What a waste of a season, what a waste of a roster

[tight lines]

There is so much talent on this roster.

GM Hurney's failure to address this more aggresively and continual mortgaging of the future to reach on draft picks makes him an equal partner in mediocrity.

Please explain how these comments can both be true.

[Delhommey]

Please explain how these comments can both be true.

It's the classic Huddle logic.

[AKPantherFan]

i keep hoping that I will click on some link and it will say "breaking news- john fox just fired"

[Wanderlai]

I didnt get it watching the game last night at all. The panthers could run the ball, but instead, wanted to throw the ball around the field with most of the passes being off target or out of bounds. Makes no sense at all. The Panthers want to be a running team but yet they dont run it when its working?

[Kevin Greene]

Please explain how these comments can both be true.

The mediocrity is the coaching, which needs to be addressed. Mortgaging the future actually puts more talent on the roster today at what this offseason will be a huge cost.

Hope that was simple enough for you.

[KatsAzz]

We will still have to listen to the Fox line that the Panthers still have a shot at the playoffs, but we all know the season is over, even if they win the next 2 games.

It was nice to have hope again, for a day or so, until last night killed it, but now we can rally to a new hope, a coaching change.

With a coaching change will come a change of QB's, that's a given, every new coach want's to chose his own QB. This is actually a very good time for the Panthers to start a young QB, or even a rookie QB, next season. The Panthers have a good veteran O-line, and a great running game, to help ease a rookie QB into the offense, like the Ravens did with Flacco last season.

The Panthers can take a "It's not broken, it just needs tweaking" approach by hiring a new Head Coach that will stick with the 4-3 defense (just trying to upgrade 2 or 3 positions), and update the offense into something a little more passer friendly. In the short run this takes maximum advantage of what the Panthers already have, and prevents a huge drop off, to a 1-3 win season. If the Panthers chose the right (forward looking) coach this might work best, but if they miss on their coaching choice then they remain what they are now.

The Panthers can take the view "We're not that good, our star players are getting old, and need to be replaced, so let's just blow it up and start over". If the Panthers make this decision, they can go all the way by hiring a coach that switches to a 3-4 defense, and a passing offense. This is the boom or bust solution, and Jerry Richardson doesn't seem like a gambler. This all or nothing gamble will either be great long term, or a total failure.

The Panthers might decide on a combination of the 2 approaches, by hiring a coach that keeps one phase of the game (offense or defense) basically the same, while drastically changing the other. That sounds like Bill Cower, a run first, ball control offense, with a 3-4 attacking defense. To me that seems like the worst of all options (I sure many or most don't agree), a boring, low scoring offense, with a rebuilding defense. By the time the defense is rebuilt in 2 or 3 years, their RB's are almost over the hill, and washed up.

[guyinchesapeake]

I still think it was a good play call. Just think about it. It's 3rd and 1 and it's the Panthers. If I were a betting man, I would say the odds of the Panthers running it in that situation is about 99%. Delhomme had Smitty one on one, Smitty had his man beat by 2-3 steps, and Delhomme simply over threw him (doesn't that sound familiar). Point is, Delhomme is a joke of a QB and he proved it again today that he is inept and is not worthy to start in the NFL.

I agree with the point made here. We are overdue to try things like this. Though it didn't work out is not reason to give up on it in future situations, if nothing else because we are 4-6, and doing so, even when unsuccessful, no doubt gives the defense some pause as far as what they expect is coming. The Green Bay Packers of the '60s were masters of this, they'd pull this off 2 or 3 times a season. Everyone was absolutely sure Jim Taylor would run between the tackles to pick up the 1 or 2 yeards needed, and Starr would just fake it to him and lob it downfield. Of course, he almost always COMPLETED the pass, but it was always a surprise to the other team. I liked the call, and would like to see more daring in our offensive attack. This is not the same as questioning why we threw (or tried to) 3 straight times in the red zone on our first possession after our running attack had torn them up to get us there!

