Some Thoughts Moving Forward...

[Catalyst]

I have several thoughts and figured I'd put them all here rather than clutter up the forum with 3-4 separate threads.

- I'm giving up on the defense for the rest of this season. I just expect them to suck now and will continue to. If they manage a few good games, great, but I'm just going to accept that the 2011 Panthers defense is a bottom feeder D. We need to add at LEAST one veteran starter in free agency or via trade in the offseason because the draft won't be enough. We need at least one DT (could be Edwards, but I'd rather go better), a weakside linebacker, and a corner at MINIMUM. Plus depth all around, particularly at DE, DT, & LB.

- Stop blaming Cam for the loss. He had a good game; the picks weren't bad throws or inaccurate passes, just great defensive efforts and a hail mary as time expired. Cam is playing better than fine right now and is the only reason we're not being blown out in every game.

- I'm starting to think it was a mistake to re-sign DeAngelo Williams. It's not because I don't think he can play (he can) but because our new offense clearly doesn't have the need (or room) for two top quality backs. To add to that, Stewart is the better fit as he is a better receiver and just as good a runner. An offense that runs 15 times a game doesn't need two Pro Bowl caliber runners. We're going to have to admit this mistake when Stewart's extension comes up because we can't pay both of them and only run 15 times a game.

- Looking over the schedule I see us going 6-10, which was my original prediction back in August as well. We should end up picking around 7th or 8th in the draft, which will sadly be out of range of Justin Blackmon, who I think we would have to take despite needing so much defensive help. There's a real chance we can trade down, though, as there will be as many as 4 QB's expected to go in the 1st round (Luck, Barkley, Jones, Griffin III) and many of the top-10 teams will already have recent 1st round QB's (Rams, Jags, Vikes, Panthers) meaning at least two of those QB's should still be on the board when we pick. There's a very good chance a team picking later will be willing to trade up into our spot, possibly landing us another 2nd rounder - or at least a 3rd rounder. That would be my ideal scenario, other than drafting Blackmon.

- Byron Bell isn't the answer to anything but maybe depth. He greatly contributed to our loss today. I never got the hype with this guy; he had one half-decent game against the Packers and everybody was all on his jock. He's just not that good and it showed today. I'd hate to know we had to start him for more than a game or two. Sadly, Jeff "Fragile" Otah is the only thing standing between Bell and the starting RT job :willy_nilly:

[fieryprophet]

On Bell:

Other than the couple of penalties, the plays he got beat on were two bull rushes by Edwards and Abraham. Not his best game by far but he has played well in long stretches this season, and he is still a rookie. I'm still intrigued by his potential, good linemen often are missed in the draft.

[necroplasm]

Redskins and Vikings up next...at Home. Then the BYE week to take a much needed break, let all the emotions set in. Then after the BYE, will be going against Titans at home again once again. All 3.. mediocre teams that have problems too...

That is a good time to get a winning streak in. Winning breeds winning. From here on out, I think the season will get better(schedule strength wise), while the team also develops.

Don't think the full season will be as bad as we think.

Still see this team winning some damn games.

[Guest]

re: deangelo

he's averaging 5.2 a carry. i'm fine with the money he's being paid. once the offense can go out there and not feel like they have to score every time they're on the field, i feel like williams and stewart will take off. right now, regardless of whether we're up, down or tied, the offense is facing a ton of pressure thanks to the D

[Cavscout]

Redskins and Vikings up next...at Home. Then the BYE week to take a much needed break, let all the emotions set in. Then after the BYE, will be going against Titans at home again once again. All 3.. mediocre teams that have problems too...

That is a good time to get a winning streak in. Winning breeds winning. From here on out, I think the season will get better(schedule strength wise), while the team also develops.

Don't think the full season will be as bad as we think.

Still see this team winning some damn games.

Vikings and Titans have great running backs. With our non-existant run defense, don't get to excited. We might beat Washington though.

[JawnyBlaze]

They might have great running backs, but the Vikings in particular are a spectacularly bad team right now. Far worse than us. The Titans are built to play us tough, I could see that one going either way. Assuming there's not leaps and bounds improvement on defense, I could believe 6-10 now.

