So....here are my thoughts

[rayzor]

Yes. There is no way this team, as currently assembled, is making the playoffs with the schedule we have to face. Get past that pipe dream.

i don't get why it's bad for anyone to believe anything positive. happy and oblivious is still happy. the more you're happy, the more you enjoy life.

[SCP]

i don't get why it's bad for anyone to believe anything positive. happy and oblivious is still happy. the more you're happy, the more you enjoy life.

Hey, believe what you want to believe and make yourself happy, whatever floats your boat. Marty Hurney has been telling himself things are fine for 6 years now. But there is a time when you have to step back and look at things realistically. Playoffs with this team and this schedule are pretty much impossible. That's how I choose to deal with this crap fest, looking at it realistically.

[Darth Biscuit]

i don't get why it's bad for anyone to believe anything positive. happy and oblivious is still happy. the more you're happy, the more you enjoy life.

I agree... I'm depressed that we're 1-4, but I'm not going to let it ruin my life. I'll watch football this weekend and have fun... and do the same next weekend, hope that my Panthers win, and go on with life. The season is somewhat salvageable, I don't really think we have a shot at the playoffs, but anything is possible...

[rayzor]

Yeap

Also expanding upon that point I did a lookup of missed tackles among linebackers and found this article by PFF which ranked tackling efficiency in a 3 year window. Some of those guys aren't playing anymore lol but it's fairly recent. I went and calculated average weight of the top 15 and bottom 15 in tackling and the top 15 weighed in at 247.4 lbs, while the bottom 15 weighed in on average at 240.7 lbs.

Based on what I've seen from this defense, the biggest reason for poor tackling is for the most part twofold. 1) Our line is letting guys get to the secondary level way too often, and when that happens of course there's going to be more missed tackles. Corners and even Safeties aren't very well suited to taking down plodding running backs alone in general. 2) Our linebackers are coming off major injury in addition to being undersized. Davis is the only one that reaches 240. The solution to this is pretty simple:

1. Upgrade the interior line. You do that by investing in DTs. I don't know about you, but there are some intriguing prospects in the draft and Alan Branch off the top of my head will be a free agent in 2013.

2. Get a little bit bigger at linebacker. The good news is Luke is still young so with an entire offseason of NFL weight training he should have no problem walking in next September at 245. He definitely has the frame to get that heavy, maybe even 250 without sacrificing speed. Other than that since we're locked into all these contract extensions it's going to be tough to get bigger there. Davis has kinda maxed out his 240 lb frame and at 237 Beason's approaching his max. I don't know how well they'll play at like 245 for example.

don't think there's much we can do about getting bigger LBs. i don't think aside from keek that any of them will get bigger. i think that they are good, strong, and quick enough...but just on the small side of things. something that has been typical of NFCS LBs for quite some time.

what we'd have to do is compensate. make sure the Dline is beefed up and that we get guys with good size at safety. there's been some debate in the draft forum about whether it's important to use size as a deciding factor when looking at safeties. i think we're in a situation where the safety(s) that we add have to be big (for safeties) athletic guys who can tackle.

i think we have good size at DE as well as good speed. i'd like to add another pass rusher...even a pass rush specialist like bruce irvin. DT is the big thing, though. i agree that the guys we have are band aids. i really don't like the idea of taking a risk on drafting one, though. too high a chance of busting and it takes too long to develop and that Dline really needs anchored now in the middle. picking up vets to fix the interior was the right move. we just need to find one or two better ones.

[rayzor]

Hey, believe what you want to believe and make yourself happy, whatever floats your boat. Marty Hurney has been telling himself things are fine for 6 years now. But there is a time when you have to step back and look at things realistically. Playoffs with this team and this schedule are pretty much impossible. That's how I choose to deal with this crap fest, looking at it realistically.

that's fine. i don't have a problem with that at all. it's just the necessity some feel to burst other people's bubbles. if they want to believe that we still have a chance...what does it hurt? people will find out what truly is reality in their own time. kind of like telling a kid there's no santa claus.

