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Optimistic look at the current state of the team

JawnyBlaze

By JawnyBlaze,
in Carolina Panthers

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JawnyBlaze Grand Master

JawnyBlaze

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I know the groupthink around here is doom and gloom, and no doubt the team looks really bad right now, but here’s what I see. 
 

Reich could still be a really good HC, I’ve seen nothing from his performance in that role to indicate otherwise. He has the respect of the locker room, doesn’t trash his players in the media and throw them under the bus, and hasn’t made any bone headed game management decisions as far as I’ve seen. That puts him way ahead of anyone we’ve had for at least 14 years. BUT he needs to let Brown start calling the offense. Reich’s offense management has been bad. Outdated, inflexible, unadaptable, predictable and boring. The taste we got in the preseason of Brown appeared to be innovative and effective, as far as I could judge on the small sample size. As soon as Reich turns over the keys to the offense, I will have no complaints about the HC or OC roles. 
 

Bryce has been underwhelming, but I think there are a number of factors contributing to that. The aforementioned playcalling problems being chief among them. Also, the OL has been porous, to say the least. More on that to come. And finally, I think so many people here bought into the hype before the draft that some of us saw through, they were convinced that Bryce was going to be peak Brady from day one. Bryce was always going to take some time.  No stupid cognition test or media hype train was going to change that. His accuracy has always been good, not great, he was always going to have more difficulty adapting the backyard football “playmaking” than he did in college. Decision making and confidence will come with time and experience. And I totally agree with the theory that the two ints in the first game shook his confidence. He’ll bounce back. He’ll develop. He’ll be good and worth what we traded to get him. 

The OL is missing two starting guards, and playing a rookie in one of their places. That’s not a recipe for a stout unit. Ickey will be fine, Seattle’s stadium makes it hard on vets, much less sophomores.  When we get the starting guards back in place they’ll be “good” to “very good” like last year. Leading to the next point…

The run game will improve as the OL does. Sanders has had some really good plays, and then he’s had some where he’s smashed up the middle into a mass of defenders.  Chubba has had some really good plays, and he’s had the same problem as Sanders, in addition to tripping on his shoe laces and poor vision problems. Chubba should not be starting, he should be fresh legs taking advantage of tired defenders leaving holes. 

The pass catchers have honestly been much less impactful than I expected, but I also suspect they will improve with better play design and calling. TMJ has been a complete disappointment, Mingo has had a couple crucial drops, Thielen has been what I expected, and Chark isn’t stretching the field like he should (I put that on playcalling). 
 

Ejiro and the defense has been great, especially considering all the injuries. Brown is proving what I and other people who actually understand the role of a DT have been saying all along, Burns is proving to be a monster in the new scheme, disproving the ignorant takes that many around here perpetuate about not being able to play the run or not being impactful when games matter (just this past game he had a crucial run stop for a loss on a third down late in the game).  Woods and Bell have been a great pair of FA signings.  Luvu is Luvu, hope he comes back 100% quickly. They haven’t been able to hold up late in games, I’d argue mostly to the offense not holding up their end. 
 

Honestly, I think two things need to happen to get this team back on the realistic ~.500 season track that many predicted before the season: key players need to get healthy (specifically the OL, Luvu and Horn), and Brown needs to be given the OC duties.  I still see the future as being bright, despite a poor start to the season. 

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JawnyBlaze Grand Master

JawnyBlaze

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5 minutes ago, therealmjl said:

There is no room for optimism about the Panthers as long as Tepper is in charge.

Such a stupid and tired take. Like the guy said below, that’s not going to change any time soon. If you actually believe the owner can prevent a team from finding success, then please don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

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Waldo Grand Master

Waldo

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Let the coordinators cook, Frank is in the way and it's been a problem with him in the past. Frank has been spiraling for 3 years and this looks like his worst yet. Step back and be a HC, not the OC. 

Run the ball a lot more. Maybe add a TE to that process. 

Look to what worked with the players in the past and adjust towards that. Or look at 0-3 and keep pounding I guess

 

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CanadianCat Veteran

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Love the optimism!

We made substantial changes this year and the team is trying to find their groove. Same thing happened with Hurts in Philly, Tua in Miami, Burrow in Cinci. 

Give it some time. This year we were never winning the Superbowl. Let's let the team and Young get experience and keep moving forward.

We got the right QB, now we just need to build around him.

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stratocatter Mentor

stratocatter

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Well, that was optimistic as promised. 
 

As far as the can an owner…. Really? Pretty clear examples of it in the past. Irsay the most recent. JR wasn’t trying to stop us but he did, a couple of times. 
Granted, if Tepper makes it too hard for people to support the team then they shouldn’t. I definitely struggle with that. If Tepper would put a winner out there I would at minimum tolerate him and who knows but he hasn’t shown he understands how to do that.  

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JawnyBlaze Grand Master

JawnyBlaze

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18 minutes ago, stratocatter said:

Well, that was optimistic as promised. 
 

As far as the can an owner…. Really? Pretty clear examples of it in the past. Irsay the most recent. JR wasn’t trying to stop us but he did, a couple of times. 
Granted, if Tepper makes it too hard for people to support the team then they shouldn’t. I definitely struggle with that. If Tepper would put a winner out there I would at minimum tolerate him and who knows but he hasn’t shown he understands how to do that.  

Meddlesome owners can be a hindrance, sure. I suppose I should have been more clear. Tepper’s biggest flaw has that he hasn’t meddled enough. Should have cut bait with Rhule sooner. But live and learn, which by all appearances he has. 
 

And Irsay has a Super Bowl ring. Jerruh has three, and no one would accuse him of being a good owner. 

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JawnyBlaze Grand Master

JawnyBlaze

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42 minutes ago, PappyMay said:

I hope you're right, I'm just hoping for 5-6 wins and not giving Chicago Maye or Williams at this point with our pick. If they get them with their own so be it.

Even with us playing terribly right now, I think we’d beat Chicago 9 times outta 10. If they’re taking a top QB, theirs will be the higher one to do it with. We may end up giving them the top WR to go with their top QB, heh. 

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therealmjl Grand Master

therealmjl

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45 minutes ago, JawnyBlaze said:

Such a stupid and tired take. Like the guy said below, that’s not going to change any time soon. If you actually believe the owner can prevent a team from finding success, then please don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

You can call it stupid all you want - but it's the truth until proven otherwise. He's done literally nothing right since he has taken over for this team.

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Wanderlai Grand Master

Wanderlai

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45 minutes ago, PappyMay said:

I hope you're right, I'm just hoping for 5-6 wins and not giving Chicago Maye or Williams at this point with our pick. If they get them with their own so be it.

This team/franchise has a salvage title so all we can hope for is ruining that Chicago pick and not gift wrapping them Maye or Williams. 

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