Homers and Haters – Tampa Edition
September 26, 2007
by Ben Ellington
Tampa Bay comes to Charlotte this Sunday in a match of the two division leaders. The Panthers own a 8-5 overall record against the Bucs, and have won seven of the last eight in the series including a sweep in 2006.
The 2006 Bucs had the second most punts in the league, three players made triple digits in tackles, and the offense managed just 237 first downs. In short, their offense was terrible and it showed in their record. A lot of Tampa’s problems could be attributed to injuries, but they weren’t content to just get healthy. The Bucs took decisive action in the offseason. They overhauled some key positions in free agency and drafted for defense, and a lot of people in South Florida believe they’ve made the necessary effort to get back to the playoffs.
As their 2-1 record suggests, these Bucs are not the same team the Panthers swept in 2006. Last year’s starting quarterback is now fourth on the depth chart, and they have all new starters on the left side of the offensive line. Tampa’s defense is playing well, and they have a very good mix of veteran experience and youthful energy.
Quarterback
Jeff Garcia is the Buc’s starting QB this season, and has performed well in the role. After a season where he had 1309 yards, 10 TD’s, and only two interceptions, Garcia has started in Tampa right about where he left off in Philadelphia. Through three games he’s maintained a 105.6 rating by throwing for 595 yards and two touchdowns. He has yet to turn the ball over. Backing up Garcia are Luke McCown and Bruce Gradkowski.
Homer Says: “Jeff Garcia is 37 years old and is playing for his fifth team in the past five years. Kind of makes you wonder how comfortable his teammates are in the locker room with him, huh? Just say that no one is in a hurry to hit the showers and leave it at that, ok? On the field, he’s playing his own version of the prevent offense, “bend them (over) but don’t break them.” How can a guy maintain a 100+ rating with almost 200 yards per game for three games and only score two touchdowns? At least he still has his spleen, and if he wants to keep it he’ll be getting rid of the ball in a hurry. He’ll pad his stats between the 30 yard lines, but once the field gets short and the middle closes don’t look for too much from him.”
Hater Says: “Last year Garcia put up 312 yards and three TDs on us, and that was back when our defensive line believed in pressuring the QB. Garcia is a mobile west coast offense specialist, who excels at getting the ball out quickly and accurately. He doesn’t need a lot of time because he’s never going to try and beat you long–he’s only averaging 9.2 yards per catch. Instead, he’ll carve an opponent up in the short passing game. Unfortunately, that’s exactly where the Panthers are vulnerable. We’ve folded before effective west coast offenses before, and now with our gaping holes in the secondary coverage we’re pretty ripe for the picking. We gave up 361 yards to Joey-freaking-Harrington, for crying out loud! Unless our safeties and linebackers start playing like they know how to defend the pass, we’re in for a very long afternoon.”
Running Backs
Cadillac Williams has yet to return to the explosiveness exhibited in his rookie season, but remains the primary running option in Tampa Bay. Williams has rushed for 167 yards so far, and at the same 3.5 yards per carry he averaged in 2006. However, while the Caddy found the endzone only once last season he’s already scored three touchdowns in 2007. So far his biggest problem in 2007 has been turnovers, as Williams has lost two fumbles so far. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged, with Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham lining up behind him. Fullback B.J. Askew is known more for his special teams play than carrying the ball.
Homer Says: “Tampa’s running game won’t scare anyone. They’ve played some pretty soft run defenses in Seattle (16th), New Orleans (19th) and St. Louis (28th), and Williams has still only managed to eke out a miserable 3.5 yards per carry. It’s bad enough that after only three games his coach has had to field questions about changing to a running back by committee system. Fortunately for the Buc’s opponents, Chuckie’s decided to stay with Williams as the starter. As long as you can keep Williams from lulling you to sleep, you can shut down Pittman and Graham pretty easily.”
Hater Says: “Yards per carry statistics don’t matter a lot when your quarterback is good enough to get you in third and short consistently. Williams is a speed back who hits the hole quickly and with enough pop to get a few yards when they’re needed. He may have had health problems in his short career, but Caddilac is healthy now and has already scored three touchdowns. Earnest Graham has carried 13 times for 88 yards and two TD’s, and Pittman’s gone 15 for 80. That means as a unit the Bucs have averaged 4.4 ypc, which is good enough for 13th in the league. Or if you prefer, a much better average than the Texans, Rams, or Falcons have managed.”
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
The receivers in Tampa Bay are a talented unit with several question marks. Their primary receiver, Joey Galloway, is 35 and has a history of injuries. Ike Hilliard and Michael Clayton both look like their best years are behind them (to be fair, Clayton is still young but he’s never looked the same since a strong rookie year). Second-year-man Maurice Stovall and return man Mark Jones round out this unit, but neither have caught a pass in 2007. At tight end, Alex Smith looks to be rebounding from a disappointing sophomore season with seven receptions for 95 yards, a 13.6 yard per catch average.
Homer Says: “What’s to worry about here? David Boston was supposed to be a part of this unit, but after looking at the age and talent level of both his opposite receiver and Quarterback, he decided to drink himself off the team instead. Joey Galloway passed his prime long before he even joined the Bucs in 2004, and although he’ll get a ball or two he doesn’t make plays like he used to. Ike Hilliard has been having ankle problems all season and Clayton has caught a whopping two passes in three games. As a matter of fact, the ENTIRE Bucs receiving corps have only caught 23 balls so far this year. The only possible bright spot here is the Tight End, who has pulled in seven balls per … wait, that’s for all three games? Never mind.”
Hater Says: “The Bucs are a slow and steady team with a balanced and deliberate offense. The Wide Receivers won’t kill you with speed, but they’re very experienced and still know how to get the job done. 61% of their catches go for first downs, and at tight end 71% of Alex Smith’s grabs move the chains. When you consider how soft Carolina’s middle is, and look at Thomas Davis’ coverage skills, this group almost guarantees at least one very long sustained drive on Sunday.”
Offensive Line
This unit was a real weakness for Tampa Bay in 2006, particularly on the left side. That’s been overhauled with good results in 2007. The Bucs signed Luke Petitgout away from the Giants to anchor the left tackle slot, and drafted Arron Sears in the second round to play the left guard. Center John Wade, right guard Davin Joseph, and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood return from a solid 2006 campaign. So far they’ve been much more effective than last year’s unit, surrendering only four sacks after giving up 49 last year.
Homer Says: “This line better be prepared come Sunday. The Panthers and Bucs don’t like each other and there’s nothing like a good old fashioned rivalry to wake up a slumbering defense. The last time the Bucs visited Bank of America Stadium, Julius Peppers had three sacks and the Bucs could only manage 69 yards on the ground. In Tampa Bay they gained only 64 yards and Peppers had another sack while Chris Simms lost his spleen. The Carolina defense has been deadly against the Bucs, and you can expect their line to just be outmatched and overwhelmed this week.”
