Cat Scratch Reader: FanPosts

Carolina Panthers sign former NCAA basketball star Dale Moss

2013-06-20T00:05:57Z

http://nfldraftzone.com/draft-news/carolina-panthers-sign-former-ncaa-basketball-star-dale-moss/ Dale had an amazing pro day, where he really opened the eyes of some NFL scouts. He ran a 4.38 forty, had a 41.5 inch vertical, had a 10’10 broad jump. Dale recently played for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I did an interview with Dale before the NFL Draft, check it out here:

Poll

This is a pretty atheltic player, do you think he can make the Practice Squad?

Which Panthers Player are you Most Looking Forward to Watching during Preseason?

2013-06-19T20:18:53Z

We have now entered the time of the offseason that everyone hates: Minicamps have just ended, and we must now bear through the several weeks of football nothingness that lead up to Training Camp. But cheer up fellow Panther fans, according to the countdown on my phone, there are only just 51 days and 4 hours until the Panthers first preseason game against the Chicago Bears on August 9th. I always convince myself leading up to preseason that I actually like preseason games, however I am quickly reminded how much I actually hate the preseason games once I start watching them and have to see Jimmy Clausen throw the ball out of bounds every play. However, I'm sure like me, most of you guys enjoy watching some of the new young talent we have acquired. So on that note, I will ask the question: Which Panthers player are you most excited to watch during the preseason?

Star Lotulelei

As all of you well know, Star Lotulelei was our first round draft selection that should not have been available at pick number 14. It will be interesting seeing how well he does in the preseason because defensive tackles are known to struggle their first year on the field.

Lamont Bryant

Lamont Bryant is one of the many receivers fighting for a spot on the roster. Last preseason, he made a lovely leaping catch against the Steelers that went for a touchdown. He is still most likely very raw, but it will be interesting seeing if he makes an impact during the preseason games.

Kenjon Barner

Kenjon Barner was our 6th round selection in the most recent draft. Barner was a stud with breakaway speed at Oregon who rushed for 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns. It will be intriguing to watch him once the subs come in and see if he flashes at all like he did at Oregon.

Armanti Edwards

I apologize for bringing him up, because I know he has been brought up countless times in the past few weeks. Armanti has received raving reviews from Ron Rivera the past few weeks and was even named "The Most Improved Player". Edwards is also competing for a roster spot and it will be interesting to see if he actually has improved.

Kawann Short

Short was our second round pick in the 2013 draft and he is expected to be an interior pass rushing threat that rotates with Dwan Edwards. As mentioned before, defensive tackles are known to struggle in preseason, so it will be interesting to see if he can provide a push the first few weeks.

Josh Norman

Josh Norman struggled most of last year, but it would have been unfair to expect a lot out of a 5th round rookie. Norman has received good reports so far from Gettlemen and Steve Wilks. Basically every position in the secondary, barring free safety, has an open competition for the starting spot, and Josh Norman has a good chance of winning one of the cornerback spots.

So Panthers fans, which player are you most excited to watch?

Star Lotulelei

Lamont Bryant

Kenjon Barner

Armanti Edwards

Kawann Short

Josh Norman

So Panthers fans, which player are you most excited to watch?

Poll

Which Panther are you most excited to watch during preseason?

What does Cat Scratch Reader think of Ron Rivera?

2013-06-15T22:41:17Z

Oh no, another 49er fan posting on multiple sites!

I promise no trolling is intended. I sincerely am looking for how fans think of their head coach. I plan on gathering information from all 32 sites then writing a post based on the information gathered (that way I can get made fun of). Just please, please don't put me on the front page. :-)

Hello. I am ak4niner, a die-hard 49er fan. I am going to be posting this over all 32 SBN NFL sites to try to answer a question that I have had for the past year or so.

How do coaches rank among fans?

I’m going to do a little twist on this though. I am not going to set up a ranking system (like I think Harbaugh is #1, blah blah blah), or have you discuss any coaches other than your own. I want to know what the fans of your team think of your coach. After a week or two (timing based off of when I can sneak away to work on this) I am going to look over all 32 fanposts I have made and use the comments to make an “expert” analysis of what fans think of their coach. (Expert meaning I use my 3 synapses to write it, and the monkeys do the editing.)

There are only two things I ask.

One, be honest. I don’t care what direction the posts take us down, but be honest. If you think your coach is the greatest of all time, say so! If you think he doesn’t even deserve to be a dog catcher, then let us know. I am going to try to not let any personal bias creep in when doing the final document.

Two, please only fans of this team comment here. I want to do this ranking based off of each team’s opinion of their own coach. I only ask this so I can save myself time generating the final document. I will filter the comments as necessary.

Thank you for your help in this.

Oh no, another 49er fan posting on multiple sites!

Hello. I am ak4niner, a die-hard 49er fan. I am going to be posting this over all 32 SBN NFL sites to try to answer a question that I have had for the past year or so.

How do coaches rank among fans?

There are only two things I ask.

Thank you for your help in this.

