All right lets see if I can get back into the swing of this thing. Only a few more weeks to go.
Last season I wondered what sort of transition we find our selves in. At the end or the beginning of an era. I am certain we are now at the beginning and here is my thinking on it.
Look at the 2008 season and the lead up to it.
An aggressive off-season with the busy free agency shopping (in Panther terms) followed up by a stunning first round in the Draft. A terrible off-season incident that ended up fusing the team together for a staggering run.
And what a run it was and it did seem like a new era. I really do not even feel like going over the door slamming shut on us.
So I say, we now start a new era and this is why.
Offense. Remember this phrase from a couple of years ago?
If you want to beat the Panthers today, your defense will have to shut down Steve Smith and the Passing game.That is now without a doubt a thing of the past, FINALLY! Look at what we pulled off last year.
7th in points scored
10th in yards
3rd in rushing
19th in passing
The offensive dynamic turned around for us with the solidifying of the offensive line and the success of Williams and Stewart in carrying the ball
Defense.
12th in points scored
18th in yards
16th in pass yards
20th in rushing yards
Somehow what started as a stifling defense that kept elite RB’s in check fell apart after the bye week.
This was followed by an exodus of the Defensive coaching staff. And in my mind that was fine with me. Now think about this.
Trgovac a Michigan man who was a Defensive line specialist can now enjoy the Tundra at Lambeau and enter Ron Meeks.
It occurred to me this morning why this is better than I initially expected. It is gennarlly known what he has done with Sanders, Bethea , Freeny and Mathis. Also he is trying to instill more fire in the defense.
But he, like Fox, is a former Defensive back so I am looking for better things from the secondary.
And finally there is the
“Elephant in the Room”. That night in Arizona that will be sticking out in our minds.
We blew it. Yeah, Larry Fitzgerald had a great game. He is a Great Receiver and that is what he will do. He had one when we beat that same team earlier that season. So what? He did have a slightly better game, given that we gave them 40 minutes of possession time and routes my sister could run and make catches. By the way, let me take this moment to wish Ken Lucas the Best of luck back in Seattle. (some of the colder Panther Fans look back on the punching incident as justified now).
Chris Harris has already made the comment that the upcoming game with Arizona is a “circled date”. The last time there was a circled date, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart Humiliated a Tampa Bay Defense. (I just hope they remember that Tampa Bay is very Likely to circle dates too)
It is a new era and I look forward to it. More later on.
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