Source: Panthers leaning to stick w/Clausen & pick Dareus

[tjmurray]

That is your opinion, others disagree. We don't know who the FO thinks is the best QB in the draft. So knowing for a fact we will draft Cam is pretty difficult

This is true... We'll see what happens. I am basing my opinions on the actions of the organization and the organization most pressing need. Other people who disagree are basing their opinions on what scouts from espn and the nfl network are saying. When you have 2 local media journalists, who are plugged into the organization, go on the record and say they think Newton will be the guy, I mean their opinion holds more value than Kiper, McShay, or Mayock opinion does. Like you said, I don't know for sure, of course not. I didn't know for sure that this bomb a$$ chick was feeling me at the grocery store 3 weeks ago, but I knew she was because I read the signs. That bomb a$$ chick just got out of my shower a few hours ago... Okay, that was too much info... But yes you are right. I don't know for sure... :D Bout to roll out and handle some business, but we will see next month..

[chef17]

Clausen threw an interception with a minute left in the first half. The Browns were up 21-13 at the half. In the third quarter, Munnerlyn ran back an INT for a TD, and then we punted to each other a few times. In the fourth, we had a good running streak that ended in a field goal, putting us up 23-21.

The next drive, Jake Delhomme gets the ball with 7 minutes left, drives into FG range, and the Browns score. We've got two and a half minutes left, and Clausen throws an interception. The defense gets the ball back on a three and out, and this time Clausen hooks up with Goodson twice and LaFell to get us back into FG territory. Kasay misses a 42 yarder with 4 seconds left.

So yeah, it's all Clausen's fault. Never mind the Peyton Hillis train that ran through our defense for three first half touchdowns, or the late field goal that they surrendered... :)

Never said it was Clausen's fault. CRA said the defense put us in position to win several games and you used the Browns game as if it disproved his claim. Based on your summary the defense in fact did have us in position to win.

[CRA]

If this is true then he truly does belong in a quick offense that relies on short passes.

that is why Weis is credited as running a variation of the WC offense. Clausen even said Weis said he would leave his throwing motion alone b/c Weis would make sure Jimmy didn't sit in the pocket and wait.....Weis told him the heavy emphasis was getting it out as quick as possible.

Jimmy plays EXACTLY like he did at ND. Check down, his same vintage scramble left (in the pros guys don't get free as easily doing improv), and making a less than terrific OL look worse than they legitimately were with his style/bad habits.

[Cyberjag]

I don't believe I said the D put us in position to win EVERY game. Over the course of the season the D played more and more and got less and less from the offense.

also, posting random game totals late doesn't mean anything......when you get NOTHING from your offense you can't continue to stop people all year and put your offense in position to win.

When a defense gets stops, get turnovers, and puts an offense in position to win.....and the offense does nothing put implodes over and over again......and the D eventually gives up points then that doesn't mean the D sucks.

week 1 - D created 4 turnovers AND put us in position to of destroyed NY in NY

week 3 -D generated 2 turnovers and put us in position early - got NOTHING from the O.

week 4 - D generated 2 turnovers and held the Superbowl champs to 16 at NO. They averaged 8 more pts a game than that.

week 5 - D generated 4 turnovers and dominated the Bears - offense did squat every time they were handed the ball.

-to start of the season, the Panthers D easily played good enough for the team to win 4 of those first 5. They got nothing back from the offense every time they put them in position. Every turnover generated they gave the ball right back to the other team. Defense wore down as it literally didn't matter what they did....the offense was going to put them literally right back out there and there good play was for nothing.

Passing game was so bad it made the entire team look worse and suffer. D despite holes played good enough to win plenty of games......that is if they got some middle of the road production from the offense but w/ Clausen that never occured.

Defense gave up 31 to a Giants team and Carolina had a decent TOP--Moore's red zone INTs hurt, but 31 points isn't a position to win for the Saints, much less the Panthers.

The defense gave up 20 points to Tampa Bay at home in week two, in a game where the time of possession was roughly equal. Offense didn't score, but 20 points isn't a position to win. They gave up a score a quarter.

The Bengals led by three at the end of three, and won by thirteen. The defense wasn't helped by four offensive fumbles. But still, it folded late.

Saints, we gave up a field goal late and the offense couldn't manage the clock well enough to get it back. This was really the best defensive game of the year, IMHO. The next time the Saints got a hold of us, it wasn't pretty.

