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Getting a new QB or DE shouldn't be our primary move this offseason.

VipMattMan

By VipMattMan,
in Carolina Panthers

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VipMattMan Newbie

VipMattMan

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In the wake of Delhomme's performance and Peppers announcing that he doesn't want to play for us anymore, it seems that alot of people are looking to use whatever high-value moves we have to replace those "glamour" positions, whether it's the best solution on the whole or not.

Losing Peppers is big, no doubt, and we were already pretty thin at the DE position, but i think the biggest impact on that line would be to get a hulking DT to take up blockers along with Kemoeatu. Damione Lewis isn't a bad player, but he doesn't dominate the interior and is best coming up from a backup role in passing situations. A good interior makes your DE's better, and Charles Johnson and Brayton should be alright on the outside as long as blockers are being taken up.

I have seen a few posts about Albert Haynesworth get shot down due to the "team cancer" virtue, but if we aren't going to go for him we still shouldn't lose focus on the fact that the position may actually be our most critical spot to fill.

As for quarterback. I fully expect that we won't pursue a new QB this offseason, either through the draft or trade, and i'm personally ok with that simply because i feel like we have equal options on our roster. Delhomme is most likely going to be our starter next year unless McCown or Moore blow people away in training camp. He led us to 12-4, which is pretty hard to do in this league, and there aren't too many people that lose their jobs over that.

Perhaps they do, however, lose their jobs over 5 interceptions in a losing playoff game, but i expect Delhomme will be given another chance. Arizona's coaching staff gamed our coaches hardcore, both offensively and defensively. Delhomme's not the greatest QB in the world, but for all his propensity to throw into double coverage to Steve Smith it's impossible to have every single player, no matter if its Muhsin Muhammad or Dante Rosario, double covered like they were anytime he went their directions without the opposition having your offense figured out. That was Jeff Davidsons first outing as an OC in the postseason, and i think he got a hard lesson about the magnification on gameplanning that happens during the playoffs.

Still, being somewhat Delhomme apologistic for that game aside, we absolutely have to have other options beyond Delhomme available, which thankfully we do. I'm sure the coaches plan for that whole situation is for Delhomme to start next season. If we start to lose a hold on a playoff grab then McCown will come in as hopefully a veteran "spur" that we need. If we're out of it completely then the heir-apparent, Matt Moore, will come in.

Fine by me. Delhomme alone isn't going to cost us a playoff spot. There's no leniency for a "learning period". He's proven he can get us there, and if he doesn't then its on to greener pastures for us and we don't look back. Some people will say that Moore is unproven. So is anyone else you bring in, and Moore has shown enough potential for me to be comfortable in giving him a shot.

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VipMattMan Newbie

VipMattMan

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We need a defensive end period.

From a depth perspective there's no question of that. We're short on DE's. But i don't think it's critical for us to run out and trade for a starter or use whatever high draft pick/s we get for Peppers for another DE. I'd much rather use a move like that on a big DT.

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KillerKat Grand Master

KillerKat

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From a depth perspective there's no question of that. We're short on DE's. But i don't think it's critical for us to run out and trade for a starter or use whatever high draft pick/s we get for Peppers for another DE. I'd much rather use a move like that on a big DT.

...we NEED a DE.

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carpanfan96 Grand Master

carpanfan96

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I think we should use the first round pick we get from the pep deal on the best available Dl player at the position we pick at, use our second round pick on another DL player depending on what we get there go after a mid to upper level player in fa. Use those players to form a nice rotation with who we currently have.

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joethoma Newbie

joethoma

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I do agree that DT is every bit as important as DE. I think Charles Johnson can be a capable starter, and Tyler Braton actually exceeded my expectations. If Peppers would have put forth the effort Brayton did he would have had 20 sacks this year.

We need another DT besides Damoine Lewis. Lewis also puts forth a lot of effort and is even starter quality, but he is undersized and did in my opinion wear down a little as the season progressed.

Lewis was awesome when he was a situational pass rusher. I think he can give us a lot of good downs, and obviously excels in interior pass rushing. Have another massive DT opposite Kemo in running situations is key.

Ian Scott never made it out of training camp, and Darwin Walker never really did a whole lot. DT should be a Day 1 priority in the draft.

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PantherDude Newbie

PantherDude

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With how it seem more & more likely Pep will be gone next season, we seriously need a DE. I think we're fine with QB for now, but DE is what we got to focus if Pep don't stick around. Johnson & Taylor are more of a good serviceable backup, but I don't know if I trust them being fulltime starters though.

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panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

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I agree with the DT pickup as well as getting another DE.

Look at what Minnesota has with the Williams brothers. If we could find another 350 lb guy like we did with Jenkins and pair him up with Kemo we have a defensive line which instantly gets better when folks can't double team our DEs and still contain our DTs. We can better stop the run, protect against injury and allows us to begin using our safeties and linebackers in coverage or blitzing instead of having to commit them against the run.

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