Initial Impressions

[mountainpantherfan]

This is propably not a real possibility, but in my opinion Norwood needs to permentaly move to DE and Brown needs to be moved to LB. It's not a move that would happen over a couple of weeks and see Brown start at LB by the start of the season but Brown just seems to have the skill set of a LB more so than a DE. If it wasn't for his spin move, he would have been a LB coming out of college, no discussion.

Norwood is what Brown was suppose to be. Smaller LB build but has the ability to shed o-line blockers at the point of attach.

I'm by no means a football expert/coach ect. So I may be completely off on this but thats just the feeling I had watching the two preform tonight.

BTW, Hardy and Brayton need to be the starting DEs come week 1. C. Johnson just isn't a starting caliber DE, although he is still talented and will be a big part of this line.

As for the QB talk. I was and still am a Moore guy. However, Clausen impressed me last night. I did not expect that at all and I guess the best compliment I could give him would be that if Moore wasn't on this team, I would still be just as confident in the QB position. That doesn't mean he would outplay a four year vet with 8 starts under his belt but just like some other rookie QB i.e. Matt Ryan I think he could stand his own as he developed. I'm just glad that for at least one season, Clausen will get the opportunity to sit and learn if not for two or three seasons.

[Peppers90 NC]

I'm by no means a football expert/coach ect. So I may be completely off on this but thats just the feeling I had watching the two preform tonight.

I agree with this. I'm not sure you understand the actual duties of a LB nor do I get where you think Brown has this skill set.

[mountainpantherfan]

I agree with this. I'm not sure you understand the actual duties of a LB nor do I get where you think Brown has this skill set.

Well, considering that he was projected as a LB/DE coming into the draft would tell that he had coming out of college a skill set that would have allowed him to develop into a LB.

As you pointed out, I did say I'm not a professional NFL coach so as to if this would be a real possibility I don't know but I do know that based on last night's performance he isn't cutting it as DE at this point in time.

[panthers55]

Usually you love to throw stats at everyone to prove your right..

I am surprised you went with QB rating..We all know it means next to nothing.

Stats are objective, opinions are not. Went with quarterback rating because that takes in account things like Ints, completion rate, yards per completion, etc. It helps level the playing field when you have one guy tossing dumpoffs versus another guy throwing it down the field. They both have a completion in the books but all completions are not equal. And we don't know it means nothing. To the contrary, passer rating is one of the better stats out there because it takes into account multiple factors not one of 2 isolated statistics. And it uses quality versus quantity stats. It could be improved upon by weighting some factors more than others but it still one of the best ways to evaluate performance.

[Sloth]

Judging Clausen by his QB rating last night is disingenuous

For example:

Dexter Jackson doesn't slip: QB rating jumps to 69

Sutton doesn't fumble on the 1 yard line: QB rating jumps to 91

There are things to pick on (like his butt-ugly delivery and wobbly passes) but for a rookie playing his first game ever, nationally televised, with no protection in the rain in someone else's stadium? Like him or hate him, it was impressive.

[scpanther22]

Stats are objective, opinions are not. Went with quarterback rating because that takes in account things like Ints, completion rate, yards per completion, etc. It helps level the playing field when you have one guy tossing dumpoffs versus another guy throwing it down the field. They both have a completion in the books but all completions are not equal. And we don't know it means nothing. To the contrary, passer rating is one of the better stats out there because it takes into account multiple factors not one of 2 isolated statistics. And it uses quality versus quantity stats. It could be improved upon by weighting some factors more than others but it still one of the best ways to evaluate performance.

passer rating means nothing.

[Peppers90 NC]

Judging Clausen by his QB rating last night is disingenuous

For example:

Dexter Jackson doesn't slip: QB rating jumps to 69

Sutton doesn't fumble on the 1 yard line: QB rating jumps to 91

There are things to pick on (like his butt-ugly delivery and wobbly passes) but for a rookie playing his first game ever, nationally televised, with no protection in the rain in someone else's stadium? Like him or hate him, it was impressive.

Passer rating only includes errors by the QB, not errors of any other players. Over a season, the QB rating is much more accurate than in one or two quarters of a preseason game.

[Panthers128]

i thought the team looked equally terrible everywhere so i'm not going to single out anyone. too many garbage players playing, won't know much till steve smith is out there and starters play real minutes.

[panthers55]

Judging Clausen by his QB rating last night is disingenuous

For example:

Dexter Jackson doesn't slip: QB rating jumps to 69

Sutton doesn't fumble on the 1 yard line: QB rating jumps to 91

There are things to pick on (like his butt-ugly delivery and wobbly passes) but for a rookie playing his first game ever, nationally televised, with no protection in the rain in someone else's stadium? Like him or hate him, it was impressive.

Agree he was impressive for a rookie.

As for coulda shoulda wouldas, if the other team was Kansas City everyone would have looked good. And BTW if Sutton scores on a run it doesn't affect Clausen's passer rating. It was a run right???

[panthers55]

passer rating means nothing.

Tell that to a GM when they are negotiating a quarterback contract. LOL

[scpanther22]

Tell that to a GM when they are negotiating a quarterback contract. LOL

why? they already know its almost a worthless stat

[Peppers90 NC]

why? they already know its almost a worthless stat

The stat itself yes, but what it represents is true... over a season. Who were the top pass rated QB's last year? Ima guess and say Brees, Manning and Rogers. They are definitely the top QB's in the league. While the lowest rated QB's are generally the worse.

[blackcatgrowl]

I agree with 95% of your assessment Mr. Scot. Good post.

That remaining 5% is AE. He looked terrible to me, and considering the flak he's been given for Training Camp performance issues, I'm not on board with this guy at all

One thing that stuck out:

Jason Baker still kicks well (on punts and on tackles). Sadly, the Speial Teams still look like Danny Crossman's coaching them, but it is still preseason. There were some good Special Team coaching options available this offseason. Unless we see some improvement soon, we may really regret not going after one of them.

Yeah.... our Special Teams are in trouble. We need to shore this up quickly, or we'll lose close games. And close games are often the difference between a playoff berth or a losing record.

[Mr. Scot]

Well, considering that he was projected as a LB/DE coming into the draft would tell that he had coming out of college a skill set that would have allowed him to develop into a LB.

As you pointed out, I did say I'm not a professional NFL coach so as to if this would be a real possibility I don't know but I do know that based on last night's performance he isn't cutting it as DE at this point in time.

Brown might make it as a 3-4 linebacker. In a 4-3 though? Doubt it.

(and before anyone says it, no we aren't switching)

I agree with 95% of your assessment Mr. Scot. Good post.

That remaining 5% is AE. He looked terrible to me, and considering the flak he's been given for Training Camp performance issues, I'm not on board with this guy at all

One thing that stuck out:

Yeah.... our Special Teams are in trouble. We need to shore this up quickly, or we'll lose close games. And close games are often the difference between a playoff berth or a losing record.

I enjoyed Baker's impression of Chuck Norris on that tackle

(unfortunately, that's a bit of a no-no)