panthers55

Way too critical at this point. This was his first game in this system and he has only been here a few months. What you need for a franchise QB is a guy who make plays when the game is on the line. He has heart and fire and that is something you have or you don't. Like Cam and Jake you can't teach it. The offense is going to get better but Baker is a competitor and that is what we need.

The best thing to me was adjustments by Baker and McAdoo in the second half. When was the last time we had an OC who could adjust and change the playcalling. Baker was also quicker and more decisive on his throws. It surely wasn't his fault we lost.

Safe travels as well. I will definitely find a bar by hook or crook. I have waited for the season to start forever it seems. Keep pounding.....

I am in Daytona Beach visiting my wife's 93 year mom this week and wondered who might have a good recommendation for a bar to watch the game.

In Daytona Beach looking for a sports bar. My nephew is taking his children to the game and representing for us with my tickets.

Like most coaches when he has a franchise qb and good talent he does well like in 2020. But when he doesn't he is not good enough to scheme around it. Watch what happens with Brissett today.

Gonna be a tough game in the rain. I like our chances if we stop the run. If he can't figure out in the first half I hope he calls me at halftime so I can tell him to go to a 5 man kine and play read and react loading the box with man coverage over the top

That is the thing. Guys who complain about the organization and undermine the coach or qb can still be very popular in the locker room essentially voicing what others are thinking and reinforcing negative feelings.

He did run several times in the red zone with the game salted away so no I would say they are doing the same thing to him that we did with Cam. Last night Allen rushed 10 times.

That is Baker's normal tendency when he rolls out or gets outside the pocket to run.

That is the feeling I got. Apparently when his father jumped it, it went nuclear. Has OBJ been a good teammate anywhere he has been?

McAdoo said he wasn't going to be alone in protection but did say that Ickey has to be able to hold his own 1 on 1 at times.

From all I heard from Cleveland fans there was a big divide between those players loyal to Baker and those loyal to OBJ. When OBJ's father jumped in it got worse. Apparently Garrett was one of the guys fomenting the rift and wanting Baker gone. Fortunately for us we got Baker for peanuts because Cleveland couldn't keep him on the roster and not cause big locker room issues.

This suggests to me the linebackers were an issue as well. Additionally the current defense appears to be more read and react which is usually more effective against the run versus selling out on every down to pressure the qb. Maybe this is my wish and won't come true but I think we are emphasizing stopping the run more this year.

Firing him is an admission it was a mistake. But I think we are much better and will be competitive so that he won't be fired. Not sure if that is good or bad....

I think a lot of what was said about Rhule was true. He preaches and lives his system and the process of improvement. He is genuinely a caring coach who is involved and emotional. That doesnt mean he doesn't have serious flaws which were uncovered. Remember when he said he doesn't fire coaches just works to improve them. Had to change that tune. Remember when he said that he thought he needed a few head coaches on his staff when he rode into town but didn't do it. Yeah that changed too. Rhule was arrogant and cocksure and he has been drug down a few notches. But he did get enough coaches to join him to help elevate the football experience and make us more competitive. So the message is still good but we have to see better execution and scheme which comes from the bottom up not the other way around. Rhule hopefully like Rivera and Fox will continue to learn OTJ. But his learning curve about the NFL was steeper than Rivera and Fox given he had little experience and likely thought it wouldn't be hard to pick up. He was wrong about that too. He will improve as the quality of his staff improves. Hopefully that is this year.

Everyone seems to downplay we were second in yards surrendered and therefore the second ranked defense yet that is the stat that the NFl uses for rankings both on offense and defense. I personally think the only stats that matter are points for and points against. But we were very good given the time they were out there. This defense is going to be good again for a myriad of reasons. We have speed, youth, and aggression. All good traits if directed positively. Shaq is a difference maker and will make everyone better like Luke did. Wilks will help the back end and if the offense helps by scoring more it forces teams to pass to catch up which is our strength.

Don't agree with your analysis about the present staff. Snow get lots of praise from other coaches and coordinators as being smart and creative. Tabor is well regarded as are Campen and Wilks. McAdoo is considered a decent coordinator and poor head coach. Truth is this staff is pretty solid. With this roster and staying healthy we are going to be competitive. I agree that past staffs were pretty bad but this is much improved including the coaching.

I so want this to be true......

It is definitely possible. The last two years injuries specifically to CMC have derailed the offense and we didn't have the depth or the qb to compensate. We may have that now as well as a few additional pieces and Baker the playmaker. Our defense will be good although not dominant and with a good offense that can score late we might be able to win more of those one score games we lost. But Tampa has to take a big step back. They embarrassed us last year and it wasn't close.

Exactly. I think he stopped working for us because he can't do the job halfway and he doesn't want to work all the time.

A lot of players don't want the long hours of coaching which starts before players arrive in the morning and extends later after they all leave every day..

Only saw his highlight reel but he looks like he is big and physical with good skills in open space.

Of course injury derailed everything. My comment was assuming that now that he was injured and out for the year what was the best situation he could have come into. And it would be one with little pressure. No one thinks getting injured and going to IR is a good thing. We already planned to keep 3 qbs.

It was perfect for him because we had no expectations he would play here or we needed him to play. He got a free year to learn behind a playoff tested QB with a similar style to mentor him. He will have time to develop.