A few simple truths the Panthers need to cope with to move on for the better

[frash.exe]

Season's Over

Seriously, save yourself the disappointment and embarrassment in thinking we're still up for a deep playoff run. The team was not well prepared to start the season and we weren't even banged up to begin with. At this point I still expect us to do better in the 2nd half of the season but not by much and optimistically we can do 6-10 or 7-9. The last team to go 1-4 and make the playoffs was the 2002 Jets. And the only reason they won the AFCE that year was because they won a 3 way tie against the Bills and Pats for division champion at 9-7. Do you see the Falcons dropping the next 7 of 11 games?

If you're still defending Hurney by now, it's high time you get your head examined.

I could fill a 20 foot long scroll with text on the examples of bad personnel management Hurney has displayed just going back to 2008. Why did we need Mike Tolbert instead of a starting safety or corner, or defensive tackle? Why? Why did he think it was a good idea to start one of the Ravens' scabs who up until this season had never been endowed with a start at the NFL level? How about having half of the starting secondary being represented by the guy I just mentioned and a 5th-round rookie draft pick?

Hurney is still so afraid of a 2004-2005 nightmare scenario (where the running back stable is depleted by December and we're starting guys like Jamaal Robertson) that he passes up the opportunity to acquire starters at the more important positions where we don't have a reputable starter so he can collect what would be his nth starting running back. Hurney basically ignored what the team needed in both free agency and the draft. Not only that but this model of performance incentive (where as a player you get paid market clearing contracts from Carolina if you produce) wouldn't even be sustainable if it was working. And it's not working. Hurney is just not a good General Manager, and no matter how many times you want to bring up his draft record in the first round or his supposed "expertise" as a cap manager or the fact that Darin Gantt constantly tries to rationalize what he's doing on twitter it doesn't compensate for how badly he's mismanaged both personnel and resources (draft picks/cap cash).

Ron Rivera is a Bad Head Coach.

Even though he hasn't been endowed with the best GM to fill his roster, Rivera nonetheless has had his shortcomings as a head coach exposed multiple times. The Panthers have still been somewhat competitive on a nearly consistent basis, however his inability to outcoach the opposition in critical situations (no matter what the game situation is) is a very discouraging sign that we don't have the right guy. Whether it's a defensive affair or a shootout, somehow this team has constantly ended up on the losing end. Ron can't call a close game to save his life. He does not have that je ne sais quoi about him like either of the Harbaugh brothers do. Running out the clock in the last two minutes of the half against the Falcons was almost as bad as calling a timeout so the Saints could kick a field goal that proved to be the scoring difference at the end of our home divisional against them last season. These are decisions that can decide football games, and good ones usually make the right calls where bad ones make the wrong calls.

He hasn't delivered on a single promise he made when he first walked up to that podium and talked about how he would improve all the mental and physical facets of football we were lacking in. Tackling has not improved one iota, he's not aggressive when the situation calls for it, and he's already started to make excuses after losses. I don't necessarily like the idea of firing a head coach after only two seasons, but the team has shown literally no net progress since 2011, and the sooner this team stops running like it's a place where any exec or coach can go to collect a paycheck, the sooner he is on the hot seat. He doesn't even know what is going on with Cam, as evidenced by the comment he made about "mental coaching" so how can he keep our QB focused?

Cam Newton is Being Utilized Poorly.

Just because Cam has good legs to run on doesn't mean you call keepers on almost every single drive, Rob. It would only be justifiable if it was fooling anybody enough for us to win, and it's not. If you saw Griffin get drilled last week running out of bounds you know what abusing his running ability will eventually lead us to. Cam is a very capable QB with a great arm and his deep ball has still been very good this season, but what the offense needs to be working on is for him to be a better short passer, because that's what it takes to be able to throw the ball for TDs when you're in the red zone, and it pays in this league to be efficient at that. Yet it seems like good red zone passing has been de-emphasized this season so that we can run option plays at the opponent's 5 yard line. Even though his short passing hasn't been that great, we're wasting the opportunity to help him improve in that area. Cam's legs should only be used sparingly and/or as a last resort. You don't want to have to rely on his legs to win you the game. Cam also doesn't look very focused this season. Whether or not that is his fault, he's still young and needs some guidance by his coaches to keep him thinking about his objectives during a game, and I feel like they're dropping the ball right now.

Have you realized up until now that there's no positive correlation between how much talent you have at RB and how many wins you have?

There's a reason why no other team values keeping 2 first round running backs on the roster and it's because it's pointless.

Kuechly should be the MLB from now on.