And against the Bears, Matt Forte ran all over us in the first quarter. Clearly, the damage was done before the defense got "worn down" in that contest.

I think that against the Saints we did well. But although we showed some flashes, our defense wasn't anything to hang our hat on at any time this year.

[chef17]

This is true... We'll see what happens. I am basing my opinions on the actions of the organization and the organization most pressing need. Other people who disagree are basing their opinions on what scouts from espn and the nfl network are saying. When you have 2 local media journalists, who are plugged into the organization, go on the record and say they think Newton will be the guy, I mean their opinion holds more value than Kiper, McShay, or Mayock opinion does. Like you said, I don't know for sure, of course not. I didn't know for sure that this bomb a$$ chick was feeling me at the grocery store 3 weeks ago, but I knew she was because I read the signs. That bomb a$$ chick just got out of my shower a few hours ago... Okay, that was too much info... But yes you are right. I don't know for sure... :D Bout to roll out and handle some business, but we will see next month..

There is a difference between local guys saying they THINK Cam will be the pick, and you saying "When the Panthers draft Cam". You can say it appears that Cam is the favorite. But this early before the draft when the Panthers are still doing their homework on guys and probably don't even know who they will pick, it is a little premature to say when we draft him.

[CRA]

Defense gave up 31 to a Giants team and Carolina had a decent TOP--Moore's red zone INTs hurt, but 31 points isn't a position to win for the Saints, much less the Panthers.

The defense gave up 20 points to Tampa Bay at home in week two, in a game where the time of possession was roughly equal. Offense didn't score, but 20 points isn't a position to win. They gave up a score a quarter.

The Bengals led by three at the end of three, and won by thirteen. The defense wasn't helped by four offensive fumbles. But still, it folded late.

Saints, we gave up a field goal late and the offense couldn't manage the clock well enough to get it back. This was really the best defensive game of the year, IMHO. The next time the Saints got a hold of us, it wasn't pretty.

And against the Bears, Matt Forte ran all over us in the first quarter. Clearly, the damage was done before the defense got "worn down" in that contest.

I think that against the Saints we did well. But although we showed some flashes, our defense wasn't anything to hang our hat on at any time this year.

gave up 31 to the Giants b/c every time the D took the ball away the offense did NOTHING except put them right back out there. It was a consistant trend all season until they just became a punching bag.

Over the first half of the season....how many defenses in the NFL do you think put their offense on the field in their opponents territory as many times as the Panther D?

How many offenses in the NFL do you think went 3 and out or turned it over coming off a tunrover compared to Carolina?

you try TOO hard to deflect from Clausen AND the passing offense as a whole (which includes the little play from the rest).

I mean, you just tried to argue the D didn't do that much against NY and Chi.....too games Carolina should have blown out opponents w/ a mildly functional offense. Easily could have won 4 of the first 5....Tampa was the only game the D didn't step up in that span.

[jramsey4]

Defense gave up 31 to a Giants team and Carolina had a decent TOP--Moore's red zone INTs hurt, but 31 points isn't a position to win for the Saints, much less the Panthers.

The defense gave up 20 points to Tampa Bay at home in week two, in a game where the time of possession was roughly equal. Offense didn't score, but 20 points isn't a position to win. They gave up a score a quarter.

The Bengals led by three at the end of three, and won by thirteen. The defense wasn't helped by four offensive fumbles. But still, it folded late.

Saints, we gave up a field goal late and the offense couldn't manage the clock well enough to get it back. This was really the best defensive game of the year, IMHO. The next time the Saints got a hold of us, it wasn't pretty.

And against the Bears, Matt Forte ran all over us in the first quarter. Clearly, the damage was done before the defense got "worn down" in that contest.

I think that against the Saints we did well. But although we showed some flashes, our defense wasn't anything to hang our hat on at any time this year.

I must have watched a different season then you because our D was about the only thing good about Panthers football in 2010. They struggled towards the end but they played great the 1st half of the season (wern't they rated in the top 10 for the majority of the season). Not saying the D can't improve but anyone that argues that D is more of a need then O didn't pay much attention last season.

With that said I still see us getting MD if we stay at #1. But if Newton works out even, on a sane VY level, we will regret this decision for the next decade. If we draft him and a rookie cap is in place and he busts we are only out MD and 3 years (isn't that the longest contract they can sign with the new CBA). Even if it comes to that with the lower financial risk you could sign a FA spot holder for the last year of his contract.

