Random General Thoughts: Fascinating!

[top dawg]

As Panthers fans, we've become accustomed to nondescript, regular, almost rote moves in free agency, the draft, and offensive and defensive philosophy!

With Tepper and, more importantly, Rhule's and JB's arrival, they appear to have turned all of what we thought we knew---preached by the likes of defensive strategist Ron Rivera and 20th century throwback Dave Gettleman---about football on its head! 

Take the Rivera-isms, the Fox-isms and the Gettlemanian dogma and throw it out the window the dirty mop water! Our floor is going to be cleaned up and go up!

What I see, however blurry, is a well thought-out plan to improve the team and make it competitive without going down the toilet. They are NOT accepting mediocrity, and they aren't just accepting it-is-what-it-is mentality. 

All that being said, expectations should be limited for a two or three years, with the only thing I expect is for us to be entertaining and stronger fundamentally and depth-wise.

Arguments about building back to front or front to back, whether offense or defense wins championships, or whether BPA or drafting for need is the way to go are going to seem of little consequence. I think that the most important thing---change---that we will see and appreciate actually, is situational awareness. We'll see it not just during the season on the sidelines and field, but during the offseason when team building. We're going to adapt, develop a plan, and execute it, even if it takes outside-the-box thinking, which I personally love--yes, "love!" 

On an off note, we're no longer going to sacrifice the defensive backfield, and our offense will be top 10 for as long as JB is here!

This is going to be one helluva ride to a good place, and it's going to be much better than what negative Nancy thinks it is!

 

 

[LinvilleGorge]

Long-term, we'll just have to wait and see if the Rhule "process" translates to the NFL.

In the meantime, it's gonna be painful. All you have to do is look at Rhule's time at Temple and Baylor. He won two games his first year at Temple and one his first year at Baylor. He tears the thing down to the ground and completely rebuilds. Anyone thinking we're going to compete next year is fooling themselves. That's not part of the process. We won't find out if Rhule is going to sink or swim probably until year three.

[Call Me James]

Looks like they're taking a lot of gambles hoping something, anything, sticks. 

That usually doesn't work out 

[saX man]

This team has transformed so quickly.  Pretty wild ride going on.

O

QB) Teddy Bridgewater | PJ Walker

RB) CMC |Bonnafon |Scarlett

WR) Moore | Anderson | Samuel | Roberts | Cooper

TE) DeValve | Thomas

OL) Okung-Daley-Paradis-Miller-Moton

D

DL) Weatherly-Short-??-Burns (+Added rotation?)

LB) Carter Jr.-Shaq-Whitehead

CB) ???-Jackson-Luke

S) Boston-Burris

Primed to build a defense in this draft.  Clearing the way for Simmons or Brown and a top cornerback.   

[top dawg]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Long-term, we'll just have to wait and see if the Rhule "process" translates to the NFL.

In the meantime, it's gonna be painful. All you have to do is look at Rhule's time at Temple and Baylor. He won two games his first year at Temple and one his first year at Baylor. He tears the thing down to the ground and completely rebuilds. Anyone thinking we're going to compete next year is fooling themselves. That's not part of the process. We won't find out if Rhule is going to sink or swim probably until year three.

I'm going on record right now and saying we're going to win more games this season than the last!

We aren't dealing with kids here. This is the pros! Rhule already has a good headstart on knowing the strengths and weaknesses of not only his staff, but some of the personnel. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

8 minutes ago, saX man said:

This team has transformed so quickly.  Pretty wild ride going on.

O

QB) Teddy Bridgewater | PJ Walker

RB) CMC |Bonnafon |Scarlett

WR) Moore | Anderson | Samuel | Roberts | Cooper

TE) DeValve | Thomas

OL) Okung-Daley-Paradis-Miller-Moton

D

DL) Weatherly-Short-??-Burns (+Added rotation?)

LB) Carter Jr.-Shaq-Whitehead

CB) ???-Jackson-Luke

S) Boston-Burris

Primed to build a defense in this draft.  Clearing the way for Simmons or Brown and a top cornerback.   

looks good

[t96]

11 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I'm going on record right now and saying we're going to win more games this season than the last!

We aren't dealing with kids here. This is the pros! Rhule already has a good headstart on knowing the strengths and weaknesses of not only his staff, but some of the personnel. 

It’ll be interesting to see how the season plays out. D looks really, really bad on paper. Teddy is a huge question mark, and honestly the amount of money we gave him doesn’t instill a ton of confidence in him as any more than a bridge QB. I have a feeling we a draft a QB in the first two rounds this year. If not, Lawrence may be in play...

[RenoCarolina]

37 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Long-term, we'll just have to wait and see if the Rhule "process" translates to the NFL.

In the meantime, it's gonna be painful. All you have to do is look at Rhule's time at Temple and Baylor. He won two games his first year at Temple and one his first year at Baylor. He tears the thing down to the ground and completely rebuilds. Anyone thinking we're going to compete next year is fooling themselves. That's not part of the process. We won't find out if Rhule is going to sink or swim probably until year three.

more painful than the last two years?

Baylor had to worry about NCAA sanctions, Tepper does not.  Starting behind the curve?  Yes.  Unable to compete?  No.

 

[MHS831]

I think of it this way---Brady is a system guy that needs the right pieces--which may be why we seem to be cherry picking offensive players.  Snow, on the other hand, may be a better coach, one that can build mechanics and get rookies up to speed.  I dunno--but for some reason we are focused on offensive in free agency.

I am less inclined to believe that we are tanking, however. 

I have noticed that most contracts are for 2 years or have outs after 2 years.

[LinvilleGorge]

4 minutes ago, RenoCarolina said:

more painful than the last two years?

Baylor had to worry about NCAA sanctions, Tepper does not.  Starting behind the curve?  Yes.  Unable to compete?  No.

 

It's gonna be painful. We're going to watch a college coaching staff make the transition to the NFL with a roster that needs a LOT of work.

[sml1950]

This is what Rhule was speaking of when he said he couldn’t wait to see when he was competing on an equal playing field.  At Temple and Baylor he had a distinct disadvantage the first few years, so it would take longer to achieve a turnaround.  Now he has the same opportunity, subject to the cap, as any other team.  It’s actually been fairly easy to follow the bread crums from his interviews 

1. He wants to institute his culture......4 of the 5 Captains and other loud voices are gone.  He brought in former players to act as a conduit for that process.

2. he wants young, tough, versatile players...check

3. He’s analytically minded while keeping old school principals so he chose a young OC to bring a version of the Saints offense along with its #2 QB.  This should allow them to throw the ball which will open up the running game rather than visa versa under Rivera.

[Black&BlueBubba]

57 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

It's gonna be painful. We're going to watch a college coaching staff make the transition to the NFL with a roster that needs a LOT of work.

It’s gonna be a glowing success and everyone will be trying to replicate the next Rhule or it will be a complete disaster.  
No mediocrity here.  

[pdub0702]

I agree with the OP. This outside the box thinking is going to be hard for some fans to adjust to. However, it's necessary and at a minimum will keep things interesting for the foreseeable future. Just taking a moment to reflect...I feel this entire offseason I've been checking my phone and this site for daily updates. Everyday (for better or worse) is bringing something different. These next couple seasons may be rough...but that is the price to break from the status quo we've between conditioned to. 

[top dawg]

3 hours ago, Black&BlueBubba said:

It’s gonna be a glowing success and everyone will be trying to replicate the next Rhule or it will be a complete disaster.  
No mediocrity here.  

That's one way to look at it! LOL