posted
12/30/11
What’s up, people? Hope you’re all having a safe, happy holiday!
Christmas was very good for me, as I spent it with family and friends. My mom cooked a big turkey with all the trimmings. And we played that Kinect Dance Central video game. Have you checked it out? Too fun! Anyway, we gave my visiting family members a special present by beating Tampa Bay on Christmas Eve. That’s four wins in our last five games, so we are finishing strong, and it’s put me in a good mood overall. I just wish we had a shot at the playoffs! Next year!
We do have a chance to finish with a winning record for the second half of the season, which was one of our goals: to just get better and better and go into the new season on a good note. Last game we had several starters hurt, but other guys stepped up to help us win, especially on defense. They gave us good opportunities to put some points on the board. So we’re building team morale and chemistry with the coaching staff. As we’re all meshing together, we’re creating confidence in ourselves. And we’re banking on that newfound confidence carrying through to next season.
You can talk about what ifs, and there were several earlier games that we let slip. Had we won, we’d be in an overall winning position now, maybe looking at the playoffs. But we cannot look back and can only look forward.
Going into the last weekend, the Panthers are first in the NFC, and third overall, in rushing yards with 2,244, or 150 per game. Those are pretty good team numbers. Commentators observe that as our QB Cam Newton becomes more comfortable in his role, we’re getting to expand our running game. [Editor’s note: JStew is now second all-time in rushing yards for the Panthers, and he has also passed the 3,000-yard career rushing mark.]
This season has been a lot different than in my previous three years, learning new schemes, how to be more involved in the passing game. Overall, I’ve been healthy and I feel my contribution has been real good, but there’s always room for improvement. I don’t mind, receiving-rushing-whatever, I just like the ball in my hands and the opportunity to do something with it. Now click “next page” for my playoff thoughts!