Luke did not pass up the opportunity to play well when filling in to start at what many people consider to be "Beason's spot". Beason has performed terrible thus far in the season and one of Luke's best attributes is that he knows how to diagnose plays very well. I also think he's a better tackler (Beason hasn't just gotten poor at this now: he rated average at best in 2010 in tackling efficiency as well). Beason also might never play at the level we used to see him play since 2010. That's not to say the technology, will and perseverence it took to get him back on the field isn't remarkable. It just goes to show how critical top fitness is in this league. It took DeMeco Ryans an entire season to play decently, and it likely will take just as long for Beason to start playing at an acceptable level. By that time Luke will be entrenched at MLB. If you can reasonably win a starting job due to injury (like Beason did from Dan Morgan but who didn't see that coming lol) you can sure as hell lose it with enough justification.

[LinvilleGorge]

I can't disagree with anything you said.

[Guest Bwood]

It's so funny to think that if JR just listened to posts like this, we would be a legit team.

[BeasonBeastingBacks]

I refuse to cope with any of this

[Happy Panther]

Season's Over

Seriously, save yourself the disappointment and embarrassment in thinking we're still up for a deep playoff run.

I stopped reading here.

We are still a 12-4 team and you need to go get a new team and stop calling yourself a fan.

Not really :(

[Marguide]

OP is spot on. It's unfortunate, but it is reality.

Normally, former coordinators have learned enough about game management to eliminate that as an issue. I really can't remember another coordinator turned head coach that seemed as unprepared as Rivera on game day. He flat out doesn't understand clock management, 2 minute drills, when to accept/decline penalties, etc. How is that even possible? How can you spend that much time around the game and not understand some of the most fundamental stuff?

I rewatched part of the Seattle game last night. There was a sequence when either we were in the red zone or Seattle was. I don't remember off hand except that it was a red zone situation. The camera flashed to the sideline, and Ron was there watching the field with his normal blank look, then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an assistant next to him working on a player's helmet. So Ron turns to him and starts to help him with the helmet. It was a critical part of the game, and yet Ron had no focus on the field action at all, to the point that he could be distracted by somebody working on a damn helmet.

We have to make a change day 1 after the season is over.

[Guest]

I agree with OP here. Whats more amazing is that he used French in a post about football. Good show old man.

[Gin and Juice]

You are right in regard to the current state of team affairs!

[SCP]

I rewatched part of the Seattle game last night. There was a sequence when either we were in the red zone or Seattle was. I don't remember off hand except that it was a red zone situation. The camera flashed to the sideline, and Ron was there watching the field with his normal blank look, then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an assistant next to him working on a player's helmet. So Ron turns to him and starts to help him with the helmet. It was a critical part of the game, and yet Ron had no focus on the field action at all, to the point that he could be distracted by somebody working on a damn helmet.

Dude are you serious? I was at the game and deleted the DVR copy as soon as I got home so I never saw this. That is hilarious and awful all at the same time.

[Marguide]

Dude are you serious? I was at the game and deleted the DVR copy as soon as I got home so I never saw this. That is hilarious and awful all at the same time.

Yeah, I'm serious. I didn't notice it on gameday either. If I get a chance tonight I'll post the time left on the clock when it occurs in case anyone wants to see it.

I was going to say more about it, but it's better if people see it for themselves.

[SCP]

Yeah, I'm serious. I didn't notice it on gameday either. If I get a chance tonight I'll post the time left on the clock when it occurs in case anyone wants to see it.

I was going to say more about it, but it's better if people see it for themselves.

So he was trying to look busy so he didn't have to take heat for a late game bobble? Not what I expected from him after his opening presser.

[beastson]

LOL when I said the same thing about Cam, stay in that damn pocket and fling it around

I was ripped

No, he's a dual-threat. We have to utilize all of his talents

Man we have RB for that. FB are FB, RB are RB and QB's are fuging QB's. Every body has a role and you win when everybody plays it

[Marguide]

So he was trying to look busy so he didn't have to take heat for a late game bobble? Not what I expected from him after his opening presser.

Found it. It happened with 53 seconds left in the 3rd qtr. Seattle was on our 13 yard line. They show Ron pacing the sideline (not looking at the field) and while he's walking, he seems to get distracted first by some water bottles (yes, I'm serious), then he watches somebody working on a helmet (I was wrong, he didn't actively help, he just looked) then he turns his back completely to the field and the camera cut away from him as the play was being run.

He is just totally disconnected with what is going on...I don't get it.

[DeeJay]

Panthers to win 12 straight