Barnwell: Re-caging the Panthers

[UNCrules2187]

Nothing we haven't already heard. The only things worth mentioning is that Vegas believes we have the third-toughest schedule in the league and that teams that improved by exactly 5 wins from one season to the next tend to give back 2.4 wins a season later. I think 9 or 10 wins this season would make most Panthers fans happy though.

 

http://grantland.com/features/re-caging-the-panthers/

[ctrcat]

If 9 or 10 wins get us into the dance, and it just might, then I'm in. Like Jake said, "you can't win it unless you're in it."

I wouldn't bet on Cam getting his first of my projected five titles this year, but I wouldn't bet against it. We will certainly be battle tested if we're standing in January.

[CatMan72]

We didn't "stumble" into a winning formula last year, Rivera became more aggressive and the things we were trying to do all along finally fell into place.

I also have a hard time understanding how our WR corp is so much worse than it was last year? You're telling me LaFell + Ginn > Cotchery + Avant? Smitty is better than all of the above but he was no longer our #1 receiver.

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[RoaringRiot]

I don't think 9 wins gets us in - possibly not 10. Not with the West stacked the way they are. 

[DecrypticShadow]

Last season we were projected to have the toughest schedule and we finished with 12 wins..

9 wins just isn't going to cut it in the NFC.

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[joemac]

Wow according to that article we might as well not even show up this season? Can we even win a game???

[updownsigma]

Lol at no actual explanation of how receivers are worse, just "they're sorry"

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[updownsigma]

Also, why do none of these "panthers are fuged" columns mention Shula? I guess Cams the easier target but I expect Barnwell to at least acknowledge that's why the offense might struggle

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[mbarbour21]

There is so much wrong with this article it kills me. Jordan Gross was great, but the best offensive player......i don't know. Gano replaceable??? He is money!!! I know we jumped 5 games but we could have easily won 5 more the year before. He has some good points too, but he still got me shakin my head...

[Maverick]

If we had the patriots logo on our helmets and jersey's this team would be talked about by the media with the same roster as we were great.

[vorbis]

it's interesting how so many writeups lamenting the offseason and projected regression to the mean of the Panthers trod the same tired arguments and don't add anything new. I don't think it's quite as simple as the volume of ominous projections would have us believe.

[CarolinaSamurai]

These reports are just people who are scared of the unknown. They think it's fail because they don't know how we will do or how new players will play. we don't have big name at WR and they can't possibly comprehend that.

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[UpstatePanther]

I don't think 9 wins gets us in - possibly not 10. Not with the West stacked the way they are. 

 

agreed. i think we need at least 11 wins to be quaranteed a playoff spot. and that 11th win may have to come in week 17. could we win 12 or 13? sure. but will we? probably not.

 

12 gets us in this year. 11 is uncomfortable but probably in. 10 wins and we are having to depend on tiebreakers for a spot IMHO

[mbarbour21]

I understand why they think we will regress because of the level of 'supposed' talent in our division and because it will be hard to get into the playoffs if we don't win that division. However, other than LT, there really just isn't a spot that we *CLEARLY* took a major hit. Jordan was a long-time anchor on that line. As for returns, Ginn was productive, but he wont hitting home runs. In fact, many believed he slacked off a bit due to his increased role in the offense. So whoever we have to replace him needs to catch the ball, have a decent return, or CALL/SCREAM poison so we don't have those stupid crushing turnovers.

Plus, with the hopeful emergence of B. Williams and the addition of Dickson, Cotchery, Avant, and KB we should have no problem matching (or surpassing) the receiver production from last year. Most writers don't even mention the methodical T.O.P. scheme we play. And how we addressed our two major offensive problems.(red zone threats & dropped passes)

Also, many people don't see Cam as much more than a 'glorified game manager'. Oh yeah, and he isn't Elite because he has no Elite receivers........he has no weapons and has great statistics.....so he is meh. "Common sense".....really ain't common.