Four years in a row...

[manbearchef]

That's four years straight that we as Panther fans can (realistically) look forward to April, as opposed to January. I know it's only week 5, but let's be real. It's going to take 10-6 to get playoffs, and based on the fact that we've lost to 4 NFC teams, we probably wouldn't win any tie-breakers.

It's so difficult to watch considering we all know what this team can look like when it's clicking on all three sides of the ball. Coaching, defense, and special teams typically kill us, but today it was sadly our offense.

I expected a loss this week at the defenses expense (we had two out of five reliable starters out), but I can't believe the offense was that bad. I've never seen Smith drop multiple passes in a game. I've never seen a TE get that open for the entire game and not get a pass thrown his way until the 4th quarter. I've never seen our run game look that pathetic. I've never seen so many fumbles at such crappy times. I've never seen such terrible blocking (though, credit is given to Seattle for their DL). I've never seen Cam shaken up like he was this game.

I realize I'm mostly just having a bitter rant, but I'm truly hoping huge changes are made this off-season. If we are no longer using our bazillion dollar back-field, why are we keeping them around? Mike Tolbert could be so effective if we actually used him. Why are we keeping around a GM who's barely done anything good for us in the time he's been here.

On topic of Hurney, in the last few years, he hasn't drafted much talent outside of the first round. He's screwed so many trades it's not even funny.

As a Panther fan, I've come to terms with the fact that we rarely make playoffs. All I'm asking for is a team that will at least LOOK like it's contending for a spot.

[Killakatsfan]

I hope Rivera is fired before the end of the season. I know he is limiting Chuds play calling. He's a D minded coach. I bet he using the "How to lose a Football game for dummies" by John Fox. I hate conservative play calling. I wish they can that gutless excuse for a HC and let Chud run the team. Our run game sucks mostly because our Guards suck. Thats Rons fault. He chose to stick with a small school rookie. I hope Hurney is fired too!

[N.E.PanthersFan]

That's four years straight that we as Panther fans can (realistically) look forward to April, as opposed to January. I know it's only week 5, but let's be real. It's going to take 10-6 to get playoffs, and based on the fact that we've lost to 4 NFC teams, we probably wouldn't win any tie-breakers.

It's so difficult to watch considering we all know what this team can look like when it's clicking on all three sides of the ball. Coaching, defense, and special teams typically kill us, but today it was sadly our offense.

The offense has not looked like they did last year this entire year. Blaming it on coaching, defense, and special teams is simply unfair. Our losing this year has been a team affair. This offense should be putting up ~30 points a game, but they're not. The defense is actually doing better than expected. The special teams is worlds better than last year. The coaching truly isn't that bad, especially for a head coach in his second year. I mean, ****, expecting a coach to lead a team to the playoffs in his second year gets us all excited, but how realistic is it really?

I expected a loss this week at the defenses expense (we had two out of five reliable starters out), but I can't believe the offense was that bad. I've never seen Smith drop multiple passes in a game. I've never seen a TE get that open for the entire game and not get a pass thrown his way until the 4th quarter. I've never seen our run game look that pathetic. I've never seen so many fumbles at such crappy times. I've never seen such terrible blocking (though, credit is given to Seattle for their DL). I've never seen Cam shaken up like he was this game.

I realize I'm mostly just having a bitter rant, but I'm truly hoping huge changes are made this off-season. If we are no longer using our bazillion dollar back-field, why are we keeping them around? Mike Tolbert could be so effective if we actually used him. Why are we keeping around a GM who's barely done anything good for us in the time he's been here.

On topic of Hurney, in the last few years, he hasn't drafted much talent outside of the first round. He's screwed so many trades it's not even funny.

As a Panther fan, I've come to terms with the fact that we rarely make playoffs. All I'm asking for is a team that will at least LOOK like it's contending for a spot.

This team isn't that far away from contending for a playoff spot, and, hell, even the Super Bowl. We've seen what this offense can do when it's firing on full cylinders. We've seen that this defense CAN shut teams down. We've seen a much-improved special teams unit. But this team is still YOUNG. No amount of veteran leadership is going to overcome pure experience deficit.

This team is one hop away from being among the most feared teams in the NFL, but they need to figure out what that hop is. Frankly, they need to discover who they are if they want to figure that out. This year needs to be about discovering their identity.

