49ers vs Panthers: Five Questions with Cat Scratch Reader
by David Fucillo on Oct 22, 2010 7:00 AM PDT
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The 49ers enter their week seven matchup with the Carolina Panthers looking to get a winning streak together for the first time since the end of last season. The 49ers are in the midst of a stretch of games that they simply have to win if they want to get back into the NFC West playoff race.
We're back this week with five questions, this time with Jaxon from Cat Scratch Reader. The Panthers are currently 0-5, but sometimes that creates a level of desperation that makes a team all the more dangerous. Check CSR out this week to get all your Panthers info, but in the meantime thanks to Jaxon for taking the time to answer a few questions.
Fooch: Can you explain what seems to currently be a fairly ugly QB situation? The team gave Jimmy Clausen some starts but now they're back to Matt Moore. Do they feel Clausen isn't ready?
Jaxon: It's mainly because Matt Moore did not perform as expected. If he doesn't throw so many INT's in the first two games he probably keeps his job and Clausen is simply an afterthought holding a clip board. As it stands I imagine Fox had hoped Clausen could do a better job but that was really wishful thinking given the offensive line has taken a serious step back. Though Clausen didn't throw as many INT's at Moore he failed to drive the offense. Now Fox feels the more experienced guy is the way to go and that hopefully Moore has settled down after observing for a couple games. We are hoping for a return of the Matt Moore that went 4-1 down the stretch last season.
Fooch: Steve Smith participated in practice yesterday and would seem likely to play on Sunday. If he goes do you think he can make a significant enough difference for this offense, or will you guys really need to have Williams/Stewart have a strong game to make things happen?
Jaxon: Smith is a difference maker if we can get him the ball. Moore has a better chance of doing that than Clausen I would say. I would still expect the 49ers to stack the box to stop the run because both Williams and Stewart are too dangerous to take it the distance. The Panthers would be happy to simply hand the ball off 30+ times if the 49ers prove unable to stop the chains from moving. I would be surprised in that even though so getting Smith involved early is going to be key to the Panthers keeping the 49ers from loading up the box.
Fooch: On defense, it looks like your linebackers are incredibly solid. What are the strengths for the Panthers defense?
Jaxon: The strength is certainly the LB's as you pointed out. You might recall Jon Beason was moved to WLB when Thomas Davis re-injured his knee in camp. He's played at his usual high level but it's the other two guys that have impressed. Dan Conner (All-time leading tackler at LB U - Penn St) moved into Beason's spot and has played with high intensity and toughness. 5th yr player James Anderson has been a surprise performer at SLB as prior to our bye week he was leading the NFL in tackles. The front line has been pretty good against the run and the secondary has been very opportunistic with 9 INT's in 5 games. The strength though lies with the LB's easily.
Fooch: Even as the 49ers were dropping to 0-5, we were hearing people say the 49ers were one of the better 0-5 teams ever (a fairly meaningless comment since the 49ers were still 0-5). Are the Panthers as bad as their record would indicate, or is there anything else to which one could attribute the losses?
Jaxon: I did think we were better sitting at 0-2, then 0-3 and even 0-4. But once 0-5 hit it was obvious this team had a number of problems and that they are not nearly as good as we had thought or hoped. To lose to the Bears by 17 points after getting 4 INT's from the defense was a huge cold bucket of reality. That said I think we have enough talent to turn things around for next season with a couple key FA acquisitions and high draft picks. So I don't think this franchise will be a bottom feeder for long.
Fooch: John Fox has had 3 winning seasons interspersed with a lot of 7-9, 8-8 seasons. What does he bring to the table at this point and how much longer can Panthers fans expect him to stick around?
Jaxon: Fox is a dead man walking as nobody expects him to return next season. The owner has refused to discuss an extension and has given no vote of confidence to Fox at any point this season. I personally love DC Ron Meeks and hope somehow he and the defensive staff are retained but I'm not expecting it.
To be fair to Fox he has been dealt a piss poor hand. GM Marty Hurney was forced to dump a number of high $ veterans in what we call ‘the purge' with the notion we had younger (and cheaper) players ready to step up. That worked on the defensive side of the ball for the most part but the offense is obviously in shambles. Fox tried to put a positive spin on it but it's well known he prefers to play veterans to a fault (He started DeShaun Foster over Williams for two seasons!)
Fox is easily the most successful coach in franchise history and will certainly end up somewhere else quick. I still think he's is a good coach but his run-first preference for an offense seems to be outdated from rule changes designed to help the passing game. So it will be a sad farewell but a fresh start to get excited about next season.
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Gotta say Cat Scratch Reader has a Stranglehold on the title of the best blog name I’ve seen on SBNation.
by Rod Blogojevich on Oct 22, 2010 8:42 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
The name is ok
but I was going to say the logo is pretty cool (except the part that the panther has 5 and a half claws). I’m not even sure what the NN logo is?
I know, thanks
but I meant, what does it mean?
it’s clear what the cat scratch reader logo means, it’s a panther
skyline
It’s the San Francisco skyline. The triangular building is the Trans America building.
by David Fucillo on Oct 23, 2010 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Some of these answers seem awfully familiar
“I did think we were better sitting at 0-2, then 0-3 and even 0-4. But once 0-5 hit it was obvious this team had a number of problems and that they are not nearly as good as we had thought or hoped. "
“Fox Singletary is a dead man walking as nobody expects him to return next season”.
“Fox Singletary tried to put a positive spin on it but it’s well known he prefers to play veterans to a fault (He started DeShaun Foster Moran Norris over Williams anyone for two seasons!)”
“Fox Singletary is easily the most successful coach in franchise history the last eight years and will certainly end up somewhere else as an assistant quick. I still think he’s is a good coach but his run-first preference for an offense seems to be outdated from rule changes designed to help the passing game. So it will be a sad farewell but a fresh start to get excited about next season.”
