Realistic expectations for Monday

[lightsout]

I'm getting the vibe around here that there's a level of uncertainty for Monday. Some are confident the offense will rip through Miami. Others are unsure about that. We all, I think, are fairly confident in the defense showing up and dominating against a...not good Miami offense.

Some things are unknown. We do not know if Stew had a weird "off" game last week or if that's indicative of his time winding down as a starting back. We do not know what our secondary will look like on the first defensive series with Seymour getting more snaps than Worley but Worley starting every game thus far (unless I'm wrong there, but I do not believe I am). How healthy will Mike Adams be by then and can Byrd fill that void for an entire game, if need be, now that Coleman is back and looking as good as ever? We simply do not know. So, it is wise of us to simply sit back and look at the game objectively and reasonably. 

The offense is going to be....OK

Now, I say this after we all saw one of our better offensive outings. We ran the ball efficiently for the first time all season, we had plays that looked similar to what we've come to expect thanks to our Super Bowl run a couple of years ago, and Cam didn't have to have a perfect game passing for us to win. However, the pieces still have to mesh. Funchess is as comfortable as ever in the #1 role. Shep has been steady all season, when given his chance. Samuel is still showing positive signs of finding his place within the offense. CMC showed he can be effective in both the run and passing game while Stew has struggled all season. A large part of that is on the shoulders of Shula and the OL. However, it's hard to pin it there now that the OL finally got the run blocking to NFL caliber. Stew had some nice runs that were simply wiped out by his inability to take care of the ball. If this continues, we're going to see momentum and points swing in the opposition's favor, no matter how bad they are. Shula is still learning to put all of these pieces together consistently. Expecting our offense to go out and thump a team that, on paper, we ABSOLUTELY should is simply not an easy ask. The offense needs more time and more games before I think we can reasonably say that they've "arrived", so to speak. We've shown flashes all season, but it's the consistency that will matter come playoff time and simply put, we ain't go it....yet. So be patient Monday with some missed opportunities and wasted drives. Expect more of what we saw last week and all will be fine.

The defense will continue it's dominance

Surprised, right? Our elite defense will continue being elite. This will be key in driving us to victory on Monday, especially given what I just said about the offense. And last week we FINALLY forced turnovers. The ball hawking is back in full swing!....or is it? I was just as excited as you guys to see an interception, but that cannot be viewed as a sign that the defense will suddenly return to 2015 form. If anything, it's a sign that we have the ability and that we can't miss the chances when they come. Don't expect multiple interceptions and forced fumbles just yet. The most we can expect is that the defense and special teams will continue yielding decent field position in our favor and that we're not going to give up a lot of points. 

Special teams will become more special

Speaking of special teams, here's something to think on. Since Clay has returned, he has relieved CMC of punt return duties. Samuel is taking kicks. This is in an effort to take some of the burden of playmaking off of McCaffrey's shoulders. All well and good. However, our best punt returns this season, if only because of sheer volume to this point, have been from CMC. The blocking on those punt returns is improved from last season. Something with our return game is improving. Expecting a TD from our special teams units is a bit much to ask, but some solid returns and kick coverage is something that we've shown to be able to do. This has been more true each week as we're improving each week in swinging field position. For a unit that we all have written off as middling for some time, I'd argue that we're slowly seeing them become much more productive and helpful.

Rivera will wake up...sort of

After this season concludes, no matter how it goes from here, one key point will be the 4th down conversion that almost didn't happen. It will be etched into our minds as either the damning blow that we point to as the reason why Rivera should be shown the door, or the turning point that rescued him and this team's season. Do I think Rivera will suddenly go back to going for it on 4th and 1 or 2 between the 45 and goal line every week? No. In fact, we might not see that happen at all Monday night. What we WILL see, however, is Ron and Shula ensuring that Cam has the opportunity to convert on those 3rd and shorts so that we can avoid the 4th down possibility. Last week we ran a bootleg for the first time all season, it seemed. Cam had more designed runs than he's had all year. Rivera was essentially called out by Cam, no matter how those two play it off as a player reassuring a coach that he's "got this". Cam won't let Rivera piss away the chance to win this division and get a home playoff game. Rivera may not be back in Riverboat form yet, but we will see Rivera trusting Cam and the offense more and perhaps not shutting them down as quickly as he has all season.


So that's it. Nothing too groundbreaking, I know, but the best way to handle a season with a team that is as sporadic and many times random as this one is to step back and not expect too much. Either you'll be surprised by the outcome or you'll be able to say "well, I sort of expected this". Enjoy the ride, folks, because something tells me there are more twists and turns ahead that none of us will be able to predict.

[ThPantherFan]

A very nice column.  Thanks.

[Saca312]

Good stuff.

[Doc Holiday]

From a purely statistical point of view I feel a shutout coming. But we will see

[UpstatePanther]

54 minutes ago, Doc Holiday said:

From a purely statistical point of view I feel a shutout coming. But we will see

Boy I hope you’re right. Our defense keeps getting close. This would be the game to do it 

[Jon Snow]

While I agree with you in theory as we've all seen this team can lay an egg at any given opportunity.  I've found that expecting a loss is less stressful than expecting a win so I'm going to continue to take that approach until they are lifting the Lombardi Trophy.

[Dunn]

I just want a multi-score lead to end the game...perhaps a game where I can actually watch it and not sweat bullets until the clock hits 0.

[Khyber53]

Good write up!

 

[Jon Snow]

5 minutes ago, Dunn said:

I just want a multi-score lead to end the game...perhaps a game where I can actually watch it and not sweat bullets until the clock hits 0.

Good luck with that.

[2jakefansinva]

We'll see DA in for mop up duty......

[Cary Kollins]

Talking to a friend who is a diehard Dolphins fan, he's basically guaranteeing a Panthers big time win.

It really seems like last week was a turning point for this team, and these next two games should help build the confidence to finish the regular season strong.

 I love this quote from Cam yesterday:

Now in his seventh year, Newton said he’s starting to get “that kind of special feeling feel” about these Panthers.

“I just like the way that this team is forming together, especially what’s been happening in recent weeks of whatever,” Newton said. “This team has not been disconnected. We came together. Still striving, knowing that we haven’t played our best brand of football yet.”

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article183556831.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Snake]

I think it will be closer than any of us want it. 

[LordOfDaWingz]

We must protect Cam from Ndamukong Suh at all cost. Do not allow him to do anything dirty to Cam.

[ncsfinest21]

I think we will see alot of run this game. I think we will focus on winning and getting to the bye healthy. We will see alot of CAP, Stew and CMC to get a feel of how to go after the bye. We will definitely throw some but keep it predominantly on the ground. Same ol same. Defense will allow 3 to 10 points offense will get 17 to 20. W e wont open up the long ball and the offense really til after the bye.