Eye of the Panthertag:www.realclearsports.com,2012-05-18:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//742009-12-31T16:12:26ZMovable Type Pro 5.11Panthers Favored By Three Over Buccaneerstag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.165022009-10-14T07:15:00Z2009-12-31T16:12:26ZThe Panthers have opened as an early three-point favorite to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.I expected the Cats to be favored by a bigger margin than that, but Carolina certainly hasn't been a juggernaut this year and the... I expected the Cats to be favored by a bigger margin than that, but Carolina certainly hasn't been a juggernaut this year and the game IS being played in Tampa Bay.
Both teams have struggled offensively this season, with the Panthers averaging just 14 points and 97 rushing yards per game and the Buccaneers averaging only 13 points and 94 rushing yards per game.
Look for the team that can improve on those numbers to win the game.
And that team should be the Panthers.... ]]>
Panthers Sign Former Appalachian State Startag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.165012009-10-14T07:10:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:27ZThe Panthers signed former Appalachian State star Dexter Jackson to their practice squad on Tuesday, after releasing wide receiver Jason Chery earlier in the week.A speedy 5-9, 180-pounder, Jackson starred as a wide receiver and kick returner on Appalachian State's... A speedy 5-9, 180-pounder, Jackson starred as a wide receiver and kick returner on Appalachian State's FCS national championship winning teams of 2005, 2006, and 2007 before being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Jackson played in seven games last season as the Buccaneers' primary kickoff and punt returner and may eventually get that same opportunity with the Panthers.]]>
Dramatically Improved Defense Key To Cats' Wintag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.165002009-10-14T07:05:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZA dramatically improved defense was the key to the Panthers' 20-17 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon.Under heavy criticism for their lackluster play in the team's first three games, the much-maligned Carolina defense responded with a solid performance... Under heavy criticism for their lackluster play in the team's first three games, the much-maligned Carolina defense responded with a solid performance on Sunday, shutting the Redskins down repeatedly in key situations.
The Cats allowed a couple of short-field touchdowns and a field goal, but held Washington to just 74 rushing yards and only 198 total yards in the game.
Newly-acquired defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was a major factor in the game as the big run-stopper played a huge role in shutting down the Redskins' running game.
Linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis and strong safety Chris Harris are now 100% for the first time all year and enjoyed fine games as well as did defensive end Julius Peppers and defensive back Richard Marshall.
Here's a quick look at some of the numbers those guys put up on Sunday: Beason: eight tackles, two assists, and one sack. Davis: five tackles, one assist, and a tackle for a safety. Peppers: five tackles and two sacks Harris: seven tackles. Marshall: five tackles.
Granted, it all came against a team of questionable quality in the Redskins, but if the Panthers continue to play defense like they did on Sunday, they can turn their season around and turn it around quickly.... ]]>
Panthers Rally To Beat Redskins 20-17tag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164992009-10-11T22:15:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZWell, it certainly took them long enough to do it, but the Carolina Panthers finally got their first win of the season on Sunday.And they did so in dramatic fashion.Trailing 17-2 in the game's third quarter, the Panthers responded by... And they did so in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 17-2 in the game's third quarter, the Panthers responded by scoring 18 unanswered points to come from behind and beat the Washington Redskins 20-17.
Held to just a safety (Thomas Davis tackled Clinton Portis in the endzone in the second quarter) until almost midway through the third quarter, the Cats awakened from their slumber when Kenny Moore returned a kickoff 55 yards to put Carolina in good field position and Jake Delhomme quickly followed up with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeff King, cutting Washington's lead to 17-9.
John Kasay subsequently added a field goal early in the fourth quarter, trimming the Redskins' advantage to 17-12.
The game's most dramatic and pivotal play came on a Carolina punt just over four minutes later, when the ball bounced off Redskin Byron Westbrook's foot and the Panthers' Dante Wesley recovered the ball at the 12-yard line.
Just two plays later, Jonathan Stewart raced into the endzone on an eight-yard touchdown run to put Carolina in front 18-17 and the Cats went up 20-17 when Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith in the endzone on a two-point conversion attempt.
The shell-shocked Redskins never recovered from the sudden and stunning turnaround, struggling all day to move the ball against a much-improved Carolina defense that held Washington to just 198 total yards in the game.
The much-maligned Jake Delhomme completed 16 0f 25 passes for 181 yards and a TD for Carolina, while Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammed each caught five passes in the game.
And how sweet the first win is....
Now 1-3, the Panthers have a good shot at winning four straight and taking a 4-3 record into a Week 8 showdown with the NFC South leading New Orleans Saints.
