Observations From MNF

[Montsta]

-Chris Harris needs to get healthy and come back, and Quentin Teal, needs to take over for Godfrey. I've defended this kid for a while, but he simply is not ready at the NFL level yet. I almost think that because Thomas Davis has been a huge success, that Fox thinks he can convert anyone to any position and they'll thrive. While the game as a whole was ugly, I thik grabbing a FA Safety off the street and plugging him in during the bye week will do better than Godfrey. My wife, who knows pretty much nothing about football, even asked on three seperate plays why Godfrey wasn't there in coverage, or why he totall missed tackles and looked like he got crossed-over by an all-star point guard named Felix Jones. Maybe he'll be great one day, but that day is not today.Or tomorrow.

-Steve Smith has lost focus. He cost us a chance at the game on his improvised route on the pick 6 play. Again, yes the whole game was ugly, but he dropped some that he has always caught, is shouting at EVERYONE on the sidelines, and then not making the big plays to back up his talk.

-Jake Delhomme is making better decisions. I saw on several plays that he wanted to just huck it down field, but came to his senses and checked down to a TE or even the FB at times. Not as smart at the end when you really got to start taking downfield shots, but better in general. Which brings me to my next point.

-Brad Hoover is as crucial to our running game's success as Williams or Stewart. Fiametta is a lot like Godfrey in that he's not ready yet at this level. Although his weaknesses are not so glaringly obvious like Godfrey's. I haven't seen our boys stopped at the line or for a loss so often for a long time.

-Rosario makes his fair share of mistakes, but is emerging quite fast as a great receiving threat for us. I like the two TE sets they have been using.

-Jon Beason plays with CRAZY passion. See him get pissed when we called a timeout on defense right before the snap on that one pay? He looked mad as a hornet. We better re-sign and pay Thomas Davis, because our LB's are what we need to build this D around, not our D-Line. Reminds me of Baltimore when they had Lewis, Scott, Etc.

I personally feel that the coaching staff has lost this team. When you have a few guys underperforming to this extreme, it can usually be pinned on them. But when you have so much talent all dissappearing simultaneously, it's usually the coaching. Maybe we need a Head Coach that brings a little more passion to the game, instead of chewing gum and clapping.

-

[2jakefansinva]

-Chris Harris needs to get healthy and come back, and Quentin Teal, needs to take over for Godfrey. I've defended this kid for a while, but he simply is not ready at the NFL level yet. I almost think that because Thomas Davis has been a huge success, that Fox thinks he can convert anyone to any position and they'll thrive. While the game as a whole was ugly, I thik grabbing a FA Safety off the street and plugging him in during the bye week will do better than Godfrey. My wife, who knows pretty much nothing about football, even asked on three seperate plays why Godfrey wasn't there in coverage, or why he totall missed tackles and looked like he got crossed-over by an all-star point guard named Felix Jones. Maybe he'll be great one day, but that day is not today.Or tomorrow.

-Steve Smith has lost focus. He cost us a chance at the game on his improvised route on the pick 6 play. Again, yes the whole game was ugly, but he dropped some that he has always caught, is shouting at EVERYONE on the sidelines, and then not making the big plays to back up his talk.

-Jake Delhomme is making better decisions. I saw on several plays that he wanted to just huck it down field, but came to his senses and checked down to a TE or even the FB at times. Not as smart at the end when you really got to start taking downfield shots, but better in general. Which brings me to my next point.

-Brad Hoover is as crucial to our running game's success as Williams or Stewart. Fiametta is a lot like Godfrey in that he's not ready yet at this level. Although his weaknesses are not so glaringly obvious like Godfrey's. I haven't seen our boys stopped at the line or for a loss so often for a long time.

-Rosario makes his fair share of mistakes, but is emerging quite fast as a great receiving threat for us. I like the two TE sets they have been using.

-Jon Beason plays with CRAZY passion. See him get pissed when we called a timeout on defense right before the snap on that one pay? He looked mad as a hornet. We better re-sign and pay Thomas Davis, because our LB's are what we need to build this D around, not our D-Line. Reminds me of Baltimore when they had Lewis, Scott, Etc.

I personally feel that the coaching staff has lost this team. When you have a few guys underperforming to this extreme, it can usually be pinned on them. But when you have so much talent all dissappearing simultaneously, it's usually the coaching. Maybe we need a Head Coach that brings a little more passion to the game, instead of chewing gum and clapping.

-

Yep. You watched the same game I did.

[unicar15]

The Tampa 2 blows. Instead of heightening Beason's role on the defense and making him the dominant MLB that we all know he is, it has taken him away from a lot of plays. Im sick of watching our DBs and LBs back off and let the receivers catch the ball. I know that it virtually eliminates the big play but it also makes it near impossible to get off the field on 3rd down. The Colts used to have the same problem only they had Peyton Manning to pick up the slack. This defense DOES NOT WORK with a team that puts up less than 20 ppg which we are right now...

