How the Panthers got their groove back (NFL.com article)

[thunderraiden]

I'm still a little wary of the praise. While we are playing well, it seems to be against bad teams and only when we want to play well.

 

I'd like to see us win a few more before I really "buy in", but I will take any wins that we can get.

 

Wait, when have we played well against bad teams while in playoff contention before? 2008?

[Servant of Cthululelei]

no. bucky says good things about us quite frequently, esp. this year.

 

he's kind of a weekly fixture on the drive and usually is very positive about what's going on around here.

 

 

Yeah, I know Bucky is one of the good ones.  This was just my nooby commentary on what I've seen around this place from lurking.

 

I just think it's funny that people hold grudges about national sportswriters who write bad things about us when we're bad and good things about us when we're good.  That's what most of em do.  The only times they probably watch our games in full is when they're on primetime.

[carpantherfan84]

don't hate on Bucky. He is the only one who has consistently shown us support and fair assessment as a team. Not even our beat writers can make that claim.

[PhillyB]

that was pretty good

[beastson]

I'm still a little wary of the praise. While we are playing well, it seems to be against bad teams and only when we want to play well.

 

I'd like to see us win a few more before I really "buy in", but I will take any wins that we can get.

 

I hear you, but we really should be 5-1

[rayzor]

I hear you, but we really should be 5-1

 

we are one ill-timed fumble and one bad decision to not go for it on 4th and one away from being that.

 

correctable things got corrected.

 

[Brandon]

we are one ill-timed fumble and one bad decision to not go for it on 4th and one away from being that.

 

correctable things got corrected.

 

 

Between this and the quality stats we are one of the better teams in the league. Hell CHFF has us at 5th in those stats so it's not like this is some terrible team...

[Jackofalltrades]

Bucky used to be a scout for the Panthers- for those who don't know.

[tiger7_88]

I found this part interesting:

 

Additionally, he needed to avoid the kinds of costly turnovers that would put the defense in a bind. Newton's career numbers (40 turnovers in 38 career games) suggest he is less turnover-prone than some of his contemporaries (Andrew Luck, for example, has 27 turnovers in 23 games, and Blaine Gabbert has 32 in 27). Still, the Panthers' high number of close losses magnified his miscues.

 

 

[Oldmanrivera]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000268062/article/cam-newton-ron-rivera-creating-buzz-around-carolina-panthers

 

It took some time and a fight or two, but we are looking good.

 

 

[rayzor]

merging with other two...

[Pantherman]

While I want to give our team praise right now. But as you look at the schedule it reminds you of how tough it will be in the final 10 games. 4 of the last 10 should be wins on the board for us. But the other 6 are going to be tough. I really hope we keep winning and hope that we get to the playoffs. But it will be tough. I'm trying not to be neg. or anything. But I'm looking at reality right now. Our secondary is questionable at times and our oline is questionable as well. As we take on these much tougher teams like the Pats and Saints and the 49ers even. It's going to be a test for this team in the coming weeks. I believe they can do it and win. It's just going be hard road a head.

[thunderraiden]

While I want to give our team praise right now. But as you look at the schedule it reminds you of how tough it will be in the final 10 games. 4 of the last 10 should be wins on the board for us. But the other 6 are going to be tough. I really hope we keep winning and hope that we get to the playoffs. But it will be tough. I'm trying not to be neg. or anything. But I'm looking at reality right now. Our secondary is questionable at times and our oline is questionable as well. As we take on these much tougher teams like the Pats and Saints and the 49ers even. It's going to be a test for this team in the coming weeks. I believe they can do it and win. It's just going be hard road a head.

 

I only see 4 hard games left on the schedule, if we split them, ... 11-5! and possibly #1 in division if our split was knocking off the saints twice.

 

That's if this team is a contender team. If its not, well it doesn't matter who we lose to.

[Guest E1b1a]

Nice read.  Really liked this quote:

 

"Part of Newton's recent success can be attributed to his decision to finally take the check-down when deeper routes are covered. He's also scrambling more to pick up positive yards when receivers fail to come open downfield. This has allowed the Panthers to stay ahead of the chains and avoid the kinds of long-yardage situations that play into the hands of defenders."

 

Cam has started to understand the little things that make the big difference.  His play over the past three games has been beyond stellar.  I hope (and believe) he had gotten over the hump and is ready to consistently deliver wins.

I'm liking this. Hopefully it's a conscious effort by Cam and the coaching staff instead of just having a few good games doing that. On the same token, no team have really beat us so far. We lost 2 bad games by 2 bad mistakes(not by Cam, just to point that out). We could have been 5-1 right now. Maybe next year.