Rookies turning this thing around

[ThPantherFan]

The rookies are doing fantastic.  You do have to give Gettleman credit.  The rookie class will only get better with time.

[FootballMaestro]

Hopefully next year it doesn't take wasting half the season and injuries before the right players end up starting.

 

I just don't want the improvement of the OL, which was at one point arguably the worst our franchise has ever seen, to give our FO a false sense of security. We still need to keep looking for talent there, and LT is still a need. Bell is not a starter, it really is not a debate.

 

Also, I hate to say it, but I wouldn't put it past Ron to plug Amini and Chandler back in as starters when they're healthy again. If Ron is going to be here next season, which it certainly looks that way, Gettleman needs to reel Rivera in on his roster management, immediately.

 

Agree with you in spirit.

 

However, if the Panthers unfortunately keep Rivera, then I'm not sure GMan keeps a tight leash on him.

 

GMan seems like a "Give You Your Own Rope To Sink Yourself" type of guy, or he just won't rehire you (which we know may not be all his decision with Rivera concerning JR).

 

[mbarbour21]

We should probably cut him now

Guess the answer was on our roster

Or we can try to trade him for picks!!!

I hear trading coaches and stuff is something that actually happens. Per San Fran.....

[FootballMaestro]

Exactly, three wins against losing teams, two of which were playing for nothing does not suddenly give me hope. The oline looks better and Cam is playing better but it may be a consequence of the poor competition we've faced.

However, we were unable to beat bad teams at the beginning of the season so maybe it's a legit improvement. That can only be proven by winning at least two playoff games IMO

 

Tough I agree with you and others here in spirit (regarding beating poor teams). You gotta get the experience and confidence somewhere. So why not against lesser competition.

 

Hopefully, this will prime all these guys to put out the effort against Atlanta this weekend, and any other teams in the future, including a possible playoff run.

 

Obviously, the 12000 lb Elephant in the room, will be Rivera and Shula and what they do the next game/in the future with these potential burgeoning talents.

 

[TheRed]

Agree with you in spirit.

 

However, if the Panthers unfortunately keep Rivera, then I'm not sure GMan keeps a tight leash on him.

 

GMan seems like a "Give You Your Own Rope To Sink Yourself" type of guy, or he just won't rehire you (which we know may not be all his decision with Rivera concerning JR).

 

I think anyone with eyes can see the good work that Gettleman has done for us.

 

That said, we can only hope that he has learned a tough lesson with his approach to the OL to start the season.

 

We clearly have talent. The main concern is whether or not we will continue to be stuck in mediocrity or just above mediocre with a head coach who claims to be learning from his mistakes, yet continually makes the same ones over and over each season costing us games.

 

If Gettleman doesn't put a short leash on Rivera next year based on his clear coaching history, then he's just as responsible, if not more. I don't buy the idea at all that Gettleman does not have final say over Rivera. The Steve Smith fiasco should tell you otherwise.

[FootballMaestro]

I think anyone with eyes can see the good work that Gettleman has done for us.

 

That said, we can only hope that he has learned a tough lesson with his approach to the OL to start the season.

 

We clearly have talent. The main concern is whether or not we will continue to be stuck in mediocrity or just above mediocre with a head coach who claims to be learning from his mistakes, yet continually makes the same ones over and over each season costing us games.

 

If Gettleman doesn't put a short leash on Rivera next year based on his clear coaching history, then he's just as responsible, if not more. I don't buy the idea at all that Gettleman does not have final say over Rivera. The Steve Smith fiasco should tell you otherwise.

 

I do agree, and hope that GMan does have final say over Rivera. I do.

 

However, if he brings him back, I'm not sure he'll read him the riot act?

 

This is funny, cause I used to believe that there was 'no way GMan could watch tape of the prior Panther seasons before he got here (even the beginning of last season), and not notice that Rivera is a very compromised coach; having trouble managing his own coaches; making personnel moves, and of course his game management decisions', to not want to "Manage Rivera" himself from the GM position.

 

However, after seeing Rivera's repeated antics again this year (as you've noted), I would just as much fire Rivera instead of bringing him back if I'm GMan. An NFL head coach shouldn't have On The Job Training, until he gets it right the 49th time or whenever. So if he does bring Dum Dum Ron Ron back, why would Rivera be handled properly, when he should have already given any reputable GM enough to jettison him to begin with?

 

It appears to be a courage issue with the Panthers (along with JR's reputed cheapness, and aloofness): Could you, or would you fire a coach, who you know is not the answer, who nonetheless seemingly fights for his job at the end of every season (or when it seems lost) during Garbage time???

 

I agree with you. If Rivera could some how manage to cut out his patented errors and pansy play, the team could probably win an extra 2-5 games a year the past 4 seasons. No argument there. However,  will Gettleman tell a coach making $5 mil a year (though we know he doesn't deserve it) how to manage his team; though we know he needs it?

 

Like the movie title; it's complicated!

[MHS831]

Hopefully next year it doesn't take wasting half the season and injuries before the right players end up starting.

 

I just don't want the improvement of the OL, which was at one point arguably the worst our franchise has ever seen, to give our FO a false sense of security. We still need to keep looking for talent there, and LT is still a need. Bell is not a starter, it really is not a debate.

 

Also, I hate to say it, but I wouldn't put it past Ron to plug Amini and Chandler back in as starters when they're healthy again. If Ron is going to be here next season, which it certainly looks that way, Gettleman needs to reel Rivera in on his roster management, immediately.

 

This is all over it.  I question Rivera's eye for talent on the offensive side of the ball.

[mav1234]

I would put more emphasis on those blowouts at this point, that is absolutely abysmal. We seem to have quickly forgotten.

 

Is the team that much better, or is the level of competition lower?

 

We've got one win against a winning team right now. I still don't know how we beat the Lions.

 

The team is better, though I expect us to get destroyed in the playoffs if we even get in (assuming Arizona isn't still starting Lindley or whomever it is - Stanton is good enough to roll that offense).  We were blown out by the Saints (more or less ) and the Vikings.  We then blew the Saints out, and I think we'd beat the Vikings if we played them tomorrow.  I still think we lose to great teams, but I think the rookies are the only reason we're 3-0.  We may be beating bad teams, but we were losing to bad teams earlier in the season, too.

[MHS831]

I hope you mean we need Lester not Harper. I don't think anyone has said we need Harper this year.

 

SS

 

I am not a fan of either, but Harper is the achilles heel of the defense.

[MHS831]

why didn't Newton include Kony Ealy?

 

Good point.  THis was the seven STARTERS last week.  Ealy didn't actually start, but played a key role.

 

[Jmac]

For all the DG haters out there....this man knows more about talent evaluation then just about any GM in the league. Happy he is on our side.

[CarolinaCoolin]

Bene has been the biggest surprise IMO.

everyone talking Norman....this may be the real future stud

Not really a surprise. If you followed training camp at all or what Zod was posting you knew he was big time.

[bandu]

Good point. THis was the seven STARTERS last week. Ealy didn't actually start, but played a key role.

so,every rookie on the 53 man roster except Kony Ealy,Carrington Byndum,and David Foucault started,wow, and kudos to ole nippleshorts

[The Huddler]

I think the lull in our performance overall this season, bad record and all, was by design. As painful as it was, replacing okd expensive guys with young talent had to be done. Yes, there was going to be a drop off to begin the season, but now we are seeing the young guys pick it up