Olsen being back in sync, Playoff Talk

[davos]

We have a unique situation where the offense had to get used to life without Greg for a good portion of the year.  Also, adjustments post-KB and now, further adjustments after additional injury. 

This last game seemed to be the first time we've truly had Olsen at 100% since the start of the year.  Given this, I think there was a bit of lag with us adjusting to him back in the lineup, but I think Shula has settled with him and we could really catch fire for the playoffs.  Funchess, Olsen, Dickson, CMC give us 4 proven options and now Byrd has taken advantage in his new role.  

Now, I'm not saying Greg back 100=SB Win, but if we have a really strong outing against the Bucs, I'm going to be quite optimistic about playoff momentum and what damage we can do.  This team is not losing to the Saints for a 3rd time if we face them.  The Eagles are worn, I don't believe Minny can sustain their success, and unless the Falcons suddenly charge and beat the Saints, I think we may be in awesome shape for a run.  The Rams look like the top class right now so we'll see how they close out the regular season.  

Point of the thread: If we continue on recent course, we should have the most momentum and be in the best plyoff form in the NFC.

 

[JARROD]

I love that Byrd is showing up finally. He’s not Steve Smith 2.0 but he’s a great compliment to Funchess. Like a poor mans version of moose and smith.

christian is really coming on now, and Olsen is our best tightend ever, better than Wesley Walls I think.

I’m excited

[DaveThePanther2008]

1 hour ago, JARROD said:

I love that Byrd is showing up finally. He’s not Steve Smith 2.0 but he’s a great compliment to Funchess. Like a poor mans version of moose and smith.

christian is really coming on now, and Olsen is our best tightend ever, better than Wesley Walls I think.

I’m excited

I don't think it was a accident that CMC had his best game with Olsen in the lineup.  Though he dominated the opening drive Olsen's presents gave him more open space to do the things that he can do.   

[Panthers8969]

lol was anyone saying byrd was SS 2.0?

[over the legal limit]

Olsen is a monster

[ecu88]

8 hours ago, JARROD said:

I love that Byrd is showing up finally. He’s not Steve Smith 2.0 but he’s a great compliment to Funchess. Like a poor mans version of moose and smith.

christian is really coming on now, and Olsen is our best tightend ever, better than Wesley Walls I think.

I’m excited

Byrd as po man Smitty

Funch as po man Moose

I will take that in a heart beat if they keep this up 

[therealmjl]

5 minutes ago, ecu88 said:

Byrd as po man Smitty

Funch as po man Moose

I will take that in a heart beat if they keep this up 

Olsen is a rich man Jermaine Wiggins 

[Cary Kollins]

Assuming we take care of business against Tampa, Carolina brings the most experienced NFC team, a former MVP, former defensive POY, top five rushing attack and a top five defense to the playoffs.

That translates to one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. The team that concerns me the most is the Rams, but I like Carolina's chances.

[Hoenheim]

1 hour ago, Cary Kollins said:

Assuming we take care of business against Tampa, Carolina brings the most experienced NFC team, a former MVP, former defensive POY, top five rushing attack and a top five defense to the playoffs.

That translates to one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs. The team that concerns me the most is the Rams, but I like Carolina's chances.

Vikings totally shut down the rams and we beat the Vikings. 

Only team I'm worried about is if we have to play the Saints at home again.

[PantherBrew]

10 hours ago, JARROD said:

I love that Byrd is showing up finally. He’s not Steve Smith 2.0 but he’s a great compliment to Funchess. Like a poor mans version of moose and smith.

christian is really coming on now, and Olsen is our best tightend ever, better than Wesley Walls I think.

I’m excited

3

I'm with you on this.  I dont think it is even a question.  I remember WW, and his bad ass air guitar celebrations. 

[OneBadCat]

We do seem to be peaking at the right time. That’s been our strength the past several games. We’ve been winning when we still haven’t played our best football.

But yeah I agree. Olsen at 100% is going to supercharge this offense. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that CMC had a huge game last Sunday.

[PanthersBigD]

We had to beat the Cowboys, Eagles and Rams to get into our first Super Bowl. It'd be pretty wild if we had to beat the Rams and Eagles to get into another one. 

[Mojo]

Kalil, Olsen and Stew running well are crucial to our offense  I think it's perfect timing.  

[UpstatePanther]

3 hours ago, Cary Kollins said:

The team that concerns me the most is the Rams, but I like Carolina's chances.

I like our chances too. but the Rams and the Saints are almost spitting images of one another and we've obviously struggled mightily against the Saints this year. Our defense doesnt seem to do well against high-powered offenses like that. 

1 hour ago, Hoenheim said:

Vikings totally shut down the rams and we beat the Vikings. 

i think the Vikings shut them down because they employ a different defensive scheme than we do. they play press man versus our zone defense. it just matches up better against teams that can sling the football. both us and the Vikes have stout DLs so i call that a push in the running game.

anyway @Cary Kollins@Hoenheim, the Saints and Rams both worry me. the Saints do because of their offense, but i think if we can (by some miracle) get the Saints at home, we will have something for them. hard to beat the same team three times and all that jazz. The Rams worry me mainly because they would be completely new to us. Their playoff inexperience would give us an edge, but not an insurmountable one. The Vikings and Eagles dont worry me so much, but im not sure what to make of the Falcons if they make it. No other possible playoff team scares me in the slightest.