Hater Says: “No one in Tampa is looking for their line to provide anything more than solid protection and the occasional hole. The linemen are athletic and adept at giving Garcia more time than he needs to get rid of the ball. Last year was last year, and none of the Panthers are even playing at same level they limped through 2006 with anyway. Tampa Bay has looked at the game film from Atlanta, and now know that all you have to do is stand in front of Peppers and Rucker to keep them from getting to the QB, and as long as you don’t run straight at Kemo you can take advantage of his lack of lateral quickness and spring into the secondary. This group is going to give Garcia as long as he needs to find the open man. A defensive front who could only manage one sack against a team that was giving up six and a half per game certainly isn’t going to challenge Tampa’s group.”
Defensive Line
This has traditionally been a strength of the Buccaneers, and after a disappointing 2006 there has been a major change here. The Bucs have let ends Simeon Rice and Dewayne White go while spending the No. 4 pick in the draft on Gaines Adams (5 tackles), a stud defensive end out of Clemson. Adams currently backs up free agent Kevin Carter (12 tackles, .5 sacks and one forced fumble) at the right defensive end. Greg Spires (13 tackles, 1 sack) lines up at the left defensive end, while Chris Hovan (5 tackles) and Jovan Haye (8 tackles, 1 sack) return at the defensive tackle spots. Tampa Bay uses a rotation on the interior with Greg Peterson (7 tackles, .5 sacks) and Ryan Sims to keep the line fresh.
Homer Says: “Tampa Bay’s defense is allowing 125 rushing yards per game against some of the worst running teams in the league in Seattle (17th), St. Louis (21st), and New Orleans (27th). The Panthers are putting up 142 yards per game on the ground, and doing it without big stat-padding runs. Look for the Cats to run right at the Bucs and keep their linebackers honest. Last year Foster was running behind a makeshift line and still averaged almost four yards per carry. This time he has Bridges and Hartwig opening the interior holes, and should have a big day.”
Hater Says: “In protection, the Panthers have allowed six sacks already. On defense the Bucs have managed five, so you can count on at least a couple of sacks and tons of hurries when the two teams meet. Since Carr is going to play, you can count on having several drives killed that way. They have plenty of youth and depth here and will be fresh enough in the fourth quarter to shut down our running game. And just like the offensive line, the defense has the game film from Atlanta and you can bet that they’ve shown the Abraham highlight reel to their DEs time and time again. The book is out on how to get through our line, and Tampa’s read it.”
Linebackers
The linebackers are another unit where the Buccaneers have replaced aging stars with young talent. Shelton Quarles is gone after 10 years in the middle, which is manned by third-year-pro Barrett Ruud (35 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, one Int.). Tampa also signed Pro Bowler Cato June (14 tackles, one Int.) from the Colts, placing him on the strong side. 34-year-old Derrick Brooks (25 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) returns on the weak side.
Homer Says: “The Tampa LBs are supposedly decent in coverage, but since their line is allowing so many rushing yards they will have to play up so we won’t get to see that. This group will have their hands full trying to keep Foster under five yards per carry, which is giving Jeff King reasons to plan for a big game. We should be able to match up against them well, particularly if the zone blocking scheme can open holes for the running game.”
Hater Says: “This group has more interceptions than the defensive backs do. David Carr is not going to find easy lanes in the two seconds he allows himself every play before throwing it out of bounds or running backwards and crumbling into a fetal position. They’re disciplined and stay in their areas. They’re also ball hawks, adept at causing fumbles. That doesn’t bode well for either Williams or Foster, both of whom are known to cough it up occasionally. If we’re in third and long against these guys then go ahead and get Baker warmed up.”
Defensive Backs
Jermaine Phillips (24 tackles, one sack, one Int.) returns at the strong safety position, and is joined by fourth round pick Tanard Jackson (15 tackles), who beat out last year’s starter Will Allen (3 tackles) at the free safety position. Ronde Barber (13 tackles, 1 forced fumble) returns at one corner, and is re-joined on the other side by Brian Kelly (5 tackles).
Homer Says: “The Bucs have a good secondary that gets tons of opportunities to make plays because they find the ball back there so often. When your defensive backs are all team leaders in tackles doesn’t that indicate that the ball is getting past the line a little too often? Barber is old and has been abused by Smith in the past, and Brian Kelly isn’t exactly a shutdown corner. This group may not give up too many big plays, but they won’t be able to stop us from executing our game plan.”
Hater Says: “The Bucs defense is already ninth in the league in pass defense, in large part because of their DBs. Like the linebackers, they’re talented, disciplined and have completely bought in to Kiffin’s system. There’s no way Carr will go deep on them, his best bet is to hit some underneath routes and hope a receiver can break one. When we get to the red zone though, don’t look for those routes to appear. The Bucs have allowed only two touchdowns through the air this year, in large part because of this unit.”
Prognosis
Homer Says: “The way the NFC South works is simple. The Bucs beat the Falcons, the Falcons beat the Panthers, and the Panthers beat the Bucs. So now they’re up, and down they’re going to go. The Panthers always psyched for Tampa Bay and always give them a great game. A lot of naysayers will point out that so far this year, the talent’s been there but hasn’t been tapped. This will change on Sunday.
Look for Peppers to finally get on track, and overwhelm the right side of their line. When that happens the rest of the defensive line will feed off of it and bring their A game. Jenkins is already playing lights-out, and with McClover likely to finally play Panthers front four will deliver the defensive pressure Panther fans have been waiting for. Our corners have always played the Buccaneer receivers well, and with the troubles the Bucs have had running the ball on such stalwart defenses as St. Louis and New Orleans, don’t expect them to do anything on the ground. Once their offense becomes one-dimensional, it’s over.
David Carr is not a drop-off from Delhomme either. Given time he’s not only more than capable of leading the offense, he also spreads the ball around better than Jake does and his release is faster. With the strength that our running game has shown this year, Carr should have plenty of time to find a receiver and a soft secondary to exploit. The Panthers should have a really balanced attack Sunday, and will shut down the Bucs easily.”
Panthers 20, Bucs 9
Hater Says: “What sets the Bucs apart from the teams the Panthers have beaten is that they’ve actually won a game in 2007. Like the Panthers, they’ve gotten healthy and brought in some needed youth on their defense. Unlike the Panthers, they’re actually playing defense this year. While the Panthers have matched their record, they’ve given up 67 points while the Bucs have only surrendered 37. This team is still built on defense and it shows.
