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what does this say about our defense, if this was in the play book in preseason, why didn't our defense pick up on it? I suspect it really isnt a huge deal, it needs to cleaned up but in the end its about the QB having happy feet due to batted balls and constant 3rd and long that killing us. TL;DR Bakers balls are batted

Is there a worse coach than Rhule this season? did the Bills lose to a team that had more than a 10 point line? Bills had 2 interceptions and a fumble at a -14 spread against the Jags and lost. Is it impossible to see the Panthers take advantage of a QB that has a bad wheel and relies on the run to escape pressure? This is the kind of win the young Panthers can point to next year, so I think its worth pulling for the guys. If we allow the Bills to complete their usual season ending fade and we do not throw a pick 6 or some other stupidity, why not take our pals Up North for a little walk to the Anchor bar and sink their hopes for a great season. With all the Western NY immigrants that have moved to (or just ran out of gas on their way to Myrtle Beach) the Triangle, the Triad or the Coast, its a amazing they can fill the Murph or where ever they play now. But I hear they have great bread up there. Thinking of you @SCP... Panthers 20 Wingnuts 16

Looking at Cams career and the fact he doesn't want to QB2, I wouldn't be surprised if he retires after this year. NE was his best bet to comeback and be relevant again but the NFL spoke with no takers after he was let go. He's back home and can retire as a Panther, we owe him for those great years, years that probably shorten his career. I hope I'm wrong but it may be time for Cam to protect himself and start raising his kids. It sounded like he enjoyed the downtime this season with his family and this team is too green for a vet like him. Luke knew when it was time to go and I hope Cam will know too. It going to be a couple of years to sort out this team and build a above average O line.

I honestly dont know why Cam was starting, the opposing D knows he only has X amount of plays. PJ should have started both games and bring in Cam when needed. Today the Fins where daring him to pass and Rivera knew how to D him up. He does look rusty or maybe its the shoulder, either way we should have waited until he had the reps and had him start after the bye. Its a lot to ask of Cam to come in here and suddenly be a hero after being out half the season and walk on with half a playbook under his belt. Now that CMC is banged up again, where back to Sam/PJ/Chuba. If we are going to rebuild, peel the band aid and take losses, trying to force Cam to carry the team without having the reps and waste CMC doing it is just insane. Chuba was doing fine and then we go full CMC and hes hurt...with all the talk of Cam, how about CMC? is he done? how about that cap hit? I hate it for him, but there are signs that hes not a full time RB. Stay with the rebuilding plan, beef up an O line and QB in the draft and lets get on with it. No one guy is going to save this season.

I'm sure this has been posted before but as far as the Smith conversation, I think it gives a pretty good reason why he was so intense, as a kid he witnessed domestic violence and endured abject poverty. Here's a couple of quotes: "Later, Smith was describing his love for his adopted hometown of Charlotte and how it differs from the poverty-stricken neighborhood where he grew up in Los Angeles. “Charlotte is a nice, smiley-face city,” Smith said. “I’m a sweatpants, pack-a-pistol kind of dude.” “The best athletic quarterback I played with is Cam Newton. The best quarterback I played with — the guy I grew up with, the guy I got paid with — (is Jake Delhomme). “Cam is an excellent athlete. However, I didn’t learn from Cam and make mistakes with Cam. I grew up with Jake.... (My kids) and Jake’s kids grew up together. Invited each other to birthday parties. “When Cam came along, I was (32 years old). When Jake and I played, we were two blind dogs in the meat house. And when you grow with people like that, it’s a different place in your heart than someone who’s just athletic and really gifted.” “I played ball for one reason — to beat the man in front of me. That’s really it. And if that man happened to be on my same team, I did not get that memo.... https://www.wbtv.com/2020/02/08/steve-smith-who-was-his-favorite-panthers-qb-cam-newton-or-jake-delhomme-more/

Cam was the only answer after Sam went down, what other QBs could we have got? Nevertheless, its a huge upgrade and its was a right call for many reasons. PJ has a shot to be QB2 after the Cards game which is surprising too. Seemed like the last three days have turned things around, the D is elite, special teams doing well and well rested Cam is back. It was the right move for the team and the fans.

