Panthers Field Second Oldest Roster

[hepcat]

27 is a prime age for an NFL player.  Panthers have a lot of experience and depth at all positions.  This is the deepest Panther team I've seen in a long time.  They lost their X-Factor on offense, which is a big blow, but this is not a bad team by any means.  I see them at 8-8 even if they get unlucky with a few bad losses. 

[TheNewStandard]

27 is a prime age for an NFL player.  Panthers have a lot of experience and depth at all positions.  This is the deepest Panther team I've seen in a long time.  They lost their X-Factor on offense, which is a big blow, but this is not a bad team by any means.  I see them at 8-8 even if they get unlucky with a few bad losses. 

I can see that happening and I really wouldn't be upset. I've tempered my expectations for this year as it will go a long way towards solidifying all 3-phases for the future of this team. 

I still think we take the division even though we have a brutal schedule outside of our division games. But having to throw young players into the fire is gonna give this team experience in a playoff atmosphere, against the best teams in the league and that's something you just can't teach. 

If you wanna be the best, you gotta beat the best and this season is gonna show the entire squad exactly what it takes to get over the hump and become truly elite.

[ColumbusCounty]

Cole is are oldest player??? 

Wow ... I must have missed the memo. I thought that title belonged to Harper.. TD..or Tilman.

I knew Ginn had been around the block but I didnt know he was 30. Makes me wonder if he's the fastest player in the nfl in his 30's. Who challenges??? Smitty?? 

[tondi]

This always seemed like an overhyped issue to me.  I mean, the entire spread of average ages within the whole league is only a year or two,  Does that really matter much either way?

[KB_fan]

I still think we take the division even though we have a brutal schedule outside of our division games. But having to throw young players into the fire is gonna give this team experience in a playoff atmosphere, against the best teams in the league and that's something you just can't teach. 

If you wanna be the best, you gotta beat the best and this season is gonna show the entire squad exactly what it takes to get over the hump and become truly elite.

A slight aside, but your comment reminded me of something I've been encouraged about re: Norwood since we traded for him last week.  Think about who he's practiced against:  The fabled Legion of Boom.  Amazing secondary.  If that hasn't toughened him up, nothing will.  I think we might be quite surprised how quickly he becomes an important part of our offense in terms of being able to make tough catches in traffic and against elite secondaries.

I'm excited...

[CPF4LIFE]

This shouldnt be surprising, we LOVE to pickup vets for their experience and film room

[TheNewStandard]

This shouldnt be surprising, we LOVE to pickup vets for their experience and film room

Vets can bring an "air" of professionalism, but it is just a game when it comes down to it and I hope above all else, that the vets we bring in have learned and can bring fun into the locker-room that inspires, bonds and strengthens the team as a cohesive unit.

I hate to harken back to the '13 team of "monsters incorporated," but that's what this team needs on all fronts and that persona becomes instilled and permeates throughout the Franchise and it's fans. That's what I miss most about Hardy and Smitty...but those guys are just outta control loose cannons.

its a fine-line on the razor's edge between chaos and execution.

[panthers55]

Irregardless of what the author implies which is that the difference among teams is significant, when the difference between the oldest roster and the youngest is 2.3 years and the majority are within a year of one another, what difference does it make when we are talking the difference between 26 and 28. Hardly a big deal.

[Ruff]

Irregardless of what the author implies which is that the difference among teams is significant, when the difference between the oldest roster and the youngest is 2.3 years and the majority are within a year of one another, what difference does it make when we are talking the difference between 26 and 28. Hardly a big deal.

This^.

I mean, if our roster had an average age of like, 34, then I would be worried about the longevity of the team. But just because we're slightly in our late 20s as a team, that's not very concerning. 

[TheNewStandard]

This^.

I mean, if our roster had an average age of like, 34, then I would be worried about the longevity of the team. But just because we're slightly in our late 20s as a team, that's not very concerning. 

yeah, it's all relative to where and who the age is. 

Luckily for us, our core is relatively young and hopefully we get to keep that core intact. 

I really like our team's personnel.

[RickyManningJr]

Is the app only for insiders. Mine hasnt updated since july.

[French Navy]

Damn, CAP is 25?

Did he get his masters at Auburn or something, the hell?

[CPantherKing]

So, Gettleman was a genius for building one of the youngest teams with great young depth that will be around for the next decade.

Now, Gettleman is a genius for building one of the oldest teams in the NFL because of their experience.

Which is it?

I know other people feel the same way with this insane Gettleman love that is thrown around. This is all for a man that has gutted a team of talent to make them older and turn them into a team with a smaller window for success while being middle of the pack with little to no chance of beating the best in the NFL.

Two more seasons of the same results and you all will wake up. Getting to the playoffs means nothing if a team can not run off a 3 to 4 game win streak against the best teams in the NFL.

[TheNewStandard]

In response to the above poster, I'm trying to be unbiased as much as I can. I mean, the Panthers aren't exactly middle of the road but according to our '14 season and basically getting gifted the division, I understand the concern. 

Yes, the "window of opportunity" may seem small, and yes, the team has had high turnover and has even been patchwork for the most part. But you can't say that about the true building blocks or core of this team has been upended in any way whatsoever.

i truly believe that this team will have a shot at a Conference title every year, so long as Gettleman continues to draft starters and keeps the core intact.

one of these days, this team is going to be fully healthy and when our O-line finally gets set, this team has enough talent to compete with any team. Sure, we may be a year or two away from becoming favorites by the pundits and not just from homer fans.