The missing piece?

[Byrdman4real]

Byrd seem to have the "it" in him. Something that S. Teams is missing. Should he be activated to give the team the spark thats missing?

[Snake]

Byrd is not the missing spark. Not having good gameplans and bad special teams is where we hurt. Our kicker for one point has missed 2 important FG in the past 3 weeks. Unless Byrd can play ST he will not help. 

[ShutDwn]

Can he block and rush the passer?

[Bronn]

OMG I have heard it all now... 

The savior to the Panthers season, and abysmal offensive performance generated by Mike Shula, is activating a punt returner who won't see the field otherwise...

[Byrdman4real]

How many times one electrifying play wakes a team up or even swings the momentum of the game. Just saying! Sometimes something different needs to be done even if it seems unneeded.

[Bartin]

Based on what exactly do you think Byrd is a better KR/PR than Ginn? Byrd returned exactly 3 kickoffs in college and 0 punts. Ginn is a very accomplished returner at every single level.

In preseason this year, Byrd had 10 punt returns for 31 yards. Total. Definitely the spark we need.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 hour ago, ShutDwn said:

Can he block and rush the passer?

This. It's painfully obvious that OT and DE are our weakest links. Our defensive staff is good enough to largely scheme around our weakness at DE. I can't say the same for our offensive staff. 

[Khyber53]

The missing piece was hopefully the ass-kicking we just took to wake the team up from the terrible idea that we are essentially the same team as last year and that it is going to be just the same.

Essentially, we lost Norman but regained Benjamin. Coaching staff still in place even after some possibilities of losses of coordinators. 

That work that went into making last year's squad so good just doesn't seem to be here this year. Last year in training camp, this was a Panther's team that was lean and hungry-looking. This year, we've come out looking overfed and ready for a nap.

I sure hope this last loss has lit a fire under them.

And no, the second string punt returner isn't going to have enough magic to do it.

 

[imminent rogaine]

The missing piece is someone with attitude that isn't afraid to be an enforcer.... Mitchell, Hardy, Norman.... all gone... and you could even argue that Harper provided a little of that.

Not second guessing the decision to let any of those guys walk, just saying that the spark, energy, and in-your-face brashness of these guys gave our defense an attitude and an edge.

Right now, we have Luke giving us a controlled version of that and TD and Coleman delivering it a little. Its hard for a rookie corner to come in and do that, they get a pass. Shaq isn't on the field enough. Our DT and DEs seem subdued. Boston, who provided some of that late last year,  can't do that now because he looks like complete poo and can't tackle.

I want a mean, nasty, and bullying defense.

 

 

All that said, if our offense will stop turning the ball over and giving the defense shitty field position, those concerns might be eased.

[gow]

[RB]

[CPantherKing]

The problem is giving up 2nd half leads and then turning the ball over when trailing by 1 score.

The Panthers are looking good in the first half of games. It is the second half when the defense comes out flat, and then they look horrible in the 4th quarter - even against the 49ers.

Then the offense needs to stop turning the ball over late in the game.

Giving up the TD to the Broncos at the start of the 4th quarter on a long drive from the 20. They averaged 10 yards per play on that drive. Then turning the ball over with the KB tip immediately after leading to another Broncos TD and losing the lead.

Defense came out flat in the 2nd half and gave the Vikings the lead on a long drive from the 20. They let the Vikings go 80 yards in 10 plays. Then the offense turns the ball over at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Giving up the lead by the defense and then turning the ball over by the offense late in games needs to stop.