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Good point. Our pressure on Keenum was equivalent to what the Rams had, but they had more sacks. The YAC problem is more due to Cam's inaccuracy. Multiple times we had incompletions or no YAC because the receivers had to make a diving play instead of a catch and run.
I think Cam has gotten better but yeah he is part of the YAC problem. Still even if all you get is say 5 yards that is fine. As long as we keep moving the chains. It's like a decent run. And defenses would have to be a lot more honest in their play. It should make the running game better. Can't crowd the line or we kill you on short fast passes.
Exactly. A five yard out route with Olsen and/or Benjamin is mostly unstoppable. I'd take that every time. Would open up so much more.
Cam has reverted back to throwing off his heels and "slinging" the ball, which tends to float high. He's had so much pressure maybe he feels he can't step into any throws. But it has really effected his accuracy from last season. I don't think he trusts his blockers.
In the Arizona game it seemed they finally put in a few short passing routes, but against the Rams they barely did. Why not dink and dunk sometimes? It is successful for other teams when there isn't time to throw downfield all the time.
Especially with these huge receivers. Benjamin is fast for his size but he isn't "fast". Why run all these deep routes to him? Slants, curls, stop routes should be his bread and butter. Box out the smaller DB and catch the ball or get a call. Then mix in a double move down the field and you have something.
Remember the preseason excitement of Funchess and Benjamin in those handful of drives Cam played. I recall both of them having those easy short TDs where the CB had no chance. Box the out and extend the arms and there is no CB in the NFL that can't reach around any of our big guys and knock away the ball.NCCommish said:
Now is a good time. Honestly, that one drive was the game. As you said, 1st and 10 on the KC 20 and instead of calling 3 runs to milk the clock and guarantee a chip shot FG, we get 3 passes and a loss of 20 yards. Heck, even before the 3rd down play we still had a shot at a 45 yard FG. Call it stupid, but at least run on 3rd and 18 to make sure you still get a shot at a FG. Shula needs to go, big time. A FG at the end of that drive means you are up 20-3, a 3 score lead at the start of the 4th quarter. We run 3 times* and we win the game. We also likely don't turn the ball over twice because we don't need to pass anymore. Ugh, the offense and special teams have lost 4 of the 6 games (Denver, Tampa, Minnesota and KC) and helped lose to NO (INT on 1st and 10, missed XP). I know so many harped on the young secondary, but they've really only played poorly in the NO and Atlanta games where we also had injuries to the CBs. The offense/play calling/special teams has really screwed up way more games.
I'll never pull for the team to lose just so they can get top ten pick. Great picks can be had after the top 10. It is likely the Panthers won't make the playoffs, but they can play spoiler to other teams, and work on improving as a whole.
They can work on improving as a whole by dumping Shula. It's time. He's worn out his love from last year that was more luck and Newton bailing the team out again and again. Cam not playing as well and man, the play calling just looks awful. How can you ever screw up kicking a chip shot to go up 17 to enter the 4th quarter against a team who put up 3 points in 3 quarters. We've just had so many sacks/INTs cost us points this year or just insane play calls. 1st down a few minutes left, tie game, 3 straight runs followed by punt and game winning drive by Tampa. 1st and goal against NO, INT, no points. 1st and goat at the 1 yard line against Tampa, INT, no points. Right before the half against Minnesota, 2nd and 3 in FG range, 2 passes for 1 sack and 1 INT, no points. I know there are other instances of bad play calls which knocked us out of FG range as well, but these are just off the top of my head.
I would like to see what a new OC could do with the offense. I would like some creativity, game adjustments, and not going into conservative mode when there is a lead at the half. So many times it is a tale of two halves for the Panthers this year.
I think the Panthers will play spoiler to some teams down the stretch. I also think there are teams that do not want to play the Panthers in December. I don't advocate for losing on purpose. But it's frustrating and I'd rather have a good draft pick in each round (not just a top ten in the first) than miss the playoffs and get the last non-playoff team slot each round.
Agree 100% on Shula. The play calling is awful and Cam can't always bail out the OC with his athleticism. Shula has no clue how to adjust during the game.
Agreed. That's the tough one here. Finishing 9-7 and just missing the playoffs to get the #18 pick doesn't really help us.
I was absolutely floored when Shula was mentioned as a coaching candidate last year before the Panthers went through the postseason run. Too bad someone didn't hire him. I've not been a fan since he took the job... after Cleveland bailed Carolina out from the last poor OC they had in Chud. Then they turn around and hire Shula over Hugh Jackson (who wanted the job!)... just think what Hugh could've done with this offensive talent.
That's what I'm talking about. The best available OT or DE (pass rusher!) first. I'd love to be in a position to grab Dalvin Cook in the 2nd or move up in the 3rd.
