Smonroe

Beside Thielen, no one on the Panthers team has more than 19 receptions. They're not a good running team. Their O line isn't that good, forcing Bryce to do a lot of dump offs. And he gets sacked a lot. If their offense consistently moves the ball against us on Sunday, then we're either in tank mode or the FO is blind to Gus's defensive failures.

Ballard cares more for draft picks and cap space than he does about winning. oh wait…you said UNpopular opinion? Nevermind…

Not defending Ballard, but I'm trying hard to think of any great coach who didn't have a very good QB. I agree, he failed to remedy the Luck retirement until this year (and we're still not 100% sure that's even true). Overall, your record is who you are. Average.

I'd say the Offense is good, maybe a B. The Defense...well, is there something below F? Lack of D talent and poor coaching schemes do not a good defense make, lol!

Not sure where you're getting your stats from? We're not top 10 in sacks. We are top 10 in percentage of drives that lead to a score (on defense). We're 7th in giving up passing yards. Yes - lead the league in TFL. (All of the above is skewed with teams not playing the same amount of games. Eye test - Did you watch the NO game? Carr could have baked a cake back there. The only time he was in trouble was when he ran into Buck for the strip sack. We have some CB talent that's injured, hopefully they'll come back healthy next season. But I don't see anything improving in the pass rush department. IMHO, pass rush is the #1 issue on D. I think the O is decent and will be good when AR comes back.

About a week ago I said in a thread something to the effect of - "I'm not conspiracy theorist, but I have to wonder if it's a planned tank". I know the players don't want to lose. I know the coaches don't want to lose. But I'm convinced the FO is doing nothing to win. Didn't address the lack of pass rush, when there were two cheap answers from Washington. I understand that we'd have to pay those guys, but it was a free trial this year. And if one worked out, then they're worth it. So, if we're not it Tank mode, then we're definitely in - stay the course and let it ride mode. So far, that's not going so well.

Okay, we’re not too far apart. I root for them to win, but when they lose I don’t get upset because the light at the end of the tunnel (the draft) gets brighter.

Thats sad. I can understand that you’re not happy with the state of the team. I doubt any of us are. But I can’t root for them to lose. To each their own.

I don't think that's fair. The FO themselves have to be thinking about it. Let's say we have a top 5 draft pick and a really good QB prospect is sitting there. That has to be a consideration with AR's injury record. I think he's going to succeed, but only if he's not a running QB. We want a mobile QB (everyone wants a Mahomes). We don't want a Lamar who plays 12 games a year, or an RG3. IMO, a mobile, accurate pocket passer is still the best long term option for any franchise.

Speculation. You put together a good team, especially with a good young QB, and players will want to be here.

Our 2 is better than the 49ers 3. Simple as that. And you don’t get a hit if you don’t swing the bat. It would have been a cheap tryout for us.

If we got him and he returned to form, why wouldn’t we sign him again? QB, LT, Pass rusher - the building blocks for good teams. He was a need.

You’re “beginning to question”? Welcome to the party. Okay I’m accepting that we’re doing nothing to improve the team this season. But how about addressing needs so we can be competitive next season? And let’s not count on the draft to solve everything. Pass rush, depth on the Oline, and a WR who can get some separation. And, of course CBs who can actually play.

And how do you become a competing team? First by addressing your weak points. Like not having a pass rush, and constantly failing to improve it in the draft.

Sure, but they first try to do what’s good for their team. A Colts 3 is better than a 49ers 3. I would have given a 2. Ballards refusing to improve the team tells us what we all suspected. It’s tank time.

well, it’s not like we needed a pass rusher. Better to keep the drat picks. Worked like a charm so far.

Look at it this way, we have no Influence on the outcome of a game. So why not root for your team to win? Try to enjoy the season as much as possible. Try to enjoy each game. Next May the draft position will be what it is, no sense in being concerned about it now. You’ve seen the commercial, pretty soon a cold night in Buffalo will just be a cold night in Buffalo.

I’m jumping in late, but here’s my question- If Ballard does nothing what does that tell us about the plan for the rest of the season? I’ll give you a hint … rhymes with rank.

It’s all about the ‘when’. Right now, in this when, I want to win this game. I want to win every remaining game too no matter our record and what it does to our draft position. Next May, no one will care if we lost this game if it improved our draft number. But this is now and I never want my team to lose. I don’t understand that mentality.

I think he's working his way back, but still no where near where he once was. Definitely not a $20M LB. I hope he improves. Too bad we don't have coaching decision grades. Not using Taylor in the second half gives Shane a D. Not benching Brown gives Gus an F.

Understand (and I'm playing devil's advocate) - but if a GM can see obvious weaknesses in a team and does nothing to improve them - then what do you call that? Isn't standing pat the same as saying we're satisfied with losing? It's obvious that we don't have a pass rush. Even with Grove we weren't pressuring the QBs. Reportedly, Washington would take a 2 for Chase or Sweat. If that's true, our 2 has to be one of the most valuable. Wouldn't either of those players fit into our future plans? We have the cap, we have the draft pick. Why wouldn't Ballard make that deal? I can understand not making a move for a CB. Hopefully next season we'll be healthier. But are we counting on a draft pick to improve the pass rush? If so, we can use that draft pick right now.

You're correct. So, was playing Brown on the outside a coaches decision? We have to assume so. I'm not sure if that's an indictment on our coaches or on the GM for not having any better options. (How about playing Brown in the slot, or just stay in base the entire game? Or play Blackmon in nickel and bring in Cross. It couldn't have been much worse) So while I agree with you about the coaches not intentionally tanking, can we say the same about the FO? Supposedly, there are two Commodore D-Linemen on the block. Our D line pass rush is horrible. If the FO doesn't attempt to improve it, are they negligent or in tank mode? Is a 2nd round pick (and just go through Ballards latest 2nd round picks) more valuable than one of those guys? I can understand the quandary at CB with injuries, etc. But to ignore the fact that our pass rush is non-existent isn't acceptable unless the plan is to go for a higher draft pick.

Okay, I'm in no way a conspiracy theorist, but... If they continue to play Tony Brown on the outside...if they continue to keep Taylor out of the game when he's playing so well, if they continue to make "questionable" calls on O and D... and if they do nothing to improve the pass rush during the trade deadline... Then I have to wonder...is the Tank in effect? They may be saying they want to win. But doing those things is like saying I want to lose weight, but I'm going to continue my bad eating habits and not exercise. They're smart enough to know it's not working.

What frustrated me most Sunday was the drive where we were running the ball down their throats, and you could feel the momentum on our side, then Minshew threw the lame duck to their CB in the endzone. What happened to Run to Win? Also - I know this comment belongs in the other forum - but it's obvious that we don't have a pass rush. Why not trade our #2 for Sweat or Young? We aren't going win this year with the depleted CB room, but we need to start building a team for next season. Okay, I'm off my soapbox now.

I really don’t understand why anyone thinks we should be good? Injuries (and gambling) devastated the CB room, backup QB, and no pass rush. You can’t blame Ballard for the injuries. But we can blame him if he doesn’t try to trade for a legitimate pass rusher, like Sweat or Young.