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I'm hyped, I'm stoked, and as always I love our team... But, here are my concerns going forward and some observations from yesterday...

Proudiddy

By Proudiddy,
in Carolina Panthers

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Proudiddy Grand Master

Proudiddy

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To say yesterday was a big win is an understatement.  It wasn't a divisional game, so that should take it down a notch in terms of history...   But it doesn't.  Yesterday, in my opinion, is likely the biggest regular season win in our franchise history.  Sure, we've had big wins that had playoff implications and such, but in now have been bigger in terms of relevance, recognition, and a signaling of a changing of the guard than yesterday's win.  As they mentioned at the start of the game, Russell Wilson has only lost 2 games at home in his tenure before our win yesterday, so make that three lol.  Huge!  I'm just on cloud nine.  That win was not supposed to happen, and this team mentally toughed it out and willed themselves to it. 

Now, my concerns and observations...  

I was this close () to making a rage thread about having enough of Funchess and the eternally optimistic crew that always chooses to believe that every player we draft is bound to "grow" or "develop" eventually.  I wanted to jar you want these the truth that no, not all of them do.  It really reminds me of how so many waited for years for Dwayne Jarrett to develop, all for naught.

To Funchess' credit, he is already playing and getting snaps...   Something that took Jarrett years to do.  But is that because he deserves them, or is it because he was a pricey draft pick and it is out of necessity due to the lack of talent at WR as a whole?  Who knows, but he is struggling,and I don't think it's a confidence issue.  It was why I really disliked the move when it was made because I felt there were better options available, especially if we were going to trade up for one.  He struggled with inconsistency in college, and as I mentioned during the draft and lead up to it, to me, just did not look like a natural football player.   He has amazing size and measureables, and that got a lot of people enamored with him, but I was not one of them.  Again, as one of our players, I hope for nothing more than him to prove me wrong and for me to eat some delicious crow, but he is a huge concern for me.  I'm happy he caught them when we needed them most, but those early drops were crucial in getting us in a hole from the beginning and almost became interceptions.  That can't happen. 

And my criticism of WR doesn't begin and end with Funchess...  The unit continues to demonstrate why I felt they were the biggest concern going into the season for the last two seasons.  Going into that 4th quarter, IIRC, our WR unit had more drops than catches, and almost as many rushing attempts as catches.  Lol.  Unless our WRs double as RBs and primary ball carriers, that is not good.  I honestly don't want to be overly negative, but again, it was a huge concern for me from the jump, and it is still the biggest concern going forward.  Regardless, I'm proud of our guys for stepping up when we needed it.  I still love Ginn as a returner and situational WR, and he does seem to be making strides at being a regular contributor on offense.   Philly made some nice runs and a huge catch late as well...   Proud of them.   But the drops and overall lack of another consistent, legitimate weapon outside of Olsen is a worry.  Then again, it seems like with the way we're running the ball and game planning around these weaknesses, I really feel like an asshole for even complaining.   But, the only reason I complain is out of love and hope that we are completely unstoppable.

And lastly, a huge problem I had with yesterday that I felt like had us playing from behind as well...  Why did we spend a first round pick on Shaq to supposedly play the Buffalo nickel to cover those hybrid TEs like Graham, and keep us from having to sub in from play to play, only to have him sit on the bench the majority of the game and cover Graham with Roman fuging Harper?  Who thought that was a good idea?  Seriously?  All I can reason is that there had to be some other facet that we were dedicating resources to and decided to allow Graham to get his while keeping other weapons from getting going (like Wilson, Lynch, etc.).   Kind of like in basketball when a team decides to let a guy like LeBron or Durant get theirs and control the damage done elsewhere.  That is the only thing I can reason as to why we were leaving Harper on Graham to be abused for the duration of the game.   Still, it makes no sense that Shaq didn't play into the Graham equation at all.   It has to be something we on the outside are not privy to...   

Anyway, I love this team and I want to be Cam and Olsen when I grow up.  Luke's not bad either lol. 

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thefuzz Mentor

thefuzz

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To say yesterday was a big win is an understatement.  It wasn't a divisional game, so that should take it down a notch in terms of history...   But it doesn't.  Yesterday, in my opinion, is likely the biggest regular season win in our franchise history.  Sure, we've had big wins that had playoff implications and such, but in now have been bigger in terms of relevance, recognition, and a signaling of a changing of the guard than yesterday's win.  As they mentioned at the start of the game, Russell Wilson has only lost 2 games at home in his tenure before our win yesterday, so make that three lol.  Huge!  I'm just on cloud nine.  That win was not supposed to happen, and this team mentally toughed it out and willed themselves to it. 

Now, my concerns and observations...  

I was this close () to making a rage thread about having enough of Funchess and the eternally optimistic crew that always chooses to believe that every player we draft is bound to "grow" or "develop" eventually.  I wanted to jar you want these the truth that no, not all of them do.  It really reminds me of how so many waited for years for Dwayne Jarrett to develop, all for naught.

