Panthers Watch 2009: Delhomme and Panthers take care of business
by David Fucillo on Nov 15, 2009 1:39 PM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintFor continued discussion of the afternoon games, including the Cardinals-Seahawks matchup, head to our game day thread.
Since the 49ers are off today, we're posting the Panthers Watch recap a bit earlier in the day. For those wondering what's up with this, the 49ers hold Carolina's 2010 first round pick, so we're keeping track of every Panthers game and subsequent effect on the status of that pick. After an ugly 0-3 start, the Panthers have really bounced back, going 4-2 since their Week 4 bye.
Week 10 - vs. Atlanta Falcons
Carolina jumped out quickly on the Falcons, rolling to a 14-3 lead. Michael Turner went down with a sprained ankle (from which he never returned) and Carolina seemed to be in good shape to pull out a somewhat surprisingly easy victory. Atlanta hung close though, and at one point had cut the lead to and had driven deep into Atlanta territory. However, Jason Elam shanked a 34-yard field goal attempt and the Falcons never recovered. Matt Ryan really struggled, finishing 22/41 for 224 yards 1 TD and an interception. Not awful, but he definitely struggled.
For the Panthers, just about everything worked out for them. The rushing game continued to excel for Carolina with Stewart/Williams combining for 174 yards on 30 carries. More impressive was a very solid showing by Jake Delhomme, who finished 15/24 for 195 yards and a touchdown. If Delhomme can consistently put those kind of games together, it would be huge for the Panthers (and of course bad news for the 49ers). Combine that with a very solid defensive showing, and the Panthers suddenly are on a bit of a roll.
We look forward after the jump...
Week 11 - vs. Miami Dolphins
Panthers Watch 2009 goes national, as the Panthers host the Miami Dolphins this Thursday on the NFL Network. Miami had a dog-fight this week against the resurgent Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be in for a tough fight in Carolina. What is most intriguing for the Panthers (and obviously the 49ers as well), is if the Eagles lose to the Chargers, the two wildcard teams will be 5-4. With the Panthers and 49ers at 4-5, suddenly a wildcard spot is not out of the realm of possibility.
A couple weeks ago, the Panthers seemed to be stumbling along and there seemed to be no easy stretch of the schedule. Given how some teams have been playing, these next three games don't look quite as daunting for the Panthers. They're certainly not gimmes, but vs. Miami, @ the Jets and versus Tampa Bay are not exactly the toughest matchups they could be facing. They close with a 4-game murderer's row (@ NE, vs. Minn, @ NYG, vs. NO), but they could still be 7-5 heading into that final quarter of the season. They could get knocked off before then, but it will be tough in the coming weeks.
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Who is going to tell rlott#42 that Eric Berry will not be a 49er?
Damn those Panthers! There is still time to hang a bogus drug test on the kid.
Eric Berry might still be a niner...
the panthers have one of the hardest schedules, and they still have stops in new england, NY, and minnesota. don’t lose hope yet…
"Lisa, Vampires are make-believe, like elves, gremlins, and eskimos." - Homer Simpson
"Aren't we forgeting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa?" - Bart Simpson
"Make crime pay. Become a Lawyer." - Will Rogers.
no
I linked to the old thread at the top. This is more just for discussion of the Panthers draft positioning and schedule going forward.
by David Fucillo on Nov 15, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions
Just makes that Falcon massacre look worse.
Maybe I oughta join their board and write a fan post declaring the Falcons will never win anything as long as the incompetent Arthur Blank is owner. What screen name should I use?
I don't think this one good Delhomme game is too much to worry about
If you look at the latter half of their schedule they are playing some monsters all who will quite probably be playing to win their division and such.
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Nov 15, 2009 3:09 PM PST reply actions
I'm play with this
Carolina will just now likely win six games instead of five. Which maybe changes that pick by two slots. I’m happy that Atlanta lost, which combined with Philly and Dallas losing, has tightened the NFC. Which is good for the Niners playoff prospects.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
playoffs
More coming on that tomorrow morning.
by David Fucillo on Nov 15, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions
Carolina only finishes with 6 wins?
