Panthers vs Vikings Running Commentary

What did you expect from this team this season? We are who we thought we would be, but instead of playing like the Lions or Jets, we're playing like we're making a playoff push.

I'm in complete agreement about Teddy and Slye. I'm also going to point out that we are up against the cap with 50 million in dead money. It's not like we could have gone on a shopping spree. So instead of bitching because we're not winning now, take a look at what we have:

• Davis looks like he's going to be a great, great complement to CMC in the future.
• Anderson is a #1 receiver and plays like it. That took a ton of pressure off Moore and Samuel, who have responded well. Samuel is a third down machine.
• Teddy B sucks but at least he's playing competent enough for the staff to fairly evaluate the players around him.
• On defense, our top three rookies look like long-time starters, and Chinn is looking like a future star.
• Our front four has a really good rotation. I hav no idea why you list Bravion Roy as being real good but missing #53, Brian Burns. Pretty sure that's a typo.
• Rasul Douglas has worked out nicely as a zone corner, and looks like someone who can stick in the long term.

Our defensive starters have three first round picks and three second rounders, and of those six, three of them are rookies. Everyone else has JAG status and they've still come together as a decent unit. Give Hurney/Rhule one more draft to find a good press CB and a MLB who can cover and I bet we stop with the vanilla looks and three-man rushes with eight in coverage and start mixing it up well. I'll also add that we're going to start Free Agency at 18 million under the cap and can bump that up to close to 50 by dumping Paradis and Short. We're going to be active this Spring.

We knew we were going to suck this year. I'm happy we're not playing like it.

 

There's potential for growth in year two, but it's important to start winning close games. We had this problem in year one of Rivera and it dragged well into year two. Potential means jack shit if you can't execute in the redzone, on third down, and late in the fourth quarter.

 

Rivera always had more talent than this squad does. There’s a difference.

 

#53, yes...my bad...., I expected no more - possibly less. And potentially, we may be very good next year, I dunno. Even so, you can't give games away.

But that they've been competitive, even with less talent, still I truly believe the staff has no idea how to adjust. Offensive scoring in the second is a perfect example. And teddy and sly, though solid most times, are just not clutch.

Clutch wins championships. I just can't be happy, even expecting less, being an inconsistent, unadjusting, choke of a team that's in it at the end only to fail.

Again, the red zone offense sucks ass, sts suck ass and get penalized every other play- fg misses, blocks- all of it. The run game is wonderful, considering cmc not in there. We shouldn't go away from it in the 3rd like we do. 10 is great - clutch even, especially on 3rd downs. We have a few good players (I was talking actual perennial stars before). That we stay in most games even against good teams is a testament to that. The coaching isn't all that bad, it's just I don't think they can adjust well yet or change once stuff doesn't work, as well as for some reason goes away from what is working.

Your post is spot on, CJ, I'm just biotching because of the choking, which is nerve wrecking.

 

I think the difference between our attitudes is that I attribute the lack of adjustment to just not having the talent, while you seem to be suggesting its coaching.

Also, the offense looked different when Walker was running it. Teddy plays it way too safe for my liking; it's no wonder we have trouble in the red zone. He's waiting on the other team to make a mistake that he can exploit. But as I said, he allows the staff a lot of time to evaluate the players around him.

 

That sounds about right.

 

So Sean Payton had a big hand in making TB look good.

 

New Orleans has a great line and is just as good as we are at the skill positions, if not better. All Teddy had to do there was not lose games, which he did well.

In New Orleans, he completed 67% of his passes. In Carolina he's at 70%. His adjusted net yards per attempt is the same. His rating is a little lower in Carolina but not much. Basically, he's playing at the same level. It's enough to win in New Orleans, but not here.

 

NO has better coaching and scores TDs nearly 100% of the time when they get to the red zone and are superb on 3rd downs.

They use their talent correctly and creatively. They know when and which plays to call. Just look at what they're doing now, and did, without breez (as you point out above).

Their defense isn't shabby either, as they can cover up lack of talent at some positions (both whether by lack and/or due to injury, etc.). Their defensive game planning appears very solid.

If it weren't for a coupla stupid calls/non-calls at terrible moments for them, they might have another championship or two over just the past couple of years.

I hate them mofos, but I do respect their coaching. Speaking of o-lines, they know the importance of them as opposed to the panthers over the past forever, obviously.