I hope Rivera is fired before the end of the season. I know he is limiting Chuds play calling. He's a D minded coach. I bet he using the "How to lose a Football game for dummies" by John Fox. I hate conservative play calling. I wish they can that gutless excuse for a HC and let Chud run the team. Our run game sucks mostly because our Guards suck. Thats Rons fault. He chose to stick with a small school rookie. I hope Hurney is fired too!

Wow, talk about overkill and completely unrealistic. You're in so many places with this post that it'd be comical if I didn't know you were serious. Whether you think the play-calling is conservative or not is irrelevant. The fact is the PLAYERS aren't executing. I haven't been terribly upset with most of the play-calling. I was bothered by how often we were using the read-option earlier in the season, but I didn't see too much of that today.

Calling Rivera gutless is straight-up stupidity. I mean, are you thinking back to the Falcons game? If not, what are you talking about? I didn't see anything in this game that would make me think Rivera is gutless. I thought he made the right decision in the Falcons game too.

Our guards suck? That's Rivera's fault? Going with a young rookie instead of an overpaid veteran is Rivera's fault? How does any of that make sense? Wharton was a very good player. Where's he now? Oh, he's on IR. Silatolu will take a bit to reach his potential, but that's an acceptable risk, especially if he makes the jump and plays lights-out next year.

Hangartner is as good a guard as we have on our roster. That might not seem like much, but if we have someone better than Byron Bell to his right, he's likely able to achieve a much higher level of play.


Let's take a look at the big picture. Ready? I mean, are you seriously ready, or are you just gonna whine some more?

Offense: A million times better than 2010. Worse than 2011, but moving in the right direction overall. This is an offensive unit that is being held back by its inability to convert on 3rd down. Turnovers aren't helping either.

Defense: Many times better than 2011. We're actually getting pressure on opposing QBs and the run defense has shown that it CAN get the job done. The big hurdles are consistency and a secondary that has the potential to play so much better than they have.

Special Teams Coverage: Unquantifiably better than 2011.
Special Teams Returns: Roughly equal to 2011.

I mean, all signs are that we're moving in the right direction. I understand that many fans want more, but we finished 2-14 in 2010. This is not a 2-14 team any more, but that requires that the team put the pieces together and get the job done.

[manbearchef]

Oh well. I guess I'm just hoping for an interesting season. I know it's stupid to ask at this point, but has there ever been a 1-4 team make playoffs? I'm not one to give up on the team (or even hope they tank for a better draft pick), but it's pretty obvious we're looking at a pick no worse than 10. The team has the talent to go undefeated the rest of the season if they got their crap together, but obviously that's unrealistic given the youth and coaching youth. I guess here's to A.) an unexpected winning streak, or B.) Best defensive player in the draft.

[NCBoSoxfan21]

I just want Lotulei and Hankins in the draft...

[N.E.PanthersFan]

I'm sure there have been 1-4 teams in the playoffs. That said, I wouldn't hold my breath and you nailed the reason: too much youth and inexperience to make a run right now. Like you said, so much of the talent is there, but putting that together will take time. And, frankly, we are still missing a few pieces.

[Killakatsfan]

Let's take a look at the big picture. Ready? I mean, are you seriously ready, or are you just gonna whine some more?

Yes, I'm ready for this team to start consistently winning! I have every right to whine and demand Rivera's head when the team I love gets embarrassed. Ok... i'm finished whining. I know this team is young but I believe the overall product we see on the field has a little more to do with the coaching/game management/play calling than inexperience or youth. Why do we have to use a gimmick offense? Its kind of embarrassing. Granted we have had some success with it I can't see it getting us very far. I'm just frustrated beyond words. I did call Rivera gutless because of the ATL game. It is premature to go there but I just get the feeling he's the kind of coach to play it conservatively.

My intention is not to argue with any fellow Panther fans on here. Just Vent!

[N.E.PanthersFan]

And venting is fine, but I don't think things are as bad as they seem in terms of what needs to be corrected to get to the point where we're winning consistently. I've been really bummed this year too. I thought the offense would carry over from last year and it hasn't. I thought the defense would improve a lot more than it has. I'm just as baffled as you about the play-calling on both sides of the ball. Without being out there at practices or in the lockerroom, I can only speculate as to why they might be making the decisions they are. That's true for all of us: all we can do is speculate. Frankly, that's not really fair to the coaches. If we knew what they knew, we might be making the same decisions.