NFL Roster Comprised of Current NBA players

2013-06-14T21:29:03Z

I am an avid reader on this website and it has inspired me to try my hand at blogging. I started a blog today, http://tunesquadnation.blogspot.com/. Its super raw but I think y'all will find my first article readable and entertaining. I would love any feedback on the article, blog, or tips in general about blogging. Thanks

My friend and I are obsessed with NBA All-Star weekend. It has lost some of its luster recently, but it is still a phenomenal showcase of athleticism. NBA players are some of the greatest athletes on our planet and the all-star weekend really showcases this. One of my friends commented that Derrick Rose looked like a cheetah playing in last year's all-star game. NBA players can accelerate to full speed in seconds, stop on dimes, soar through the air, and spin quicker than a dreidel during Hanukkah. See Tony Parker Below:

And yes, I really just wanted an excuse to post this gif (back to the point at hand). Watching the All-star festivities got us to thinking...what would happen if you put NBA players on a football field? The possibilities are endless, and the potential of some of the players on a football field is downright scary; just think about Lebron James catching passes. Naturally, we then decided to compose a NFL roster using current NBA players. Note: we included one player currently in the D-league and one player currently playing in Turkey, simply because the player in Turkey could not be left off the team, period. Here is what we came up with:

Offense Defense Special Teams

WR Lebron James DE Dwight Howard KR Ty Lawson

LT Zach Randolph DT Glen Davis PR John Wall

LG Luke Harangody DT DeJuan Blair K Steve Nash

C Kevin Love DE Kendrick Perkins P Matt Bonner

RG JJ Hickson SLB Thomas Robinson

RT Demarcus Cousins MLB Joey Dorsey

TE Blake Griffin WLB Kenneth Faried

Slot J.R. Smith CB Rajon Rondo

WR Shannon Brown CB Derrick Rose

QB Kyrie Irving FS Dwyane Wade

RB Eric Bledsoe SS Russell Westbrook

Analysis:

We definitely have the nicknames needed to assemble a successful NFL roster. Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph and Demarcus "Boogie" Cousins anchor our offensive line. Side note: ever wonder how Cousins got his nickname "Boogie"? I sure did. Well, it turns out the story is not as good as I thought it was going to be. Demarcus was asked how he got the nickname on ESPN First Take and his response was:

Coach Rod Strickland at Kentucky gave me the name. I would be playing ball and I would do moves that guards would do and coach Strickland said, "Man, you got a lot of Boogie." Every time I walked into the gym he would say, "What's up Boogie!" and it just stuck.

Well he basically made it stick himself. His twitter handle is @boogiecousins and his middle name on Facebook is "Boogie"....no wonder it caught on! But let's be honest, if someone called me "Boogie Grantham", I would be doing all the above as well as naming my first child "Boogie Grantham".

On defense, we have Gen "Big Baby" Davis holding down the interior of the line. The crowd would definitely chant "Waaaahhhhhhh" every time he made a play because he's just a big baby...bad joke? And we also have Kenneth "The Mannimal" Faried playing linebacker, enough said. Last, but certainly not least, we have Matt "The Red Rocket" Bonner at punter. I mean, I couldn't think of a better nickname for a punter myself. As we all know, having a great nickname makes you much better at sports so our roster is looking really solid already.

Some of you might question the selection of Eric Bledsoe at RB. This was a hotly debated position that was eventually solved by performing a Google image search of Eric Bledsoe, which yielded this picture:

Reminder: this is a picture of him from college. The dude is 6 ft 1, 200 pounds and extremely explosive. If you need further proof, YouTube Eric Bledsoe dunks and keep in mind his height.

As far as how we are going to put up points, we have built our offense around Kyrie Irving, more affectionately known as "Uncle Drew". Uncle Drew is built in the mold of RG3; he has dynamic vision, elite speed, and could flick the ball with ease down a football field. He would have fans yelling "that's a pocket pass"! all game long. The team would mainly function out of the spread, with Kevin Love delivering pin point shotgun snaps. At WR, we have three elite jumpers with blazing speed. Throw in Blake Griffin at TE and this group of pass-catchers could out-jump any secondary in the NFL. NFL RedZone would have to add a screen box specifically designed for this team.

Our defense is anchored by Joey Dorsey, a power forward most notably known for playing on Derrick Roses' Memphis squad. I fondly remember his fast-break windmills and his strip downs to wife beaters once he fouled out of games; this was a site because the guy was a mammoth. According to Wikipedia, during the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Dorsey famously called Ohio State center Greg Oden "overrated as a big man", said that Oden "might be as good as Joey Dorsey", and labeled himself "Goliath" and Oden "the little man". That is the kind of attitude needed to lead a NFL defense.

Our pass rushers, Dwight and Perkins, wouldn't be that effective at getting to the quarterback. However, how are you going to throw a pass over these guys let alone attempt a field goal? They would block more kicks than a Euro Leaguer's shin guards. Also, if Perkins ever got a quarterback, he would leave him looking like this:

In my opinion, the secondary is the best part of our team. Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose would be shutdown corners on the edges. Rondo's hands would allow him to manhandle receivers at the LOS, pick off passes with ease, and give Brett Favre-esque butt slaps. D Rose has all-world quickness/agility that would allow him to blanket any receiver in the game. At free safety, Dwyane "Flash" Wade is allowed to roam the field, much like he does as a defender for the Heat. One of the best fits on the team is Russell Westbrook at strong safety. Can you imagine him running downhill at a ball-carrier in the same fashion he attacks the hole on fast breaks? Sheeshhh. Rusell would also set the fashion tone for our team.

