Scott Fowler
Most Recently Answered Questions
Questions 1 - 15 of 4745 (Page 1 of 238)Submitted by Jim from
Q:Scott, How come you are answering so few questions these days? Only three in the last 10 days.
A: Jim: That's a very fair question and let me answer it in a somewhat surprising way for those who have stuck with this Q and A over the years: I'm shutting down this Q and A AS OF THIS QUESTION. I think the time has come, as do my editors. I will continue to answer questions as often as I can if you will post a comment to my new Charlotte Observer BLOG, which is called "SCOTT SAYS" and can be found online by either going to charlotteobserver.com/sports or just by going directly to http://scottfowlerobs.blogspot.com/.... This blog has only been up for about a month, but it already has far surpassed the number of "hits" that the Q and A draws and has become one of the most popular blogs on our site. It makes sense to devote more time to it, and I do like the freedom it gives me. I really hope you will follow me over there, just a couple of clicks away, and post, comment and question me to your heart's content. Be assured I read all the comments on there and will respond whenever it seems appropriate. (Also, please note that the "Inside the Panther" blog sportswriters on CharlotteObserver.com are now frequently answering Panther-specific questions on their blog -- they do that a lot if you want to join that conversation). Also, if you ever want to contact me directly in a forum not for public consumption (with a story idea, a comment, whatever), you can e-mail me at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com, of course. I thank all of you for all your support and your questions and your comments over the 4,745 QUESTIONS that have been answered on this Q and A, and please come join the conversation on the "Scott Says" blog and on the rest of the Observer's site. Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for visiting this Q and A. I hope you enjoyed it half as much as I did, and that you will continue reading my blog and my columns in The Charlotte Observer and on CharlotteObserver.com.
Submitted by John from Chapel Hill, NC
Q:Scott-- Somebody call Sarah Palin, there's a Moose loose in Charlotte! When was the last time we saw that kind of production from a #2 WR? Let's just hope for some consistency that we haven't seen out of that spot for a while. Thanks for the forum, go Panthers, go Heels!
A: John: It was the Super Bowl following the 2003 season when Delhomme last connected with both Moose and Smith on TD passes in the same game. As for steady production from the No.2 spot, it certainly hasn't happened since 2003, when both 87 and 89 were very good. Since then, it's been bad. However, the Panthers did have a pretty good WR combo early in their history -- anybody remember Mark Carrier and Willie Green?
Submitted by Randy from Vinton, VA
Q:Scott, not really a question, but an observation. The announcers on TV made no mention of it, but it looked to me like on his TD catch, after spiking the football, Steve Smith went back and retrieved it and carried it down the sideline and gave it to Ken Lucas. Did anyone else notice this? If he did, that's a nice gesture.
A: Randy: It did happen and Lucas was touched to receive the gift. You're right -- no mention of it on TV, but you can find details about it in today's Charlotte Observer (check Charles Chandler's game story). Smith didn't comment on it, however -- he left the locker room Sunday before reporters were allowed inside.
Submitted by Russ from Matthews, NC
Q:Say the Panthers are on the opponents 11 and it is third down and 10. They score a TD. Do they get credit for a third down conversion? Do they get credit for a first down?
A: Russ: Yes, I think they get credit for both.
Submitted by Shane Gibson from Morganton,NC
Q:Hello Scott, I thought that we should have run Stewart much more against the Vikings. Williams does not punish the defense like JS. Don't you think he has shown us enough to get the majority of the reps? Thx
A: Shane: I agree with part of what you said and disagree with another part. Stewart definitely should carry the ball more than 7 times a game, which is what he had vs. Minnesota. Then again, DeAngelo only had 10 carries and so far this season the carries have been split almost exactly 50-50, which is the way I would do it. Would I bench DeAngelo? No, not yet. Remember, DeAngelo was the one everybody so badly wanted to start last season over Foster (and I agreed with that). Now he's there, and he's the older guy, and so the new young guy has everyone falling in love with him. I'd give Stewart every goal line carry, absolutely. But DeAngelo gets to the corner better... he's not chopped liver. I'd still start DeAngelo but then I'd make sure every game Stewart gets at least 10-15 carries -- 7 is just too few, because as you say, he punishes tacklers more, and that wears defenses down.
Submitted by Easy from Sumter, SC
Q:Scott, I have heard all the excuses, and I read how it's not a disgrace to lose on the road at Minnesota? I believe it is the way THEY prepared for and played that game! The penalties of the last TWO weeks and the excuse that the 'dome was too loud' screams out 'NO discipline' and 'NOT prepared'! I blame the coaches for not having the team ready and for not having themselves ready to adjust as required. I also worried about Smith coming back because I feared Jake would forget the lessons of the last 2 weeks - about all his new weapons and focus too much on Smith, which he did! He was holding that ball too long and staring Smith down when he was dropped at the end of the 1st half, losing the ball and resulting in the game-changing Vikings TD! I read the team got their wake-up call and will become more focused after this loss. I think any team that NEEDS a loss to 'refocus' and to 'get motivated' isn't mentally ready to become champions...yet! What does Fox do to keep this from happening again and taking the team (mentally) to the next level?
A: Probably he needs to be a little tougher on them, especially on all those "pre-snap" penalties. Carolina has 13 "false start" penalties this season so far and had six vs. Minnesota -- if you're curious, Dante Rosario leads the team with 4. Fox says he's going to emphasize it heavily this week. We'll see.
