Are the right pieces in place?

[Marguide]

Assuming the Panthers are strongly considering a QB at number 1, do we have the right supporting elements in place for early success?

Those elements include:

1) A solid offensive line

2) A strong running game

3) Dependable wide receivers and TE's that can get separation

4) A staff willing to tweak the playbook to maximize the chance of success

5) Patience

How do we stack up in these areas? Do you view the environment for a young QB as better or worse than what we had last year?

These questions are probably as big of a part of the draft evaluation process as the questions about individual players.

Thoughts?

[CarolinaNut]

if the o-line is healthy then yes, we have the pieces...the environment will be better b/c the coaching will be better

[teeray]

Yes. Plus you have a new coach which has a honeymoon period to where he can develop a QB w/o the pressure of having to win right now or be fired.

[Verge]

It still pisses me off when I hear "The Panthers can take anybody, they have so many holes to fill"

No we friggin don't.

[CAVSS]

Im all for drafting a QB but just like last year with JC I am completely against starting a rookie QB. Most people disagreed with me then also because JC was "NFL ready"

How did that turn out?

I've been sayin I told you so a lot today. lol

[Marguide]

It still pisses me off when I hear "The Panthers can take anybody, they have so many holes to fill"

No we friggin don't.

Agree. Pick up a vet WR if SS goes, and I think we are set.

To me, we could not have a better situation for taking our choice of QB's at number 1. It is rare to have the first pick and have a good supporting cast for a rookie QB.

[mav1234]

Eh. Depends how you define success. Do you mean sucking for a year, then maybe just missing the playoffs next year IF our guy takes a major step forward? If so, sure, that's what is in place.

We do not have the defense to completely carry poor quarterback play, as we saw with JC (our running game was clicking just fine in many of those games).

With a good veteran presence I could see this team competing for a playoff spot. If the team has to deal with another rookie learning the position in the NFL I think we'll be pretty bad next year, but at least I think we have the right coaches to help them improve through that year on this team.

[NJPanthers12]

what do you guys mean we don't have many holes to fill?

First off we need a QB, and if we draft Newton in no way is he going to be ready for success by next season. If Steve Smith is traded all we have at WR is LaFell, Gettis, and Armanti. We are very thin at WR if he is traded and dont have a viable number one who puts fear in other team's defenses. There is no depth at the o-line and we need a starting RG. Geoff Schwartz played decent last year but he is someone who should be depth and not a starter. Bernadeau was awful last year and Gary Williams does absolutly nothing for me. Jeremy Shockey is no guarantee at the TE spot.

On defense I feel Brayton is going to be cut. That leaves Johnson (if we bring him back), Hardy, and Brown at DE. Once again there is not a lot of depth there. I like Neblett and Landri but I don't like either as starters, I don't think we have a starting DT on the team. There is absolutly no depth at CB and Godfrey is not a starting caliber safety. Behind Godfrey and Martin there isn't much either, hopefully Pugh can develop into something.

So I don't get how you guys can say we don't have a lot of holes to fill.

[NJPanthers12]

QB: Newton

RB: D-Will/Stewart

WR: Smith?/Gettis/LaFell

TE: Shockey

OL: Gross/Wharton/Kalil/?/Otah

DE: Johnson

DT: ?

DT: ?

DE: Hardy

SLB: Anderson

MLB: Beason

WLB: Davis

CB: Gamble

SS: Godfrey who sucks

FS: Martin

CB: ?

thats a lot of holes

[mav1234]

I have a feeling our roster is going to look quite different after the FA period, but I could be wrong.

[Marguide]

Of course we have some holes. Every team has holes and spots they need to beef up.

Green Bay won it all, but yet they would love to have our RB's. If you want to see holes, look at Washington's roster.

The point is, we probably have fewer holes on offense than most teams that have the 1st pick.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

To maintain consistency, I will provide my answers in the range of 1 to 5.

1. 3.5: I think we have more than half the line sewn up (Gross, Wharton, and Kalil) but the other parts are completely up in the air. Otah's health and our lack of a quality guard make it less than a sure thing.

2. 4: The line is better at run blocking, and we have some great running backs.

3. 2: Receivers are young and haven't proven enough and our only veteran is Smitty who may want out. The tight ends have never been pressed on to receive and Shockey is never healthy or great for a young quarterback.

4. N/A This is a new staff with no track record of anything.

5. 3: No real established starter, but Rivera will get some time to protect a player if he wants.

As landing spots for potential quarterbacks go, it's not bad, and it may be better after we can sign some free agents. Whenever that happens.

[mav1234]

In a perfect world, sure, we've got great players. But when you add in injuries and youth development, we are pretty thin on offense overall.

[NJPanthers12]

Our problem is we lack depth, this team has no depth and you cant get all of your pieces in one offseason. there is no depth at WR, O-Line, D-Line, Secondary. It is awful how little of depth we have and we dont even have a second round draft pick. We have a bit to go before we are talking playoffs again.