45catfan

Nailed it! I said this in the 90's, why I left, and why I have never returned to live...only to visit. EVERYONE I know well that lived/grew up in Charlotte has fled to the 'burbs or the area altogether. Charlotte is a top transplant city in the country and the older locals, the REAL Charlotteans, aren't having it and thus they move. Charlotte has become a big city and along with it, big city problems. I now live in a large town/small city and it has the feel of 70's/80's Charlotte before the construction boom and transplant migration began. While having a downtown area, it's dwarfed by the size of Charlotte's even back then. While downtown here is small, there's still stuff to do.

I think with a competent coaching staff, rebuilding the OL and keeping key FAs this team is a playoff contender next year. Yup, I said it. That's how badly this roster is being mismanaged. Lack of talent is not the main issue here ( except on the OL) coaching is.

There's zero reason to keep Rhule at this point. We are not going to the playoffs and likely not going to win another game. We are catching a pissed off Bills team right now, a Saints team trying to stay in the playoff hunt and the defending SB Champs x2 a game back of getting a bye (not resting their starters). Keeping this dude around is killing the moral of this team. I understand the optics around the League canning another coach with games remaining, but there is literally no positives for keeping him. If Tepper does retain Rhule for the last 4 games, I hope he pulls the trigger the VERY NEXT DAY after the Bucs game in January. Heck, Tepper should call him to his office at BOA after the plane lands back in Charlotte.

Therein lies the rub. I don't think there's a franchise QB in this draft. Will one of them turn into a franchise QB? Possibly, but which of the three it will be is the problem. Scratch Willis right off the bat. Dude was a big fish in a little pond and when he made it to the big pond, he looked lost. Howell is #3 in the class and has huge questions. He's Trubisky 2.0, it just so happens they went to the same school. You are down to Corral and Pickett. I haven't done a ton of research on the draft yet (I usually wait until bowl season is winding down) but it seems initially, they have question marks as well and in a strong QB draft, they would be late 1st or even 2nd rounders. They will go in the top 15 or maybe even the top 10 JUST because a QB needy team will take a flyer on them. Are we a QB needy team? Absolutely. The #1 rule of the draft, however, is never, EVER, reach for need over value.

This was the most winnable game left on our schedule and couldn't even handle business--at HOME. So we have the Bucs (twice), Bills and Saints. Is there one win in there? Only if we bring our 'A' game and one of those other teams brings their 'C' game. Other that that, this team shouldn't see another win this season. I hoping for that #5 draft slot and an OT.

I wish I could--off the record. What they say publicly and when the microphones/recorders are turned off are likely totally different.

With two stud LTs probably going in the top 7 or so. That's the reason we need to get as high as we can get.

Moved up to #7 after today. If we lose out, we still need the Giants to win 1 more (they have the tie breaker over us) and Chicago to win 2 more. That gets us #5.

Hmmm...8-8. Might want to rethink that.

Ok, but living in the past isn't helping us now. This year's QB class is pretty bad, but the OL class is loaded. So we still take a mediocre QB over an O-lineman in the first round? Save the yester-years diatribe, it's akin to spilled milk. What's done is done. This is about the future.

I thought I remember Rhule saying they (meaning he) liked Henderson. Fitterer just made it happen at Rhule's request I'm thinking. Right now I think Fitterer's hands a bit tied with Rhule mainly calling the shots on personnel. There's few coaches that can handle both ends of those duties and unless your name is Belichick, it's probably going to end badly.

I'm not sure who made the final call on CJ Henderson, but I didn't like the move then and I hate it now.

That's the reason I laughed when folks were debating if this draft class was better than the 2020 one.

One of the few left. Most natives have fled or are trying to flee. Heck, even the 2nd generation folks are fleeing as well.

We lost? Color me shocked.

So we tank Two years in a row is your objective? We get the LT next draft and possibly a solid OG and with a new coaching staff (hopefully) build a culture and roadmap for a rookie QB in 2023. Again, drafting a rookie in the first round and duct taping this OL is the very definition of insanity. Build the OL and THEN get your QB.

Yes, but he has a Natty on his college resume and a turd on his NFL resume. Which one do you think he would like to correct?

We have to finished tied or worse than the Giants, who have the tie breaker over us and worse than the Bears. Why? The G-men have two first rounders (they own the Bears pick and if all other things stay the same as they are currently other than these three teams, we'd move up TWO spots in the draft. One additional win could really spoil that scenario.

USNR myself. I'm glad Navy won.

Do I waste 3 hours watching this game or do I simply look up the score at 4pm and find something more constructive to do with my time? Sad times.

Would it make you feel better if I told you that Cam should be here next year regardless of the outcome of the next 5 games? Why? What some of these guys can't get through their thick skulls is drafting a rookie QB this year is about as pointless as washing your hands before taking a crap instead of afterwards. If I even have to explain why even further proves my point. I'm not the biggest Cam advocate, and I surely don't think he's ever going to be pre-2017 Cam again, but I do believe he's the best option for a bridge QB until the 2023 draft.

BTW, Ekwonu has won yet another honor/award, bringing his total to 3 now: Jacob's blocking Trophy, and 2 First Team All-American honors.

I had a dream last night that we were drafting around pick #7 and Ekwonu was still on the board rated as the top guy on the ESPNs big board at that point. What do the Panthers do? Well, apparently Tepper doesn't fire Rhule and they...wait for it...TRADE BACK! How did the dream end? I don't freaking know either because I woke up PISSED OFF!

After being such a bust initially, I'm sure the dude wants to redeem himself. He's proven himself in college, so why go back there? However, if he has another rough stint in the NFL, expect him to go back to the college ranks with his tails between his legs.

This team needs to be around pick 5 to get a real difference maker. Winning another game all but assures us of picking closer to #10. Also the lower we go, the more tempting it will be for Rhule, if still here, to trade back.