Bigger Problem: Offense or Defense?

[Aframian]

Which of the two do you guys think is the bigger problem for us this season? I know that there isn't really much to say for either sides of the ball here, but I would have to go with the offense being our weakest point right now. As bad as our defense as been at closing out games this season, i think our offense is worse. Not only is our running game virtually non existing, but it also doesn't intimidate anyone. Without our running game we are just airing it out half that time, and aside from smith we have yet to really solidify a number 2 WR (not saying LaFell can't step up).

I just think that as bad as our defense has played in closing moments of the game, they have kept us in plenty of games, it is our offense that seems to choke whenever they need to pull a win. They can't convert when it matters, cant run when it matters, cant catch when it matters. The defense can't hold off a team forever when they are constantly going back after our offense keeps getting 3 and outs.

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought, Feel free to share.

[JawnyBlaze]

Our defense is actually quite good, it's just in the last couple of minutes in each game the coaching fails the players and causes us to lose games. The offensive coaching is usually terrible for all but a drive or two, so I think most would agree it's easily the offense.

I was just telling a friend of mine during the game this week (a Bucs fan) not to get too worried after our first good offensive drive, that we're only good for 1 or 2 of those a game. That our OC can only call 1 or 2 good drives before he reverts back to full retard mode for the rest of the game. It's like he's Cinderella and he can only be a princess once or twice a game, then his playbook turns back into a pumpkin.

[La Pantera]

Really? Think the answer to this question is pretty much known by ALL our fans.

[Davidson Deac II]

The defense fails only during crunch time, the offense fails most of the time. So the answer is fairly simple.

[CRA]

Last 5 losses....

Offense averages 13 pts a game.

Defenses is giving up 18 per game in regulation. Carolina would have been considered one of the best teams in the NFL last year with a defense like this.

[teeray]

Which of the two do you guys think is the bigger problem for us this season? I know that there isn't really much to say for either sides of the ball here, but I would have to go with the offense being our weakest point right now. As bad as our defense as been at closing out games this season, i think our offense is worse. Not only is our running game virtually non existing, but it also doesn't intimidate anyone. Without our running game we are just airing it out half that time, and aside from smith we have yet to really solidify a number 2 WR (not saying LaFell can't step up).

I just think that as bad as our defense has played in closing moments of the game, they have kept us in plenty of games, it is our offense that seems to choke whenever they need to pull a win. They can't convert when it matters, cant run when it matters, cant catch when it matters. The defense can't hold off a team forever when they are constantly going back after our offense keeps getting 3 and outs.

Just wanted to see what everyone else thought, Feel free to share.

It is the exact reverse of last year. Defense keeps us in games but can't close them if we get a late lead. Last year offense kept us in games but couldn't close them if we needed one more score.

[2jakefansinva]

the offense is so bad....it can't even help the defense close out games.

if the offense just sustains a couple drives in the 4th qt...... the defense is giving up even less points.

[stirs]

last yr problem defense

this yr reverse is true

[Bwood]

If you don't know the answer to this question, you haven't watched a single quarter of Panther football this season.

[Marguide]

Most disappointing to me is late in games when we can't run the ball at all even in jumbo sets. We have Stewart and Tolbert, both considered good short yardage backs, we have Hartsock who is a good blocking TE, We can throw Brockel in there. Yet when we need a few yards to close out games, we just can't do it. That forces us to make unnecessarily risky throws late in the game.

Our running game just has to be fixed, or this offense will never amount to anything.

[rayzor]

combine last years offense with this years defense and you have one of the most dominant teams in the league. we should have built on the success of the offense last year but instead of that chud decided to do something completely different. that's probably his long term plan. let the offense get used to something one year and then switch it to keep defenses head on a swivel. FAIL.

anyways....offense is the problem this year, not that the defense has been perfect at all, esp. late. hard to put a lot of blame on them, tho. the offense can't sustain very many meaningful drives which puts the defense back on the field without any time to rest. against the bucs was just a perfect storm. they had gotten beaten to death on that last drive and demoralized by a penalty flag that should never have been thrown and then having to get back on the field in overtime? they gave it all and still came up empty. that's got to suck, but that's what the offense went through last year.

[rayzor]

Most disappointing to me is late in games when we can't run the ball at all even in jumbo sets. We have Stewart and Tolbert, both considered good short yardage backs, we have Hartsock who is a good blocking TE, We can throw Brockel in there. Yet when we need a few yards to close out games, we just can't do it. That forces us to make unnecessarily risky throws late in the game.

Our running game just has to be fixed, or this offense will never amount to anything.

we essentially telegraph our run plays. we have a predictable offense that is just as bad as when davidson was here.

[Khaki Lackey]

Establishing the run requires patience. It wears out defenses. Just not in the first 5 minutes of play.

I know "ground and pound" and "Foxball" is considered non viable in the NFL today, but this team could actually pull it off. Especially with a QB that can make huge throws out of play action and take off when plays break down.

[King Taharqa]

The defense. They have much lower expectations hence them quitting or feeling like its a "bonus" to protect leads and close games. Our team is built to win predicated on our O putting up 30 every game which isnt realistic. Even when our D plays their best they still need our O to post 30 points. Other teams dont rely on their O for everything like we do. Their D's can actually go out and win games.