Black and Blue Review

Black and Blue Review

Carolina Panthers News and Coverage for the Digital Age

Carolina’s Complete Collapse

The Panthers’ blame game has been going strong for more than a month now, and it reached a new peak during Monday night’s blowout loss in Philadelphia.Fans keep hearing that things will be fixed, so it’s hard to blame them for frustrations that boil over when things stay the same.The thing is, no one person is to blame. Everyone in the organization is at fault for the current mess.Throughout the upcoming week, we’ll dig deeper into the role the front office and coaching staff have had in this tailspin. But for now, let’s look at how each unit failed against the Eagles.

PASSING OFFENSE

Cam Newton finished with a season-high 306 yards, but that number is highly misleading. The passing offense was mostly inept before Newton bulked up his numbers after the game had long been lost.Former Carolina coach John Fox was a big fan of reminding everyone the passing game ‘has lots of moving parts,’ and most of those parts are faulty right now.The offensive line, which had gotten healthier during the ‘mini-bye,’ was a disaster. They were steamrolled by the Eagles, who racked up a mind-boggling nine sacks.For the most part, the line gave Newton no shot, but he again contributed his own problems.His accuracy was off, and too much of his decision making was questionable (see: three interceptions and his choice to chuck a deep ball to Jerricho Cotchery on fourth-and-one instead of either running for a first down or throwing to closer targets).About the only thing the Panthers’ passing game got right was Greg Olsen finished with a career-high 119 yards after two unusually quiet games.

RUSHING OFFENSE

It’s not like the offensive line was much better in the run game than they were while protecting Newton, but it’s time for Jonathan Stewart to start over DeAngelo Williams. He averaged a paltry 2.4 yards on 13 carries, and he fumbled away the Panthers’ first possession.Williams had a bit of a career renaissance last year, but Father Time may have finally gotten to him.Stewart didn’t have a whole lot of success himself, but he gained 59 total yards and scored the Panthers’ only touchdown.It also didn’t help that Newton went back to being a non-factor on the ground, rushing twice for six yards. In his first three seasons, he never had fewer than four carries in a game. He’s now had just two carries three times this season.

PASSING DEFENSE

Mark Sanchez looked good. He looked real good. That’s not good.Some figured the Panthers caught a break when Eagles starting quarterback Nick Foles broke his collarbone last week, but for one night at least, Sanchez looked like a great fit in Chip Kelly’s offense.Making his first start since he flamed out with the Jets two years ago, Sanchez threw for the fourth-highest yardage total (332) of his career. Usually error-prone, Sanchez didn’t throw an interception, and he tossed a couple touchdowns to rookie wideout Jordan Matthews.The Panthers barely laid a finger on Sanchez, sacking him just once. The pass rush was nonexistent, which exposed the suspect secondary … yet again.

RUSHING DEFENSE

Ok, so not everything was a complete disaster. The Panthers wanted to take away the run, and they did that to near perfection. LeSean McCoy gained just 19 yards on 12 carries, and the Eagles averaged a measly 1.6 yards on 23 carries. But McCoy and Darren Sproles did run in a couple short scores.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punt coverage has been shaky since the preseason, and it finally popped a big leak.Sproles, who was a thorn in the Panthers’ side for so long with the Saints, went essentially untouched for 65 yards on a punt return touchdown late in the first quarter. That was an especially big moment considering the Panthers had cut their early 10-point deficit to three a couple minutes earlier.With hometown kid Philly Brown inactive, Brenton Bersin was less-than-impressive as a returner. Fozzy Whittaker did provide a bit of a spark, averaging 35 yards on his two kickoff returns.

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  • bitterclinger

    Once again the Panthers make a back up qb look like a HOFer. 2014 Is in the bag, we have the old Panthers back, at least we get a high draft pick next year.

  • bitterclinger

    Once again the Panthers make a back up qb look like a HOFer. 2014 Is in the bag, we have the old Panthers back, at least we get a high draft pick next year.

  • PantherFaninGA

    bitterclinger Can’t say you’re wrong.  Hope it’s a solid LT.

    OT – love the handle!  Had to check your profile and posts out.  Sun is a little brighter for both of us this week I think. 😉

  • PantherFaninGA

    bitterclinger Can’t say you’re wrong.  Hope it’s a solid LT.

    OT – love the handle!  Had to check your profile and posts out.  Sun is a little brighter for both of us this week I think. 😉