Panthers Watch 2009: Delhomme steps up again for the 49ers

by Fooch on Oct 25, 2009 5:00 PM PDT in News Comment 51 comments

Just when all seemed lost today, Jake Delhomme made sure 49ers fans could have something to smile about today. As a reminder to folks, the San Francisco 49ers hold the Carolina Panthers first round pick in the 2010 draft. Every Carolina loss is a 49ers win in this regard. We continue our weekly Panther watch with a sweet loss.

Week 7 - vs. Buffalo Bills
I have to admit, I was getting a bit concerned about the Panthers these last couple weeks. They had a comeback win over the Redskins and followed that up with a gutty win over a bad Tampa Bay Bucs squad. The Bills won last week but given their overall struggles this season, I had this marked up as a Panthers win. And then Jake Delhomme proceeded to work his magic. The Panthers kept things close throughout the first half, trailing 7-2 at the half. Although that was more than the 49ers scored, it was still another weak offensive showing by the Panthers. The second half wasn't any better as the Bills managed just enough offense behind a woeful Ryan Fitzpatrick to hold on for the win.

The key to this game was definitely Delhomme. The Panthers did manage some offensive drives, but Delhomme managed to blow it just about every time. This was vintage Delhomme. He put up huge yardage numbers (27/44, 325 yards) but also managed three interceptions and no touchdowns. The Panthers running game was certainly solid, but they just could not overcome yet another Jake Delhomme collapse. Unrelated to the 49ers, but Buffalo is all of a sudden 3-4 and back in the thick of the divisional race. I don't see them overtaking New England, but they have quietly hung around things.

Week 8 - @ Arizona Cardinals
The Panthers head on the road for the start of an incredibly tough November. They start out at the Arizona Cardinals, who might not be great, but are clearly better than the Panthers. For Arizona, this is a must-win game if they want to repeat as division champs. Upsets do happen in this league, but give how bad Carolina has been, I really don't see them keeping up on offense with the Cardinals high-flying attack. It doesn't get any easier after that as the Panthers will be traveling to New Orleans, hosting Atlanta and Miami and then heading to Tampa Bay to close out the month. Crazy things certainly do happen, but the Panthers could be staring 2-9 square in the face.

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Finally something good today

So who wants the Cards to win this one? or who wants the panthers to win?

I want the panthers to win….

by june8thjrat on Oct 25, 2009 5:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Likewise.

I’m hoping for a lot of Cardinal injuries against the Giants tonight.

by Bob On The Coast on Oct 25, 2009 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win -win

by Fifty NINERS on Oct 25, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey two top 15 picks next year

EYEROLL

"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
It's the Shogun!

by rlott#42 on Oct 25, 2009 5:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 25, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The John Fox Unemployment Watch Begins

Than again it’s going to be hard to find another coach for a team with no 1st round draft pick, aging stars and salary cap issues.

by bignerd on Oct 25, 2009 5:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As long as DeAngelo Williams has a good game....I'm happy

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

by chikmagnet_565 on Oct 25, 2009 5:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed, he had 22 for my fantasy team

by PiKAgiant on Oct 25, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to be fair

fitzpatrick is not woeful…the teams he’s played for were/are but he’s a decent # 2

by foosball4949 on Oct 25, 2009 5:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Being a decent #2 is woeful

When your being counted on to start.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 25, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I think being a “decent # 2” means you can carry a team for a few weeks if not an entire season perfectly competantly

by foosball4949 on Oct 26, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT

After the second half today it’s an eye-opener how bad the passing game has been this year. It’s like we were in a parallel universe. A bizarro world of no offense.

by Bob On The Coast on Oct 25, 2009 6:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

IKR

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Potential 5 game losing streak

"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
It's the Shogun!

by rlott#42 on Oct 25, 2009 6:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Potential 5 game winning streak

by june8thjrat on Oct 25, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

which is a higher chance?

"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco
It's the Shogun!

by rlott#42 on Oct 25, 2009 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would say losing streak

But hey, anything is possible. Im probably being way overly optimistic, but oh well i have dreams!

by june8thjrat on Oct 26, 2009 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now Goodell owes us twice

Once for the Jets tampering, and once for giving us the Bills-Panthers game. That was awful even while only occasionally flipping to it. Thank goodness for Gus Johnson. And the Red Zone channel.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Oct 25, 2009 6:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was so entertained with that game. Not good football but you had . . .

T.O. alligator arming sure fire catches
Steve Smith throwing tantrums when the coaches called plays for him
Fitzpatrick playing like a backup on a lucky streak
Jake Delhomme being Jake Delhomme
Panther RB trading plays where they limp off
Bills RB trading plays getting 2 yard runs
Turnovers galore.
Jaron and Fox trying to bad coach their team to a loss
and Gus Johnson . . .

by bignerd on Oct 25, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Felt like watching the '05 Niners play the '07 Niners

Only with more established players. And how does Jaruon still have a job? There has to be some assistant coach deserving of his first HC job over DJ. Poor people of Buffalo; what a long, depressing winter they must have.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Oct 25, 2009 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I watched this whole game looking for some solace after the Niners loss

And hey! I found it!
There was a lot to entertain—though like you say, it was not good football.
Every item on that list made this game qualify as entertainment, plus there were a few more:
The fact that the Cats had 425 yards to the Bills’ 167 yards—and that the Panthers lost
That Bills beat the Panthers and Jets while being outgained by 376 yards
That the Panthers’ QB depth is so bad JD is sure to continue starting, ensuring more losses
That the Bills ST were actually better than their opponents’, leading to the Panthers’ loss
Knowing that the Panthers would lose when Fitzpatrick hit Reed with a 4th Q bomb.

