
Old panthers do not know any better.
I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.
by bigred28655 on Dec 15, 2011 11:16 PM EST up reply actions
That is perfect. lol
ACC Championship Member Brandon Thompson is the new Jacoby Ford. You better pick him Panthers or you will be doomed to relive the 2010 season over and over again in the Twilight Zone.
Clemson 2011 ACC Champions! Look forward to doing it again next year! :D
It means don't do this...
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
It was a joke man.
The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
To clarify, Johnson is another term for your "Mini old Panther"
and you said, Johnson is out……..
STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!
Panthers defense is lopsided
They will shut down the WRs and get run all over or shut down the run and give huge over the top plays……the day we figure out how to stop both ….we are in
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