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How to fix the Panthers (my thoughts)


Leeroy Jenkins PhD

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Next year is going to be a good year for the Panthers. I hate to look ahead, but come on, this season is over for us. I am a panther fan and possibly blinded by team loyalty but I seriously think we could be heading in the right direction.

We will have some seriously healthy players coming in since half our team is on IR. Hopefully these players will be playing at 100% and hungry.

The areas we need to fix are simple:

1. Our O-line. I am not sure what happened here, but our offensive line was one of the best in the league last year. We lose 2 players and completely fal to crap. I didn't believe Otah and Vincent were that important to the continuity but appearantly I was wrong. With Otah coming back, and some kind of pick up (FA or Draft) we should be a solid unit once again.

2. Our D-line. With a complete overhaul this season it is no wonder they are not performing. Brights spots are very appearant, even with crap DT's our DE are playing at a high level. With some kind of DT aquisition being key to our deffense next year, I hope we can get a playmaker in (FA or the Draft)

3. Our DB's. We could use one more quality shut down CB. Gamble is getting up there in age and Marshal and Munnerlyn are not quite what we need. As far as Safeties, we are mediocre, but can get the job done.

4. Our WR's. Actually I think the addition of Lafell and Gettis might have sured this position up for us. The second year is usually the break out year for recievers. them, plus steve smith, and if AE ever produces could equal a pretty solid unit. Not to mention the underrated Martin coming off IR

5. TE's. Solid

6. RB's. More than solid. In the right situation, probably the best in the league

7. LB. If we will spend the money and retain key pieces, could be the best core in the league.

8. QB. Moore/Pickels/Luck/QB X I don't care who is back there we need someone who can develop a QB's talents. No coach in our system is that guy. I thought this was a joke but someone told me our QB's coach is the same guy that developed brady quin.... just saying

9. The most important change we are going to have to make as a team is philosophy. Fox - Davidson - Meeks. The old philosophy of run first ask questions later is killing our team. I hope the next coaching staff can open things up. It is rediculous how our play calling is so sickly predictive. Maybe we need to get with the times, everyone talks about parody in the league, well the league has moved on from this. Our system is old. Is it time to bring in the spread offense? Is it time to move to one of the blitz heavy defensive packages? I sure hope so. These methods are fun and exciting and isn't that the reason we watch football. We want a team willing to try to adapt and win. Don't we want an exciting football team? I am sorry, the control the clock philosophy is boring. How about an offense that tries to score from anywhere on the field and a defense activily trying to force turn overs instead of hoping the ball falls in the right spot.

Our team has talent. Our teams is young. Our team has all the peices to be a nasty beast of a team and dominate the NFC South for years to come. What we need are coaches willing to get us there and a fearless philosophy. What do we have to lose, the Panthers need to get with the times. It all starts with the removal of the current coaching staff. (except Hurney, aside from some tard moves he has been instrumental in our teams talent pool) We need a new philosophy. It starts with the playbooks.

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No team is gonna dominate a division with the QBs that the NFCS has. The Panthers need to get one, and then be able to compete. That would be a good first step.

I didn't make it very clear but I believe we have QB's on the roster with talent, just no one to develop it. Whether we stick with Claussen, Moore or draft someone, the key is going to be the QB coach who develops the kid.

Take any great QB in the league, rewind him to his rookie year, then throw him in our system. Gonna look a lot like Claussen/Moore/Pike.

Truly we need time to develop a QB. Our team is not good enough on offense to sit a rookie at the helm. Moore is the closest we have to a veteran and it shows. Stick Luck, Newton, or any great college QB behind our line with our play calling and you will get the same results... 100 passing yards in a home game. Just sad

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I think you two should agree to admit you don't know. Placing all the blame on Clausen is foolish, but so is placing all the blame on the coaching staff. I'd say its 80% coaching staff, 20% Clausen. Clausen isn't looking down the field to hit the deeper routes, but the playcalling and QB development has been pretty pisspoor too.

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Solution....

1. Take Andrew Luck with the #1 pick

2. Let DWill walk...you saw what we have with Stewart, Goodson, and Sutton.

3. Use DWill money to sign another top OL and/or DT player

4. Sign a vet WR to help mentor and take the pressure off the young guns

5. Draft for depth on the OLine and Secondary

If a CBA is struck, there are a ton of FA's hitting the market, and we have a ton of cap space.

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I'm not sure cutting DWilliams is the wise idea. Sure, he's had some problems the last 2 years with injuries, but before the past 2 games Stewart was terrible. He had something like 3 yards per carry for the majority of the season. I think Goodson has some good potential, but I'm not sure about his abilities to stay healthy either. He was out for a good portion of the season last year. It depends on what Dwilliams wants. If he is looking for AP money then let him walk. If he takes into account that he has only played 18 games in the past 2 seasons, and asks for a lower salary then I say you keep him. He is too valuable to let go, plus his production this season should be tossed out the window. You can't run the HB Iso play and expect him to have good stats. Every play he made he made by himself, with little help from the Oline.

2nd, why would you pay a veteran Wr? You either go get a good young one or keep what you got. Bringing another guy on the team is wasting our time and eventual cap space.

Go get an OG and some DT's...I can agree with that.

But I think you either get Luck or take ur chance on Clausen and drop back a few spots and get AJ Green. Then you draft a Cb with the 2nd rounder(hopefully) you get from moving back. Build in some depth with veterans, develop your young talent(something that is lost on the current staff), sign your big names, and boom your good again. Its like magic....

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I think you two should agree to admit you don't know. Placing all the blame on Clausen is foolish, but so is placing all the blame on the coaching staff. I'd say its 80% coaching staff, 20% Clausen. Clausen isn't looking down the field to hit the deeper routes, but the playcalling and QB development has been pretty pisspoor too.

uhhhh no. 50% coaches, 50% clausen

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