The good news is that the Panthers have scored more than Tampa this year. Through three games the Cats have put up a whopping two more TDs than the Bucs. Of course, that was also with their first string quarterback, who won’t be available this week. Carr is going to have to make his debut against against an agressive defense that’s gotten strong results this season. Panther fans will finally get a chance to see him play, unfortunately it will look like he’s back in Houston, circa 2002.
When the Bucs have the ball they move it. Jeff Garcia is the perfect fit for John Gruden’s offense, and his short passing game makes up for any deficiencies in the running attack. The Panthers have already shown that they can be exploited by the short passing game, and that’s Garcia’s specialty. Look for the Panther linebackers to get worn out chasing down passes through the first three quarters. Then, with the platoon of backs they have, Tampa Bay will be able to keep the pressure on in the fourth quarter with fresh legs in their running game.
This is a tough enough contest when the Panther’s defense is playing well. Given that they’re not, it looks to be a long afternoon in Carolina.
Bucs 24, Panthers 13
Huddle Kitten Angela…
September 25, 2007
We are proud to present the newest Huddle Kitten Angela from Charlotte. Angela is a huge Panthers fan with an entire room in her home dedicated to the cats.
Game Grades – Panthers at Falcons
September 24, 2007
I feel like I just ate at a chinese buffet. I filled my stomach, I should be satisfied, but oddly enough I am still hungry and somewhat nauseas.
Offense:
Can someone please explain to me how Jeff Davidson, a first year OC implementing a new system, appears to be the best coach on the field? The offense again managed to put up enough points to win.
Deshaun Foster must wish he played the Atlanta Falcons every week. if so, he would be a perennial pro bowler. Steve Smith knows what every other WR in the league knows. Deangeko Hall is fast. His coverage skills are adequate. But mentally he is a 5th grader. Get in his head and he is done. Enough said.
The big news the vaunted Charlotte media is covering is Jake Delhomme’s injury. However, its not the most important story of the day. David Carr is more than capable of filling in and winning until Delhomme can return. The most important story of the day is on the defensive side of the ball.
Offensive Grade: B
Defense:
This very well may be the WORST Carolina defense we have seen since 2001. This is not due to lack of talent. The problem belongs to John Fox and Mike Trgovac. The defense continues to play uninspired. The defensive line gets off the ball slower than Kris Jenkins in pass coverage. Speaking of which , who is the genius that deciding having Jenkins in coverage was a good idea? Whoever it was, should turn in their playbook, or etcha sketch.
It has become painfully obvious that Mike Trgovac needs replacing. If John Fox cannot see that through his loyalty, he may find himself replaced as well. If the Panthers this season finish 8-8 or worse, both may be gone.
Defensive Grade – F (sadly, an improvement from last week)
Special Teams
John Kasay and Jason Baker could very well be the co-MVP’s of the season. Every other aspect of special teams remains unacceptable.
Special Teams Grade – D
Picking up and moving on…
September 21, 2007
by John Watson
Most of us fans counted the home opener against the Houston Texans as a win, I know I did. The Texans have been one of the worst teams in the league over the last four years, so why our seasoned group of veterans, mixed with a couple superstars wouldn’t beat the Texans is beyond me. Some how we watched it happen right in front of our eyes on Sunday afternoon.
Recent QB addition Matt Schaub had a good day playing catch with his receivers. I was anxious to see how Schaub would react to a good pass rush, as a matter of fact, we’re still waiting. Andre Johnson torched the secondary for 120 yard on seven catches. Somehow he found himself lined up against MLB Dan Morgan in the red zone and made quick work of him to record his second TD catch of the day.
RB Ahman Green waltzed his way through the defensive line for 71 yards in just 15 attempts netting a 4.7 average and walking into the end zone completely untouched at one point. To say the least, it was ugly…especially considering that the Panthers went up early with a 14-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game before allowing 34 unanswered points. Turnovers, poor run blocking and Kerry Colbert were just a few examples of what went right. Steve Smith is still Steve Smith, thank God for that much and Jake Delhomme had a solid game despite 1 INT as the result of a forced throw and an under thrown pass to Colbert that likely would have gone to the end zone…if he could have caught it, which is doubtful.
So now the Panthers sit at 1-1 after blowing a great opportunity to take control of the NFC South. The next three games are crucial to the Panthers success this season as they kick off a campaign against their division foes, starting with Atlanta this week.
The 0-2 Falcons have seen very little go their way so far this season, while the year is still young it’s not looking very promising for a franchise that ushered in a new Head Coach in Bobby Petrino. Petrino looked to install a new offense in Atlanta that would fully utilize the talents of then QB Mike Vick, but as is well known, those plans were derailed when Vick pled guilty to several felony criminal charges.
Luckily the Falcons also signed the underachieving Joey Harrington in the off season to be Vick’s primary back up, by default he was promoted to the role of starting QB for the revamped organization. As it turns out, that’s not working out very well either. Harrington is sporting a 74.1 QB rating with 2 interceptions and no touchdowns to his credit. He’s shown himself to be horrible at avoiding the pass rush as boasts a league high 13 sacks…in just two games. Part of the reason for the sacks is that Atlanta has ditched it’s very successful zone blocking scheme for the more tradition man blocking technique, but they’re still viewed as too small to be effective in such a scheme. The woes don’t stop there.
Roddy White has emerged as the number one receiver, but on an offense that’s only averaging 200 yards through the air, it’s not that hard to do. Alge Crumpler looks to be as reliable as ever and is currently second on the team in receptions and yards in the passing game. Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood make up the Falcon’s RB duo, but haven’t had a lot of success in this new, high powered offense. Between the two backs, they have 168 yards on 49 carries with only one touchdown.
The Falcons aren’t a whole lot better on defense so far, they’ve surrendered 252 yards on the ground and 414 through the air, but are only -1 in turn overs.
The Panthers have yet another chance to seize an opportunity and make their presence felt in the division. The Saints are looking at going down 0-3 if they lose to the Tennessee Titans, the Buccaneers are 1-1 and tied with the Panthers and Atlanta sits at 0-2. With an offense that looks improved over last year and defense that should be able to contain a very suspect offense the Cats can re-establish some momentum before taking on the other two division rivals.
John Fox’s Panthers have been better on the road than at home, hopefully that will hold true this week as we look to spoil the Falcon’s home opener in Atlanta. We now get to see the resolve of the 2007 Panthers as they try to rebound from an embarrassing and devastating loss and take the show on the road to recapture the magic we witnessed against the Rams.
Whether they win or not is up in the air right now, but the outcome of this game will very likely show the course for the rest of this very young season.
