The precedence for this loss..

[Darth Biscuit]

...was set earlier this season in our losses to Minn and TB. In both of those games, we started off with an early turnover... in the Minn game it was a Jake fumble on a pass rush play, and the TB game was a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

This Saturday night as soon as Jake lost that fumble, I knew that we were in trouble based on what I had seen earlier this season.

In the other two regular season losses, the game turned out differently and although we didn't play that great in the ATL loss, there wasn't the feeling of despair about the game.

This game against AZ was just like those two previous losses to Minn and TB in that I could just see the air deflate right out of the Panthers. They became a desperate team in the first quarter when there was no reason to be that way.

Why is that? Is that the mentality of the players? Is it the way they are coached? I think it has to be some of both and I just don't understand it.

[JungleCat]

When this team loses, they lose ugly. The only exception this season being maybe the Giants game (a freak loss). :banghead:

[prowler2k8]

...was set earlier this season in our losses to Minn and TB. In both of those games, we started off with an early turnover... in the Minn game it was a Jake fumble on a pass rush play, and the TB game was a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

This Saturday night as soon as Jake lost that fumble, I knew that we were in trouble based on what I had seen earlier this season.

In the other two regular season losses, the game turned out differently and although we didn't play that great in the ATL loss, there wasn't the feeling of despair about the game.

This game against AZ was just like those two previous losses to Minn and TB in that I could just see the air deflate right out of the Panthers. They became a desperate team in the first quarter when there was no reason to be that way.

Why is that? Is that the mentality of the players? Is it the way they are coached? I think it has to be some of both and I just don't understand it.

I agree w/u that it's some of both, but most of it rests with coaching, It's coaching that helps the players develop the mental toughness to stay in games and never give up. That's what we've seen with the teams that are advancing to the Championship round. Mike Tomlin (Steelers) said in his post game comments that he told his guys "we are not going to play scared". That's the difference between championship-like teams and the rest and playing "scared" has been a problem for this regime for far too long.

Secondly, your leaders on the field (i.e. QB) have to show that they can shake off mistakes, not get rattled and flustered, but fight through to lead the team to victory. When things are going well, Jake looks good. Unfortunately, when things are going bad, Delhomme gets frustrated, throws his hands up, and compounds mistakes with more mistakes. We have a DE in Peppers who's a marvelous athlete and a potentially great player; but when things are going bad, he shuts down and stops giving maximum effort (though some help on the DL and a better defensive scheme would do wonders for his confidence). At this stage, apparently we few of the type of leaders I mentioned formally (Smith and Beason being two of them). And realistically, I don't see things changing as long as Fox is at the helm.

[JungleCat]

There have been games this season where Jake has led a good fight (Chargers, Bears, 1st match with Cardinals). The Cardinals and Eagles are 9 win teams that have looked weaker than the Panthers more often. They just got hot at the right time.

[ashehudson]

Also, in case you guys didn't know, games like the one we had on Saturday are the reason why no one covers us and we "Get no respect" when it comes to the experts. Remember that please.

[Darth Biscuit]

Also, in case you guys didn't know, games like the one we had on Saturday are the reason why no one covers us and we "Get no respect" when it comes to the experts. Remember that please.

This is a good point. We get no respect because we're a small market team that has games like this. It's the inconsistency... and to that I directly link the coaching. The players make mistakes, but the coaches are the ones that can put them in position to play well or not.