Offseason upgrades.

[pantherj]

I'd say it's extremely likely that we'll continue to be a power running, zone defense team under the new coaching staff. Changing to a pass oriented offense wouldn't make any sense with the play action pass QBs we have on the roster. Even if we draft Luck, it would be unwise to ask him to carry the offense. Not to mention Hurney's recent comment on 'Panther Talk' about remaining a physical team focused on the run. And a switch to a 3-4 would be extemely difficult with our current roster. To play a 3-4, we would need an elite mountain of a NT to achor the line. That type of NT, like Ted Washington, is expensive and hard to aquire. So I'll assume we're sticking with our current offensive and defensive philosophies.

On offense, Luck will be our new QB, assuming we have a chance to draft him.

Our attention then needs to turn to the offensive line. Any mammoth starting offensive lineman on the roster needs to have a good quality backup in case of injury. O-lineman like Otah and Robinson are more likely to have leg/foot/back injuries due to their massive size. That means you need to spend more money/draft currency on backups than other teams with average sized linemen. Our current backups who have been thrust into the starting lineup are well below what we need to be compititive. They make me sick actually, and Stewart can't stand them.

All other offensive upgrades are secondary to Luck, and above average backups for Otah and Robinson.

On defense, we have Safeties who make a lot of mistakes, and zone CBs who will look as good as our pass rush will make them look. We're set at LB. The primary problem is that we don't have a good pass rusher at every position on the defensive line. The pass rush coming from the DE positions have been good for most of the season. DE Charles Johnson has actually managed to bull rush OTs who were trying to give him the speed rush and stop the bull rush. That takes a lot of power. DE Everet Brown has shown some improvement because he's stronger than he was last year, but he's still not capable of a good bull rush. That's ok, but what's not ok is that our DTs aren't generating any kind of pass rush. Opposing QBs can simply stepup into the pocket and avoid our DEs. We need two very good pass rushing DTs added to our team. With a good pass rush, our Tampa-2 defense can go on the attack. The goal is to force the opposing QB to throw mostly short passes throughout the game. This allows our seondary to absolutely blast recievers after the catch. This will certainly generate turnovers, and cause the opposing recievers to quit on routes, or face injury. There's no other way to play Tampa-2 and expect to win. The pass rush from the front-4 forces short passes, and the secondary inflicts violence on the recievers. If you don't see that happening, then you're watching the Carolina Panthers.

Any other defensive upgrade is secondary to aquiring two proven pass rushing DTs.

If we spend our first pick on Luck, then what position do we address with our 3rd and 4th picks? I would be inclinded to draft two strong run blocking offensive linemen as backups for Otah and Robinson. Then go into FA and buy two proven pass rushing DTs. If Luck is gone, then trade down, or pick the BPA. If it happens to be a DT, then you only need to buy one FA DT, and you can go out and try and buy a FA QB like Vick.

We're not doomed unless Jerry is planning to go cheap on us again. If we don't enter FA and spend a lot of $$$$$$, then we're stuck with what we have plus the draft. Not good enough, especially with no second round pick. Adding a few talented but unproven rookies to this team won't cut it. Sure we'll improve some, but we're currently the laughing stock of the NFL. It's up to you Jerry.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I think that's a pretty good take on the situation. I think lack of depth on the offensive and defensive lines hurt us a great deal this season. Are there any defensive tackles you had in mind for us to target? It's so hard to draft a defensive tackle that will contribute right away. Therefore, I think we will have to go and get two in free agency to shore up the position.

[calebdv]

i think you hit it right on the head, as far as a DT goes, I like the idea of a 3-4 and maybe we go after richard seymour or maybe shaun ellis, though I highly doubt JR would bring either of them in, OL depth deffinitly was a huge issue this year Im certain that will be a focus of the draft and the offseason as a whole, Id also like to see a vet qb on the roster next year, maybe chad pennington or matt hasselbeck or even billy volek just someone to mentor the young guys, and there are a ton of FA WRs next year we can pick from the lot

[Stroupe-a-loop]

or even billy volek just someone to mentor the young guys

Nope, if we're going to get an overpaid backup, I want Charlie Whitehurst: Clipboard Jesus.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/198609.asp

[calebdv]

Id rather have someone whos been around for a long time, and none of those guys will have a hefty price tag after this season

[MHS831]

If we go 3-4, many changes will have to made. Many new faces. However, since cutting a bunch of defensive players last season and not replacing them, there is a suggestion that we are going 3-4 --or want that option open. We signed a bunch of 1-year contracts.

[pantherj]

I think that's a pretty good take on the situation. I think lack of depth on the offensive and defensive lines hurt us a great deal this season. Are there any defensive tackles you had in mind for us to target? It's so hard to draft a defensive tackle that will contribute right away. Therefore, I think we will have to go and get two in free agency to shore up the position.

Well DaCityKats gave me this list of FA DTs: Spears, Ngata, Jenkins, Bowen, Cesire, Jolly, Mebane, and Cofield. I'm interested in Haloti Ngata of the Ravens, and I hope were in the mix to try and get him.

[The Saltman]

its a pipe dream to want ngata on this team. but mebane, cofield, and Jenkins is not out of the question I would be happy to get them.

[pantherj]

its a pipe dream to want ngata on this team. but mebane, cofield, and Jenkins is not out of the question I would be happy to get them.

I'll take anything between a pipe dream and reality, just no more of our current DTs.

[The Saltman]

agreed