A significant part of the Panthers success can be attributed to...

[t96]

1 hour ago, mcdougal said:

You know, reading comprehension is really fundamental.

Ensuring that a Return Specialist, a rookie, or an undrafted second year player is not your team's No. 1 WR is not "taking roster building lessons" from teams. And even if we did accept that premise, I qualified the statement with my reference to "1/10" and "1/20."

Beyond that there are reasons why I specially chose those QBs: Most are QBs drafted at or after Newton, or have been in the league for a similar number of years.

I could have gone with the playoff QBs of Rodgers, Manning, Big Ben, Wilson, and Smith. Maybe even Bridgewater as they brought in Mike Wallace (and drafted Diggs but not until the 4th round). All teams that since the arrival of those QBs their Front Office has gone out and ensured there was a certain level of talent associated with the WR core.

And Palmer stepped into one of the league's best WR core in 2013.

Happy?

 

Cam's going to win MVP and we're the #1 offense in the league with a return specialist, 2nd round rookie, veteran possession receiver and a 2nd year UDFA. And we'll have a top WR coming back from injury next year. Why in the world would we go out and spend money or high draft picks on "weapons" that we don't need while we have huge needs at other positions going forward? Only guy I can get behind is Megatron depending only on the cost and that's only because I think he would fit with Cam better than any other WR in NFL history (though he's clearly not in his prime any more) and is a high character guy that I think would fit in with the locker room perfectly. But if he would demand more than like $7M/year on the open market then I wouldn't even consider it.

[Peppers90 NC]

cohesion and trust

[mcdougal]

1 hour ago, thomas96 said:

Cam's going to win MVP and we're the #1 offense in the league with a return specialist, 2nd round rookie, veteran possession receiver and a 2nd year UDFA. And we'll have a top WR coming back from injury next year. Why in the world would we go out and spend money or high draft picks on "weapons" that we don't need while we have huge needs at other positions going forward? Only guy I can get behind is Megatron depending only on the cost and that's only because I think he would fit with Cam better than any other WR in NFL history (though he's clearly not in his prime any more) and is a high character guy that I think would fit in with the locker room perfectly. But if he would demand more than like $7M/year on the open market then I wouldn't even consider it.

You know, it is not against the CBA to have a talented WR core. I promise the Arizona Cardinals are not breaking the rules by having Fitz, Brown, and Floyd all on one team. It is perfectly legal to attempt to build a well rounded roster made up of top players in all units.

Our offensive success this season doesn't mean that you cannot, or that you should not even attempt to upgrade an area of your team that could use improvement. Are we not going to attempt to upgrade our secondary because we managed to have a top 5 defense this season too? Should the Texans not attempt to upgrade their QB situation because they managed to have success starting 5 different QBs this season? Should the Steelers pass on upgrading their secondary because their defense manged to rank 12th? What about the Seahawks? Should they continue to let Wilson get destroyed behind a mediocre OL because...well, hey now, Wilson managed to put up the highest QB rating this year!

Guys, the Panthers ranked 24th in the NFL in passing yards. Ted Ginn was the highest Panther ranked at 49th, the next two Panthers rank outside the top 100. It is not crazy to WANT to add a great WR to an group that next year will include an coming off season-ending injured, basically sophomore, raw KB, and raw Funchess. 

That DOESN'T mean we go full Colts or even Lions. But it is okay to surround your franchise QB with talented WRs that are more athletic than he is. It is okay to have a passing offense that is the strength of our team. 

That DOESN'T mean you go sacrifice Norman for Jefferies. Or pass on a Bosa for a Coleman.

But those Panthers fans that desire to have more than a bottom third WR group in-- terms of production and talent-- DO NOT have 5 eyes or 7 arms, or is drunk.

 

It's okay. I promise Newton is NOT going to turn into a pumpkin or a leprechaun because he has talent on the outside that is commensurate with is talent as a QB. Funchess' legs are NOT going to fall off if we add another talented WR. KB will not automatically tear off his arms if the Panthers try to upgrade the 24th passing offense.