On special teams,we have two of the fastest players in the NBA: Ty Lawson and John Wall. Ty has the straight-line speed to be devastating on kick returns and John Wall has the elusiveness and spin-moves to decimate coverage units on punt returns. Wall could also lead our team in pregame dances:

I talked about the Red Rocket earlier as our punter; couldn't you see him being able to just boom the football?. Steve Nash rounds out our roster at kicker. He is white, Canadian, and an accomplished soccer player, a great fit for the position.

Our roster is filled with exceptional athletes that would wreak havoc in space, but the team just doesn't have the size up front necessary to compete in the National Football League. The linemen are too tall and not thick enough; they would be abused in the leverage battle. However, getting this team in the open field would provide some very entertaining stuff. That's it, folks. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of the roster in the comments. Special thanks to Camp Arnett for helping me assemble the team.

Offense Defense Special Teams

WR Lebron James DE Dwight Howard KR Ty Lawson

LT Zach Randolph DT Glen Davis PR John Wall

LG Luke Harangody DT DeJuan Blair K Steve Nash

C Kevin Love DE Kendrick Perkins P Matt Bonner

RG JJ Hickson SLB Thomas Robinson

RT Demarcus Cousins MLB Joey Dorsey

TE Blake Griffin WLB Kenneth Faried

Slot J.R. Smith CB Rajon Rondo

WR Shannon Brown CB Derrick Rose

QB Kyrie Irving FS Dwyane Wade

RB Eric Bledsoe SS Russell Westbrook

Analysis:

Coach Rod Strickland at Kentucky gave me the name. I would be playing ball and I would do moves that guards would do and coach Strickland said, "Man, you got a lot of Boogie." Every time I walked into the gym he would say, "What's up Boogie!" and it just stuck.

Reminder: this is a picture of him from college. The dude is 6 ft 1, 200 pounds and extremely explosive. If you need further proof, YouTube Eric Bledsoe dunks and keep in mind his height.

A.J. Klein could be the steal of the draft for the Panthers

2013-06-14T17:24:00Z

This guy is awesome, I truly love this guys responses. When he was asked who he compares his play to he sats he don't feel he can do that yet. That is pretty awesome. I can't wait to see this kid on the field at the same time as Kuechly. The Panthers linebackers could become a dominant force on defense.

http://nfldraftzone.com/draft-news/carolina-panthers-draft-pick-a-j-klein-sits-down-with-nfl-draft-zone/

Predicting Newton's Stats Game by Game

2013-06-14T16:55:49Z

via winmyfantasyleague.com

We've all seen the "analysts" state that they expect Cam to either elevate or deflate his game. By their assumptions, they add 300 passing yards here, subtract 4 touchdowns there, and etc. Here, I'll predict what I expect from Cam in each game and compile it into a yearly stat sheet. And without further ado: Week 1 Seattle Seahawks: 12/23 passing attempts, 211 yds, 2 TDs and 2 INTs Analysis: A rough first game for Cam against Seattle. But who can blame him when throwing against maybe the best secondary in the NFL. However, it could definitely be seen as an improvement versus last years game against Seattle where he was 13/29 and had 141 yds with no TDs. Week 2 Buffalo Bills: 13/21 passing attempts, 312 yds, 3 TDs and 2 INTs Analysis: Superman gets back on track with an impressive game against Buffalo and their solid secondary. Byrd and Gilmore are both very talented seconday players that force 2 picks on Cam. Week 3 New York Giants: 11/18 passing attempts, 201 yds, 1 TD and 0 INTs Analysis: New York may have a weak secondary but their pass rush is fierce. The offence relies on the running backs and turn Cam into a game manager. You should be noticing a trend of Shula reducing Cam's passing attempts from last year and leaning more on the run. Week 4 Bye Week 5 Arizona Cardinals 18/29 passing attempts, 344 yds, 4 TDs and 1 INT Analysis: Patrick Peterson is a phenomenal return man, but his cornerback skills aren't at the same level. Cam picks apart a weak secondary as the game is more pass oriented to keep from running into a strong front 7. I think a pass will get tipped or something and the Honey Badger comes up with a fluke of an interception. Week 6 Minnesota Vikings 9/18 pasing attempts 189 yds, 1 TD and 1 INT Analysis: A tough matchup after the bye against a good Minnesota defence. Jared Allen is in Cam's face all day and the offence once again relies on the run. Week 7 St. Louis Rams 12/20 passing attempts, 269 yds, 2 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: A good showing from Cam as the team as a whole handles a weak Rams team. Week 8 Tampa Bay 13/23 passing attempts, 248 yds, 2 TDs and 1 INT Analysis: A near identical game to the previous week, except that Revis makes a play. Week 9 Atlanta Falcons 17/25 passing attempts, 313 yds, 3 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: Cam has a history of elevating his game against Atlanta. Maybe because it's his home town or maybe it's because of the rivalry. Cam completes a stellar performance against a team with a relatively fizzled out secondary and a D-line without Abraham. Side note: If Hardy does get 50 sacks, I hope 49 of them are in this game. Week 10 Sanfrancisco 49ers 16/30 passing attempts, 215 yds, 1 TD and 3 INTs Analysis: Prepare for a media storm of Kaepernick is better than Newton. But the truth is, the 49ers have a scary good defence that took them to the superbowl. Cam has a rough day against them. The yards and passing attempts stats goes up a little as the Panthers try to make a tough comeback, but it does result in more interceptions. Week 11 New England Patriots 18/28 passing attempts, 359 yds, 4 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: The Patriots don't win games through defence, they win them through Brady tossing 6 TDs every week. Cam takes advantage of the weak New England defence and has a huge game. Week 12 Miami Dolphins 22/30 passing attempts, 402 yds, 5 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: The Dolphins will be the 2013 version of the Eagle's "dream team". The Dolphins will have a poor record and Cam will exploit it. In probably his best game as a pro, Newton raises his stats significantly. Week 13 Tampa Bay 12/21 passing attempts, 212 yds, 1 TD and 1 INT Analysis: The Bucs are hitting a late year hot streak and become a tough match up. After passing so much the previous weeks, the emphasis goes back to the run. Week 14 New Orleans Saints 14/20 passing attempts, 288 yds, 3 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: Cam exploits a very very very very very weak New Orleans Saints defence in an important divisional game. Week 15 New York Jets 9/14 passing attempts, 190 yds, 1 TD and 0 INTs Analysis: Against a pathetic Jets team the Panthers run run run run and keep running all over them. Week 16 New Orleans Saints 11/22 passing attempts, 196 yds, 1 TD and 1 INT Analysis: Cam has an off day. Everyone's bound to have one Week 17 Atlanta Falcons 20/29 passing attempts, 330 yds, 3 TDs and 0 INTs Analysis: Cam bounces back and has another crazy good game against Atlanta. This game may just put the Panthers in the playoffs. Overall Season Stats: 227/371 for a solid 61% passing, 4,279 passing yards, and 37 TDs to 12 INTs Overall Analysis: Cam has a great year in his 3rd season. He hits his highest completion percentage of his young career, his highest yardage total, increases his TDs immensely and keeps the same amount of INTs. Let me know what you think in the poll and in the comments.