I think the point is that Cam is not in game shape yet, doesn't know the playbook and we have an O line that can let a DL attach the QB's blind side. Nothing about if Cam is the QB1, of course he is. I have know idea what Rhule is thinking by announcing the QB on Monday...I hope he's being deceptive. Chuba would be out if Cam was in, I like him a bunch but his blocking is still at rookie level. So it would be the Cam/ CMC show, neither need a bunch a reps against a WFT that our D may just destroy anyway. Do think Shaq may know their QB? It makes sense to use Cam when needed but PJ know the playbook is mobile and most important...expendable. Not starting Cam for a full game is about giving him the best chance to go full speed in three weeks, if he gets hurt this weekend, we are back to square one and then it will be PJ and Morgan for the most of the season.

for the trifecta, add the 11-2 Hurricanes who beat the blues on Sat. Honestly one of the best weekends for Carolina sports in a long while.

Agreed and throw in a NFL level OC that can utilize our RBs/TEs for protection and create a rushing attack that gives the D a rest.

We've dug a hole that will take more than a season to dig out of, Sam is here for another season and PJ isn't a backup option. Without reviewing the obvious shortcomings what can we do now? The offense has to stay on the field longer or the D will eventually just give up and the D is the closest to being above average on this team. The Pats did us a favor, we can't pretend anymore that we can't run through our passing deficiencies. Brady has proven he doesn't know how to read pro defenses, rarely are they fooled by his schemes and he thinks QB has more time than they do. Is there a reason we can't have two RBs on a play? Let Brady and Walker go, find a OC that can run the ball with CMC/Hubbard/Abdullah and create more protection with Tremble and others. We need first downs and time of possession to increase. I wish we could bring Cam, I really do, but I just don't see him having the patience and ability to mentor others. So we need to get a vet that is up for a tough year but will lead the team that will be run oriented. If Sam can be a backup for a season, its possible he may improve next year. It's a deep hole, no doubt, but we are (for now) better than 6 other NFC teams and if somehow we get a WC, yes we would screw the draft but playoff experience is worth it.

true, but the browns handpicked Beckham...

to be honest, I didn't read the entire thread, its like the huddle has PTSD and we are just running over the same old ground here. The staff picked defense to fix first and thought the could scheme an offense that wouldn't expose the O line or Sam. As I wrote before, Horn will be something else but we brought in more secondary help and so maybe they should have drafted a QB. But Horn will be here for a couple of seasons and our defense was terrible last year. You got to like the of Gilmore move to add some veteran moxie. so here's my take on the game, if our defense gets three turnovers from the rookie QB. its a win for the coaching staff. Defense will lose games like last year and that is hard to watch too. If we fly around and take BB out of his game, it could be something to see. As opposed we had a rookie QB and they stuffed him. it sucks the we dont have a decent offense but the rookies we did get are playing hard and we just have to wait for the rest of pieces to be put in place. Imagine an all offense draft next year and have a balanced team that keeps MF pounding for a couple of years.

Hey, I ran into Vinny Testaverde yesterday...Vinny Jr is available

I think defense was the natural place to start the rebuild, but it was at the expense of the offense. My only criticism on the draft with this staff is it could have been better balanced, now that the secondary is nearly built, you have to wonder about the Horn pick. No doubt he can be a shut down but we could have added an important piece to this offense. But we didn't and Sam is most likely mistake but they had to try something. so we run and play solid D for now and maybe we can scheme our way to a better passing game. I feel better this year than last when we couldn't stop other offenses or score in the late quarters. Sure, its hard to watch- that's what rebuilding means, but we are heading in the right direction. Hubbard and Tremble have done well as rookies and Marshall and Smith will start to contribute soon. And except for some depth issues, the D is looking good. we'll be better than 5-11 this year.