Things to watch:
Can the Panthers defensive line get any pressure on Harrington?
Will Julius Peppers record his first sack of the year?
Will the Panthers highly acclaimed defense rise to the occasion in Atlanta?
Will the offensive line be able to create lanes against a D very familiar with the ZBS?
Will this team show the heart and desire it needs to make a push into the post season?
Will someone, anyone step us as a reliable second receiving option?
Lastly, can the Panthers finally win the turn over battle?
Homers and Haters – Atlanta Edition
September 19, 2007
By Ben Ellington
This week the Panthers head to Atlanta, where they hope to rebound from their home loss to the Houston Texans. In the Falcons, they have an opponent with a lot of familiarity, but which is at the same time a very different team from the one they split with in 2007.
A new coaching staff always brings change to a football team, but the changes in Atlanta go a little above and beyond anyone’s expectations. Start with the loss of both of their primary backup QBs, their starting DE, a starting LB, and half of their receiving corps, and you have what could be called a major shake-up. Then add the coaching change and throw in the Michael Vick circus, and you have the Atlanta off-season.
Bobby Petrino has minimal NFL experience but is well regarded as a creative offensive genious. He’ll be tasked with coaxing a successful performance out of free agent QB Joey Harrington. Among his other challenges will be shaping up a defense that could charitably be called inconsistent in 2006. If he succeeds at both the Falcons could contend for the playoffs. If he fails at either, the Falcons will strong contenders in the Brian Brohm sweepstakes.
Here is what you can expect from the 2007 edition of the Atlanta Falcons.
Quarterback
Now that Vick is gone, the focus is on Joey Harrington, formerly of Detroit and Miami. The third overall pick in 2001, Harrington has been cursed with poor coaching, mediocre protection and just plain bad teams. This is probably Harrington’s last chance to be viewed as a legitimate NFL starter. His lifetime QB rating is 68, although many feel he still has potential to be much better. Through the first two games in 2007 he has raised it to 74.1, despite being sacked 13 times.
Homer: “Joey Harrington hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since the republicans controlled congress. He’s thrown several interceptions though, so it’s not like he hasn’t made a contribution. Expect Lucas and Gamble to both take advantage Sunday, and look for Jooo-eeeey to get booed by the home crowd no later than the third posession.”
Hater: “Joey Harrington is an accurate passer who’s willing to stand in the pocket and take a hit. He’s not getting the protection he needs right now, but he’s more than capable of making the quick short pass. As Matt Schaub showed last week, that’s the formula for killing the Panther’s defense. He won’t kill you with the long ball, but if he has any game film at all he knows he won’t need to.
Running Backs
It’s interesting to see the effect that the absence of Vick has on the running game. Age is a factor too, as Warrick Dunn is 32 and coming off back surgery this offseason. So far he’s only averaged 3.0 yards per carry, down from 4.0 in 2006. Backing him up is second year pro Jerious Norwood, a quick back who averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season but so far is averaging 4.5 this year. At the fullback spot is one of the biggest acquisitions the Falcons made in the offseason, ex-Raven Ovie Mughelli. Mughelli is a powerful blocker who fits Petrino’s offensive scheme well, and is not expected to carry the ball much.
Homer: “Well, the foul clowns have lost their best running back in Vick, so they’re stuck with Done and Injurious. Neither fit Petrino’s scheme and it shows. Both are capable runners but require these things called holes to run through. Based on the season to date, holes aren’t a part of Petrino’s offense. Still, either can be dangerous catching passes out of the backfield, but as long as Harrington is the QB we won’t need to worry about that.”
Hater: “Last year the same group of backs ran all over this defensive line on opening day. This is the group that also ran through Dan Morgan and knocked him out for the season. The Falcons have started against two of the better defenses in the league. Their running game will get a lot better, and as the line gets more accustomed to Petrino’s schemes those holes will show up. Look for Mughelli to nuetralize our linebackers, and if the holes start opening against what has been an ineffective Panthers defensive front, the Falcons could have a big day on the ground.”
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Receivers in Atlanta for the most part never really clicked with Vick. He connected with only 52.6 percent of his passes in 2006, and with Harrington at they helm they’re already bringing in a much more respectable 67.3 percent. As a group, that’s good for seventh in the league. The Falcons signed New Orleans’ Joe Horn (3 catches, 48 yards) in the offseason to be their new number one receiver. On the other side is Roddy White (8 catches, 110 yards), who has deep threat speed but lacks reliability. Backing them up are former number one receiver Michael Jenkins (3, 28), Adam Jennings, and third round draft choice Laurent Robinson (3, 32). The Tight End is all-pro Alge Crumpler (7 catches, 93 yards) and they use a number of two tight end sets with Dwayne Blakely (2, 18).
Homer: “Joe Horn could be good, but his new job as spokesman for the AARP is getting in the way of his football commitment this season. White could be good too, but you have to catch the ball more than you drop it to be considered as such. He had seven drops last year and didn’t even catch half the passes thrown to him. Sure, it was Vick throwing, but that’s pretty bad. The only member of this group who can hurt the Panthers is Alge Crumpler, and for the reason why he won’t please refer to the Quarterback section.”
Hater: “Apparently the Falcons have had receivers all along, they just never had a good passing game when Vick was under center. Joe Horn is feeling especially good about this game because he’s heard that the Panthers aren’t bothering to cover their opponents’ number one receiver this year. He’s a very solid and experienced veteran who’s an ideal fit for the short passing game, while Roddy White is a legitimate deep threat. The biggest day will be reserved for Alge Crumpler. Didn’t Thomas Davis play safety in college? Why on earth does he have so much trouble in coverage then? Bank on this–Crumpler has seen Owen Daniel’s performance against Davis, and can’t wait for Sunday.”
Offensive Line
This is a solid unit, with four of the five starters returning. Traditionally Atlanta has relied on quick and athletic linemen to run Jim Mora’s zone blocking scheme, but Petrino has installed a new scheme that’s more complex and employs a heads-up, physical style. Left tackle Wayne Gandy and right tackle Todd Weiner are average, but center Todd McClure and right guard Kynan Forney are fairly good linemen. Joining the line this year is second round draft choice Justin Blalick, who is a larger more physical type of blocker who fits the type of scheme that Petrino wants to run.
Homer: “Ok, let me get this straight. You inherit a zone blocking line that has been partially responsible for one of the best rushing attacks in the league for several years. Said line has been put together with quick and athletic linemen, and they know their jobs well. Rather than build on that, you install a power scheme that requires big, bruising type of player. Who said Petrino was a genuis again? No wonder they can’t run any more.”