via winmyfantasyleague.com

Panther Fan Predicts the Panthers Final 53

2013-06-14T16:44:07Z

June is way too early to have the final 53 man roster set in stone. But here is my take on who is on and who is out.

***First lets go over the locks at each position***

QB: Cam Newton, Derek Anderson

RB: Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams

FB: Mike Tolbert

WR: Steve Smith, Brandon Lafell, Dominik Hixon, Ted Ginn

TE: Greg Olsen

T: Jordan Gross, Byron Bell

G: Amini Silatolu, Edmund Kugbila

C: Ryan Kalil

DE: Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy, Frank Alexander

DT: Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, Dwan Edwards

LB: Luke Kuechly, Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, AJ Klein, Chase Blackburn, Jordan Senn

CB: Captain Munnerlyn, Josh Norman, James Dockery

S: Charles Godfrey, Mike Mitchell

Specialists: Graham Gano, Brad Nortman, JJ Jansen

So that makes 35 locks for the 53 man roster already. Some surprises might be listed on here such as Jordan Senn as a lock. I think his ability on special teams and ability to fill in anywhere on the LB corp makes him vital. I also don't have our new CB's Drayton Florence or DJ Moore as locks. I think with them and Captain all truly being nickels then it could make one or more expendable. I am giving the lock to Captain just due to experience with the Panthers.

***Next, we have players who are not locks but will still make the squad***

RB: Kenjon Barner

TE: Ben Hartsock, Richie Brokel

T: Garry Williams

G: Geoff Hangartner

DT: Sione Fua

CB: DJ Moore, Drayton Florence

S: DJ Campbell

This now brings the total up to 44 players. I think Richie Brockel makes the squad due to his versatility of being able to play both TE and FB. I personally like DJ Moore over Drayton Florence but I see us keeping both because I dont think there are many other CB's currently available right now that I would switch with. But if a solid one gets cut from another team, I think we need to at least consider them.

***Finally, these are bubble players that I do think make the roster but it is very close***

RB: Armond Smith

WR: Armanti Edwards, Kealoah Pilares

TE: Nelson Rosario

T: Bruce Campbell

C: Jeff Byers

DE: Mario Addison

DT: Frank Kearse

S: Robert Lester

***FINAL ANALYSIS***

QB: As you can see, Jimmy Clausen did not make the cut. I feel we will only go with 2 QBs this season. I feel his roster spot was wasted all last season since he never dressed out for a single game, that position could be used elsewhere and Ron Rivera will realize that this season

RB/FB: I feel Armond Smith will be kept because he is more of a natural running back. Kenyon Barner is more of a scat back and we need to keep another north/south runner in case Stewart were to get injured again.

WR: I think Smith, Lafell, Hixon, and Ginn are in. I have put that Armanti and Pilares are staying but you could easily put Gettis in there as well. I went with them because they dont have the injury concerns that Gettis has. I also went with 6 receivers because I am not sure yet how much they plan on using Ted Ginn as a receiver or mainly as a return man.

TE: I am not in love with our backup TEs at all. I think we need to have a second receiving TE backup, that is why I left Nelson Rosario on the team. From what I keep reading, he has huge upside and hopefully can live up to that hype.

OL: I feel Kugbila could beat out Hangartner for starting RG. If that were to happen we might look for a cheaper backup. But Piggy also has versatility to also play center. Jeff Byers was kept simply for depth

DE: Feel good about our DE lineup

DT: Cant wait to see how Star and Kawann look. I think Dwan will start over Kawann but I look for him to get a lot of playing time.

