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Why you should be worried (and why you shouldn't be)

lightsout

By lightsout,
in Carolina Panthers

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lightsout Grand Master

lightsout

Posted
Posted

So, the Panthers win game 1 of the season. Reason enough to rejoice. However, this was not a good game. This wasn't even an acceptable game. This was rough all around. Now, I don't say this to be a downer, but we have to be realistic with our outlook moving forward, as does this team. If we play like we did today against a good team, we will get destroyed. We should have hung, at minimum, 30 points on this team.

So, let's look at what went wrong (and what gives me hope).


Matt Kalil is a concern

He wasn't good today. He wasn't terrible either. He just was. Too many times in pass protection, he simply got out-worked. His footing never looked sure and he looked tight most of the game. That isn't to say he didn't have moments of solid pass protection. But moving forward, he needs to play better. It didn't completely hurt us because the short passes were there and the run game was there. In run blocking, he fared better. There were a few blocks, especially early, that he just whiffed on which lead to no gain or minimal gain, but he did better as the game went on. Consistency is key for him and if we expect to compete against top level teams, our LT situation NEEDS to be consistent, as Cam often doesn't feel back-end pressure until it's on top of him.

The CMC-heavy playcalling

I was as excited as everybody to see CMC get some touches. He has created high expectations among most here and for good reason. The hope he instilled in fans during preseason was tangible. However, we can't force as many touches to him as we did today. At times, it looked like receivers were coasting in routes. Now, it worked out for us. The SF defense started really paying attention to him underneath, which lead to a few plays with open receivers downfield. Moving forward, we need to spread it around more early so that we force teams into the predicament of allowing any of the other options to be open, or allowing CMC space with the football. 

Worl-wind

Oh, Worley. He did have a couple of solid plays in this game. However, he still plays WAY too far off too often and he still lacks the ability to stick with shifty guys on the outside. He got picked on and for good reason. He's just not showing enough tenacity on every down. Moving forward, he needs to be a bit more aggressive in coverage and stay tighter. Allowing receivers space to catch and run will kill any good defense.

"What are you doing, Shula?"

I said this to myself several times today. At times, playcalls looked nonsensical. Personnel packages got weird (two TE packages with CMC and Stew in the backfield?). Just were not as good on 2nd and long as we needed to be at a couple of key points. Penalties and CMC's ability to catch and run bailed us out some, but Shula has to do better with disguising his calls because anybody can see what he's doing.



Not all was bad though, even if it appeared to be...

Cam is fine

Sure, I was frustrated at Cam missing a wide open Olsen in his progression. And yes, missing Dickson in the endzone is inexcusable. However, we all expected this. Cam did not get enough game reps in preseason to shake the rust off, so the first half was specifically that. Is he 100%? None of us really know. He appears fine, but then again, he usually appears fine regardless. The first half, he just looked unsteady. Like he was unsure of himself. The easy checkdown throws were there, but he struggled with placement, chemistry and timing everywhere else. Forcing it to KB in double coverage on an in route which could have been picked. Forcing the deep ball to KB which was picked. Not having the chemistry with CMC on the in route that should have been (partially on CMC for not sitting in the soft spot of the zone, but again, chemistry). And of course, missing Dickson by a mile. All of these had nothing to do with his ability to QB this offense and everything to do with getting in rhythm with everybody and knowing the feel of his throws again coming off of this surgery. He simply needs more time in games, which obviously is going to be had. The second half, he was much more steady. Of course, he was asked to do much less throwing because of the lead. If he has a first half like he did today over the next few weeks, THEN we can be concerned.

Run defense is not in danger

The defense got gashed a few times today on the ground. Bad angles, missed tackles, and generally bad play from the front 7 at times lead to it. However, it is week 1. They started tightening up as the game went along and the pass defense was generally good, save for a couple of bad calls by Wilks. We will be fine here moving forward.

CMC will be a weapon

McCaffrey didn't do much, given the amount of touches he had. He had under 100 total yards and never came close to scoring. However, he did pick up some key first downs and he did show an ability to make guys miss in the open field in a live game outside of preseason. He will settle and become more dangerous as he learns the game at this level and as Shula learns to use him. I think next week CMC gets his first TD of the season and from there, the flood gates open.

Special Teams will progress

McCaffrey is able to get yards on punts. The blocking just needs to get there. Given how valuable he is, I expect the punt return unit to either be loaded with guys who are going to do the right things without getting holding and blocking in the back penalties or at the very least, just work on the latter. Everywhere else, the team looked fine. Punt coverage, kick coverage, everything looked OK. Having legitimate threats on both punt and kick returns may pay off for us more than some of you think.



All this being said, I'll take a 20 point win any day. On to next week!

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Paa Langfart Grand Master

Paa Langfart

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I have to agree with op.  Luckily for us this was little more than a glorified pre season regular season game that both teams played their starters in.  SF will be a bottom 5 feeder again this year.  We need to pick it up to make it to the play offs.

 

The only coach that called a worse offensive game this week than shula was shannahan in his debut.  Absolutely no evolution on offense that I could discern.

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Ricky Spanish Grand Master

Ricky Spanish

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Can't argue with anything you said, very astute. 

Truth be told, CMC was bottled up well by SF. Hopefully that's not the case moving forward, but he was dancing a bit too much for my liking out in space. When he stuck his foot in the ground and was decisive he gained good yardage and fell forward, so hopefully he does that more often than not. 

Cam was super rusty. Hopefully that shakes off soon. 

Defensive front 7 looked stout. Really good showing from them. 

All in all it was a really sloppy game, but hopefully they improve on it moving forward. 

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Saca312 Experienced

Saca312

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Should remind everyone our run defense was bad against the Broncos last year when we had no film on the opposing team. CJ Anderson went ham.

That won't happen later on.

And yeah. Matt Kalil looked good on some snaps, some others were bad. He'll be a work in progress.

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Harbingers Grand Master

Harbingers

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4 minutes ago, lightsout said:



Worl-wind

Oh, Worley. He did have a couple of solid plays in this game. However, he still plays WAY too far off too often and he still lacks the ability to stick with shifty guys on the outside. He got picked on and for good reason. He's just not showing enough tenacity on every down. Moving forward, he needs to be a bit more aggressive in coverage and stay tighter. Allowing receivers space to catch and run will kill any good defense.

All this being said, I'll take a 20 point win any day. On to next week!

Worley showed today he has the brains and passion. I sware he's going to be the next Jno. Bradberry is once in a draft(s) guy he's going to end up with insane numbers. Wilkes is coaching both these guys, which means he wanted them and he is going to school the fug out of them. 

But ya! Go Panthers, go basic shutout. 

And thanks for that write up I can't wait to read it on my travels tomorrow. 

 

 

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RumHam Veteran

RumHam

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Cam had protection. That is all. We do not need an all-pro. Pesonally, Kalil is more serviceable than Blindside was. This was a very solid game of football and we looked better than a lot of teams this weekend. The Bears literally have less talent and are lead by John Fox for fugs sake. Our defense and Pep will eiffel tower that ginger mouth breather.

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