Why the Panthers will not screw this up

[lightsout]

So as much optimism is flowing around here with today being the season opener, I'm sure a lot of us feel some anxiety about it. What if the offense doesn't look in sync? What if Cam is too rusty after only having two throws in the preseason? What if McCaffrey isn't used properly? What if Stew can't get going? What if the offensive tackles still get Cam killed?


Here are some reasons why none of these should concern us.

1. Cam isn't a rookie

I know, shocker. Cam is a veteran of this league and this game. Cam knows what Cam brings to the table, as does his teammates and coaches. If he and the staff think he is ready to play based on the past couple of weeks of practice, then he's ready. He'll need a drive or two to look like the Cam we all know and love, but I think by halftime we'll see a Cam Newton that is as ready to go as he has been in his career. He's out to prove himself after last season and show why he won the MVP two years ago.

2. Shula isn't the greatest, but he's not blind

Shula designs some really nice plays. His runs are all VERY sophisticated in their blocking if you slowly break down what the OL is doing on a lot of the running plays we frequently use. It's more than just a basic power or counter. There's a method to it that is very interesting and unique. It's why some consider Shula a mastermind. His route combinations are good as well, more often than not. The problem has always lied in his situational awareness in playcalling. It's 3rd and 2. We should be running. If we're passing, we should not have more than one receiving option deeper than 10 yards. Unfortunately for us and this team, he likes calling 3 go routes and a 10 yard in underneath to "surprise" the defense. Of course this is snuffed out often or it takes too long to develop and the pressure gets there because they were run blitzing and now Cam is on the ground and we're swearing at the OL for not blocking 7 guys with 6 guys.

Shula probably understands this by now (god I hope). And now we have McCaffrey and Samuel, so maybe we can get something going with a quick passing game now that we have shifty guys who can get open underneath quickly.

3. This offensive line is better

Matt Kalil has me sold and Moton will end up on the field across from him by season's end if Williams fails this year. Interior is elite. Scheme change thanks to new weapons will ask less of them in pass protection and CMC will make them look better at run blocking because he's going to be hitting the hole quicker. We're fine here and that is what we need to tell ourselves until we're shown otherwise.

4. The D is back stronger

We're better at LB with Luke healthy. Check.
We're better at CB with a year of experience added and the addition of Cap and other depth. Check.
We're better at safety with Adams, even though we lack depth at either safety spot. Check.
We're better at DE with the addition of Peppers. Check.

Yeah, all systems are good. We are clear to return to top 5 form.

5. Ron knows

What does he know? That if he screws this season up, he's in deep water. Hurney is a bandaid as GM. If this season goes downhill, Hurney is scapegoated and JR fires him. New GM comes in, and JR now has no reason to give loyalty to Ron by hiring a GM who will keep him on. In fact, firing Rivera may be a requirement if they want to be hired by JR. So, Ron knows that he needs a playoff run this season and will not allow us to finish this season below 10 wins.


So, if you're feeling any anxiety, don't. We're fine. Everything is fine. Today is the day we start our march to the playoffs and reclaim the NFC South. Embrace the day and Keep Pounding!

[Saca312]

Lenoard Johnson was a huge weak link last year. Fell off a cliff after that Cardinals game, and teams picked on him a lot.

Munnerlyn changes that. Now, LBers don't drop back and attack the middle of the field & LoS. The backend will hold up. Our defense is going to be monstrous.

You bet this defense is going to be monstrous. This team is going to be insane.

Easy moneybags.

[janderson20vt]

7 minutes ago, lightsout said:

It's why some consider Shula a mastermind.

Stopped reading here.

[lightsout]

Just now, janderson20vt said:

Stopped reading here.

I hate him as much as anybody for his playcalls, but if you don't see the beauty in what he tries to get accomplished with his blocking schemes, you don't appreciate X's and O's football. There are duds in every playbook, sure. But he is certainly no dummy when it comes to scheming. He just sucks at executing in situational downs.

[Saca312]

1 minute ago, lightsout said:

I hate him as much as anybody for his playcalls, but if you don't see the beauty in what he tries to get accomplished with his blocking schemes, you don't appreciate X's and O's football. There are duds in every playbook, sure. But he is certainly no dummy when it comes to scheming. He just sucks at executing in situational downs.

Well his run schemes are beautiful. His passing ones can be big ol' duds at times.

He needs to work on understanding the flow of the game and calling the right stuff at the right time. Having the weapons, I expect him to be better.

 

[lightsout]

1 minute ago, Saca312 said:

Well his run schemes are beautiful. His passing ones can be big ol' duds at times.

He needs to work on understanding the flow of the game and calling the right stuff at the right time. Having the weapons, I expect him to be better.

