Scott Fowler
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 16 - 35 of 4745 (Page 2 of 238)Submitted by Jake from Durham, NC
Q:Hey Scott, What is the best way to use Smitty now that he's back? With a potentially monsterous running game in the making would you use the pass (throwing to Smitty early and often) to get the other team to respect him and double and triple cover him. Thus leaving the box virtually empty for D. Will and J. Stew to run wild. Or would you Run the fooball down their throats in the beginning forcing them to bring an 8th + 9th defender into the box in turn opening up alot of oppurtunities downfield?
A: I'd try to use the pass to set up the run. I'd throw to him deep within the first 5 plays to get the safeties to back off -- don't even care if it's completed or not. Then I'd run as much as I could. I'd go to him deep at least 3 times in the game, hoping to hit one. Smith is really good on turf -- remember, the first NFL TD he ever scored was in Minnesota, on his first-ever touch (a kickoff return). So I'd throw him into the fire immediately -- Smith wouldn't want it any other way.
Submitted by Demi Goodman from Charlotte, NC
Q:Hi Scott, This maybe a girl kind of question, but why in the world are the football players on both sides of the ball forced to sit out in the elements? When they are sitting on the bench waiting to come in, why isn't there some type of cover for them to sit under especially when it's hot? If you caught the Jets game a couple weeks ago, they had trainer's holding up some type of screen to keep the sun off the players. To me this makes sense in order to keep your players fresh and less likely to dehydrate--aka CRAMPS! If the league allows it, why don't the coaches use it? Please don't tell me it's to make their guys tougher--that should have been established in training camp! Just curious! Thank you! Enjoy your columns!
A: That's an interesting question. You know they do let them have heated benches in the cold. And oxygen on the sidelines to help them recover. So why not umbrellas or transparent tents or something so they wouldn't block fans' view? Esp. since, as you point out, trainers sometimes hold up a homemade "screen" of some type to block guys from the sun. I have to say I don't know, but I'm sure it does have something to do with the macho aspect, as you guessed. Good question, Demi.
Submitted by Jake from Durham, NC
Q:Hey Scott, was it just me or were the Panthers much more aggresive on defense against Chicago at the end of the game? This was the first time I've seen Trogvac not go for the prevent defense during a close game. He really let the D go out there and get after them on the last drive. Is this a new era for the Panthers D, or was it because Trogvac wasn't afraid of Kyle Orton?
A: I thought they were quite aggressive -- just think of the near-pick Gamble had on third down. I think it was partly they weren't afraid of Orton, yes, but hopefully also makes them want to do that more often.
Submitted by Joshua T from Tinker AFB, OK
Q:Scott, what are your thoughts on how Minnesota's QB swap will affect our upcoming game this Sunday? While Ferrotte may not be a spring chicken (or named Favre), lets not forget how Testaverde came in and won his first start for us last year, obviously not by being a great QB, but by providing leadership and a spark to the rest of the team. Minnesota is a powder-keg just waiting to be lit...
A: I think the Vikes will definitely be better with Frerotte than with Jackson, whom Brad Childress had already stuck with too long already. I betcha the Panthers are quietly wishing that Childress had waited to make that switch until Game 4 -- it would have been an easier road on Sunday. Frerotte will be a pretty stationary target, though, if Carolina can get its front four pass rush untracked.
Submitted by MIke from Flat Rock, NC
Q:Scott - What do you think is more motivating this weekend, the return of Steve Smith and the desire to become 3-0 for the Panthers or the fear of becoming 0-3 and Frerotte becoming the QB for the Vikings?
A: Fear is a great motivator, and the Vikings will be quite fearful of 0-3 right now. I think they may have the edge in motivation.
Submitted by Daniel from Seattle
Q:Were you ever part of a debate team in high school? A new comedy central show with Lewis Black (which I have yet to watch) asks guests to determine the "most evil" of two concepts. I think this would be a lot of fun to have in a sports blog. Let's begin with a theory that has become a trendy piece of speculation amongst NFL media "experts." There is a growing consensus that the NFC is the superior conference after years of AFC dominance. There must be some reasons to support this theory. I will argue that the AFC is better than the NFC because the NFC Seahawks just traded away a fifth round pick (potential talent) to the AFC Broncos for Keary Colbert (known failure).
A: That's quite a point re: Colbert. He didn't take long to wear out his welcome in Denver, did he? Won't last long in Seattle, either, although they're so bad at WR right now he might throw in a couple of good games just to make the fall more baffling and brutal. As for your first question, no I never was on a high school debate team (although I was part of a state championship team in Quiz Bowl, so yes, I was a geek). I'll say that the NFC is better than the AFC because the NFC got rid of Brett Favre at just the right time, and in the AFC he's now considered one of the best QBs by some (although not me; not anymore).
