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Big Changes May be on the Horizon for Charlotte’s Pro Sports Teams

February 3, 2010 by qcsportsblog

Julius Peppers Saga

By now you’ve probably heard that Julius Peppers’ agent, Carl Carey, stated that Pep likely will not be a Carolina Panther next season.  The Pep camp is peeved that the Panthers have not reached out to them after the end of the season.  Let’s first break down the strategy of Carey’s decision to go public with his gripes.  He did it during the off week before the Super Bowl.  It was a slow news week, and he was able to get his client in the limelight.  He is hoping to generate buzz about Pep during the game, an event which many coaches and GM’s will attend. 

The conventional wisdom seems to be that Pep and company are making a power play and putting the ball in the Panthers’ corner, but this almost instead appears to be a desperation move.  Keep in mind that Peppers didn’t exactly seem to garner a lot of attention last offseason.  This is partly speculation on my part, but I assume he was on the trade block and it doesn’t appear that there were a lot of bidders.  Peppers even went public with a list of teams he wanted to play for, and none of them made a serious offer with the possible exception of the Patriots.  I don’t pretend to be an expert of the labor situation, but who exactly is going to give Peppers a long-term deal in the salary range he is seeking when there is an impending lockout in 2011?  Possibly the Redskins and maybe the Cowboys, but I can’t think of too many other teams.  Is this some sort of face-saving move where Pep and company vow to play for less elsewhere (because no one will pay them what they want) rather than play for a team that “disrespected” them (the Panthers)?  Pep played well last season, but he didn’t play $20 million well.  Also, he is 30 now.  While Pep is a freak of nature and not exactly a normal player, conventional wisdom suggests that a NFL player starts to decline at about this age.

The only problem I have with this move is the rumor that Jerry Richardson has made it known around the league that the Panthers won’t attempt to keep Peppers.  Why not at least franchise him and then trade him?  Who cares what you get in return?  Anything is better than letting him walk for nothing, even if we just get a 4th rounder (and we will definitely get more than that).  The only risk is that no team will trade for Pep and the Panthers will be on the hook to pay him $20 million next season.  Still, I think that is highly unlikely for the simple reasons that Dan Snyder still owns the Redskins and Jerry Jones still owns the Cowboys.

New Bobcats Ownership Imminent? 

ESPN had a very interesting article on its website’s front page this morning.  It appears that George Postolos has made a serious bid to buy the Charlotte Bobcats, and Michael Jordan has until the end of the month to match.  Even more interesting is the fact that the Charlotte Observer never posted a story about these developments on their homepage.  Rick Bonnell did write an article about it, but it was buried in the NBA section of the website.  It may have been posted very recently, and it may appear in tomorrow’s paper. 

To be honest, I don’t know how I feel about this.  As long as Postolos isn’t cheap, I can’t say I mind.  While I like having MJ involved with the franchise - it brings instant publicity – it’s not like he’s been a savior.  He has definitely made some great trades and deserves a good amount of the credit for putting together the current squad, but he has also been horrible in the draft.  Postolos is also a basketball guy and he will bring in some NBA guys to run the show too.  Don’t count out MJ in the ownership discussion, however.  There is no reason he can’t put together a group to make a counteroffer.  After all, he has had plenty of time to prepare for this.  Either way, it looks like something could develop pretty soon.

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Bobs Ridding Themselves of Road Woes

January 31, 2010 by qcsportsblog

The San Antonio Spurs are about to kick off their rodeo road trip, which has traditionally united them for their annual playoff push.  This west coast road trip could have a similar effect for the Bobcats.   I realize that this could be a huge overstatement – two of our wins have come against the Warriors and Kings – but the Bobs have been awful on the road this season.  Just plain dreadful.  To make this trip even more perilous, the Bobs had dropped two straight against division rivals Atlanta and Orlando before embarking on the trip.  After scratching and clawing to get above .500, the season could have fallen back apart if the Bobs had a weak road trip.  Instead, they will do no worse than .500 on this six-game west coast swing.

I am still a little bitter about the Denver loss.  With Carmelo out for that game, we could have easily beaten those guys.  However, we just could never put a full game together.  The Phoenix game didn’t look much better for the first three quarters, but then we took command in an impressive 4th quarter.  The momentum carried over to Oakland, as we easily beat Stephen Curry and Warriors.   Dell’s son has been stellar of late, and he did not disappoint in front of his dad, but the Bobs were clearly the better team.  Then, there are the Kings.  We love to put together a quarter against those guys where we look like NBA champions.  Then, we like to also put together a quarter against those guys where we still look like an expansion team.  Either way, a win is a win.

There is no reason to get complacent now.  We get another break with Brandon Roy out Monday night, and we always show up for the Lakers.  Go Bobcats!