 

The big problem is that Shula wants to stretch the field. He wants to take advantage of Cam's big arm ability. Cam throws one of the best deep balls in the game. But we shouldn't rely on that as the staple of our offense. Cam's arm is going to wear doing that for a couple more seasons. To lengthen his career and sustain drives when we get in those 2nd and 13, 3rd and 9 situations, we need to be able to hit the curls, the drags, the slants, etc. consistently. We always did it once or twice in every game last season, it would work for a solid 8-12 yards, then we wouldn't run it again all game. Never understood it. Shula just has to be smarter OR give it all over to Cam and say "have at it" after his first scripted drive.

[Cat]

There's nothing we can do and we are likely wrong on at least half our Panther football claims, so just sit back and enjoy the emotional roller coaster. 

 

[Jeremy Igo]

Panthers have a ton of talent. Only question is, is it enough to overcome poor to mediocre coaching on the offensive side of the ball. 

 

In other words, same as it ever was. 

[dldove77]

5 hours ago, lightsout said:

I hate him as much as anybody for his playcalls, but if you don't see the beauty in what he tries to get accomplished with his blocking schemes, you don't appreciate X's and O's football. There are duds in every playbook, sure. But he is certainly no dummy when it comes to scheming. He just sucks at executing in situational downs.

Hate and sucks are really strong words. His play calling took us to a Super Bowl.

My personal feeling is that some of his plays just way too long to develop. 

I know we can win with him, not in spite of him. I hope that our rookies really make an impact and he doesn't overthink plays this year. 

[JawnyBlaze]

Great OP!  I like the way you think.  You're a little more optimistic about Shula and Ron than I am, but I fully recognize I lean toward the extreme in my opinion of them and let my desire for the teams success exaggerate my disappointment in them heh. 

[ladypanther]

6 hours ago, lightsout said:

So as much optimism is flowing around here with today being the season opener, I'm sure a lot of us feel some anxiety about it. What if the offense doesn't look in sync? What if Cam is too rusty after only having two throws in the preseason? What if McCaffrey isn't used properly? What if Stew can't get going? What if the offensive tackles still get Cam killed?


Here are some reasons why none of these should concern us.

1. Cam isn't a rookie

I know, shocker. Cam is a veteran of this league and this game. Cam knows what Cam brings to the table, as does his teammates and coaches. If he and the staff think he is ready to play based on the past couple of weeks of practice, then he's ready. He'll need a drive or two to look like the Cam we all know and love, but I think by halftime we'll see a Cam Newton that is as ready to go as he has been in his career. He's out to prove himself after last season and show why he won the MVP two years ago.

2. Shula isn't the greatest, but he's not blind

Shula designs some really nice plays. His runs are all VERY sophisticated in their blocking if you slowly break down what the OL is doing on a lot of the running plays we frequently use. It's more than just a basic power or counter. There's a method to it that is very interesting and unique. It's why some consider Shula a mastermind. His route combinations are good as well, more often than not. The problem has always lied in his situational awareness in playcalling. It's 3rd and 2. We should be running. If we're passing, we should not have more than one receiving option deeper than 10 yards. Unfortunately for us and this team, he likes calling 3 go routes and a 10 yard in underneath to "surprise" the defense. Of course this is snuffed out often or it takes too long to develop and the pressure gets there because they were run blitzing and now Cam is on the ground and we're swearing at the OL for not blocking 7 guys with 6 guys.

Shula probably understands this by now (god I hope). And now we have McCaffrey and Samuel, so maybe we can get something going with a quick passing game now that we have shifty guys who can get open underneath quickly.

3. This offensive line is better

Matt Kalil has me sold and Moton will end up on the field across from him by season's end if Williams fails this year. Interior is elite. Scheme change thanks to new weapons will ask less of them in pass protection and CMC will make them look better at run blocking because he's going to be hitting the hole quicker. We're fine here and that is what we need to tell ourselves until we're shown otherwise.

4. The D is back stronger

We're better at LB with Luke healthy. Check.
We're better at CB with a year of experience added and the addition of Cap and other depth. Check.
We're better at safety with Adams, even though we lack depth at either safety spot. Check.
We're better at DE with the addition of Peppers. Check.

Yeah, all systems are good. We are clear to return to top 5 form.

5. Ron knows

What does he know? That if he screws this season up, he's in deep water. Hurney is a bandaid as GM. If this season goes downhill, Hurney is scapegoated and JR fires him. New GM comes in, and JR now has no reason to give loyalty to Ron by hiring a GM who will keep him on. In fact, firing Rivera may be a requirement if they want to be hired by JR. So, Ron knows that he needs a playoff run this season and will not allow us to finish this season below 10 wins.


So, if you're feeling any anxiety, don't. We're fine. Everything is fine. Today is the day we start our march to the playoffs and reclaim the NFC South. Embrace the day and Keep Pounding!

AMEN!!!!!!!