LB: I love our linebacking crew! If they can stay healthy, we have the best in the league.

CB: I am glad we brought Captain back. I am excited about the potential of Norman and Dockery. But at the end of the day we still have 3 nickel corners and 2 corners with limited experience.

S: Haruki doesn't make the cut after the terrible season last year. But UDFA Robert Lester does, excited about his potential.

Specialists: No changes here. Gano needs to stay consistent. Nortman needs to show improvement. JJ Jansen is an underrated long snapper, one of the best in the league.

Let me know what you think. Can't wait until the season starts. Keep Pounding!

Poll

How do you grade this Final 53 man roster?

What can we expect from Cam Newton's 3rd year?

2013-06-14T14:38:21Z

Nursing a hangover on a depressingly cold June afternoon in jolly old Blighty, with the fading remnants of ‘Hey Macarena’ ringing in my ears as a horrifying reminder of last night's undignified antics, I’ve found it impossible to do any work. Instead I have been daydreaming at my desk about the 2013 Carolina Panthers. No wonder why the economy’s in such an appalling state.

In order to try to predict how Cam Newton would do this season, I decided to look at teams over the past decade with starting quarterbacks going into their third year. Furthermore, I chose teams who had just drafted in the Panthers range (11-20) going into their QB’s third year. These specific rules weren’t laid out arbitrarily. The idea was to try and view past performance of QBs in similar circumstances to our own in order to extrapolate information which could help predict Cam’s forthcoming season. These were quarterbacks with comparable experience, plying their trade on middling, non-playoff teams. Of course, there are many different variables that must be taken into account - this is by no means a perfect science - but we’ll discuss them later. It’s not the greatest sample size in the world, but it’s a start. Winston Churchill said ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’, but he was sloshed 99% of the time so what does he know. Anyway I digress. Found below are the third year statistics of the QBs who met the aforementioned criteria:

Player	Team	Year	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Matthew Stafford	DET	2011	5038	63.5	41	16	97.2
Josh Freeman	TB	2011	3592	62.8	16	22	74.6
Matt Ryan	ATL	2010	3705	62.5	28	9	91.0
Jay Cutler	DEN	2008	4526	62.3	25	18	86.0
Tarvaris Jackson	MIN	2008	1056	59.1	9	2	95.4
Alex Smith	SF	2007	914	48.7	2	4	57.2
Phillip Rivers	SD	2006	3388	61.7	22	9	92.0

Mr Third Year’s stats averaged out:

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Mr. Third Year	3174	60	20	11	84.7

Tarvaris Jackson is the major anomaly here. He was dropped after a woeful performance in Minnesota’s season opener, and only resumed his starting duties later on in the season when all had been lost. If we exclude him then this is how Mr Third Year would stack up:

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Mr. Third Year	3527	60.3	22	13	83.0

Alex Smith clearly brings down the average, but there were mitigating circumstances for him. Smith only started seven games in a season that begun with his third offensive coordinator in as many years and was ultimately hampered by injury. Let’s put it down to it being his annus horribilis. Now let’s look at Cam, whose 2012 stats are as follows:

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Cam Newton	3869	57.7	19	12	86.2

If he were to achieve the average laid out above it would perhaps be viewed as a slight regression, yet this is without even considering the rushing threat he provides which the other players lack. Cam Newton rushed for 700+ yards with a combined 22 TDs in his first two seasons. Josh Freeman’s season high is closest at 364 yards (0 TDs), which he has since come nowhere near to replicating. Cam’s dual-threat ability is a bonus none of the other QBs on this list possess.

Looking at the data, Mr Third Year performed slightly below Cam Newton did in his second year, and doesn’t possess his rushing ability. For me this makes it more likely that Cam Newton will have a season similar to the two Matts than Freeman or Smith.

Now, looking at the data individually, Matthew Stafford’s stat line is perhaps the most pertinent to our cause. In fact, the parallels between our present situation and the 2011 Detroit Lions is rather eerie. The 2010 Lions were coming off a 6-10 season not too dissimilar to our 7-9 2012 season - they even mirrored our own finish down the stretch by winning their last four games. Schwartz stated that this strong finish had a huge impact on the following season for the Lions, as they went into 2011 on a winning streak which lent credence to their growing self-belief. In 2011 Jim Schwartz was in the third year of his first Head Coaching gig, where previously he had been a Defensive Coordinator. Like us, the Lions drafted a DT in the first round to aid in the building of a dominant defensive line, in order to mask the deficiencies of their secondary. You're travelling through another dimension- Sorry, I must have blacked out for a minute there.

The third year QB Stafford led the Lions to the play-offs after a record setting season, culminating in his election to the pro bowl. This came on the back of shoulder surgery, which was in large part down to questionable O-Line play the previous year. Outside of Megatron, Stafford’s supporting cast is rather unheralded. Newton and Stafford are both gunslinging vertical passers who went (or will go) into their third year with losing records and something to prove. Now this outcome would be the dream scenario for us Panthers fans, and perhaps my subconscious is trying to find a connection when really there isn’t one. So I’ll try to balance out the good, with some bad and ugly.