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G-Force = First Charlotte Bobcats All-Star

January 31, 2010 by qcsportsblog

In case you missed it, Gerald Wallace was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team last week.  In doing so, he became the first player to represent the Charlotte Bobcats in the All-Star game.  While the honor itself if pretty sweet, I think the story is even better.  There were always other guys who were supposed to take the honor of being the first Bobcat All-Star, but in the end, it was the last original Bobcat who will represent the team in the NBA’s showcase weekend.  There have been high draft picks – the first ever pick in Emeka Okafor who was supposed to be the cornerstone of the franchise, we have even reached for hometown guys (see Sean May and possibly Gerald Henderson), and there is Raymond Felton from UNC with the #5 pick.  We have also made some big trades, but it was an expansion draft pick about whom no one gave a second thought who became the face of the franchise.  Wallace’s achievement is a testament to his hard work.  He developed a new part to his game every season, and it has all come together this year.  It seems like he has been playing forever, but Wallace is only 27 and in the prime of his career.  There is no reason that we can’t expect a few more All-Star game appearances from him.  By the way, he will also by in this year’s Slam Dunk Contest.

The All-Star selection has added to the excitement in Charlotte about the Bobcats.  Fans are making t-shirts honoring Wallace, and he’s returning the favor with a thank-you message.  Combine that with a 3-1 start on the west coast road trip (more on that in next entry), and there is no reason there shouldn’t be a huge crowd at the Cable Box to welcome Wallace and the Bobs home next Saturday against the Hornets. 

Check out some G-Force highlights above and below.  Go Bobs!

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ESPN to Air a Special on Rae Carruth

January 31, 2010 by qcsportsblog

As reported by Pat Yasinskas, ESPN will air an Outside the Lines titled “The Rae Carruth Story:  10 Years Later.”  Should be an interesting watch, to say the least.

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From World Beaters to Bricking Dunks

January 24, 2010 by qcsportsblog

The Charlotte Bobcats came crashing back to Earth this weekend, losing to division rivals Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.  Boris Diaw and Nazr Mohammed literally bricked easy dunks in Atlanta on Friday night.  Diaw literally airballed a 6-foot runner in the paint against the Hawks.  That guy is an enigma.  One night he looks like an All-Star, and the next night he completely disappears.  The Bobs didn’t look much better for most of last night’s game at home against the Magic, but they mounted a furious 4th-quarter rally to send the game into overtime.  They totally ran out of gas after the rally, and the Magic easily defeated them in the extra period.

This weekend’s games showed exactly where the Bobs fall in the East’s pecking order.  They’re probably better than the lower-tier playoff teams, but not nearly as good as the elite teams.  They basically fall neatly into that 5th or 6th spot in the East.  That’s why the Hawks loss was much more concerning.  I’m not worried about last night’s game because we were much more competitive.  We were at home, but I think it’s safe to say that the Magic are better than us.  They’re the defending champs and have a healthy and loaded roster.  Both teams were coming off a game the previous night, but the Magic had an easy win under their belts and we had two hobbled starters.  Yet, we gave them a good game. 

The Hawks loss was concerning because it exposed our road woes once again.  We looked like a completely different team.  We couldn’t execute simple plays/dunks.  It didn’t help that Felton went down early, but I don’t think it mattered with the way we were playing defense.  That’s all troubling because we are going to have to win on the road if we are going to make any noise in the playoffs or even late in the season.

If there is any good news to this, it’s that I can again write about the Bobcats.  There was no way I was going to jinx them by praising them during their winning streak.  I’ve learned my lesson about being too high on this team, only to have them let me down.  The key now is that we absolutely cannot follow our solid winning streak with a long losing streak.  We have to stop the bleeding.  Rick Bonnell is right in that we have to go at least 2-4 in this West-coast swing.

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Panthers Give Us a Glimmer of Hope

January 14, 2010 by qcsportsblog

The Carolina Panthers fired Danny Crossman as special teams coach.  My five loyal readers know exactly how I feel about Crossman.  My ten friends (this is the last self-deprecating joke for this entry) know that I haven’t liked Crossman’s special teams product since well before I started writing this blog.  By the way, I’m going to start linking to Pat Yasinskas a lot more.  Unlike the homers at the Observer, he is much more realistic and balanced in his assessment of the Panthers.  Go back and read his archives since the Minnesota game.  He’s been dead-on with his analysis.  He is correct about Crossman – the once-dominant Panthers special teams immediately tanked.  It wasn’t just this year; the Panthers specials teams have stunk throughout nearly the entirety of Crossman’s tenure.  Yet, it took the Panthers until 2010 to notice.  This leads me to think that this decision may have come from above John Fox.  Either that, or it’s a sign that Fox will be back with one year left on his contract, and all loyalty has been thrown out the window in order to win next season and get a new contract.  I’m not going to complain too much though.  At least it’s a sign of hope for the Panthers.

Psst, Panthers, take down a guy’s profile from your website after you fire him.

