Cornerstones of a Franchise

[Urrymonster]

What positions are generally regarded as the positions that franchises are built from? How many of these positions do the Panthers have genuine quality in? What cornerstones are the Panthers missing?

List, explain, reflect

Power Running Game Complimented by a Deep Passing Game

Cornerstone Positions

QB - Game Manager who limits mistakes

*Matt Moore

*Cornerstone? Unknown, potentially

RB - Explosive and powerful runner

*Double Trouble

*Cornerstone? Check. Twice

OT - Mauler on the right and left

* Gross and Otah

*Cornerstone? Check. Twice

C - Downfield blocker

* Kalil

*Cornerstone? Check

WR - Deep Threat with play making abilities

*Smith

*Cornerstone? Check

Less Important Positions

FB - Primarily a run blocker

*Fiametta

*Starting quality? Unknown

TE - Primarily a run blocker with decent possession receiver ability

*King/Rosario/Barnidge

*Starting quality? Collective Check as each fills one criteria

OG - Run Maulers

*Wharton/Mack/Duke

*Starting quality? Check & Unknown

WR - Possession receiver who can get deep

*Jarrett/Moore

*Starting quality? Fail

Defense - Cover 2 Adaptation

Cornerstone Positons

DE - Pass rush specialists

*Brown/Johnson

*Cornerstones? Fail, however both have potential

MLB - Fierce run defender with exceptional coverage skills

*Beason

*Cornerstone? Check

OLB - Athletic specimen who can cover

*Davis

*Cornerstone? Check

Ss - Coverage Guru's

*Godfrey/Harris

*Cornerstone? Fail, wrong scheme

Less Important Positions

DT - Quick, agile pass rusher

*Tyler/Hayden

*Starting Quality? Fail, moderate potential

NT - Disruptive big bodied run defender

*Leonard

*Starting Quality? Fail, moderate potential

SLB - Athletic run first defender

*Connor/Anderson

*Starting Quality? Unknown, potential

CBs - Good tackling, agile players

*Gamble/Marshall

*Starting Quality? Check & Check

Ok, so in my non-expert opinion. We have pretty much all of the cornerstones of a franchise and our scheme ready to be locked up for the foreseeable future. We lack starting quality in a few secondary postions, which is the same on most teams. What we really lack is depth, which can easily be rectified.

What say you?

[CanadianCat]

you forgot about kickers..

haha

[Mjphillips86]

This is kind of what I feel about the whole situation after this past week. We are really young now. But in a couple areas I think we are more talented now! Our serious concern right now is gotta be our depth issues.

[Urrymonster]

you forgot about kickers..

haha

Hardly cornerstones to a franchise or a scheme now are they?

[panthers55]

The offensive line should be stable and the best part of our offense. We do have 2 good running backs and Smith but need some help in other areas. We need several more receivers since teams have shown they can shut down Smith. Our Tight ends have potential but not much actual production. The FB is more important that you think. When Hoover has been out, the running production for Williams and Stewart has suffered. And of course Moore is critical as well. We will see how he fairs now that he is the man.

On defense we have one great linebacker, one recovering good linebacker, and several still unknown quantities. Really the secondary is good as a unit but no one really stands out above the others. The cornerstone of the cover 2 is a strong pass rush. Without it we will exposed. And right now more than half the sack production from last year has left.

Do we have the cornerstones right now? Not at all. Could we have them by September? Some of them anyway.

[monstercat]

How can you be so sure that Leonard is not a legit starter? Granted, I would like to get somebody for depth like Cam Thomas in the draft, but Leonard looked pretty good to me last year, for a guy who was still trying to learn Meeks system. It's the same thing with Tank Tyler.

[Urrymonster]

The offensive line should be stable and the best part of our offense. We do have 2 good running backs and Smith but need some help in other areas. We need several more receivers since teams have shown they can shut down Smith. Our Tight ends have potential but not much actual production. The FB is more important that you think. When Hoover has been out, the running production for Williams and Stewart has suffered. And of course Moore is critical as well. We will see how he fairs now that he is the man.

On defense we have one great linebacker, one recovering good linebacker, and several still unknown quantities. Really the secondary is good as a unit but no one really stands out above the others. The cornerstone of the cover 2 is a strong pass rush. Without it we will exposed. And right now more than half the sack production from last year has left.

Do we have the cornerstones right now? Not at all. Could we have them by September? Some of them anyway.

Yeah I agree with everything you say, I just wanted to show everyone that we aren't THAT far off and if you included the players that have been cut we would be in an almost identical position.

If you looked at every time in the league, each would have holes and be missing one or two of the positions that defines their schemes. If we can pick up one or two of the premier positions for our scheme, be it free agency or draft, then there is no reason we can't contend next season.

[Urrymonster]

How can you be so sure that Leonard is not a legit starter? Granted, I would like to get somebody for depth like Cam Thomas in the draft, but Leonard looked pretty good to me last year, for a guy who was still trying to learn Meeks system. It's the same thing with Tank Tyler.

Just being objective.

I thought he looked the genuine article, however he is simply an unknown quantity as a full time starter, so we can't rule out an upgrade there if it falls to us. However DT is less important than DE in our scheme and thus it is more manageable to have average players there, many Cover 2 teams have done this. So despite it not meeting the requirements, the DT position is not in as much trouble as people think.

[monstercat]

Just being objective.

I thought he looked the genuine article, however he is simply an unknown quantity as a full time starter, so we can't rule out an upgrade there if it falls to us. However DT is less important than DE in our scheme and thus it is more manageable to have average players there, many Cover 2 teams have done this. So despite it not meeting the requirements, the DT position is not in as much trouble as people think.

Maybe you should have put a "?" instead of "fail" then. We don't know that much about these guys as fans, but I'm sure the coaching staff has a pretty good what they have in those guys. They did trade for them, so they surely did their homework.

[panthers55]

Yeah I agree with everything you say, I just wanted to show everyone that we aren't THAT far off and if you included the players that have been cut we would be in an almost identical position.

If you looked at every time in the league, each would have holes and be missing one or two of the positions that defines their schemes. If we can pick up one or two of the premier positions for our scheme, be it free agency or draft, then there is no reason we can't contend next season.

We do have some good players and the sky is not falling, but there are still too many "ifs" out there to say we will be a contender. If we do pick up some key additions we could be a contender. And that is a big if. We just haven't had great success finding starters in the draft outside of the first round right away. Most guys need time to improve enough to be starters. Maybe that is the real issue. Since Fox likes veterans, if they get rid of everyone, then Fox will have to start other players. Strange way of forcing his hand though.

[panthers55]

Just being objective.

I thought he looked the genuine article, however he is simply an unknown quantity as a full time starter, so we can't rule out an upgrade there if it falls to us. However DT is less important than DE in our scheme and thus it is more manageable to have average players there, many Cover 2 teams have done this. So despite it not meeting the requirements, the DT position is not in as much trouble as people think.

I dont think he is looking it like that. He has already said it doesn't matter where the pressure comes from as long as it works. I expect he think a great DT can make up for average DEs. Wish we had some though.