Bama Panther

I’m obviously biased but I think there is a legit question as to whether SMU stays in the CFP if they lose to Clemson. They would have ZERO wins against teams that finished the season ranked at that point and two losses. Bama has already jumped Miami for basically the same reason. With that said, I’m not teams should be penalized if they lose in a conference championship game, as it relates to being in the CFP or not. Seeding may be affected, but other than an absolute dismantling, I can’t see penalizing someone for an extra game that they are playing only because they performed so well in the regular season.

Your premise may hold true if Bryce only performed exceptionally well against teams like Vandy, Miss St, etc. Where it breaks down is Bryce’s performance against teams like LSU, UGA, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, etc. Bryce performed just as well against those highly ranked recruiting teams as well. So it wasn’t just an effect of playing with far better teammates against far lesser talent. Personally, I think Bryce was trying to hard to be perfect during year one, while also suffering from frantic play due to the pressure defenses applied to him. I hope his recent play is indicative of what his future play will be like.

Listening to the radio call after Farley’s penalty on the kickoff and Shroff said, “Sam Franklin is there talking to Caleb Farley, trying to mentor him.” Thinking back on all of Franklin’s stupid penalties on STs, I thought to myself, “That’s the last MF that needs to be talking to someone about not taking stupid penalties.”

FIFY

I feel like the refs helped UGA, but I’m a Bama fan who needed UGA to lose for Bama to have even a chance at the playoffs. GT had a 27-20 lead around the 2:00 mark on a 3rd and 1, Haynes King appeared to pick up the yardage for a first down, but he fumbled the ball on the hit. However, the hit appeared to include the crown of the UGA defender’s helmet directly into Haynes King’s facemask. This appeared to me to be textbook targeting by making forcible contact with the crown of the helmet, which would have overturned the fumble and given GT a first down. The refs missed a blatant hold against UGA on their drive to tie the game. The hold occurred on 3rd and 9 and allowed Beck to scramble for a first down at about the 3 yard line. They later scored to tie, but a 3rd and 19 would have been much harder to convert. There was also DPI on a 4th and Goal earlier in the game. The ball appeared to be tipped, which would have negated the DPI and given the ball to GT. The spin on the ball seemed to change after Beck let it go but the play wasn’t even reviewed. All that being said, GT had opportunities to win the game but couldn’t get it done. Their coaching decisions in OT were highly questionable. For instance, Brett Key didn’t even know the OT rules, calling for one after GT’s second OT touchdown (required to go for two in second OT). The play calling also went away from everything that worked throughout the game.

The plays are being called for the same group for which the first 15 scripted plays are being called, so there should really be no difference in playcalling. Unfortunately, Canales goes through periods of forgetting about the Panthers’ success running the ball, putting the offense, and Bryce, in bad situations. I’m not arguing that Bryce is good in any way. In fact, I think he is one of the biggest problems with the team. However, even with his limitations, Canales has to put him and the offense in the best position to make plays. They seemed to do that today during the scripted set; after that, they struggled.

He’s never going to be a franchise QB, but if he (and Canales with the play calls) can be comfortable throughout the game like they were during the scripted portion, there would be a few more wins.

10 points in first 3 drives/21 plays of the game. 10 points in the next 9 drives/39 plays. That shows far more comfortability with the scripted set of plays than with the remainder of the offensive play calling.

I think it was fairly obvious that Bryce was super comfortable with the first 15 scripted plays. He looked poised. He made good throws. After the scripted set, he, and Canales, both seemed to be uncomfortable with the flow of the game. It’s that uncomfortability that leads to poor/rushed throws. Bryce has to be better if he intends on being the future (which I don’t think he should be), but the playcalling after the script has to be better also.

Awful 2 minute drill by the Panthers there.

FIFY

That’s because he is a pretty average passer.

I’m not a Bryce apologist, but this is an awful take on that particular play. XL was not blown up at all. The DB just ripped the ball out of his hands as XL was going down. It was actually a beautifully thrown “in the bucket” ball.

Are Bryce’s audibles the reason we don’t run it more? Is Canales actually calling runs with Bryce changing to screens/behind the LOS passes/etc?

I've been a Panthers fan since Day 1. I was working a shift at Food Lion during the Hall of Fame Game in 1995 between the Panthers and Jaguars. I remember checking with customers that came into the store asking if they knew the score. I've followed them ever since. However, times may be changing. My son and I went to the game yesterday. Being a Bama grad myself, and with him being a Bama fan, we were joking towards the end of the game about stopping by the Team Store and buying Brian Robinson jerseys. We both loved him at Bama, and with the way the Panthers have played over the past few years, I could see us both turning into fans of individual players rather fans of any particular team. I say that somewhat in jest, but man, it is hard to pull for the Panthers under Tepper.

My son and I are heading out to Northwest Stadium in just a few. He’s 13 and has never been to a Panthers game (thanks to our many duty stations in the western U.S. and Asia). Thankfully, we are stationed in the National Capital Region now and can get to this one. Neither of us are expecting a win, but I’m excited to share this memory with him.

This effing guy. Icky is such a disappointment.

Absolutely. If this is Canales’ offense, I love it with competent QB play.

The RB’s block on Milroe’s TD run was absolutely insane. That helmet popped off like a turkey’s “timer” on Thanksgiving.

I’m not sure about that, but I think DeBoer is going to be able to handle following Saban. He’s been so successful everywhere he’s been.

Yes. He absolutely is.

Let’s go!!! Loving what DeBoer is doing in T-Town.

When’s the last time the Panthers scored over 20+ points in an entire game???

Bryce has lost everyone on the team, and Dave will lose them as well if he doesn’t make the move to Dalton.

The laughing after the INT last week was obviously a defense mechanism. The body language after this INT is how Bryce truly feels about his ability to play in the NFL, and that body language said, “I really can’t do this.” Time to bench him. Not willing to watch this nonsense for another season just to get the #1 pick.