Peter King says we're Playoff Bound

[HPPantherzfan]

Is this team with no major injuries not better then the 2007 team? When Jake went down we went through 3 QB's, Deshaun Foster was our #1 RB, and Drew Carter was our #2 receiver and they finished the season 7-9. I just think we kept the the right players on D and our offense will come around. No way are we at the bottom of the league and I can't wait to prove all the nay sayers wrong.

Sorry, I'm just not that optimistic I guess...this offense has looked worse than a middle school team...you have to score SOMETHING to win any game...and realistically...so far...we haven't!

Yes I know we are missing people and etc etc...We have missed people before and still scored something...not to mention our special teams are just laughable. One good play doesn't make up for the complete fail it has looked like thus far!

D has looked great in preseason but as most here will point out (when talking about offense anyway) preseason means squat...way too early to claim top 10 more less top 5 D in the league IMO

But I love the optimism some of you guys have and hope it comes true!

[bigcatdaddy]

Sorry, I'm just not that optimistic I guess...this offense has looked worse than a middle school team...you have to score SOMETHING to win any game...and realistically...so far...we haven't!

Yes I know we are missing people and etc etc...We have missed people before and still scored something...not to mention our special teams are just laughable. One good play doesn't make up for the complete fail it has looked like thus far!

D has looked great in preseason but as most here will point out (when talking about offense anyway) preseason means squat...way too early to claim top 10 more less top 5 D in the league IMO

But I love the optimism some of you guys have and hope it comes true!

Well in preseason you are just running standard plays, especially us, I mean we haven't run anything "outside the box". Without Smitty, Tenn usually had 9 or 10 in the box so it was really hard to run. We are going to have to throw the ball to open up the run because the box will be stacked to try and shut down our running game. With Smitty back, he will command a double team so that should open it up for the other receivers and tight ends. Now if Smitty goes down this year it could be a very long year but how it stands right now I think we have a very solid team. I do agree with you on special teams, that is the one area that really scares me. I mean when you are just hoping the returner catches the ball and you are not worried about return yardage there is a big problem there.

[HPPantherzfan]

Well, flames incoming, I think people are putting a lot of stock in Smitty that just may not be warranted anymore. Is he still a very good wide reciever? Absolutely, maybe its just me, but he seems to have lost a step or two and last season he wasn't coming down with the catches he did in the past...not to mention, he wasn't double teamed last year as much as people seem to believe; he was in single coverage quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, he is still great but I'm not sure these young corners or coaches are as worried about him anymore...for example he was shut down by Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders).

Edit: Last couple of years actually

[Montsta]

Well, flames incoming, I think people are putting a lot of stock in Smitty that just may not be warranted anymore. Is he still a very good wide reciever? Absolutely, maybe its just me, but he seems to have lost a step or two and last season he wasn't coming down with the catches he did in the past...not to mention, he wasn't double teamed last year as much as people seem to believe; he was in single coverage quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, he is still great but I'm not sure these young corners or coaches are as worried about him anymore...for example he was shut down by Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders).

Edit: Last couple of years actually

I think opposing defensive coordinators were less worried about Jake than they were Smitty. If your QB can't thread the needle to the WR, double coverage isn't necessary, because even if Smitty burns the DB, Jake would just underthrow him for a pick anyway.

[HPPantherzfan]

I think opposing defensive coordinators were less worried about Jake than they were Smitty. If your QB can't thread the needle to the WR, double coverage isn't necessary, because even if Smitty burns the DB, Jake would just underthrow him for a pick anyway.

Very possible!

[bigcatdaddy]

Well, flames incoming, I think people are putting a lot of stock in Smitty that just may not be warranted anymore. Is he still a very good wide reciever? Absolutely, maybe its just me, but he seems to have lost a step or two and last season he wasn't coming down with the catches he did in the past...not to mention, he wasn't double teamed last year as much as people seem to believe; he was in single coverage quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, he is still great but I'm not sure these young corners or coaches are as worried about him anymore...for example he was shut down by Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders).

Edit: Last couple of years actually

The only time I remember him being single covered and not making plays was against Revis and he shutdown every receiver that he faced last year. Asomugha was 2 years ago and like Revis he is a shutdown corner, now I think Jake being the QB had a lot to do with it but those two corners are the best in the league. Other teams always roll a saftey over to help, and for a guy that "has lost a step" he still averaged 15 yards per catch last year, which is better then his career average. Plus he had 7 TD's last year and he only had 2 years when he had more than 7 TD's in a season.

[Sword]

offense would be better if we weren't stuck in 3rd and longs..hopefully when stewart gets back will allow us to get in 2nd/2rd and short at will..

Peter King's prediction I could do without..he's horrible at this..but it's nice to see a change from 5-10 predictions of nfl.com. Predictions in and of themselves are meaningless since there are so many variables that will make a good team bad and vice versa. For example the Packers secondary is getting banged up and that should be effecting predictions but people seem to ignore that fact..Panthers have a lot of unknown(to the media) talent that if it steps up will make all in the crapper predictions seem foolish(and they will probably never be acknowledged as ever being made)..