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Gerald Wallace Doing What All-Stars Do

January 10, 2010 by qcsportsblog

Charlotte is a buzz today over Gerald Wallace’s tip-in game-winner last night against the Memphis Grizzlies.  Yeah, I know, a Bobcats-Grizzlies game was that exciting.  The Griz were 18-17 going into last night’s game, and there was a pretty big crowd at the Cable Box.  There is no reason there shouldn’t be a big crowd for every home game.  The Bobs are 13-4 at home. 

It’s all relative, but this is the most excited that Charlotte has ever been about its Bobcats.  It’s even packing the house for the Grizzlies.  Gerald Wallace is the main reason for the newfound attention the Bobs are receiving.  Sure, the point guard and coach are UNC guys, the first round pick went to Duke, and the Stephen Jackson trade worked out great, but Gerald Wallace is the face of the franchise.  He’s been here from day 1, he was this team’s first “find,” he’s been a great citizen in the community, and now he’s put it all together on the court.  They’re even throwing Gerald Wallace All-Star voting parties around town. 

There is no doubt that Wallace deserves to be an All-Star, but it’s no done deal.  He still has to stay healthy, and there is no way he will get voted in by the fans.  It will be up to the coaches to vote him in.  However, Charlotte can do its part by making Wallace’s vote totals competitive and by packing the house to watch him and his team play.  I’m filling out my ballot now.

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Panthers Allow Fox the Option to Opt Out of Contract

January 10, 2010 by qcsportsblog

The John Fox saga isn’t over yet.  ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Panthers have granted John Fox the option to opt out of the final year of the contract.  There is still no indication that Fox will actually do so.  There aren’t exactly any lucrative jobs out there currently.  The Panthers, however, continue to show that they have no qualms about unloading Fox’s salary and making a fresh start at the coaching position.  At the least, the Panthers are showing that they have some leverage in this situation by expressing their complete disinterest towards Fox.

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Sunday May Have Been the End of an Era for the Panthers

January 6, 2010 by qcsportsblog

Sunday's game could have signalled the end of an era for the Panthers.

The Panthers got the victory on Sunday over the Saints.  This wasn’t entirely unexpected considering the Saints played their second string throughout the game.  The game wasn’t terribly exciting.  Not only was the game relatively uncompetitive, the fans who did not want to brave the cold and go to the stadium had to sit through Brian Billick’s asinine comments all game long.  How much more could one man verbally spew love on Jake Delhomme in the first half?  Did you watch any tape of the first 15 games, Billick?  It’s as if someone yelled at him at the half because he toned down the Delhomme love big time in the 2nd half, even acknowledging that Moore should get the nod at starter next season. 

Unfortunately, most of the traditional local reporters still have the same unwavering loyalty to Delhomme.   Matt Moore just went 4-1 as a starter; he threw 7 TDs and 0 picks in the last three games.  Yet, Moore has only set himself up to compete with Delhomme next season, according to the usual suspects.  Are you kidding me?  It’s not even a contest.  Moore is already better than Delhomme.  Now, it’s just whether the Panthers bring in someone else to compete with Moore.  I have no idea how Delhomme has such a tight grip on these guys or why they’re so stuck with the status quo, but I think Moore has earned front-runner status for the starter job next season.   

The importance of Sunday’s game was not the game itself, but rather the underlying storyline – that many players may have been playing their last game with the Panthers.  If that happens, and it likely will, it will also be a new era for the Panthers.  Sure, the coach and GM will likely remain, but can you imagine the Panthers without Jake Delhomme, Julius Peppers, and Muhsin Muhammad?  All three could be gone next season.  Other veterans could also be on the way out.  Keydrick Vincent may not be back, Brad Hoover may finally get the axe, and Na’il Diggs and Landon Johnson could both be gone.  There may even be one or two other unexpected cuts, kind of like when the team caught a lot of people off guard and released Brentson Buckner.

Then, there is Dwayne Jarrett.  Finally, the guy has a good game.  The conventional thinking is that Jarrett had a “oh crap I could be cut, this really may be it” moment.  That could be the case, but does anyone else think that Delhomme may have hindered Jarrett’s development.  Could it have been that Jarrett was a non-factor because Delhomme simply never looked his way?  Instead, he threw pick after pick while trying to force the ball into Steve Smith?  However, Moore and Jarrett had practiced together on the second string for years.  Moore looked for him instantly.  I don’t know if it will be enough to save Jarrett’s job, but that TD pass was an amazing throw and catch.