Finally, I am pretty sure Roger Goodell is not going to have Dave Gettleman arrested for exploring and adding talent to the WR unit. Nor is he (Gettleman) going to turn into Matt Millen or the Colts for addressing a weakness.

[t96]

LOL I'm not even going to bother with this guy any more.

[mbarbour21]

6 hours ago, TheRumGone said:

I see us possibly drafting a speed guy with reliable hands to replace ginn. Otherwise I think it's gonna be heavy defense again.

I think the injuries show we kind of need it to be heavy on defense. Also depends on what happens in FA. I could see DE, SS, TE, OT, OG, and WR being the picks. Obviously with one or two trades, and not necessarily in that order. But I wouldn't be opposed. 

[SportsCrazie4172]

Cam emerging as a mentor for the inexperience WRs..

I remember where the Panthers crowd booed I believe Philly in one of our first games because of a drop pass..Cam not only pulled him aside and spoke to him after the dropped pass but also called out BOA in his post presser..

Even then in other pressers where the Media would question him about the drops he would insist that he would keep throwing their way, especially Ginn..

He is going to make a great coach one day..one of our reasons for the Panthers success..

[csx]

8 hours ago, mcdougal said:

Why is it almost a 4 letter word when anybody mentions ways in which to improve a unit that still ranks amongst the league's worst when it comes to talent and production, the WR core?

I am an FSU grad. Love Benji. Thought he was absolutely the right choice and had a great year as a rookie. He is also coming off an ACL injury where he missed the entire season. I know it is not something some may want to discuss...but there is a chance that KB does not come back the same. There is a chance that he develops injury problems for the rest of his career.And while he did have a great rookie season...less keep in perspective he was the 3rd most targeted WR on a team depleted of any other options last year. We MAY not talking about prime Calvin Johnson here.

At some point, the many high draft picks that we spent on the DLine needs to step up. Especially since so many want to give new contracts to all of them. So we are going to give all the DL contracts AND draft more pass rushers too AND sign Mario Williams?

For once, I would like for the Panthers front office to give Newton 1/10 the help that the:

Jaguars gave to Bortles

Raiders gave to Carr

Dolphins gave to Tannehill

Bengals gave to Dalton

And maybe 1/20 the help that the:

Colts gave to Luck

Lions gave to Stafford

Falcons gave to Ryan

Bears gave to Cutler

 

Just once, pretty please. Can we go into a season without a Punt Return Specialist as the No. 1 or a late first round rookie?

Just once...please???

 

Which one of those teams signed an un needed high dollar FA receiver and ended up being successful?

Do you care about winning or having a highly drafted wr? That makes no sense.

[Khyber53]

The success this year comes down to synchronicity (and not the album by The Police). All the stuff we had been working on came together at the same time, our QB and coaches matured at the same time, we picked up the right people this year and we had some younger players come into their own. We also had some opponents completely fall apart before they got to us and we have had the ball bounce in our favor more often than not.

All of that goes into a magical year. Just about every player on the team is peaking at the moment, and that's amazing, just amazing. Cam gets the attention, but look at any position group and you can see people performing at their top levels -- just our WR corps alone is performing astronomically better than anyone would have imagined on Sept. 1. Our o-line has been greatly improved and LT is not an immediate worry, but a strength. Heck, DBs are having a great year -- although with some serious health challenges now. TE has been good -- Olsen is phenomenal, but ED has shined at times, too. 

Synchronicity can be a powerful thing. Sure has been fun to watch.

 

[SeaMonster]

Gettleman took Benjamin and Funchess in back to back years.  He is clearly trying to upgrade the WR's.  The team will take a close look at Benjamin's status prior to the draft and free agency and plan accordingly. At the right price, Jeffrey would be awesome.

The GM's brilliance has been in refusing to reach for players in the draft or to overpay for veterans.  The Panthers will add more talent than they lose next year and this is all that can be asked. In the end, a talented roster will produce wins irrespective of the roster allocation.
 

