We are no longer rebuilding. We're competing

[Tommy Jone]

Fitterer is a seasoned guy, who has witnessed lots of success and knows how to get there.  I'm not sure that you would see these moves in a season that is supposed to be a wash at best.

The coaches know the players and how to use them to get us there.  And they also know a whole lot more about them than we do.  Sam is the guy.  Point blank, period.

We're headed to the playoffs this year.

[Tbe]

1 minute ago, Tommy Jone said:

Fitterer is a seasoned guy, who has witnessed lots of success and knows how to get there.  I'm not sure that you would see these moves in a season that is supposed to be a wash at best.

The coaches know the players and how to use them to get us there.  And they also know a whole lot more about them than we do.  Sam is the guy.  Point blank, period.

We're headed to the playoffs this year.

Fitt sees shades of that first Seahawks SB team.

Young/cheap serviceable QB with a nasty defense.

Take advantage now before the bills come due.

[mbarbour21]

1 minute ago, Tommy Jone said:

We're headed to the playoffs this year.

[Seltzer]

It is amazing how well everything is working out with the team rebuild.  This team is in much better shape roster wise than I would have thought possible after where we entered last offseason (arguably the worst roster on paper in the league).

That being said, we still have 14 games left with a bad offensive line that I'm not sure can be improved much until after the season.

Darnold has been tough and Brady is trying to scheme around it, but it is going to be an ongoing issue that can hold us back.

Also, special teams is still bad.

The defense can and has masked a lot of our deficiencies, but they still remain.

I do think we can compete for the playoffs this year.  I still question whether we can beat the top teams with this offensive line especially.

Edited September 27, 2021 by Seltzer

[SBBlue]

% Chance Panthers make the playoffs:
65.7  2021 NFL Football Power Index | ESPN 
53% 2021 NFL Predictions | FiveThirtyEight


Since 1980, 136 of the 180 teams (75.5 percent) to start 3-0 made the playoffs and there is an additional playoff spot this year.
It’s Over for the NFL’s 0-3 Teams | Odds Shark

Our franchise has followed that 75% pattern:
The Panthers have played for 27 seasons and have started 3-0 four times. Three of those seasons Carolina has made the NFC Championship Game (1996, 2003, 2015) -- and the other year the Panthers finished 7-9 (2002).

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/panthers-are-3-0-for-first-time-in-six-years-why-perfect-start-typically-leads-to-super-bowl-appearance/

Odds lean in our favor at this point.

Edited September 27, 2021 by SBBlue

[joemac]

6 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

It is amazing how well everything is working out with the team rebuild.  This team is in much better shape roster wise than I would have thought possible after where we entered last offseason (arguably the worst roster on paper in the league).

That being said, we still have 14 games left with a bad offensive line that I'm not sure can be improved much until after the season.

Darnold has been tough and Brady is trying to scheme around it, but it is going to be an ongoing issue that can hold us back.

Also, special teams is still bad.

The defense can and has masked a lot of our deficiencies, but they still remain.

I do think we can compete for the playoffs this year.  I still question whether we can beat the top teams with this offensive line especially.

The awesome thing is that whatever happens this season is pretty much gravy.  Next season, and the following seasons are when we really kick it into high gear.  That is when we have a plethora of cap space opening up, and the youngest core in the entire league.  Future is so bright here that we all gotta wear shades.  We could seriously be building the next great program right here, right now.  

[Italianpantherfan]

Don’t be surprised if we win the super bowl this year like I said ! It could happen 

[45catfan]

Yep, some insisted 2021 would be truly year 1 of the Rhule rebuild and we wouldn't be competitive until 2022.  I respectfully disagreed.

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

I’m digging the aggressiveness, but draft day is looking rough next year.

This also makes it seem like no one is willing to make a reasonable deal for OL help right now 

[PanthersATL]

37 minutes ago, SBBlue said:

% Chance Panthers make the playoffs:
65.7  2021 NFL Football Power Index | ESPN 
53% 2021 NFL Predictions | FiveThirtyEight


Odds lean in our favor at this point.

$20 at Harrah's Cherokee to pay $200 if the Panthers win the NFC South (as of Aug 28th).

Anybody have more up to date figures?

[CanePantherHornet]

It depends on what your definition of competing is. If you're talking about super bowl? I doubt it unless Sam Darnold has an MVP caliber season. But for the playoffs, yeah. 

 

Only one team will come out of the East and North divisions. It's possible that all three wildcards come out of the West, but you've got to think that divisional play will cancel one of them out. So that leaves up fighting with New Orleans and Tampa Bay for the division/3rd wildcard. 

[ClawOn]

18 minutes ago, PanthersATL said:

$20 at Harrah's Cherokee to pay $200 if the Panthers win the NFC South (as of Aug 28th).

Anybody have more up to date figures?

Paper hands. I got $50 to win it all, $3,800. 

Ok I'm an optimistic sort. 

[w280sax]

The defense is passing the eye test.  The pressure from the front has been great.  With that, we have a legit chance to be a playoff team.

Whether it happens or not depends on getting at least ok offensive line play and darnold continuing to play to his potential.  I thought those were the keys before the season as well but the defense overachieving should take some pressure off the offense as well.

 

[PanthersATL]