Blogger Q&A: Panthers Edition
by Jaxon on Dec 9, 2009 12:43 PM EST
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PrintHello Patriots fans and Pats Pulpit!
Jaxon here from Cat Scratch Reader. I thought I would get the Blogger Q&A posts kicked off on this Hump Day. BTW, you can read our Patriots Hump Day Prognotication here.
So I'm here to answer any questions you may have about my beloved Panthers leading up to our throw down on Sunday. I'll start with some quick hits on where we are at this point in the 2009 season and then address some of the obvious stuff:
- 3rd year QB Matt Moore should get his second straight start due to Jake Delhomme's broken finger on his throwing hand and I am glad. Moore wasn't steller in last weeks win over the Bucs but he played well enough to give us hope. The Patriots obviously present a better indicator as to whether this kid has a future as astarting QB.
- QB Jake Delhomme will always be one of my favorite Panther players but I think he has lost his mojo (and arm strength?) and its time for a permanent change. His large contract may keep him around another season but I', hoping its in a back-up role.
- RB DeAngelo Williams sat out last week and though it hasn't been announced I fully expect him to play this week.
- Since you guys passed on DE Julius Peppers (kind of) last offseason I'm hoping he is motivated to have a big game. He's played well this season at times (8.5 sacks) but he has been limited by a broken hand a couple weeks back. He may be 100% this Sunday though.
- We've got 10 guys on IR and some of them were key players. Regardless, at 5-7 we still have some hope for the post season but your guys could be the final nail in the coffin.
- I'd give my left nad to beat the Patriots this week (don't need it anyway - V). We are still sore about that SB loss. Hey, when you only have one appearance its hard to forget. The fact you are only 7-5 is slightly satisfying though 7-6 might make the season (for me anyway).
- Here's to hoping Brady is on diaper duty Saturday Night and comes to work a little foggy.
All in good fun Pats fans;) So I'm ready for your questions. I'll check back from time to time; someone will try to answer your quesitons. I have some avid readers who like to help out too.
One last request, err two. Can I get a couple Rec's to keep this post at the top? Q#2, can someone put up a similar post on my site for my readers? They enjoy the Q&A sessions.
Good luck on Sunday...no injuries ...and as always...Go Panthers!
The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.
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Thanks Jaxon
Rec’d and Q&A fanpost put up on your site by me.
Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit
Recced
Judging by how opposing teams have been beating us, how do you think you fair against us in these match-ups:
Your (apparently injured?) Pass Rush vs Our Injured O-Line
Your Receivers vs Our Secondary
Your QB vs Our No Pass Rush
I'm not the resident Panther Optimist...
…so I don’t think too highly of our receiving corps, even against a sub-par Pats secondary. A couple of reasons for that: poor overall QB play; inability of any receivers to get open; rare downfield passing that too often targets the slower WRs like Muhammad… So I think you’ll be able to keep our passing game in check. Or more accurately, we’ll keep it in check for you, you just don’t let anything big happen. Steve Smith is still fast and dangerous, and might just get a ball thrown to him that he can catch. But I’m not holding my breath.
Our pass rush may do well against your offense, though. We have fast, strong rushers who are opportunistic. We just don’t have many of them. Pep should be fine, the rookie Everette Brown is an impressive speed rusher, Tyler Brayton is a nasty multi-purpose guy, and Charles Johnson is an absolute monster with speed and lots of strength… when he gets reps. But CJ’s been out for a few weeks, and might not play again.
Steve Smith...
is he the odd-man out now that Delhomme can’t/won’t throw to him effectively? Enough so that they might jettison him next season in a trade for young blood/draft picks?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 10, 2009 3:03 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks Jaxon
My son’s an avid Panther’s fan, so he’s gonna pop in here and give us his take. Poor kid doesn’t get to see his team much in Minnesota, but he’s die hard.
How’s Mr. Moore’s deep ball?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions
Here I am.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
by panther no panth on Dec 9, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry bud, we don't get to see this on TV this weekend.
Hopefully, I can stream it.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
He's remarkably patient for 15.
The youngest one’s (Eagle’s fan) says
“It’s not easy to soar with Eagles when you’re surrounded by turkeys.”
Should I take offense?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe he just enjoys Thanksgiving?
You have an eclectic mix of football fans in the household.
Mom – Steelers
Dad – Patriots
Son #1 – Panthers
Son #2 – Eagles
Are you guys from Hawaii/some place with no team at all? Did you not allows the children to pick AFC teams?
Actually,
Son #1 – Vikings (We currently live in Minnesota)
Son #2 – Panthers
Son #3 – Eagles
Mom grew up in Iowa, no team there (the whole state seems to think the Hawkeyes are a pro team).
Dad grew up in Illinois, but spent 5 years in the military (where the whole Bears team changed except for the stupid owner and coach) and then moved to MN, where he couldn’t get into rooting for what was a division rival.
