Wesseling's take a little different from Sorenson's.

[top dawg]

As noted by our very own awesome huddler , @Ivan The Awesome, in his thread (yes, that's purely gratuitous praise for a guy that seems likeable),

Tom Sorenson basically says we're done being  a top team for awhile (because we've basically let other teams catch up and have too many key holes to fill is what I took from his write-up). For those who didn't read it, he ended his article by saying:

"Carolina's time at the top has expired."

 

NFL.com's Chris Wesseling  isn't quite so gloomy and "doomy" about our immediate future, though like Sorenson, he knows we've got some work to do to get back in contention, and suggests some of the same fixes.

 

"Despite becoming the first Super Bowl teams since 2003 to miss the playoffs the following season, the Broncos and Panthers organizations still boast the front office leadership, veteran coaching staffs and talented core of players to inspire faith in their potential for a return to 2015 heights with a few adjustments."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000766076/article/three-offseason-priorities-for-carolina-panthers

Wesselling points to the obtaining an offensive tackle, which should be a given (and should have been one last offseason), regardless of Remmers' or Oher's future status with the team.

"The tackles, on the other hand, represent a problem area. Oher intends to continue his career next season, but the Panthers certainly need a fallback plan. With Remmers due to reach free agency, it will be interesting to see if Carolina targets a stud left tackle early in the draft, pushing Oher to the right side."

 

Wesseling  also thinks that it is absolutely necessary to get Stew's replacement to infuse some legitimate energy into our run game.  Some here have suggested that we don't need to make a surefire investment in the running game, but I agree with Wesseling in principle (though I am not totally averse to stringing things along another year with CAP, Jalen Simmons, or a later round pick depending upon the dynamics of the draft).

Lastly, Wesseling  pointed to Cam improving (noting a philosophical change based largely on Ron Rivera's comments earlier in the week).

"(Cam's) struggles can be partially attributed to the injury-ravaged offensive line and unreliable wide receivers -- particularly Kelvin Benjamin's inability to separate from coverage. Still, Newton shoulders blame for poor mechanics and the resultant scattershot ball placement."

What Wesseling  is suggesting---though didn't come right out and say---is that we could benefit from a receiver who runs better routes and creates separation (Corey Davis is my guy, or Zay Jones as a bargain pick). An athletic, pass catcher, as well as an able pass and run blocker at TE would help as well, though Wesseling  didn't mention it. Also, what Wesseling  didn't say that may be inherent in his analysis in regards to the evolution of Cam, is the possible need for change in our coaching ranks.

I just thought that it's a little "funny" that the local reporter thinks that we're a lot farther away from getting back to the top than the national guy. As I said, I believe that Wesseling  is more in line with general Huddle thinking, though I believe that Sorenson has some good points and rationale for thinking the way that he does, and I wouldn't slam him for it.

[top dawg]

As an aside, I believe both writers are Panthers fans. Sorenson is pretty much a given, and I remember reading last season where Wesseling  admitted that he was rooting for us, and that it was a lot of fun watching Cam and company run through the league last season.

[Saca312]

Disagree with a lot of holes. Got a heck load less holes than he realizes.

People don't seem to realize Daryl Williams is our answer at RT, and Oher is servicable at LT. 

Only hole is safety as far as finding starter quality players at every position, and that can be easily acquired. At pick 12, would not mind seeing S Jamaal Adams come to us. 

[The Lobo]

1 minute ago, Saca312 said:

Disagree with a lot of holes. Got a heck load less holes than he realizes.

People don't seem to realize Daryl Williams is our answer at RT, and Oher is servicable at LT. 

Only hole is safety as far as finding starter quality players at every position, and that can be easily acquired. At pick 12, would not mind seeing S Jamaal Adams come to us. 

I'm good with Williams, but if we drafted another tackle and he outplayed him, I'd be good with the rook starting too. If anything draft one for depth. I agree with you on safety as well. I feel safety and d end are must needs this off season.

[Mr. Scot]

17 minutes ago, top dawg said:

As an aside, I believe both writers are Panthers fans. Sorenson is pretty much a given, and I remember reading last season where Wesseling  admitted that he was rooting for us, and that it was a lot of fun watching Cam and company run through the league last season.

Sorenson is the guy who got in a pissing match with Pete Prisco back in the 90s when Prisco was the Jaguars beat writer.

[mc52beast]

We can plug all the holes we want but if there isn't a change in offensive philosophy and we actually get someone who can TEACH Cam how to improve as a passer then it doesn't matter... basically what I'm saying is get rid of Shula and Dorsey.

[TheRed]

1 hour ago, Saca312 said:

Disagree with a lot of holes. Got a heck load less holes than he realizes.

People don't seem to realize Daryl Williams is our answer at RT, and Oher is servicable at LT. 

Only hole is safety as far as finding starter quality players at every position, and that can be easily acquired. At pick 12, would not mind seeing S Jamaal Adams come to us. 

