Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Teams that have recently rebuilt: Who should we copy?

unicar15

By unicar15,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

unicar15 Experienced

unicar15

Posted
Posted

In the past 5 or so years we have seen a lot of teams that were in the crapper come back and rebuild to be legitimate superbowl and playoff contenders. Among those teams there are:

Saints - Peyton came in and the biggest weapon that he brought was Brees. Brees was a free agent QB that revolutionized that team. The Saints drafts focused on surrounding Brees with weapons. Since Peyton has been there he has found Bush, Colston, Meachem and Henderson. He also brought in Shockey and established Pierre Thomas as his feature back. Aside from Malcolm Jenkins and Vilma they really didn't make a ton of moves on defense. I think its safe to say that the Saints followed an offensive model to build.

Chiefs - Pioli was the architect for this team and like the Saints, he hired and offensive coach as his HC. On offense they made one really big move, sign Matt Cassel. However, I think its safe to say that with the picks of Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, Eric Berry, Brandon Flowers and Javier Arenas and the additions of guys like Vrabel their focus was on defense.

Falcons - After Mike Vick and before Matt Ryan the Falcons were essentially the Panthers. They had some decent pieces on both offense and defense but they had no QB. Their transformation started with QB but unlike the previous two teams they went through the draft. The first order of this rebuild was to take Ryan 3rd overall. Before the combine and pro days, Ryan was not considered a top 5 pick. I remember seeing mocks with him going in the teens (just remember that when evaluating this years crop of QBs). After adding Ryan they picked up a solid runner (Turner) and an escape option for Ryan (Gonzalez). They have made a few more additions on offense with a left tackle (Baker) but really those 3 moves are the biggest.

There are other teams that have rebuilt but these were the three that came to mind with teams in a similar situation to ours. The common factor with all of them...none had a QB and now all have a franchise guy. So I guess the simple point to be made is that we need to either find the next Matt Cassell/Drew Brees or we need to take one of the elite QBs in this draft and then go from there. Personally, I think our rebuilding job is most similar to the Falcons. Like them, we have a lot of pieces on defense and the offensive line. However, we need to find the QB to lead them. I think you have to look at the Eagles for a QB. Mike Vick for the short term or if we can have Kolb in a trade for the long-term.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Murph Community Regular

Murph

Posted
Posted

You can throw in Tampa and the Jets in that list. What do all of them have in common? in the 1st or 2nd year after after they drafted/acquired their starting QB they got back to winning more than they were losing. Yes, many other pieces were acquired to help but the biggest key to their success is good play from their starting QB.

Denver could be the next team. The Golden Calf of Bristol looked pretty good at the end of the season but how he fares next year is the key. Moore looked good for us at the end of 2009 but once teams had time to dissect tape, they found better ways to defend him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cyberjag Newbie

Cyberjag

Posted
Posted

The Saints did all that you mentioned, but they went 10-6, 7-9, and 8-8. Once they focused on defense, they won a Super Bowl. So yes, they brought in Brees, and then Vilma, but you left out them drafting Porter, Jenkins, and Ellis and signing Sharper. The biggest difference they made though, was hiring Gary Williams to run the defense.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheRealDeal Newbie

TheRealDeal

Posted
Posted

Were Sanchez or Freeman considered elite prior to the draft? I know they were both taken in the 1st round (I think Sanchez was 5 and Freeman was around the mid-late first round) but I don't know if the two of them were super hyped up.

Sanchez was for sure. There was some controversy surrounding when he entered because Carrol said he wanted him back but he was still considered an elite prospect.

Edit: He definitely had less question marks than all the guys coming out this year.

Not so sure about Freeman. Not so sure that the reason they were decent this year was him either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheRealDeal Newbie

TheRealDeal

Posted
Posted

Winning not an option, nor is modeling ourselves around another team even possible... without a franchise QB. Start fixing things at QB and let the team evolve around him.

It's so fugging easy to say that but with the current options available to us, how do you suggest we get that done?

Take a QB just because we need one even though they are all projects?

Trade a 1st rounder for one that might be one but who knows he could be at best Jake Delhomme or Matt Moore?

Let last year's franchise QB develop with a year under his belt?

Sign an aging franchise QB that is nothing more than a stop gap now?

What do you do?

Don't give me generalizations, give me a specific plan of what YOU would do with actual names.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

Posted
Posted

The Saints did all that you mentioned, but they went 10-6, 7-9, and 8-8. Once they focused on defense, they won a Super Bowl. So yes, they brought in Brees, and then Vilma, but you left out them drafting Porter, Jenkins, and Ellis and signing Sharper. The biggest difference they made though, was hiring Gary Williams to run the defense.

they were kind of the anti-panthers. they had been spending all of their attention on improving the passing game and neglecting the defense. they added a couple players and brought in an effective, but douche DC, schematically improved/brought more attention to the run game and got things turned around.

btw...i think that it's more the relationship with payton and brees that is the reason for their success on offense. i don't know that their WR corps was all that great to begin with, but they brought in curtis johnson (probably the best WR coach in the country coached andre johnson, reggie wayne, santana moss, and roscoe parrish among others at Uof Miami) to work with the WRs and he was able to turn them into respectable WRs. add in a great QB and you you have them looking elite.

we aren't too far from having our defense elite, imo. upgrade at DT and get a solid option in to replace marshall and add rivera and mcdermott to the coaching staff along with a better and more aggressive scheme, and you have a top D.

the trick is going to be improving the passing game. once we have that then we will be up at the top.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
theyhateme45 Newbie

theyhateme45

Posted
Posted

The problem is there isn't an elite QB in this draft. It would be nice if there was, but that's not the case.

