Pounding Panthers Chronicle: Week 8

Week 7 Recap:

The trip to the “Big Apple” was a bite too big for the Carolina Panthers to chew.  The playing in New Jersey and being called a New York based team is easier to swallow when you win.  If a winning team is a fine tuned machine, Sunday the Panthers were playing like an engine about to throw a piston.  At no point did the Panthers appear to have the cohesive confidence needed to have success on the offensive side of the ball.  For another week in a row, this offensive unit for the Panthers looking inept to do anything with the ball, to say they struggled was an understatement.  Going into week 7 and the game against New York, many saw the game as one to “right the ship”, and sadly that was not the case.  The return to Metlife Stadium for quarterback Sam Darnold was as bad as the lead actor’s talent in a slasher flick.  The performance of the former Jets quarterback reminded us of his time with said team and not the player we saw during the team’s 3-game winning streak.  There were major issues with the timing between quarterback and wide receiver no matter who Darnold was throwing the ball to.  Drive-Killers, also known as not converting on third downs, and Sunday we saw this repeat itself throughout the game.  When the punter is the star of the game for your team it usually indicates that you played an awful game.  Going into Week 7 I highlighted a concern with the coaching staff and their ability to make in-game coaching adjustments.  This past Sunday raised serious questions about the coaches like Head Coach Matt Rhule and Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady.  Darnold’s play did lead to a second half benching, but what we saw out of for XFL player PJ Walker was none the better.  The guy that was worth multiple draft picks just this past offseason was relegated to standing on the sideline as the starters took the field.  All around the offensive play was just downright bad, drops would again be a point of emphasis, and an Intentional Grounding penalty in the end zone resulting in a safety, would epitomize what we saw out of the Panthers’ offense Sunday.  The one good thing about the play in New Jersey is we can leave it there.  The same cannot be said for Panthers’ Sam Darnold.  Can someone please inform the Panthers that it is completely normal for a team to score points in the third and fourth quarters?  I am no expert but if a team is only scoring in half of the game I imagine they won’t win many of those games.  The most promising drive on the day for the Panthers’ offense was capped off with a head shaking Sam Darnold interception.  The play Sunday leads the mind in wondering when this skid will stop.  It was supposed to end in New York, right?

Watson, Watson… We Talking About Watson

The NFL announcement that they would not seek any disciplinary action against Deshaun Watson until all legal litigation was concluded sparked a whirlwind of rumors and trade speculation.  At the forefront of this were two teams, the Miami Dolphins, and the Carolina Panthers.  During the preseason the Panthers were no strangers when it came to the QB trade markets.  The Panthers were actively seeking to land quarterback Mathew Stafford before losing out to the Los Angeles Rams.  This was essentially confirmed after information was leaked about the possible offer the Panthers had extended for the then Detroit quarterback.  In many ways, this was seen as a blessing, whether it was a lack of faith in Stafford, and it also meant that the Panthers were shifting their focus to Watson.  The Houston quarterback and former Clemson star left many Panthers fans salivating over the idea of having Watson playing in Charlotte.  This all came to a grinding halt upon the breaking news of legal charges and civil suits brought against Deshaun Watson.  Any and all potential trade deals were shelved immediately and David Tepper’s hopes of landing a big time player at the QB position were thwarted.  In the wake that followed the Panthers would trade for Sam Darnold and effectively silence any Watson trade rumors that still existed.  Now that the NFL has announced how or more so when it will handle any disciplinary action we see the Panthers back out front in the new cycle of trade rumors.  At first glance, it would seem that a deal for Watson would be very unlikely given the lack of draft capital after the Darnold trade.  It is no secret that Houston’s asking price is no less than three draft picks plus players for any potential suitor.  This steep asking price could be a deal breaker though speculation leans to the Panthers actively trying to make a deal work.  It has not been confirmed but it is hard to see a deal like this occurring without Christian McCaffrey being in it.  Is Tepper chasing that one big score or is he building for the future?  It is not possible to have both, and only time will tell which it truly is.

A consideration to be made is what to do with Sam Darnold if you do trade for the former Clemson quarterback?  With what we have seen on the field this season it is highly doubtful that anyone would be willing to trade for the current Panthers QB.  That means in a scenario that involves Watson coming to Carolina, the Panthers would have literally traded multiple high draft picks for a backup quarterback.  It would be nice to think that Darnold could be shipped out to Houston in this deal, but there has been little traction behind Houston showing much interest in wanting a quarterback in return.  This would fit with their desire for young talented players that they were seeking in a possible trade.  All of this being and we still have not gotten to the largest risk involved in any sort of Watson trade.  We may never actually see Deshaun Watson suit up in pads and jersey for another NFL game.  It is a drastic but possible outcome that has to be considered when considering making such a deal.  

The Three Stooges 

This might be the most accurate description of the Tepper, Rhule, and Brady trio.  It began with the banter of what felt like lifelong friends.  Now as we try to steer clear of this losing streak we are witnessing the NFL equivalent of slap-stick comedy.  This could be an insult to Curly, Larry, and Mo.  They were at least funny, and what we have seen from the Panthers trio has flirted with being pitiful.  Just when you think that this group has it all together they step on a rake and take a whack to the face.  There have been whispers of both Joe Brady and Matt Rhule eying a return to the college ranks.  It is a tough pill to swallow to imagine Matt Rhule reaching the end of his current contract at this pace.  It would not be the first nor the last time a coach returned to their college roots after a brief and humbling experience in the NFL.  By no means does it mean they are bad coaches, but it does mean they were unsuccessful.  The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” kind of league.  This applies to coaches just as much as it does to players.  The length of Rhule’s first NFL contract was an eye popping seven years.  This caught many by surprise initially, and now raises potential questions about Tepper’s evaluation process.  What was it that Tepper saw that made him say; “that’s my guy.”  The big boss himself, David Tepper, upgrading to majority owner, needs to make his mark, make this “his” team, and he is certainly doing that.  Compared to past seasons the Panthers have been much more active in trade markets and free agency.  This however has been no more than a temporary solution and yielded little success.  

I didn’t leave out the third member of this trio, merely saving the best or I should say worst for last.  Joe Brady has been a disappointment this season with this team.  All of the blame does not fall on his head but there is a hefty weight there.  The Carolina Panthers offense in the second halves of games this season has to boarder on historically bad or be on pace to do so.  This team could only manage a grand total of three points Sunday against the Giants.  They have not yet surpassed their special teams unit when it comes to the number of scoring plays in the third quarter.  There are truly no words to describe how this is possible.  It is literally a suckers bet not to bet against this team in the second half of their games.  This trend extends beyond the absence of McCaffrey as it stood true even with him on the field.  The struggles on offense are just taking place on the field and sidelines, but in the coaches’ box as well