Moore and Jarrett illustrate why I love seeing the young guys play.  There is so much more energy, and the whole team responds to it.  These guys don’t care about the 2003 Super Bowl season.  They want to make their own names.  By no means am I saying that we should get rid of the core veterans who are at the prime of their careers, like Steve Smith and (sigh) Peppers, but we should give young guys the first opportunity to win other spots.  I like how we cut Ken Lucas and let Richard Marshall start.  We didn’t miss a beat.  Let James Anderson and Dan Connor fight it out for the third LB starting spot.  Don’t be afraid to part ways with Hoover.  Draft and/or bring in a couple of young receivers and let them compete.  Let Mackenzy Bernadeau start.  Oh yeah, give Matt Moore a chance!

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Thoughts on the Beason Pro Bowl Snub

December 30, 2009 by qcsportsblog

A lot of Panthers fans are up in arms that Jon Beason was not selected to the Pro Bowl.  His stats certainly warranted another Pro Bowl appearance.  My pure emotional reaction as a huge Beason and Panthers fan was that this was a sham.  The guy has the second most tackles in the NFL (134).  He also has 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions, and 3 sacks.  All-around stud out of the MLB position.

All of that being said, it’s no secret that Pro Bowl voting is a popularity contest.  Winning teams have their players get selected.  The Saints are 13-2.  I can’t blame people for selecting Jonathan Vilma.  Saints fans are fired up, and I’m sure they voted in droves.  Beason is also going to have to deal with Patrick Willis for the next decade when it comes to Pro Bowl voting.  Willis certainly deserves to be selected.  Furthermore, he plays in a bigger market and is one of the recognizable faces on the 49ers.  When fans think of the 49ers, they think of Frank Gore and Willis.  When fans think of the Panthers, I’m not sure that Beason comes to mind.  People think Steve Smith, Julius Peppers, DeAngelo Williams,and yes, even Jake Delhomme.  That’s OK because if it makes Beason feel any better, fans who follow the Panthers regularly know that he is our best defensive player and maybe even our best all-around player.  A Pro Bowl selection isn’t required to validate that truth.

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Rumor Has it That Foxy is Staying

December 29, 2009 by qcsportsblog

The Observer broke the story, and the national media seems to have picked it up.  It looks like Marty Hurney, John Fox, and the coaching staff will all be invited to return next season.  To be honest, I don’t really have a coherent reaction to it.  I don’t know how I feel; I guess I’m indifferent.  I’m almost angrier that they kept Hurney than I am that they kept Fox.  After all, a lot of the personnel problems should fall on the GM.  Although I think that a parting of ways with Fox would not necessarily be a bad thing, I certainly acknowledge that Fox is a very good coach.  We will be competitive in just about every game with him as our coach, but I don’t know if he is bold enough or possesses the creativity to lead us to a championship. 

In a way, I think it’s a bigger slap in Fox’s face to keep him around with just one year left on his contract.  If Fox chooses to stay, he will be a lameduck next season who will effectively be coaching for his job.  That could have its pros and cons.  We know we will get Fox’s best effort next season.  He’ll throw the whole book at winning.  A lot of his stubbornness and loyalty will be out of the window now that he doesn’t have permanent job security.  The move also makes financial sense.  You don’t want to pay Fox $6 million next season in addition to the new coach’s salary.  That is particularly true when considering the current labor uncertainty in the NFL.  I also like that Jerry Richardson is letting Fox and Hurney crawl out of the hole they dug when they traded away next year’s first round pick.  They also have to resolve the Jake Delhomme and Julius Peppers contract issues this offseason.  Don’t handicap some new coach and let Fox/Hurney take the easy way out.  At the worst, let them coach until the end of their contract, and then bring in a new coach when you have a full slate of draft picks.

The first risk to keeping Fox is obvious.  Despite the fact that he is coaching for his job next season, Fox could very well be stubborn enough to bring Delhomme back as his starter.  It sounds crazy, but so does sticking by a guy after repeated 5-turnover games.  Also, Hurney and Fox don’t really have anything to lose.  I don’t know Hurney’s contractual situation, but I am pretty confident that his fate depends on Fox’s.  They very well could bet the house again next season and trade away more picks. 

In the end, this whole situation leaves me curious about what hasn’t been reported in the media.  The rumor is that Jerry Richardson and Fox had some big disagreement last offseason.  Clearly, Jerry wasn’t happy about at least one aspect of Fox’s management of this team.  Is Jerry bringing Fox back on the condition that he not bring Delhomme back as starter?  Is he going to allow Hurney and Fox to continue mortgaging the future (trading away draft picks) to try to win now?  Also, what is good enough to get Fox a new contract?  A mere playoff appearance, a NFC Championship appearance, or will it take the Super Bowl?  We still have the New Orleans game to go, but it should be an interesting offseason for the Panthers.

Update:  Pat Yasinskas says it’s no sure thing that Fox will accept the Panthers offer to return.  I certainly agree with his assessment that Fox has quite the ego, and this must be a slap in the face to him.  I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers aren’t kind of setting Fox up.  For them, this could be a creative way to get rid of a coach with a winning record without firing him.  Put him in an awkward situation and hope he leaves.  If he returns, the Panthers won’t be too upset since Fox will likely put together a strong squad next season.  If he leaves, the Panthers won’t mind one bit, especially since they wouldn’t have to pay the final year of his contract.

