Comparisons to Super Bowl Season Ultimately Misguided (*Inspiring Post*)

[CharlotteBeer.com]

The return of Muhsin Muhammad. A running game not seen since Stephen Davis. A proclivity for playing close games, or coming from behind for the win. It was easy if not expected that the 2008 season would draw comparisons to the 2003 season, wherein the Panthers earned the name Cardiac Cats as they ran the ball all the way to a Super Bowl appearance.

But perhaps this season is best compared to that forgotten season before the Super Bowl run, a season in which the Panthers struggled to get to a 7-9 record. Sandwiched between the disastrous 1-15 season and the trip to the Super Bowl was the 2002 season, a year that laid the foundation for the most successful Panthers team in franchise history.

John Fox was brought in as head coach. Formerly a defensive coordinator for the Giants, Fox quickly began work on rebuilding the team’s defense. He drafted Julius Peppers, who would go on to become one of the most dominant defensive ends in the league. Paired with Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Brentson Buckner,as well as a solid linebacker corps, the Panthers defense improved tremendously. That defense ultimately ranked second overall and best in the league against the run.

Though a 12-4 record and playoff game are certainly much more commendable than the 7-9 record gained in 2002, the 2008 Panthers team may be as lopsided now as they were then. What the Panthers now need is a defense, just as they needed an offense going into the 2003 season. They got that offense in the form of the now criticized Jake Delhomme, who came in at halftime in the season opener and engineered a comeback that would define that team’s fighting spirit in the season to come. Stephen Davis was signed to give the Panthers the rock-pounding back that Foxball is now so well known for, and Jordan Gross was drafted to help bolster an offensive line for him to run behind.

The result was the most complete and successful team the Panthers have yet fielded. With the right help on defense—namely playcalling, defensive end, tackle and cornerback—the Panthers could field a team as well-rounded and complete as the team that went to the Super Bowl half a decade ago.

That’s a lot of ifs, to be sure. No one knows if the Panthers will get the defensive help they so desperately need, whether that’s in the form of new players or new coaches. But rest assured the draft and free agency will address these defensive issues, just as Fox did his first year and then later added the offensive pieces that complemented such a defense.

The Panthers, known most well for their defenses during the Fox era, have done it a bit backwards this year. They made every effort over the offseason to build a competitive offense, and they succeeded. Nearly every game this season brought some sort of comparison to the 2003 season, far-reaching though some of those comparisons may have been.

Let’s hope the Panthers can draw those same comparisons in 2009, on both sides of the ball.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

What's the matter folks, not inspiring enough?

I thought it might be the much needed counter to Kurb's *Depressing Post*.

[boxer]

Thanks for the silver lining? It has been a very good season for us. Even though we choked in the playoffs, I'll take 12-4 any year. And compared to last year, we made some great strides. I don't know what the off-season holds for us, but after the initial sting of this loss wears off, I'll be gaining the optimism for a good season in '09.

Thanks for the positive post.

[Munkey]

Sorry, but I don't need to read 20 paragraphs to tell me we actually sucked this season and squeeked through too many games.

If you want to make an inspiring post, word it shorter.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Sorry, but I don't need to read 20 paragraphs to tell me we actually sucked this season and squeeked through too many games.

If you want to make an inspiring post, word it shorter.

Sorry, I forgot this is the Huddle, where posts longer and more insightful than “Fire Fox,” “Fire Trgovac” and “Fire Delhomme” are frowned upon.

And it’s closer to ten paragraphs. Ten short paragraphs.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Trimmed it up a little for those who might be intimidated.

[God]

tl;dr

[CharlotteBeer.com]

tl;dr

I'll refer to your avatar on this one.

[Fox007]

Yea but this time we don't have a first round pick(at least not yet we don't).

We also need a new DC(I'm assuming this is what you meant by playcalling).

Also IMO, we need another dangerous WR, we have Smith and then after that a bunch of possession receivers.

Overall though, yes it is the defense which needs the most work.

Only Smith is a threat to take it to the house on every catch.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Yea but this time we don't have a first round pick(at least not yet we don't).

We also need a new DC(I'm assuming this is what you meant by playcalling).

Also IMO, we need another dangerous WR, we have Smith and then after that a bunch of possession receivers.

Overall though, yes it is the defense which needs the most work.

Only Smith is a threat to take it to the house on every catch.

You're definitely right about us not having a first-round pick; that's going to hurt us.

And I'll also agree about the DC, though I don't know if we'll get one.

I actually think we're good with receiver. Another real threat would be nice, but I think there are more pressing needs.

My overall point is that we've spent last offseason retooling the offense and it paid off in spades, no matter how that last game went. If we can make some key moves on the other side of the ball, there's no reason we can't fight for a playoff spot next year. It will be a struggle, as we've got an incredibly difficult schedule ahead of us, but I think the team can do it.

Remember, we went to the Super Bowl after a 7-9 record. Who's to say we can't do the same after a 12-4 record (and yes, I realize how the pattern works).

[Fox007]

Well what I hope happens is that when Ryne Robinson comes back, he can be that other deep threat/big play WR.

Our O-line should be great next year even if Gross doesn't come back(well get Vincent back from IR), we will likely go mostly defense in this draft.

We could bring in a poo load of D-line FA's like we did on the line, and try that out.

I hope we make BIG moves in FA, and not the little ones we usually do.

We can really get some good players this year, it's not like there is only 1 or 2 big names to get.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I hope we make BIG moves in FA, and not the little ones we usually do.

We can really get some good players this year, it's not like there is only 1 or 2 big names to get.

That's what I'm envisioning. Perhaps it's naive, but I hope the front office we'll be just as aggressive this offseason in shoring up the defense as they were last season with the offense.

And agreed on Ryne: I hated to see him go down.

[panthers55]

Well what I hope happens is that when Ryne Robinson comes back, he can be that other deep threat/big play WR.

Our O-line should be great next year even if Gross doesn't come back(well get Vincent back from IR), we will likely go mostly defense in this draft.

We could bring in a sh*t load of D-line FA's like we did on the line, and try that out.

I hope we make BIG moves in FA, and not the little ones we usually do.

We can really get some good players this year, it's not like there is only 1 or 2 big names to get.

Lets also not forget that Jason Carter was tearing it up before he went on IR. If Taylor puts on 20 lbs of muscle in the offseason he will be a stud next year at DE.

Frankly we need to do to the defense what we did to the offense. Retool the defensive line with another stud DT, a DE and most of all a shutdown corner or two. Bottom line is that with a good coordinator they could do so much more with what they already have. It isn't the players who are the problem.

[Fox007]

Charles Johnson I felt also stepped up his game this year.