Hater: “Didn’t the Texans have a line that was suspect? Our defensive front sure has a way of making the mediocre look good this year. I expect Jenkins and Kemo to dominate for the first two series. Then, having established that they COULD be the better unit if they wanted to, they’ll pull their standard disappearing act for the rest of the game. By the second quarter Harrington will enjoy enough time in the pocket to do his best Joe Montana imitation. We could do a lot of damage against this unit, but recent history suggests we won’t unless they manage to suffer a couple of injuries.”
Defensive Line
The heart of this unit is made up of two seasoned veterans–end John Abraham (4 tackles, 1 sack) and tackles Grady Jackson (6 tackles, 1 sack) and third year man Jonathan Babineaux (5 tackles, 2 sacks). First round pick Jamaal Anderson (3 tackles) makes up the fourth member of the line. This is a talented unit, but in the past has been hurt with injury. When healthy this is a strength of the Atlanta defense.
Homer: “John Abraham figures to make a huge contribution in the four games for which he’ll be healthy this year. He’s already had two, so look for him to go down in the first quarter as a way of pacing himself for the rest of the season. And is it just me or does Grady look like Jackson the Hut? If you cut him he’ll bleed gravy. He’s the only player in the NFL who rides a little scooter when he goes shopping at the Wal-Mart. Jonathan Babineaux is the dog killer who didn’t end up in jail, and Anderson looks lost so far. There’s nothing to fear here.”
Hater: “The last time the Panthers faced a healthy John Abraham he spent more time in their backfield than Grady Jackson does in front of the refrigerator. And given that all Jackson does is plug up the middle, that size is put to good use. Anderson is an all-pro in training and Babineaux is a high-motor defensive tackle who’s looking forward to running through the Hartwig-Mathis revolving door. The Falcons defensive line has given us fits in the past when they’re healthy, and they’re healthy now.”
Linebackers
Over the last several years the linebacker group has generally been considered average at best. In the middle Atlanta starts ten year veteran Keith Brooking (15 tackles), with Demorrio Williams (6 tackles) on the strong side and Michael Boley (13 tackles) on the weak.
Homer: “The Falcons don’t have linebackers, those are special teamers who forgot to run off the field.”
Hater: “Keith Brooking is a pro-bowl linebacker who brings all kinds of leadership to the defense. Although none of the linebackers is a big run-stuffer, all of them are fast and can fly to the ball. If the Falcons can keep our offensive linemen off of the LBs, then the Panther’s running game will go nowhere. At least we won’t have to suffer through William’s and Foster fumbling everywhere.”
Defensive Backs
The Falcons have drafted for speed here, beginning with all-pro DeAngelo Hall (7 tackles, 1 INT) at cornerback. Joining him on the right side will be ex-Houston cornerback Lewis Sanders (9 tackles), who will be pushed by second round draft pick Chris Houston (2 tackles). At the safety position they line up former all-pro strong safety Lawyer Malloy (9 tackles), and former cornerback Jimmy Williams (9 tackles) at the free safety position
Homer: “Do you ever wonder what would happen if DeAngelo Hall’s play lived up to his mouth? It moves way too much for a guy who was burned as much as he was last year. Lawyer Milloy is good but he’s also 33 and with the lack of depth the Falcons has here he better not get tired. If you really want an idea of the talent pool here, just consider that they start a cast-off from the Houston Texans, a team that has never been known for their secondary.”
Hater: “This is another speed unit, and it’s capable of flying to the QB or sticking to the receivers. That’s especially effective against the Panthers because all a defense needs against them is one player fast enough to cover Smith. Atlanta loves to bring a safety up to pressure the QB, and with the lack of a second receiver the Panthers are not going to be able to counter that effectively. Expect Hall and Williams to blanket Smith all day, while Colbert and Carter make Lewis Sanders look more like Deion.”
Prognosis
Homer: “The forecast in Atlanta is pain, pain, and more pain. The Falcons and Panthers just don’t like each other, and in this matchup the Panthers clearly have an edge in talent. The receivers aren’t good enough to get open, and Harrington’s going to end up padding the DLine’s sack stats. Expect a lot of people to think that the Panthers D is getting well as a result of this game.
Their defensive line has never been great against the run, and this year the linebackers inexplicably got worse. Foster and Williams will both have big days, with 200 yards in easy reach. Smith loves it when Hall covers him, and should have another big day.
Bottom line, the Falcons were already a team in decline before their disaster of an offseason. This week the Panthers offense will show well while Harrington will have to look to week four for his first TD pass. Panthers 35-9.”
Hater: “The Panthers will probably go into Atlanta with a lot of confidence, maybe even more than they had against Houston. For the second week in a row that will burn them. In the NFL any team can beat any other on any given Sunday, and the Falcons have a lot to play for. They’re the kind of team that plays to the weaknesses on the Panthers–fast on defense and patient on offense. They also have a lot of pride and resentment from last season to work out on the field.
Look for the Falcons to play a boring, deliberate ball control game that may not reach the end zone often, but will get there enough to give the team a chance to win. On defense, expect the Falcons to follow the formula for beating the Panthers. They’ll shut down the run and blanket Steve Smith, and make our second receivers beat them. It won’t be pretty, and the Henning comparisons will begin as a result.
Falcons 17, Panthers 10
Know who to pull for
September 18, 2007
by BigDog
With all that went wrong this past sunday, a great deal went right as far as nfc teams struggling. Seattle, Atlanta, Philly, New Orleans, St. Louis, Minnesota all had an L put in their column. It would have been great to capitalize on the texans and get off to a 2-0 start, however that didn’t happen. We were manhandled by the texans and deserved the loss, however, its better that the texans beat us and not an NFC opponent. As far as our conference record goes…its perfect…1-0…many other teams in the nfc can’t say that. Anyways week 2 is in the books and on to week 3. Who to pull for picks are bolded as usual
Arizona at Baltimore
NFC team vrs AFC team…no brainer
St. Louis at Tampa Bay
St. Louis needs this game badly, for all the talk of their potent offense they sure haven’t had much go their way as of late. Hopefully they get it on track and knock off tampa. However if the bucs were to win, i have comfort in knowing that st. louis has a 0-3 hole to climb out of
San Francisco at Pittsburgh
see cards-ravens explanation
Detroit at Philidelphia
Wow, who would have expected to see detroit at 2-0 and the eagles at 0-2. You have to pull for the eagles to knock detroit off of it’s streak, however, not all is bad if detroit would win. Eagles would start off 0-3, with 3 conference losses
Minnesota at Kansas City
see cards-ravens explanation
San Diego at Green Bay
see cards-ravens explanation
Cincinatti at Seattle
see cards-ravens explanation
NYG at Washington
Washington is 2-0 and their defense is looking stout, i don’t see them having too many problems with the giants, however you gotta pull for the gmen this week. IF washington wins, they will have their 2nd conf. win and more importantly be 2-0 in their division.
