2015/2016 Panthers Game/General thread

[JDR720]

now 14-0 for Miami.

offense and defense getting smashed so far

[JDR720]

really good run by campaign

[JDR720]

after a few FG's its 14-9 at halftime

[mattcampbell]

Frank done for the year

[Hornet Mania]

The injury bug is biting us in the ass really late in training camp this year...

Both these pre-season games have been a ton of fun though with the 4th quarter comebacks. I know the games don't count, and it's scrubs vs scrubs by the end, but it's been fun to watch nonetheless. I laughed like hell when big 62 (I think that was his number) tried the Barry Sanders cutback in hopes of getting those last five yards. Lineman runs/touchdowns are the best.

[HornetJail]

Frank done for the year

I forgot which thread I was in and nearly sh*t myself.

[JDR720]

we just cant have nice things

[Hornet Mania]

I have my quibbles with Gettleman (the Steve Smith departure, mostly) but I'm beginning to appreciate his draft history and our approach in that department in general. Eyebrows were raised last year when we picked Ealy in the 2nd despite having two great DEs already and needs elsewhere, but Gettleman insisted he was the best player on the board and he sticks with BPA. A year later Greg Hardy is gone and Alexander goes down, we have Ealy ready to step in as a full-time starter.

Obviously this could not be foreseen, so you can't credit Gettleman with accurately predicting he would have a need at DE, but it goes to show that picking BPA pays off more often than not in the NFL. I like how our young guys have looked this pre-season and I hope we keep making solid picks in the years to come. Teams that draft well are inevitably perennial winners, I'm cautiously optimistic in a year or two we'll be able to look back and say that's the reason for our year-to-year success.

[JDR720]

I have my quibbles with Gettleman (the Steve Smith departure, mostly) but I'm beginning to appreciate his draft history and our approach in that department in general. Eyebrows were raised last year when we picked Ealy in the 2nd despite having two great DEs already and needs elsewhere, but Gettleman insisted he was the best player on the board and he sticks with BPA. A year later Greg Hardy is gone and Alexander goes down, we have Ealy ready to step in as a full-time starter.

Obviously this could not be foreseen, so you can't credit Gettleman with accurately predicting he would have a need at DE, but it goes to show that picking BPA pays off more often than not in the NFL. I like how our young guys have looked this pre-season and I hope we keep making solid picks in the years to come. Teams that draft well are inevitably perennial winners, I'm cautiously optimistic in a year or two we'll be able to look back and say that's the reason for our year-to-year success.

I think his drafting has been fine, hopefully we can fix our OL and WR problems next draft or in FA. probably need to find a future RB too, J-Stew gets hurt a lot and i think CAP is a little too old for a rookie (25) RB.

I expect us to sign at least one WR soon and maybe a DL although the Cox guy has done pretty good, so it might be him.

[yosemiteben]

It does seem to me like a lot of Panther fans are acting like JStew staying healthy is a given. I'm pretty nervous about rolling into the season with only him as our feature back, even if I like the young guys.

I feel bad for saying it but I'm a bit over Tolbert. I was hoping he'd look a little more productive in preseason games, but he looks like the 2014-15 injured Tolbert.

Love me some Lee Ward, hope we keep him.

[Liver_Pooty]

[JDR720]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/josephperson/status/635915922943930368[/tweet]

[Hornet Mania]

Stewart is definitely going down for a few games this year, that's just a given in my mind at least. Artis-Payne and Tolbert ought to be able to hold down the fort though, I like what I've seen from the rook especially. He's not going to be a star but I think he can be a quality player who will get the yards that are there and not take stupid losses from trying to do too much like a lot of young backs. I'm also anxious to get another big-time RB, but I figure the front office has decided we'll ride this year out with Stewart and then make some changes at the position if needed once we can get out from under his ridiculous contract.

Are there any difference makers at WR that are expected to get cut? If Funchess doesn't round into form quick we're going to be brutal at WR this year. I don't think we've ever had more than one starting-caliber WR in any given season since Cam has been here, this year we may have none.

[JDR720]

Stewart is definitely going down for a few games this year, that's just a given in my mind at least. Artis-Payne and Tolbert ought to be able to hold down the fort though, I like what I've seen from the rook especially. He's not going to be a star but I think he can be a quality player who will get the yards that are there and not take stupid losses from trying to do too much like a lot of young backs. I'm also anxious to get another big-time RB, but I figure the front office has decided we'll ride this year out with Stewart and then make some changes at the position if needed once we can get out from under his ridiculous contract.

Are there any difference makers at WR that are expected to get cut? If Funchess doesn't round into form quick we're going to be brutal at WR this year. I don't think we've ever had more than one starting-caliber WR in any given season since Cam has been here, this year we may have none.

I dont know about that, but there is a few decent FA's left. Robert Meachem, Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker to name a few . I would probably sign two or more and let them battle it out.

[JDR720]

Carolina Panthers starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is on schedule to be ready for the Sept. 13 opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"My understanding is right now he's right on track," coach Ron Rivera said following Tuesday's practice.

Lotulelei hasn't practiced or been on the sideline working with other injured players since suffering in early August a stress reaction on his right foot that was surgically repaired in January.

Rivera said Lotulelei continues to wear a walking boot, but his anticipation is the 2013 first-round pick will be ready for the Jaguars.

"There is no concern," Rivera said of Loutlelei being ready. "For me, there is no concern from what I understand, from how he seems to be progressing with his treatment.

"But the key will be when he does get [the boot] off and how his conditioning is. We're not going to expose a guy before he needs to be out there."

The Panthers have been without three of their four starting defensive linemen in the first two preseason games. Defensive tackle Kawann Short has practiced the past two days after battling back spasms for much of training camp and appears ready to play against New England on Friday night.

Defensive end Charles Johnson (calf) participated on a limited basis Tuesday. Rivera said if the team's second all-time leading sack leader gets in a few team drills on Wednesday there's a chance he'll play against New England.

"He had a big work day today," Rivera said of Johnson. "They had him working some of his pass rush. He actually started out with a couple of drills with the D-line."
http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/15215/panthers-dt-star-lotulelei-right-on-track-to-play-in-opener

[JDR720]

[countryboi]

we need to look good in this game badly...they crushed us in this same game last year, we have not looked great all preseason and this game sets the tone for the start of the season

[yosemiteben]

At the very least I hope our special teams look better. They've been atrocious so far and that was supposed to be an area of emphasis for us in the offseason.

[JDR720]

really nice return there. too bad our offense couldn't do anything with it,could be a bottom 5 offense this season.

[Liver_Pooty]

John Fox coaching this team or what? Runs on 2nd 3rd and 4th down