Who is the missing piece?

[CheeseCP]

I'm a long time lurker that usually surfaces after the draft because I always get pumped about the future of the team.  Thanks to everyone that contributes to the board.  If there's news about the Panthers then you're probably going to find it here first.  I always enjoy reading everyone's opinions and even get a chuckle or two when threads get completely derailed (most do... probably this one, too!).

 

Someone commented in the thread about Andre Johnson that "we would win the Superbowl" if that trade happened.  It got me thinking, is there any one player in the league that you think would make us the overwhelming favorite to win the Superbowl if they were on our team?  If yes, who and why?  

 

I'll post what I think after I've had a chance to poach everyone else's ideas!

[rayzor]

i don't know "who" but i know there are two missing pieces. one is a RT and the other is a LT.

[top dawg]

One person can make a lot of difference, but I don't know if the question is really realistic.  I don't think any one player makes us the favorite to win the Super Bowl.  

 

[LinvilleGorge]

i don't know "who" but i know there are two missing pieces. one is a RT and the other is a LT.

 

This.  I'm not saying we're elite everywhere else, because there are certainly legitimate concerns about our secondary and our WRs.  However, those same questions were there last year and we made it work.  OT is another story.  I'm very worried about our OTs.  Previously, we always had Gross holding down the left side and we could make the right side work.  We no longer have that.

[PandaPancake]

Are stone giants eligible to be signed? We would win then

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[KillerKat]

LT for sure.

[CheeseCP]

i don't know "who" but i know there are two missing pieces. one is a RT and the other is a LT.

 

I agree that RT & LT are our biggest needs but if we were to have Joe Thomas (or pick your favorite LT) on our team this year, would you say that would make us the odds on favorite?  Gross wasn't considered "elite" last year but I wouldn't say that there is such a large drop off that is significantly reduced our chances of a championship.

[top dawg]

I would like to stay within the realm of credibility in regards to your question, and I am thinking that Denarius Moore would help give us more credibility towards getting to a championship this year.  Brandon Flowers would probably be a good candidate as well.  Maybe Eric Winston (but probably not as realistic an option as the others).

 

I am thinking that the reasons why are pretty obvious. They all fill needs. Moore would be relatively cheap and would provide a big play threat, Flowers and Winston are seasoned vets who know how to get the job done. 

[CheeseCP]

One person can make a lot of difference, but I don't know if the question is really realistic.  I don't think any one player makes us the favorite to win the Super Bowl.  

 

 

I don't know that I necessarily disagree with you.  I think it's rare that you can look at a team in the preseason and say that they're an easy pick for Superbowl champs.  I just thought it was an interesting topic to kick around.

[jasonluckydog]

Jordan Gross is the missing piece we just need to convince his skinny ass to hit the buffet table and come back.

since that likely won't happen cuts start coming down in 2 months we will pick someone else to play LT.

[LinvilleGorge]

I agree that RT & LT are our biggest needs but if we were to have Joe Thomas (or pick your favorite LT) on our team this year, would you say that would make us the odds on favorite?  Gross wasn't considered "elite" last year but I wouldn't say that there is such a large drop off that is significantly reduced our chances of a championship.

 

Remember how Bell looked at RT last year?  Imagine that type of performance at both OT positions.  That's what I fear.  In that case, yes, it most certainly significantly reduces our chances of a championship - and likely Cam Newton's life expectancy.

[KillerKat]

Jordan Gross is the missing piece we just need to convince his skinny ass to hit the buffet table and come back.

since that likely won't happen cuts start coming down in 2 months we will pick someone else to play LT.

And if that happens, Chandler could start at RT and it will greatly improve the team.

[CheeseCP]

LT for sure.

 

I wonder, with the way our team is set up, if you wouldn't do better to bring in a road grading RT.  The defense is pretty stout.  The secondary is an unknown but you know that the front 7 will take a good amount of pressure off of them.  So maybe, being limited to one player, you try to boost the run game and eat up the clock as opposed to trying to work on the passing game.  I don't know that you can really fix the passing game with one player (need a LT, RT, and arguably a WR).

[CheeseCP]

Remember how Bell looked at RT last year?  Imagine that type of performance at both OT positions.  That's what I fear.  In that case, yes, it most certainly significantly reduces our chances of a championship - and likely Cam Newton's life expectancy.

 

 

I don't think anyone would argue (although we all hope) that Bell and/or Chandler will not be a drop off from Gross.  What I meant to convey was that Gross was not such a large drop off from the "elite" LTs that it seriously affected our chances.