Submitted by Josh from Lenoir. NC
Q:Scott, I'm gonna go two weeks in a row and ask non Panther questions. How long can the nation stay mad at Ed Hochuli, the ref who blew the Denver call? In my opinion Ed has always been one of the better refs and on plays like that they have a split second to decide what the ruling is. He took that split second and made the wrong call, admitted he made the wrong call, and has yet to make any excuse for it. To me that sounds like a pretty responsible ref, yet he is receiving thousands of hate emails. Don't you think that it's a little rediculous? Perhaps we should throw the blame at the NFL for not allowing those plays to be challenged, what do you think?
A: Hochuli was a stand-up guy after a bad call, and that shone a light on a bad NFL policy. Then the NFL threw him under the bus a little further by proclaiming he would be "graded down" for the call. At least they didn't fire the guy. I've always thought he runs a pretty good game, too, although Dallas owner Jerry Jones would disagree (he joined the Hochuli pile-on). I think they should just make sure he doesn't do any playoff games this year and that's probably enough of a punishment.
Submitted by Ricky from Charlotte,NC
Q:Suppose the Panthers are down by 3 and 2 seconds left on the clock (similar to the situation during the Panthers/Saints game in the 2004 season finale). The Panthers can attempt a 60 yard field goal. Do they send out John Kasay or Rhys LLoyd?
A: At 60, I'd go with Lloyd. Kasay just doesn't quite have that sorta leg. At 57 or lower, though, always Kasay. The guy has been so automatic for years.
Submitted by Jon from Winston-Salem
Q:Scott, The one nagging worry I have after a 2-0 start (after all, we can't complain too much if we get the W's), is that Julius Peppers matched up for 2 weeks against backup Left Tackles after making the transition to the right side that was supposed to rejuvenate the athlete we once had. He has yet to produce a sack, and only has put serious pressure on the QB a couple of times. Are you at all worried about this?
A: Jon: Yes, I'd be a little worried about this if I were the Panthers. The pressure from the front four just hasn't been consistent enough, and this will come back to bite them against better QBs than Kyle Orton and Minnesota's Jackson (next on the agenda). No.90 still has no sacks (although to be fair he basically caused the one Damione Lewis had Sunday). Peppers is still getting held some but he's not beating one-on-one blocking enough to be dominant. In other words, he's playing good but not great, and he has to be dominant for this to be a great defense. The Panthers' back 7, on the other hand (LBs and secondary), was the real standout against Chicago, I thought. I thought all 3 starting LBs -- Davis, Beason and Diggs -- were excellent.
Submitted by Karl R from Charlotte
Q:Scott, I attended the game today with some friends and we all noticed the same thing: Chicago daring the Panthers to pass the ball! Man to man coverage on receivers and all other defenders on the line. Every once is awhile Chicago would leave a safety......just in case. It took until the second half for the Panthers to capitalize on Chicago's challenge. Did you notice this? Where was Rosario today? Blocking? Finally Jeff King got a ball over the middle...we were all relieved in the stands that the Panthers finally executed/answered the Chicago challenge. Why did it take so long for the Panthers to open up the field?
A: Karl: The short answer is Panthers didn't have Steve Smith. Bears would have never dared such a defense with Smith on the field, because a 70-yard TD would be almost inevitable. It is problematic, though, that the Panthers couldn't beat the Bears deep with Hackett (you wouldn't expect it from Muhammad, that's not his thing).
Submitted by MIke from Flat Rock, NC
Q:Scott you wrote, "shades of Dan Henning: the Panthers ran on third-and-15, third-and-4 and third-and-6 in critical situations and didn’t make any of them" You can't hardly blame them since the passing game was not working, the Bears were in Jake's face all day. I think it's more Fox football where a punt is considered a good offensive play.
A: Mike: You have a point, and all's well that ends well, I guess. I didn't really mind the run on third-and-15 -- you're probably not going to make that anyway -- but I questioned the runs on the other 2.
Submitted by James from Morehead City, NC
Q:Scott, who of the three do you think ends up being re-signed by the Panthers after 2008? Chris Gamble, Jordan Gross, or Julius Peppers? Do they really want to mess with this offensive line if they keep playing like they have? Do you think they have enough cap space to re-sign more than one of the three or possibly all of them?
A: If I were to guess, I'd say Gross is the most likely to leave. He's already playing under the "franchise tag" label after he and the team couldn't agree to terms in offseason. Peppers would be franchised in 2009 if the team can't come to terms with him -- it'd be silly not to do that. The Panthers really like Gamble, so I think he would stick around, too. They'd like to keep all 3, but if one was going to go before 2009, I'd guess it would be Gross, and that's just a guess.
Submitted by Vince from Charlotte, NC
Q:Mr. Fowler, I know this may sound like a crazy question, but does anyone know if Matt Cassel, New England's now starting QB, used to live in Charlotte when he was younger? I ask this because when I was younger, I lived next to a Cassel family whose son was named Matt. We played every afternoon together. They were originally from California and I swear the guy looks just like my old friend. The Matt Cassel I knew went to Bible Baptist back then, in the mid to late 80's and early 90's. Thanks for your help!
