Re-Try: Ten Thoughts on First Half of Panthers Preseason Game

Ok what I saw was a qb that had command of the huddle, which in and of itself is important. It goes along way in getting the team behind him. He completely lost them last year. So getting players confidence back is huge and it is fragile at this point. So i think Saturday was important for that. He missed a couple deep balls that he has to start hitting, deep balls generally are not the high% completion passes, but when your receivers have at least 2 steps on the db, you have to hit more than you miss. But it is a progression that I hope comes, if any qb consistently misses those then the defenses will start making the qb prove he can hit it and squat in the middle, short and intermediate routes. But I am not in panic mode yet there. I saw alot of positives to build on, I saw poise, i saw composure, attributes that were seriously lacking at the end of the season. I saw a qb leading. I saw progression, not a finished product. Where he goes from here is the test. Does he build on this, or does he follow pattern and have an avg to below avg game? That will be the most teling IMO.

Bush looked like a player with a chip on his shoulder, he ran hard, he fought for extra yards, he had great vision, he was determined and he showed he can be a weapon.

D Thomas looked better, but still has to grow.

Oline looked better than week 1, which again is progression not a finished product. When Long is integrated back fully hopefully that progression continues, but was better, but not great IMO

Defense nice rebound, better test vs TB for them and the whole team as well.

I dont break down film like others, dont have the time. So I wont get into feet and all that, I do know the results were better.

 

Mr. C, I'm glad you chimed in on the OL, particularly regarding Columbo and Pouncey. After being a member of ThePhins over the past few years, I believe you are the most respected and knowledgable person when it come to offensive line play. I don't consider myself an expert by any stretch, but I went back and closely observed both Columbo and Pouncey on all of their plays. I couldn't agree with you more wholeheartedly. Columbo, while not looking good technically, did in fact get the job done. I felt Pouncey did too, while looking better doing it. He did receive a fair amount of double-team help on pass protection from either guard, but to me he looked solid. The one play he whiffed on was a block on one of the screens in the second quarter that resulted in a loss of yardage. Overall, I'm not concerned about him in terms of the physicality needed to play the position.

I'm also was happy to see your response about Polite. While he did drop off on his blocking performance, he was as good as ever on short yardage runs to pick up first downs. I was surprised they didn't use him on one of the goal line plays but I guess they know what he can do.

 

Yeah, just as faint as Nolte's...but its there so far this pre-season.

 

Working on his route-running, step, catching, and wicked porn-stache.

 

3 players flashed hard in the 2nd half for various reasons, some good, some not so good.

Reshad Jones was lighntin people up, hitttin hard, and playing around the LOS..

Nolan Carroll...Haven't seen the flashes that some folks said they have, and I continue to not see the flashes that some say there is..The guy got beat twice in the run game really really bad..

Marvin Mitchell...I believe he is an upgrade over spitler, and making our team better balanced throughout, is what its all about..He made a few quick and strong plays.

 

yeah mitchell was in some tackles, saw that as well

 

I was watching the game and #52 was movin' and groovin' during a commercial timeout to the music , so that caught my eye. Number didn't tweak immediately , found out who it was and then noticed him for his play the rest of the evening.

With all the MM's on the team we should get Marshall Mathers involved mm aybe ....

 

Thank you for the very kind words. I personally do not consider myself an OL expert though. I just try to go back and review the games a 2nd or 3rd time and focus on the OL. Rewind during many plays, especially run plays, to try and see what each man is doing and then try to come to a conclusion what they were supposed to do, and do they jibe. I look to see if the man the OL is blocking, made the tackle, or disrupted the play, turning it into a loss. Look to see if the OL was able to lock on and sustain at least till the play was past him. It sounds tedious and maybe it can be a little. By your going back and closely observing, you did exactly what I do, and your eye is every bit as good as mine. I agree though it is good when another person sees what we see.

One Pouncey play I enjoyed immensely was the Thomas TD run. Pouncey engaged the DT and drove him backwards and even with Pouncey blocking him the DT was able to grab on to Thomas as he was going past, all the while Pouncey kept blocking till Thomas fell across the goal line with Pouncey's man hanging on to him. Had Pouncey fell off that block, doubtful Thomas would have scored. He basically pushed the tackler and Thomas into the end zone, or so it seemed to me.
I do recall the one negative Pouncey play on the screen left. Henne faked left, looked right, then went back to Bush with a pass left, and the defender Pouncey was assigned to block got past him and blew up the play.

 

Nevertheless, your opinions certainly are highly respected in this forum. When you brought up your impressions of Columbo and Pouncey (and Polite's continued success as a short yardage back) it definitely jived with my observations. I couldn't quite fathom many of the negative comments about these players performances.