Bucs and Panthers- Sunday may determine which direction they are headed

[footballisasport]

Although I'm not Panthers fan per say, I strongly believe this team sold themselves short this season by not having the defense adabt a more fighting attitude. All the injuries that are supposedly affecting this team's defense should not cause them to play the way they have been all season. They simply seem to play without a real desire to win, IMO.

I seriously had confidence that this team could at least break even in the w/l catagory in the beginning of the season. I seriously was not expecting to see they kind of games where no matter how hard the offense played the defense made seem to make it their business to lose. It was like watching a Tale of Two Cities. And, I also believe many of u guys cut ur defense way to much slack while expecting way to much out of ur offense, especially ur QB. As Cam has shown all season, despite his personal accompishments a QB is only as strong as the other 23 guys who show up to help him play.

I'm hoping today's game is a good win for this team. The offense have shown that they can stand up to their challengers this season. I just wish the defense would adapt the same attitude and put up a more consistant fight against their challengers.

[SteveSmithTD89]

fug that. Throw at smitty all game. Give the man his 10K. Its a shame he didnt get it in Indy. I expect a big game from him. You know he wants this, and you know he hates Talib

[Achilles]

I don't think it matters that much who's injured for the Bucs. Both teams' defenses have been desimated by injuries...we are both playing 3rd stringers at starting positions (as does nearly every team in the course of a season).

The key here will be execution. Both teams have had a hard time with that. Turnovers and penalties have been major setbacks. Which defense will profit more from the other team's mistakes? Which QB will execute better?

Well...right now Cam is playing pretty well. I think it is likely that he will account for 3 or more TDs in this game. The question is, will he turn the ball over? Probably. If he can maintain a +2 TD to TO margin, I think the offense will roll on TB. We could score 30 pts.

QB is still a question for TB, so there may not be consistency no matter who starts. Can we get the pass rush going? It has been a problem for the last few weeks. Obviously, Blount is a bruiser who doesn't go down easily, very much like J-Stew, god knows if he gets 1 on 1 with any of our DBs its a sure TD. He regularly breaks loose for 60 yds. The key will be forcing turnovers. If the Panthers maintain a positive turnover margin, they will dominate possession. That is the only way we don't give up 24+ points. Hold them to less than 20 and this game could be easily in hand.

THis game could be a stinker (low scoring, lots of TOs) or a squeaker (comes down to the last play), but I think the Panthers have the momentum between these teams and will get the matchups they want on offense. On defense I think we will get numerous first half stops, but concede some yds and pts in the second half.

My prognosis: Panthers 14-6 halftime lead. Panthers hold on 30-23.

[CarolinaPanthers2K11]

Although I'm not Panthers fan per say, I strongly believe this team sold themselves short this season by not having the defense adabt a more fighting attitude. All the injuries that are supposedly affecting this team's defense should not cause them to play the way they have been all season. They simply seem to play without a real desire to win, IMO.

I seriously had confidence that this team could at least break even in the w/l catagory in the beginning of the season. I seriously was not expecting to see they kind of games where no matter how hard the offense played the defense made seem to make it their business to lose. It was like watching a Tale of Two Cities. And, I also believe many of u guys cut ur defense way to much slack while expecting way to much out of ur offense, especially ur QB. As Cam has shown all season, despite his personal accompishments a QB is only as strong as the other 23 guys who show up to help him play.

I'm hoping today's game is a good win for this team. The offense have shown that they can stand up to their challengers this season. I just wish the defense would adapt the same attitude and put up a more consistant fight against their challengers.

I think the D is fighting as hard as they can... They just aren't that talented. Our DTs in the middle are getting pushed around like kids. Our LBs just aren't fast enough to cover WRs and TEs... and our secondary has problems form tackling and taking the appropriate angles. Constant wiffs and broken tackles.

fug that. Throw at smitty all game. Give the man his 10K. Its a shame he didnt get it in Indy. I expect a big game from him. You know he wants this, and you know he hates Talib

I agree. We aren't playing for a winning record, so play to chase records. Give Smitty his yards, and let Cam have his as well!

[Davidson Deac II]

Tampa has a pretty good running game. I think they will use it more than usual today, and we will struggle to stop it. Both teams will score in the 20's and it will come down to the last two minutes.

This game will not impact how either team will play next season.

[panthers55]

The defense is still playing hard that is obvious. The issue with the defense is we are shuffling guys into different positions every week and they are often guys with little game experience. This defense is a high accountability defense meaning when we blitz, the remaining guys not blitzing have to be where they are supposed to be and be fundamentally sound. If one guy is out of position, it opens up a hole which can be easily exploited. Plus due to injuries and lack of adequate personnel, we have had to dial back the pressure and go more vanilla which exposes our secondary and linebacker issues.

Going "easy" on the defense is simply recognizing the issues and limitations, not being fine with their perfomances. Next year the bar will be raised quite a bit. But it is too late to change horses in the middle of the stream, this is where we are, and we will play out the last 5 games which what we have. Bitching about how bad they are isn't going to make them better.

[CarolinaPanthers2K11]

The defense is still playing hard that is obvious. The issue with the defense is we are shuffling guys into different positions every week and they are often guys with little game experience. This defense is a high accountability defense meaning when we blitz, the remaining guys not blitzing have to be where they are supposed to be and be fundamentally sound. If one guy is out of position, it opens up a hole which can be easily exploited. Plus due to injuries and lack of adequate personnel, we have had to dial back the pressure and go more vanilla which exposes our secondary and linebacker issues.

Going "easy" on the defense is simply recognizing the issues and limitations, not being fine with their perfomances. Next year the bar will be raised quite a bit. But it is too late to change horses in the middle of the stream, this is where we are, and we will play out the last 5 games which what we have. Bitching about how bad they are isn't going to make them better.

^ Truth!