panthers55

The key is scoring points against Tampa because offense is their weakness. They win when the opponent scores less than 20. We need to come out throwing and misdirection because they are going to stack the box. We need to score early. Put pressure on Brady to match scores. Up to now they haven't been doing it. Dominate time of possession and keep Brady off the field. Simple right???

Not true. Playing meaningful football in January is always important. Wilkes will be 7-5 and Darnold 5-1. That great finish and the experience you get in the playoffs often carries over. Our finish in 2014 set the stage for 2015. A good run in 2004 set the stage for 2005. Our own history here shows that finishing up strong in December and January are important. So whether Wilkes gets retained and I offer Darnold another contract absolutely will be heavily influenced on how they do when it is playoff mentality which started for us last week. This is trial by fire and the best way to get to see what they can do before making a decision.

If we can win the next 2 games and make the playoffs that makes Darnold 5-1 as a starter. How many backup qbs in the league will be doing as well?? How many starters?? Let's see how we finish before evaluating anything and making any proclamations, but Darnold has 2 and maybe more to make his case to be a starting qb somewhere next year.

It was a mutual decision between the two sides to minimize disruption in the locker room. He didn't quit. It is okay to be wrong and move on. Saying the same thing over and over doesn't make it true.

You are right. We have to interview 2 minority candidates other than Wilkes. Makes no sense but that is the new Rooney rule.

He learned that from Peanut himself.

This is Wilkes formula based on what we have not McAdoos preferred scheme. But people forget we threw for 250 yards against Denver. I hope with Darnold being here a few weeks we can open up the offense and do more. I saw plays on Saturday I had not seen us run before. Maybe the offense is evolving slowly as we get some continuity at QB. I bet we get tested at Tampa and will be needing a good pass game as Tampa sells out to stop the run.

The best way to get Brady is drub him on the field. He hates to lose and nothing is better than crushing his offense like we did the first meeting. No need to hurt him physically, embarrassment is so much better.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article270047637.html?mc_cid=d2764fa6dc&mc_eid=6cc597ae4d The article discusses how other coaches see Wilkes and the job he has done changing the culture back to what is was during our last run in 2013 -2015. If the Panthers don't offer him the job there may be other suitors who better recognize his ability to lead men and get the best out of them. He is apparently well respected around the league.

Darnold said he learned a lot watching other quarterbacks and using injury time to study what defenses think and how to beat them. He seems better than at anytime in preseason or last year. Let's see if it continues or not.

Elephant??? That isn't even a decent rhino in what we need to do. I would like to see us draft a TE or bring in someone on a reasonable contract but it won't be in the first or second round I would think.

He is doing very well. He hasn't missed a FG since the Atlanta game. But I would like to see some game winners from beyond 50 to keep him. Gonzales was money before he got hurt. Let's hope Gonzales is totally recovered.

Good point. The second half was more impressive to me from a QB point of view. He was able to move the ball and score points even when they stacked the box and everyone knew we were going to run the ball. He did a good job on the read option and was very good avoiding any turnovers. He moved well in the pocket and didn't have happy feet. He stood in and delivered some big balls right as he got hit. He still has Tampa and the Saints away but he is 3-1 to this point. Let's see how he finishes. I am hoping for another home game myself....

My birthday was yesterday and with Christmas tomorrow a Panther win just keeps the gifts and good times coming......

4 out of 5 home wins since Wilkes took over. You got to like that if you go to the games.

Perfect reason to have an incentive laden contract which pays him to play well.

If we don't tackle better and stop Detroit on 3rd down it won't matter what we do on offense it will be catchup. In the Steelers game the defense let us down and gave the offense less time to operate as our time of possession was less than 40% of the game.

Again that assumes we go quarterback and with Corral already here that might not happen this year. So no selling out to lose is a poor strategy and no guarantee you get the guy you want. Especially if we aren't great at identifying talent in the draft.

The problem with that logic is assuming that everyone picked top 5 will be better than guys picked from 10-15 and they will be better than guys picked at 20-25 and that isn't true even most of the time. And as you note we have had good QB options in the past in the draft and passed. So who is to say that we will jump on one of the top qbs this year. It surely isn't worth rooting for losses. Now I agree that when we lose I justify it by the fact we get a better draft pick. But it isn't my preferred scenario. And honestly if we make the playoffs it will give a lot of young players needed playoff experience which I see as very valuable and something that will happen versus sucking and hoping for a high draft hoping again we use it for a QB which may or may not happen.

I understand totally the logic of losing out to get a better draft pick. I don't understand why a fan who wasn't a GM or involved in the draft would be rooting for that to happen. First of all let's say we get a top 2 or 3 pick. How many times could we have gotten a QB at the pick we had and we passed on it? So we lose out now and we don't get a QB. What have we gained? And who is to say this top pick will work out and make us better?? And last year the first qb was picked at 20. So given that the draft is a crap shoot and you don't know where things will end up anyway, the only rational approach is to root to win every week and then worry about the draft when it gets here. Otherwise hoping to tank guarantees nothing except you will miserable all year and miserable in the offseason if we don't pick who you want. But hoping to tank doesn't make you a smart fan or doesnt show you are not settling for mediocre.

What exactly is trying to be real? I thought rooting for your team and being optimistic is what fans did and this supported your team more than criticizing and constantly complaining. I know it is surely less negative and most folks get tired of the constantly complaining. I know I do.

Tampa lost and the Saints beat Atlanta. So nothing has changed and we can still win the division if we win out. So honestly as disappointing it was to suck so badly it wasn't the reason to jump off the bandwagon just yet.

I expect us to take a qb in the draft but it can be a developmental guy who learns from our vet and Corral. It doesn't have to be a 1st rounder or someone expected to start right away.

McAdoo said the offensive philosophy and vision came from Wilkes. His job was getting the players ready to execute it each week gameplanning and coaching.

McAdoo is running Wilkes scheme not necessarily what he wants to run. And that scheme is run heavy smash mouth ground and pound. Defensive minded head coaches go for controlling the clock with safe plays to minimize mistakes. Offensive minded coaches like high octane systems designed to score points regardless of time of possession. The things fans want. So I can see why folks want an offensive minded coach. Not just the ability to build an exciting offense but the emphasis on quick scoring over controlling the clock with boring running plays.