Is it really this bad?

[Cyberjag]

When we were discussing whether or not Rivera should get another year, there were a lot of people on the board who were citing the level that the team was playing at to close the season as evidence that Rivera should be retained. There was also talk about how much the injury situation hurt the Panthers. And, of course, the poor start was blamed on Chud's play calling.

So now Chud's gone. If the season started today, we would have a better offensive line with Kalil's return. We would have a hole at DT, but one which could probably be patched and upgraded in the draft. We would be pretty much where we were in the secondary, and with Beason returning and replacing Anderson, we would be upgraded at Linebacker.

Where would we be worse?

Atlanta's lost their best pass rusher, and replaced one aging physical back with another. I don't see how their offense is going to really be any better than it was last year, it was already very good. And their defense has gotten worse. Tampa Bay has moved the "strength" of their defense from the line to the secondary. New Orleans got a cornerback, but they're still going to be transitioning to a new defensive scheme that they don't have all the parts for.

So yeah, they're all good teams and they're all adding players that we wish we could add, but they're also losing players, and there are legitimate questions regarding whether or not they've actually improved. And at the level we were playing, we should be pretty happy that we're not losing anyone, right?

So which team should we be discussing here? The Panthers team that everyone here was talking up in January? Or the broken down relic that most of the current posts are describing?

[Scrumtrilescent]

Atlanta needs a new center, too.

[CarolinaCoolin]

We as a team are going to be fine.

[csx]

Where would we be worse?

CB & DT are potential downgrades, but not too badly when considering neither Gamble nor Edwards were contributing to the success at the end of the season.

[Snake]

We lost most of our good parts of our secondary as well. Not that they were all that good to begin with.

[csx]

I forgot about Munnerlyn.

[panthers55]

Good points Cyber. Also add that people think we are done 3 days into free agency. We will pick up a bunch of guys between now and opening day and perhaps lose a few more. Gettleman is supposed to be a great talent evaluator finding diamonds in the rough and hitting on all his draft picks. Lets give him a chance to do his job before we decide if we are better or worse off.

[Panther_Brotherhood]

So many wet blankets on this board

[SmashNDash]

Our best DT is Fua, our best FS is Nakamura, our best corner is Josh Thomas, and we have no linebacker depth if Beason/Davis, two very injury prone players, go down.

[XClown1986]

I have to say what i am most concerned with is the nfc south running game against our d-line. If we can re-sign Edwards, sign an Alan Branch type player, and draft another guy we will be good.

[iamhubby1]

So yeah, they're all good teams and they're all adding players that we wish we could add, but they're also losing players, and there are legitimate questions regarding whether or not they've actually improved. And at the level we were playing, we should be pretty happy that we're not losing anyone, right?

So which team should we be discussing here? The Panthers team that everyone here was talking up in January? Or the broken down relic that most of the current posts are describing?

The realists and the downers would have you believe it is the latter. Whereas, the optimists and the Homers would have you thinking it is definately the former.

The realists believe we were only successful last year based solely on the competition. While the more optimistic among us saw a team that deserved to win.

The realists see way too many holes and flaws to even sniff the playoffs. The rest see us as a RG and strong DT from being pretty darn good. Scary good.

The reaslists look at Gettlemen and still see a broke down hurndog. Us optimistic folks look at Gettlemen and see a brighter future.

The realists only see the same ol' same ol'. While the folks up in here with optimism see a future chuck full of successes and excitement.

We have a Football guy running the show. The realists tell us we should have gone younger.

You cannot please a realists. They see the negative in every situation. No matter what success you have there will always be something to worry and fret over. And they just cannot phathom anyone not be as fearful as they are.

Sure us Homers are optimistic by nature. That does not however take away from what is happening round here. We have a Franchise QB the likes of which no one has ever seen. We have some young talent that has meshed very nicely with the vet presence already on the team. We finally have a Talent Evaluator running the show. And we have a young team that may just have figured out what it takes to win in the NFL.

OK, that's all for now. Thanks for the opportunity to rant at the downers.

[XClown1986]

I also trust Gettleman to find depth. The guy is known for finding contributors out of nowhere.

[Gucci Mane]

Our best DT is Fua, our best FS is Nakamura, our best corner is Josh Thomas, and we have no linebacker depth if Beason/Davis, two very injury prone players, go down.

No, No, maybe.

[CRA]

at the present moment in time,I think we have the stage set to be slightly worse...luckily we still have the draft and maybe some FAs.

Defense is a push at best.

Offense is a push at best.

If you are getting better....you are getting worse