Deangelo has that look in the eye. See Jonathan Jones' latest.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

 

 

The more you say something doesn't get you any closer to your goal.  As much as I hate to admit it, you would never see this kind of talk on a John Fox football team.

 

fox's quotes about breaking the season up in to quarters and trying to go 3 for 4 in each one drove everybody crazy too though

[PhillyB]

that's nice, but i really don't want us to go "old school." not when we can be cutting edge and innovative with cam newton at quarterback.

[Cape Fear Cat]

I don't understand the "the time to win is now" mantra that Gettleman and Rivera are instilling, with the OL, WR, and DB situation being what it is. I still think we are a year away. Having said that, I think we are one good draft and a few F.A. acquisitions from being one of the more complete teams in the NFL. I thinks Gettleman is building this team to be good for a long time, which is why I don't understand the urgency this season.

 

Perhaps because this is likely to be RR's last shot at remaining head coach, whether that is a fair thing or not. If he is replaced, then three years of installing his game plan goes out the window, and the team will find itself in yet another rebuilding situation. If RR can produce a winner this season, his job is secure, and the process of putting the other pieces in place to achieve even greater things will continue without the setback that introducing a new coaching staff would entail. Just a guess.

[Zod]

Jonathan Jones needs to take over for Joe Person as the Panthers main insider.

 

I have a feeling this has been the plan all along, just takes time for JJ to acclimate and develop relationships and sources.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

every season it's basically the same speech but from a different player.

 

i for one would rather see different results.

[TheRed]

I have a feeling this has been the plan all along, just takes time for JJ to acclimate and develop relationships and sources.

We should just go ahead and start a petition to have Jones replace Person. It isn't even a fair comparison.

[top dawg]

that's nice, but i really don't want us to go "old school." not when we can be cutting edge and innovative with cam newton at quarterback.

 

One thing about it: I don't think we're going to force the issue, but just do whatever it takes to win.  If Cam's legs are what it takes to win, then I am sure Cam will oblige. It's hard to not take what the defense is giving you if you see pay dirt to a first down, or more.  By the same token (but let's hope not in this case), running for your life comes quite naturally if you have the skills to do it. If the O-line continues to break down, Cam is going to have to improvise, and he will most likely be doing it with his legs. 

 

All-in-all, I am not that worried. When D-will, Stewart and the boys get it going, you know we are hard to stop. Sprinkle some Cam, Smitty, Olsen and whoever else in there at the right time, and we have the potential to be highly potent. I just want us to use the backs as legitimate receiving options because I know that all of them are very capable in that department.  Keeping the opposition off balance is the key, and we have the tools to do it.

 

[top dawg]

Perhaps because this is likely to be RR's last shot at remaining head coach, whether that is a fair thing or not. If he is replaced, then three years of installing his game plan goes out the window, and the team will find itself in yet another rebuilding situation. If RR can produce a winner this season, his job is secure, and the process of putting the other pieces in place to achieve even greater things will continue without the setback that introducing a new coaching staff would entail. Just a guess.

 

I like everything that you said, but, to me, everything that you said lends to the notion that unless we bomb (like go less than .500), Rivera should get that other year regardless. So some of the signals that he and especially G-man are displaying with this win-now mentality are just a wee bit disingenuous or counterproductive, especially when you look at some onlookers' perceptions of this O-line situation.

But, you know, what else are they going to say (especially amidst an anxious and critical fan base)?

 

[Udogg]

Deangelo is 1000 percent correct.

 

We win if we carry the ball 30 times a game.  We lose when we don't.   Oh wait as a matter of fact we did lose two games last year when we had 30 carries.  Atlanta and Chicago.  Both of those games we shouldn't have lost but I don't want to skew the numbers to make my point.

 

Just those 2 games alone and somehow pull out the KC or Seattle games (which we shouldn't have lost either) and we are in the playoffs.  The win now mentality has to be because we have been a playoff capable team 2 years in a row and haven't made it.  No more rookie QB, sophmore slump excuses.  No more inexperienced coach excuses.  No more defense is horrible excuses.  Every team has holes.  We just need to overcome and just make it happen.  You don't get these wasted years back.

