Carolina Panthers: Five Problems to Address

As with last week’s performance (if you could even call it that), the Panthers made too many unnecessary mistakes today against the Falcons. Panthers fans are growing more restless by the week, and it’s clear that drastic measures must be taken.

Here are a few problems Carolina needs to fix before the Panthers will be considered contenders for anything other than the league’s biggest disappointment.

Replace the Starting Quarterback

This was the focus of my article last week, and with the way Delhomme played this week, my mind is officially made up.

History indeed does repeat itself. He didn’t look bad during the first drive, but in subsequent drives he looked like an overexcited mess. He threw over the heads of his receivers by more than 20 feet and just couldn’t seem to focus.

I lost my cool during the botched flea-flicker play. I don’t know what the heck Jake Delhomme was doing, but you don’t ever throw the ball while being sacked. Especially underhanded and towards a crowd of defenders.

That play is a microcosm of his time here in Carolina.

All he does is take unnecessary risks instead of using conventional wisdom and playing it safe. Even if he wasn’t ruled down by contact or intercepted, it should have been ruled intentional grounding.

He did the same thing during the two-minute drill in the fourth quarter. While nearly being sacked, Jake thought it was a good idea to try and throw the ball, resulting in a near-interception by a defensive lineman. On the next play, fourth down, he did throw an interception.

No matter what style of offense a team runs, the play of its quarterback is one of the most important factors. You can’t win games when your quarterback throws the ball around like a five-year-old plays with his toys.

While Delhomme may have performed astronomically better this week, how much time does this buy him? Does he get the axe next time he throws four interceptions?

Time will tell, but the Panthers need to come up with a long-term solution for the quarterback position.

Fire Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson

I’ve been advocating for this move for a while, and every week Davidson gives me new reasons to call for his job.

Davidson’s choice of plays was suspect again today. The first four or five rushes were all to the strong side in spite of the fact that Atlanta was overloading it on every play. When he finally called a rush up the middle, DeAngelo Williams managed to get the first down.

So what does Davidson do? He virtually abandons the run game in the second half, opting to have Delhomme keep throwing.

Not to mention the fact that you don’t use the pass to set up the run unless you’re Peyton Manning. Jake Delhomme is not. It’s a bad idea.

The Carolina ground game is spectacular, and the backs should get more carries.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are the perfect combination for a two-back system. Williams has lightning speed, able to run around nearly anyone in the league, and Stewart is an up-the-middle bruiser.

Together, they strike fear into opposing defenses. Well, when they’re used correctly. These guys need to be getting two or three carries for every time Jake Delhomme drops back to pass.

I’m not kidding. If you’ve got a strength, exploit it. Carolina needs to continue to run the ball if they even want to sniff the playoffs in a tough NFC South.

If Davidson doesn’t start making better decisions, he needs to be dishonorably discharged and replaced with someone who will.

Reinforce the Secondary

These guys couldn’t scare the Lions.

Matt Ryan was able to take his time and find wide open targets throughout the game. Richard Marshall got lucky and picked him off once, but aside from that, Carolina was largely ineffective against the passing game.

Marshall isn’t a bad defensive back, but by no means should he be starting. Marshall is at his best at the nickelback position. He can effectively cover a slot receiver or play zone defense.

He has no business covering a No. 2 receiver. When you let Marty Booker burn right by you and manage a 20-plus yard gain, it’s clear you’re not doing your job.

Chris Gamble isn’t bad, but he can’t do everything himself.

You have to clamp down in the red zone—not let your opponent run a two-minute drill and throw three touchdown passes in the first half.

Let’s face it: Carolina hasn’t had good safeties since Mike Minter and Marlon McCree. Neither one is still in Charlotte, and until the Panthers improve the last line of defense, teams will continue to throw early, often, and deep into the secondary.

Focus on Discipline

Personal fouls are not acceptable, especially when fielding a fair catch. Jon Beason knows better than that.

Neither are offside penalties. Really, can’t you wait until the ball is snapped before jumping into the neutral zone?

Or illegal use of hands to the face.

Or pass interference, especially in the end zone by Thomas Davis at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Falcons to have 1st-and-goal on the one yard line.

Is anyone else just disgusted by the timing of these penalties?

I think each defender was playing penalty bingo today because so many different ones were committed.

Jake Delhomme’s indiscretions also fall into this category. Take your time and stay in the pocket. You are not Brett Favre or Steve Young, so don’t act like it.

Capitalize on Turnovers

Richard Marshall picked off Matt Ryan and Quinton Teal recovered a fumble by Michael Turner. What do these plays have in common? In the resulting Carolina possession, no points were scored.

Points off turnovers are crucial. It shows that the offense is capable of carrying the momentum first established by the defense. It’s all about efficiency and taking advantage of a situation.

Today the Panthers just couldn’t do it. They fumbled after recovering Turner’s fumble (but, to DeAngelo Williams’ credit, the ball was stripped from behind) and were forced into punting after Marshall's interception.

After Williams fumbled, however, the Falcons drove down the field and Turner made up for his previous mistake, walking into the end zone on 2nd-and-goal. This gave the Falcons a 15-point lead, essentially sealing the game.

Had Carolina turned at least one of these into a touchdown, it could have meant a huge momentum swing and possibly a win.

Instead, the Panthers are 0-2 and limping into Dallas next week, needing a win more than Kanye West needs to shut his mouth.