If You're Not Getting Better, You're Getting Worse*

[SetfreexX]

Dedicated Panther Fan checking in here, and I don't think at anytime the latter part of the title could ring any truer for our team right now. When you look over our off-season offensively there was essentially ''no roster turnover''. And defensively we returned eight out of eleven starters so no glaring turnover. 

However the question remains, did we getting better anywhere aside from the return of Kelvin Benjamin? The run blocking of our T's (Oher/Remmers) was a concern, sure we had a record of 30 straight rushing games, but when your QB averages 30-50 of those yards per game, you don't really have a potent running attack. I love our interior offensive line, but the edges just have not been there, we do not have a blocking FB/TE on the roster (Harstock was the last time this existed). 

Defensively we made no additions instead we went all in on guys like Cox, Webster, Delaire, and the other UDFA from last pre-season at DE who's name escapes, me. So because we stood pat at DE we are in the same boat as last year, we lack edge rush. We added Butler as KK contract talk insurance so even though he's considered a premier prospect as the 3rd or 4th DT what does he really do to help an already stout defensive line, when edge pressure was a bigger hole. 

The loss of Norman is well documented, and at the time we all considered Boston's athleticism by comparison to Harper's an upgrade, but even with the splurge of draft picks dedicated to the corner position, I ask gain...where did we get better?

I'm not going to hate on Dave Gettleman's decisions, as it's on the coaches to put these players young and old alike in position to succeed, and even with the deepest roster we've had in years, I still have to ask, and especially after these first five games, where did we ''get better''. 

Situational play-calling, and in game adjustments is still an issue for the staff especially on offense, clock management is still an issue for Rivera, addressing needs is still an issue for Gettleman IMHO. So while we may have a BPA approach, which has led to some very good young players, we have ignored true areas of need. 

To me the team, the coach/staff/GM have all stayed the same, and with that being the consistent approach even with a returning essentially in tact Super Bowl roster, we have gotten worse, simply because we have not gotten better anywhere. 

[PhillyB]

i think it's possible there was a mentality of "add KB back and we're gonna be awesome" that may have let guards down a little bit. maybe without such a great 2015 season there wouldn't have been as many assumptions made, such as assuming people like ginn, tolbert, and gano wouldn't drop off in performance.

but it's also worth noting it's a competitive league with professional front offices, and razor-thin margins of performance among GMs can yield massive dividends one way or another. you might not make a bad decision, but if everyone else makes a marginally better decision, you're left in the dust. this may be what's happened with our team.

 

[pstall]