Steve Smith is as good as gone

[CRA]

Calm down. You are way over valuing Lewis. He was average.

Kemo was not even here last season and is coming off a MAJOR injury.

Diggs played solid, but Conner and Anderson are younger, faster, and more athletic.

The D will be faster and meaner next season.

I am not overvaluing Lewis....he at best should be a rotation guy. He is good coming in off the bench.

Bottom line is the secondary Harris, Godfrey, and Marshall aren't great in coverage. The projected DL is full of rejects in the middle, a situational rusher, and Johnson. That ain't an average or mean defense in the making imo.

LBs are solid.....but a great LB group won't shine w/ a weak DL and average secondary.

[carolinanimal]

I am not overvaluing Lewis....he at best should be a rotation guy. He is good coming in off the bench.

Bottom line is the secondary Harris, Godfrey, and Marshall aren't great in coverage. The projected DL is full of rejects in the middle, a situational rusher, and Johnson. That ain't an average or mean defense in the making imo.

LBs are solid.....but a great LB group won't shine w/ a weak DL and average secondary.

CRA, they are also missing the point that most of that "meaner and faster" dline is COMING OF IR!!!!. the other have have never started for a full season!! i wish them the best of luck next season, but to act like we will be the same defense with the inexperience on the line now is crazy. Basically this is a learning year for all involved.

[Scrumtrilescent]

So cutting 2 of our marginal starters on defense last year = getting rid of half the defense.

Got it.

[Sloth]

So cutting 2 of our marginal starters on defense last year = getting rid of half the defense.

Got it.

Peppers, Lewis, Diggs, Kemo, Thomas aren't on the roster at this point. We're also dangling Marshall. I'd also argue that Lewis and Diggs weren't marginal players.

I believe Nick Hayden is our longest tenured DT right now. Nick "wtf is he doing in the secondary" Hayden.

Definitely get that there's a plan and that we're not done, but it's more than cutting 2 marginal starters.

[riddel]

Smith doesn't leave Carolina unless he has a meltdown and makes a big mental mistake, ala beating the poo out of someone else....other than that and the Panthers will ride Smith until he's done.

[Snake]

[PhillyB]

this is the most bullshit piece of speculation i've ever heard, dont post this poo without a qualifier first

[SorthNarolina]

Kemo - never lived up to his contract, never played like a true NT, never got any pass rush. Outplayed by guys not born the same decade, younger or older. Ted Washington and Pat Williams come to mind. Doesn't fit at all in meeks system. He'll take a beefy DT but not a converted 3-4 NT. One demensional.

Lewis - could knife in to the backfield now and then, never stepped up to take jenkins role like some people hoped. Could make plays in the backfield but was not consistent against the run. Did ok pass rush for a 2nd-3rd stringer but not a starter. Not totally one demensional but not really good anything either.

Diggs - very underated. Played well, FOR HIS AGE. Injury prone. Losing the speed to play in meeks system. Meeks wants speedy LBs who can shut down the run once the D-line stretches it out. Diggs was losing his legs and getting older. Can be replaced.

Johnson - only good for ST, contract was way too high to be a gunner. He has Sam Mills character with Vinny Ciurciu talent. I truly hope he stays around charlotte.

Everybody is freaking out over nothing. Some people just have a vendetta against the FO and aren't going to be happy until the FO is run by fans. Everybody criticizes Fox for holding on to vets, and when he uses a golden oppurtunity to get rid of dead weight people suddenly want these guys back. Notice how we've cut all the guys we haven't drafted, the FO is sticking to their philosophy here.

We had a horrible offense last year which didn't help the D and we had total nobodies at DT. We were also installing a new system. Things really picked up towards the end. The Run D gets horrible when the TOP battle is so lopsided. Having Nick Hayden is bad enough, a winded Nick Hayden is a nightmare.

Here are the valid optimistic points:

The Defense will have a full year in meeks system, that will make things better

Having more talent at DT than last year. I consider the dropping of our two starters addition by subtraction. They wern't as good as everybody was saying. They're is good depth at DT and LB in this draft so we will have an influx of youth assuming we draft sombody. We were good against the pass and takeaways.

Here are the valid pessimistic points:

Losing peppers will hurt because he is irreplaceable. It will be all we can do to fill in his giant shoes. We have lost some vets which means younger players will have to step up to take leadership roles or be a good follower. The talent at DT is unproven with the panthers. We sucked in a lot of categories. We might not draft any impact players or sign any FA's on D.

All of this pessimisim and drama is unwarranted. We have not cut anybody that was a playmaker or anyone that can't be replaced. We're saving a TON of money that we can spend on our younger guys who cost a pretty penny. I love that we're using the uncapped season to clear the books instead of spending 20 million on peppers. The next few years with a salary cap will be much nicer.

[CRA]

Smith doesn't leave Carolina unless he has a meltdown and makes a big mental mistake, ala beating the poo out of someone else....other than that and the Panthers will ride Smith until he's done.

that is just a fan talking.....not reality of the NFL. The greatest WR to play the game played for more than the 49ers....poo happens...it is a business for the team and individual and each put themselves first. It's crazy to think that guys feel like they OWE the team/fans so much.....Smith wants a ring. Once Fox goes....and if the team is rebuilding next year.....why would Smith want to waste his last 2 seasons or so here?

also, if you think Jake/Kasay not being here won't bring out the bad side of Smitty......I strongly disagree. Watch Smitty get unhappy about being old on a team rebuilding....and never cool off.

