Defense wins championships...

[Bronn]

The ultimate goal of the Carolina Panthers is to win the Super Bowl every year. Period.

Statistically, one could make a convincing argument that the adage "defense wins championships" is true. If I recall correctly, typically the better defensive team in the big game wins.

Rushing offense isn't that successful in winning championships. I think the statistics favor that good rushing offenses make the big game a bit, but ultimately fall short to the better defense.

The Panthers have been a pretty successful rushing team in years recent, finishing in the top 10 in the category the last three years.

Our biggest failings have been in defending the pass, and passing the ball on offense.

This offseason, we added one new veteran guy that could help with our pass rush. We added a pair of veteran DBs to help with our pass defense. We signed a guy on offense that we're hoping can help improve our pass protection. We signed a few guys at WR, hoping one of them helps out.

We released our FB.

All of this tells me that we are concerned more about our passing, both on defense and offense. Nothing we have done has shown me we want to get a talented RB with our first pick, and history doesn't really favor success with that type of approach.

At this point, and I have been a Fournette fan since day one (I would still be happy if we got him,) but I think all indicators are that we are going to either:

1) Draft a pass rusher to groom under Peppers. The ONLY options at 8 in this area, or even within the top 15 to me, are Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Jonathan Allen, or Derek Barnett. This is a passing league, and we are in a passing division. You stop the pass or suffer, and the best way to do that, in our defense, is getting to the passer.

2) Take Fournette and commit to hoping to have a powerful run game for years, pass game be damned (or at least neglected until the next pick.)

3) Draft another DB to help within our division, primarily. We have more options here and deeper flexibility in the case of a trade down, but I think Adams, Lattimore, Hooker, and Humphrey are all in play here. Adams will likely require a trade up, but the others could be options at 8. Thankfully, DB is deep, so we needn't force it, especially considering we have young guys in place already.

4) Take McCaffrey to be an offensive weapon, not necessarily a RB. It will give us more versatility, but I still think 8 is too early. In his case, I would favor a trade down.

5) The least popular option of all. Trade down and take an OL or gem WR (there are only two guaranteed IMHO.)

...in that order.


Honestly, though, on paper we are a solid team. Maybe they see it that way too and we truly will target someone we think can anchor our run game for a decade. We have so many ways we can go, that it is really going to be interesting to watch.

Hurry up 8:00.

[Gin and Juice]

2 minutes ago, Bronn said:

The ultimate goal of the Carolina Panthers is to win the Super Bowl every year. Period.

Statistically, one could make a convincing argument that the adage "defense wins championships" is true. If I recall correctly, typically the better defensive team in the big game wins.

Rushing offense isn't that successful in winning championships. I think the statistics favor that good rushing offenses make the big game a bit, but ultimately fall short to the better defense.

The Panthers have been a pretty successful rushing team in years recent, finishing in the top 10 in the category the last three years.

Our biggest failings have been in defending the pass, and passing the ball on offense.

This offseason, we added one new veteran guy that could help with our pass rush. We added a pair of veteran DBs to help with our pass defense. We signed a guy on offense that we're hoping can help improve our pass protection. We signed a few guys at WR, hoping one of them helps out.

We released our FB.

All of this tells me that we are concerned more about our passing, both on defense and offense. Nothing we have done has shown me we want to get a talented RB with our first pick, and history doesn't really favor success with that type of approach.

At this point, and I have been a Fournette fan since day one (I would still be happy if we got him,) but I think all indicators are that we are going to either:

1) Draft a pass rusher to groom under Peppers. The ONLY options at 8 in this area, or even within the top 15 to me, are Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Jonathan Allen, or Derek Barnett. This is a passing league, and we are in a passing division. You stop the pass or suffer, and the best way to do that, in our defense, is getting to the passer.

2) Take Fournette and commit to hoping to have a powerful run game for years, pass game be damned (or at least neglected until the next pick.)

3) Draft another DB to help within our division, primarily. We have more options here and deeper flexibility in the case of a trade down, but I think Adams, Lattimore, Hooker, and Humphrey are all in play here. Adams will likely require a trade up, but the others could be options at 8. Thankfully, DB is deep, so we needn't force it, especially considering we have young guys in place already.

4) Take McCaffrey to be an offensive weapon, not necessarily a RB. It will give us more versatility, but I still think 8 is too early. In his case, I would favor a trade down.

5) The least popular option of all. Trade down and take an OL or gem WR (there are only two guaranteed IMHO.)

...in that order.


Honestly, though, on paper we are a solid team. Maybe they see it that way too and we truly will target someone we think can anchor our run game for a decade. We have so many ways we can go, that it is really going to be interesting to watch.

Hurry up 8:00.

Peppers left in part because he didn't want to assume a leadership role, so why does everyone think he became a mentor overnight?

[Bronn]

2 minutes ago, Gin and Juice said:

Peppers left in part because he didn't want to assume a leadership role, so why does everyone think he became a mentor overnight?

I said groom him under him. I didn't say that I expected Peppers to lead him.

All reports I have heard though is that Pep matured once he left here and got old, and that he is more willing to take on that role.

We also have CJ who's been around, as have guys like TD, Captain, and Mike Adams.

[Gin and Juice]

1 minute ago, Bronn said:

I said groom him under him. I didn't say that I expected Peppers to lead him.

All reports I have heard though is that Pep matured once he left here and got old, and that he is more willing to take on that role.

We also have CJ who's been around, as have guys like TD, Captain, and Mike Adams.