A Josh Freeman-like regression is perhaps the biggest worry amongst Panthers fans on here. Mike Shula is rather an unknown quantity given his 14 year absence from the Offensive Coordinator position. If we’re going to strain the comparison even further, then like the 2013 Panthers, the Buccaneers draft consisted of double-dipping on defensive line in Freeman’s third year, and it was a disaster. They had the worst defence in the league which didn’t aid Freeman’s cause. Their secondary got lit up so often that crowds started to lift them up during rock concerts, with Steven Tyler being heard to exclaim ‘Put your Ronde Barbers up!’ during one particularly jaunty rendition of ‘Dream On’. Raheem Morris was also a third year Head Coach, and it’s evident he lost the team from what I saw of them, becoming a lame duck coach during a ten game losing streak. Ron Rivera could fall into this trap, though unlike the Buccaneers he doesn't coach the youngest side in the league, and lack of motivation hasn't stopped the Panthers from finishing strongly these past two years.

All data was compiled by http://www.pro-football-reference.com

Player	Team	Year	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Matthew Stafford	DET	2011	5038	63.5	41	16	97.2
Josh Freeman	TB	2011	3592	62.8	16	22	74.6
Matt Ryan	ATL	2010	3705	62.5	28	9	91.0
Jay Cutler	DEN	2008	4526	62.3	25	18	86.0
Tarvaris Jackson	MIN	2008	1056	59.1	9	2	95.4
Alex Smith	SF	2007	914	48.7	2	4	57.2
Phillip Rivers	SD	2006	3388	61.7	22	9	92.0

Mr Third Year’s stats averaged out:

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Mr. Third Year	3174	60	20	11	84.7

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Mr. Third Year	3527	60.3	22	13	83.0

Player	Pass Yds	Comp %	TD	Int	QBR
Cam Newton	3869	57.7	19	12	86.2

All data was compiled by http://www.pro-football-reference.com

An Early Look at the NFC South

2013-06-13T13:54:57Z

via tjthesportsgeek.files.wordpress.com

The road to making the playoffs starts inside your division. Balance reigned supreme in the NFC South last year, the only division where all four teams finished 3-3. Additionally, three teams finished with identical overall records as well.

Atlanta

So after going 13-3 last year, the Falcons are the clear front-runner. Still their Achilles heel last year was their own division, where all 3 of their losses occured. And they were just a combined 3 points away from being swept by the Panthers and Bucs as well. The 2013 Falcons will be trying to prove that they can be a dominating team within the divison as well.

We know where they got better, but let's talk about weaknesses: The Falcons couldn't stop the run nor rush the passer last year, finishing 29th in yards given up per rushing attempt and 28th in team sacks. Interestingly, they improved neither of these areas in the off-season. Osi Umenyiora could actually be considered a step down from John Abramham. Production-wise in 2012, Osi had four less sacks than John, four fewer forced fumbles, and six fewer passes defended. And not upgrading that front 7 against the run could really come back to haunt them against Carolina and Tampa. Additionally, two starters were lost off an Atlanta O-line that already struggled to protect Matt Ryan against the Carolina D-line...and the current plan is to depend on their back-ups to fill the void...

New Orleans

They will be able to score at will, but again their ability to remain ahead falls on their defense. Stumbling to an 0-4 start killed their season, and 3 consecutive double-digit losses late in the year finished them off. Sean Payton returning should help them start much better, but many questions similiar to Atlanta's remain surrounding that defense. The Saints had the worst run defense in the entire league last year, and they finished tied for 25th in team sacks. It's debatable if John Jenkins has the bite to make a significant impact against the run, and they did nothing to address their inability to get to the QB. On offense there is open competition for the important but vacant LT job, and many are wondering if Mark Ingram can provide the offensive balance the Saints imagined when trading up for him.

Tampa

The Bucs are the conundrum, as they were extemely streaky last year. After defeating the Panthers in the opener, they lost 3 in a row. Then won 4 in a row. Then lost 5 in a row. They ended the season losing 5 of their last 6, including a 41-0 molly-whomping at the hands of the Saints. And this was when they had a shot to make the playoffs. (Maybe Schiano isn't the motivator he's made out to be?)

This team certainly has the stars sprinkled in at various positions. But most believe the team will only go as far as Freeman does. The Bucs will seek to win via a stiffling defense, and a power run attack mixed with opportune deep balls on offense. Their running style will likely give Atlanta and New Orleans fits, but Carolina should be in a better position this year with the help of their new Star. Additionally, while investing premium draft picks and free agent money into their last place secondary, the Bucs actually lost their most productive pass rusher on a D-line that already finished 29th in sacks.

Summary: So as a whole everyone else invested one or two high draft picks into their secondary, and ignored their poor pass rush and/or run defense. As it has been noted extensively before now, Carolina is the lone wolf that did the exact opposite.

Carolina

The home team has proven that they match up well with their division mates. Two of their three divisional losses occured via a big play given up late in the game. And as ugly as the Bucs opener was to start the season, the Panthers had a golden opportunity to score a go-ahead TD during the 4th quarter.

Only 3 teams in the NFC scored fewer points than the Panthers did last season (Eagles, Rams, and Cardinals). More offensive consistency will go a long way. I expect a big step up from Cam in year 3, a time when things generally start clicking for players. With no major offensive personnel additions, the Panthers will hope that more balanced play-calling combined with a more seasoned Cam will yield the desired offensive results.

