Panthers Camp 2011

[Man in Black]

Clemson will be a force for years with the talent they have right now. Like I said above - The QB is a sophomore and most of the rest of the stars are freshmen! They have a RB as fast or faster than Spiller and a WR (Sammy Watkins) that looks like the next Steve Smith... plus tons more guys just starting to see the field.


You sound like me with Miami. Don't take this wrong, but I've made myself not care. I don't mean that in an "I'm abandoning my team" way. I just have to distance myself just a bit so it doesn't keep me upset. I have enough to take care of just getting through each day.

Miami has a great deal of talent, but they are lacking on the O and D-lines. The biggest problem is the play calling. It is absolutely horrendous. I'm pretty sure the whole administration needs gutting. It's just not going to work. Bill Cowher or Brian Billick would please me greatly, but I'm not going to worry over it anymore. I've given enough of my emotions to that staff... I'll still watch and pull for them, but hope is out of the question. Of course except when they are playing the Pats and Jets... and then records always go out the window.

The Dolphins have made soooo many terrible personnel mistakes and PR screw ups that the fans have turned completely away - The way they treated the 2 best players we've had for years (Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor), the ridiculous draft choices and stupid FA pickups (and misses). There's really just too much to list here.



As for Denver, I'm pretty sure the lockout is their biggest problem. Fox is not one to make instant improvement. The tough physical style will come, but not until everyone learns it and buys in. I hope they give him the time because he will improve the situation there, at least I believe he will. The biggest thing is that we get to see what Tebow can do. That should be a big spark right there. If he had had another 5 minutes he would have won that last game... I know it. Plus, the experience learning the system this year will be invaluable for him and the team by next season.

[Jason]

Elway and Fox seem to get along very well. I think Fox will be around for a while. We may be 1-4, but we could easily be 4-1. With Josh McDonalds, we were blown out multiple times last year. I think, and hope, he'll be around for years to come. He has DRASTICALLY improved defense and our running game. Which is what he's good at. I think it may get even better. Willis McGahee looks to be the greatest signing during the offseason.

I was the same way last year, the way you are with Miami. Even now, actually. I grew up with Denver. I was so used to watching them make the playoffs and win all the time.... This whole losing thing is a new experience for me.

I'm pretty optimistic about your Dolphins draft pick, next season. I hope they're the team who picks up Andrew Luck. They look like they're the team in biggest need of a quarterback. The Colts, too, with Peyton gone.

[Man in Black]

I like the Sooners quarterback too... Landry Jones. I don't think Miami will get the top pick as they are not very good, but I think they have too much talent not to win at least 3 or 4. But, I'll take it if we get it!


I meant to ask you, how did you like Knowshon going all Georgia Bulldog and leaping for the pylon in that last game? I got a kick out of it.

[Jason]

I strive to see Knowshon do well. I was definitely not expecting him to make it, I was just glad he was picking up yardage, but that extra effort and the touchdown made me that much happier. I was excited as can be. Tebow outscored San Diego 14-6, and SD even had that huge momentum boost going into halftime.

[Man in Black]

Congrats on the Tebow win in Miami. I was feeling bad for him for much of the game... and then he came out of the phone booth as Super T in the fourth.

I don't know if you got to see the game... but that's exactly what I mean about the Dolphins having no heart and needing a complete change. It was 12 to nothing at that point with just a few minutes left and Sparano went for 2. WTF? That decision would be fine if the teams were not allowed to kick any more field goals. It cost them the game not having that one point.

Even so, how do you not run out the clock when you are up by 15 with less than 4 minutes to go? I did think they were too good to get Luck... now I think they are tanking it on purpose... at least the coaches have been told to do so. And the players have given up so it should be pretty easy.

The Dolphins owner contacted Bill Cowher today, according to CBS Sports. I think they should let Sparano go now... it's cruel to keep him hanging on in this situation especially after what Ross did to him trying to get Harbaugh last year. I don't know if Cowher would come in now... but I'm sure Nolan could handle business until the off-season.

[Jason]

Yeah, I got to see the game. Both teams played horribly throughout the entire thing. I couldn't believe what I was watching.

I tried to force myself from getting too excited when Tebow threw that touchdown to DeMaryius Thomas. Something like this has happened in every game (aside from Green Bay) and Denver just ends up losing. But when they recovered that onside kick, I almost went nuts, then the quick drive to the end zone was awesome. I was so nervous waiting for their two point conversion. What a come from behind.

The commentators brought up a stat just before Denver scored that said Denver has not been shut out in 298 games. The longest active streak in the NFL. Then they score 18 and win??? I think the world knew that this game was over by that point, then Tebow pulled an Elway and won it. They need to quit containing Tebow and let him do his thing. I noticed he felt uncomfortable standing in the pocket, which is what they're coaching him to do. He's at his best when he improvises. I was happy to hear Elway say that in the press conference.

