A mildly interesting comparison

[davos]

This is rather meaningless but I thought it'd be interesting to compare our last legit squad returning from a good season:

 

Post-2008 going into 2009 vs. 2014

 

After our last winning season:

 

QB-Jake Delhomme 

RB-DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart

FB-Brad Hoover

WR-Steve Smith/Muhammad/Jarrett

TE-Rosario/King

OL-Gross-Wharton-Kalil-Vincent-Otah (Bernadeau filled in for 7 games and the line shifted)

 

Versus ours in 2014:

 

QB-Cam Newton

RB-DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart

FB-Toblert

WR-Benjamin/Cotchery/Avant

TE-Olsen/Dickson

OL-Chandler/Silatulu/Kalil/Turner/Bell

 

Even though DJ was a bust of massive proportions, I remember a lot of people feeling great going into that year.  Looking back, I like our current roster more.  I think this shows we have been improving over the years..or something.  Also, the ONLY freaking remaining starters outside of Kalil is Double Trouble.  God help us and they stay healthy and contribute one final year before half of them becomes expendable.   

 

Whatcha got? 

 

 

[panthers04100]

Our offense outside of cam blows.

[Servant of Cthululelei]

Our offensive line is a much bigger question mark now than it was then.  Our runningbacks are older/having injury issues now, so their production will be down.  WR's were probably a bit better then too, at least at #1 and #2, but if Benjamin is more boom than bust, they could be better on this squad.  Tight Ends are definitely better now than they were then, though maybe slightly worse at run blocking.

 

But let's be honest here, the biggest difference is Cam vs. Jake.  We'd all be kidding ourselves to pretend anything other than Jake Delhomme is what fuged our 2009 season.  I hate it for the guy, because I was as big a fan of him as anyone, but he just never got back to form after that surgery.  His play took a nosedive fast, and it doomed our chances of being on top of the NFC South for a few years.

[CRA]

Our offensive line is a much bigger question mark now than it was then. Our runningbacks are older/having injury issues now, so their production will be down. WR's were probably a bit better then too, at least at #1 and #2, but if Benjamin is more boom than bust, they could be better on this squad. Tight Ends are definitely better now than they were then, though maybe slightly worse at run blocking.

But let's be honest here, the biggest difference is Cam vs. Jake. We'd all be kidding ourselves to pretend anything other than Jake Delhomme is what fuged our 2009 season. I hate it for the guy, because I was as big a fan of him as anyone, but he just never got back to form after that surgery. His play took a nosedive fast, and it doomed our chances of being on top of the NFC South for a few years.

Pretty big difference at OL.....just as big as the Cam/Jake one IMO

That OL paired with Hoover IMO made Double Trouble into the local legends they are. Yes they were/are talented on their own....but they were setup for success too

[rayzor]

OL was a strength back then the biggest issue we had holding the offense back was jeff davidson.

oh yeah...and we screwed up jakes mechanics by getting him a new QB coach who made him think about what he was doing instead of just throwing it and he was still recovering from surgery.

that OL blew our current OL away, though.

[panther4life]

Cam and Olsen are better...otherwise the offense was better in 09.

This years D smokes the poo out of the 09 D, except the secondary might have been better in 09.

[Montsta]

The real question is this:

In this day and age in the NFL where RB's are expendable and basically interchangeable, how the fug is it that we have the same two guys at that position six years later? I mean, what in the actual fug is that?

[davos]

The real question is this:

In this day and age in the NFL where RB's are expendable and basically interchangeable, how the fug is it that we have the same two guys at that position six years later? I mean, what in the actual fug is that?

 

That was definitely one of my takeaways 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Based on your thread title I was bracing for another Underground Railroad analogy.