Confident or Concerned?

[*FreeFua*]

Here's a clip on this weeks move the sticks podcast talking about the Carolina Panthers...

Bucky mentions our D is attackable through the air. In my opinion this is why we've seen this team let teams back into games after establishing a large lead. Many here want to believe it's a scheme thing and McDermott has let his foot off the pedal and that the D drops back into a zone coverage allowing for passing yards. I believe teams are able to attack us through the air regardless of what type of D we're in and by abandoning the running game due to the score it actually allows teams to be more successful against our D. This D benefits from teams trying to establish a running game in early downs and being forced to drop back on 3rd and long. Also we've seen McDermott having to get creative with blitzing schemes due to the lack of pressure created by our front 4, this is leaving our already questionable secondary even more vulnerable to the passing game.

 

 

[cgarsmoker]

It's been a long time since our bye week.  We are a very physical team and I think we may be getting worn down a bit.  Hopefully, we can pull it together and get a win against Tampa.  If so, I think we will come out fresh and ready to dominate in the playoffs. 

[BIGH2001]

We have seen corner blitzes the past two weeks which is a sign that we are changing up things to try and generate pressure. It hasn't worked at all and has just created another open spot in the zone. Unfortunately most of our blitzes seem to fail with the exception of TD coming through the A gap. 

[megadeth078]

The pass rush from our DEs is disappointing, the defense misses Bene, and Remmers is Remmers.  I'm more concerned than confident.  

[Randolph Panther]

Still as confident as ever.  Feel like we get to the NFC championship and even though we are not playing as well as Arizona with hfa and them flying across the country gives us a slight edge.  

[juliosantos]

i agree , losing bene really hurt us . tillmans good but he cant cover short routes same with harper 

[maddog1945]

Concerned! Very concerned!  I think the NY game took some piss and vinegar out of this team. That was, as you know, a very physical and tough game!  Maybe they have "toned it down" to much! 

Maybe Stew needs to play Sunday. I wouldn't want to make that decision.

Norman looked intimidated, very intimidated! Not picking on Norman but the whole team seemed down.

O know they will rebound this Sunday.

To much on the line!

Just my 2 cents worth!!

 

[pantherclaw]

14-1

 

Nothing to be, but confident.

[PanthersUnited]

Concerned as Fug.. We are cooling off at the worst time and plagued by injuries, I don't see us making it out of the divisional round

[PantherPhann89]

I'm confident if we play to our strengths. We need to run the ball throughout the game, keeping the defense honest. We need to find ways to create a pass rush, like stunts or something or LB fake blitzing then peeling off at the last second. I don't know what's going on with our pass rush, but maybe it's time to switch the DE's up cause CJ and Allen aren't getting to the QB. Just my 2 cents...

[DeeJay]

27 minutes ago, thebigcat said:

Does your pads have those leak proof side wings

Panthers United hates the carolina panthers

 

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

i mean its whatever, we're still a good team, we're 14-1

i think we can beat any team in the NFC (only counting seattle because they're on their 3rd string rb, if they get marshawn back we're fuged) besides the cardinals, who would tear us a new asshole.

i'll wait to see how we respond to tampa

[Goondal]

I am neither more concerned nor more confident than I was a week ago.  The weaknesses on this team were obvious to anybody looking before Atlanta, the 14-0 record just made it easy for many to ignore and/or overlook them.  Both the Saints and Giants exposed our defense for not being the elite unit we were accustomed to.

On the flip side, there are still only four teams that I honestly think can win the Super Bowl and we are still one of them.  Our poor performances of late were all on the road, which will not be an issue again this season as long as we take care of the Bucs Sunday.

Now if we lose to the Bucs and have to travel to Arizona I will be concerned.

[VerticalThreat]

Concerned for the way they've played (defensively) the last few weeks right now, but confident in the team's ability to get better in the final week, bye week, and playoffs. Here's a few notes I've made throughout the day:

1) Offensively, we played well in NY (35 points - without Stew). I think not having Stew (mixed with abandoning the run a bit too early) caught up with us in ATL. This can be fixed pretty easily...play Stew. Get back to controlling the clock and keeping defenses off balance.

2) Defensively, played well in a highly physical and emotional game in NY. Gave up a lot of points late, but I'm not putting that all on the defense. There was a point in the game where the offense became stagnant, didn't control the clock, and therefore didn't close out the game. In ATL, they didn't get off the field on 3rd down (mostly just missed tackles), and yet only gave up 20 points.

3) We're to the point in the season that the coaching staff no longer has the ability to get players reps. McD said it today (again, paraphrasing), "whoever produces will play". No more CJ getting reps just because he's CJ. He may find himself playing the role of  2nd rotation (which might actually suit him better - allow the high motor speed guys to wear out tackles and then he can be the power guy). I think we'll see more of Ealy, Addison and more of Ealy on the field with CJ, Addison, and KK in passing situations.

There's no reason to believe that this team cannot create or find a pass rush. Keeping the ball out of the hands of the opposing team's offense is the greatest way to force the hand of a team. This is how we've won 14 games. With Stew back in the rotation, along with CAP getting good valuable reps, and Tolbert (add Cam too). We will be able to grind it out. I think you'll see a much different team once we play games where literally the only thing that matters is winning that game, not keeping guys healthy or getting home field or going undefeated.