I wouldn’t be so sure about that, they’ve looked pretty good since the bye, beating Arizona and Atlanta and nearly beating New Orleans. They’ve got a good shot at winning at least 2 of their next 3 games, plus you got to figure they’ll upset at least one of the tougher teams they play, and the Saints may be resting their starters in week 17 so they may pickup an easy win there. Honestly I think they’re not too much less likely to take a wildcard spot than the Niners.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 15, 2009 5:21 PM PST up reply actions
Carolina only finishes with 6 wins?
I wouldn’t be so sure about that, they’ve looked pretty good since the bye, beating Arizona and Atlanta and nearly beating New Orleans. They’ve got a good shot at winning at least 2 of their next 3 games, plus you got to figure they’ll upset at least one of the tougher teams they play, and the Saints may be resting their starters in week 17 so they may pickup an easy win there. Honestly I think they’re not too much less likely to take a wildcard spot than the Niners.
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 15, 2009 5:21 PM PST up reply actions
I think they win two of their next three
And perhaps not again. Yet I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost two of their next three. Playing the Saints close says they could win more. Losing at home to Buffalo says they should easily lose to Miami and the Jets. Remember that today they needed Atlanta to shank a short FG and lose Turner for the 2nd half. They’re not awful but they’re certainly not good.
When the season started I thought they’d win 6 or 7 games. After starting 0-3 I thought that might fall to five or six. Either way, below .500 means a top 12 pick. Niners were 7-9 and picked tenth.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
The Jets are losing again... and again... Carolina is better than the Jets right now.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
We still have to beat GB next weekend
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 15, 2009 9:16 PM PST up reply actions
I was not impressed with Delhomme
He never (basically) completed a pass more than 5 yards downfield. Everyting was little hooks and drags, and the Falcons kept playing their corners back. it was pretty frustrating to watch.
Also, the Falcons completely blew it at the end. The scored a TD to go down 2, then missed the 2 point conversion. They drove down again but Jason Elam missed a 35 yard chipshot that would have put them ahead. Still they stopped the Panthers and got the ball back on the 50, only to see Matt Ryan lob a terrible pass for a pick on the next play. They got the Panthers to 3rd and 5, but then Jonathan Stewart broke a 50 yard touchdown off. Had any of those plays gone different they might have won, but I guess that’s the way it goes.
Sidenote: This is why I thought it was silly when people were rooting for the Panthers against the Cowboys a month or two ago. The excuse was something like, “Oh well even one win puts them at 1-15 so we still get the first pick”. Didn’t work out that way did it?
by Brendan Scolari on Nov 15, 2009 5:18 PM PST reply actions
Playoffs more important that a few slots on a draft pick
IMO. If the difference is between #1 and #4, that could mean missing out on the guy. But when splitting hairs between #9 and #12, it means very little considering the Niners will be looking for a top talent at more than one position.
I also hope someone asks coach Smith why he went for two. It was way too early and at the end he would’ve only been down by eight, thus still with a chance to tie.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Colts fans are about to start crying
"Optimist Prime"
I'll say it over and over Crabtree was not the pick we NEEDED, at least until he scores with 100yds receiving.
spoke too soon
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 15, 2009 9:17 PM PST up reply actions
Yea, but that was pretty darn close, i’m hung on agreeing with that call because the Colts O was on fire in the 2nd half
You have to give your defense a chance
Everyone agrees that was that was an idiotic decision.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Nov 15, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions
It makes it easier to put criticise because he made so much hinge on one play, but if the probability of making it is high enough, the benefit you get in burning the clock if you make it is worth the risk of losing those 40-odd yards.
Teams don’t go for it on 4th down often enough to get the rate stats, but I don’t think it was an obviously idiotic decision. It still might be wrong, but I don’t have the knowledge/willpower to crunch the numbers and check out which move is better in terms of probabilities.
You wish you were named Frederick Deshaun...
Irresponsible
Risk not worth the reward. If you don’t think you r defense can stop them from 70 yards away in less than 2-minute, 29 yards is a guarantee. But I’m glad he did it, for all those who yell “throw the ball” when it’s third down n that situation. The assumption that a completed pass in the situation will happen is short sighted. That he put the entire game on one play instead of giving his defense a chance to make a play was bad coaching. Criticism couldn’t happen to a better guy.
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
not so sure about berry anymore...
did anybody hear about tennessee getting run all over for like 300 yards by one running back?
The 49 pick will be a #16 to #20...in that range
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
not right now
I’ll get an official draft/offseason thread back up later today.
by David Fucillo on Nov 16, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
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