Game Thoughts

[Mr. Scot]

Random thoughts from watching this weekend's game...

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Improbable as it may sound, you could suggest (with some evidence to support you) that one of the better coaching jobs being done on the Panthers staff to this point has been that of Special Teams Coach Jeff Rodgers.

Raise your hand if you saw that coming.

(put your hands down...you're lying)

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If there were any viable options behind them, I'd probably bench both Richard Marshall and Mackenzy Bernadeau right now.

Regarding Bernadeau, I went into this offseason with high hopes for him, but they haven't panned out. I haven't looked that deeply (yet) but if there were a decent right guard available, I'd be in favor of bringing him in. Of course, there's the understanding that if a guy were decent, he probably wouldn't be available right now, would he?

I really hate to down any of the Big Uglys (really hate it) but the objective truth is that Bernadeau is getting no push in the run game and is getting pushed around as a pass blocker. As mentioned previously, I won't be surprised if Geoff Schwartz takes over that spot once Jeff Otah returns to the lineup. It's not that Schwartz is doing a great job either, mind you, but he might be better inside than at tackle.

I'd keep Bernadeau as a utility backup, but not as a starter.

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In Richard Marshall's case, it wouldn't really be a benching per se, It'd be a change of role to nickel back. Yes, he had a decent play or two on Sunday, but honestly, I just don't think he's a starter. There are times when I've been tempted to call him Ricky Marshall Jr just because I feel like his game has fallen off in a similar manner to that of Ricky Manning's, though for different reasons.

Truthfully, if I thought he were more than half what he used to be, I'd be tempted to give Mike McKenzie a call. Doubt he's up to it anymore though. Again, if someone were actually good enough to be a starting corner, he wouldn't likely be available right now, would he? And I know someone will bring up the option of moving Godfrey out there, but let's face it. That's not going to happen, and it's far from a settled question whether it should.

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Continuing on the theme of guys I want on roster but think should be demoted, as much as it pains me to say it, while I have all the respect in the world for Captain Munnerlyn, I'm not the world's biggest fan of him as a nickel back these days.

Mind you, it's not that he's awful or did anything especially terrible yesterday. Realistically though, not every undersized guy is a Steve Smith or a Sam Mills. There are too many teams with big, physical third receivers. I'd absolutely keep him on roster as a fourth corner and a return option, but I'm just not feeling it with him as the nickel (sorry Captain)

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Back over to the offense, and the natural subject is playcalling, but let's look a little deeper.

Moose Johnston pointed to some issues in play design this past Sunday. It's easy to forget that an OC not only calls the plays. He's also supposed to create them. Johnston pointed out that the inside motion of the receivers motion was actually bringing an extra defender into a box that was already stacked. Thus, it's worth asking what Davidson was thinking there.

Again, going deeper, the best OCs categorize their plays as part of the overall gameplan. Some plays are geared to certain down and distance (3rd and long, 2nd and short, etc) while others might be designed to deal with a certain defensive approach. Like, say, going with wider formations when a team is stacking the box. Does Jeff Davidson do this? I'm not sure. I hope so, but looking at the results yesterday, it's hard to have confidence.

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Speaking of confidence, I'm not sure why anyone has any in Dwayne Jarrett anymore. With Steve Smith sure to be out, Jarrett will likely remain active next week, and there's a good chance Armanti Edwards will see his first action as well. Hurney had said that Edwards needed to "get his legs back" and that he was close to doing that. We'll see, but I'll also be interested in seeing who's number four on the depth chart between Edwards and Jarrett.

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As has been pointed out by local beat writers, the offensive ineptitude can't all be laid at the feet of the Uglys. No matter how good they are, five guys can't block eight (or nine, or ten) and that, for all intents and purposes, is what they're being asked to do. Until the passing game can get to a level where teams must respect it, this is going to continue. Steve Smith being out won't make that happen any faster.

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So what of Jimmy Clausen? I'm going back to the Good, the Bad and the Ugly on this one.

The Good? Kudos to Clausen for a couple of things. Has he arrived? By no means. Still, he continued to improve. No pickoffs, no fumbled snaps, the best QB rating so far and we actually got more than one TD for the first time this year. Also liked that scene where he went right back at Pierson Prioleau after Prioleau got in his face on the opening kick return. That's the kind of fearlessness I want to see in a leader.

The Bad? The low trajectory passes I complained about a while back were one of a few things that bit him yesterday. He's either got to find a throwing lane - like Brees often does - or fix his release point so that his passes get a little air under them (option one is more likely). Also bad? He still needs work on feeling the speed of the game. The play clock is faster in the pros, and more than one rookie has had an issue with it. That part is probably just a matter of time.

As far as the speed of the pass rush, yes he still needs to adjust to that, but the line needs to beef up there too. And honestly, he is at least not making the wrong kind of adjustment. Lots of young QBs start "panic throwing" in response to the rush, and their timing gets destroyed. Clausen isn't doing that. He's taking sacks instead. Yes that stinks, but better that than panic throwing.

And what of the ugly? Well, I'll save that for another thread because it might be controversial and I'd rather stick to simpler topics in this discussion.

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The bottom line for it all is that, better performances aside, the Panthers just aren't a very good team right now. Worst in the league? i wouldn't go that far. I think the Bills own that one at the moment.

Still, for now it's bad, and it shows little sign of getting better this season

[jayflip]

I love you Mr. Scot

[Jangler]

And what of the ugly? Well, I'll save that for another thread because it might be controversial and I'd rather stick to simpler topics in this discussion.

His face, but we already knew that.

[Mr. Scot]

His face, but we already knew that.

My girlfriend and my buddy's teenage daughter disagree with you.

My current avatar and sig situation prevent me from having an opinion

[Mr. Scot]

Oh, and one last thing...

I was two points away from being released from this avatar and signature bet

One more field goal from us, or one less for the Saints, or one referee call overturned (which should have been, by the way) and I'd be free.

But nooooo

[HPPantherzfan]

Once again, great post Mr. Scot

[CanadianCat]

Ill read anything that Mr Scott posts. Always a 'smart' post

Well done

[Panths]

Even Double Trouble's TD dance is off lately...

[Seamonk]

Whatever happened to Duke Robinson? I figure even if he's overweight, he'd be hard to push around..

[CRA]

Moose Johnston pointed to some issues in play design this past Sunday. It's easy to forget that an OC not only calls the plays. He's also supposed to create them. Johnston pointed out that the inside motion of the receivers motion was actually bringing an extra defender into a box that was already stacked. Thus, it's worth asking what Davidson was thinking there.

(

What was he thinking there? That formation/play has been used in every game this season and last year. That is part of our base offense that we use on a weekly basis.....not just a 1 game thing put in for the Saints.

Every week announcers just point out the obvious flaws in what we do. Obvious to everyone but Fox.

[headcase]

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not feeling it with Marshall

Moose Johnston pointed to some issues in play design this past Sunday. It's easy to forget that an OC not only calls the plays. He's also supposed to create them. Johnston pointed out that the inside motion of the receivers motion was actually bringing an extra defender into a box that was already stacked. Thus, it's worth asking what Davidson was thinking there.

Again, going deeper, the best OCs categorize their plays as part of the overall gameplan. Some plays are geared to certain down and distance (3rd and long, 2nd and short, etc) while others might be designed to deal with a certain defensive approach. Like, say, going with wider formations when a team is stacking the box. Does Jeff Davidson do this? I'm not sure. I hope so, but looking at the results yesterday, it's hard to have confidence.

(

Marshall does seem to be the weaker of our CBs but that's because the other two are awfully good. Marshall is pretty good himself and is generally good help against the run (probably better than the other two, which would be one reason he's the "starter" ahead of Captain. Overall, we have a very good pass D especially considering the lack of pass rush, and Marshall is a big part of it being very good.

In regards to Johnston's remark. It was interesting but I also noted that it was Gettis coming down and he missed his block. The idea is probably too lock down on the LB and let the RB go against the CB, which he will probably win more often than not. On that play, it does look like if Gettis is able to make his block, the RB makes a big play. This is where we miss Moose and another reason our running game is suffering (not just the OL problem). Gettis has the size to develop into a good blocker (as does Lafell), but it doesn't seem that either is up to Moose yet.

We saw some improvement this last game in the passing game. I believe we will continue to see more quickly. Last game got off to a bad start with the communication problems and I'm sure that added to Jimmy's nerves. I expect we will see a much better game from him this weekend. Little worried about his passing motion which seems to me to make him shorter on his release and adds an extra half beat getting the ball out. But it's got good vision, smarts and toughness so I'm hoping that he's good enough to overcome that issue. Personally, i have yet to see anything from him that I'd call ugly. I was happy to see a little more signs of enthusiasm from him this last game.

Personally, I'm okay with us not having a great year. They are sticking with their guns on playing with the young guys they drafted and on developing them. In past years, there was a "win now" mentality that would lead to signing a Peete or a Vinnie in desperation. We could do that this year and probably win a game or two more, but they are obviously willing to not make the playoffs in order to stick with the young guns. I wouldn't call it "throwing the season" as Fox will do everything he can to win. Probably not his call to go "young." My guess is those are his marching orders and being a good soldier he's going to do it without whining even if he is boiling inside.

[The Saltman]

vanilla is vanilla and it is what it is at the end of the day.

[Guild]

Munnerlyn doesn't play nickle back.

He is third on the chart but Marshall defends the slot in the nickle formation unless they make a post snap assignment shift. Captain has played solid and should still have room to grow and most importantly we don't have anyone to demote him with now. We'll likely pick up at least one corner in the next draft though.