With the defensive improvements, the Panthers won't exclusively depend on extraordinary play from Cam to win games. Monster's Inc. will be looking to terrorize the offensive lines of the Saints and Falcons, lines that struggled against them last year and are actually worse off this year. And who can't wait to see Clark Kent in year two? With so many flukey losses over the last 2 years, the new Carolina D could be the difference maker. Despite starting cold, the close losses and final four game win streak show the Panthers are a team that could easily get hot. And if they do, that could lead to some long awaited January football in Carolina.

Bottom line: The division is obtainable

via classic17.files.wordpress.com

via tjthesportsgeek.files.wordpress.com

Atlanta

New Orleans

Tampa

Carolina

Bottom line: The division is obtainable

via classic17.files.wordpress.com

Poll

Let's think BIG. Which NFC South foe do we have the best chance to sweep?

Spartanburg's Monster Subs names sandwich #76 Da Kraken

2013-06-13T13:19:04Z

Whats good my dudes! I wrote a fan post weeks ago tellin y'all if your headed to Spartanburg for training camp to check out my new sub shop Monster Subs.

We just opened a week ago and while its a family run business I decided to create a sub so monstrous I dubbed it "Da Kraken".

It truly is a work of art unlike no other, consisting of golden roasted turkey, primo roast beef, pepperoni, jalapeno bacon (yeah that's right), hot peppers, and topped with a chipotle spread that'll make you fugetaboutit (im an Italian from jersey) so anyway my dudes if your headed down for camp stop by my shop for a sub, beer, and play some arcade games.

Anyone rockin Panthers gear gets a free soda and chips so that's awesome right?! Like us on facebook @monstersubs if you got the time. Thanks dudes! GO PANTHERS! KEEP POUNDING!

Whats good my dudes! I wrote a fan post weeks ago tellin y'all if your headed to Spartanburg for training camp to check out my new sub shop Monster Subs.

We just opened a week ago and while its a family run business I decided to create a sub so monstrous I dubbed it "Da Kraken".

Anyone rockin Panthers gear gets a free soda and chips so that's awesome right?! Like us on facebook @monstersubs if you got the time. Thanks dudes! GO PANTHERS! KEEP POUNDING!

Ted Ginn Jr. the missing piece at WR?

2013-06-12T22:41:14Z

#89 and Greg Olsen are obviously our primary, and most reliable receiving targets. Smitty is still a serious vertical threat (albeit not quite the guy he was 5-10 years ago), as is Olsen as far as TE's are concerned.. but when was the last time we had a downfield threat with Ginn's pure speed and explosiveness?

Even if "his hands are suspect," which by all indications thus far in camp has perhaps been an unfair criticism, his speed alone is going to demand that at least one safety on opposing defenses respects his abilti to get 30-40 yards down the field in a flash. The result? One less safety to stack the box or cover intermediate routes. So in theory, his mere presence helps the run game and can open up even more passing lanes for Olsen and Smitty to exploit.

So why hasn't Ginn fulfilled this role at any other point of his career, and why would it be any different in Carolina?

Two words: Cam Newton.

Cam's arm strength makes every other QB Ginn has played with look like a 7-year-old. Which isn't really a stretch considering we're talking about guys like Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, and Alex Smith.

Explosive speed on the outside + Zeus-like arm strength = a MUCH larger area a defense has to cover. It's science.

So why hasn't Ginn fulfilled this role at any other point of his career, and why would it be any different in Carolina?

Two words: Cam Newton.

Explosive speed on the outside + Zeus-like arm strength = a MUCH larger area a defense has to cover. It's science.

Desmond Bishop to be cut by Green Bay

2013-06-12T18:59:22Z

via 3.bp.blogspot.com

Desmond Bishop is on the verge of being cut by the Green Bay Packers. He had two straight 100+ tackle seasons before rupturing his hamstring last August. In 2010 he had 103 tackles (six for loss)/three sacks/two forced fumbles and one interception (which he returned for a touchdown). In 2011 he had 116 tackles (9.5 for loss)/five sacks and two forced fumbles. He has a nose for the ball and his sack numbers were trending upwards, which is impressive for a middle linebacker. Carolina is loaded at LB with Kuechly/Beason/Davis/Blackburn/Klein/Senn but what would bringing in one more Superbowl winner that has proved he can play in this league at a high level hurt? His current salary at Green Bay is $3.464 million and coming off of an entire year off due to injury, he would come relatively cheap to us. Linebacker is not a need for the Panthers but Bishop is still only 28 years-old and has just two full-time starting seasons under his belt so there is plenty of tread left on his tires. Bishop was arguably the Packers best defender in his last full season played due to Clay Matthews having a down year (registering only 6 sacks), Charles Woodson would be the other player given consideration. With that being said, he has not yet been officially released but speculation has it that it will be coming within the next few days. So should Gettleman bring Bishop in as a Carolina Panther if/when he is cut?

via 3.bp.blogspot.com

Poll

Should the Carolina Panthers sign Desmond Bishop?

Steve Smith and Richard Sherman

2013-06-12T14:54:32Z

A close friend of mine is a Seahawks fan. In preparation for week 1, I asked him the over-under on Steve Smith vs. Richard Sherman fights. We landed at three. Your thoughts?

I was also curious to see if anyone knew where to find the film of them fighting last year? If I remember correctly, Steve Smith body slammed Richard Sherman into the ground in one of their many fights. I would love to see a replay!!

