The beat writers and Henning

[Cyberjag]

Does it strike anyone else around here as funny that the local beat writers all seem to love Henning now? These are the same guys who wrote column after column hoping he would retire and all but calling for his direct dismissal, but now he's always been gracious, funny, and loved by his players. It was just the evil fans who hated him, not the media, right?

I remember both Sorensen and Fowler writing scathing articles about Henning and his insistence on running Williams and Foster between the tackles. Or the way he couldn't get his personnel to mesh right. Or how he couldn't adjust to injuries. And I also think it's funny that the day after he was fired they both started talking about how he was a scapegoat, and now he's the beloved grandpa that we kicked to the curb.

It's almost like these guys would rather forget an honest and consistent story in favor of writing about stuff that will make people pay attention. But that's just cynical I guess.

[jaPAN fan]

Sounds about right to me. When it comes to journalism, why have an opinion of your own? Just write what sells. Truth be damned.

[Zod]

Gee, I can't imagine why. Its not like the Panthers would ever threaten to punish local rags for putting out negative press.

[Gman was right]

Many players tried to defend henning before he was fired. Its not like they are reporting anything new. Just like its no secret that henning was calling foxs conservative plays. I'm happy for henning that he was able to cut off the puppet strings and do his own thing

[LiQuiD]

Consistency is overrated. Just ask John Fox...

[Zcustom]

Hmm, a group of people who position themselves so that they can always be right no matter what.

Where have we seen that before?

[Pillow Pants]

Many players tried to defend henning before he was fired. Its not like they are reporting anything new. Just like its no secret that henning was calling foxs conservative plays. I'm happy for henning that he was able to cut off the puppet strings and do his own thing

Please go away. At least until the Panthers lose. That seems to be your SOP.

[monstercat]

It's funny how everybody assumes that Fox was forcing Henning to be more conservative in his last season.

In 2005 when it seemed like the big plays to Steve Smith was the only offense the Panthers had, Henning called 487 runs and 449 passes.

In 2007, when John Fox was "holding Henning back", he called 451 runs and 505 passes.

How can that be?

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

It's funny how everybody assumes that Fox was forcing Henning to be more conservative in his last season.

In 2005 when it seemed like the big plays to Steve Smith was the only offense the Panthers had, Henning called 487 runs and 449 passes.

In 2007, when John Fox was "holding Henning back", he called 451 runs and 505 passes.

How can that be?

We were behind more in 2007. Therefore more passes.

[monstercat]

We were behind more in 2007. Therefore more passes.

From what I remember, he called plenty of passes before any of those games ever got out of hand. The problem was that he kept calling play action passes without ever establishing the run first.

[monstercat]

BTW, I screwed that up, 2006 is the year that we should really be looking at, because that was Henning's last season. That year, Henning called 423 runs and 539 passes, compared to 487 runs and 449 passes in 05, when the offense was much much better. He actually was much less conservative in 06, and most of those games were pretty darn close and came down to the 4th quarter, so being behind had nothing to do with it. In fact, I seem to remember the Panthers having a lead going in to the 4th quarter in about 10 games that year.

This is exactly what Fox was talking about when he said that Henning wasn't conservative enough in 06. The Panthers had leads late in games and Henning was throwing it around the yard instead of running the ball and eating up clock. If Fox was micro managing Henning that season, then he was going against everything he believes in while he was doing it.

[bleys]

Where is the Phinisher? (A dolphins fan)

I remember him posting the other day how horrible Henning is in Miami.

I wouldn't go around claiming him that great when it seems his personel holds up better in the run game than what we've had from '06 and beyond.

This also comes back to people misunderstanding the difference between the "play caller" and the guy who sets up the "scheme".

Yes, they can go hand in hand, but more often than not the coach brings in a guy who runs a similar scheme he wants and "the guy" then calls the plays in the playbook.

When you see the posts complaining about Henning in Carolina, even in this thread, it points to play calling being the issue. The Phinisher also points out that Henning has issues with play calling in Miami.

The 2 teams have different schemes, but you have Parcells and Sparano (sp?) ahead of Henning setting that up.

Just saying, I wouldn't feel too comfortable in having a take saying "Henning was chained up in Carolina" and then pretend Parcells (of all people) and Sparano are letting Henning run free in Miami.

His job is play calling, and I wouldn't confuse his success as a play caller with Parcells success in providing the right personel and Sparano/Parcells with implementing the type of offense they want to see.

In the end, all Henning has to do is call the right plays. And Miami fans seem to feel a little disgruntled at him even doing that.

[Cyberjag]

+1 for Bleys

[solidkjames]

Don't fool yourselves into thinking a coordinator is the cause of this mediocrity. It's the HC's philosphy of playing not to lose that causes the Panthers to always be the way they are. You can count on one hand the number of games in 8 years that the Panthers have won easily. Most come right down to the wire with no room for error. That is simply why we are not a good team. Up and down b/c we play not to lose.