Actual net gain 0 yards, by not running three times and guaranteeing a chip shot FG to ice the game. In no way shape or form should the result of that drive be a punt. The worst result of that drive had to be a FG. Then we also don't risk floating a terrible pass for a pick 6 because we kept KC in the game. As you said, it is knowing the situations. That is where I think Cam has trouble because he feels he can make plays regardless of situation, but that is on the OC for not putting in a play call that puts Cam in that situation. Going for it on 4th and 1 on that drive was a great call and result, but even though you took that risk, it doesn't mean that you have to get a TD. You need to know that a FG is more than good enough. KC has 3 points in 3 quarters. Going up by two TDs and a FG means you can tell Cam that he cannot risk an INT on our side of the field.
Just an FYI:
I think Bradberry and Worley could be very good next year. I am already thinking next year because I cannot imagine us in the playoffs at 3-6. The stats said last week that no team had ever made the playoffs at 2-6 (if we lost to LA), so doubting 3-6 has much chance at all. Chiefs had a great run last year to make the wild card at 11-5. Well, there was a 10-6 team that didn't make it (Jets), so a run to 10-6 is still not even guaranteed to make the playoffs and that assumes wins at Seattle and at Oakland. I don't want us to lose at all, but if it costs us a shot at a starting LT, it'll hurt even more to be 8-8.
While it's rarely been the Panthers' MO, should consider what the FA market looks like at OT and DE given the cap space this team currently has. Yes, extensions should becoming for some of these guys, but they've got PLENTY of room right now.
Which of these things changed from last year? Maybe some OT issues, but isn't that outweighed by getting Benjamin back? Shula's never been a great coordinator... we lost sight of that when Cam took over last year and just played lights out football. That can't happen all the time -- and when your team success is in spite of your coordinator, it's time to go.
That list doesn't excite me at all. Honestly, the tough part is that like this offseason, if those tackles are really still solid and an improvement for us, they will be resigned by their teams. If we finish in the bottom 10, we should have a good shot at McGlinchey/Robinson. IMHO, they could start day one over Oher. Oher is on the roster, regardless and maybe they are groomed for a bit, but IMHO, this OL for 2017+ is both solid and deep:
Fair point - it's not a super exciting list, but they're likely at least as solid as Remmers/Oher, and may be an upgrade. Some will be resigned... some may even be tagged, but it's not far fetched to see Carolina pursuing one of those guys and using the draft pick on a DE first. This team's foundation has always been defense. IMO, the D and the OL go hand in hand (control the ball and the clock on one side, keep a fresh defense on the other). I'll be happy either way... but they need upgrades on the OL and the DL. This should be a draft for the trenches... (and not DT).
Stewart is under contract, but it's a lot and the cap savings are good. Cap hit in 2017 is 8.25M and dead cap of 3.5M, so a savings of almost 5M. If they try and do something like CJ and sign him to a cheaper deal they won't save much.boltsfan said:
Agreed about CAP - I don't think he's the long term answer. What's tricky about Stewart's contract is how cheap he is in 2018 (a club option year) -- just a $2.5MM cap hit, which with the rising cap makes it very cheap for a solid backup/committee RB. A restructuring seems most likely for Stewart, again. I could see them converting 2018 to a guaranteed year instead of a club option and reducing the cap hits for both years as a result. That would basically take Stew through the end of his career... he'll be 30 in 2017, 31 in 2018.
Wasn't aware of the team option for 2018. I agree that makes it more likely that they restructure or just eat it in 2017 to get a cheap 2018 when the 2017 draft pick takes over. Could let us get rid of Tolbert. I like Stewart but he's barely healthy and it would be fun to watch a dynamic RB back there with Cam. Fozzie has speed and can be dynamic out in space but doesn't have that between the tackles/short yardage. CAP just isn't special and Stew is winding down. I'd love to see a Cool like RB who can do everything so you have to account for every run and screens and maybe even wheel route type stuff. It might be a limitation of Shula too.
Hah, I said the exact same thing last night. We made the Saints D look unbelievable last night. It is really sad to think that if Cam had taken a knee last night on every one of our 4th quarter plays aside from the Benjamin pass and taken a knee 3 times on the KC 20 at the end of the 20 play drive, we would be 5-5 and the Saints would have never had the ball with a chance to tie. 20 seconds and no timeouts deep in their territory wasn't much of a chance, but they wouldn't have even gotten the ball back after cutting the lead to 3.
I feel the same regarding the season and Luke's health. It's been a M*A*S*H unit out there this season, starting with the offensive line. It was good to see Shaq back out there. And again, I'm loving how Bradberry is coming along. I think he's going to be an excellent corner. The pass he broke up in the end zone when he left his man to help was outstanding.
I expect that AJ aka, isn't that Luke, will get the majority of snaps. Maybe Mayo gets in but I don't see wholesale.playing time for all the youngsters yet.Jayrok said:
