It is one thing to play with effort and pride and lose. It’s another to lose and make excuses afterward.
The Carolina Panthers fell, 18-10, to the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome, as they crawl to the end of the season.
After the first two drives that totaled 162 yards, the Panthers’ offense sputtered in the eight subsequent drives for 52 yards.
The product on the field was the same ineffective offense and mediocre defense. The only thing that was elite was the finger-pointing and accountability dodging after the game. Here are a few interesting quotes after the game.
“It’s the NFL. Sacks Happen” -Panthers O-Line Coach John Miller
That may be true, John. In the NFL, people get sacked. Sacks happen. These guys are in the league for a reason. However, the frequency in which the sacks happen on this team is inexcusable. Giving up seven and eight sacks a week is not the norm.
When asked how quarterbacks can be properly evaluated when they are constantly under duress, Miller said “Next Question”. The correct answer here is that they can’t be properly evaluated. In fact, Christian McCaffrey can’t finish a season intact, healthy, and whole because of them.
” (We’ve) had 11 different offensive line combinations …..the inability to protect the quarterback will show up in the stats.” -Head Coach Matt Rhule
So, this revelation came to Rhule during the second to last game in his second season at the helm? He had to know before even coming to Charlotte that the Panthers’ offensive line is an area where the team has struggled. Knowing this, where was this grace for Cam Newton when he was getting knocked around like a piñata? Since Darnold hasn’t thrown a touchdown in 21 quarters of play, now you realize that there are problems on the o-line?
“How much more do we have to say ‘do your job’ for folks to get the picture? If you got a gap to be in , be in your gap. You got a guy to cover, cover your guy“. -Shaq Thompson
Before injuries ravaged the unit, the defense carried the team to its share of wins. This unit still struggles with things such as making stops on third down. Why? Because of the little things such as filling gaps and not blowing coverages. Thompson has every right to be frustrated.