Game Grades - Saints at Panthers

[Zod]

This was one of the more electric games to witness in the past three seasons. Although the rain kept some of the seats empty, the crowd was electric. I do have one complaint regarding the crowd, more on that in the grades...

Offense:

Scoring 35 points on any NFL defense is an accomplishment, even if it is against the inept Saints defense. All four members of the "Four Headed Monster" scored touchdowns. Cam Newton played like himself again, gashing the defense for not accounting for his ability to run. Brandon Lafell recovered from an early drop to really have what may be his breakout game.

Bottom line, the offense got it done.

Offensive Grade: A

Defense:

Keeping the Saints to under 30 points is no easy task. Even without Sean Payton they are a very capable offense. Drew Brees was rattled often which was refreshing for Panthers fans to witness.

I love this kid Josh Norman. He was jawing Jimmy Graham the entire game, making sure he knew when Graham came up short. Graham is a cocky player in his own right, it was nice to see him get his mouth closed by a Panther rookie. Towards the end of the game Graham was silent after mouthing off the entire first half.

Jon Beason's deal sealing interception may be the spark that puts him into another pro bowl run. Big Beas is back.

Defensive Grade: A

Fans

Thats right, I am giving the fans in attendance a grade. For those of you many fans that were extremely loud while the Panthers offense was at the goal line trying to score... cut that out. Yes, it is exciting, but your end zone screaming while the Panthers are executing a goal line play hurts the team. The result? Cam's awful looking lateral and a turnover on downs.

Fan Grade: C , for Catch a Clue

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[VIP]

blame the fans for leaving early which too many did

blaming them for that horrible goal line playcall...lolno

[rayzor]

to all those people wondering how we were going to stop jimmy graham....there you go.

[Brit-Panther]

also the wave is fuging lame stop trying to do it all the time

This. Saw it coming my way and face palmed myself.....

Thank god for the for the grown ups in the section 130 thereabouts who refused to do it.

[Raskle]

I'd have to grade them a little lower, to be honest.

Offense: A-

Although they did a terrific job from about the end of the first quarter on, it still took the offense too many snaps to get going in the first. I'll bet money that I wasn't the only fan to watch the first couple of drives thinking to themself, "Here we go again..." with the stalled drives and lame, cutesy running. I'm still not sure Chud knows there's such a thing as the I-Formation and how powerful it could be with Tolbert leading Stewie. If he ever figures it out, watch out NFL. They need to figure out how to come out of the gates on all cylinders.

Defense: B

They stopped the Saints, who are reeling at this time, but they are still not stopping the run. Any time you have the other team's halfback rushing for over 100 yards at a 22.2 ypc average, that's downright scary. Imagine a team that isn't quite so inept gaining those yards. We may not have the same outcome next time. I want to see our team containing the run a little better in the future. It most likely was scheme, as we sold out the run to stop the pass, and in the end, points are all that matters, but what if we didn't manage those goal line stances. I'd rather we not have our team put in those situations at all. The run D needs to stiffen, while still maintaining our composure against the pass. I'm starting to believe our DBs can handle it.

Special Teams: B-

We didn't really give up anything... we also didn't really take anything either. Overall, not a bad job, but not better than average. Adams seems to be coming into his own, which is a plus... now if we could just give the other team the fear of an ability to brea one for the house, that would be great. No more pinning their ears back.

Fans: Agreed... C

Tampa Bay, yes, Tampa Bay was terrific at their game. They completely shut up during their offense's drives when the down was about to start, and killed it on Defense. I hate to say it, but they know much more than Charlotte does about how to support their team, and how to give true "home field advantage" to their team. I hope that one day, BofA can figure that one out.

That's my take on it anyways... make of it what you will.

[Zod]

blame the fans for leaving early which too many did

blaming them for that horrible goal line playcall...lolno

Play call was fine.

Execution was not.

[panthers55]

Tampa Bay, yes, Tampa Bay was terrific at their game. They completely shut up during their offense's drives when the down was about to start, and killed it on Defense. I hate to say it, but they know much more than Charlotte does about how to support their team, and how to give true "home field advantage" to their team. I hope that one day, BofA can figure that one out.

That's my take on it anyways... make of it what you will.

First off Tampa's stadium was half empty. Secondly how do they support their team better when they can't even sell out their stadium to a home opener. You could have used a lot of stadiums for your comparison but Tampa wouldn't be one of them

[VIP]

Play call was fine.

Execution was not.

naw, you need a few inches and you have 6'5 250 behemoth QB just put your head down and the distance. even Brady gets those and he's a girl. if we had done that and failed, nobody would have been like "dude wtf we shoulda ran the option to the outside!!" that playcall was bad. end of story

[Zod]

No one has ever accused Tampa fans of knowing how to support their team before this thread.

[coralreefer_1]

Cant believe you are whining about fans being loud! Seriously?

My god with the year and excitement Cam has generated in the last year, I would have hoped the stadium to be full (even if raining) fans raising hell in ALL situations, showing the national media that not only has our team finally arrived, but our fans are there behind them 100% and ready to raise the same hell. Sadly, the stadium looked half empty from from the start, but I am glad to hear at least some folks were there representing.

I realize you are the MFCEO...but damn..blaming fans for Cam's bad decision on that play is just kinda pooty.

If anything, the folks who spent all of last week whining about how Williams is not a good fit, or how our coaches are crap need to get a grade, and after they get that, they are welcome to come over to my place and I will happily direct them to the horse pasture where they can find themselves a nice pile of manure and rub that all over their teeth!

[Zod]

Cant believe you are whining about fans being loud! Seriously?

Yes, seriously.

Fans need to learn WHEN to be loud.

Other stadiums are much quieter when on offense.

[coralreefer_1]

Yes, seriously.

Fans need to learn WHEN to be loud.

Other stadiums are much quieter when on offense.

True...and if the mistake by Cam had happened on/just after the snap I could see your point...however the mistake in question happened a good 2-3 seconds after the snap. Any QB who is distracted by stadium noise that deep into the play should not be playing in the NFL.

Edit - Let me rephrase that: Any QB who cannot tune out stadium noise that deep into a play does not belong in the NFL,

[Raskle]

First off Tampa's stadium was half empty. Secondly how do they support their team better when they can't even sell out their stadium to a home opener. You could have used a lot of stadiums for your comparison but Tampa wouldn't be one of them

Easy.. I was there. I wasn't stating they know how to fill their stadium, I was saying they know how to act when their team is on the field. Sorry if I didn't clarify that better. It wasn't half empty either... it was about 3/4 filled, which still sucks, but not half.

They were quiet on the Bucs offensive plays, and extremely loud on defensive plays. That was the only thing I was saying they did better than us, because I've been to both places, and BofA is loud no matter which side of the ball we're on. Like Zod said, it can be a hinderence to our guys.

[Zod]

True...and if the mistake by Cam had happened on/just after the snap I could see your point...however the mistake in question happened a good 2-3 seconds after the snap. Any QB who is distracted by stadium noise that deep into the play should not be playing in the NFL.

When its loud, players do not come off the snap as quickly. The difference in a tenth of a second reaction time is huge.