The NFCS ...2015 and beyond.

[Jmac]

Some optimism for the holidays. Saints and brees are on the way out. Overhaul coming to N.O. Brees getting long in the tooth and Peyton not the same since the suspension. Bucs still searching for a QB, not ready for primetime. Falcons good offense, but lacking everywhere else. Possibly overhaul also if they tank last three games

We have good young players, cap room starting to open up and another DG draft coming soon. Time to seize the moment and take this division over starting in 2015. DG please do what needs to be done. Happy Holidays to all.

[mbarbour21]

I'm most worried about the Bucs, if they can pull it together. They have some pieces on defenses with McCoy, Verner, and David. Also offensively, Evans, Jackson, Martn, and ASJ. If they can add a QB, they will improve greatly, quickly. IMO.

[thefuzz]

I'm most worried about the Bucs, if they can pull it together. They have some pieces on defenses with McCoy, Verner, and David. Also offensively, Evans, Jackson, Martn, and ASJ. If they can add a QB, they will improve greatly, quickly. IMO.

 

I think that VJ will be gone in the off season.

 

 

Here's to hoping the Panthers take a long look.

 

 

And I agree with the OP.  If we can get a good contract with Cam done, and keep this going, this team is going to be a good club for a while.

[mbarbour21]

Oh yeah, for sure. We should be good for years if we plantlike yesterday. One game hasn't convinced me. Do we have the talent? Yes. Will the staff allow us to compete year in and year out? Don't know....

[TheRumGone]

I wanna see cam being allowed to progress into a top 5 qb aided by a stout line, running game and explosive weapons. So that when he starts getting up in age at the end of his career he can perform solely from the pocket and succeed. Gotta build around this guy.

Need more pass rushers, secondary is progressing nicely minus safety play. Need young talent there. We got some great pieces. Need competent coaching and some cash for DG to work some magic

[ThPantherFan]

I'm most worried about the Bucs, if they can pull it together. They have some pieces on defenses with McCoy, Verner, and David. Also offensively, Evans, Jackson, Martn, and ASJ. If they can add a QB, they will improve greatly, quickly. IMO.

Not only that but coaching is a better than what this season is telling.

[bigdog10]

The Saints are in a tail spin and their cap situation is horrendous for the next couple years.  I think the Brees-Payton window is closing pretty quick down there and they had better start grooming a QB or they are going to revert back to the Aaron Brooks days.

 

The Falcons are a mystery to me.  I don't think Matt Ryan is that bad and they have some offensive weapons with Julio, Douglas, White, and A. Smith.  They need a better o-line and run game.  Their defense also needs addressing, but they could focus on that through the draft.  The wildcard with them is their coach.  if Mike Smith stays, they will continue to meddle in the 7-9 to 10-6 range year after year. 

 

The Bucs need a QB and a pass rush.  They have some promising pieces, but they need to hit on some picks.  I'm not enamored with Lovie Smith as a head coach, but he needs to fix the defense before he is able to succeed in Tampa.  They had better draft an impact player with their high pick.  All the talk will likely be Mariotta to Tampa, but I wonder if Lovie has the guts to put his coaching career on the back of a rookie.  He seems a little too old school and hard headed to let that happen.  My guess is they draft a DE at #1 or #2.

 

The panthers are just incredibly inconsistent.  I'd say we have better pieces in place on defense than all the teams in our division, but our offense is clearly the weakest.  Hopefully, this entire offseason is geared towards revamping the offense.  I think they can do it in one offseason if they put the sole focus on it and do the following:

 

-Sign FA LT (it doesn't matter who.  Anyone is an upgrade over Bell at this point)

-Extend Remmers (Is he great, no.  Is he better than Chandler, yes.  Is he the most viable starting RT option on this team currently, yes).

-Start Norwell, Kalil, and Turner in the middle

-Post June 1st Cut D-Will

-Draft best available WR in round one (ideally a speed guy or a guy with great hands).  We have our physical threat in KB

-Turn the RB duties over to Stew, with Fozz subbing in

-If the opportunity presents itself to take a good RB in the second, do it.  We all know Stewart is not made for a 16 game season and i don't have faith that Fozzy could handle the load.  If you get the chance to get a good back in the 2nd, take him.