I still think Fox will be back.  He will command a large salary to leave.  With the labor uncertainty, I don’t see a team like Buffalo offering him a multi-year deal for $4+ million per year.  Fox knows that if he is let go after next season, he will likely land another head coaching gig.  So, he will probably take his $6 million next season and then either get a new contract with the Panthers or land another head coaching job.

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I Love it When the “Pundits” are Wrong

December 27, 2009 by qcsportsblog

Scott Fowler finally acknowledged that Matt Moore has earned a shot at the starting job.  Really?  In my book, he earned a shot at it after Week 1 simply by virtue of Jake Delhomme’s awful performance in the season opener (not to mention the playoff loss to Arizona).  It’s funny how many people will come around to your side after you go 5-2 as a starter.

To simplify things, the NFL is about two things.  It’s about QB play, and it’s about young guys being given a chance to play and taking advantage of their opportunity.  All of our recent success has started with not turning the ball over, and good QB play has a lot to do with it.  It’s amazing how much better your team plays when you don’t throw 5 picks per game.  The players really seem to rally around Matt Moore.  The guy was given an opportunity, albeit reluctantly, by John Fox, and he has completely taken advantage of it.  Forget about just managing the game and playing to not make mistakes, Moore has been a big-time QB.  In his last three games, he has thrown 7 TDs and 0 picks.  I can’t believe the coaches questioned his decision-making.  Seems just fine when you compare him to his predecessor.  Moore has managed the game perfectly, and he makes the big play when needed.  He has beaten a previously one-loss Vikings team that was playing for homefield advantage, and today he dominated a Giants team that was fighting for its playoff life and that was playing its last home game in a historic stadium.  Not bad, but I’m sure John Fox, if the Panthers keep him, will give Delhomme every chance to win the starting job next season.

Other observations from the Panthers 41-9 win over the Giants:

  • Jon Beason.  Need I say more?  In case I do:  13 tackles, 1 fumble forced, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed.  Oh yeah, Chris Harris caused yet another fumble.
  • Steve Smith is amazing.  Did you see his block on the first Stewart TD?  Pretty sweet TD catch too.  It’s sad that he is out for the year.  Despite all the woes at QB, he was headed for another 1,000 yard season.  Now, I can’t even begin to imagine what our 1-WR-set offense will look like next week against the Saints. 
  • Is it just me, or did anyone else think that no one touched Matt Moore on the first drive when he slid for a first down?  He could have gotten up and kept running if the refs didn’t whistle the play dead.
  • Troy Aikman said at one point that this is “the best coaching job John Fox has done.”  What planet are you living on, Troy?  Last time I checked, the head coach was responsible for personnel decisions.  This is the head coach that stubbornly kept starting a struggling QB.  That decision alone cost the other 52 guys on the team a playoff berth.
  • It doesn’t matter as much as last year’s Week 16 game at the Giants, but this was still some nice payback.
  • Too bad the Panthers beat writers for the Observer don’t engage in nearly as much investigative or critical journalism as J.P. Giglio at the News & Observer, who laid into Butch Davis and his mistake-prone Tar Heels.  Ouch.

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Charlotte Bowl Games Are Not Good to UNC

December 27, 2009 by qcsportsblog

The North Carolina Tar Heels dropped to 0-3 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl with a 19-17 loss to the Pitt Panthers.  As the Observer article stated, this game had the lowest attendance in the bowl’s history.  My attention span reflected that.  I watched the game, but I was generally indifferent towards it.  The game just wasn’t that exciting.  There wasn’t a lot of hype in the weeks leading up to the game.  There were no good storylines, and the matchup was nothing special.  The town just never seemed that excited about it.  This game wasn’t blessed with West Virginia and its intoxicated fans running around town.  Pitt football, despite its proud history, just doesn’t seem to have a large following or rabid fanbase.  It didn’t seem as if too many made the trip.  Maybe the game being the day after Christmas had something to do with it.  There wasn’t much of a trip to make for most Tar Heel fans, and therefore I think a lot of the blame for the low attendance has to go to Carolina fans.

The Heels have played in three out of the eight Meineke Bowls.  I understand the excitement is gone by the third time for even the diehard Carolina football fans.  Still, Wake and UConn, not exactly two football powerhouses, packed more people into BofA Stadium.  Bowl committees take into account how well a school’s fans travel, but Carolina fans didn’t even have to travel for this game.  They literally had to leave their homes.  The game was the day after Christmas, but it was late enough in the day that people from Greensboro or Raleigh could have driven into town that morning.  I know a ton of Carolina fans who chose to watch the game at the bar instead of at the stadium.  Either this is a sign of bad things to come for the Meineke Bowl - let’s be honest, the previous attendance  levels were unrealistic since most pre-New Year bowls don’t get 60,000+ in attendance – or it is time for the bowl committee to rethink its notion of having local teams play to attract fans. 

