How many great players do the Panthers have?

[Mr. Scot]

There was a time when the teams with the most money could just buy all the best players.  Thankfully, the salary cap put an end to that.  And now, every team has to put some serious effort into roster management (with some obviously being better at it than others).

 

It's generally been shown that you can't reach the pinnacle of success building a team with a single superstar surrounded by a bunch of scrubs (you could argue that was the Colts formula for several years).  To be consistently successful, you need to have great players scattered all around the roster, and generally at the right positions.

 

So with that in mind, two questions...

 

One: What positions do you think are the absolute most important to have star players in (limit four, though i could accept five)

 

Two: How many players do the Panthers have that could be considered truly "great players", with "great" being defined as someone who could start at his position for almost any team in the league?

 

And by all means, feel free to name names.

[carpanfan96]

Qb, de, lt, hard pressed to find a fourth as it's very system dependent.

Cam, CJ, Star, TD, Keek, Kalil.

Next tier would be Olsen and Smith.

[davos]

Great players: Cam, Luke, Star, Johnson, Gross, Kalil, Davis, Gano, *Smitty 

 

Almost-great: Short, Mitchell, Olsen, Wharton

 

Positions important for stars: QB, DT, WR(or)TE, LT, C, MLB/ILB, S

[Mr. Scot]

Positions important for stars: QB, DT, WR(or)TE, LT, C, MLB/ILB, S

 

You overran your quota :lol:

 

[CarolinaCoolin]

No gano would not start on any other team.

It's just cam keek and Kalil at this point.

[KJ89]

Qb, de, lt, hard pressed to find a fourth as it's very system dependent.

Cam, CJ, Star, TD, Keek, Kalil.

Next tier would be Olsen and Smith.

one does not simply put the greatest Panther ever in a "next tier".

[therealmjl]

No gano would not start on any other team.

It's just cam keek and Kalil at this point.

Johnson could start on any other team....could argue Star as well.

[carpanfan96]

one does not simply put the greatest Panther ever in a "next tier".

At this point in his career he wouldn't start for most teams. He's no longer a top tier NFL Wr.

That doesn't diminish what he's meant to the franchise though.

[Mr. Scot]

one does not simply put the greatest Panther ever in a "next tier".

 

At this point in his career he wouldn't start for most teams. He's no longer a top tier NFL Wr.

That doesn't diminish what he's meant to the franchise though.

 

Boy, there's a debate topic...

 

[Servant of Cthululelei]

I'd say based on current play only that our great players are Cam, Star, Keuchly, Kalil, and Davis.  I guess technically based on your criteria Tolbert is great too, as he would likely start at FB on every team.  But somehow that feels like a loophole.

 

The most important positions depend on your team's style:

 

Ground and pound/Win the Clock - QB, RB, TE, RT, C

Air it out/Win the shootout - QB, LT, WR, S, DE

 

Obviously there are more than those two styles, but I think you can shove every team into at least one of those two philosophies.  The first one has no defensive requirements, because you simply need an average or better unit.  If I had to pick a position on defense, it would be MLB because that position can elevate a whole unit more than any other.  But the idea is that they'll get lots of rest and they won't have to stop the opposing offense that many times.  Also, RT, C, and TE are very important for a solid, consistent run game.  (Edited to add - our game against NE was a very good example of this strategy working)

 

The second strategy prioritizes Left Tackle for pass protection, WR for effective offense through the air, and two defensive positions.  DE and S because ideally in this team setup you want to force your opponent to pass by putting them in a deep hole with your offense.  So you absolutely need to be able to apply pressure to the QB and not get beat deep.

 

Honestly, the second formula has a weakness - and it's the first formula.  That why I like that it's what we're building towards. But ultimately for either one to work, you need good players at more than just the specified positions to have success.  I just think the ones I listed are where weakness would be the most detrimental.

 

 

 

[Mr. Scot]

I'd say based on current play only that our great players are Cam, Star, Keuchly, Kalil, and Davis.  I guess technically based on your criteria Tolbert is great too, as he would likely start at FB on every team.  But somehow that feels like a loophole.

 

I could see saying that Tolbert would start on any team that uses a true fullback.

 

If it's a team that just uses a stable of runningbacks though, then it's less certain.

 

[CarolinaCoolin]

Johnson could start on any other team....could argue Star as well.

Let's not confusing stars good rookie season with being a league great already. You are probably right about cj though

[ctrcat]

Two. Cam and Luke. Fortunately for us, that still gives us the best offensive and defensive player for the next decade+ and cornerstones of the greatest dynasty the salary cap era has seen. In Cam's case, the GOAT who will transcend football ala Michael Jordan.

[Brooklyn Bully]

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