To Funchess' credit, he is already playing and getting snaps...   Something that took Jarrett years to do.  But is that because he deserves them, or is it because he was a pricey draft pick and it is out of necessity due to the lack of talent at WR as a whole?  Who knows, but he is struggling,and I don't think it's a confidence issue.  It was why I really disliked the move when it was made because I felt there were better options available, especially if we were going to trade up for one.  He struggled with inconsistency in college, and as I mentioned during the draft and lead up to it, to me, just did not look like a natural football player.   He has amazing size and measureables, and that got a lot of people enamored with him, but I was not one of them.  Again, as one of our players, I hope for nothing more than him to prove me wrong and for me to eat some delicious crow, but he is a huge concern for me.  I'm happy he caught them when we needed them most, but those early drops were crucial in getting us in a hole from the beginning and almost became interceptions.  That can't happen. 

And my criticism of WR doesn't begin and end with Funchess...  The unit continues to demonstrate why I felt they were the biggest concern going into the season for the last two seasons.  Going into that 4th quarter, IIRC, our WR unit had more drops than catches, and almost as many rushing attempts as catches.  Lol.  Unless our WRs double as RBs and primary ball carriers, that is not good.  I honestly don't want to be overly negative, but again, it was a huge concern for me from the jump, and it is still the biggest concern going forward.  Regardless, I'm proud of our guys for stepping up when we needed it.  I still love Ginn as a returner and situational WR, and he does seem to be making strides at being a regular contributor on offense.   Philly made some nice runs and a huge catch late as well...   Proud of them.   But the drops and overall lack of another consistent, legitimate weapon outside of Olsen is a worry.  Then again, it seems like with the way we're running the ball and game planning around these weaknesses, I really feel like an asshole for even complaining.   But, the only reason I complain is out of love and hope that we are completely unstoppable.

And lastly, a huge problem I had with yesterday that I felt like had us playing from behind as well...  Why did we spend a first round pick on Shaq to supposedly play the Buffalo nickel to cover those hybrid TEs like Graham, and keep us from having to sub in from play to play, only to have him sit on the bench the majority of the game and cover Graham with Roman fuging Harper?  Who thought that was a good idea?  Seriously?  All I can reason is that there had to be some other facet that we were dedicating resources to and decided to allow Graham to get his while keeping other weapons from getting going (like Wilson, Lynch, etc.).   Kind of like in basketball when a team decides to let a guy like LeBron or Durant get theirs and control the damage done elsewhere.  That is the only thing I can reason as to why we were leaving Harper on Graham to be abused for the duration of the game.   Still, it makes no sense that Shaq didn't play into the Graham equation at all.   It has to be something we on the outside are not privy to...   

Anyway, I love this team and I want to be Cam and Olsen when I grow up.  Luke's not bad either lol. 

Bolded the only part that matters.

We know that you want more weapons for Cam....truly, we do.  Now understand that what we have, is what we are going to have for the rest of the season.

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VerticalThreat Newbie

VerticalThreat

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All valid points, but we're 5-0. Funchess is going to make a HUGE play this year in a big moment because he's confident and because he does have the skills. Be patient - 4 games (plus pre-season) isn't enough time to say what a guy is and what a guy can be. He's a rookie, he's going to grow leaps and bounds through the end of the year.

This team can win in so many different ways. We have the ultimate X-Factor on both sides of the ball. Luke Kuechly and Cam Newton. Enjoy the ride.

 

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TheRumGone Grand Master

TheRumGone

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i think they are taking there time with Shaq.

 

also, there was one play in the 1st quarter where luke was SCREAMING at shaq because he was suppose to cover graham and didn't. I still think he is thinking instead of reacting but at the same time he has made some great plays. Be easy on the kid, he will be a force, you can see it in flashes.

 

Also with Funchess, if you don't think that rookie, making those HUGE drops and then coming up with 2 insanely HUGE catches in the 4th quarter means nothing, then i don't know what to tell you. He was playing against arguably the best secondary in the league and took those drops in stride, kept his head and made the plays we needed him to when it matters most. The guy just turned 21 and played at that poo michigan school. GIVE THESE KIDS TIME. jesus. they are both flashing.

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Proudiddy Grand Master

Proudiddy

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I stopped reading after I realized it was , "I didn't like the Funchess draft pick and I was this close to being almost right!!"

You are unbelievable.  You guys that are completely dismissing these concerns by saying" 5-0" or your above quote are being extremely naive and immature.

Why the fug would I care about being right about a draft pick busting if it cost us games?  I only mentioned it because it is a legitimate concern, and you're kidding yourself if you say otherwise.  A WR is not supposed to drop more passes than he catches.  That is a problem. 

Also, completely ignore all the positives in my post so you can beat your own chest and build up your strawman.  Keep pie'ing each other over that bullshit though. 

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