As far as the football, this was a huge win for Pitt.  Once a national championship contender, they achieved their first 10-win season in 27 years.  They were very close to doing some real damage this season; their 3 losses were by an average of 3 or 4 points.  With Brian Kelly leaving Cincy, they could be in the driver’s seat in the Big East for the next few years.  For Carolina, it was a good year, but they just can’t crack into elite status.  They have suffered postseason setbacks in consecutive seasons now.  I’m sure there will be a lot of hype surrounding them next season as well – it will be interesting to see if they can win the ACC.

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Happy Holidays from the QCSB

December 25, 2009 by qcsportsblog

A little late with this, but Happy Holidays from the QCSB.  Every other blog has already beaten me to posting Christmas music videos, so I will hold off on posting them myself.

My first blog post was on December 19, 2008, so this time of the year also marks the one-year anniversary of this blog.  Thanks for reading.  The year started off with a bang.  The Panthers won the division, the Bobcats had renewed hope with Larry Brown, Davidson was playing big-time college basketball, and there was even a good college bowl game in town.  Then, the Panthers collapsed in the playoffs, and Davidson and the Bobs didn’t make it to the postseason.  Those disappointments weren’t going to hold this blog down, though.  The news stories didn’t stop, and this isn’t some fair weather blog!  The QCSB was the first to spot the new Bobcats uniforms.  It endlessly ranted against Jake Delhomme and about the need for a new QB, and it was proven correct.  The Bobs made some big moves, and this may be the year they crack the top 8 in the East.  All in all, it was a successful first year.  Hopefully, things will only be better in the New Year.  I have already made some minor changes which correspond to all of the cynicism and sarcasm that this blog provides towards Charlotte’s sports teams.  Thanks again for reading and for your support!

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Jake Delhomme Still Gives Us the Best Chance to Win

December 21, 2009 by qcsportsblog

Is there room for another Matty Ice in the NFC South? Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer

When you are an anonymous blogger in your pajamas who is a rabid sports fan and who takes bold stances regarding his home teams, last night was a glorious night.  You see, some of us saw the potential in Matt Moore.  Others in the national media stuck with the status quo and even wrote it up.  Here is the saddest part of it all:  if there was any way Jake Delhomme could have played last night, John Fox would have started him.  He only played Matt Moore because he was forced to.  Otherwise, we would have never been able to see that impressive performance by the other Matty Ice in the NFC South.  Now, at least, he is forced to stick with Moore.  You can’t bench a guy who threw for 300 yards, 3 TDs, 0 picks, and beat a previously 1-loss team who was playing for the #1 seed in the NFC.  Here are some observations:

  • Classic John Fox job-saving win.  There is no doubt about the fact that the Panthers under John Fox are almost always competitive and hang around just about every ball game.  I have never taken that away from him.  The problem is, he is too conservative and he will never change.  He will never draft a QB.  This doesn’t have to be a bitter divorce.  This can be a Tony Dungy situation.  Maybe Fox can go to a team that already has a QB, who he’ll be forced to keep, and succeed.  He’s never going to draft one here; someone will have to force him to do so.
  • Only one thing that concerned me from last night:  the stat that the Panthers have scored six points in the last eight 3rd quarters.  The Panthers are normally the better coached team on a field, and Fox and staff normally make the better halftime adjustments.  Throughout his tenure, I have noticed that the Panthers usually outperform their opponents after halftime.  The fact that we have not done so this season is troubling.
  • Julius Peppers had a monster game yesterday.  Was it because this was likely his last national TV appearance before becoming a free agent?  Was it because Jared Allen, who Panther fans often say is better and wish Pepper was more like, was on the opposing team?  Bottom line is that Peppers dominated whoever lined up across him.  Chris Collinsworth had a line about how he would pay him $2million per game if he always played like he did last night.  The problem is that Peppers mostly does not play like he did last night.  That’s the biggest and probably the only issue with Pep.
  • Jon Beason is a manchild.  I have no film or any form of proof to back up this assertion, but I’m going to go ahead and say that he was a big reason why we were able to contain Adrian Peterson.
  • For a while, last night was a repeat of the New England game.  We kept getting stuck at the Minnesota 35-40 yardline.  We broke through in the 4th quarter in a big way.
  • Steve Smith loves playing Minnesota.  Remember that game in 2005 when he put up 200 yards on Fred Smoot?
  • I’m a little confused, John Fox.  You try a 53-yard FG in the wintry New England weather last week, but you don’t kick a 52-yard FG to end the half last night?  I don’t understand.  John, you may argue that you learned your lesson after last week.  The problem is that last week there was still plenty of time on the clock.  The missed FG gave a cold Pats offense great field position.  They drove it down the field and score a game-tying TD before the half.  Yesterday, there would have been no time on the clock if Kasay missed.  It was worth a shot.
  • I could go on for a while about how well Matt Moore played last night, but it wouldn’t be fair to do so.  It was just one game after all.  Moore is going to have some bad games along the way.  He’s still young and will make mistakes.  However, it is fair to give Moore a legitimate shot at the starting job next season.  Bring someone else in to compete with him, but give Moore plenty of snaps with the first string in training camp and see what he can do.  Forget about the 3 TDs last night.  I’m happy with the 0 picks.  What a breath of fresh air compared to Delhomme.  The players seemed to be fighting harder for him.  Again, put the stats aside.  QBs are defined by how they play in the clutch.  Moore outscored Favre 20-0 in the 4th quarter.  Don’t worry, I guess Jake Delhomme really does give us the best chance to win.
  • The Panthers could easily be 8-6 or 9-5.  The losses to Buffalo, the Jets, and Miami were devastating – they were winnable games.  Jake threw 8 picks in those three games.  I guess he still gives us the best chance to win. 

