I tend to agree CB. I've always been a fan of Cam because he is a true dual threat QB and a lot of fun to watch. The last two years it seems we have tried to turn Cam into a pocket passer and that's just not him. He looks like a shell of his former self. Cam is not like Brees or Brady - guys who will pick you apart with precision passing. He's a bull in the china shop kind of QB. Something is off in Carolina and he's not himself. He's not Superman anymore. It's like he's lost his edge. I hope he's either over the hill or he's injured.
Last night he was just brutally bad throwing the ball and most of his passes went to three guys - Nearly Picked, Behind Him, and Sailed High. Play calling wasn't horrible; the execution was. Still, I don't recall any option plays, no designed runs. Its true that last night the O line did him few favors, but when he had time to throw he repeatedly (and badly) missed guys who were wide open. Cam ran 3 times for -2 yards and was 0-2 on fourth down conversions with a fumble. I can understand a bit why they opted to go with CMC in short yardage rather than Cam given those statistics, but once Cam rotated out of the pocket it should have been obvious to everyone in the world where the ball was going. And it was a variation of the exact same play they ran last week. Cam converts that down and distance over 80% in his career when the opposing team knows exactly what's coming! I have never understood why teams pitch it backwards 5 yards when they only have to gain a foot. Why make your job harder?
Carolina is now 0-2, with both losses coming at home to conference opponents, one of which is the lowly Bucs who now have a 3 game winning streak against the cats. I hate to throw in the towel before the season is even two weeks old, but this looks distinctly like the Panthers are picking up right where they left off at the end of last year, and will be playing for draft picks instead of a playoff berth. With a new owner who inherited both, I wouldn't be at all surprised if both Cam and Rivera are sent packing soon.