This 2015 team could be something special

[Jangler]

Whenever I feel this way about a Panther team, they always wind up being short bus special.

[DeeJay]

Oh we gonna be mean and nasty,

Especially with our new oline improved and healthy cam

[PanthersAlv]

I too have the feeling that this team can be special this season.

Remember when everyone was scream'n about "WE NEED ____!!!" and "WHY AREN'T THEY GETTING WHAT WE NEED!!!???"

Man, it feel god to sit back and do the whole "hind sight" thing, and see how a plan comes together when you let it play out and stick to it.

Yes, there are still concerns... But, I don't think there is ever a team that doesn't have a concern.

This team as it looks to line up now, has that drive and potential that, when pushed in the right direction, and given the right attitude to keep that drive alive, could make history.

I can't wait to be honest. It's killing me waiting.

I'm counting the days until Training camp... it's truly that sad for me right now. LOL

[bigskypanthersguy]

 

Oddly the position that scares me the most is RB.  Outside of Stewart we have little to be excited about.  Fozzy didn't show too much last year when Williams and Stewart were out and Reaves was worse.  Stewart gets injured and we could become one dimensional just like the playoff team of 2005.  Hopefully between the line improvement and some fresh legs we'll be OK.  The chances Stewart goes down with injury at some point this season is pretty high.  I don't think he has ever played a full season without sitting out one game.

 

 

DE depth worries me....if Alexander gets suspended again, there's not a ton behind him and Ealy's still developing.  I wouldn't have minded keeping one of the picks we traded for a developmental DE.

[GRWatcher]

I'm usually the we're-gonna-knock-it-outta-the-park optimist. But this year, besides being very excited about everything we've done in the offseason, I'm nervous. Why? Because injuries. We are soooo close to the team that Rivera & Gettleman & Richardson know can win it all. That we fans know can win it all! We had injuries last year that set us back some: Cam, CJ, Stewart, D. Williams, Benewickerie, Corey Brown, almost the entire o-line, and more. We had talented & strong will-of-heart men step up; Gettleman found some late gems too. Was it good luck (as our NFCS rivals say) that we made it to the playoffs through all of that? Maybe we had the football gods smiling on us? Or was it the talent of our trainers & their staff along with the keen eye of our pro scouts and the teaching skills of our coaches?

I'm hoping it's the latter but thinking of the football gods in a positive light. :)

 

[Shadow]

This team has so much potential, Eeyore would be optimistic.

[KB_fan]

Not having read the Huddle in any previous offseason, I did a bit of digging back in the archives to try to get a sense of what kind of similar threads might have been posted in previous years. 

For the most part, it seems like this year's optimism is stronger than recent years.  I think three key reasons are 1) the work of the front office in nailing down key contracts and thus giving stability and clarity the team can build on, and 2) the greater depth at most positions which is producing real competition and perhaps helping the team fight against complacency, and 3) the hugely improved cap situation which provides room to grow & improve even further.

However, this time last year optimism also seemed quite strong, naturally, coming off of a 12-4 season and with a good draft.  With hindsight it's possible to see that some signs of concern were there:

• About the OLine (of course)
• A certain lack of intensity in practices during training camp, and perhaps just how long it took the roster to gel.  There was SO much uncertainty about who would be playing what positions even until very very late in training camp,
• A lack of depth at some positions, leaving us very vulnerable following injuries.

This year's optimism LARGELY seems more realistic and grounded than 2014's was, more tempered by the realization that we've still got potential key weakness at OT and that injuries to certain players (like J Stewart, for instance) could be very damaging. 

All this to say, it's great to be able to feel very hopeful and sense that the hope is quite clear-eyed this year, not just a lot of wishful thinking!

[juliosantos]

I've told my dad that this team has the potential to be a Super Bowl caliber team. The only thing that could hold us back is Shula.

damn shula lol but what if shula builds on that hurry up offense? That's our best bet with shula

[juliosantos]

Great post. This is the strongest panther team I seen in a while. We are finally out of the rebuilding stage 

[mc52beast]

Newton can't run forever... Just ask Michael Vick

[Marguide]

Yes, this team has the potential to be special. It's a nice roster, and I love our defensive coaching staff. Some of the optimism, though, seems a bit over the top. I still have questions about RR and parts of our offensive coaching staff, and need to see some of our rookies perform when it counts, to join the super-confident group of Huddlers. Can't wait to get this thing started and see what we really have.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Newton can't run forever... Just ask Michael Vick

Not sure what your point is here.

[Donald LaFell]

I'm excited to see if Alexander or Ealy can be an effective DE, if that happens we're pretty fuging set.