Comparing the Panthers 2014 v 2015 - Part 1 OFFENSE

[KB_fan]

I've begun a new blog series with analysis comparing the Panthers starting lineups over time, looking at age, experience (years played) and PFF rankings. 

I'm still trying to figure out how best to format the data in the blog, it's still a bit rough, for which I apologize.  But hopefully the information will be interesting.

Here are a few conclusions re: our OFFENSE:

Comparing our starting roster at the start of the 2014 with what may be our starting roster for the start of 2015.

 

1. We've gotten YOUNGER.

Avg. age 2014 = 27.2; 

Avg. age 2015 = 26.2, in spite of the fact that our returning starters are now a year older!

 

2. We're LESS experienced

2014 OFFENSE: Avg. years played = 4.7

2015 OFFENSE:  Avg. years played = 3.9

 

3. We changed HALF our starting rotation on offense.  I estimate there will be 6 different starters compared to the 2014 season-starting roster.

 

4. We've gotten BETTER on offense. 

At the start of last season one-third of our offense ranked below average (2 players) or were rookies/unknown quality (2 players)

This season, if my guess as to the starting line up is correct; 83% of our starters on offense will be average or better.  Only 2 players rate below average or unknown.

You can see the supporting details and breakdown by players & position here:

UPDATE:

For any who were trying to read the linked blog entry recently, I apologize if you were getting errors / a huge mess.  I went back to fix a minor error, and the formatting went totally screwy on me.  I ended up having to break the original entry into two parts.

See here (part 1) and here (part 2)

[motocross_cat]

People will give you poo but honestly this is why i come here.....to get info on my team, especially poo like this no matter how useless it is.  Allways need ammo against panther haters.

 

Pie.

[L-TownCat]

Interesting stuff.  Thanx.

[KB_fan]

I thought it might be helpful to post the links for the PFF grades I'm using:

2014 Pre-Season depth chart rankings: (May/July 2014)

2014 End of Season rankings (Feb 2015)

2015 current depth chart rankings (May 2015)

in some cases I've made adjustments as to starting players. (e.g. I've put Funchess in at WR instead of Cotchery for 2015, etc.)

[CarolinaSamurai]

I like it. It's even funnier comparing who we had early last year to late last year. Almost a totally different team

[KB_fan]

I like it. It's even funnier comparing who we had early last year to late last year. Almost a totally different team

Yeah, I did those comparison tables too, but the blog can't handle entries with too many tables.  It gets funky.  When I'm done with this series, I'll post a spreadsheet here in the forums so folks can look more closely at the data without the formatting challenges here.

By my count, for the whole team (not just offense) there were 9 starters at the end of the season who were not starters at the beginning, including 5 additional rookies & UDFA (+ Benji & Turner) for a total of 7 rookies starting at he end of the season.

AND we got better.

TEAM:  2014 Starting Line Up (9/1/2014)
Team
Average Age	27.0
Avg. Experience	4.4
Avg PFF category	3.5
TEAM	number	%
Elite	0	0%
V Good	5	19%
Good	9	33%
Average	3	11%
Below Avg	7	26%
Poor	0	0%
R / UDFA / Unknown	3	11%
	27	100%
TEAM	number	%
Average or better	17	63%
Below average	7	26%
R / UDFA / Unknown	3	11%
	27	100%

 

TEAM:  2014 End of Season (Feb 2015)
Team
Average Age	25.9
Avg. Experience	3.3
Avg PFF category	3.6
TEAM	number	%
Elite	2	7%
V Good	5	19%
Good	7	26%
Average	9	33%
Below Avg	2	7%
Poor	2	7%
R / UDFA / Unknown	0	0%
	27	100%
TEAM	number	%
Average or better	23	85%
Below average	4	15%
R / UDFA / Unknown	0	0%
	27	100%

[Marguide]

KB fan, just wanted to congratulate you on the nice content you have been posting. For those of us outside the area, your content has been much appreciated.

 

Jeremy's stuff is exceptional, but you are also doing a nice job compiling tweets and tables, etc.

 

Thanks!

[KB_fan]

Thanks Marguide.  I also am currently outside the area, far away from my home in Charlotte right now, so the internet is really the only easy way to follow the Panthers.  So, I've been doing this for my own enjoyment & info, but glad to share it with others.  It's much more fun to share this stuff with a group than just do it on my own.

[KB_fan]

Here are the roster changes on OFFENSE from 2014 to 2015

(See below)

[KB_fan]

			Projected
Pos	September 2014	February 2015	September 2015
QB	Cam Newton	Cam Newton	Cam Newton
HB	DeAngelo Williams	Jonathan Stewart	Jonathan Stewart
FB	Mike Tolbert	Mike Tolbert	Mike Tolbert
TE	Greg Olsen*	Greg Olsen*	Greg Olsen*
WR1	Kelvin Benjamin	Kelvin Benjamin	Kelvin Benjamin
WR2	Jerricho Cotchery	Corey Brown	Corey Brown
SWR	Jason Avant	Jerricho Cotchery	Devin Funchess
LT	Byron Bell	Byron Bell	Michael Oher
LG	Amini Silatolu	Andrew Norwell	Andrew Norwell
C	Ryan Kalil	Ryan Kalil	Ryan Kalil
RG	Trai Turner	Trai Turner	Trai Turner
RT	Nate Chandler	Mike Remmers	Mike Remmers
	Rookie
	Rookie UDFA
	New to team
	Position Change

[KB_fan]

If we were to put the starting roster for Sept. 2013 above, the difference would be even more dramatic.  Only 4 starting players on our offense were starters in Sept 2013.

Cam, Mike Tolbert, Greg, and Ryan Kalil.  (Of course Jonathan Stewart also started for us at RB, but he was not #1 on the depth chart).  So, we've changed nearly 2/3rds of our starting offense since 2013, with almost all of the new starters being new to the team (rookies, free agents) as opposed to those who have been working their way up through the system.

I'm hopeful the greatly improved continuity on offense in 2015, with only 1 or 2 new starters (depending on where Cotchery fits into the WR scheme) will really help us improve our play.

[KB_fan]

For any who were trying to read the linked blog entry recently, I apologize if you were getting errors / a huge mess.  I went back to fix a minor error, and the formatting went totally screwy on me.  I ended up having to break the original entry into two parts.

See here (part 1) and here (part 2)

[SOJA]

nice!

[UpstatePanther]

Great stuff KB. really appreciate your effort.