Some Thoughts, and Why The Sky Isn't Falling

[Saca312]

Amid all the struggles our team is obviously facing, I think there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Our rookie secondary will be going through a rough stretch of rookie mistakes and miscues, because they're rookies. Consider this: Gettleman has really meant it when he's thinking about long term. We won't find instant success out of this for sure, and I'm hoping OT and DE is taken care of. Was getting rid of Norman a mistake? Yes, I'm now a firm believer that secondary's and front seven's help each other out to become top notch, and yes I'm saying Gettleman has made one of very few mistakes in his tenure, and it's a pretty big one. But our secondary still has time to grow and develop. Our CB's have a TON of potential, and if they come to form soon we'll start having a stout defense once again. Offensively, we've faced 3 teams that effectively had the personnel to beat our tackles. Falcon's have done it last year, Broncos have done it too, and the Vikings were obviously coming in with some good pass rushers this year, so I believe we've been able to go through the bumpiest road. Tackles need to be addressed, but it's not as bad as it could've been pre Oher and Remmers. I think we actually have a good stretch coming down soon and start getting into a rhythm. Our players need to get their swag back, and we need to start showing why we were a 15-1 team last year.

Consider this: we're 1-3. Looks bad, right? But remember the 2013 season? We were able to turn around and go 12-4 that same season. I logically think we'll get 10-6 this season, I expected a lot of growing pains through the first part of the season. But when you consider how honestly lots of other teams would be begging to have the players we have backing up some of our positions, and the potential of our corners as a whole, we still have a shot. Once this team gets in form, we should do great things. Will this be as pretty of a season as it was last year? Heck no, definitely will not happen. But I think we're capable of coming back and sparking our road to the playoffs.

The Falcons have proven why they have the number 1 offense currently, and why our defense needs work. I'm not ready to hang this season yet, and knowing our players, I don't think they want to go off in defeat either. We're in a storm right now, being targeted at every corner, but we'll push through. 

 

[rodeo]

i think I've heard the phrase "the sky isn't falling" enough times on this board to last me the rest of my life. The sky isn't falling, but the Panthers are a shitty football team right now.

[KB_fan]

I appreciate the attempt at perspective.  Too soon for most of us, I think.  Yes, in my head I know that Panthers have a track record of turning seasons around.  But right now, there's too much to be concerned about.  (For one thing, we don't have the 2013 team's defense..., so comparing this start to that start is not really apples to apples...)

You wrote:

22 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

I think we actually have a good stretch coming down soon and start getting into a rhythm.

I'm getting a bit concerned about hearing this.  The radio guys were saying the same thing.

But Our D-line was supposed to have a chance to show its stuff against a very bad Vikings Oline.  Didn't happen.

Then we were all laughing at Atlanta's supposed offensive prowess, knowing they'd played really bad defenses; and licking our chops to finally play against THEIR bad defense.  Umm????

So, I don't think we can take ANY team lightly right now, especially when we now have some major players down with injuries.   Stew, Oher, Cam, TD....  

What I mean is, we can't keep pinning our hopes on other teams being bad!!  No more "it was just Denver & Minnesota - they have elite defenses...  we'll be fine."  No "oh, well Julio is an elite WR, we'll be fine"   No, it's time for ownership and accountability:  "We've played shitty football.  We're better than this.  We need to step up our game."  Prepare like every opponent is our toughest.

We need to focus on getting better, stopping mistakes, stopping penalties, figuring out what to change in play calling... whether there's anyone to bring in.  Our Oline and Dline are not getting things done.  Something has to change there.

[Fox007]

I think it takes extra doses of ineptitude to squander a team with Cam, Luke, TD, KB, Stew, Kalil, Olsen, etc etc.

Extra special suckage like....Shula for one.

[arbnranger]

A bit too soon but I get the perspective and can't say I don't agree with most of your post. I truly believe this is a mindset issue, from the coaching staff down.

If we get our minds right we will be fine, if not we will lose half our games. 

[gmonjimbo]

We all as fans knew the Falcons were going to use this game as a measuring stick and would be locked in and focused. Also they were going to use the same game plan they used last year and continue what the Broncos and Vikings did, yet we came out flat and had no answers. It's seems that we have a schematic problem and might not be fixed until the off season. Teams will continue to isolate their best DE against Remmers or Oher and just feast. Mike is already bad but now he might be gone mentally after 4 straight penalties 

[Ricky Spanish]

55 minutes ago, rodeo said:

i think I've heard the phrase "the sky isn't falling" enough times on this board to last me the rest of my life. The sky isn't falling, but the Panthers are a shitty football team right now.