I still think Sams demise is more Bradys fault, I am by no means a offensive expert, but it looks to me like is Sam is not anticipating routes right. Most of the throws are from standing parallel to the line of scrimmage and he not planting his rear foot. Balls are sailing everywhere and his ability to find triple coverage is baffling. To be honest, we seen this before but with a much more talented player (!). Sam looked like he threw guys open when he had the proper technique but that was lost at half time with Dallas. Isn't the West Coast offense supposed to time the reads with the drop back? You add some added protection with running backs and depending on the drop back, the QB is reading the routes until he hits the trigger step. It may be a quick or slower 5 step or even have a hitch to clear some routes. Wouldn't that stop Sam from thinking to much or is the WC offense hard for the both the receivers and QB to learn? or Brady for that matter... Here's on old article from Steve Young https://www.espn.com/nfl/s/westcoast/popularity.html

The real problem here is our only strength is drafting talent and if we give that away we are depending on the coaching staff to evaluate very expensive trades and that hasn't worked out well. They need to stick to what they know, drafting college kids. We should pass on Watson, continue to rebuild and draft our way out of this mess. The D is improved from last year and if we had CMC heathy this season we prob could add two more wins to our record and our QB wouldn't be mental.

Not having CMC, Shaq and Horn really puts us the bottom of the league. But a win would get us above 500 for now. if we get key players back we could still get to 8 or 9 wins. I 'll take that this year, but we better get a new long snapper in the draft... Hey kidding...< makes the O face>

At start of the game we had 15 or more Panthers fans at the bar. After the first play, a couple said Sam sucked and left. At the half we had maybe 6 or so. When we were pinned back at our own end zone down by 8, two of us were still there. I get it, we are a young team with our superstar out again along with Shaq and Horn. The O line sucks and we give up big plays on D. Brady and Sam aren't together on a scheme that works with the current roster and how many dropped balls can one anyone stand? It was a good drive and it showed we have something to work with. So there were two guys in a bar in NC making some noise as the Panthers tied it up in the last 2 minutes with a 97 yard drive. I'll take that for now, as to the rest of the fans that left....glad your Steelers beat a hapless Seahawks team.

assuming special teams manage not to hurt us, seriously, that's the one thing we can fix in a week. The D will do ok, including a pic before the half, but it's time for Brady to show some command of the O and I think he does. 28-16 the good guys with Sam throwing over 300 yards.

Good post, thanks for that. Imagine if we started 1-2 and then lost last week...it's young team with one experienced NFL front office guy and a coaching staff that is learning this is not college ball. there is an old baseball saying; something like you have two guys being timed running to first base. One is fundamentally sound and is half a second faster then the other that isn't. Who do your take? the second because you can train them and they will be faster than the first. We've got talent but we are short on experience (coaches and players) that will change as we get deeper in the season and Brady needs to improve the most. However, if special teams doesn't improve next week I'm going to lose it. Blocked punts are just unacceptable.

its been six quarters since having the lead on Dallas at the half and something has changed besides CMC being out. I don't know if Sam is stubbornly reading all his progressions when doesn't have the time or if he just is over his head. Either way, Brady has done a terrible job getting the ball out quickly or worse, running Chuba down the middle over and over again. Add dropped balls and DJ being pounded by the Philly D and we get a game like this. I put the loss on Brady first, its as if he doesn't know our O line sucks. BC seemed to hold his own but man the is no time to throw some of those routes Brady called. Some have already mentioned it, but what the hell is wrong with some slant routes? Marshall should have been targeted more often too. And who missed the block on the punt....JJ? the fake field goal was fugged up too.

I thought it was telling that Snow said we weren't ready to fight on D last week, even with Shaq out, I expect our D will be ready for beagles. Throw in some Chuba chumbawamba ball control and a Samwise rocking DJ , it will be fun. 27-13 and our O line will show promise for the first time....in a quite while.

If we had Horn and CMC, i think we could surprise the Girls, but we dont and I expect our D to do well but gives up some big passing plays. We put up 21 points but it wont be enough. you know what? screw this, we have the work ethic and two great coordinators. Sam and DJ wins this with 2 minutes to go. 21-17 The Cats Bold- Dak leaves the game in the 4th quarter and the Black and Blue Crew puts the league on notice that this D is special.

great article thanks, are we all good with the Horn pick now? Love having a great D while we work on the O. Sam Mills would approve...KP

not only do have a bunch of rookies learning the game but have coaches also adapting to the NFL. Seems like the the team isn't afraid to try new schemes, as Rogers said the defense was "strange" last year. now Snow has the pieces to execute a scheme that will confuse most offenses, I'm sure we have some bad games this year, but man, this is fun. some old fashion Panthers D is just what we needed as we rebuild the offense.