Post game Panthers

[El Duderino]

Looking like the Packers have a real shot now in the NFC as a contender if we can stay healthy.

I wish Hayward played more. Didn't even miss Shields. Shields should of never been brought back on that contract.

Tramon Williams has now been one of the most underrated players in the NFL the last 2 seasons as he has been a top 5 corner in the NFL. Clay Mathews has been one of the most overrated players. Can't even wrap up and tackle anyone.

Signing Shields was no question the right move.

Even before the NFL changed multiple rules to make it much easier to pass in the NFL, Ron Wolf said more than once that you can't ever have to many quality corners. Now in today's game where teams regularly trot out 3-5 wide receivers who can't barely be touched without drawing a flag, if your defense has a weak link at corner, he becomes a target.

Besides that, there is the injury factor. Look around the league each year, corners suffer significant injuries all of the time. Defenses that have a massive drop off if/when a starting corner or two gets hurt, it can very quickly turn what was an above average secondary into a below average to bad one. A perfect example is Carolina. Between injuries and losses to free agency, their secondary is now garbage and a huge factor as to why their defense has gone from being one of the best defenses in football last year to really bad so far this year.

[HKPackFan]

Nice to see after Clay getting criticized here and in the Media...He comes out with his best game of the year.


I also liked what I saw out of Sam Barrington and Lattimore. Also nice to see Nick Perry coming around. He may finally be worth the 1st round investment if he can continue to get sacks and put pressure on the QB.

[bullox]

What are people's thoughts on Capers this year?

[Godgers]

Looking like the Packers have a real shot now in the NFC as a contender if we can stay healthy.

I wish Hayward played more. Didn't even miss Shields. Shields should of never been brought back on that contract.

Tramon Williams has now been one of the most underrated players in the NFL the last 2 seasons as he has been a top 5 corner in the NFL. Clay Mathews has been one of the most overrated players. Can't even wrap up and tackle anyone.

Signing Shields was no question the right move.

Even before the NFL changed multiple rules to make it much easier to pass in the NFL, Ron Wolf said more than once that you can't ever have to many quality corners. Now in today's game where teams regularly trot out 3-5 wide receivers who can't barely be touched without drawing a flag, if your defense has a weak link at corner, he becomes a target.

Besides that, there is the injury factor. Look around the league each year, corners suffer significant injuries all of the time. Defenses that have a massive drop off if/when a starting corner or two gets hurt, it can very quickly turn what was an above average secondary into a below average to bad one. A perfect example is Carolina. Between injuries and losses to free agency, their secondary is now garbage and a huge factor as to why their defense has gone from being one of the best defenses in football last year to really bad so far this year.

Panthers D was good because of Lotulelei, Hardy,Jonson and Klutchey. They didn't have anyone good in the secondary. Secondary doesn't matter if you can't create pressure on the QB. The secondary matters just your secondary is factored by the pressure. Just like Murray is the not close to the best RB in the NFL. Offense Line is a bigger factor than RB.

That is why you build a football team inside and out. That's why the Packers are soft and can;t win a playoff game. They build outside in.

[Jollay]

Interesting your concerns are more on offense, human. But while I think that units' shortcomings have not been talked about enough the last two years, I'm just going to assume Adams and the TEs will continue to develop. As well as a healthy OL finally mostly intact.

I will caution also that the Panthers are/were being cautious with Newton lately. If the Panthers had more on the line (with Newton willing to scramble more) and their running backs healthy, it would have been a much better test for our defense. There is still no evidence to suggest we might not still struggle containing a Wilson/Lynch or Kaepernick/Gore/Hyde.

In the previous game, Newton had 107 rushing yards on 17 carries (career high).

Well that's super. I watched that game, and most of those runs were improvised--it wasn't a read option strategy the Panthers might have employed against us in a more meaningful game, and with healthier running backs.

You will also note that despite those 17 carries two weeks ago, Cam Newton is at a career low for carries per game this year.

The read option concern is still justifiably there.

[Jollay]

I will caution also that the Panthers are/were being cautious with Newton lately. If the Panthers had more on the line (with Newton willing to scramble more) and their running backs healthy, it would have been a much better test for our defense. There is still no evidence to suggest we might not still struggle containing a Wilson/Lynch or Kaepernick/Gore/Hyde.

I think the real wildcard for the season is Datone Jones. He had just put together back-to-back games where he was dominancing before his injury. They need to get him healthy so we can see if he can hold the edge against these athletic QB's.

Agreed. This is a big X-factor that might pay some nice dividends versus a San Francisco in January.