what was the most talented team in panthers history

[Chimera]

I was raised a panthers fan since season one, but being that I'm 25, I didn't understand the game until about 2002-03 and didn't truly appreciate and recognize the subtle things (blocking, coverages etc.) until 07-08. 

So in my memory, I've always felt that 03 was our most magical team and that 05-06 was our most talented on paper.

In 1996 I was 6 years old. So, any of you veterans care to explain to me what was truly so special about that team? I remember watching all those games with my dad growing up. But I think my focus back then was more on my ball cards and ninja turtle figures. Would love to hear about some of what made that team so good. 

Mostly defense. Dom Capers was truly a master of the 3-4 and zone blitzes. At the time, it was new and exotic. Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon were the perfect OLBs for the scheme. They each had around 14 or 15 sacks each. Opposing QBs had like 1.5 seconds to throw, especially on 3rd and long. You couldn't run against us. Your QB doesn't have time in the pocket. The only way to beat us was to have a GOAT offense like the Packers that year. On offense, we only needed to get the ball to about the 40. Kasay was automatic from anywhere that year. However, Anthony Johnson came out of nowhere and ran over everyone. He wore down at the end of the season, but he was a machine for a good portion of the year. We didn't have a red zone offense that year. We had Wesley fuging Walls. He owned everything from the 20 to the end zone. Imagine 2011 Jimmy Graham, but with toughness and balls of steel.

[Chimera]

Since I can't edit with the app, I just wanted to add something. In the off chance a team did score against us, they had to kick off to 1992 Olympic bronze medal winning sprinter Michael Bates. Good luckm

[WOW!!]

The 2008-2009 team that lost to the  Cardinals.. 

[RelaxImaPro]

2008 was overall the best team we've ever had.  The one thing that really held us back that year was Jake, as much as I love him.  That team was loaded.

If we had pre-surgery Jake I don't have a doubt in my mind we would've at the very least made the Super Bowl (weak ass NFC that year) with a very good chance of winning it.

[pantherj]

It's funny Jake didn't think the 08' team was all that talented. This 15' team is most talented team we've had under Cam, so I'm hoping for big things.

[Chimera]

I remember the 2008 team's defense came unhinged at the end of the season. Ken Lucas wouldn't have been able to slow down the hypothetically deadly combination of Pickles and Legatron.

 

Offensively, of course, I think that team was at the top.

[Donald LaFell]

I think 2005 was way better than the 2008 squad. If we had had Jenkins healthy and Moose didn't go chasing after money in Chicago we would have gone all the way :(

[Car123]

2004 could have been special.

[DamnItJake!]

The year we went to the Super Bowl !!!!!! Duh!!!!!! Or were u still in diapers??

[Davidson Deac II]

Matt Moore wouldn't have done any better. 2010 gave fairly good evidence as to why Fox was always reluctant to put him in.

Pretty much any NFL quarterback would have done better in that game.  Matt never had a game as bad as Jake did in that one.  If nothing else, Fox would have run the ball more with Moore in the game, which would have been better. 

 

That being said, Matt played fairly well when he came in for Jake in 09.  In fact, it was a vast improvement.  We went from awful to average in the passing game.