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Penalties Doom Panthers

December 13, 2009 by qcsportsblog

Isn’t it ironic that the play/mistake that officially killed the Panthers playoffs hopes was committed by the player Marty Hurney and John Fox traded away next year’s first round pick to draft?  That isn’t necessarily an indictment of Everette Brown.  He is young, undersized, hasn’t played much this season, and needs a year or two to bulk up and get accustomed to the NFL game.  He may turn into a good player in the upcoming seasons.  However, it is an indictment on Hurney and Fox that they mortgaged the team’s future for a guy who hasn’t really helped much this season.  If we do get a new coach and GM, we will likely have to find candidates who are willing to work for cheap and without a first round draft pick.  If my memory is correct, George Seifert came into the job without a first round pick, and that didn’t work out too well.  Thankfully, the cupboard isn’t nearly as empty right now.  Here are some observations:

  • Chris Harris is amazing at causing fumbles.  You could blindfold him, give him just one swipe, and I bet he would find the ball.
  • Neither team really seemed like it wanted to score.  Both moved the ball well, and then got stuck around midfield.  Penalties usually did the Panthers in, and turnovers cost the Pats some points.  I think the Pats still moved the ball more effectively, and the Panthers got slightly more breaks.  The Pats were poised to score a lot more than 20 points, but kept turning the ball over.  Another break for the Panthers was that Randy Moss did not show up at all for this one.
  • What was John Fox thinking when he chose to kick the FG at the end of the first half.  There are so many things wrong with that.  Why would you want to give Tom Brady that kind of field position and give their offense a chance to get things going?  It was a rainy day and the announcers said John Kasay’s max range was 50 yards.  The FG attempt was from 53 yards out.  Oh yeah, in case you haven’t noticed, Kasay is old.  The age caught up to him all of a sudden this year.  I don’t think he’s hit one from 50+ this season, and multiple kicks have been blocked.  No reason to try that kick, and it completely changed the momentum of the game.
  • DeAngelo ran and played well, but he only got 13 carries.  Gotta get him the ball more.
  • Stupid special teams mistakes cost the Panthers, as usual.  Why does Crossman still have a job?  It looks like the Steelers are getting rid of their guy after one bad season, but we will stubbornly stick with Crossman year after year.
  • Matt Moore wasn’t great and you would hope for more points, but he wasn’t bad either.  Keep in mind that he was on the road in a cold, rainy, and hostile environment.  He made some shaky throws, although it would help if Dwayne Jarrett came back to the ball.  Still, he didn’t turn it over at all.  He also made some great throws, got out of the pocket and made some accurate throws on the run.  Did you see that pass to Steve Smith?  Notice how he didn’t underthrow it?  He threw it far, and let Smitty run under it.  That’s what youth does for a team.  There is so much more zip on Moore’s ball, but I guess 5-turnovers-per-game Delhomme still gives us the “best chance at winning.”
  • At the end of the day, this wasn’t a bad loss.  A loss at New England is understandable.  It’s tough to win on the road against good teams in the NFL.  The weather wasn’t ideal.  We are starting a QB who did not have the benefit of practicing with the first team all through training camp.  Yet, we played tough, didn’t make too many mistakes, forced turnovers, and could have had a chance at the end if it weren’t for an inopportune penalty.  It’s the Buffalo loss, the Delhomme meltdown against Philly, the blown lead at New Orleans, and the Miami loss at home that really hurt us this season. 

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Fox Sports Indicts Hurney and Fox

December 9, 2009 by qcsportsblog

Via Cat Scratch Reader.

This Fox Sports article says that the contracts of Jake Delhomme a nd Julius Peppers are the number “1 and 1a” worst contracts in the NFL.  It’s not so bad that the Panthers have the two worst contracts in the NFL.  The bad part is that Marty Hurney and John Fox explicitly created this situation.  These were their guys and their contractual decisions. 