 

[CPantherKing]

If the Lions go in to rebuild mode, I believe Calvin Johnson will retire if they force him to stay, or he will go into free agency and sign with the Panthers at a discount. There is only one thing he cares about now and that is a ring. He has connections with Cam Newton from the College Park area. He wants a decision quickly so he can start preparing for the 2016 season.

It appears to me to be very probable that we may see Calvin Johnson, Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn Jr., Stephen Hill, Corey Brown, and Jerricho Cotchery as the receivers for the Panthers in 2016.

[iamhubby1]

10 hours ago, mcdougal said:

7 hours ago, mcdougal said:

Guys, the Panthers ranked 24th in the NFL in passing yards. Ted Ginn was the highest Panther ranked at 49th, the next two Panthers rank outside the top 100. It is not crazy to WANT to add a great WR to an group that next year will include an coming off season-ending injured, basically sophomore, raw KB, and raw Funchess. 

It's okay. I promise Newton is NOT going to turn into a pumpkin or a leprechaun because he has talent on the outside that is commensurate with is talent as a QB. Funchess' legs are NOT going to fall off if we add another talented WR. KB will not automatically tear off his arms if the Panthers try to upgrade the 24th passing offense.

 

 

 

You do realize that the reason our top receiver ranked 49th, and that our passing game ranked 24th? We run more than we pass.

 

Let me rephrase that. We don't pass as much as other teams. Hence...our passing numbers tend to be lower. It does not however mean that we are unable to pass. Remarkably, we do it rather well. We just are not a pass heavy team.

 

Don't let the passing numbers scare you into believing we are not able to pass. Adding more WR talent is not going to suddenly make our numbers rise. As long as Rivera is in control, we are going to be a running team with a QB that can pass the rock with the best of them.

 

We lead the league in points. Obviously, there is more to this scoring thingy than having the bestest shiniest WR corp.

 

[KB_fan]

2 hours ago, CPantherKing said:

It appears to me to be very probable that we may see Calvin Johnson, Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess, Ted Ginn Jr., Stephen Hill, Corey Brown, and Jerricho Cotchery as the receivers for the Panthers in 2016.

I find it really hard to imagine we'll carry 7 wide receivers on the active roster.   This year we started with 5, upped to 6 to bring Bersin back when Cotch was injured.  But most weeks we only had 4 active WRs.

And unless the price is REALLY right, I'm not sure we'd go after Megatron.   Sure, it would be exciting to have him here, but I wonder what that would do to the chemistry between Newton and the other young WRs..., and I'm not sure WR is really our greatest need when we've scored 500 points with our existing crew (sans KB).

[SteveSmithTD89]

You do realize a top flight defense, a strong running game and a top 10 Oline are all considered help right? 

How many of the teams listed have that? Ask Andrew Luck how all those weapons work out when he's laying on his ass after the defense can pin their ears back, up 14 in the 1st quarter and get pressure rushing 3.

Not every "weapon" or "help" has to be a WR. 

[Fox007]

I think GMan is trying to upgrade the WR core and don't be surprised at all if he gets another TE and or WR this year in the draft and or FA as well...

He took KB and Funchess in the 1st and 2nd round respectively in back to back years...he is trying to help Cam...clearly...

He also brought in OL help and a return specialist who won't fumble every punt which ensures Cam actually has the ball when he should....only so much you can do in 3 years and I like where we are at. I am one of the most negative and pessimistic posters on here and even I have very little to say man...seriously we were one score away from perfection this season so honestly WTF is there to talk about?
Gettleman knows wtf he's doing, we've won the division 3X in a row and back to back playoff appearances....our roster has the most talent it's ever had(yes it does). We are just used to Smitty and Peppers/Hardy but are dominating at different positions.

No we don't have a short WR with napoleon complex smashing and beating down CBs...no we don't have Peppers or Hardy smashing and dominating OL/QBs.....we have a fugin MVP QB and a top 3 MLB all time and the best CB this season....
It's different but clearly it's better...