Depth depth depth depth depth depth.

If you aren't getting better, you're getting worse.

If the 2016 season isn't a grim reminder to cleanse ourselves or this complacent mindset, I don't know what is.

[Saca312]

Just now, TheRed said:

Depth depth depth depth depth depth.

If you aren't getting better, you're getting worse.

If the 2016 season isn't a grim reminder to cleanse ourselves or this complacent mindset, I don't know what is.

Get that depth in the 3rd round at the highest. We won't be getting a starter caliber tackle from this class.

[panther4life]

Sorenson, is essentially saying he has no faith in Gettleman to make the right moves to get us back to being a serious playoff contender again. Wessling simply named our top 3 offseason priorities but didn't add any optimism outside of that.

15-1 is a rare feat and can't really be expected to replicate 2 years in a row. However we did have a good chance at repeating as NFC South Champs, and Superbowl contenders this year.

A number of factors didn't go our way. Injuries is the only factor outside of the control of coaches/Gettleman.

The other factors start back at the offseason and point back to Gettleman. We would honestly be better off if he drafted positions of need or can make immediate contributions in the first round vs overall BPA.  There is no exact formula he can use that will predict him being able to find a Charles Tillman on the cheap, or Jared Allen for  a late round pick. He essentially has too much confidence in his bargain bin shopping philosophy. In the years(2 out of 4 right now) where all the cards fall into place and we find suitable vets, we have had success surrounding them with the existing core. 

Under our 2 winning seasons under Gettleman here is the core he inherited and who he added around them.

Offense 

QB-CAM -INHERITIED 

HB/FB- STEW,WILLIAMS,TOLBERT- INHERITED

WR-STEVE SMITH, LAFELL, INHERITED.

TE- OLSEN- INHERITED

O-LINE GROSS,WHARTON,KALIL,-INHERITED, right side of line was a weakness, combo of Hangartner, Bell,Scott, Chandler. Silatolu was also depth at LG.

ADDED BY GETTLEMAN

WR- TEDD GINN was the only offensive player he added in 2013. No upgrades elsewhere or even any depth.

Argument could be made he was up against the cap or that he was simply satisfied by what we had in place.

On defense here's the top players inherited.

DE-JOHNSON, HARDY, ADDISON, ALEXANDER

DT- DWAN EDWARDS

LB- LUKE, DAVIS, BEASON, CONNOR,SENN

CB-NORMAN, MUNNERLYN

S- GODFREY

So there were plenty of holes to fill here. Nailed the first 2 rounds getting Star and Short and Klein was a good pick in the 5th. 

He also found Mike Mitchell and Quinten Mikell in free agency to shore up both safety positions. Colin Cole was also solid depth at DT this year. Corner he didn't fair as well but still added Melvin White and Drayton Florence as well. 

2013  Key Players added.

DRAFT:STAR, SHORT, KLEIN

FREE AGENCY MITCHELL,MIKELL,COLE,BLACKBURN, WHITE AND FLORENCE

Fast forward to to 2014, all of the band aids left. He cut Smith, forced Gross into retiring a year early,should have never placed a 14 million dollar 1 year rental on Hardy, even if he played that year, we wouldn't have done much better due to all of the other holes left unaddressed. 

2015 he got back on track, found some free agents to fill the holes again. Coleman, Tillman, Harper, Oher, etc. 

2016 Happens and its a repeat of the 14 offseason. More holes are created than filled. 

2017? Who knows but the odds aren't in his favor to fix everything in 1 year again, however if he does he will get credit for it, but will give him 5 years here and still no back to back winning seasons!

All that being said, Gettleman is not solely to blame. Rivera has backpedaled in a major way from his Riverboat Ron status, but maybe its his lack of faith in his current personnel contributing to this? Maybe a mixture of both, but Rivera has never really shown any signs of consistent good decision making(especially time out management), even before Gettleman arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[top dawg]

2 hours ago, The Lobo said:

I'm good with Williams, but if we drafted another tackle and he outplayed him, I'd be good with the rook starting too. If anything draft one for depth. I agree with you on safety as well. I feel safety and d end are must needs this off season.

Not that PFF is the be-all-end-all in grading, but Williams' grade is the lowest on the O-line.

 

[Paa Langfart]

Face it guys we have a ton of holes to fill and need to upgrade backups as well, if we hope to win the NFC next year.  

[The Lobo]

28 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Not that PFF is the be-all-end-all in grading, but Williams' grade is the lowest on the O-line.

 

Then depth it is haha

[Pimpdaddy]

...hes right about the RB's...seen enough of CAP...getting tired of Fozz..

[Ace_Aladdin]

1 hour ago, Saca312 said:

Get that depth in the 3rd round at the highest. We won't be getting a starter caliber tackle from this class.

There are maybe 2-3 guys that could be starters, Cam Robinson is in our range but I rather get a top RB in 1st and TE in 2nd