Biggest offseason mistake...

[Mr. Scot]

...probably isn't what a lot might think.

It wasn't letting Delhomme go and anointing Matt Moore the starter. Yes, that went badly, but the team had a backup plan in drafting Jimmy Clausen.

It wasn't the decision to not use the franchise tag on Julius Peppers. The cost would have been prohibitive, and they have at least a shot at replacing him with Greg Hardy.

It wasn't the decision not to go after a free agent receiver. The team spent three draft picks on receivers and may well hit on at least two of them which results in a long term solution rather than a short term one.

You can argue which of those things were bigger mistakes than the other, but the question here is what's the biggest. And in my opinion, it isn't any of these.

The biggest mistake was the failure to secure a viable option at the right guard spot :nonod:

While, on the one hand, I can understand going with Bernadeau based on his performance at the end of last season, there's no real excuse for not seeking other options after watching him this preseason. This is especially true with the knowledge that Jeff Otah was going to be out for a while. And it's not like Duke Robinson was showing anything special either.

The 2010 draft is the first one in the John Fox era where no offensive linemen have been taken. In every draft since 2002, at least one lineman has been drafted. This season, the Panthers felt comfortable enough with what they had that they didn't take anyone, even in the later rounds. Was there one available that could have helped without losing out on someone good? Don't know, but it strikes me as almost symptomatic.

Setting that aside though, there were other ways they could have gone. A mid-tier free agent, a trade, an older guy signed at vet minimum...none of those options was taken.

As a result of this, both the run game and the pass game have suffered.

I just don't see any of the other decisions having the broad impact this one is having.

[DickolausJ]

I think the Front Office was all holding their breath that Otah would be healthy and Geoff Shwartz would be able to play RG.

I beleive they were also really high on Duke Robinson. He has the talent anyways....

I do agree that in 2008-2009 we could consitantly break off good runs to the right side and this just isn't the case this year.

Hopefully the team gets a surge when Otah comes back.

I will say with finality that the biggest losses in the offseason were not Peppers, Moose, and Delhomme. Despite how poorly Moore preformed.

Losing Davis and Otah is what really hurt.

[Urrymonster]

Truthfully Bernadeau played like a back up at the end of last season and it was hidden by the dominant run game. Add in that he mainly played LG and was facing (generally) a different kind of DT and it was obviously going to cause concern this season.

I would probably tend to agree with you, the OLine is singularly the most important area on the OLine. It is key to both the running and passing game and if you get the OLine right, then you can get by with below average running backs and QBs.

I can understand the FOs intrigue about him. He has had steady improvement from season to season and I guess they felt he would grow into the position.

The big problem for me is that Schwartz is also under performing and due to this running to the right is basically a non factor right now. Yes Otah coming back should help that, but from what I can see it's the interior push and pass protection that is causing us most of the problems. So simply 'sliding Schwartz inside' like many are suggesting will not solve anything. Both players are back ups who can play in a pinch, but will never be consistent enough to be relied on for an entire season.

If we want any shot at winning some games this season THIS is what needs to be looked at carefully and sorted out.

[Chaos]

Good call, Mr. Scot. I was going to say it was a toss up between cutting Hoover and not signing a vet WR. Line play has been beyond suspect, and without good blocking upfront, our "top notch" running game is stuffed and the young Clausen has below average protection. This has everything to do with a dismal offense (plus Jeff Davidson, can't let him off the hook).

[Mr. Scot]

i can agree with you about right-gaurd.

but, i do know i feel sick when i see anquan bolden tearing up the feild in baltimore. we really needed him. lefell or gettis would make a much better number 3 WR, than a 2.

Understood, but truthfully what good's another receiver when the QB is constantly on his back or has someone in his face?

[rico6]

I've said this for the longest. Cutting Keydrick, and not knowing what you had in Duke or Mackenzie was an absolute ass move.

The biggest offseason mistake was the team not signing the good depth players that were floating around at the time.

[Zaximus]

We should have kept Vincent, no doubt. We probably should have kept Bridges when we could have too even though he had issues, he was solid. I can support this thread though. It shouldn't be surprising we didn't do the things you listed, but not being stout on the O-line and smart about it, when that is our bread and butter, WAS surprising. Just another reason why I don't think they care much about this season. If we at least had our regular dominant running game things would probably be way better right now (as in 2-2 at least).

[pantherj]

Ok not to be a d!ck, but it's field, not feild.

[Miaoww]

They were hoping Duke Robinson was the future.

[Mr. Scot]

Possible, but Duke was even less tested than Bernadeau, and he didn't show anything much in the preseason.

Bernadeau topped the depth chart pretty much from day one. If they were hoping for a change, it was a flimsy hope.

[CatMan72]

Bernadeau looked like a viable option at RG until the season started. He played well last year, but someone must have seen something on tape.

[Darth Biscuit]

Understood, but truthfully what good's another receiver when the QB is constantly on his back or has someone in his face?

I agree with Mr. Scot here... you watch these other teams with no name young receivers getting it done and you look at us and wonder what the deal is. All of these guys (Gettis, Lafell, etc.) have talent, but there's only so much they can do when the QB is constantly harassed and rushed and knocked down. It's also hurting our running game... I specifically watched the O-line against NO Sunday and they were getting killed. There were a couple of plays where I don't think Bernadeau even touched Ellis.

This issue combined with Fox's ultra-conservative, run-first offensive approach hurts the development of the receivers as well. Teams know this and game plan for it and kill us. Last year we had the o-line talent to just run over people, this year we can't and all teams have to do is stop the run and we're done.

[HPPantherzfan]

Good post but I'm not sure you can point your finger at any one person / position on the O-line right now. IMO Gross has hurt us more than any other player and who would have thought that after the last few years? Right now the enitre O-Line needs to step it up; I can't put the blame on one person

[Raskle]

The fact that we let go two of our "would have been starting" DTs tells me we just lost out on both sides of the line to the point that it's a toss up as to which was more fail.

Still not sure which has bit us ion the butt worse... no options broguht in for RG, or the options we did bring in for DT. We haven't controlled the trenches at all this season, which is a major part of why we're 0-4, and not better than the Lions.