The issues with this team are clear

[TN05]

1) Offensive line
2) Defensive line/secondary
3) Coaching

Which is the most fixable? Defensive line is stacked this draft. Offensive line has always been an issue for us but it would be hard to get worse. Coaching could be worse but isn't great.

This draft, go in early for defensive linemen. Release Matt Kalil and Munnerlynn, pursue Josh Norman if possible, maybe sign Eric Reid to a longer-term deal. And do something with coaching, be it firing Rivera or revamping the defense.

Thankfully our holes are easy to identify and we have a ton of talent at all the skill positions on offense and even some on defense (Bradberry and Jackson). But they have to be fixed or we'll be 7-9 or worse for a long time.

[Shocker]

Pass rush would help a lot.  Gotta get better in the secondary as well.  Ideally would like Jackson in the slot.

[TylerDurden]

New coach, pass rushing DLinemen, corners, a free safety and this team is fixed.

OL is not an issue as long as we retain Williams.  Healthy Williams and Moton are nice bookends and Larsen can step in for Kalil.  

[Cpt slay a ho]

New coach will fix a lot, I’m tired of hero ball week in and out, playing down to competition, needing perfect execution to win a game, and no sense of urgency until it’s 4th and goal with the game on the line. 

 

Other than that the rules have change but the game is the same. Rush the passer win the game, I’d go all in on the d line this offseason.

[ellis]

John Matsko deserves a goddamn raise for the job he’s done with this pile of crap. 

[Davidson Deac II]

22 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Coaching is the easiest fix. Don't need to be in a certain draft slot, etc.

After that, fix the DL. Great draft for addressing DL, so go all in as just like I mention below, fixing the DL will help the secondary immensely. If Cockrell is healthy as well, maybe we can move on from Captain.

OL could be addressed if Williams is healthy. If he's healthy, we can move Moton to LT. Just having a healthy Williams can make the OL so much better than having Clark/Kalil at LT. Then, you are looking at a C in the draft (could be later) and more depth.

Coaching is actually the most difficult.  Yeah, it would be easy to fire Ron, and maybe he should be fired, but getting a replacement that can get a SB win for us is an very difficult thing to do.  For every Belichick, there are a lot who almost made it, and even more who never came close.  

[Jangler]

not staying in a Holiday Inn?

[panthers55]

The number one problem is Cam is hurt. He is our QB and everything revolves around him. Hopefully the fix is rest or surgery or both. The next problem is poor secondary play. We need some vets who can play man coverage if we are going to keep putting them on an island outside. We either need to go to zone if we play who we have or bring in some better talent if we stay with so much man coverage. Our Dline play has been poor. Poe isn't the answer and our DEs are getting little pressure.  The oline should be improved when Williams returns so honestly center is the biggest issue. As for coaching it depends on who stays and who goes.  Tepper's inclinations are a big unknown. I keep hearing that Rivera won't be gone this year but will be if we don't come out next year any better.  Not sure if this is baseless speculation or folks have some kind of insider knowledge.

[LinvilleGorge]

OL is the easiest fix IMO. Yeah, we're going to lose Ryan Kalil to retirement but Larsen has proven plenty serviceable. I expect he'll be a stopgap and we'll draft a center prospect at some point in April. Re-sign Daryl Williams for RT and flip Moton to LT. Bang. There's your OL.

It's a deep DL draft and we have four picks in the first three rounds. I wouldn't be surprised if two of those picks are DL.

Coaching is the hardest fix but is probably the most vital of the changes that we need. Ron has grown stale in Carolina and we need a change of direction.

[Snake]

I think a new coach with a new system is needed and one geared to offense because we have younger and better talent there. Honestly even if we don't get a offensive mind we need a defensive mind that understands how to win in today's NFL. Playing good defense and kicking FG isn't going to cut it today. 

[PantherPhann89]

I'm not advocating for RR but if we had a DT that could constantly pressure the QB up the middle, our defense would be a lot better.

[Raleigh PF]

The number 1 issue is coaching.

Good coaches get the most out of people and inspire them to play up to their talents, if not surpass them. Their teams believe in them and want to produce for them. 

I'd say that the Turners and Matsko have met that challenge. The fact that the rest of the team is under-performing to their talent level means the coaches are not driving them the way they should. 

I would argue that getting the RIGHT coach is as valuable as having a franchise QB. It's not that the Panthers are lacking talent, but we have a world of under-performers, particularly on the defensive side of the ball (Poe, Short, Addison, Thompson, Bradberry, Butler). Special teams was celebrated earlier this year. What happened?

Finding the right coach(es) is hard, but until that happens, I don't believe the proven talent on the defensive side can be properly evaluated. Replacing the names I listed is simply putting a band-aid on a larger issue. Fix the real problem and see what they can get from the talent.

[Eazy-E]

Blitz the QB and play press man coverage with safety help over the top. Unfortunately, that type of defense is the exact opposite of what Ron likes to run.

[GoPanthers123]

Our passing D giving up 3rd and Long big plays is the biggest issue.   Reid and Jackson are solid, can we get some help for them?