It’s also ironic that, five years ago, many Panthers fans thought that Delhomme and Peppers would be two of the greatest Panthers ever.  Delhomme was the first solid QB in franchise history.  He was young in football years and was supposedly to only get better after leading the team to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter.  The storyline for Peppers was perfect.  Local boy, played at UNC,  first round draft pick, amazing size and speed.  Some even predicted that he would break Reggie White’s record for most career sacks.  Peppers currently has a better shot than Delhomme at creating a lasting legacy.  However, I think Steve Smith, Jon Beason, and DeAngelo Williams will be far more memorable Panthers than either of those two.

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Matt Moore Improves to 3-1 as a Starter

December 7, 2009 by qcsportsblog

Matt Moore just won his third game in four starts, but that’s a perfect reason to not name him the starter for next week.  In reality, Moore didn’t do much to win this game.  My headline is not warranted.  It was the Panthers who beat the Bucs, and not just Moore.  Moore, however, also did not lose this game, and that’s more than could be said for Jake Delhomme this season.  Isn’t that enough to at least get him another look as starter?  Waiting until the last moment to name the starter is not really going to trip up Bill Belichick’s preparations – it’s still going to be Brady going up top to Moss all day. 

Here are some observations from the Bucs game:

  • Josh Freeman shows some real flashes of brilliance, but he also has some serious rookie flaws.  He really needs to improve the decision-making, especially in the red zone.  The Bucs could have easily won this game even if they settled for fields goals instead of the interceptions in the red zone.  Still, Freeman had some amazing throws throughout the game.
  • Jon Beason is absolutely nasty.  I can never say this enough.  The guy is clutch.  We never have to worry about him or his intensity.  As long as he’s healthy, he’s going to be a force for us.  If this keeps up and we resign him after his rookie contract is up, he will be one of the all-time Panthers greats.  He is the only reason I am voting for the Pro Bowl this season.
  • Antonio Bryant has turned into a Panther killer.  How many one-handed catches can he possibly have against us? 
  • How refreshing is it to see Matt Moore actually look for other receivers and occasionally dump the ball off, instead of forcing it to Smitty in triple coverage?
  • Special teams tried their hardest to let us down again.  Botched punts can’t happen when you’re up.  Thankfully, Beason and the D saved the day.
  • Jonathan Stewart ran very well, but we’re going to need DeAngelo next week.  By the way, would it hurt to try anything even resembling a trick play?

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Charlotte 49ers Shoot Down #20 Louisville Cardinals

December 6, 2009 by qcsportsblog

It looks like we may have another season of serious college basketball in the QC.  It’s still early in the season, but the 49ers look like a tournament contender out of the A-10.  A victory on the road over a Big East team, #20 Louisville, will certainly help their case if they’re on the bubble come March.  They didn’t just win, they blew out Rick Pitino’s squad.

It looks like the 49ers have a solid combination of inside players and shooters this season, which will make them dangerous against any team they play.  Bobby Lutz can always get a bunch of athletes to come to Charlotte, but you gotta have shooters to be good in college basketball.  If the 49ers can shoot the ball well nightly, a 20-win season is a real possibility.

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Matt Moore Makes This Game Worth Watching

December 5, 2009 by qcsportsblog

1-10 Tampa travels to Charlotte to take on the 4-7, but even-worse-than-their-record and emotionally wounded, Carolina Panthers.  Not exactly the most compelling game of the weekend.  Trust me, there will be plenty of good seats to be had for tomorrow game.  Expect to see a lot of fans dressed as blue seats on TV tomorrow.  Admittedly, I would not go out of my way to acquire tickets for this game.  Matt Moore, however, makes it worth watching, even if on TV. 

To the Matt Moore haters, I full acknowledge that he could be bad.  There is no reason to believe he is the savior.  I called for him to play after week 1 because it absolutely can’t get any worse than having Jake Delhomme in there.  Even if Moore throws five picks tomorrow, he won’t be worse than Delhomme.  He’ll be just as bad.  So, we can go nowhere but up at the QB position.  Who knows, Moore may actually have something in him.  Either way, next season’s coach will know the extent to which he will have to address the QB position.  Hopefully, John Fox will let Moore play the remaining five games.  We play a variety of teams over those five games – the great (Saints and Vikings), the good (Pats, Falcons), and the bad (Bucs).  We’ll see what Moore can do in those situations. 

To the Moore supporters, let’s not get too excited if he does well tomorrow.  He very well may have a good game tomorrow.  It is the Bucs, after all.  Even if DeAngelo Williams sits out, the Panthers should be able to beat the Bucs at home.  It won’t mean Moore is the answer.  It will mean that he deserves a long and hard look for the rest of the season.

Go Panthers!

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