A close friend of mine is a Seahawks fan. In preparation for week 1, I asked him the over-under on Steve Smith vs. Richard Sherman fights. We landed at three. Your thoughts?

Poll

Over-Under: Steve Smith and Richard Sherman fights in their week 1 match up?

The Dupe: A Life Lesson from Football

2013-06-11T14:28:41Z

via rumorsandrants.com

mass medium (Media)

noun

: a medium of communication (as newspapers, radio, or television) that is designed to reach the mass of the people

The mass Media's primary goal is to make money. This has become much harder for print, radio and television since the advent of the internet. The internet has become the great equalizer giving a worldwide platform to anybody with a internet capable device. Everybody's voice can now be heard. The really interesting thing is that there are some more intelligent people in the world than the ones on the television or working for the newspapers. Who knew? These voices can often be found on blogs.

Blogs, however, are really cutting into the control and profits of the main stream media. A way to attract more attention back to main stream media, is to sensationalize the news. This involves taking some small fact or picture and contorting the reality and integrity of the situation to create a more interesting story while ignoring the truth. Mass media almost always colors the story with a negative spin which usually gets more traction than a positive spin. Traction equals viewers equals more money. Sprinkle in some real stories with the spin and you have mass media "news".

Another benefit, is that these media giants now control the masses, to some degree, and which products they buy, who they vote for, who they like and more importantly, who they hate. This ability also leads to more money.

The Dupe is a common occurrence and results from believing these stories, not checking the facts, and more importantly, letting the media tell you what to think about things. Many people will just accept these contorted stories as facts and adopt them as there own ideas. It is interesting that even when they see the media contort the facts that they know to be wrong, they just overlook that particular situation and believe the rest.

In fact, people are Duped everyday by every "news" channel. Even the President does it, Congress does it, local politicians, schools, brothers, sisters, even ex-wives do it. In fact the more vanilla the story, the more spin it requires. Nobody wants to watch a national story about how a football star gives a football away to a child after every touchdown. The news media just cant make a profit off that. Dupers demand more! They need dirt. They don't care if its accurate. That doesn't matter. Does it sell?

Cam Newton is the trendy pick of sports writers. It is unfortunate that he is so easy to target. His super human talent, his level of confidence, perfect body, good looks, some of his mannerisms and the perfect name for the haters. Add an "s" and you have a perfect villain to sell your "news". The Dupes will not be fooled by his "fake smile" and the fact that his Dad was investigated and found innocent for the "Pay for Play" incident. Actual, facts have no weight. Actual facts don't attract viewers, clickers, or readers. Hype, spin, controversy, that's the ticket.

via t2.gstatic.com

Cam may idolize Superman, but Dupes love a good villain. That is reality. That is the bottom line. I challenge you; don't be a Dupe. Don't believe everything you read or hear. Your ears can hear the lies, but your eyes will see the truth. Don't let people tell you how to think. Use your brain and come up with your own interpretation of the facts. Its hard sometimes to know the truth, but I find a cool wet towel on my head actually helps me think more clearly.

(Actual names of the duped have been removed in an effort to protect the ignorant. Any resemblance to actual Dupes or Dupers may or may not be a coincidence.)

Editor's note: Please realize who Panthster's intended audience is... It's probably not most of the posters/readers who frequent this site, but this article should be given an opportunity to be seen by all nonetheless.

via rumorsandrants.com

via t2.gstatic.com

(Actual names of the duped have been removed in an effort to protect the ignorant. Any resemblance to actual Dupes or Dupers may or may not be a coincidence.)

Anybody been to the Spartanburg Area

2013-06-10T22:18:27Z

Going to Panthers Training Camp next month (whenever they release the schedule) and was looking for things to do while camp isn't going on.

Places to eat?
Hotels?
whatever there is in the area, any info would help.Thanks ahead of time.

NEED MORE WORDS
GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!

Going to Panthers Training Camp next month (whenever they release the schedule) and was looking for things to do while camp isn't going on. Places to eat? Hotels? whatever there is in the area, any info would help.Thanks ahead of time. NEED MORE WORDS GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!GO PANTHERS!

Cat Scratch Reader: FanPosts

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Which Panthers Player are you Most Looking Forward to Watching during Preseason?

Which Panther are you most excited to watch during preseason?

What does Cat Scratch Reader think of Ron Rivera?

NFL Roster Comprised of Current NBA players

A.J. Klein could be the steal of the draft for the Panthers

Predicting Newton's Stats Game by Game

What do you think of Cam's yearly stats?

Panther Fan Predicts the Panthers Final 53

How do you grade this Final 53 man roster?

What can we expect from Cam Newton's 3rd year?

An Early Look at the NFC South

Atlanta

New Orleans

Tampa

Carolina

Bottom line: The division is obtainable

Atlanta

New Orleans

Tampa

Carolina

Bottom line: The division is obtainable

Let's think BIG. Which NFC South foe do we have the best chance to sweep?

Spartanburg's Monster Subs names sandwich #76 Da Kraken

Ted Ginn Jr. the missing piece at WR?

Desmond Bishop to be cut by Green Bay

Should the Carolina Panthers sign Desmond Bishop?

Steve Smith and Richard Sherman

Over-Under: Steve Smith and Richard Sherman fights in their week 1 match up?

The Dupe: A Life Lesson from Football

Anybody been to the Spartanburg Area