It just goes to show that you don’t chose who you are going to love. It’s a bug you’re bitten with.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions
We cover 5 out of the 8 divisions.
Which is cool. You get to know many teams that way.
No AFC/NFC West or AFC South. (Maybe when they get married?)
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions
That's when you get to play evil potential father-in-law...
Dole out your approval to the appropriate supporter. AFC West? Welcome to the family.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 9, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
Regarding Mr. Moore's Deep Ball...
SlotMachinePlayer & Panther no panth,
That IS the question for many Panthers fans. Truth is, it’s a little too early to tell right now. This week’s game will hopefully shed some light on that very question. He shows promise though. In last week’s game he was 1 of 2 on the deep ball, hitting Smith “in stride” nicely.
Because of the nature of our team’s approach to the game, (Run first), a good game typically has a 2:1 ratio run to pass, so the passing opportunities are more limited than what I would expect a Patriots fan is accustomed to. When Delhomme was in, the long ball was considered a viable option. (Albeit a typically unsuccessful one.) With Matt Moore, if last week’s game was any indicator, there seemed to be a reliance on the short pass. (Perhaps to settle him in? Not sure.) Which is why this week’s game will be so interesting for many of us. We want to see what he looks like against a better defense.
My personal opinion is that he has the accuracy and the arm strength for the long ball. I’d lke to see him air it out, just to get some footage on his deep ball.
As I said at the opening: It’s still too early to tell. It IS the question alot of us are asking, though.
Good question.
by 12th_Man_Fan on Dec 11, 2009 8:20 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn't say he hit Smith 'in stride', Smith did have to adjust and thankfully he was very open
and Moore didn’t float the ball such as Jake has been doing of late. I agree we are looking for moore (pun intended)
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I don't think it was us really passing on Pepper's so much as the price vs performance didn't make sense.
He’s making a mint in Carolina (Pats don’t have that kind of cap space), and there’s no guarantee he would transition well to a 3-4 OLB. We could definitely use some pass rush though.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 3:14 PM EST reply actions
I guess what I mean to say is that it isn't we didn't want him, so much as we couldn't get him.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah...I'm sure that had something to do with it
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I know Steve Smith and Mr. Mohammed.
Who are your other receivers and what can you tell me about them?
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions
Other receivers?
Well, let’s see…
We have Dwayne Jarrett — who is moving higher and higher up in the “WTF were they thinking” department every season. Seriously — he just hasn’t done much since he arrived. He can catch the ball when it’s thrown to him, but he can’t get open consistently, so he never gets anything thrown to him.
As for our other receivers, Kenneth Moore and Charly Martin — both don’t have enough playing time to really give any solid information. Martin is a PS player who has recently found time on the roster, and Moore hasn’t seen too much action on the field.
Our TE’s are serviceable — Rosario and Barnidge are better at receiving than King, but none of them stand out as spectacular. (If Rosario could block he would be a much better TE, and he comes across to me as a WR3 more than a TE.)
I would have to second BW's analysis on our remaining WR's
Kenny Moore is a mystery. He played well in the preseason but still gets few targets.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Do you think John Fox is going to go right back to Delhomme as soon as his finger is better?
He seems really attached to him.
Yeah I stole that from CSR, but the question is still valid.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 4:08 PM EST reply actions
For credit:
Here is the original link by bwsmith25.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
You do realize...
that you’re gonna have all the guys at CSR mad at me now, right?
It took them a week to get this image out of their brains when I originally did it. LOL
It's beautiful, man.
Great work.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 9, 2009 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
I like it.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
by panther no panth on Dec 9, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
This game could be titled:
The Pats and the Cats.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
by panther no panth on Dec 9, 2009 10:33 PM EST reply actions
Eh, I'll work on it.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
by panther no panth on Dec 9, 2009 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
Not bad.
The Cats and the Pats more closely parallels The Cat in the Hat, if that’s the sort of thing you’re going for.
Actually, a Panther with a hat might not be too bad an avatar.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 10, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions
Can we call this the Pat White Game?
PatCat?
by Richard Hill on Dec 10, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, if you can call it playing.
They throw him in for a few series here and there. Pretty much a failed experiment so far, but he’s a rookie so there may be upside.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 11, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
The Cats are coming to town
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 11, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
too damn funny!
The cat looks none too happy
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I love the Fu Manchu
but that cat’s eyes are soulless and scary.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Dec 11, 2009 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
well, yeah...
it’s plotting death by a thousand claws to whoever put that thing on its head
Keep the faith!
Hey Jax....
…just popped over here to do a little reading on the Pats and saw your post. Pretty cool. I like the premise and the tone.
If we have a game 1/2 as good as our Superbowl it should be fun on Sunday.
Of course I’m incredibly biased, but I still believe that XXXVIII was the best Superbowl of the last 10 years…. possibly 20.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
If it has the same outcome, I'll be happy.
The Pats haven’t been playing there best, and if they don’t win out there’s no need to talk about post season.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Dec 11, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
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