[brandon_87]

Redskins and Vikings up next...at Home. Then the BYE week to take a much needed break, let all the emotions set in. Then after the BYE, will be going against Titans at home again once again. All 3.. mediocre teams that have problems too...

That is a good time to get a winning streak in. Winning breeds winning. From here on out, I think the season will get better(schedule strength wise), while the team also develops.

Don't think the full season will be as bad as we think.

Still see this team winning some damn games.

Mediocre or not, all 3 of those teams will run all over us....

[necroplasm]

True..but doesn't mean Panthers will lose. Forte ran up a storm, over 200...still came close. Shut down the pass, stop the run, it's a guessing game on D. If Offense will execute.... that's the key, also with limiting the big play. Defense will get a bit better. I have seen them stop the run on certain plays.. enough to know they'll have a good complete game & more.. in the near future.

It's not over. I'm not all that optimistic really and ain't pessimistic neither.

Not too optimistic..cause I'm as down as anybody right now, while also seeing things clear.

[necroplasm]

True..but doesn't mean Panthers will lose. Forte ran up a storm, over 200...still came close. Shut down the pass, stop the run, it's a guessing game on D. If Offense will execute.... that's the key, also with limiting the big play. Defense will get a bit better. I have seen them stop the run on certain plays.. enough to know they'll have a good complete game & more.. in the near future.

It's not over. I'm not all that optimistic really and ain't pessimistic neither.

Not too optimistic..cause I'm as down as anybody right now, while also seeing things clear.

[Razzy]

Defensive Lineman:

Calais Campbell – ARI

Vonnie Holliday – ARI

John Abraham – ATL

Kroy Biermann – ATL

Brandon McKinney – BAL

Cory Redding – BAL

Haloti Ngata – BAL

Hilee Taylor – CAR

Israel Idonije – CHI

Victor Adeyanju – CIN

Frostee Rucker – CIN

Pat SimsPat Sims – CIN

Ahtyba Rubin – CLE

Louis Leonard – DEN

Sammie Lee Hill – DET ®

Johnny Jolly – GB

Howard Green – GB

Shaun Cody – HOU

Mario Williams – HOU

Amobi Okoye – HOU

DeMario Pressley – IND ®

Robert Mathis – IND

John Gill – IND ®

Jeremy Mincey – JAC

C.J. Mosley – JAC

Lionel Dotson – MIA

Paul Soliai – MIA

Kendall Langford – MIA

Phillip Merling – MIA

Letroy Guion – MIN

Jimmy Kennedy – MIN

Eric Moore – NE

Alex Brown – NO

Jarron Gilbert – NYJ ®

Ropati Pitoitua – NYJ ®

Sione Pouha – NYJ

Trevor Scott – OAK

Juqua Parker – PHI

Brodrick Bunkley – PHI

Trevor Laws – PHI

Aaron Smith – PIT

Red Bryant – SEA

Antonio Garay – SD

E.J. Wilson – TB

Kareem Brown – TEN ®

William Hayes – TEN

Marcus Howard – TEN ®

Jason Jones – TEN

Ma’ake Kemoeatu – WAS

Anthony Bryant – WAS

Adam Carriker – WAS

Phillip Daniels – WAS

Linebackers:

Clark Haggans – ARI

Will Davis – ARI ®

Gerald Hayes – ARI

Curtis Lofton – ATL

Jarret Johnson – BAL

Brendon Ayanbadejo – BAL

Jason Phillips – BAL ®

Andra Davis – BUF

Reggie Torbor – BUF

Dan Connor – CAR

Thomas Williams – CAR ®

Hunter Hillenmeyer – CHI

Eric Alexander – CLE

Chris Gocong – CLE

Keith Brooking – DAL

Bradie James – DAL

Anthony Spencer – DAL

Mario Haggan – DEN

Jason Hunter – DEN

Joe Mays – DEN

David Veikune – DEN ®

Jordon Dizon – DET

Isaiah Ekejiuba – DET

DeAndre Levy – DET ®

Erik Walden – GB

Diyral Briggs – GB ®

Xavier Adibi – HOU

Stanford Keglar – HOU

Jesse Nading – HOU ®

Cody Glenn – IND ®

Philip Wheeler – IND

Russell Allen – JAC ®

Alvin Bowen – JAC ®

Slade Norris – JAC ®

Jovan Belcher – KC ®

Channing Crowder – MIA

Ikaika Alama-Francis – MIA

Heath Farwell – MIN

E.J. Henderson – MIN

Kenny Onatolu – MIN ®

Gary Guyton – NE

Marques Murrell – NE

Rob Ninkovich – NE

Jason Kyle – NO

Jonathan Goff – NYG

Alex Hall – NYG

Jason Taylor – NYJ

Bryan Thomas – NYJ

Jamaal Westerman – NYJ ®

Quentin Groves – OAK

David Hawthorne – SEA

Ahmad Brooks – SF

Na’il Diggs – STL

Bryan Kehl – STL

David Nixon – STL ®

Jon Alston – TB

Geno Hayes – TB

London Fletcher – WAS

Defensive backs:

Rashad Johnson – ARI ®

Greg Toler – ARI ®

Thomas DeCoud – ATL

Marcus Paschal – BAL ®

Lardarius Webb – BAL ®

Reggie Corner – BUF

Charles Godfrey – CAR

Zackary Bowman – CHI

Tim Jennings – CHI

Craig Steltz – CHI

Adam Jones – CIN

Fred Bennett – CIN

Rico Murray – CIN ®

Jonathan Wade – CIN

Reggie Nelson – CIN

Mike Adams – CLE

Coye Francies – CLE ®

Orlando Scandrick – DAL

Chevis Jackson – DEN

Jack Williams – DET

Jarrett Bush – GB

Patrick Lee – GB

Dominique Barber – HOU

Antwaun Molden – HOU

Quintin Demps – HOU

Eugene Wilson – HOU

Jacob Lacey – IND ®

Justin Tryon – IND

Rashean Mathis – JAC

Michael Hamlin – JAC ®

Terrence Wheatley – JAC

Jason Allen – MIA

Benny Sapp – MIA

Tyrone Culver – MIA

Bret Lockett – NE

Jonathan Wilhite – NE

James Sanders – NE

Randall Gay – NO

Tracy Porter – NO

Michael Coe – NYG

Bruce Johnson – NYG ®

Aaron Ross – NYG

Terrell Thomas – NYG

Marquice Cole – NYJ ®

Dwight Lowery – NYJ

Tyvon Branch – OAK

Jamar Wall – PHI

Marlin Jackson – PHI

Keenan Lewis – PIT ®

Donald Strickland – SD

Steve Gregory – SD

Quinton Teal – SD

Roy Lewis – SEA ®

Reggie Smith – SF

Ronde Barber – TB

Dominique Johnson – TB ®

Sean Jones – TB

Cortland Finnegan – TEN

Vincent Fuller – TEN

Chris Hope – TEN

Chris Horton – WAS

Kareem Moore – WAS

Bryan Scott – BUF

Reggie Nelson – CIN

Derrick Martin – GB

Brandon Meriweather – NE

James Sanders – NE

Jim Leonhard – NYJ

Tanard Jackson – TB

Michael Griffin -TEN

LaRon Landry – WAS

Take your pick.

[Cavscout]

I agree. 6 wins COULD still happen. Washington, Indy, Atlanta at home, Tampa at home, and N'Orleans at the end of the year when they rest their starters.

[Razzy]

This team is going to be in a shootout every week at least. Even if we go 1-15, it won't be as boring as watching our defense play for 40 minutes a game like last year.

6-10 is a best case scenario, but imagine all those picks we'd get for the #1. We can use those to restock our D. It will be interesting to see how Marty drafts under the new regime.

[JawnyBlaze]

I think other than Indy, Minnesota will be our easiest game left.

I have a hard time believing we'll get the #1....the Rams, Vikings, Colts easily look worse than us. The Broncos and Dolphins could likely end up worse than us too

[necroplasm]

Defense lacking talent, veteran play and leadership. It is ugly. Giving up 3rd down conversions continuously, I am so sick of. Blaming Rivera is just dumb, he will build the D. Hes using what was gave to him. I also don't know if Sean MickyD even remembers that TEs exist.

If we can ever stay injury free for one year, just one damn forsaken year.........

ugh i'm getting off here...mind is racing, can't type what i think correctly...the hell with it. lol