OK, those are really all the same reason—but it’s reason enough!

Morgan breaks through in 2009!

by grantmp on Oct 25, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"I'm no longer an asset to this team"

CarLOLina

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They can have their pick back but it’s going to cost them two offensive lineman.

by bignerd on Oct 25, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

their Oline kinda sucks this year

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not nearly as much as their coaching/playcalling does

The Cats were blowing the Bills off the line and yet their OC seems to always put the ball in Jake Delhomme’s hands. I will never understand why.

Morgan breaks through in 2009!

by grantmp on Oct 26, 2009 6:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer

Julias Peppers for a 2nd or our own 1st rounder. Probably a 2nd round since Peppers is getting old. But hell, with him maybe we can actually have gasp a 49ers pash rush?

by zlasher on Oct 26, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Peppers has said for a long time

that he wants to play in a 3-4. I don’t think he’ll be worth what we’d have to give up for him as I suspect he’d want Albert Haynesworth money.

by smileyman on Oct 26, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

Browns/Bills was so, so, SO much worse.

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 9:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

For Arizona, this is a must-win game if they want to repeat as division champs.

Really? They’re a game ahead of the Niners, probably even if they lose considering the Niners are going against the Colts next week. Granted, you wrote this before the Cards upset the Giants, and they should beat the Panthers, but they could definitely lose the game next week and take the division.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 25, 2009 9:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Panthers

Yea, part of it was expecting a loss tonight. But even still, you can’t be losing home games to the Panthers.

by Fooch on Oct 25, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll be rooting for Carolina next week

1. Eff the Tards

2. I don’t want their pick to be THAT high. 6-15 is fine, anything higher and it’s too much money for a guy who may not be worth it. No thanks. 6 might even be too high. Our best 1st rounders so far (Willis and Staley) were taken outside the top 10. Crabtree was right at ten.

Meanwhile, Smith and Davis were both basically top 5 picks, and while they look better lately, they weren’t really “worth it” at first.

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 9:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And

if Smith turns out to be (GASP) good, then we don’t need to worry about taking Locker or another QB, so a higher pick won’t be that necessary.

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I would rather have the Cards lose than go a spot up in the draft personally. They are in 1st now. We need all the help we can get in taking it back.

Yes we play the Colts and yes we will be at a disadvantage but they gotta lose sometime. That sometime could very well be against us. Jacksonville held them to 14 so it is possible. It’s probably asking for too much. Anyway, any given Sunday

by Drew K on Oct 25, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jax is a division opponent

those games are wayy different than normal

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 25, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A game is a game is a game

no different except for the outcome of division record. It’s still a football game no matter how you dice it up (11 players vs. 11 players). Way diff how? Cause they see one and other twice a year? gimme a break, you can’t seriously beleive that. Tell me you’re kidding please

by Drew K on Oct 26, 2009 1:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What the hell are you talking about?

You seriously don’t understand that division games are almost ALWAYS more hotly contested than any other game? Even crap teams like the Raiders and Chiefs usually show up for division matchups. Not every single time, no (the Chiefs got blown out by SD this week), but as a pattern, yeah, divisional games are more hotly contested and are closer, even if the teams involved aren’t very good.

Notice how the Colts have rolled over just about everyone they’ve played, but Jax played them tough- they always do. Jax sucks this year, but they still hung in there against a better team on paper. I’d be willing to bet that the Redskins surprise you tomorrow night by hanging tough in a game they should lose by a large margin because it’s inter-divisional.

Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs

by bondslegend on Oct 26, 2009 2:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah F**** the Cards go Panthers NIners NFC West Champs

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 25, 2009 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Time for the upset special Smith to Crabtree, Gore, Morgan, and VD let the Westcost Spread Offense begin.

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 25, 2009 9:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

lol

I’m just praying that we don’t get blown out haha

by Drew K on Oct 25, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah hopefully we can hang with them and maybe pull off a win

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 25, 2009 9:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That's all I hope

just that it never gets out of hand like it did in the first half of today’s game. Also the rest of the team needs to step up. Vernon’s not gonna get 100 yards and 3 TD’s every game… Mainly the offensive line. Smiths quick release seemed to give the line a bit more confidence but the run block was still way off

by Drew K on Oct 25, 2009 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah we need to replace the o line coach I think I heard he has a bad track record.

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 25, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

some of the blame has to be placed on the players. The coach is only accountable for so much

by Drew K on Oct 25, 2009 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Even hanging with them would be a good sign, plus it means there’s a chance to get a W.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 26, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I can’t believe how criminally unprepared the Panthers are for the possibility that Delhomme might need to be replaced. And I LIKE Delhomme as a player. He’s just not very good anymore. Not consistently, anyway.

I mean… what needs to happen for… uh… oh geez… whoever the heck Matt Moore is… to get in the game!?

Matt Moore? Wait. What? Well, I guess he’s better than A.J. Feeley….

I suddenly feel a lot better about our QB situation.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Oct 26, 2009 9:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs