I know management don't pay me for this, but...

[Panthers8969]

He should have took a bigger gamble in OT, and gone for the win.

 

this. we had so much momentum, cam was playing at 95%, bengals d was poo, and our d isn nearly the same as last year. Ron should've known the d wouldn't get a stop. Plus we would've freaking scored the td

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

I'm 100% sure he dropped a few TD passes last year.

You're 100% right.

[Panthers8969]

I'm not as concerned with who's starting as I am with who is seeing more snaps.

 

KK is without a doubt our best DL right now.  I understand he is isn't starting and isn't necessarily seeing the amount of snaps we think he should.  It was highly noted coming out of college that his biggest weakness was getting tired and seeing an excessive snap count (which resulted in the common statement of taking plays off).  He isn't a JJ Watt, Jared Allen, Peppers or Hardy, KK could very well have issues of "energy management" or is simply not able to achieve incredible levels of conditioning naturally.  If he is a guy that simply just goes all-out on every snap he is in on despite his body's ability to properly respond, then it makes it important to conserve his "tank" on a situational basis.

 

I like the fact that Norman has seemed to have gotten his head out of his ass.  He's talented and has the best ball skills on the team.  Bene needs to come back ASAP, he is a marked improvement over Munnerlyn who was quite effective as a nickel.  Melvin has some good attributes in terms of athletic ability and I like him as a back-up and role player, his pure coverage skills borderline acceptable.  Cason exhibits many of the same attributes of Melvin, but the fundamental difference is turnover generation.  Secondary players with a knack for forcing fumbles is a hugely underestimated aspect.  I understand he isn't playing bullet-proof ball but he's making enough critical plays every game to make a difference.  Godfrey is done.  I'd rather have him playing safety at this point.  Putting a guy like him coming off an achilles injury at NICKLEBACK is a horrible decision (and I believe intentional).  You are putting a safety into a position who's entire job is to defend (generally) the craftiest, quickest and most difficult man to wrap up on the opposing offense (slot receivers), this is the exact opposite of everything we've tried to accomplish with him as a safety.  Honestly I don't even blame the secondary for our game, we played soft coverage the entire game.  I love that we have corners who are able to be physical, but if you want the benefits of those types of guys you need to put them in a position to be physical.

 

Ed Dickson has done nothing this year.  Get Williams involved, especially in the passing game.  With Fozzy and Reaves both proving to be quality guys at picking up the blitz, we can spare having a tight end to go out and make plays downfield.  We can always let Olsen stay back and block if needed and would be unexpected.

 

With the way our defense has played and our inability to run the ball, we should be handing this offense over to Cam.  Get 4 receivers on the field often and spread them out.  Avant has been more reliable in critical situations and has more savvy than Cotchery.  Avant is not athletically gifted at an NFL level in any way, yet he makes much more of his opportunities than Cotch (especially in the screen game, which is most surprising).  I'm not in favor of benching Cotch, but I think Bersin and Brown need to start getting some snaps over him.  Brown has been a complete liability as a return man, but he makes catches as a wideout everytime his name is called upon.  He also provides an element of a deep, speedy threat to the offense and provides upside on end arounds.  Bersin is a big body that can block, has great situational understanding (always knows where the first down marker is) and has been catching everything in sight.  These guys deserve a chance.  They are young, hungry and could be an integral part of our future.

 

In regards to our defense, the lack of Greg Hardy has been underestimated by everyone.  Yes, he disappeared some games, but other games he seemed to nearly win on his own.  At this point, I don't think his disappearances were for lack of motor.  In general, the games he "did nothing" in, the rest of our dline stepped up.  I'm convinced offenses that shut Greg down were ones that accounted enough resources to keep Greg in check and pulled too many resources from everyone else.  We have good defensive linemen, but having that one athletic freak capable of completely taking a game over is the key component we are missing.  You also need to think of how versatile he is.  He's great against the run.  He's a great ST gunner.  He makes plays on the inside and outside positions of the line.  He's got great speed and quickness making him a huge boon in the screen game and containing mobile quarterbacks.

couldn't agree more. Especially about hardy