Back to the drawing board?

[Cyberjag]

I'm not upset about the loss.  While a win would have been nice, a 12-4 record (which we will finish with) means that you have to lose 4 anyway, and frankly I would rather have this loss than the one we had to Arizona.  Win streaks end, blah blah blah...

 

But it's pretty clear that the main reason we lost was coaching.  We played well enough in spurts to demonstrate that we have the talent and style to beat the Saints.  We just got out-schemed and let them get into our heads.  So, figure you're Shula and McDermott.  What are you going to do differently in two weeks?  Give me a few ideas on what you think we can expect.

 

For one, I think on defense we dial up way more blitzes, and put Brees on his back.  We just didn't get pressure on him early enough, and he predictably made us pay.  Tell the rushers to focus on him, even if he makes a completion it should come with a cost.  By the end of the game he'll be hearing footsteps when none are there.  I expect that in two weeks.

 

What are a few other things you expect to be different?

[DaveThePanther2008]

Blitz is high risk, high reward.  Especially with Brees.  He has great vision and really is IMO the best in the league.  So if you are going to blitz everyone better cover their assignments because if we fail on the blitz a TD could not be too far behind.

 

But we also cannot let him sit back and pick us apart like he did last night.  So choose your poison.

[xerxes]

I had the opposite take away. We don't have enough talent in the secondary to compete with elite QBs and our oline isn't good enough to allow us to win a shoot out on the road.

Give Gettleman another offseason.

[Jackofalltrades]

Fire Rivera!

[KARASMATIC444]

we had the correct game plan just had it fail due to untimely penalties and some good pressure from the saints. we held them to a 3 and out and ran down the field and got a field goal. if that was a td that changes things. our game plan is dink and dunk and run the ball. we wanted to control the clock. you beet brees by not letting him have the ball. you need to get td and you need to burn the clock, then you win. once that did not happen i knew we were screwed. our down field passing game is one that need to be somewhat of a surprise to work. we cannot go to a chuck it down field all game mode because our ol cannot handle protection that long. once our d line spent to much time on the field they got gassed and had problems getting to brees who has a quick release and is not easy to sack. we killed  ourselves. Its not just coaching it has to do with execution and penalties as well. we just go away from our game plan too soon. I do however think Ron should have gone for it on missed field goal. but the other ones i think were the correct call at the time. 

[err456]

I can't see how anyone with half a brain would have thought the Saints would not have come out fired up and play well. Short week or not they play well at home. We have been due a game like this and have been very lucky not to have it before now. Ron better figure out how to beat the Jets. Losing last night was expected by most everyone except Panther fans. If we are who we think we are this lose will lead to firing up this young team and getting them on another run. It starts with the Jets. Forget the next Saints game for now. We loose on Sunday we are screwed.

[SpeedOFLight]

We will be fine. I knew the win streak will end sooner or later. I rather get it out now then lose in the playoffs. 12-4 still is a possibility. I think we will bounce back against the Jets and lay a whooping on them. When the Saints come to charlotte it will be a different ball game. We just had a bad night last night.

[Snake]

We simply don't have the talent to beat the saints in the dome. Maybe not even at home but our guys were getting out worked on both sides of the ball. At some point someone on offense has to step up besides Cam.

[*FreeFua*]

I think it's a combination of both (talent and coaching).

The need for a playmaker on this team has never been more evident than after last night. Olsen is a solid TE but once he has the ball in his hands he's like a deer in headlights. Looks like he'd run a 4.8 if you asked him to run at the combine next year. Smith is awesome to keep around for those intermediate routes (10-15 yards) he is still capable of that. But outside of him we don't have much.

LaFell is a slot guy, I've gone back and watch alot of his games and he's done almost all his damage from the slot. Ginn is a wildcard, he can stretch the field but it's almost 50/50 if he catches the deep ball or not.

Before this game it was no secret we didn't matchup well with the Saints. Brees likes chunk plays and throws it down field. Our Secondary is for the most part who we thought they were. To think your front 4 is going to hit brees every time he drops back isn't a gameplan. After last night, I think the money that could be used for Hardy would be better spent on the secondary. We have enough depth on DL and we need to start addressing the back end of the D.

Coaching, the only issue I had with Rivera was the FG attempt in the third quarter. The first two FG attempts are on Shula, he went conservative with the play calling when they got into the red zone.

Overall I think this team was a little scared to be honest. It was unrealistic to think we were going to sweep the Saints. However, now the road to the bowl goes through either Seattle or New Orleans for Carolina. Playoffs aren't a lock either. Teams that are trailing Carolina in the Wild Card won yesterday.

[UpstatePanther]

 So, figure you're Shula and McDermott.  What are you going to do differently in two weeks?  

 

McDermy is cool. Shula needs to go. his play-calling has been suspect all season. besides... my Dad and i noticed last night that Cam had legs of concrete. he just wasnt himself on the ground. it almost seemed as if the coaching staff told him to stay in the pocket. our offensive playcalling is 50% of the reason we are mediocre on offense. its repetitive, predictable, and bland. oh and the other 50%? execution. or the lack thereof...

[fjblair]

It was a bad game. It happens. You get beat that bad it aint coaching.