Panthers v 49ers Lessons Learned

[frash.exe]

I feel like gross is flexible enough at this stage in his career to take a RT role. Remember a few years back people weren't sure if he could hack it as a left tackle.

[panthers55]

I feel like gross is flexible enough at this stage in his career to take a RT role. Remember a few years back people weren't sure if he could hack it as a left tackle.

I think the bigger question is whether he wants to play that badly that he will want to change positions.  After playing left tackle for almost a decade going to right tackle is almost a demotion as far as the pecking order on the line.  He has tens of millions of dollars in the bank and has been doing all of his TV interview gigs to prepare for what is next. I doubt he is going to feel the need to just hang on doing whatever he can just to potentially get a chance to get a ring when there is no guarantee.

 

Now left tackle he would likely keep going.  Assuming Gettleman doesn't want to move on anyway.

[Toundra]

This makes it all that much more quizzical to  me that people came away from that game thinking "O-Line, first 6 picks". 

 

Cam had plenty of time to throw during the day. 

 

The Oline played well in pass protection, even Bell but the Niners almost never blitzed Cam.

[frash.exe]

At least we showed up for two quarters in this game as opposed to one drive like in 2008

[Delhommey]

That would be stupid to move him. He doesn't have the size to be a roadgrader and he wouldn't take right tackle money after working on the left side for so long. That might work in Madden.

 

Gross's play at RT was one of the major reasons we went to the Super Bowl in 2003 and the NFC Champ Game in 2005.

 

But other than that, yeah, totally. Doesn't have the size. Absolutely

[thefuzz]

Biggest lesson learned?

 

You still have to be able to score points to win in the NFL.  You cannot count on your D to hold playoff opponents to 13 points.

 

You have to have some skill at skill positions on offense.  You also need good play callers, and if you don't have skill at skill positions, you need a great play caller to mask this.

 

We need players who can score points outside of Cam Newton and Tolbert.

[CRA]

100% agree we need Gross's replacement. Optimally we could find an LT and have Gross stretch out his career for another 3 years by moving him to RT.

I would be a fan of the Gross path. Draft his replacement....start him at RT. Rent Gross for a year at LT. That way you make sure the draftee is talented enough before we lock him in at LT and part with Gross. Not sure an aging Gross would want to get out of what has become his spot.

[rico6]

We lost because of those corny ass towels.

[panthers55]

Gross's play at RT was one of the major reasons we went to the Super Bowl in 2003 and the NFC Champ Game in 2005.

 

But other than that, yeah, totally. Doesn't have the size. Absolutely

That will be 9 years ago when the 2014 season starts.  In football player terms that is a very long time.  What he did in 2005 has little bearing on 9 years later.  That is like looking at what Smitty did in 2005 winning the triple crown and saying he will be great next year because of it.

 

When was the last time we had a right tackle under 330?  Not since Bell and Otah were there so.  Maybe the last time was Gross in 2005.

[GaCatFan]

The lesson I learned is that we need to buy our own referees just like the Niners and other teams have.

[Davidson Deac II]

This makes it all that much more quizzical to  me that people came away from that game thinking "O-Line, first 6 picks". 

 

Cam had plenty of time to throw during the day. 

 

 

Maybe not first 6 picks, but with Gross and Wharton both getting older, we are going to have to get some new blood there. 

[Fox007]

we got outplayed and outcoached by a team that has been deep in the playoffs for the past couple of years. Still that is no reason to make wholesale changes in personnel on the player or coaches side. It happens. You live and learn. Hopefully we come back nexy year and plaay better in the playoffs.

Now go get a life you stalker

 

Except that Shula has never shown that he can learn or call plays well on a consistent basis.

[top dawg]

This should have been the lesson learned:

 

 

...Our defense is beginning to fit nicely within old school philosophy. Now, it's time for the offense to catch up.  Of course there is a lot to be said for the run setting up the pass, which is why I personally believe in running the ball down someone's throat until they stop you. But, if the run ain't working---for whatever reasons---you have to learn to adjust to the situation at hand. You can't just keep running your man into the middle of the pile, which is the result of everyone in the stadium knowing that's what you're going to do. You have to throw in some screens, some delayed draws, some counter treys, some bootlegs...something. Shula fails to consistently adapt at key times during the game.  He needs to improve his situational awareness.  The chickens came home to roost against the 49ers down in the trenches on the goal line. With lesser teams we could just basically keep running the same plays to get in in that situation because eventually they break under the pressure. The thing is, the 49ers punched back. This was the time for Shula to call something different, but he didn't. Basically, for this old school type of philosophy to work, Shula is going to have to not only step, but ramp up his game. When Shula gets his new toys, he had better call some plays that allow Cam to get the ball down field to keep defenses not only hones, but on their heels.