Dallas at Chicago
Should be a fun game to watch. Gotta pull for Chicago to even these teams up at 2-1 a piece. But don’t be all discouraged if dallas pulls out a win, bears would go to 1-2 overall and have a blemish on their conference record. Gotta pull for the bears to bring the cowgirls back to the pack
Tennessee at New Orleans
Divisional game, need to see vince and co. run through that saints defense and send them to 0-3
Carolina at Atlanta
Need this win badly to show that last week was a mistep, 2-0 in conference play if we win, and 2-1 heading into our homestand with our other division rival tampa
Well there you have it folks, not sure if these games will go as planned or not, however the past couple of weeks have been pretty good for panther fans except for the Texans Chainsaw Massacre
Anyway here is how the league shapes out if all goes to plan
(2-1) Teams
Dallas
Chicago
Carolina
Washinton
Green Bay
San Francisco
Detroit
(1-2) Teams
Minnesota
Arizona
St. Louis
Seattle
Tampa Bay
New York Giants
Philidelphia
(0-3) Teams
New Orleans
Atlanta
Game Grades – Texans at Panthers
September 17, 2007
And so the roller coaster begins.
The fans are calling for heads today are the same fans that claimed a Superbowl lock last week. The truth of the matter is, this game was a complete breakdown on all sides of the ball. It happens to every team, every season. If anyone truly believes the Panthers are truly as bad as they looked yesterday, they have not been paying attention.
In scientific terms, the game was an anomaly, a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form.
Offense:
I would like to first recognize that Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, and Jeff King put their heart into this game and performed well enough to win. The rest of the squad, however, need to take a serious look at themselves and ask if they were a fan paying to watch them play, would they be satisfied. After all, THAT is the question Jerry Richardson asks himself, as his main focus is his customer, the fan.
Two things can sum up the lackluster offensive performance. Poor blocking, poor catching. The entire game would look much different if those two things were even improved to ‘average’ or even ‘acceptable’.
Offensive Grade: D
Defense:
I would like to first recognize Jason Turner, who fills gatorade bottles for the defense. His individual performance yesterday was the only one worth mentioning.
Back in my days at USF, I once missed the last 3 weeks of a class, instead taking a trip to Mexico in a peyote induced vacation with a traveling group of gypsies. The professor was an ex-hippy, and gave me a grade of ‘incomplete’ until I could make up the work.
Defensive Grade – I
Special Teams:
Performance not worth the time to critique.
Special Teams Grade: F
Coaching
This is the area of most concern for me. Not because of one poor game, but because a pattern is undeniable.
The Panthers have not won a home opener since 2003.
The owner of this sad statistic is John Fox. He has once again failed to motivate his coaching staff and players. I felt like I was watching another remake of Dawn of the Dead, only these zombies were not as hungry.
The good news is, the Panthers have been able to overcome early season let downs, particularly in 2005 when they made the NFC Championship game.
All in all I am happy they have gotten their total meltdown out of the way early in the season and against an AFC team. This will matter later on when jockeying for a playoff birth.
Coaching Grade: F-
Win an Autographed Football!!
September 12, 2007
CarolinaHuddle.com is raffling off two Authentic Pigskin Footballs, one signed by Jake Delhomme, the other by Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. These are the real deal folks, not synthetic knockoffs.
100% of the proceeds will go towards our annual Toys for Tots Bike Drive.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets will be available for purchase at official huddle tailgates (southeast corner of 3rd and poplar) and via mail.
Tickets are $2 each.
To purchase tickets via mail, send a check along with a self addressed stamped envelope to:
Igo Media LLC
ATTN: Toys for Tots Drive
2424 N Davidson St
Suite 105b
Charlotte, NC 28205
Please make checks payable to Igo Media LLC.
Your tickets will be mailed back to you within 5 business days. Any monies received without a return stamped envelope are considered open donations and appreciated.
Do you keep track of the tickets?
No, just like the lottery, if you lose your ticket, you lose the chance to win. Don’t lose them.
How will I know if I won?
There will be two winning tickets. One for the Delhomme ball, and one for the Richardson ball.
The ticket drawing will be held at the Dec 16th huddle tailgate. The numbers of the winning tickets will be recorded and posted online. The first winning ticket wins the Delhomme. The second wins the Richardson.
After a waiting period of one week, if no winner has claimed their prize, the drawing will be redone.
Last season we donated over 130 bikes and helmets to Toys for Toys.
This season our goal is 200.
Help us make it happen!
Homers and Haters – Houston Edition
September 11, 2007
by Ben Ellington
The home opener is upon us. Fresh off a convincing win against Kansas City, the Houston Texans roll into town brimming with confidence. The Panthers have only played them once in franchise history, losing 10-14 in a game played at Houston in 2003. Since then the Panthers had a decent run of things, appearing in both the Superbowl and NFC Championship, while the Texans have yet to make a playoff appearance.
The Texans are trying to shake the “expansion” tag this year, and many feel they finally have the pieces in place to do it. With a young and athletic defense and a new franchise QB in place, they may have finally gotten the mix right in the standard NFL formula of how to build a winner. Currently they’re ranked fourth in the league in defense, although that’s only based off of one week. Last year they were actually in St. Louis Rams territory overall. Unlike St. Louis, they weren’t horrible against the run though, so you couldn’t make them one-dimensional. Their stats against the run and the pass may not be great, but they indicate a good balance on defense that the Rams didn’t and don’t have. They also had to play the Colts and Jags twice, the Eagles, Cowboys, and Patriots. That’s seven games against top ten offensive teams, which doesn’t help in the stats department.
So what did they do in the offseason? Well, they have a ton of good talent on their roster from so many years of picking near the top of the draft. Still not all of it worked out, so they started at QB by getting Matt Schaub from Atlanta. They also grabbed RB Ahman Green from the Packers, and went defensive in the draft by selecting DT Amobi Akoye with the 10th selection of the first round. Their two remaining trouble spots, offensive line and defensive secondary, got minimal help in the offseason. Sometimes that’s enough though, and given how the offensive line was coming on at the end of 2006 there could be some surprises from this team in 2007.
Expect the 2007 edition of the Texans to be a decent improvement on 2006. They won’t take the league by storm, but they have a good balance of talent all over the field. If they execute well they have the talent to sneak up on a lot of teams.
Here’s what we’ll likely see from them this Sunday.