[AceMan]

Cowboys game = Must-win

But I have to say that I CAN'T STAND the "We're a couple of plays away from 3-2/4-1" comments

[rayzor]

Cowboys game = Must-win

true, but i think that we've learned that pretty much every game is a must win...esp. going forward.

i'm not one of those clowns who want the team to tank just to have a better draft spot and all that garbage. even if the team doesn't get into the playoffs, i want them to have some kind of positive momentum heading into next year. i don't want the team to be in upheaval in the offseason again. i want this team...this coaching staff to work and win and i want them to do it without having to start all over.

[rayzor]

But I have to say that I CAN'T STAND the "We're a couple of plays away from 3-2/4-1" comments

agreed...but i hate more that it's true.

it's just boneheaded mistakes from players and coaches that have decided these games for us and what really bothers me is that it's just been a couple of them and in like the falcons game, if any one of those mistakes don't happen, we win that game. if cam doesn't throw that last ball into the ground, we win that game. it shouldn't have come down to just one play/mistake away, but it did and the players on the field couldn't make it happen.

the good news is that it's typically just a couple mistakes rather than a game full like against the giants. if they can get their heads straight and be a bit more clutch, we'll start turning those close losses into close wins. coaches have to get more focused in the right direction and the players have to quit playing defeated and grow some balls.

[thefuzz]

Starts at the top.

Richardson sells out every game, no need to produce a consistent winner.

Hurney has a "lifetime contract" no need to stick your neck out to really make this team a winner, just overpay guys on your squad that have not had run in's with the law. Also draft RB"s and LB's to lower the probability of a bust.

RR first time HC gig, and he is trying too hard not to drop the ball. Seems to be thinking too much instead of reacting.

McD and Chud, honestly the lights are just a little too bright.

[rayzor]

Starts at the top.

Richardson sells out every game, no need to produce a consistent winner.

Hurney has a "lifetime contract" no need to stick your neck out to really make this team a winner, just overpay guys on your squad that have not had run in's with the law. Also draft RB"s and LB's to lower the probability of a bust.

RR first time HC gig, and he is trying too hard not to drop the ball. Seems to be thinking too much instead of reacting.

McD and Chud, honestly the lights are just a little too bright.

pretty accurate, imo.

they are all playing it a bit too safe.

[therealmjl]

.......tl;dr

Now show me your boobies

[Guest Tom Cat]

We are are few mistakes every game from having a prestigious franchise.

the problem is most NFL teams can say the same thing.

[XClown1986]

It does start at the top. Richardson I think might do some behind the scenes "Jerry Jonesing." I think Hurney has worn out his welcome. His choices in contract extensions alone should have him gone. Couple that with draft blunders, and it's amazing he has a job at all in the NFL.

I found it interesting that Don Gregory hired a completely new staff of scouts last year. Their first draft together was the 2012 draft. This is interesting because we are all looking at the draft as a complete success. If we can keep this staff together for a few years, we could be striking gold.

The coaching I have a problem with. Rivera is doing ok, and could get better on tough calls. McDermott is doing surprisingly well with this defense (we have no safeties, not his fault). Chud is pissing me off tremendously. He's gotten arrogant, and he's failing. Go back to what works, and stash the cute poo, dumbass. The position coaches might be even more under scrutiny. I actually think the linebackers coach and the secondary coach (safeties) should be fired after the season. Period. The linebackers are constantly out of position (getting better, but it was awful), and the safeties should compensate their lack of talent with fundamentals and good positioning. It took Rivera seeing Haruki lining up like he was still in Baltimore to realize his coach has not corrected him. That's a problem.

All in all I do believe Rivera can right this ship. I love his attitude and his drive. He's extremely intelligent and intricate on the defensive side of the ball, and that will benefit this team in the future. Cam will get better, but it's going to take Chud coming down to earth in order to put Cam in better position to make plays. We won't finish with a winning record, but this team will improve.

[DeeJay]

I believe the Cowboys game will tell us a lot about Rivera. So, for me, there is 1 more game. I am hoping for a great game...for the players, Rivera, Richardson, and all of us

Well Living in Texas least I get to see the panthers game on T.V.

You know this team basically lost 2 games cause of newton Growing pains.

Your article was spot on and yes I get a ton of flack for being a panthers fan on Facebook.