[RSXNova]

We could pick up Chris McAlister to play FS.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Spot on about Hoover. Almost nobody in the media, and even half the fans have no clue he's one of our most important players.

[The Link]

We could pick up Chris McAlister to play FS.

That would be a great pick up, so of course it won't happen.

[prowler2k8]

The Tampa 2 blows. Instead of heightening Beason's role on the defense and making him the dominant MLB that we all know he is, it has taken him away from a lot of plays. Im sick of watching our DBs and LBs back off and let the receivers catch the ball. I know that it virtually eliminates the big play but it also makes it near impossible to get off the field on 3rd down. The Colts used to have the same problem only they had Peyton Manning to pick up the slack. This defense DOES NOT WORK with a team that puts up less than 20 ppg which we are right now...

Not necessarily. I know why you're saying that (b/c when we play the Tampa 2 it does blow), but the problem is you need a DL - four down lineman that can create pressure on the QB and disrupt the running game effectively, and right now we don't have that. The Bucs and our Panthers ran this scheme effectively when both team had a good DL.

We got good pressure on Romo last night when we blitzed in the 1st half; I wonder what made Fox pull the reins on it in the 2nd half?

[UNCrules2187]

Not necessarily. I know why you're saying that (b/c when we play the Tampa 2 it does blow), but the problem is you need a DL - four down lineman that can create pressure on the QB and disrupt the running game effectively, and right now we don't have that. The Bucs and our Panthers ran this scheme effectively when both team had a good DL.

We got good pressure on Romo last night when we blitzed in the 1st half; I wonder what made Fox pull the reins on it in the 2nd half?

We went up 7-0 and Fox thought it was an insurmountable lead?

[doghead28]

The Cowboys adjusted to what we were doing also, something our coach doesn't do.

[MurkN]

The worst thing to watch as a fan was to see the Cowboys giving us every chance to come back into the game until we found a way to screw that up too. I'm so tired of this conservative bullshit.

[pantherj]

Did you guys think Moose pushed off? I mean his hand gently touched the back of the CB, but nothing to give Moose an advantage.

[Montsta]

At least it will be fun to watch Beason against a shitty Washington team. Especially after stewing over another shitty gameplan for two whole weeks. Watch out Clinton Portis.

[Montsta]

Did you guys think Moose pushed off? I mean his hand gently touched the back of the CB, but nothing to give Moose an advantage.

I didn't think he did. He didn't fully extend his arms out. But then there were quite a few titty-tat calls during the whole game for both sides. And I played Muhammed on my FF team. fuging 79 yard TD NULLIFIED. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[raleigh-panther]

We have a few players that I really feel sorry for and I said it in the chat last night.

Beason, Davis, could be starters on any team. They showed well last night.

Damione Lews, tried like hell all night, from what I could tell every play.

Deangelo Williams. How in the world can a team have a talent like Williams and not use him properly. ESPN had a shot of him sitting alone on the bench as time wound down, and all I could think of, there is a guy who knows he could have made a difference if they just stayed with him, and stayed with the run. Good runnign backs need at least 20 touches to get going, so the saying goes from those that know.

I think there are a few realities for us Panthers fans, at least ones that I see.

#1 There are no magic comebacks left with Delhomme. He is not the whole reason this team is bad, he's just the most visible. Some people blamed Muhammed on that one interception ;but, my god, that ball hung up there a long long time. His arm strengh, compared to most NFL QBs, its not there. Its just not.

#2 Our coaching staff has built an offensive line geared for the run. That's its strength supposedly, so, what do they do, pass. See number 1.

#3 Our coaching staff sticks with the Tampa 2 defense when we do not have the Dline to support it. See number 1 and 2.

#4 special teams. Oh Lord, why even start. It hasn't been 'fixed' since O'brien left. Does anyone have Michael Bates number. See number 1,2,3.

#5 talent. People say 'we have such a talented team that we should (insert here).

Do we really? Outside of Beason, Davis, D. Williams, Gross, Gambel (maybe), Otah, questionable, who of our starting players would other teams view as 'starting players'. I venture to say, not many.

#6 bad front office decision, also discussed to death.

#7 lack of adjustments. Damnit we run the Tampa2. Damnit we can run two and throw long to Muhammed, who runs the 40 in like, oh, 6 seconds.

The sad thing about this. This is the same crap we have seen for a very long time....and the same thing will work against the little boys in the NFL; but, the same thing wont' work against the big boys, hence Fox's record.

I don't relish the thought of starting all over; but, the preponderance of evidence, I think is there.

What's the old saying, 'Keep doing what you've always done and you will get what you've always got'.

Here's to change.