BUT CAROLINA'S PROBLEMS RUN DEEPER THAN QB
There's been an awful finger-pointing occurring in Panthers camp these days.
Charlotte's weather last Monday following a 31-6 home defeat matched the mood of Carolina fans perfectly: foggy and gloomy.
The team had stumbled and bumbled its way to a 4-7 record and Charlotte Observer columnist Tom Sorensen wrote the Panthers “don't have the worst record in the NFC, but they have the worst team.” Sorensen also wrote he wanted a reason to watch the Panthers.
Well, the Panthers finally gave the fans something to cheer about on Sunday dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 31-14.
While, that victory may be enough to appease the fans, the Panthers problems run deep. A lot deeper than the target of most of their finger pointing: QB David Carr.
During Carolina’s 31-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the fans that remained in a nearly empty Bank of America Stadium erupted with the chant “We want Moore.” That would be rookie QB Matt Moore (Oregon State), who saw playing time in the fourth quarter. The following day, Columnist Scott Fowler wrote “for the rest of the season, [coach John] Fox's quarterback decision should be as easy as ABC [Anybody But Carr].”
This is a short-sided viewpoint that many fans have taken. David Carr is a problem. Carr’s had development issues since joining the league in 2002. But he’s only one problem in a slew that’s crippling Carolina.
First of all, the Panther defense has been soft. The “D” struggled all season and can’t get pressure on the opposing teams quarterbacks. The Panthers have a meager 15 sacks on the season; six sacks came against San Fran. The secondary hasn’t helped much either, gathering just 12 interceptions this year, half of those also coming against the Niners.
On offense, the O-line has been bipolar with porous pass protection one week and great protection the next. Running backs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams have only two 100-yard plus rushing games all season, albeit the backs are splitting carries. And wide receivers Steve Smith and Keary Colbert, No. 1 and 2 on the depth cart, are accountable for a dozen drops on the year. That’s something a quarterback can do nothing about.
Fowler and company have gotten their wish. It appears the Panthers will play the remainder of the season without Carr. However, things are going to get worse before they get better for Carolina team that’s lost its identity. The Panthers have a brutish stretch run starting with Jacksonville and containing Seattle, Dallas and Tampa Bay.
The Panthers’ long season is about to get longer.
2 comments:
I would venture to say the 49ers are worse than the Panthers. I don't remember what your thoughts were on Alex Smith coming out of college, but I am to the point that he will never be a star in this league. To me it seems like QB's are hit and miss and it's really important to find a QB who is cool as a cucumber and has a strong arm and I don't see either of these qualities in Smith. He has been hurt this season, but he does not seem to manage a game or communicate with his teammates. He's sort of a non-factor. Also, he doesn't ever smile which tells me what he is doing is not fun for him. It's a bummer because Frank Gore is such a solid running back and he could use some leadership from the QB.
The 49ers certainly have a worse record and they have loads less talent than Carolina, but I think San Francisco has a better “team.” I’m not around the Bay so I don’t have a good feel on how the Niners’ players mesh together, but in Charlotte there’s very little camaraderie, players are unhappy and have been running their mouths off all season.
In 2005, I liked Alex Smith and thought he could be a good starting QB in the NFL. I’m not sure I thought he could be a star, he doesn’t have good natural feel for the game. But I know I liked Smith more than USC’s Matt Leinart (who I think is overrated). Smith is a student of the game, so I thought he could develop into a good caliber starter.
Your observation on QB’s being hit and miss is a good one. But you also need to look at the situation they are being thrown into. Both David Carr and Smith were thrown into impossible situations and expected to win with nothing. Unlike other young QB’s, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, who were had support (good defense and great running attacks). With the nagging injuries this year, I’m staving my verdict on Smith, but he probably won’t be a superstar. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t win games and take teams to the playoffs.
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