[Montsta]

So NOW "a must win; just win" mind set is a pretentious concept? Wow. I didn't think The Huddle was this jaded. Is it any different than a fighter telling himself and the world that he or she is going to win? It's confidence and conviction. This team needs it, especially with The Panthers accepting a losing philosophy for years. What? Would you prefer to hear: "We're an okay team. Hopefully we get 10 wins this season" instead? It might sound modest but that type of statement is usually uttered by fans, not players! Do I care if it sounds desperate? No, I want a hungry squad of players who need wins in order for their lives to feel complete.

I was going to say something similar to this. I think full page Super Bowl predicting ads have jaded the fan base to the point where we can't be excited anymore but I don't give a damn. I'm pumped. This team is gonna destroy some poo this year.

[Creep59]

I don't understand the "the time to win is now" mantra that Gettleman and Rivera are instilling, with the OL, WR, and DB situation being what it is. I still think we are a year away. Having said that, I think we are one good draft and a few F.A. acquisitions from being one of the more complete teams in the NFL. I thinks Gettleman is building this team to be good for a long time, which is why I don't understand the urgency this season.

 

 

Rivera likes his job?

[top dawg]

So NOW "a must win; just win" mind set is a pretentious concept? Wow. I didn't think The Huddle was this jaded. Is it any different than a fighter telling himself and the world that he or she is going to win? It's confidence and conviction. This team needs it, especially with The Panthers accepting a losing philosophy for years. What? Would you prefer to hear: "We're an okay team. Hopefully we get 10 wins this season" instead? It might sound modest but that type of statement is usually uttered by fans, not players! Do I care if it sounds desperate? No, I want a hungry squad of players who need wins in order for their lives to feel complete.

 

I think everybody wants a hungry squad, and I believe we do have a hungry squad. We saw the hunger when they were fighting for Rivera last year...Everyone is already aware of the stakes. No need to wind the team up tighter than it already is by suggesting that "If you don't win this many games, we're gonna nuke this motherfuger!" This seems especially odd if you think you're going to man the line with a C or D-lister (because you're only as strong as your weakest link).

 

There's no need to jump the damn gun. If we're gonna push that red button because we don't win 10 games (for example), regardless of how things played out on the field and sidelines, then we had damned well better be prepared to wait even that much longer for success.  And, make no mistake, I don't see the next Jim Harbaugh coming to the rescue on a black stallion, tad in Panther blue armor.

 

This is my greatest fear, to burn down the sumbitch if we get close because of some arbitrary number, especially when the team has an obvious weak link. 

 

Hopefully it will never come to that, and it will be candy and flowers at the end of the season. And, it is still early.

 

 

[top dawg]

Dude, we didn't appear hungry numerous times last year. There were games where the offense and/or defense appeared nonchalant. This team wasn't motivated enough. Sure, the players rallied behind Rivera and saved his job but it should have never gotten to that point for the team.

The fact there is nothing pompous or diva-ish about the "just win" statements. The vets (Gross, D-Will, Beason, Smitty, etc) on this team want a shot at the playoffs and Superbowl. This could very well be their last opportunity with this specific team. So yes, there is desperation, and I'm loving it. I don't care what other organizations, teams and fanbases are saying/doing. It's do or die at this point, and several names on this squad are preaching it because reality has set in. The clock is ticking with a new GM in town.

 

Look, I agree with you in general, I just think that we are talking about two different things.

 

In regards to being hungry, of course I am talking about the latter part of the season, where the hunger surely can't be denied.

 

[bleys]

I was going to say something similar to this. I think full page Super Bowl predicting ads have jaded the fan base to the point where we can't be excited anymore but I don't give a damn. I'm pumped. This team is gonna destroy some poo this year.

 

not sure how to respond to anyone who needs a superbowl ad to determine whether they should be excited or not...