Panthers In No Hurry

[Jeremy Igo]

By now it has become clear to most Carolina Panthers fans that again this season the free agency frenzy that applies to the rest of the league won't be entertained in Carolina. 

 

This may be upsetting to the casual Panthers fan, but for people who are really paying attention... this is no surprise. 

 

Jon Beason once told me "If you aren't getting better, you are getting worse". He was speaking about his offseason regimen, but I think the same principle applies to the Panthers this offseason. 

 

And guess what, the Panthers are better... much better... than at this point a year ago

 

Here is how:

 

1. Cam Newton is healthy. How quickly we forget that Cam Newton is a year removed from ankle surgery. Last season he didn't take a legitimate practice snap until training camp. At this point last season, Cam had zero receivers he had ever thrown a pass to and zero opportunity to remedy that situation. This year... the opposite is true. 

 

2. Those rookies. What other team in the NFL can say they made the playoffs with 8... yes 8 rookies making major contributions to the team? Kelvin Benjamin, Andrew Norwell, Trai Turner, Corey Brown, Bene Benwikere, Tre Boston, Adarius Glanton, Kony Ealy... All stepped in and not only played, but played well. These young guys should be even more improved in 2015 having benefited from actual playing time including post season snaps. That experience is invaluable. 

 

3. Remmers and Oher. I know, I know, you are concerned about the offensive tackles. So am I. But I am not nearly as concerned as I was last season. I am not expecting this to be a pro bowl caliber combination, but I am expecting at the very least for this to be a significant improvement over the Chandler/Bell combination from last offseason. Remmers has already proved he is a marked upgrade over Chandler. Oher is the only question mark here. 

 

Put all of those things together, and the picture becomes much clearer. The Carolina Panthers do not need to rush and overpay in free agency for players that aren't the perfect fit. The areas of need that remain on the Panthers roster at this point can easily be addressed in the NFL draft in May at a fraction of the cost. Considering the number of starters GM Dave Gettleman found in last season's draft, asking him two find two or three more this year doesn't seem too daunting of a task. 

 

My advice? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that the Panthers aren't a team that overpays for other team's players. It is much nicer drafting the players that other teams covet, isn't it? 

[d-dave]

Arguments that will be posted:

 

1.  We don't have a reliable #2 to take pressure off of KB and Olsen.  

2.  We are relying on a guy better known for a movie than his on the field play (or better known as a bust)

3.  The Super Bowl is tots won in March.  Just look at the Eagles!  They are having their parade because they signed like 18 running backs over 25!

4.  Since we "lucked" out and play the worst teams possible, and they are all getting a ton better because of their FA spending and trading while we stand pat; we are immediately worse than all of them.

5.  This isn't how I run my Madden/Fantasy team!  I won several championships last year!

 

What it comes down to:  We are fans, some more knowledgeable than others.  Gettleman is a real GM who'se helped build Super Bowl winning teams.  I'll trust him.  We can bicker about fits and players and stuff, but at the end of the day we have no control over anything football related.

 

I'm not unhappy with where we are right now.  I question some of the moves, but I look forward to seeing how everything comes together.  I'm a fan.  It's March.  I have hope!

 

 

[Lumps]

Still concerned about the tackles...which is tied to the health of Cam. The rest I have faith will be OK.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

The other point to this is that we were able to sign many key contributors (Cole, Olsen, Dickson, Edwards, etc...) which is a stark contrast to last off season when we were unable to do so due to cap reasons. I think this is overlooked by the casual fan but in fact what we did is keep a core together and effectively maintain continuity. This is key IMO

[top dawg]

I'm a fan. it's March. I have hope!

[Hotsauce]

Agree 100%, good points Jeremy

The pieces that are in place are better than they were last year and it seems that we are healthy which is good.

We actually have a competent who will put us in a position come draft day to address the other needs. Looking at the NFCS, we have no need to overpay a bunch of guys to compete this year.

I think it's imporant to remember that he Carolina Panthers are a conservative organization. They have been this way for many years, but somehow people expect them to be different (myself included). Then they act surpised when we don't make big risky moves.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

This may be upsetting to the casual Panthers fan, but for people who are really paying attention... this is no surprise.

 

nice

[ThPantherFan]

Excellent write up, Jeremy.  You should be syndicated.  You spoke volumes when you said 'sit back, enjoy the ride'.  I really like Gettleman's approach.  Sure there is still a question at the tackle position.  I agree it is better but it needs to get much better.  I have faith in Gettleman and will not panic.  We're going to the big game.  We will win the big game if not this year, next year.

[pantherclaw]

I'm not worried at all.

Things are going as I expected them to.

It's a long off season, and there is no reason to be worried.

[Khaki Lackey]

Rookie WRs can come right in and contribute. Last year should have proved that to anyone who was paying attention. Why overpay for one in FA?

[Gregg S]

I'm down with what Gentlemen us doing. Wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't sign a "name" FA receiver in a couple of weeks at a reasonable price. You never know who might be available. But it isn't necessary at this point.

[Dunn]

When the team started to gel near the end of the season, a bunch of the holes that were apparent during the losing streak were quickly filled and we showed great progression.  The only areas that were of big need were the return game (temp fix now with Ginn) and any replacement of Bell would be an upgrade (Oher).  Both of those were addressed with veterans to start with so we don't go into the season with a green player going against some of NFL's bests and getting burnt early.  

 

Great job by Gettle, as Im sure we will still fill in those holes with the Draft as well, it was apparent if any position can be impacted quickly by a solid rookie, its the WR position.  We get 1 or 2 surefire guys to help in the passing offense through the draft for little to no money...the better. 

 

Can't wait for the draft.

[yasuhara2241]

I hate the fact that ppl keep complaining about the Oher signing. Last year he was injured! That is one of the reasons why he played so poorly. Also who do we get in his place? Oh yeah Jake Long Mr. Consistently IRd. Some people will bitch and complain no matter what. If we don't make a big signing people are going to panic

[top dawg]

Excellent write up, Jeremy.  You should be syndicated.  You spoke volumes when you said 'sit back, enjoy the ride'.  I really like Gettleman's approach.  Sure there is still a question at the tackle position.  I agree it is better but it needs to get much better.  I have faith in Gettleman and will not panic.  We're going to the big game.  We will win the big game if not this year, next year.

 

Actually that line you like so much sounds mighty familiar.

 

 

 

 Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. 

 

Just saying.

 

Edit: Shhh, actually the whole sentiment

Edited March 13, 2015 by top dawg