Submitted by Curious in Carolina from Durham, NC
Q:Here's something I've noticed over the past three weeks. Nobody seemed to really comment on the articles after our 2 wins but let us lose one and watch the comments pile up. Granted, the comments are just that, comments. However, I can't help but wonder if ours fans are truly that fickle or if the fickle ones just seem to vocalize it more than those who are not? Any thoughts?
A: I can tell you from my own e-mail that people are far more likely to complain when they don't like one of my stories than to send in a compliment when they do. That's just human nature -- folks get mad, they vent. They get happy, they aren't always as quick to vocalize it to everyone.
Submitted by Derek from Philly
Q:Living in Philly, I see a lot of Eagles games and I can't help but wonder what the West Coast Offense might look like in Carolina. All you need is an efficient QB (which Jake will get back to), athletic runningback (we have two) and a good WR (we have one of those too) I feel like utilizing more of the screen game would really open up the passing game for Smith. It just seems to me that Fox simply refuses to use his RBs except as runners. I want to see more screen (like Minnesota threw at us today). What's your take?
A: Derek: They ran the West Coast here for George Seifert for 3 years and went 16-32 overall (altho granted it was Beuerlein the QB most of the time then, not Delhomme). I would like to see more screens, yes -- the Panthers have rarely run this play well throughout their entire existence.
Submitted by Sean Brown from Asheville NC
Q:Scott: Everyone knew the Panthers would have a hard time running against The Vikes. You yourself said you'd use the pass to set up the run. And Jimmy Johnson said at halftime Jake would have to win this one with his arm. So what do they do in the third? More draw plays! AAARRGGHH! What IS wrong with this coaching staff?The offensive play calling was horrid, and the defense wore out. If they don't loosen up, they'll lose as many close ones as they win. Don't you agree?
A: Sean: I really think they should have thrown more. And D.J. Hackett has got to help them out more, too.
Submitted by Keith from Fredericksbueg, VA
Q:Scott, I am still scratching my head? Smitty back, facing 8 and 9 man defensive fronts, and Fox still wants to run it up the middle (47 yards?)? Did the O-Line decide to take the day off? Makes me wonder why I spend that extra money to see the Panthers each Sunday on Direct-TV. Well, I guess the best I can say is it is only one game and maybe they will be back from vacation next week against Atlanta...
A: Just not enough deep stuff, I'd agree. But when you can't take a 7-step drop because you're getting hit all the time, you've got to point to the O-line getting overwhelmed as one of the reasons the deep stuff never had time to develop (Jake says that Smith was wide open on a deep corner route on the play where he was sacked, fumbled and gave up a TD, for instance).
Submitted by Ken from Caatawba, NC
Q:Scott, you saw today the major weakness of the Panthers, our defensive line. No pressure, can't get to the QB with our front 4. Look at the difference of the Vikings front 4 versus ours. Knowing this, why don't we play a more aggressive, attacking, blitzing style of D? How has Trgovac kept his job? And can you really see any difference between Henning's & Davidson's offense?
A: I saw a difference Sunday in Henning's offense vs. Carolina's -- Henning was far more creative. As Miami's offensive coordinator, he was the one calling the direct snap to Ronnie Brown, who kept running it in for TDs and even threw one (lefty!) for a TD.
Submitted by ssg brayboy from ft. stewart, ga
Q:Hey Mr Fowler since you did answer me last time I will try again it appears like the K C Chiefs are on a youth movement so do you think it would be wise to see if they would trade Tony Gonzalez to the panther since both the teams Head coach and GM are on the hot seat?
A: I don't see it happening, but Carolina would be wise to pursue it if it was possible.
Submitted by Gary Blankenship from Bethune, SC
Q:Just a comment on your adice to throw deep to S. Smith. My son played high school football for a South Carolina legend, Willie Varner. He also coached Tony Rice, the quarterback who won 4 state titles for Woodruff High School, then won a national championship at Notre Dame for Lou Holtz. Coach Varner said that Tony could throw a football for 75 yards easily, so the first offensive play was to put the two fastest guys on the team on the outside and let Tony throw as deep as he could. Sometimes the pass would be caught, most times not. But the one thing for sure, there is no more crowding the line of scrimmage.
A: Gary: I love it. I once did a long story on Willie Varner, and this sounds just like something he would do.
Submitted by Mike from Flat Rock, NC
Q:Scott - As much as I hate to admit it because he's one of my favorite players, I have to comment on the play of Nick Goings. Last week against Chicago he missed a block that resulted in a blocked punt and touchdown. Then this week against Minnesota Goings was the only back when Delhomme dropped back to pass. It seemed obvious that cornerback Antoine Winfield was going to blitz and instead of staying back to block Goings released and went on a passing route. Do you think he's making poor decisions on the field?
A: Well, one was a poor decision, and on one (the punt) he just got whipped. And both led to TDs. You have to say Goings is wearing a serious pair of goat horns so far this year.
Submitted by keith from spartanburg sc
Q:Hey Scott Why was there no review of the Delhomme fumble at the end of the half? I was holding a glimmer of hope that somehow Jake had touched the Vikings player before he darted away to the endzone. It certainly wouldn't have hurt to take a look. It was under 2 minutes...can Fox and the Panthers coaches lobby to have a play like that looked at?
A: Keith: They could have, by using a timeout to lobby more. I didn't think Jake touched the guy, but it wouldn't have hurt, you're right about that.
