What have we really lost?

[CRA]

You lose when you don't get better.

Gross will be a year older....that means getting worse, not better this year. He was the best part of the OL last year.

Smith will be a year older....that means getting worse, not better this year. He was the best part of the WR corp last year. (Just 2 examples)

Nothing ever actually stays the same. So how is the offense better...when your LT and lone gun WR take steps backwards?

Offensively IMO is where the issue is....on D at least we have our studs there trending up in their careers still.

[CarolinaNCSU]

At the same time veterans are getting older/slower/worse however, young guys like Kuechly/Cam/Hardy, etc. are getting better. So let's not act like that's a one way street.

We haven't gained much, but just getting some guys healthy (Kalil, Beason) and adding a couple nice players in the draft or FA and we're better than last year IMO. All throughout the season last year, pundits and even fans were saying/knew we had more talent and were better than our record indicated. It was true. We couldn't finish games for poo and it obviously showed.

Despite the generalized thought process of the Huddle of doom and gloom, personally I still think we can compete and get a spot in the playoffs without adding much. Yes, we will need the injury bug and some luck on our side for once, but that's true for all teams.

[CatMan72]

Agree that Munnerlyn will come crawling back, not sure about Dwan.

[xerxes]

To answer your question in a word, Faith.

Last year we could get excited about Cam going into his 2nd season building off of the momentum of the end of his 1st season. We had a lot of core guys ready to go. There were full page ads taken out. There was buzz.

This year, what do we have? A coach on the hot seat who has yet to coach a winning season. A new GM who is unproven in this role and who is hamstrung by our cap situation. A new OC who didn't exactly light it up the last time he was calling the shots. And the bitter taste of going through the same song and dance for the past 5 seasons.

Look I love the Panthers, and I'm the last guy to be all doom and gloom. Despite myself, I actually think we're going to have a good season. But I refuse to get excited because I've been burned too many times in recent memory.

[CRA]

At the same time veterans are getting older/slower/worse however, young guys like Kuechly/Cam/Hardy, etc. are getting better. So let's not act like that's a one way street.

We haven't gained much, but just getting some guys healthy (Kalil, Beason) and adding a couple nice players in the draft or FA and we're better than last year IMO. All throughout the season last year, pundits and even fans were saying/knew we had more talent and were better than our record indicated. It was true. We couldn't finish games for poo and it obviously showed.

Despite the generalized thought process of the Huddle of doom and gloom, personally I still think we can compete and get a spot in the playoffs without adding much. Yes, we will need the injury bug and some luck on our side for once, but that's true for all teams.

Defense, yes.

Offensively, just Cam is rising...a lot of important parts are falling with slop around them. I don't see how we right now are on pace to be improved offensively

[CRA]

Agree that Munnerlyn will come crawling back, not sure about Dwan.

I think if it comes down to money...captain can find a better offer

[SauceBoss]

Murphy>Naanee>Colbert>Jarrett<Carter

[Ivan The Awesome]

I think the point is not much as what we lost but what we have gained. Which is nothing.

[SevenSixes]

It is by no means an axiom that a young player just keeps getting better, a look at any of our previous drafts will tell you that. Older players understand the game, but loose speed, power and eventually health becomes an issue.

Just like players, teams have windows of opportunity. I certainly believe that Cam provides us access to that window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl.

My frustration is that we squandered last season and the moves made to date have not addressed the deficiencies that were so evident last year. We will find 2 starters (hopefully) in this draft and a few players that will be contributors, but no solid answers.

If we again limp along, Ron will be out and the "rebuilding" will begin again, anew.. Further pushing into that window of opportunity.

[CRA]

It is by no means an axiom that a young player just keeps getting better, a look at any of our previous drafts will tell you that. Older players understand the game, but loose speed, power and eventually health becomes an issue.

Just like players, teams have windows of opportunity. I certainly believe that Cam provides us access to that window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl.

My frustration is that we squandered last season and the moves made to date have not addressed the deficiencies that were so evident last year. We will find 2 starters (hopefully) in this draft and a few players that will be contributors, but no solid answers.

If we again limp along, Ron will be out and the "rebuilding" will begin again, anew.. Further pushing into that window of opportunity.

My concern is Ron being put in a lameduck scenario....after spending his first 2 screwed by Hurney.

New coaches mean a change in QB...and Dave already doesn't sound like a big fan of Newton ball.

[SevenSixes]

My concern is Ron being put in a lameduck scenario....after spending his first 2 screwed by Hurney.

New coaches mean a change in QB...and Dave already doesn't sound like a big fan of Newton ball.

I'm on the same page, CRA.

We've already seen how the specter of Riveras' departure hurt us when we were trying to find a replacement for Chud, A lack of quality FA signings will only further steepen the climb Ron will have to make to retain his position. Sure, continuity helps but you still need the horses to run the race. Teams are built in the off season, not in July.

And while we're at it, it's not only our division that is getting stronger while we burn dead money for warmth. We have the NFC West and AFC East to also contend with, so there's that.

It's not impossible to get to 9-7 this year (the kind of improvement that I think it would take to keep Ron), but it's not currently looking likely when you could count potential losses to SF, NYG, SEA, & NE. Split the matches with ATL and TB and you are already at 6 losses out of 7.

On the face of it, it's not looking like an easy feat for a Junior HC and an OC who had limited experience over a decade ago in that position.

[PantherPhann89]

I think that we'll go after a WR with our 14th pick if the top OL are gone. We don't have the needed cap space to get better in FA right now.

[FirstRoundPick]

We have the lost the last 4 seasons.

[CRA]

I think that we'll go after a WR with our 14th pick if the top OL are gone. We don't have the needed cap space to get better in FA right now.

If BPA is a DT/DE/CB/S....I expect that over WR.

Talk in NY right now is they might go DE with their 1st and they have JPP and Tuck. Keeps you from getting in a CJ debacle again.