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Friday, October 25, 2013
NFL Have the Panthers quickly turned things around?
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 4:08 PM
After last night's win against Tampa Bay, the Carolina Panthers are above .500 for the first time since 2008. That was 70 games ago. Is it too soon to say the 4-3 Panthers have finally turned things around?
Just a few weeks ago, we were wondering if the Panthers were choking and in need of a new coach.
Now, sitting in second place in the NFC South, Carolina is behind the 5-1 New Orleans Saints and above the 2-4 Atlanta Falcons and 0-7 Buccaneers. Just think, at this time last year, the Panthers were 1-6 and on their way to a 7-9 season. In 2011, the team was 6-10 and back in 2010 - the rock-bottom Panthers were a miserable 2-14.
While chatter about the playoffs is sure to start making its way around town, you have to look at Carolina's schedule to bring you back to reality. Look, I'd love for the Panthers to make a run for the Super Bowl, but I'm not so sure it's going to happen this year.
Friday, October 18, 2013
College Football / Open For Debate Open to debate: The college football season so far
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 2:43 PM
It's probably because football is my favorite sport, but I can't believe we're halfway through the college football season and nearly to the halfway point in the NFL. Where does the time go? Anyway, here are some thoughts on the college season so far:
- First off, let me just say that the pink helmets Oregon will be playing in this weekend have taken Breast Cancer Awareness Month a bit too far. Not too far for the cause, but too far for the Ducks. How many different uniform options does this team have right now? (At last check, it was around 384.) It's a good thing that Oregon is winning; otherwise, the entire idea of mirrored helmets and neon uniforms might be a total distraction. Open to debate: What's your thought on the recent rash of uniform varieties - combat, pride, etc. - good for the sport or trashing tradition?
- I'm tired of Alabama. (Disclaimer: I went to college at Auburn and will yell "War Eagle!" till the day I die.) Hasn't everyone but Bama fans had enough of them? How many weeks of beating up on cupcake opponents can we watch? The same goes for Oregon and Ohio State - if only they had won a title or two in the past few years. I guess teams with tougher schedules don't come out unscathed. Still, I'd rather see the winner of Saturday's Clemson-Florida State game be voted as the No. 1 team in the country, especially if one of them serves up an old-fashioned beatdown. Open to debate: If both teams were to win out, would a one-loss Texas A&M team, who will face five top-25 teams this season, be more deserving of the SEC Championship game than an undefeated Alabama team who only faces two? (Remember the A&M loss to Bama came early in the season.)
- Speaking of which, I hold firm in my opinion that no team should get any ranking before mid-October - that way we truly know how teams are playing. Teams that aren't predicted to do well don't have to climb all the way to the top if they stay undefeated, and teams that are tanking shouldn't be in the rankings in the first place. No matter how poorly a team plays, those at the top rarely change rankings without a loss. Open to debate: Should Georgia (AP No. 15) and its two losses (and eeked-out overtime win to Tennessee) be ranked above three undefeated teams and four schools with one loss? If the polls were released this week for the first time, do you think they'd even be in the top 25, especially knowing how many injuries they're plagued with?
- At least one team in the top 5 is going to lose this weekend (Clemson or Florida State). After that, there aren't many challenges ahead for those leading the pack. Who else wishes the playoffs started this season instead of next? Open to debate: Will the SEC/Alabama win again, or will someone finally dethrone those pesky elephants?
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
sports Is it the end or beginning for the Bobcats' Kemba Walker?
Posted By Jeff Laughlin on Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 10:59 AM
This could be the end of Kemba Walker in Charlotte. It could also still be the beginning.
In his third year at the most coveted position in basketball - that of primary ballhandler - Walker faces the most pressure of any Bobcats-Hornets player. The NBA has a fair share of point guards who rank better than him, but few that will continue to improve like Walker has the chance to do.
That said, the 2014 draft class looms over the NBA's middle-to-lower tier franchises. Despite improvements at key positions, the Bobcats-Hornets still range in the NBA's lower tier and will look to the draft to improve.
Walker must play better than 2014's potential and prove to the Bobcats-Hornets that he can be good right now. There's no looking to the future after this season; he will be a known commodity. While General Manager Rich Cho may like Walker, he may like the possibility to improve the position more.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
sports Is it time for a new Panthers coach?
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Buffalo was on the ropes and ready to go down. Much like the Cobra Kai in The Karate Kid, all the Panthers needed to do was give a quick defensive punch and finish the game. Instead, the Bills came out with a crane kick of a touchdown pass with two seconds left, giving the Panthers their second loss of the season.
It's not supposed to be this way. Last year, the Panthers stumbled their way to a 2-8 start before winning five of the last six games. All of that momentum had fans thinking, "Next year's going to be different!" Nope. Not yet.
