Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Oh how far we can fall...

Bronn

By Bronn,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Bronn Contributor

Bronn

Posted
Posted

I will preface this topic with the statement that it is pretty much just the rantings of a disappointed, dejected fan. You can agree with me or disagree, 100%, somewhere in between, or none. But, it won't really change my feelings on the subject.

The 2016/2017 Panthers were supposed to be special. We were just coming off one of the best seasons in NFL history. We got a piece of the offense back, and didn't change much else on that side of the ball. We let go of a star CB but did more than enough, supposedly, to fill the void there on one of the best defenses in the league. Our QB is top 3. Our MLB is arguably the best in the league.

Then Denver happens. We lose a close game on the leg of a kicker. In the process, it appears that our star QB gets banged up more than what is considered normal. The league does next to nothing to fix it.

Week 2 rolls around, and we get a little bit of a glimpse of what our team should be. But, the focus of the game quickly turns to controversy involving our QB and a bench warming QB from the other team.

Weeks 3-6 have pretty much been a nightmare. The offensive play calling and the defensive execution have been pretty much absent. We're letting the play clock expire because we can't get the plays in. We're forcing runs and passes that aren't there. Our defensive line isn't getting any pressure and our secondary couldn't cover a cardboard box. We're not firing on any cylinders, and the overall morale of the team just seems to have been sucked into a black hole.

Gone are the days of letting players play to their strengths and be themselves. Here are the days of forcing them to fit into molds that they don't fit in.

We have tons of cap space, and nothing to show for it.

We have elite players on both sides of the ball and nothing to show for it.

As a franchise-long Panthers fan, I have seen my share of ups and downs. I remember what 1-15 feels like. To be honest, I already feel like this season, at least so far, has been way worse than that season.

If you'll think back to that season, the Panthers had an electrifying player that they refused to let be himself. He was relegated to the return game and spot receiver duty. That man was a rookie, yes, but spent the whole season basically not even getting a chance. He would later become the greatest Panther of all time in my book, and a lock for the Hall of Fame.

This season, the rumors are already starting to swirl that we are bottling up another one of our players.

I can't say I blame the Panthers, because I want to protect Cam too. But telling Cam not to be Cam is pretty much telling Cam not to win. We shouldn't take the fact that the league isn't going to protect Cam as a sign that we need to hurt ourselves.

Alas, I digress.

The bottom line is that we're not standing up for our players against the league, and that is causing us to be steamrolled by both the league and ourselves. We're having stupid penalties called against us (hell, one could argue that the whole "taunting" rule was put into place because of Cam Newton,) the same penalties (going low on the QB) not being called against opponents, etc. etc. etc. We also didn't do poo in the offseason, apparently hoping that nobody else would try to get better either. All of this is becoming more and more evident as the season goes on and, honestly, I don't know that I can watch us do it much more. It is nauseating to me, and just pretty damned pathetic.

I know a few things that needs to change, but I don't know how to solve all our woes.

We need to start with firing Mike Shula. Hopefully that will scare the poo out of Sean McDermott and make him actually adjust and figure something out on defense.

We also need to do something about Gettleman. We all love the godfather persona, but you don't just sit idly by and watch the structure you built burn to the ground.

I don't want to accept "well, there's always next year." Nobody is promised another day. I always want to win now.

I really don't think I can tune in again this season. Life is too short. If the Panthers aren't going to give a poo then why should I?

That said, maybe the bye week will help soften my mood.

 

But honestly, if we don't make some kind of moves before the next game to show me that we're at least trying, then I give up this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Lobo Grand Master

The Lobo

Posted
Posted

Well said. Except for the giving up part. I'm going to keep cheering. I hate talking about the refs, but if anyone says they are fair to us, you need eye surgery. You are spot on with our team not defending cam. They should be screaming at the league to protect him like the do Brees. I do think that his has caused a little rift with the players. 

We need to let cam be cam. Let him dance, let him run, let him not speak to the media if he doesn't want too (I know he has to but if he wants to be short let him. 

Go Panthers

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted
Just now, Bronn said:

I actually think Ron can be good... but he has to drop the hammer somewhere... stop being afraid...

If the Ron Rivera we met in the introductory presser were in charge, I'd agree. But that guy left the building a long time ago.

What we've got instead as a guy who lost his nerve after some early adversity and only briefly got it back. Now it's gone again.

I hate it because Rivera is easily the nicest guy we've ever had in this role. He's one of those guys you want so very badly to succeed. But it's not happening.

He's tied himself to guys like Shula and he'll sink with them before cutting them loose.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bronn Contributor

Bronn

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, iBBB said:

Sadly, Shula does just enough to squeeze by, imo

Offense 2016:

Offense2016.PNG

Defense 2016, on the other hand:

Defense2016.PNG

 

We could be #1 offense in every category if all our stats come in junk time when we're having to play from behind...

It doesn't excuse the slow play calling or bad play calls over and over and over...
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
X-Clown on 1 Experienced

X-Clown on 1

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Bronn said:

If you'll think back to that season, the Panthers had an electrifying player that they refused to let be himself. He was relegated to the return game and spot receiver duty. That man was a rookie, yes, but spent the whole season basically not even getting a chance. He would later become the greatest Panther of all time in my book, and a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Clearly, you're talking about He Hate Me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • mav1234
      Week 6 PFF grades vs. DAL

      By mav1234 · Posted

      So, objectively, you'd say from a holistic review of Rico's performance and the team overall there were at least a dozen players on the team that performed at least as well if not better in their roles?
    • Move the Panthers to Raleigh
      The Bryce Young "Game Winning Drive" narrative needs to end

      By Move the Panthers to Raleigh · Posted

      I'm not a huge fan of BY, but he does have some clutchness developing
    • Panthering
      Hey You, You Don't Know Quarterbacking

      By Panthering · Posted

      While you're correct, people are just sick of being told, "you don't understand this, you're dumb" despite what their eyes say. This applies to the Panthers and anything else in life. This board can be a miserable place, but this isn't the old days anymore because Social Media & Reddit have hijacked old-school forum users.  I have in the last year or so taken a massive step back from Social Media & Reddit. Deleted accounts on both, I only have X/Twitter now. But I was looking for an outlet for Panthers talk and I did not want to do that on X much at all. There are only two legitimate outlets for that I've found, here and SB Nation. SB Nation I used to partake in, but they absolutely bumble-f*cked the comments section, and I like the setup of the posts + comments, as opposed to article + comments. Also, as others have pointed out, being a Panthers fan has been a horrendous existence since Cam left. Just an awful crew of coaches, draft picks, trading away great players, etc. It's been miserable.  Ever since Tepper bought the team, I hoped that he commit to a full rebuild. He never did, he thought there were shortcuts and so did Rhule. This hamstrung us for years, and then he massively overstepped with the BY trade.  This ruined the team building, because there was no depth, and then it ruined nuanced BY discussions because of the insane haul we gave up. He will never live up to that, I think many people are finally wrapping their heads around that now which is good. The best thing for this board to get better is for the Panthers to win more, draft well, and to stay committed to crawling through this Andy Dufrense poop-pipe to escape the depths of NFL hell. It will be ugly and stink along the way, but you can see already this year if we commit to drafting then the team and the vibes can turn around quicker than you think.  I am extremely optimistic about the draft class this season, it's something to watch, talk about, and celebrate. It also gives Dan and I think by extension Dave Canales more of a leash, which I think we need to give them and grant them the time to turn this boat around.     
×
×
  • Create New...