Turning Points

[Mr. Scot]

Sometimes a team that's trying to build itself back up from the ashes reaches a turning point where things finally start to come together and they believe they can turn it all around.

Sometimes players that are in process of getting to know a new coach come to a time when they truly believe in that coach and become ready to follow him through the gates of hell.

Sometimes a young quarterback arrives at a spot where everything comes together and he's truly ready to be a pro QB and establish himself as the leader of his team.

Which, if any, of those events would you say has happened to the Panthers so far this season, which are yet to come, (and when do you think they will)?

[sharkman]

Sometimes a team that's trying to build itself back up from the ashes reaches a turning point where things finally start to come together and they believe they can turn it all around.

Give us another good showing next week and a win like yesterday and I think we're there. A bit of a win streak going into the bye is a good high to ride.

Sometimes players that are in process of getting to know a new coach come to a time when they truly believe in that coach and become ready to follow him through the gates of hell.

Production in a system gets more player buy in. Yesterday's comments from Anderson about the blitz call on 4 and 2 is a good example. "It was genius, a McDermott special.”

We may be there on offense already. Drafting Cam and him performing the way he has proves something. Trading for Olsen as well. Smitty's statements after the AZ game come to mind: "all in."

Sometimes a young quarterback arrives at a spot where everything comes together and he's truly ready to be a pro QB and establish himself as the leader of his team.

We may very well have passed this point. Cam is not a typical young QB though. Ditch the Mr Mopeyhead moniker and he'll have it.

That said, Cam has a lot of attention and slim margin of error off the field. I know a lot of people may hate that I said that, but I just got an earful at church last night for saying I'm on the wagon with this kid. Keep doing and saying the right things and stay out of the strip clubs Cam.

[thefuzz]

Not sure if we have "turned a corner" or if we just needed some serious help at the most important position on a football team.

I think it's a little of both though.

[jarhead]

The offense with a big exception of penalties is beginning to show signs of that.I do not see in our defense and do not see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[d-run]

I think they all believe in Rivera and go into every game ready to battle. The GB and NO games show that they will battle teams hard even when they are over-matched.

I don't think we have completely gotten to the point where they believe they will turn it around, but they may be very close. If they win the next two games, which could very well happen, I think their confidence will be very high and anything will be possible.

Newton has played great, but I don't think he has "clicked yet." Yesterday was his best game, so that might be close too. He needs a 4th quarter game winning drive to put him and the team in the frame of mind they will win every game no matter how it has gone up to that point.

[Fiz]

sometimes you make good threads (not this time)

[Marguide]

Sometimes a team that's trying to build itself back up from the ashes reaches a turning point where things finally start to come together and they believe they can turn it all around.

Sometimes players that are in process of getting to know a new coach come to a time when they truly believe in that coach and become ready to follow him through the gates of hell.

Sometimes a young quarterback arrives at a spot where everything comes together and he's truly ready to be a pro QB and establish himself as the leader of his team.

Which, if any, of those events would you say has happened to the Panthers so far this season, which are yet to come, (and when do you think they will)?

I think the players bought into Rivera right off the bat.

As for Cam, I saw a big change in his game starting with Atlanta. Even though he had 3 picks, it was the first game where more often than not, he was hitting his receivers in the numbers. That continued yesterday and culminated in an 8 for 8 performance in the 2nd half. If we see it, you know the players see it magnified times 10.

The running game is starting to click and Chud is much more confident in calling a balanced game now.

So the buy in, I think, went to a new level in the Atlanta game even though it was our worst loss, and stepped up even more yesterday.

The one exception may be special teams. The schemes we have used have been largely ineffective, and the unit lacks confidence. We will have to wait a while to watch them turn the corner.

[Mr. Scot]

Not sure if we have "turned a corner" or if we just needed some serious help at the most important position on a football team.

I think it's a little of both though.

I'm thinking back to the 2004 season in writing this. That was a year that looked like it was down the tubes until the 49er game, and then suddenly we had new life.

I find myself wondering if yesterday's game could be this season's "49er game".

[rico6]

Even yesterday our defense at one point almost gave the fuging Redskins a chance at coming back. There was no "turning point" in that game, it was the fact that we simply couldn't play anymore worse than the Redskins.

Until we get a defense. My expectations are still pretty low for this team.

[Tarheels23]

I'm thinking back to the 2004 season in writing this. That was a year that looked like it was down the tubes until the 49er game, and then suddenly we had new life.

I find myself wondering if yesterday's game could be this season's "49er game".

The 2nd half of that 49ers game was awesome, but I think I Defense is to bad to have a 2004 type season.

[Mr. Scot]

The 2nd half of that 49ers game was awesome, but I think I Defense is to bad to have a 2004 type season.

We've still got loads of deficiencies, for sure. Still, I think we may now be good enough to win more games than I would have otherwise expected.

I'm still not expecting playoffs this season. But going into next year after ending this year on an upswing? Now that would be very nice.

[L-TownCat]

1)check

2)check

3)check

Its time to get this show on the (national) road

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

I'm thinking back to the 2004 season in writing this. That was a year that looked like it was down the tubes until the 49er game, and then suddenly we had new life.

I find myself wondering if yesterday's game could be this season's "49er game".

I agree, it definitely felt like that.

I think all it takes is for a team to know how to close a game, the level of commitment for four quarters and the maturation of rookies, free agents stepping up(Applewhite) to create and identity.

Its what I did like the John Fox mentality when he first came to Carolina and went all out to win pre season games. He wanted the players to know what a win felt like and what had to happen to acheive that.

Cam played within himself, completed a high percentage of passes. The coaching staff believed in the run within the 5 yrd line with Jonathan Stewart.

The team overcame 13 penalities and made adjustment created turnovers.

In other words, there was more of a complete game in this win than Jacksonville.

At the worst the Offense looked confortable, confident, and total belief in Chuds scheme. i like it.

[pantherclaw]

Cam is the leader, without a doubt.

While he does play well for a rookie,I don't feel he has "arrived" yet.

The players have bought into the systems (offense and defense), but they both have way to go.

Cutting back on penalties is something they need to work on, cause that will improve the team the most, at this juncture.