Pat Yas has the Panthers finishing 7-9

[Zod]

Pat Yasinskas ‏@PatYazESPN 1m

Regarding the prediction posts: #Buccaneers, #Saints and #Falcons are mine. #Panthers was done by @DNewtonespn. I had Panthers at 7-9.

 

 

 

Pat is a pretty even handed guy and has been to all of the NFC South camps. I put his predictive abilities above a lot of other guys.

[Dex]

Well polish my gooch and call me slappy.

[CPcavedweller]

Cool story.

[UNCrules2187]

O-Line is going to dictate our record this year.  If they can play even mediocre, I think 9-10 wins is a real possibility. But given what they've looked like in the preseason, if we don't get some more capable bodies, 7 wins might be our ceiling...

[hepcat]

I predict, the team will finish with the same record as last year!

[Zod]

I'd like to add that if heaven forbid Steve Smith gets hurt, we won't win 5 games.

[Peppers90 NC]

anything can happen but that is a safe assumption on his part, hard to argue to pick us better or worse than that right now.

[Seltzer]

I like Pat Y just fine, and I don't think 7-9 is a huge slight and could very well be accurate.  I personally think the Bucs are a lot better than what some people think, and the Saints can potentially win 9 games with Brees, even given how hideous their defense will be.  I vehemently disagree about the Falcons being a SB winner or even contender though. 

 

But predictions are just that...

 

Just for shiggles (and perspective on the fact no one really knows), here are some of the vaunted predictions for the 2003 Panthers.

 

Football Outsiders

NFC South: Tampa Bay 11-5, Atlanta 9-7, New Orleans 8-8, Carolina 6-10

 

Sports Illustrated, on what it would take for the Panthers to make the playoffs

"They leave the NFC South and accept John Swofford's invitation to become the ACC's 12th team, citing academic reasons and a promise for basketball tournament tickets. They hold off Miami in the ACC Championship Game and advance to the Orange Bowl."

 

 

4)      Carolina (6-10) - John Fox’s squad over-achieved last year. This year they settle back to normality.

 

 

The season is long and unpredictable.  Pretty much every publication had the  Panthers between 6-10 & 8-8.

 

FWIW, Pat lives in Tampa, and has been sucking NO & ATL off at every juncture he can, so there is that too to consider

 

 

 

[UNCrules2187]

BTW, if you take into account all of ESPN's predications, here's what they think for the South:

 

Falcons 11-5

Saints 9-7

Bucs 9-7

Panthers 9-7 (Yas 7-9)

 

 

I understand our division is considered competitive and tough, but I guarantee there will be a team that finishes with less than 7 wins. I just hope it's not the Panthers.

[Doc Holiday]

He'll I said the same thing when I was smashed last night and didn't get a thread about it :-P

[CRA]

I'd like to add that if heaven forbid Steve Smith gets hurt, we won't win 5 games.

Cam gets hurt....I'll say 2.

[teeray]

Reviews are more important than previews. Can't say that 7-9 is not unreasonable. But I also think we can do much better.

It is time for the ball to bounce our way a couple of times for once.

[Mr. Scot]

Still remember when Yasinskas told a guy in chat that Dave Gettleman had never done any college scouting :rolleyes:

 

(glad ESPN has assigned individual reporters to teams now rather than having divisional bloggers)

 

He may be right, but going with the default '7-9' just seems like a lazy prediction to me.

[PhillyB]

if this defense comes as advertised even a mediocre offensive outing for the season should put us at 9-7, and i think we'll be better than mediocre