I hate to think that a team could be tanking on purpose just to get a good draft pick. It really stinks, I hope they create some type of rule to where tanking would do no good, but I can't think of anything. What about Indi, though? 62-7? Are they REALLY that bad without Peyton? I think it's a combination of Peyton and Tony Dungy not being there. And I hope Cowher takes the Miami job. I've always liked the guy, a lot. One of my favorite coaches.

[Man in Black]

I don't think Miami tanked the Denver game... but I think they will lose intentionally now. It sounded like I was taking credit away from Denver as I reread my above post. I meant that they will go for Luck now.

It was just poor game management, there is just no excuse for losing a game where you are up by 15 that late. Don't take me for bitter or upset about it... I'm not... I was past that point weeks ago... I'm just stating facts... even Tebow shouldn't have been able to do that.

If they had kicked the extra point, then ran the ball a few times milking the clock on their last possession Denver would have had to use up their TO's or let the time go down too far. It is plain darn dumb to give somebody like Tebow the opportunity to beat you if you can avoid it... because he will and he did.

With as much respect as I can give my Dolphins, and by no means would I ever want to come across as hoping my team would lose... I'm really happy that Tebow did what he did. And I'm really stoked to see what he can do when he gets a chance to get comfortable. I mean look at his composure now, when he had no off-season to prepare. That game helped Tim's chances much more than a win would have helped Miami... they are done regardless.

The run he made from his own goal line was one of the (if not THE) greatest runs I've ever seen from a QB. He's a better runner than Cam Newton... he has a lot of work to do on the passes, but he has a running back skill set. And not just any running back, but a great running back. He might not be as fast as Vick, but he has much better field vision and that makes him just as elusive. What makes him much better as a runner than Vick is that he can take hits and most of all he knows exactly when to run, where Vick just takes off to escape.

[Jason]

It didn't sound like you were taking credit away from Denver, to me. Either way, nobody deserved to win this game, in my opinion, with the way they played. Denver's play for the first 57 minutes was atrocious. Aside from the defense, anyway. I'm just hoping the first 57 minutes was simply Tebow trying to contain himself. I mean, how do you miss Knowshon Moreno when he's standing right in front of you?

I'm happy as can be for Tebow, but the naysayers will only focus on his first 57 minutes of play. Take this NFL analyst for example. I recognize the voice, but the name eludes me. Jamie Dukes was defending Tebow throughout the highlight, but the guy bad mouthing Tebow sounds like a child bickering.

[Man in Black]

Yeah, I heard that... lots of them yack like that. What do they expect? That is the first real action he's had with this particular team and coaching staff. How many other QBs could get it figured out after 3 quarters? Cam threw for over 4 hundred yards his first game with Carolina... but he didn't win. And I have no doubt that Denver would have beat the Chargers a few weeks back if Tebow had about 3 more minutes or less.


Did you happen to catch the halftime report during the Denver/Miami game? Marino and Cowher were talking about it and Dan said something like "This game is just boring." I bet those games with no passing and a few field goals drive him crazy to have to watch and report on. He hated that shit when he was playing. He'd get ticked off if Shula called more than one run a quarter LMAO!


My take on Tebow as I was watching that game was that there were zillions of things going through his head at the same time. I think he sees a lot more of what is going on than the average player.

Don't take this wrong like I'm comparing myself to him as a football player, but I sort of did that when I managed and cooked at restaurants. I took everything in that was going on... right from the start. So at the beginning I was sort of all over the place and slow when I first got to a job. But after a while when I settled in there was nobody faster and more efficient at getting the food out.

Like that ugly pass to Moreno... his mind was in the secondary, with each block, what the linebackers were doing not to mention trying to look off of his intended target. Most people just zone in on the one thing they are told to do with out ever taking the time to analyze how that action fits into the overall plan. But those that do usually excel... and I expect Tebow will do just that.

[Jason]

I know what you mean about having his mind all over the place, and I'm the exact same way with jobs. I'd be completely lost when the trainers are showing me all these things, then I do them and it's a piece of cake. My guess is that Tebow was trying to listen to what the coaches were telling him in practice that doesn't quite fit in with the way he likes to do things. He looked so uncomfortable standing in the pocket, but I'll bet he was told to do that.

That ugly Knowshon passed looked to me like he was trying to hit him in full stride, at least when I was watching the game, and he just over analyzed it. I'm definitely excited that we'll get to see him start more than just 3 games, this year. He should be better than last year, and he had a pretty good 3 games as a rookie. Especially with the team he played with.