A: Different guy, I'm almost sure. The Patriots' Matt Cassel grew up in California and played on a Northridge, Calif., team that was a finalist at the 1994 Little League World Series when he was 12. I find no mention of him living in Charlotte before that. If anyone knows any different, let me know.
Submitted by Brian from Charlotte, NC
Q:Scott, you had a reader ask how Drew Carter did the other week...well did you see that Drew Carter was our second leading receiver at the Panthers/Bears game? According to the long ribbon scoreboard, #18 Carter had 22yds receiving. You would think someone would update the computer roster, no? It stayed "Carter" for the entire game. So sad that no one in the control room caught this.
A: Brian: You and another Fowler Forum reader both had eagle eyes on this one (see below). I missed it. That one should have been caught, you're right.
Submitted by Da Glaze from Hickory, NC
Q:I dont know if you attend the game, but did anyone notice that on the Panthers scoreboard, that they had Carter with 1 catch for 23 yards? Basically that had number 18 (DJ Hackett) as Drew Carter still in the computer system. Seems like the Panthers stadium crew cant get the names of our players right.
A: Oops! I didn't see this. Definitely a glitch, but I thought by and large the game-day operations crew was better in the home opener than it was for much of 2007 (of course the better replay screens -- and the replays being shown more frequently -- helped in this regard).
Submitted by pantherfanclt from Charlotte
Q:Was is it just me or did the refs blow a big call during the Panthers game in the 4th quarter? With about 11 minutes to go, the Bears had the ball and it was 2nd & 8. What looked like a good play for the Bears was called back for holding. The ref called it a 10-yard penalty, but they spotted the ball in the same spot as the previous play and called it 3rd & 8! Fortunately the Panthers stopped the Bears and forced them to punt, but 3rd & 8 is a lot easier to convert than 3rd & 18. What am I missing?
A: That call was from the spot of the foul, which was in front of line of scrimmage, which was why it was marked in that way. I believe the officials did the right thing on that one.
Submitted by Swiznami from Summerfield, NC
Q:Everyone keeps talking about how the move to the weak side is great for Davis, but it looks like Diggs is excelling even more. He's made some really nice plays so far.
A: Diggs really has been looking good, hasn't he? I watched several plays Sunday and thought to myself, "That's gotta be Beason, or that's gotta be Davis" because those guys were so fast. Then it turns out that it was Diggs. Panthers were really great defensively in this one -- they kept the team in the game. The score doesn't sound like a great performance by D -- 20-17, Carolina -- but let's remember one of those was a special-teams TD by the Bears and the other came after a Carolina turnover gave Chicago the ball inside the Carolina 30. I wonder when Chris Harris is going to make a "How to Strip the Ball" DVD and sell it to high school teams across the country. He could make a mint.
Submitted by Dondada from St. Louis, Mo
Q:Hey Scott I'm just curious when you wrote that column saying the panthers were only going to be an 8-8 team. Of those 8 losses did you count 2 of those to be these first two games? And if so then do you at all change your mind on that thought?
A: I try not to micro-manage predictions. I didn't count the 8 wins and 8 losses, no. Then again, I also didn't expect that the Panthers would be 2-0 at this stage without Smith. My hat is off to them, that is if I wore a hat. But I'll stick with the prediction until the prediction is proven wrong (and believe me, a lot of mine have been over the years). On the plus side, in Sunday's Observer I predicted Carolina 20, Chicago 16. Off by only a point -- better than my usual prediction, for sure.
Submitted by Panthe R ican from San Juan, PR
Q:Cmon Scott! Why u gotta go and bust the bubble that has started to fill up with that "extra" commentary from one of your answers- "the Panthers will undoubtedly be better than 2007 (although you'll have to forgive me, but I'm not ready to pencil them into the playoffs just yet). I understand as a journalist you have to be unbiased but cmon! U have to admit the Panthers started the season off right and your Panthers' season prediction just might be headed in the wrong direction! Cardiac Cats are back.
A: You may be right.
Submitted by Charles from Charlotte
Q:Scott, I missed the Monday night NFL game with the Raiders vs. Broncos. Did you happen to see it and if so, did the Panthers' 2 cast off receivers Keary Colbert and Drew Carter play any better than they did when they were here?
A: Charles: You didn't miss much in that 41-14 rout. As for the Panthers' two disappointing receivers of the past few years, they were no factors at all in the game. Colbert was active for Denver and -- this will stun you -- didn't make a single catch. Carter tore up his knee in late August and will miss the entire 2008 season. I think Mike Shanahan has probably realized already in Denver what we've known here for awhile -- Colbert just really can't get open.