Do we reach for one or do we go to a different need area?

I disagree with the statement there is not an elite QB in the draft. A lot of the prospects this year have Huge potential and could have a very high ceiling, they just also have a high risk factor involved with them.

In other words, High risk High reward players.... There are not any mild risk players with High rewards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • LinvilleGorge
      2027: Sharing my thoughts on the cap without a lotta research

      By LinvilleGorge · Posted

      If we pay Bryce like a franchise QB we're completely and utterly buttfuged.
    • MHS831
      2027: Sharing my thoughts on the cap without a lotta research

      By MHS831 · Posted

      In my view, the realistic expectation for this team to compete will start 2027.  At that time, I think we could be looking at the following (this is HIGHLY speculative):   QB:  You know, Bryce.  I am not a fan, but they don't ask me.  But there is reason for hope--and here it is.  Bryce will be entering his prime.  Since we are likely to pay him, there will be changes that I include throughout this exercise--I realistically speculate on what they are going to do with Bryce and then I realistically speculate on what means in terms of the cap and other positions. Bryce HAS IMPROVED.  The idea is that if you give him more weapons and protection, that will continue.  His career:   At this rate, if his growth continues, by 2027 we should expect nearly 30 TDs and about 12 Interceptions and a Rating of about 98.  His completion percentage should settle at 65-66% or so.  If that happens, you can win with it. The following stats demonstrate how the Panthers will be able to afford it (and re-sign Ickey) My guess is they will require about $60m per year. This is why rookies who can play are important.  It also helps us see the blueprint.  You may disagree, but this is the cruel realities of the salary cap. Robert Hunt:  Cut post June 1 and save $19m.  Who do you replace him with?  Ickey. Tershawn Wharton:  Cutting him saves nearly $15m.  We should all hope to see Aaron Hall (UDFA) make the roster and play well.  Regardless, this is a position we would likely have to address in the next draft. Trevin Moehrig:  Cutting Moehrig as the starting SS saves this team $16.5m.   Ransom will be on year 3 of a cheap rookie deal and should be more than ready to take the reins.  their styles are similar.  Furthermore, FS Wheatley (R, 4th round) will be starting. Taylor Moton:  So much depends on his knee, but I have an idea that he can play another 3 years.  extending him could save the team about $5m per year.  Cutting him outright would save the team about $21m. In the most drastic situation, we have to cut Moton and the other three players mentioned.   We would need (in all likelihood) a starting DT and RT.  It is possible that the DE would be addressed, but Wharton's production (so far) could be equaled by a rookie.  Look for a cut free agent and a 2027 draft pick here.  If you cut Moton, you save $21m, and that would be the only big hole to fill.  Having Ickey at RG gives you some depth at T, and Ickey could be the guy.  T could be pick in the 2027 draft (first round), fwiw.  It saves you $21m while costing you $5m, for example. We get younger, creating a core of Freeling, Hecht, and the RT first rounder in 2027) along with Ekownu (second contract in the $15m range, and Lewis, whose contract would be in the $16m range if not extended.)  The OL cuts (Hunt, Moton) would save $40m.  The OL would get younger and still solid with veterans at G.   By cutting Wharton (no brainer if his play stays the same) and Moehrig (good player--but we have Ransom on a rookie contract who would not be that much of a drop off--if any) in addition to Hunt and Moton, we would save over $70m in cap room. We would be able to give Bryce bag  and we would have enough to re-sign Ickey (if the knee is not too risky) to a Guard contract (probably at a discount, coming off that injury).  Furthermore, we could add a RT in the draft (or a RG if Ickey moves to RT) and that would be the only large hole to fill. Correct my logic if you see issues-- On defense, in addition to the aforementioned, Scott ($2m contract) is out, replaced by a 4th round rookie contract. CB Jackson's contract ($7.8m) expires and he is (possibly) replaced by a rookie contract.  At Edge, patrick Jones II's $10m contract expires and he is likely a reserve, and his role is absorbed by Phillips, Scourton, Princely, and possible an UDFA like Isaiah Smith or a 2027 draft pick.   These productive developmental players over the past 2 drafts will pay huge dividends.  On paper, I see the team getting much younger and possibly better while cutting nearly $100m and reallocating that money to get more production.          
    • strato
      2026 Mock Drafts

      By strato · Posted

      If everything played out and that last thing happened, I probably just quit. 
×
×
  • Create New...