panthers55

I think that with emphasis on gaining muscle while retaining speed we have the guys to stop the run but we have to play the run first and then rush the passer rather than the other way around. Burns need to make sure it is a pass before he tears around the corner giving up the edge to any outside run. Chinn needs to play close to the box. Jackson needs to be in the slot and put the tall dudes outside. Shaq should play in the middle and we need 4 or 5 rushers on every play. If they run blitz it shuts it down and if a pass gives you penetration up the middle.

That seems to be a fairly common analysis as I have heard several talking heads saying something similar.

I thought tonight's game was excellent scoring a MLS franchise high 4 goals. The substitutions were amazing and and our offensive attack was excellent. Playing Fuchs high really helped the offense but we were shaky after Corujo left with an injury. There are going to be increased opportunities for scoring as long as our defense is solid and Kahlina deeps making great saves. And the posts keep working to our advantage

When he took over I remember some folks lamenting the move and blaming Tepper. But after 5 games with 3 impacted by a shortage of players due to international play and Covid we are 2-2-1. With the majority on the road. So he changes our defense and inverts the fullbacks so the midfielders can advance the ball and improve the offensive attack and we get back to back wins and score a franchise high 4 goals against a team that has never given up 4 goals in its 3 year history. I think he should have been the choice all along. The game was awesome and we were rocking BOA. If this continues I say drop the interim and make it head coach. What are your thoughts???

Baker let his rookie success get to his head and I understand part of his struggle in 2019 was failing to do the film work and processing what he was seeing by the defenses. You can have a an eidetic memory but if you can't read defenses and process information as it unfolds on the field, it doesn't matter. If he is willing to do the work to improve I am excited for his potential. But given his size he isn't the most athletic guy out there so he needs to make up for that with hard work and mental preparation. He already has shown his toughness. But is he a team player and a leader?? I hope so.

Exactly.

I think in Baker's case his cockiness not only wasn't warranted but it lead to not learning the systems installed by his numerous HC and OC changes. He got lazy and didn't put in the work. In 2020 he rededicated himself and had a good year. Last year was all about the injury, so if he I'd healthy and tries some humility we might have found our starter.

I think that Rhule would like to control everything but if we have more success this way he will be have to give up the control for good.

I see a change in Rhule this year over last. He is more in his lane letting other guys do what they do best. Hopefully he stays that way.

You mean the control Rhule had before this year. All signs point to a shift in roles and Tepper bringing in NFL talent to replace Rhules college guys with the exception of Snow. At least he got Wilkes and Pasqueloni who were both defensive coordinators in the NFL and should work the line and the secondary and make the adjustments as needed to respond to offenses making their own adjustments.

I hope Baker got all that cockiness knocked out of him but kept the chip on his shoulder. Mobile quarterbacks with strong arms seems to be what McAdoo wants for his offense and Baker fits the bill

Gettleman was known to have the final word and exercise it on most decisions. So while the story to the public was it is a collaboration I wonder how much that is true.

I bet there are other owners who privately are happy Tepper and all his billions can't buy a good team. But they won't be throwing each other under the bus for fear they could be next. Loyalty by mutual necessity.

Nothing you said is true. We were the laughing stock in 2010 more than now and we signed plenty of free agents under Rhule who wanted to be here. Coaches too. At good deals. After 2010 we had to overpay our own players to stay. I am not saying the last 2 years have been ok by any means but this team is actually trending up in my opinion.

Gentleman did that. Hurney traded Benjamin.

He might want to hold out who knows but unless he is awesome he won't have much leverage next year. And if he is awesome I imagine we would sign him longterm.

Lack of buying into our process doesn't seem to be the problem the past 2 years. It has been lack of competent NFL coaching that has held us back. Actual interviews with excuses like they didn't show that on tape so we weren't prepared for that.... Seriously??? This should be a qb friendly offense if CMC stays healthy and our receivers hold onto the ball. Baker was a high reward low cost 1 year rental for five million and a 5th rounder 2 years from now. Baker was the Browns offense and he was a big deal there. Here he isn't even guaranteed to start and should have a chip on his shoulder in a competitive way. All the reasons for a breakout.

Rhule already has a 7 year contract and this is year 3. And we can afford to pay Mayfield if he performs by just tagging him for 30 and not have to commit to a long term deal since Corral is on a rookie deal.

Do remember that in 2015 we supposedly had the weakest receiver corps in the league. He didn't always have great talent and Cam was very inconsistent and often injured from 2016 on, especially 2018 on.

It is before training camp with every reason to be optimistic. Remember this was Cleveland and the 3 years before Baker got there they won a total of 4 games. And in 2017 they won 0, nada, zip. So for Baker to come in as a rookie and they win 7 was huge. Huge. Then in 2020 to take them to the playoffs and win 11 was amazing. 6 wins was the lowest that Cleveland won with Baker. With Baker's 4 years they went 32-32-1 and the 4 years before him they went 11-53. I think he had a legitimate beef about being dumped for Watson.

This goes to show that actual quarterback performance in the NFL doesn't always reflect how a QB does in college or is dependent solely on their physical attributes. Sounds like McAdoo needs to stay OC and leave the college prospect analysis to others. But what does he honestly think now?? Unlikely to know with all the coach speak that fans gobble up like the truth. But Baker has been to the playoffs and can deliver under pressure. Healthy he is a real asset. I think his ignominious retreat from the Brown may give him some humility. I said we are going to make some noise this year and with Baker we have it. This might even challenge Darnold given he has never been seriously challenged to be the starter over his short career.

I am going to take that bet. I think that 6 is the floor not the ceiling. We won 5 last year with no offense to speak of and a rotating cast of qbs. With just the additions we added and barring catastrophic injuries to one position or another, we should be good for 8 or 9 wins with Baker. I really think we will contend this year. We have a QB who knows how to win unlike Sam who never experienced it in the NFL.

I won't edit it and see how many folks will comment about Matt versus Mac. Mac was the most proready QB of all of them and as I told everyone last year he would be steady if not spectacular. Too much is made of physical talent and not enough is made of mental talent and football knowledge. The other guys didn't play in a good system and struggled. And it will be a case by case analysis whether they improve or suck next year as to how much is increased talent around them, individual improvement or a combination of the two.

Look, this staff is much improved and if we could win 9 games which honestly would be huge given our schedule, I would be excited no matter the head coach. If you would pay attention you could see the shift in the team players and staff. In order to stay, Rhule conceded a lot of control to others like Fitterer and Morgan in the front office and to previous head coach coordinators like Wilkes and McAdoo. He will be the rah rah system process guy and game day manager. The football game plan and adjustments at halftime go to experienced guys with lots of NFL experience. Snow seems smart and creative and now with Wilkes he has an innovative defensive mind controlling the back 7. Now the line can focus on the run and then the pass now that the secondary wont be a sieve. I am optimistic.

Let's see how it goes. Too early to crown anyone or kick them to the curb. If we have a winning record this year with Baker you would be foolish to kick him to the curb in the offseason. You sign and trade him for a good pick or keep him and make Corral or perhaps another rookie we draft next year compete for the job. There aren't exactly tons of NFL starting QBs looking for a job. Or rookies that actually work out before year 2.