Fresh Biscuits: Quick hits on the Panthers

I haven't yet had a chance to sit down and devour the first pre-season game against the Giants, but here are a few thoughts on what I was able to watch from the first quarter:

This was not a very good example of what our offense will look like, because their linebacker play was as bad as any I've seen. Their defense looks nightmarish. I feel sorry for all of the Giants fans that will be forced to watch this defense play every week. I don't think they've got a single position that couldn't use an upgrade. Still, before Giants fans start flinging themselves off of their structurally sufficient bridges (umm... right.), it's always crucial to remember that this is just the pre-season. It's not real yet. Give them time. Maybe they'll be able to salvage something and they will suck somewhat less in the future.

Osi Umenyiora is supposed to be a good defensive end. That's what I read on the interwebs, anyway. But he appears to be another internet creation, because I couldn't detect anything I would describe as 'good defensive play' while watching him on the field. Again, I haven't watched it all, but what I did see was the 260-some-pound defensive end being stoned by 190-some-pound run-blocking bulldog possession receiver fragile speedster Drew Carter on a cutback run. One of the great things about the replays on NFL Network is that they use the homer broadcasters, alternating between halves, and the Giants broadcasters ruled the first half of this game. Their description: "Umenyiora was able to hold his ground on the play." Well. Good for him.

I like receivers who can block. Much to my consternation, Drew Carter was not able to blow Umenyiora off the ball, but I don't think we should cut him just yet. Let's give him another chance. (I will get to go home tonight and watch the game on my TiVo, checking for down-field blocking by the speedy types. I hear good things in this regard about the rookie, Ryne Robinson.)

I don't mean to make this a post belittling the hapless Giants, but I've got one more thing to say about why this game was maybe less than a fair example of how the Panthers' offense will look against a real defense. Sooooo..... that long run by Nick Goings? You know, the one around the right end? The one where Nick magically looks like he's real, real fast? Yeah. Mathias Kiwanuka does not seem either fast enough or experienced enough to play at this level right now.

Speaking of feeling bad for the Giants, and feeling good for blocking wideouts, how about Steve Smith (the REAL Steve Smith) on that long run by Foster? That's poor Sam Madison being man-handled by Smitty some 30 yards downfield, before being absolutely destroyed by DeShaun Foster. That sort of hit is precisely why I love Foster as a runner. I forget how strong a runner he is until he breaks off a run where he not only punishes grown men, but fights through a half-dozen tackles in order to have the chance to do so. So feel free to ignore all those bobbleheads who tell you that DeAngelo will replace DeShaun in the battle of the De-fixes. If you want a short list of things that will NOT happen this season, here are two: ¹A statue of Keyshawn Johnson will not be erected outside of Bank of America Stadium. ²Barring injury, DeAngelo will not replace DeShaun. Those are free, take 'em to the bank.

The blocking by the line looks great. We were able to execute cutbacks all day, with downfield blocking by the linemen (nice job on Foster's run, Mike Wahle). We were able to execute an effective screen(!!!) that gained ACTUAL YARDAGE(!!!!!). We were able to execute a power run off right guard that looked like the glory days of Dan Henning's offense. This is actually exciting. Who'd have guessed?

I don't want to say I'm a genius, but I kind of figured he'd play well. And he played very, very well. He could have stuck to the back out of the backfield on that zone blitz where he dropped into coverage on the Giants' first possession, but he did eventually make the tackle. Only slip-up I saw. (Also: Yay for the zone blitz where we drop someone other than Peppers!)

I'll write more once I've watched the game. And I've got a few things to say about the great Mike Minter's retirement. Those shall come, hopefully, before the next game. However, judging from what I saw in last night's game, the Eagles game might be just as inconsequential a showing of our offense. We'll see.