You aren't the first person I've read to make that reference tho. Just seen the correlation a few times and it just baffles me, however, to your credit you didn't directly imply Peppers as a mentor 

[dpm0409]

9 minutes ago, Gin and Juice said:

Peppers left in part because he didn't want to assume a leadership role, so why does everyone think he became a mentor overnight?

Not saying Peppers is or isn't a mentor, but I don't really understand the "overnight" reference.  He's been gone for 7 years....people can mature

[pstall]

Good angle Bronn. Many times you have to look at the draft based on the makeup of your division or that team who is your nemesis that's keeping you from the next level.

Passing and stopping the pass is the bread and butter if the NFCS.

[Davidson Deac II]

IMO, several things can win championships. 

Denver had one of the best passing attacks in the NFL for several years but only made it to the SB once, and got blown out.  They finally won it with a great d and an offense that didn't screw things up. 

Seattle won their championship with tremendous defense, good rushing attack, and a barely adequate passing attack.

New England won with a great passing attack and an adequate defense. Of course, they had one of the best all time QB's in NFL history. 

The Giants won their last one by holding their opponents to 14 points a game in the post season and not turning the ball over much. 

The way you win superbowls is to pick talented players and adapt your style of play to their talents.  Or to pick talented players whose abilities fit the style you want to play.  Add in a little luck, especially when it comes to not getting players injured, and you end up with a chance to win the superbowl.   

[Gin and Juice]

25 minutes ago, dpm0409 said:

Not saying Peppers is or isn't a mentor, but I don't really understand the "overnight" reference.  He's been gone for 7 years....people can mature

Fear of Leading a lot of times isn't a maturity issue

[Ace_Aladdin]

59 minutes ago, Bronn said:

The ultimate goal of the Carolina Panthers is to win the Super Bowl every year. Period.

Statistically, one could make a convincing argument that the adage "defense wins championships" is true. If I recall correctly, typically the better defensive team in the big game wins.

Rushing offense isn't that successful in winning championships. I think the statistics favor that good rushing offenses make the big game a bit, but ultimately fall short to the better defense.

The Panthers have been a pretty successful rushing team in years recent, finishing in the top 10 in the category the last three years.

Our biggest failings have been in defending the pass, and passing the ball on offense.

This offseason, we added one new veteran guy that could help with our pass rush. We added a pair of veteran DBs to help with our pass defense. We signed a guy on offense that we're hoping can help improve our pass protection. We signed a few guys at WR, hoping one of them helps out.

We released our FB.

All of this tells me that we are concerned more about our passing, both on defense and offense. Nothing we have done has shown me we want to get a talented RB with our first pick, and history doesn't really favor success with that type of approach.

At this point, and I have been a Fournette fan since day one (I would still be happy if we got him,) but I think all indicators are that we are going to either:

1) Draft a pass rusher to groom under Peppers. The ONLY options at 8 in this area, or even within the top 15 to me, are Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Jonathan Allen, or Derek Barnett. This is a passing league, and we are in a passing division. You stop the pass or suffer, and the best way to do that, in our defense, is getting to the passer.

2) Take Fournette and commit to hoping to have a powerful run game for years, pass game be damned (or at least neglected until the next pick.)

3) Draft another DB to help within our division, primarily. We have more options here and deeper flexibility in the case of a trade down, but I think Adams, Lattimore, Hooker, and Humphrey are all in play here. Adams will likely require a trade up, but the others could be options at 8. Thankfully, DB is deep, so we needn't force it, especially considering we have young guys in place already.

4) Take McCaffrey to be an offensive weapon, not necessarily a RB. It will give us more versatility, but I still think 8 is too early. In his case, I would favor a trade down.

5) The least popular option of all. Trade down and take an OL or gem WR (there are only two guaranteed IMHO.)

...in that order.


Honestly, though, on paper we are a solid team. Maybe they see it that way too and we truly will target someone we think can anchor our run game for a decade. We have so many ways we can go, that it is really going to be interesting to watch.

Hurry up 8:00.

WRONG, just ask Seattle about Lynch

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[Ace_Aladdin]

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[Ace_Aladdin]

You know what defeats elite defenses , which we will face in playoffs.

2 TE set.

[dpm0409]

2 minutes ago, Gin and Juice said:

Fear of Leading a lot of times isn't a maturity issue

That's a fair point.  Perhaps I used the wrong word in "mature".

Bottom line is I think Pep knows his role on this team.  He alluded to it in the interview he did with Panthers.com, he talked about his growth as an individual and said his role is to come in and offer leadership and experience while still being able to be productive.  I don't think he's blowing smoke either, dude seems very sincere and any young DE could benefit greatly from being around Peppers.

[Jimmy]

I would argue that we already have a top 10 defense as it sits right now.  As for last year, I think we put our defense in bad situations because our offense wasn't consistent and we lost the field position battle often...and our defense was on the field a lot.  I see us taking someone that can help with the proficiency of our offense, that can help keep our defense off the field, and as a whole make us stronger in the 4th quarter. Plus Cam needs weapons...sorry but Funchess isn't getting it done and our slot position has been suspect for years. 

[Ace_Aladdin]

6 minutes ago, Jimmy said:

I would argue that we already have a top 10 defense as it sits right now.  As for last year, I think we put our defense in bad situations because our offense wasn't consistent and we lost the field position battle often...and our defense was on the field a lot.  I see us taking someone that can help with the proficiency of our offense, that can help keep our defense off the field, and as a whole make us stronger in the 4th quarter. Plus Cam needs weapons...sorry but Funchess isn't getting it done and our slot position has been suspect for years. 

You can't argue with  rock lol