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I'll use this thread to drop my random thoughts. I watched the full game on Game Pass last night. Don't have ESPN anymore so I have not watched any MNF games. So, I had no reference to the Witten/Booger bashing or any of the 2018 MNF experience. I was curious about some of the plays I heard on the radio broadcast and talked about on this forum. So, this is what I gleaned from "seeing" the game last night:
Early in the game (from the first play, even) O-lineman, Tra Turner #70 was baiting for an altercation. Late hits (rewatch the very first play from scrimmage), jawing and provoking Saints defenders well after the whistle. He carried on for most of the first half.
Several late hits by the Panthers that didn't get called for some reason. Then the one time we retaliate (Peat), we get called for a personal foul.
The offense didn't look as putrid as I thought it would. But a ton of big plays negated by penalties. Double personal foul on the Thomas catch and run. Illegal formation on another good pass to Thomas. And big Kamara run called back for holding on Taysom (looked bogus to me).
We got a first down on a pass interference against Thomas that the Panther bench was calling for uncatchable. It was PI, but it was one of those iffy situations where if it was the other way I'd be screaming "uncatchable" as well. After watching it a few times, it could have been possible for Thomas to have an attempt at reaching for it, but that was a 50/50 call to me. I'll take it.
Brees was spotty. Threw some catchable balls that weren't (Smith, Watson, Arnold). Some bad throws - a low pass to Kamara in the red zone that probably wouldn't have made a first down, but K never had a chance.
The series of downs after the free first down for roughing the punter was dreadful. Bad, low pass to Thomas behind the line of scrimmage. A heart-dropping screen to Kamara in a crowd that also went for a loss. On third and 18 a ten yard pass to Thomas. Just an ugly, ugly series.
On a second and one, Zach Line carried and barely got back to the line of scrimmage and we got a very favorable mark. Still could have made the first on the next down, so it probably wasn't really a game changer.
On a Kamara carry to the right, Keuchly tackles by the ankle and proceeds to do a deliberate roll over and hold to turn Kamara's ankle. I'm surprise Kamara is that flexible and was okay. I'm not surprised the Boy Scout, Keuchly didn't get a flag or a mention from the booth. Great ballplayer, but not as squeaky clean as he made out to be. He also got away with a very late tackle on Kamara out of bounds early in the game.
The hit on Unger that knocked him out of the game didn't look to be malicious. More like the usual stuff that goes on in the trenches. Only saw one angle, so can't really tell.
Run game looked good.
Overall the Panthers' defense played great. I thought it may be because we made them look good, but they were flying around and definitely trying to intimidate. They looked like Panthers' defense of old.
Vonn Bell gets my game ball. Very impressive showing.
Overall, the offense didn't seem to get stymied like the Dallas game and the first three quarters of the Tampa game. Instead it was 2 steps forward and 3 steps back because of penalties, drops and an occasional off target pass from Brees. That can and has to be cleaned up. I'm feeling a little better about the offense getting back on track.
Early in the game (from the first play, even) O-lineman, Tra Turner #70 was baiting for an altercation. Late hits (rewatch the very first play from scrimmage), jawing and provoking Saints defenders well after the whistle. He carried on for most of the first half.
Several late hits by the Panthers that didn't get called for some reason. Then the one time we retaliate (Peat), we get called for a personal foul.
The offense didn't look as putrid as I thought it would. But a ton of big plays negated by penalties. Double personal foul on the Thomas catch and run. Illegal formation on another good pass to Thomas. And big Kamara run called back for holding on Taysom (looked bogus to me).
We got a first down on a pass interference against Thomas that the Panther bench was calling for uncatchable. It was PI, but it was one of those iffy situations where if it was the other way I'd be screaming "uncatchable" as well. After watching it a few times, it could have been possible for Thomas to have an attempt at reaching for it, but that was a 50/50 call to me. I'll take it.
Brees was spotty. Threw some catchable balls that weren't (Smith, Watson, Arnold). Some bad throws - a low pass to Kamara in the red zone that probably wouldn't have made a first down, but K never had a chance.
The series of downs after the free first down for roughing the punter was dreadful. Bad, low pass to Thomas behind the line of scrimmage. A heart-dropping screen to Kamara in a crowd that also went for a loss. On third and 18 a ten yard pass to Thomas. Just an ugly, ugly series.
On a second and one, Zach Line carried and barely got back to the line of scrimmage and we got a very favorable mark. Still could have made the first on the next down, so it probably wasn't really a game changer.
On a Kamara carry to the right, Keuchly tackles by the ankle and proceeds to do a deliberate roll over and hold to turn Kamara's ankle. I'm surprise Kamara is that flexible and was okay. I'm not surprised the Boy Scout, Keuchly didn't get a flag or a mention from the booth. Great ballplayer, but not as squeaky clean as he made out to be. He also got away with a very late tackle on Kamara out of bounds early in the game.
The hit on Unger that knocked him out of the game didn't look to be malicious. More like the usual stuff that goes on in the trenches. Only saw one angle, so can't really tell.
Run game looked good.
Overall the Panthers' defense played great. I thought it may be because we made them look good, but they were flying around and definitely trying to intimidate. They looked like Panthers' defense of old.
Vonn Bell gets my game ball. Very impressive showing.
Overall, the offense didn't seem to get stymied like the Dallas game and the first three quarters of the Tampa game. Instead it was 2 steps forward and 3 steps back because of penalties, drops and an occasional off target pass from Brees. That can and has to be cleaned up. I'm feeling a little better about the offense getting back on track.
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