Looking at Potential Line-Ups...

[SetfreexX]

I know a lot was made of the Burns deal and lack of return, but it's common sense that when a team is gonna pay a guy -- 150/5 -- the trade investment will be less....should we have traded Burns maybe, but we also expected to retain him for less than the referenced amount. I lead with that to get into the following as his absence opened up 24M in the additional cap, and it looks like it is being put to good use....

The Defense:

(* represents free agent)

DL - Brown / Tuttle / Robinson*

Edge - Johnson, Barno (TBD - Clowney*, Wonnum*, Young*)

ILB - Shaq, Jewell*

CB - Horn, Jackson*

Nickel - Hill

FS - Woods

SS - (TBD - Fuller*)

With Clowney, Wonnum, Young, and Fuller all visiting today / this week, we will possibly sign some combination of the four. For the sake of the exercise, just looking at those names in those positions above it's hard not to say this would be an improvement over last years personnel even with the absence of Brian. Not to mention the potential to add a piece or two within our first few top 100 selections. 

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The Offense:

(* represents free agent -- ** represents a trade)

QB - Young, Dalton

HB - Sanders, Hubbard, Blackshear

WR - Johnson**, Thielen, Mingo, ISM, Marshall

TE - Tremble, Thomas

T - Ickey, Moton

G - Hunt*, Lewis*

C - Corbett

It's been a lot of commentary as to ''what is the plan'' I think anyone paying attention should see the plan is beginning to show itself, Morgan, and company have taken an ''inside, out'' approach to this free agency. The first three acquisitions were all positions closest to the ball on each respective side. Two guards, and an interior defensive lineman. 

From there the next acquisitions were -- ILB, CB, traded for a receiver 

If you believe in a more ''traditional'' approach to building a team this is the format, it stands to reason skill positions will likely be the focus of the draft with some depth interior pieces added per side of the ball. 

It will be interesting to see how all of this comes together over the Spring, but once you get past the Burns trade, and look at the comparison of Jewell to Luvu, it's easy to feel better about the decisions that are currently being made, especially if they close on a couple of the edge guys visiting currently. 

 

[shaqattaq]

3 hours ago, SetfreexX said:

HB - Sanders, Hubbard, Blackshear

Hubbard, Blackshear, 5th round Draft pick, Sanders as far as I'm concerned.

Although, with the IOL upgrades, there's a chance Sanders could return to 2022 form.

[Lemory]

After the draft and UDFA signings, i think i'll be ready to talk myself into a division title again. 

[SetfreexX]

1 or 4 down, with the Wonnum signing.

Is he better than Brian...no, but he also costs 5x less, and is unlikely to have a season 5x worse than what Brian does in NY.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

4 hours ago, shaqattaq said:

Hubbard, Blackshear, 5th round Draft pick, Sanders as far as I'm concerned.

Although, with the IOL upgrades, there's a chance Sanders could return to 2022 form.

Sanders can go. He was a Duce Staley's hand picked RB. We don't need his fumbles and terrible vision while complaining about the fans

[jasonluckydog]

That offense looks like a pile of shitt  topped with another pile of shitt.  A true shitt sandwich. 

[chknwing]

1 minute ago, jasonluckydog said:

That offense looks like a pile of shitt  topped with another pile of shitt.  A true shitt sandwich. 

dump sanders, draft Braelon Allen.  the run game behind the new guards will become the identity of the team and take an enormous amount of pressure off Young.  no more lost 3rd and short.  It will be a gimmie.  Allen literally drags the pile 5 yards.

[hepcat]

Hubbard could be in for a breakout season if that offensive line gels. Low key one of the best Panthers draft picks of the last 5 years. If the offense focuses on relentlessly running the ball, setting up play action and taking pressure off of Bryce, the offense might not be dogshit. 

Still a lot of holes on defense. Man, what an exodus of what was a pretty solid unit last year. Luckily Evero is grabbing a new of his guys in free agency, especially if they get Fuller at safety. 

[SetfreexX]

I'm not as low on Sanders as some, he and Chubba were both under 4 ypc under the last regime. 

Chubba - 3.8 (1 FUMB) - https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard

Sanders - 3.3 (2 FUMB) - https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4045163/miles-sanders

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In my estimation the scheme / personnel were simply the issue because in 2022, and we won't even bring up Sanders (then) or even Swift (most recently) behind the PHI OL.

Chuba behind ours in 2022 averaged 4.9 ypc, so even he averaged 1 yard less YPC in 2023. 

Last season offensively was a complete cluster, and while the personnel is still being put together it's hard to argue that really both of those guys suffered from the same issues this past season as neither was really better or worse than the other. 

It simply felt worse because they went out and spent some decent money on Miles, and Chuba is a 5th round guy that has improved since a rough rookie season.