Quarterback
The Texan’s first draft pick ever, David Carr, will be on the Carolina sideline this week as Matt Schaub lines up under center for the Texans. He was once one of the best QB’s in the ACC, second only to Philip Rivers, and was drafted by Atlanta to back up Michael Vick. He was one of the most coveted back-up QB’s in the game, and after three seasons the Falcons traded him to the Texans where he has since earned the starting role. In three preseason outings he completed 24 of 33 passes for 242 yards, and against Kansas City last week maintained that accuracy with a 16/22 performance for 225 yards and a rating of 101.5. He has great vision and makes good decisions with the ball. It’s still early in his career as a starter, but he looks a lot like the real deal.
Homer: “Matt Schaub? Are you kidding? This guy couldn’t win the starting QB spot over a glorified running back in Atlanta. In college he couldn’t buy a completion greater than 10 yards, and he hasn’t shown a lot of arm strength at the pro level either. And with the line in Houston, the only decision he’ll have time to make is whether to throw it out of bounds or take the sack. He may have looked good against KC, but this week he has to play against a real NFL defense.”
Hater: “Matt Schaub is where it starts for this game. He’s the type of quarterback that gives our defense fits. He’s accurate, calm, and a great leader. Picture Marc Bulger without the happy feet. He doesn’t have to throw the long ball to kill us, but he won’t try. He’s great at spreading the ball around. If our corners lay off the receivers, he’ll hit them short. If they press, he’ll burn us long. He’s the guy we should have traded for, and if we had you can bet that he would have been good enough to finally put Jake on the bench. Hurney sucks for not making that happen. By the way, last week the Texans went 9-14 on third down and the Panthers went 4-12. That’s the kind of difference a good QB like Schaub makes for your team.”
Running Backs
The Texans lost their franchise running back last season to a knee injury, and had to go shopping in the free agent market to replace him. They found what they were looking for when they signed Ahman Green, formerly of the Green Bay Packers. In 06 he had 1059 rushing yards, 46 receptions, and 6 TDs. The only downside he has is his age–he turned 30 this year. Still, the Texans feel he’s got at least a year left and intend to make it matter.
Homer: “Ahman who? Fumblestiltskin? I thought he was done, or was that just his career? Seriously, this guy should invent an injury before he steps on the field against us. The last time he faced our defense he went 14-36, and that was with a passing attack to keep our linebackers honest. His style of running just doesn’t mix with how our defense is put together. If you want to know about Green, just look at how much of an effort RB-starved Green Bay made to keep him.”
Hater: “Ahman Green may be old but that only helps you when it’s late in the season. It’s September and those legs are fresh and strong. This is the man who was arguably the best in the league before his injury in 2005. From 2000 to 2004 he gained more total yards from scrimmage than any back in the NFL. That includes a 120 yard game against the Panthers in 2004 and 73 in a limited effort in 2002. The guy’s a bulldozer who makes his own holes, and won’t be brought down on first contact. He’s also a receiving threat and when he’s on his game he’s easily one of the best backs we’ll face this year. Our linebacking speed won’t do us a lot of good against a back who can move the pile like Green does. And speaking of Dan Morgan, expect the entire stadium to get reeeeeeal quiet the first time Green runs into him. That bell’s just waiting to be rung, and Green’s the kind of running back that can do it.”
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Last year Andre Johnson posted career highs in catches (103) and yards (1147). Aside from his performance though, the Texans really didn’t have much else in the passing game (which sounds strangely familiar…). To address this, the Texans drafted Jacoby Jones in the third round. He currently backs up Kevin Walter but has the talent to assume the starting position this season. Their tight end, Owen Daniels, was a nice surprise last season with 34 catches and five TDs. Against the Chiefs, Houston used five different receivers and the TE.
Homer: “I admit, I respect Johnson. He keeps his mouth shut, but that could just be out of embarrassment–he’s afraid people will notice he’s playing for the Texans. He’ll get some yards and make a nice stat box, but that’s all he’ll do. When the field is compressed and there’s not a lot of room to operate, he won’t have time to… oh, wait. Was that another sack?”
Hater: “Andre Johnson is an animal out there, but you would never know it. All he does is go out there and make play after play after play. He was the only receiver in the league to get 100 catches last year. He has size, speed, and the hands to routinely catch balls in double coverage. You think Lucas drew a lot of flags last week? Its’ going to look like confetti out there. And on the other side… well hell, with Johnson they won’t need another side. Too bad for us anyway that Jones is looking like a playmaker himself. He’s a Steve Smith in training, and we better hope Gamble doesn’t give him his signature cushion or he’ll learn a lot Sunday.”
Offensive Line
This has traditionally been the Texans position of weakness. Behind this line David Carr was sacked 42 times in 2006. Texans management has been patient though, and last season there were signs that the line might be coming around. In 2006 Gary Kubiak installed a quick-throw offense and a new blocking scheme that suited his line better, and they began to respond late in the season. They still gave up two sacks to the Chiefs, but for the most part Schaub was able to get rid of the ball effectively. This is probably the best collection of talent the Texans have had in their short history, but look at what they’ve had before you start thinking that is a strength.
Homer: “The Texans have an offensive line? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA *breath* HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Phew, that was a good one! I hope for his sake that Schaubbie learned something about scrambling from Michael Vick in Atlanta-he’s going to have a long day. Their line wouldn’t start for most SEC teams, let alone an NFL one.”
Hater: “Ok, so the Texans look great against us at the skill positions. You can tell me it doesn’t matter because their line sucks. Go ahead, tell me. Ok, feel better? Too bad that just saying it doesn’t make it so. Granted, they aren’t the best unit in the league but they don’t have to be. With Schaub’s quick decision making they’ll be fine in protection, and Green has never needed a big hole. They came together really well at the end of last season, and Kubiak’s blocking scheme is designed to maximize their strengths. I also hear their LT isn’t planning to get injured during the game, so we can cross that off our game strategy list.”
Defensive Line
The defensive front has a lot of talent, and although it’s been criticized, it is stronger in 2007. Former first overall pick DE Mario Williams burst out against the Chiefs with seven tackles and two sacks, and a fumble recovery he ran back for a TD. Next to him is 2005 first round pick (16th) Travis Johnson, a quick and strong run specialist. Their 2007 first round pick (10th), Amobi Okoye is the young but very talented other DT, and Anthony Weaver (35 tackles, 1 sack) rounds out the line at the other DE position.
Homer: “Mario ain’t so super, we can take him out with some nail clippers. And are they seriously going to start a 20 year old Defensive Tackle? Their line has talent, but collectively they have something like eight years of experience. They’ll make a few plays, but don’t expect any consistency there.”
