Out with the "old". In with the new?

[KB_fan]

In the thread on Brockel, just a little while ago, I posted a sample of some data analysis I did over the weekend to examine whether as is so often said, "Ron really loves the vets."  That statement has surprised me given that I've seen us playing a lot of rookies.  I wasn't sure if last year was just an exception due to all the injuries.

I'll write this up as a separate blog entry / forum topic in the next 2 - 3 days, but for now, you can get a preview of what I found here:

Rivera has shown a willingness to play rookies.  I'm sure he does have his "favorites" and perhaps has kept some guys around too long as well.  I would imagine every coach in the league has done that at some point. 

But also, I wouldn't be too quick to hop on the "let's start a lot of rookies" bandwagon.  It's a fine balance.  Looking at the last 10 years of Panthers rosters, there is a striking correlation between the level of experience of the team and their win record.  More experience = more wins. 

Obviously it's a fine balance, but having just looked at this data over the weekend, I'm not jumping too quickly on the bandwagon to get rid of Tolbert or Cotchery, for instance.

 

[AceBoogie]

You talking about benching Cam for Webb?

[iamcline]

Corey did drop those passes, however, Cam has got to develop some softer passes.  Everything doesn't need to be mock 2 to get to the receiver.   I suspect many passes that are dropped are because the wr just cant handle the velocity cam puts on his passes.

If a wide receiver can't catch a football thrown from a quarterback, they need to seek another profession because that is their job title.

[AceBoogie]

Corey did drop those passes, however, Cam has got to develop some softer passes.  Everything doesn't need to be mock 2 to get to the receiver.   I suspect many passes that are dropped are because the wr just cant handle the velocity cam puts on his passes.

this is the NFL, grown men. I don't want to hear that the quarterback throws too hard. 

[pantherj]

Cotchery and Corey are not the type of WRs Cam needs for this offense. Both players don't fight for the ball well at all, and they are not sure handed. We don't pass the ball as much as many other teams, and when we do it's often for big chunks of yardage. We can't have our WRs getting out muscled for passes that aren't perfect, or dropping the few deep passes our offense has to connect on to even function. They actually both need to be cut, but we're in a bad position WR wise due to Gettleman bringing in trash in FA, and not drafting enough high quality WRs. So now we fans are suffering, and the answer at WR is not on the roster. Anyone can see that. We'll have to wait on cuts now.

If things don't pan out from cuts, then RR and Gettleman will use Cam's leg to try and keep their jobs. Be ready for the read option, designed runs for Cam, and a lot of scrambling. This is the backup plan for poor team planning in regard to our offense.

[Cookie Lyon]

this is the NFL, grown men. I don't want to hear that the quarterback throws too hard. 

Amen.

[rodeo]

The balls Brown dropped were not even hard. They were both long, one was a deep pass that bounced off his chest. There was no heat to take off it.

[Paa Langfart]

I was going to say the same thing in a more democratic manner. LOL

Hopefully you would have spelled better as well.

[top dawg]

Rivera has shown a willingness to play rookies.  I'm sure he does have his "favorites" and perhaps has kept some guys around too long as well.  I would imagine every coach in the league has done that at some point. 

But also, I wouldn't be too quick to hop on the "let's start a lot of rookies" bandwagon.  It's a fine balance.  Looking at the last 10 years of Panthers rosters, there is a striking correlation between the level of experience of the team and their win record.  More experience = more wins. 

Obviously it's a fine balance, but having just looked at this data over the weekend, I'm not jumping too quickly on the bandwagon to get rid of Tolbert or Cotchery, for instance.

 

Well, that's where it's nice to have a GM that can offer Ron some guidance, some forced through the wielding of his ax. 

I don't necessarily think that we should start rookies, as much as we should keep the rookies on the roster for depth. There are veterans who were brought here to compete for jobs, and they have experience and have done better jobs so far of showing why they should make the roster as compared to some vets that were here.  You can't take anything away from Todman, Boykin, or Coleman so far.  Their experience may be proving more valuable than the experience that was already here. 

As for the rookies, it is what it is.  I am certainly not going to keep a guy just because he has been here for a year or two and put up pedestrian productivity at the expense of a promising talent that has shown by his desire and effort that he absolutely deserves to be here.

[Paa Langfart]

Greg Olsen doesnt seem to have a problem handling Cams bullets.

[pantherj]

The NFL is a cruel bitch. If you slack and make mistakes filling a certain position, then one injury in that position can ruin your team, and often it doesn't even take an injury. There is no mercy. If you don't acquire enough talent, then we see exactly that on the field. 

[Byrdman4real]

The problems with the receivers is more mental then physical. They seem to be thinking more then acting. They need to visualize the the route then attack it with force. They seem to have doubts and not have confidence. Boykin showed a great level of confidence last night. 

[Swaggasaurus]

Browns a body catcher it has nothing to do with Cam. At this point our top wideouts are likely going to be funchess and ginn on the outside and cotchery in the slot. Brown will back up cotchery. Bersin and Boykin will back up the outside. WR is not even a  battle at this point w/o KB, we keep these guys. Now the Whittaker, Wegher, Todman battle is a battle. And the Tolbert, brockel, Ward battle should be. As far as vets getting the ax as a surprise look at perhaps that FB battle, but most likely DT. Dwan, Cole, Redden, Love, who takes those 2 spots? 

[top dawg]

Browns a body catcher it has nothing to do with Cam. At this point our top wideouts are likely going to be funchess and ginn on the outside and cotchery in the slot. Brown will back up cotchery. Bersin and Boykin will back up the outside. WR is not even a  battle at this point w/o KB, we keep these guys. Now the Whittaker, Wegher, Todman battle is a battle. And the Tolbert, brockel, Ward battle should be. As far as vets getting the ax as a surprise look at perhaps that FB battle, but most likely DT. Dwan, Cole, Redden, Love, who takes those 2 spots? 

Tell Brown that it's not a battle---Corey and Mike!