The "experts" speak on troubles with Palmer

[HairOnFire]

To the idea that he is not a "Zip-Gun", that is wrong. He most certainly is.

Is that a nickname I'm smelling?

[Ickey44]

Btw, how in the hell did Carson not make the Pro Bowl before Vince Young or David Garrard?

Carson declined because he just had surgery on his non-throwing hand to fix his effed up thumb.

Thanks Ron. I honestly didn't know that he turned it down b/c the NFLNetwork doesn't mention that he was invited and turned it down.

I read it on PFT about a week ago.

[chandon]

Can I ask something that won't start a fight?

When will everyone stop making excuses for Carson?

I don't think anyone is making excuses for Carson. There seems to me to be widespread acknowledgement that he shares in the blame for the offense's poor performance.

Where I think the conversation goes off the rails is when people insist it's *all* about Carson, and we should draft Tebow and trade Palmer to Seattle, yadda yadda yadda - while ignoring the lack of talent at WR and TE and the squeaky-new o-line. Those aren't excuses, they're facts.

Dumping on Carson is the lazy way out. He needs to pick up his game, certainly, but you put Peyton Manning on this team and the Bengals are still watching the Super Bowl at home.

I agree with this assessment. Any comments I've made about Carson and his issues have not been intended to be exclusive of the rest of the offensive personnel issues you've so succinctly outlined. Nor have I advocated getting rid of Palmer. I've advocated getting rid of Brat. With this personnel, or with that of the Colts, I don't think the man is clever enough to keep it fresh and efficient, nor do I think he's demonstrated an ability to coach his guys through issues (see excessive penalties).

I agree also. Carson is a good QB. There's no doubt about that. His leadership qualities and ability are unchanged. His skill set is unchanged. This year he has had a very limited and frustrating time. A new O-line. A No. 1 receiver double-covered all season. Losing his No. 2 receiver. His No's 3 and 4 receivers unreliable at best. No TE to speak of. To top it all, he still has Brat calling the shots and that really needs to change quickly. Put a new OC in who knows how to adjust and play to Carson's strengths, and who knows how to get the best from the O-line and you will see a very different result. Get a new OC who can call inventive plays and who can adjust to the opponents threats and you get a very different result. Get a new OC who can discipline the O-line and stop the penalties, whilst coaching the WRs not to drop the damn ball and you get a very different result. Carson is still our greatest weapon. We're just not getting the best out of him, and won't ever utilise him to the best effect whilst we are under-performing at coaching level.

Fix the TE and WR issue. Get a new OC. Support the Oline and defense through the draft, and we go to the playoffs next year and could easily have a shot at a ring! For Heaven's sake, we just re-signed Zimmer....make use of that and compliment an improving defense by making the offense a force to be reckoned with!!

We have Carson. Use him well. It's just a pathetic waste if we don't!