[CRA]

this is the most bullshit piece of speculation i've ever heard, dont post this poo without a qualifier first

there are plenty.

lame duck coach. cutting fat AND starters. no substance will be brought in as Jerry isn't going to pointless spend anything during Fox's lame duck season. then a lockout......

......Carolina will be w/ a new coach, looking to go in different directions on both sides of the ball....and will have money to do lots under the new coach. Now, how old will Smitty be during the 2012 season on rebuilding team?????? Explain to me why he is gonna be happy to stay and play in 2012?

enjoy 2010, Smitty is as good as gone.

[MadHatter]

that is just a fan talking.....not reality of the NFL. The greatest WR to play the game played for more than the 49ers....poo happens...it is a business for the team and individual and each put themselves first. It's crazy to think that guys feel like they OWE the team/fans so much.....Smith wants a ring. Once Fox goes....and if the team is rebuilding next year.....why would Smith want to waste his last 2 seasons or so here?

also, if you think Jake/Kasay not being here won't bring out the bad side of Smitty......I strongly disagree. Watch Smitty get unhappy about being old on a team rebuilding....and never cool off.

Please stop posting dumb poo. You are wrong...we are right. Just Accept It.

[Snake]

Kemo - never lived up to his contract, never played like a true NT, never got any pass rush. Outplayed by guys not born the same decade, younger or older. Ted Washington and Pat Williams come to mind. Doesn't fit at all in meeks system. He'll take a beefy DT but not a converted 3-4 NT. One demensional.

Lewis - could knife in to the backfield now and then, never stepped up to take jenkins role like some people hoped. Could make plays in the backfield but was not consistent against the run. Did ok pass rush for a 2nd-3rd stringer but not a starter. Not totally one demensional but not really good anything either.

Diggs - very underated. Played well, FOR HIS AGE. Injury prone. Losing the speed to play in meeks system. Meeks wants speedy LBs who can shut down the run once the D-line stretches it out. Diggs was losing his legs and getting older. Can be replaced.

Johnson - only good for ST, contract was way too high to be a gunner. He has Sam Mills character with Vinny Ciurciu talent. I truly hope he stays around charlotte.

Everybody is freaking out over nothing. Some people just have a vendetta against the FO and aren't going to be happy until the FO is run by fans. Everybody criticizes Fox for holding on to vets, and when he uses a golden oppurtunity to get rid of dead weight people suddenly want these guys back. Notice how we've cut all the guys we haven't drafted, the FO is sticking to their philosophy here.

We had a horrible offense last year which didn't help the D and we had total nobodies at DT. We were also installing a new system. Things really picked up towards the end. The Run D gets horrible when the TOP battle is so lopsided. Having Nick Hayden is bad enough, a winded Nick Hayden is a nightmare.

Here are the valid optimistic points:

The Defense will have a full year in meeks system, that will make things better

Having more talent at DT than last year. I consider the dropping of our two starters addition by subtraction. They wern't as good as everybody was saying. They're is good depth at DT and LB in this draft so we will have an influx of youth assuming we draft sombody. We were good against the pass and takeaways.

Here are the valid pessimistic points:

Losing peppers will hurt because he is irreplaceable. It will be all we can do to fill in his giant shoes. We have lost some vets which means younger players will have to step up to take leadership roles or be a good follower. The talent at DT is unproven with the panthers. We sucked in a lot of categories. We might not draft any impact players or sign any FA's on D.

All of this pessimisim and drama is unwarranted. We have not cut anybody that was a playmaker or anyone that can't be replaced. We're saving a TON of money that we can spend on our younger guys who cost a pretty penny. I love that we're using the uncapped season to clear the books instead of spending 20 million on peppers. The next few years with a salary cap will be much nicer.

Diggs was not slow by any means and he also played ST. We lost two players in one. This move will come back to bite us.

[CRA]

Please stop posting dumb poo. You are wrong...we are right. Just Accept It.

it is speculation and a guess.....I am no more right or wrong about it as you are. I don't see Smitty suiting up in 2012 and that isn't as crazy as some are suggesting......people aren't looking long term as to what is going on and factoring in the lockout.

[carolinanimal]

it is speculation and a guess.....I am no more right or wrong about it as you are. I don't see Smitty suiting up in 2012 and that isn't as crazy as some are suggesting......people aren't looking long term as to what is going on and factoring in the lockout.

i understand what your saying. nfl is a business. it is not guaranteed that smith wants to stay here. players have said a lot of things to media and others and the opposite has happened. we all have to realize that the team was here before steve smith and will be here after.

ps

people (mainly me, CRA and GR8watcher) arent freaking out because we cut these players. that happens all the time. but usually there is a plan to TRANSITION into younger players. this has the feel of a crash. no matter how young or fast or strong it doesnt make up for experience.

people also bring up the fact that kemo was coming of ir. well guess what .. 3 of our projected starting dt's are coming of ir.

if i told you that a team that had a #10 ranked d jettisoned its starting d line and will fill space with unproven rookies and guys who have never started for a full season and who were coming of ir. what would you think?