The risk of not getting a franchise QB is greater IMO then the risk that a #1 will bust. So if our FO thinks he has that kind of potential and is willing to work to become that you better take him.

[micnificent28]

with out a decent Quarterback a defense player is as useless as a great WR and no QB. Who cares if we stop them on 3rd down if the offense is going to give it right back to them with a 3 and out with said great defensive player on the field the whole game he becomes less affective

[mick eye]

Well it seems i am once again part of a dying breed. I do not feel i am a Clausen Apologist but a Realist. I think Hurney and Co. thought enough of Jimmy that they were willing to do a patented ill-advised Panthers trade up. Luckily it did not come to that. But i think they will give him some more time.

Agreed our offense looked like crap. I think the coaching knew that and tried to spend most of preseason and this season working on the offense. But with the lame duck staff we all kinda knew how it was gonna end. A vet is gonna have to be brought in so Jimmy can ride the pine. Seriously the equation of R + Fx - O = 2-14.

I will break it down. Rookie QB plus Fox/Davidson minus OTAH equaled FAIL.

I for one am excited about Chud and his new offense. I think with a healthy oline and yes Shockey Jimmy could surprise everyone.

[Cyberjag]

gave up 31 to the Giants b/c every time they took the D took the ball away the offense did NOTHING expect put them right back out there. It was a consistant trend all season until they just became a punching bag.

Over the first half of the season....how many defenses in the NFL do you think put their offense on the field in their opponents territory as many times as the Panther D?

How many offenses in the NFL do you think went 3 and out or turned it over coming off a tunrover compared to Carolina?

you try TOO hard to deflect from Clausen AND the passing offense as a whole (which includes the little play from the rest).

I mean, you just tried to argue the D didn't do that much against NY and Chi.....too games Carolina should have blown out opponents w/ a mildly functional offense. Easily could have won 4 of the first 5....Tampa was the only game the D didn't step up in that span.

Do I have to pull out the drive charts for you? This is a unit that gave up most of it's points in the first and last quarters. Look at Chicago--17 points in the first quarter. Forte gashed us for 166 yards. Against the Giants, we made Hakeem Nicks look all-world. Our turnovers were in OUR red zone, not theirs. And the Time of Possession was roughly equal, did you catch that?

Against Cleveland we gave up all our points in the first half, to Peyton Hillis. We gave up 20 points to San Fransisco--at home! New Orleans and Tampa Bay destroyed our defense the second time they saw it (so did Atlanta, but they killed it both times). The offense racked up a 14-0 lead on the Seahawks, but two brutally long drives by their offense turned that game around, and into a rout. Baltimore scored at will, for the entire game.

The defense looked good at times, but how many times last year did they put a complete game together? We had injuries and no interior line, and starters getting benched for attitude by the end of the year.

Yes, it should and probably will be a lot better this year. I believe we have a lot of talent, and should be more than capable of a top ten finish. But the idea that they put anyone in a position to win several games last year is just patently and demonstrably false.

The whole team stunk. It's time to just accept it and look forward to 2011. :)

[CarolinaVeins]

A good defense and no franchise QB...this upcoming season has 49ers written all over it

[jasonluckydog]

3 words Matt Moore.

[cdandi1]

If the panthers were going into the season with the idea of sucking another year, I would much rather them suck and draft luck, then draft a qb this year, suck and have a second year gabbert or newton start. Because, both ways we will suck another year, but luck is more likely to be a great nfl qb then anyone in this draft.

[MHS831]

Makes sense, the whole Cam thing does smell like a bluff to see if they can entice a team (cough...Bengals...cough) into trading up.

And most of the Cam hype was due to the press and the fact that we had the #1 pick. I still think a trade will happen. I also think there is no way we give the keys to the car to Clausen. He will be on a learner's permit for a while.

And if this is true, it makes sense because not many teams draft a QB that early and bail on him after 10 games.

Bottom line: How much do we like Dareus? Frankly, a 1 technique who pressures the passer would be all we need. If we took Fairley, too small to play the one, we might need another player to bring in-a veteran--to handle the 1. Dareus and Neblett (don't laugh, he played Pouncey even in Pittsburgh) and Landri and (Hayden, Irvin, or another rookie like Jerrell Casey or even Marvin Austin), and we are solid there.