The Cats will take their chances from there.... ]]>
Panthers Set To Take On Redskinstag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164982009-10-09T07:05:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZA pair of teams in need of a win will go at it on Sunday when the Panthers play host to the Washington Redskins at Bank of America Stadium.Carolina comes into the game with an 0-3 record, while Washington comes... Carolina comes into the game with an 0-3 record, while Washington comes in at 2-2 (lackluster wins over the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and losses to the New York Giants and Detroit Lions) and neither team has been impressive in early-season play.
And Sunday's game is essentially a "must-win" game for both teams.
Carolina can't risk falling even further behind the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South and the Redskins can't afford to fall any further behind the New York Giants and/or Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
Let's face it, Panthers fans.
If the Cats are going to turn their season around, they have to start NOW.
Sure, they're 0-3.
And that's disappointing.
Anyone that knows anything about the National Football League, however, knew that an 0-3 start was at least a possibility, given the fact that the Panthers had to face the Philadelphia Eagles (a popular pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl) in their season opener and then play the Atlanta Falcons (another highly-rated team) and Dallas Cowboys on the road in games 2 and 3.
But now the schedule turns in the Panthers' favor.
Their next three opponents are the aforementioned Washington Redskins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Buffalo Bills.
NFL have-nots all.
Teams the Panthers not only could beat, but SHOULD beat.
Long gone are the glory days of the first tenure of Joe Gibbs in Washington and Marv Levy's days in Buffalo, when the Redskins and Bills were among the league's premier franchises. And the current edition of the Buccaneers is a far cry from Tony Dungy's and Jon Gruden's good Tampa Bay teams.
No, these are three teams the Panthers can beat.
Three games that they can win.
And have to win.
Starting with Sunday's game against the Redskins... ]]>
Panthers Add Veteran DTtag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164972009-10-01T19:37:49Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZThe Panthers signed veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas on Thursday.Known as a run-stopper, the 6-1, 340-pound Thomas spent 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, before playing the last three seasons for the New Orleans Saints.Thomas has played in 165 NFL... Known as a run-stopper, the 6-1, 340-pound Thomas spent 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, before playing the last three seasons for the New Orleans Saints.
Thomas has played in 165 NFL games, including 123 starts, and has made 670 career tackles.
The acquisition of Thomas should help shore up the middle of the Panthers' defensive line, which has already lost both Maake Kemoeatu (torn achillies tendon) and Louis Leonard (broken ankle) to season-ending injuries. ]]>
What A Difference A Year Makes...tag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164962009-09-30T21:10:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZThink things are going badly for the Panthers right now?You're right.They are.No doubt about that.But the Cats have plenty of company these days.In fact, FIVE of last season's eight division champions have losing records in 2009, including Carolina (0-3), Tennessee... You're right.
They are.
No doubt about that.
But the Cats have plenty of company these days.
In fact, FIVE of last season's eight division champions have losing records in 2009, including Carolina (0-3), Tennessee (0-3), Pittsburgh (1-2), Arizona (1-2), and Miami (0-3).
What a difference a year makes where the National Football League is concerned....
Is there time for the five winners-turned-losers to turn their seasons around and get themselves back on the winning track?
Sure, there's plenty of time for those five teams to get their acts together and turn their seasons around.
But NFL history isn't on their side.
Teams that struggle in early-season play usually continue to struggle throughout the year.
That's just a cold, hard fact.
And make no mistake about one thing.
All five of those teams (Panthers, Titans, Steelers, Cardinals, and Dolphins) have now played themselves into serious trouble.
Maybe one or two of them can overcome the odds and save their season(s).
But that's probably about it.
Brace yourself NFL fans, this year's playoffs are going to look a lot different than last year's.... ]]>
Cowboys Beat Punchless Panthers 21-7tag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164952009-09-29T03:55:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:26ZJust when you think you might see an exciting, interesting, and high-scoring NFL game, you get the exact opposite instead.That was certainly the case on Monday night when the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys met on ESPN's Monday Night Football.Two... That was certainly the case on Monday night when the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys met on ESPN's Monday Night Football.
Two of the NFC's most explosive offenses (when they're playing well anyway) managed just two touchdowns and scored only 28 points between them in a 21-7 Dallas win.
Carolina didn't unleash their vaunted running game often enough (DeAngelo Williams rushed for 64 yards in 11 carries - good for almost six yards per carry - but why only 11 carries???), and while Dallas was able to move the ball up and down the field, the Cowboys had plenty of trouble putting the ball into the endzone.
A pair of maligned quarterbacks, Jake Delhomme and Tony Romo, both completed 22 of 33 passes (for 220 and 255 yards respectively) but Delhomme had only one touchdown pass (a 25-yard TD toss to Dante Rosario that gave Carolina a short-lived 7-0 halftime lead) and Romo didn't have any.
