Mage

The interior defense wasn't too bad. Zeke was making some really good cuts. Best I've seen him run in awhile. Biggest problem is our defense vs the edge runs. That's gotta be fixed. I said in another thread that I think Gross-Matos' return will help tremendously. But DBs gotta step-up and play better too in that regard. Luckily for us... we don't play a team as good at running the ball as the Cowboys for awhile.

The biggest problem with the defense, especially late in the game, was our edge discipline. Tony Pollard made it look so easy vs us down the stretch because of how easily he was able to bounce it to the outside. That's gotta be fixed. Gross-Matos returning will help, but I felt like the DBs weren't stepping up and making an impact in the run game like they had Games 1-3. But like I said... Cowboys just played great. At the end of the day, we lost by one possession in a game where we can confidently say one possession shouldn't have happened for the Cowboys. Ish happens. And trust me, I was depressed as anyone seeing us lose, especially being surrounded by Cowboys fans. The biggest problem I saw for us today, by far, was the OL. It's that bad. There was one play our LT got absolutely turned around by a blitzing DB (or maybe it was a LB?). Absolutely embarrassing.

I thought we were getting okay pressure throughout the day. He only threw for 188 yards. Dallas came with a good game-plan though. They didn't give up on the run, which was gashing us and I think it made our pass rushers a little hesitant on attacking. Even when they threw, it was often off play-action. And when the pocket collapsed, Dak was just really, really good at getting the ball out. Sacks often can be very random. I'm not saying we couldn't have done things better, we absolutely could have. We have to be better at the point of attack on run defense. But I truly felt like Dallas just came with a great game-plan and were executing on offense very well. I didn't see us miss a lot of tackles. I didn't see our DBs get flat-out beat. Cowboys just played great. And I know that isn't something a lot of people always want to hear, but IMO it's the truth. Cowboys are a great team (Kellen Moore is 100% getting a HC job sooner than later). We are a good team. And I think that was the difference today.

I will say this - Yetur Gross-Matos is needed. I love Brian Burns and he played very well, and I like Reddick, but it really hurts our run defense having to rely on those two as our primary edge-setters. That just isn't what they do best.

This is going to be an unpopular opinion... But the defense really didn't play THAT bad. I just think people don't realize how good Dallas is on offense with Dak. They were doing this same stuff last year before he got hurt. Dak is really, really good. They have a great scheme. Great receivers. And a great RB duo. Yes, we should have played better, but the Cowboys are just a really good team, especially on offense.

He didn't play much. I thought the coverage on the Coop TD was fine... Coop is just that good. I will say one of the coaches did seem really PO'd after the score though. Not sure if it was directed at Henderson.

Darnold is already wayyyy better than 99% of QBs drafted with a 2nd round pick.

Justin Herbert at home vs Cowboys - 31/41, 338 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 87.2 QB Rating, 12 rushing yards Sam Darnold on the road vs Cowboys - 26/39, 301 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 85.5 QB Rating, 35 rushing yards, 2 TDs If I get banned for this, I don't care. But for those of ya'll hating on Darnold... shut the hell up. Darnold is 24 years old on a new team (after spending years on a GARBAGE one) and is quite frankly playing wayyyy better than anyone could have reasonably expected. And you got people being negative about it? Come on man. Those 2 picks were bad and he's gotta hit Robby and Moore on those 2 passes deep, but other than that? Brother was BALLING. I was there and the OL looked dreadful. And Darnold ain't care. Escaping pressure, getting the ball off. If you didn't come away impressed with Darnold after that game, then your football opinion is 100% irrelevant. And I don't say that lightly. Like holy crap. Dude was far, far from the issue.

Nah. There is literally no way any sensible person could have seen that as forward progress. And I was at the game. Even Dallas fans around me agreed. Besides they called it forward progress after the fact. No whistle blew.

Can anyone explain this to me? By far the most indefensible call made against my team that I can remember. Seriously, is there any explanation? We lost a game by one possession largely due to that call. This deserves its own thread and an explanation from the refs. How is that forward progress and not 99% of other plays?

Who in the world has said we don't have an interior DL? And why would you take anyone who says that seriously? Love the enthusiasm though. Let's get this dub.

Gonna be at the game today If we lose... blame me.

Saints are averaging 33 points in their other 2 games and are 2-1, and yet somehow this is our first "real" test. Saints OL is better than the one Dallas had too. This is by far the best QB we've played but this idea that this is our first real test is dumb. Good teams dominate the teams they are supposed to dominate. We might lose this one, but it is going to be a good game. Talent don't lie.

The OL in 2019 wasn't even that bad. Kyle Allen just sucked. And Turner and Van Roten, for all of their flaws, is still better than the guard duo we have right now.

I think we have different definitions of turning points. It'd only be a turning point if we were 1-2 or something. We're 3-0. A win just means we're still pointing in the right direction.

That tweet going around is terrible. https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/27/jags-safety-rayshawn-jenkins-on-c-j-henderson-trade-we-have-everybody-that-we-need/ He was asked if it was difficult working with Henderson because of how quiet and reserved he was. Then Jenkins says nah, everyone learns differently, and that he's been in plenty of situations where he's had to work or interact with someone who was different. The tweet makes it seem like Jenkins called him "different" unprovoked. He was answering a question about his quietness.

I knew Gross-Matos was injured but didn't realize it was going to be a multi-week injury. Oh well. Let the big man rest up.

It is certainly the most physically gifted.

What it means is there there is literally no excuse not to go OL with the 1st pick next year unless an absolute stud, I'm talking STUD, falls to us. Otherwise why would OL not be the 1st pick? CB, no. WR, no. TE, no. RB, lol. QB, probably not unless Darnold face-plants but even if he does... the QB class is horrendous. DE or DT, not unless a stud falls and I only say that because you can never have enough pass rushers. LB, nah unless it is a stud. Really the only other position that I would say right now might warrant a 1st round selection is safety. Otherwise it has got to be OL, right?

We just have too many other things that will need our $ though. I know we can afford to keep Jackson but the question is does it make a lot of sense to do so? Reddick and Moore definitely deserve to get paid and need to. Brian Burns is likely going to need an extension soon. We need to upgrade the OL. I just feel like in terms of importance, Donte Jackson will be a little ways down the list. Maybe if we could afford him at the going rate for #2 CBs but Jackson will get #1 CB money.

Jackson isn't being re-signed. It just ain't happening. Love him and I'm so happy to see him maximize his skill-set this year like I always knew he could, but it just doesn't make sense for this team to re-sign him at the $$ he'll be worth. And schematically, I don't think you are getting the best out of any of our 3 corners (Horn, Jackson, Henderson) if you put them at nickel. I'd much rather us use that money on the OL. We also need to extend Moore and Reddick.

Marty sucked, but to be fair he still is responsible for the best trade we've ever pulled off so far Darnold and Henderson have the potential to change that but it'll be hard

#1 priority is making sure Horn is healthy, so I'm cool if we don't see him again until next year. But if he's back for the playoffs? Oh boy. OH BOY.

Oh I'm pumped. I love Henderson's talent and he fits this defense so, so well.

Talent isn't the issue. Him and the front office and coaching staff had a falling out, and neither side wanted to work with each other anymore. That is absolutely something that should worry us as Panthers fans, but at the same time we also have no reason not to trust Rhule and Fitt. I trust Rhule to get a player's head on straight. By all accounts the team loves the guy.