Our kick coverages and other special teams play are just as much at fault for our record and lack of success as any other factor. I think we have a talented roster that is grossly mismanaged and mis-used. If I run the offense, D-Will gets anywhere from 20 to 25 touches per game, from both running and receiving. Steve Smith gets a handoff or 2 via end arounds and/or reverses. Doing a Wildcat a couple times a game on short yardage situations with Smitty or D-Will or Stewart taking the snap is worth exploring as well. And TRY TO BLOCK A PUNT ONCE IN A WHILE! We don't give anyone anything to think about when it comes to our special teams. It just baffles me the absolute lack of common sense that permeates this team!

[PanthaSan]

he is british?

I don't think he is. If he was, he would type in an accent...

[tight lines]

The mediocrity is the coaching, which needs to be addressed. Mortgaging the future actually puts more talent on the roster today at what this offseason will be a huge cost.

Hope that was simple enough for you.

You make it sound like the players that those draft picks were used on just go away after this season. They used those picks to fill immediate needs to the best of their ability. I am quite confident that E Brown, for instance will be a star on this team for a long time. If the event arises that they want to pick someone in the first round next year Im quite confident that they can make it happen ( they have gotten first round players that way before remember)

[PantherDude]

If we have a QB fall in our lap, we'll head to the Super Bowl (see: Steelers under Cowher)

So.....how come Colts didn't went to the Superbowl for several years after Peyton join them, hmm? What about Drew Bree? Heck, Trent Dilfer isn't that great of a QB & he won the Superbowl. Thing is: a team will go to the Superbowl based on all the players doing their job, not just one QB as you claim here.

Beside, many of you guys are fed up with Fox because it taking forever trying to get back to the Superbowl again & win it. It took Cowher 10 yrs. to get back to the Superbowl again & finally win it. Do you guys really want to wait that long again based on that same reason on wanting to get rid of Fox? Waiting 10 yrs. with Cowhere until we get the ring? And no, I'm not saying I want Fox to stay. But I'm not sure about wanting Cowher either. It not that easy.

[Delhommey]

I, um, didn't claim that, but OK.

[Davidson Deac II]

So.....how come Colts didn't went to the Superbowl for several years after Peyton join them, hmm? What about Drew Bree? Heck, Trent Dilfer isn't that great of a QB & he won the Superbowl. Thing is: a team will go to the Superbowl based on all the players doing their job, not just one QB as you claim here.

Beside, many of you guys are fed up with Fox because it taking forever trying to get back to the Superbowl again & win it. It took Cowher 10 yrs. to get back to the Superbowl again & finally win it. Do you guys really want to wait that long again based on that same reason on wanting to get rid of Fox? Waiting 10 yrs. with Cowhere until we get the ring? And no, I'm not saying I want Fox to stay. But I'm not sure about wanting Cowher either. It not that easy.

Because Brady got in the way.

No one is saying that having an elite quarterback guarantees a superbowl. But it certainly helps. But what some, including me, believe is that having a good consistent QB, along with some improvements on the dline, would make us a Superbowl contender.

IMO, Fox is a better than average coach. But he does have some flaws, and not improving the QB situation is at the top of the list of flaws.

[pamlicopanther]

The Chin is chomping at the bit........... But we better hurry before another team picks him up !!!!!!!!!!!

Really?????? Lets hope so.

[pamlicopanther]

I don't know that I'd say mediocre. The defense was playing outstanding, as of late, and the running game was really going very well.

In fact, the only weak point of our team that I saw was at QB. And, with good defense, the good ground attack, Jake did a good job vs. Atlanta of making plays when he needed to.

How is that a mediocre team? How is that any different than how we won the division last season?

Sure, we had two very key injuries. We lost possibly our best defensive player, and our most important offensive lineman. But, there's a little more to it than what you're suggesting.

Not last night - The defense couldn't tackle a one legged midget last night.