The Dallas defense, which has also been maligned for their lackluster early-season play, played a LOT better than Carolina's "defense" (the Cats allowed a whopping 449 total yards), recording three sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions, including one that Terence Newman returned for a fourth quarter touchdown, sealing the win for the Cowboys, who scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to win going away.
There's really very little that you can say about the game from a Carolina perspective that would be positive in nature.
The Panthers have to start playing better.
A lot better. ]]>
DJ Will Camp On Roof Until Cats Get A Wintag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164942009-09-26T07:15:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZAs if the start to Carolina's 2009 season hasn't been strange enough on it's own, now comes word that Charlotte radio personality "White Shadow" of the Ace and TJ Show will camp out on the roof of the show's radio... "I know we've had a rough start to this season, but it really disappoints me to see all of these Panthers fans giving up hope." White Shadow said. "They're giving up hope and I don't like it, so I'm staying up here until the Panthers get a win."
That's certainly admirable on White Shadow's part, but this could really get interesting if the Panthers don't beat the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night because the Cats have a bye in Week 4 and don't play another game for almost two weeks (13 days).
That's a LONG time to spend on a rooftop, Panthers fans.
Forget about winning one for the Gipper, the Cats need to win one for the White Shadow! ]]>
Media Ramps Up Cowher-to-Carolina Rumorstag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164932009-09-23T21:15:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZWith the Panthers off to an 0-2 start and many Chicken Little types saying that the sky is falling in Carolina, the major news media has wasted no time in ramping up their "Bill Cowher will be the next coach... This week alone, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and the Sporting News have all featured Cowher-to-Carolina stories despite the fact that we're only two weeks into the NFL's 2009 season.
Fox NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw got the ball rolling on Sunday, saying "Bill Cowher wants to get back into the NFL and he will go to Carolina."
That statement set off the wave of stories that followed.
Such speculation is nothing new of course. We've been hearing it since Cowher resigned as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And it's true that Bill Cowher played his college football at North Carolina State, lives in Carolina, loves the area, and wants to get back into the National Football League.
There's just one problem with the Cowher-to-Carolina stories and rumors.
The Carolina Panthers already have a coach.
And he's a pretty good one.
Considered one of the best in the league in fact.
Is it possible that John Fox will be fired?
Sure, anything's possible.
But it's not all that likely.
Just last season, Coach Fox led the Panthers to an NFC-best 12-4 record and the NFC South title.
It's natural to speculate on possible coaching changes when Super Bowl winning coaches like Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, and Mike Shanahan, among others, are out there and available.
But that's all it is.
Speculation.
And nothing more. ]]>
Panthers' DT Sidelined By Broken Ankletag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164922009-09-21T21:10:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZThe Panthers lost another player to injury in Sunday's game against the Falcons and once again it comes at the position where they could least afford to lose a player.Already reeling from the season-ending torn achilles injury to defensive tackle... Already reeling from the season-ending torn achilles injury to defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, the Cats have now lost Kemoeatu's replacement, Louis Leonard, who suffered a broken ankle in Sunday's loss to Atlanta.
Leonard will be placed on Injured Reserve in the next 24-48 hours.
The loss of Leonard leaves Carolina with just one experienced player at the defensive tackle position, starter Damione Lewis.
Look for the Cats to add another experienced defensive tackle to the roster as quickly as possible. ]]>
Falcons Beat Panthers 28-20tag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164912009-09-20T22:55:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZWell, the good news is that the Panthers played a lot better against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 than they did against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.The bad news is that Carolina lost the game anyway.The game was... The bad news is that Carolina lost the game anyway.
The game was about what I expected for the most part, with both teams playing well offensively, but playing poorly (at times anyway) on the defensive side of the ball.
A quick glance at the stat sheet confirms that. The Panthers racked up 440 total yards against the Falcons' defense, while Atlanta rolled up 371 total yards against the Cats' defensive unit.
Jake Delhomme bounced back from his poor performance in the Panthers' season-opening loss to the Eagles by completing 25 of 41 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown, while Steve Smith caught eight passes for 131 yards, and DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 144 yards rushing and a touchdown for Carolina.
A razor-sharp Matt Ryan completed 21 of 27 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Falcons to the win, while Tony Gonzalez caught seven passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, and Michael Turner rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta.
The Falcons did a much better job of executing in the red zone than the Panthers did and that was a key factor in Atlanta's win. The Falcons scored four touchdowns in the game, while the Cats were able to put the ball into the endzone on just two occasions.
Still, the Panthers played well enough offensively to win this game.
Their defensive play is another matter, however, and remains a major concern.
You're not going to win many games in the National Football League when you allow 38 and/or 28 points in a game as the Cats have done in Games 1 and 2.
