How do the Panthers get back to the success of 2015?

[hepcat]

I'm going to tell you in one word - TURNOVERS.

The Panthers offense lives and dies by turnovers created by the defense. The Panthers defense lead the NFL in takeaways in 2015 with 39. That created a lot of short fields and lead to a lot of Panthers TDs. The Panthers didn't really have the best offense in the NFL in 2015, it was a deceptive stat. They had an opportunistic defense that made life easy for the offense. 

In 2017, the defense isn't getting turnovers like it was that special year. The Panthers defense forced a turnover in every game EXCEPT Week 5 against the Seahawks in 2015. They forced 2 or more turnovers in 15 out of 19 games. In 2017, the Panthers defense has only forced a turnover in Week 1 against the 49ers. Even in the wins against San Francisco and Buffalo, the Panthers were even in the turnover battle. Just being even gives the Panthers a chance to win. 

On Sunday, the Panthers didn't force a turnover against the Saints, while turning the ball over 3 times. That just isn't going to win games. With the offense struggling, the defense is going to have to take the ball away from opposing offenses, or wins are going to be very hard to come by this season.

 

 

[uncfan888]

Make cam 100% healthy and bring Josh Norman back. 

[Jeremy Igo]

It took Cam Newton having one of the most incredible seasons any NFL in the league has ever had to do it. Cam's freakish ability was a big ole bandaid on the obvious problems in 2015. And even then, each game was a nail biter. 

 

Cam's health won't let that happen this year. Shula is no where near talented enough to come up with an effective plan B. 

 

In short - it isn't happening, no matter how well the defense plays. 

[Jon Snow]

This team will NEVER get back to that level in my lifetime.  It is foolish of you to think that it is even remotely possible to achieve.  

[pantherj]

We can't fix this season.

[hepcat]

5 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

It took Cam Newton having one of the most incredible seasons any NFL in the league has ever had to do it. Cam's freakish ability was a big ole bandaid on the obvious problems in 2015. And even then, each game was a nail biter. 

 

Cam's health won't let that happen this year. Shula is no where near talented enough to come up with an effective plan B. 

 

In short - it isn't happening, no matter how well the defense plays. 

If the Panthers were the ones that intercepted Drew Brees 3 times instead of vice verca, I guarantee the Panthers would have won that game. Huge momentum and confidence swings. Cam isn't healthy, but an elite defense can mask an ineffective offense. See: 2015 Broncos.

[Jeremy Igo]

6 minutes ago, hepcat said:

If the Panthers were the ones that intercepted Drew Brees 3 times instead of vice verca, I guarantee the Panthers would have won that game. 

With field goals? 

[uncfan888]

Just now, thebigcat said:

Ehh.. He's a big reason for the mess we're in now. We need a totally new GM

[hepcat]

1 minute ago, Jeremy Igo said:

With field goals? 

I mean, say three Panthers INTs took three Saints TDs off the board, and the Saints are sitting at 13 points. So yes, three extra FGs would have won the game then. But this is all conjecture. 

[CarolinaSamurai]

I think 2015 screwed up Ron. He keeps trying to recreate that year without realizing that year was anything but perfect. If we has won the SB sure but regardless of record the team wasn't that great and to keep trying to recreate it is leaving us behind 

[Still Brooklyn]

That season was an anomaly. It isn't the norm for the Panthers. You won't see it again.

[outlaw4]

Delorean time machine.

[rayzor]

[Steve_Smith_Sr.]

2015 worked because it was different and Defenses didn't understand how to stop it, plus we had Cam playing at an unbelievable level.  Now they know exactly how to stop it and Cam is a shell of his 2015 performance.

We keep going back to a well that has long been emptied.