[CarolinaNCSU]

I was just thinking this same thing yesterday.

 

NO - Brees getting older, they have MAJOR cap hell on the horizon, and while they have some nice young guys...the cupboard isn't exactly stocked.

ATL - A lot of holes, Ryan is good but not great...and has hit his ceiling, Julio will command big money soon, Roddy is getting old, young players outside of Trufant? Not many. 

TB - A perennial clusterfug for a while now, will almost certainly be drafting a QB in the Top 5 (please be Winston), Lovie has never proven to be great...but they do have nice pieces. If they hit on a QB, they could be dangerous in the next couple of years.

 

And then Carolina. Coming out of cap hell, hopefully avoiding bad contracts, find a LT, clearly have an abundance of young talent, and maybe a new/progressive coach on the way...the division is there for the taking on a consistent basis these next few years, IF, we play this next offseason or two the right way. 

[Happy Panther]

 

-Sign FA LT (it doesn't matter who.  Anyone is an upgrade over Bell at this point)

-Extend Remmers (Is he great, no.  Is he better than Chandler, yes.  Is he the most viable starting RT option on this team currently, yes).

-Start Norwell, Kalil, and Turner in the middle

-Post June 1st Cut D-Will

-Draft best available WR in round one (ideally a speed guy or a guy with great hands).  We have our physical threat in KB

-Turn the RB duties over to Stew, with Fozz subbing in

-If the opportunity presents itself to take a good RB in the second, do it.  We all know Stewart is not made for a 16 game season and i don't have faith that Fozzy could handle the load.  If you get the chance to get a good back in the 2nd, take him.

Pretty much this. Although I would hate if we used a 2nd on a RB.

[davos]

I can see Ryan having a late career resurgence with a coaching change.  The Saints are gonna rebuild soon (<2-3 years), and Bucs can really only go up.  

 

The Bucs could land Mariota with the #1 pick.  We'll see but we should be able to continue trending up because our cap situation is now improving year by year and we've got our D and O leader for years in place in their mid-20s.  

[davos]

-Sign FA LT (it doesn't matter who.  Anyone is an upgrade over Bell at this point)

-Extend Remmers (Is he great, no.  Is he better than Chandler, yes.  Is he the most viable starting RT option on this team currently, yes).

-Start Norwell, Kalil, and Turner in the middle

-Post June 1st Cut D-Will

-Draft best available WR in round one (ideally a speed guy or a guy with great hands).  We have our physical threat in KB

-Turn the RB duties over to Stew, with Fozz subbing in

-If the opportunity presents itself to take a good RB in the second, do it.  We all know Stewart is not made for a 16 game season and i don't have faith that Fozzy could handle the load.  If you get the chance to get a good back in the 2nd, take him.

 

I agree with almost all of this...except the round 1 part.  Even if we get a decent LT in the FA (which depends on team cuts after this season and who fits our scheme), I'd still like to look for a tackle in the draft.  Maybe one that starts out at RT like Gross did and transitions to the left eventually.  Remmers has played 2 games so I think it's showing us how much we got used to the nightmare that was Nate Chandler.  Wouldn't mind giving him a small 2-yr deal if he finishes the year up strong.    

 

I'm pretty much open to every position minus QB, MLB, RB, FB, OG, C and K/P in round one if the talent is there.   

[bLACKpANTHER]

wasnt this same thread made 50x this offseason??

[Goondal]

I'm most worried about the Bucs, if they can pull it together. They have some pieces on defenses with McCoy, Verner, and David. Also offensively, Evans, Jackson, Martn, and ASJ. If they can add a QB, they will improve greatly, quickly. IMO.

 

Agreed.  I think TB will actually end up being our toughest competition inside the division over the next few years, mostly because the other two are a mess.

[ctrcat]

This IS the NFCS..2015 and beyond.  So bright we gotta wear shades.