It's time for defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and the Carolina defense to start earning their paychecks... ]]>
Panthers Set To Take On Falconstag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164902009-09-19T04:15:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZIt's hard to call any game that takes place in just the second week of the NFL season a "must-win" game, but Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons comes about as close to that as you can get for the... The Cats come into the potentially pivotal game against Atlanta having played one of their worst regular season games in years in their season opener, a seven-turnover debacle that led to a 38-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Falcons come in off a somewhat lackluster 19-7 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Both teams enjoyed fine seasons in 2008, with the Panthers winning the NFC South with an impressive 12-4 record and the Falcons finishing a close second at 11-5. If they're going to duplicate those records (or even come close) in 2009, both teams are going to have play a lot better than they did last Sunday.
The Panthers played badly enough against the Eagles that their season-opening loss essentially becomes a "throw-away" game - learn what you can from your mistakes, then forget about the rest of it and move on - your season starts this week.
The Falcons, on the other hand, might be having an early identity crisis about right now. Expected to be an explosive offensive team this year, they weren't one in Game 1 as the Dolphins held both Matt Ryan and Michael Turner in check throughout the game. In contrast, an Atlanta defense viewed as potentially shaky by many around the league, played well in the 19-7 win over Miami.
So who are these Falcons??? Maybe we'll find out more about them on Sunday when they go against a Carolina defense that has been vulnerable throughout the preseason and in the Week 1 loss to Philadelphia. But their defense is likely to be tested by the likes of Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, and Jonathan Stewart.
The game projects as a good matchup between two very similar teams that run the ball well but show a lot of potential vulnerability on defense.
And it's likely to be won by the team that does the better job in terms of execution.
Certainly, the Panthers have to play better than they did last week to win this game.
The same applies to the Falcons... ]]>
Panthers Will Stick With Jaketag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164892009-09-17T04:15:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:25ZThe Carolina Panthers will stick with Jake Delhomme as their starting quarterback.You can count on that.After all, what other options do they have at this point?Backup quarterback Josh McCown suffered severe knee and ankle sprains in Sunday's opening game loss... You can count on that.
After all, what other options do they have at this point?
Backup quarterback Josh McCown suffered severe knee and ankle sprains in Sunday's opening game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and has been placed on Injured Reserve, effectively ending his season, and more likely than not, his time with the Panthers.
Newly-acquired A.J. Feeley is a career backup quarterback for the most part and doesn't know the Cats' system yet, so he's not a viable option at this point, if at all.
And third-string quarterback Matt Moore is just that, an emergency quarterback who is not prepared to be an NFL starting quarterback at this time and may never be.
So, the Panthers will stick with Jake despite the clamoring from many Carolina fans for a quarterback change.
And that might not be such a bad thing.
Sure, Delhomme had horrible performances in Sunday's loss to the Eagles and last season's playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and if he continues to play the way he did in those two games, he's going to be watching Carolina games from the sidelines, $20 million in guaranteed money over the next three years notwithstanding.
Odds are that won't happen.
Odds are Jake will bounce back and with a vengeance.
Why?
Because Jake Delhomme is a winner.
He's led the Panthers to a lot of big wins over the last seven seasons.
He's led the Panthers to an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl appearance, where he and the Cats came within a whisker of knocking off the heavily-favored New England Patriots.
And did you ever compare the Panthers' winning percentage when Jake doesn't start to the team's winning percentage when he does?
Let's just say that things haven't gone well for the Cats when Jake isn't in there and leave it at that because the Panthers' winning percentage without Jake isn't a pretty sight.
And speaking of the NFL's current crop of starting quarterbacks and their teams' winning percentage with them at quarterback, guess who's in the Top 10 among the league's 32 starting quarterbacks?
That's right.
Jake Delhomme.
The guy's one of the ten winningest quarterbacks in the NFL.
Right up there with guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, and Eli Manning when it comes to leading his team to wins in the National Football League.
And there's something to be said for that.... ]]>
Cats Sign A.J. Feeley, Place McCown On IRtag:www.realclearsports.com,2009:/blognetwork/eye_of_the_panther//74.164882009-09-15T04:55:00Z2009-12-29T22:03:24ZThe Panthers placed backup quarterback Josh McCown on Injured Reserve on Monday and agreed to contract terms with quarterback A.J. Feeley, pending a Tuesday morning physical.McCown suffered a sprained left knee in Sunday's opening game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles... McCown suffered a sprained left knee in Sunday's opening game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and is expected to miss up to six weeks, while Feeley will join the team immediately.
Feeley has played in 23 games and made 15 starts over five seasons with the Eagles and Miami Dolphins, completing 372 of 665 career passes for 4,070 yards and 27 touchdowns. ]]>