Are you buying into the media's narrative that we are third tier

[Sgt Schultz]

The media narrative is based on big splash FA signings.  We did not really have any "OMG" signings.  Don't get me wrong, the FA and draft classes look good on paper, but the closest thing we had to a big splash was drafting Young, and there are a lot of skeptics looking at him and I would not call their concerns nonsense.

As far as the coaching staff, it is impressive but again, not a huge splash in the media's eyes.  The biggest splash in the media's eyes was probably Evero, not Reich.

This is a roster and coaching staff that, by design, is based on the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  That does not get the media's attention.  There are some analysts that dive into that deep enough to recognize it, but overall, not very many. 

I see a couple of things that lean in our favor.  First, Reich is coming into a situation that was not at rock bottom and has no need to go there.  About the only slack I ever cut The Process was that in his first year, the team was jettisoning salary cap mistakes (while creating some new ones), and had very little NFL-level talent.  5-11 was actually a good outcome for that team.  Reich and company had to replace a lot of pieces, but they also have some established talent (not past talent that is over the hill, guys that should be in the sweet spots of their careers).  So, he is not sentenced to hard labor in year one, but it will not be easy, either.

Second, for the first time (maybe ever) we have a coaching staff that has the potential to steal some wins.  I don't remember Fox ever stealing a win.  Nor Rivera.  I remember The Process stealing a few losses.  If this team is around a 7 or 8 win team based solely on talent, IF "the whole being greater than the sum of the parts" plays out and the coaching staff is able to steal a win or two from the jaws of defeat, that could push us over the .500 line and maybe into double digit wins.  I'm not listing that as an expectation, but I also would not be surprised to see that play out.  In this division, 9-8 could carry it even with the changes elsewhere.

None of that stuff is glitzy enough to get the media's attention until it happens a few times.  By then, if it happens, the glitz will be fading from the Cowboys and maybe Jets, and suddenly it will dawn on them that something is happening in Carolina. 

[Tomcatn]

21 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I just think we're a gigantic question mark with an all new staff, all new schemes, a new #1 overall pick QB, etc. It's gonna be exciting to find out. But as far as expectations go? Honestly, I don't have any. I just hope we show that we're heading in the right direction.

This is exactly how I feel at this point. Excited, but still have my foot hovering over the brake pedal. It's hard to get the taste of the last few years out of my mouth.

[RJK]

I’m not buying into anything but I do feel we need to temper expectations. There will be growing pains especially on offense. 

[pantherj]

I know more about our roster than the media, so I certainly don't go by predictions from Peter King or whoever. If I thought the media knew what they were talking about, then I'd go to Vegas and go all in on some W/L bets.

To me we're headed to about 8 wins, and if we deviate much from that I'll be surprised. Even so, I'd never go bet on that. Sometimes teams under or over perform for logical or illogical reasons. Just the injury bug factor alone should scare people away from thinking they have a good idea of what is going to happen this season.

Edited June 29, 2023 by pantherj

[Smithers]

I don’t buy any narrative the media pushes.  They are almost always wrong.

[Cdparr7]

I expect a disappointing start to the season while the team develops chemistry followed by some wins at the end of the season. Will be one of those years we lose games we are supposed to win and win those we are supposed to lose. I say 8-9. 
 

With Bryce getting a year under his belt, the staff meshing with the players, and Fitterer’s war chest for 2024, we are in great shape for next season.