How is Everette Brown shaping up as a DE?
I remember when he was supposedly on a level with Maybin and Orakpo prior to the 2009 draft—and then he dropped down to the second round…and the Niners still passed on him. I loved that guy’s spin move, but haven’t heard much from him since college. Any thoughts?
Also, if your LBs are the strength of the defense, which do you feel is more of a liability—the defensive line, or the secondary?
Start the young ones early, I always say.
twitter me @grantmp1
Everette Brown...
…came out of college as a classic ‘tweener, as did Orakpo. However his talents may have been better suited to OLB in a 3-4 defense, as Orakpo has been used by the Redskins. Brown’s speed and spin move have been mostly neutralized by much larger OT’s who have the technique to counter his abilities…and his lack of size is proving to be a liability in run defense.
I believe the Panthers thought he would become a Freeney or Mathis clone with 15-20 more punds of muscle, speed, and motor, but thus far, it hasn’t translated. He needs to develop more power and another move or two. I think they’ll give him through his 3rd year to show whether he’s a good fit for this version of the Tampa 2.
Which is more of a liability? That’s really hard to say. Our run defense (other than against Forte) has been a pleasant surprise…but our showing during preseason rushing the passer (19 sacks in 4 games) just hasn’t shown up during the regular season. Our secondary has helped to pick up the slack with all the interceptions, but there have still been a few blown coverages and containment from our safeties.
So I suppose I’m saying each of the first and 3rd levels of our defense have shown flashes of brilliance in one aspect of their responsibilities, but each has shown holes. That being said, if we can generate more of a pass rush (and sacks), we’d have more passes defended and, I dare say, more interceptions. So our DLine need to step up a little more. I think part of this could be improved by inserting Greg Hardy into the starting lineup; the guy was a steal in the 6th round. Hell, he would have been a steal in the 3rd round.
I think the Panthers have a good shot at winning this one
I realize we are coming off a very undeserved win against Oakland, and confidence is really, really, high compared to a week or even two weeks ago. But the Raiders just didn’t take advantage of all the opportunities we offered them to beat us. If the Panthers can just catch balls thrown directly at them by Alex Smith, which isn’t easy even Crabtree misses a few, stay with the play even if Nate intercepts the ball (he is likely likely to just give it back he’s unselfish like that.) If the Panthers don’t try to outfoul us (it’s impossible, don’t even try it) If the Panthers can load the box with all but two players on defense.(it works every time) If the Panthers can run a moderately well executed screen every third and long, throw the ball down field a couple times. I suggest just send Armanti Edwards out with the afterburners on, we don’t have anyone fast enough to cover him. The Panthers could come out looking like a Super Bowl team. This is a good opportunity for the Panthers to finally get their first “W.” The 49ers are likely to give you different looks to confuse you. They sometimes mix it up with 12 player formations, or go lean with a 9 man package. If you think it’s strategic to Ice the opposing kicker, coach Singletary has an answer to that, He ices his own kicker. Also look out for Alex Smith signature play, the bootleg toss out bounds, one of these days it’s going to knock out a cheerleader. Alex has taken to tossing those without the bootleg also so you won’t even know it’s coming. Another thing, try to defend the halfback dive. If you don’t Frank Gore is likely to make you look silly. That’s still the one good thing this offense has going for it when they aren’t getting called for ridiculous penalties, calling timeouts in the redzone with 12 minutes on the clock, sending out too many or too few players, throwing the ball away, calling the same exact play on first down 146 times in a row, hiking the ball out of the endzone, or (coming soon) stuffing 22 in a clown car and driving around the field throwing colored smoke bombs and honking silly horns.
Wall of text
This is one.
Use some paragraph breaks, bro.
by See Jay on Oct 22, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have some paragraph breaks for you
If I needed an English instructor
I’d be in school instead
of wasting my time writing stupid
messages on the internet about
the San Fransisco Forty Clown Squad
Please do me the favor next
time you see a lack of paragraphs
in any of my posts that you kindly
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND
DON"T TRY TO TELL ME THE
APPROPRIATE FORMAT WITH
WHICH TO TYPE THE STUPIDEST
THING I’VE WRITTEN ALL DAY.
Thank you, Pat Willie,
(some joker on NN)
If you want people to respond to you
you should write in a manner which is easy to understand, otherwise they’ll just skip your comments and not even read them.
Apparently I get more response with terrible writing
I knew it was bad when I was writing it, I just didn’t care. There is just so much to say about the mistakes by this team. They have re-written the book on the stupidest ways to lose a game. I can’t even contain myself to sentences, much less paragraphs.
You forgot
Biting like no tomorrow on a flea flicker.
What was the reasoning(or lack) of reasoning of not resigning Peppers?
Did he not want to sign with the team? How has that affected the Panthers’ defense thus far?
____________ IS OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They'd tried...
…to sign him to a long term contract the 2 previous offseasons, but he wasn’t enjoying playing in the defense we were using at the time. But last year I saw a remarkable increase in his passion and excitement. Going into the offseason, I think he again wanted to play for the Panthers, however the Front Office didn’t even contact him.
There has been speculation that Jerry Richardson knew a lock out was looming and decided a cost saving move would be best for the team’s finances. There has also been speculation (by mostly me, I think) that the Front Office was tired of hearing the grumbling of Panther fans by how much we had to pay for his franchise tag without tallying the most sacks in the NFL. But it could also be that they were tired of his on-again, off-again interest in playing for Carolina and decided to let the distraction go.
Panthers win only if they get 2 defensive TD's
They might get an offensive TD and several FG’s, but need there defense to continue playing well. So I think the result of this game will directly relate to Alex Smith’s turnover play
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