Hater: “This is where I start getting nervous. Mario Williams has all the tools to become dominant in the NFL, and showed us he’s ready last week with two sacks. Gross is going to have his hands full, Williams is bigger, stronger, and faster than he is. On the other end is the ex-Raven Anthony Weaver, who had 35 tackles last year, and the middle is clogged by two first round picks. With Hartwig and Kalil already showing that strength can get through our line, I’m looking for Jake to develop a severe case of happy feet.”
Linebackers
Arguably the Texan’s best unit, the linebackers are led by defensive rookie of the year DeMeco Ryans, who was amazing against the run in 2006. He is the vocal leader of the Houston defense. Lining up next to him are Morton Greenwood (109 tackles) at the Weak side and former Raider and Saint Danny Clark at the Strong side. This unit doesn’t have a lot of depth, but the starters are very talented.
Homer: “Hey DeMeco, see the play? See it going left? Go get it! Get it! Oops, wait, the running back went right. Dang, dang, dang… All day long baby, welcome to the Davidson offense.”
Hater: “The Linebackers make me sick. I was SCREAMING at the Panthers to draft Ryans last year, and instead we get another running back and Na’il Diggs. Great. Morgan goes down, our season’s over, and Williams doesn’t show much more than a nice smile. In the meantime Ryans is getting DROY honors. The guy’s a stud, and a premier run-stuffing one. He’s great in coverage too. And the idea that Foster and Williams can outrun the LBs here is just silly, they do a great job at containment and are almost designed to stop the run. And with Foster and Williams running the ball, look for some nice turnover stats to be padded, courtesy of this group.”
Defensive Backs
Along with the Offensive Line, this was the other area of concern for the Texans in 2006. Unlike the Offensive Line though, there wasn’t a glimmer of hope at the end of the year. Dunta Robinson is the top corner, and on the other side is Demarcus Faggins. They’re decent in coverage but didn’t make too many interceptions in 2006, combining for only three. C.C. Brown (76 tackles) is back as the free safety and Jason Simmons is at the strong safety position after the starter, Glenn Earl, went out for the season with a foot injury.
Homer: “This is rich. Their starters would struggle to be backups on most teams. At least the Rams had a legitimate starter in Tye Hill-the Texans can’t even say that. This is the game where every receiver we have looks like an all-pro. Smith is reportedly trying to get psyched by imagining up a transgression, but keeps bursting out in laughter just thinking about them trying to cover him. It’s just not fair…”
Hater: “You know, I would feel pretty good about the DBs if I thought Jake would have time to exploit them. Too bad the Texans aren’t going to let that happen.”
Prognosis
Homer: “I’m trying, but I just can’t seem to get worried about this team. On offense their lack of experience will make them look like jokes trying to contain Foster and Williams. I can’t see them getting any pressure of note on Jake, and even if they do it’s not like the secondary can cover our receivers. Smith is almost guaranteed a long ball on Sunday. The Texans may have a nice statistical balance on defense, but as far as I’m concerned it just means both our running game AND our passing game will do well.
And defensively? Come on, you want me to be afraid of MATT SCHAUB? How scary can he be on his back anyway? We made one of the best passing attacks in the league look less than ordinary last week, and you think I should be concerned about Matt Schaub? This is a joke, right? See, I know it’s a joke because you’re also talking about Ahman Green running THROUGH our DL. Give me a break.
Panthers in a yawner, 30-10.”
Hater: “If there was ever a textbook definition for the term ‘trap game’, this is it. If the Panthers were a consistent team I might feel better, but they’re not. They always play down to the level of their competition, and seem to be allergic to home openers. The Texans are talented and well coached, and good enough that they beat Indianapolis and swept the Jaguars last year.
The Texans offensive line has gelled and is doing a pretty good job executing Kubiak’s blocking schemes. Sure they’ll give up a few sacks, but the Texans can move the ball. Schaub is willing to take more risks than Carr was, and makes better decisions. Andre Johnson is a game breaking WR and finally has a QB who has the patience to let the play develop before forcing the ball in or throwing out of bounds. The line won’t open too many big holes, so they have a runner who doesn’t need them. They won’t put up 40, but they won’t need to either.
This week the Panthers will finally go up against a solid defense, and it’s a young and fast one full of playmakers. Yes, the secondary is suspect but the pass rush is there. They got to Damon Huard three times last week and I believe they also intercepted him twice. With their rush the LBs won’t need to drop into coverage as much, so they can focus on the run. Since Ryans has the speed to keep up with Foster and Williams that spread stuff isn’t going to produce like it did last week.
So this is the game where the Panthers get surprised. Expect the Texans to throw a blanket over Smith and hope their rush can create enough pressure to prevent Jake from getting into a rhythm. By the end of the game he’ll be seriously rattled, enough so that it will come as no surprise to anyone that his first interception of the season will be on what looks to be the Panthers final go-ahead drive. The game will end, the boards will erupt, and the Texans will have delivered a serious wake-up call to John Fox.
Texans, 17-13. Yeah, it sucks to lose our first game at home but at least we should be used to it by now.”
Game Grades – Panthers at Rams
September 9, 2007
Offense:
If the probowl selections were made based on a week 1 performance, Jake Delhomme would start for the NFC. but before I am ready to see him as an upper tier quarterback, I will withhold judgment for a few more games. If the offense line can continue to give him the amount of time they did today, he should continue to have great success.
The running game already has shown great improvement from last season. Both Foster and Williams were able to consistently break large gains throughout the game. The worst play of the offensive line belongs to Justin Hartwig who was blown up and caused a yardage loss for Deangelo Williams.
The emergence of Drew Carter as a red zone threat has fantasy players across the nation scrambling. I suspect he will be starting on a good number of teams next week. Steve Smith continues to show why he is the premier wide reciever in the league. Jeff King is already the best TE to wear a Panthers uniform since a guy named Walls.
Offensive Grade – B
Defense:
Overall an excellent effort. The Panther stated they wanted to start causing more turnovers, and they are on the right track, stripping Stephen Jackson of the ball twice.
Otis Grigsby has become the sleeper pick to make a real impact on defense this season. Once written off as simply a preseason performer, Otis was disruptive in the backfield and was very effective in spelling Mike Rucker.
Jon Beason is quickly becoming possibly the best linebacker on the team. Thats right, I said it.
Defensive Grade – B
Special Teams:
Special teams remain the weakest part of team. Missed kicks, poor returns, poor coverage.
How Danny Crossman is able to keep his job is a mystery.
Special Teams Grade: D
Coaching:
Jeff Davidson brought a fresh perspective and unpredictability to the offense. Mike Trgovac seemed to actually make halftime adjustments (for the first time in recent memory). John Fox told a few officials their play calls were “Horse Shit”.
Solid.
Coaching Grade: A
