Panthers one of 5 teams in the decline??

[joemac]

So I just saw a segment on SportsCenter, by Bill Barnwell. Apparently the Panthers are one of the 5 teams on the decline in the NFL? The only reason he gives is because TD is suspended for 4 games. LMFAO! Does that make sense to anybody else? Do the Panthers really seem like a team on the DECLINE to you guys?!?! We go 11-5 last year, upgrade the hell outta our skill positions, bring in one of the greatest OC’s of all time....and we’re on the decline? I don’t get it.

[Ricky Spanish]

TD suspended for 4 games

Peppers not cleared from PUP

Matt Kalil still starting LT

All-pro RT goes down for the year

FA CB signing to improve our secondary goes down for the year

New Coordinators on both sides of the ball

Even year

 

There's an argument to be made there, even if you don't agree with it. 

[motocross_cat]

All we gotta do is lose more than 5 games.....FIVE.

Keep in mind we play ATL and NO 4 collective times.  Carolina is the easy target right now in the national media's world to go backwards.  

If we get off to a fast start the NFL is in trouble.

[ickmule]

Before these latest injuries this team wasn’t as good as some of you all think.  It’s now a little worse.  7-9.  

[ladypanther]

So much for this being the time of hopes and dreams...lol.

I kind of like the low expectations.  Being the underdog is good for us.  I think this team will surprise a lot of people...media obviously and some depressed fans.

[panthers55]

1 hour ago, Cracka McNasty said:

TD suspended for 4 games

Peppers not cleared from PUP

Matt Kalil still starting LT

All-pro RT goes down for the year

FA CB signing to improve our secondary goes down for the year

New Coordinators on both sides of the ball

Even year

 

There's an argument to be made there, even if you don't agree with it. 

There is an argument that cuts both ways. TD being suspended preserves him for the post season run given his age and allows Shaq to get significant starting reps at the beginning of the year.

Pep didn't do much in.preseason and got lots of vet days off last year and responded with 11 sacks. He is fine sitting now and will be ready come week 1.

Matt Kalil is healthy for the first time in years and can focus on getting stronger and faster instead of rehabbing.

Cockrell went down but we have lots of replacements with starting experience like Seymour and Doss. Cockrell was competing for the job but he wasn't a starter yet.

Williams is a loss but Moton has been waiting on the sidelines to get reps and this is a great opportunity.

Both offensive and defensive coordinators struggled last year.  Washington hopefully learns from Wilk's mistakes and the Turner's are significant upgrades over Shula and company.

Even year isn'r even worth debating.

Given we were 11-5 last year and upgraded substantially we should go at least 11-5 again and should make a deep run in the playoffs. 

Just as easy argument to make, maybe easier and more accurate.

[panthers55]

56 minutes ago, ickmule said:

Before these latest injuries this team wasn’t as good as some of you all think.  It’s now a little worse.  7-9.  

Stop with all the negativity until the season starts. This team is a lot better than you think and will have a winning season and playoff run this year. These injuries while unfortunate happen every year and we have the depth. This is the first year since 2015 Cam has been healthy to start a season.

[Ricky Spanish]

31 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

There is an argument that cuts both ways. TD being suspended preserves him for the post season run given his age and allows Shaq to get significant starting reps at the beginning of the year.

Pep didn't do much in.preseason and got lots of vet days off last year and responded with 11 sacks. He is fine sitting now and will be ready come week 1.

Matt Kalil is healthy for the first time in years and can focus on getting stronger and faster instead of rehabbing.

Cockrell went down but we have lots of replacements with starting experience like Seymour and Doss. Cockrell was competing for the job but he wasn't a starter yet.

Williams is a loss but Moton has been waiting on the sidelines to get reps and this is a great opportunity.

Both offensive and defensive coordinators struggled last year.  Washington hopefully learns from Wilk's mistakes and the Turner's are significant upgrades over Shula and company.

Even year isn'r even worth debating.

Given we were 11-5 last year and upgraded substantially we should go at least 11-5 again and should make a deep run in the playoffs. 

Just as easy argument to make, maybe easier and more accurate.

You're assessments seem to be based on a lot of optimism/hope with no real evidence other than things will improve just because things are different. That could happen, but the exact opposite could happen as well. 

Kalil has been saying he's finally  healthy for 5 years now. Look it up, there's an article about it every offseason. I don't personally thing he's complete trash like many on here do, but he's not the greatest and he was helped out tremendously by Norwell last season, who by the way, left in FA. 

TD's absence isn't a big deal to me personally, but I see how those not familiar with the Org would see it as a negative. And it is a negative in the leadership department because he is the heart and soul of our defense and that will leave a void for 4 weeks. 

My only issue with Pep is that he's getting old and it's most likely his last year, and he could very well hit the wall this year. Father time is undefeated. Also, by definition of the article, Pep being so old would directly relate to us being in decline.

Williams going down is just bad, no matter who we have to replace him with. Moton could come in and do well, but he's a second year player and wasn't starting over Williams for a reason. I have decent expectations for Moton and his future, but right now, I view him starting over Williams as a step back. 

Cockrell was going to be our #2 corner, everyone knew it. I have low expectations for everyone else on the depth chart personally, except for maybe that Doss guy who seems to be making plays daily. Who knows, maybe Cockrell's absence will allow him to shine, and that'd be super, but again, he's an unknown and Cockrell had a few seasons of actual good tape. 

The coordinators are different, yes, and I personally think the change will be good for the team, but change on any football team is a double edged sword that could be great, or be terrible. I personally lean that it will be positive on both sides of the ball, but the fact is, it's another unknown.

And how DARE you even suggest that "Even year" isn't worth debating. It's the biggest factor going against us as a franchise since John Fox was our HC. 

That and the fact that the Falcons and Saints seem to have only improved in the offseason as well, making our division even harder to win. The NFCS is such a crapshoot, you really can't predict anything one way or the other. 

 

TL:DR There's a bunch of changes, many, many unknowns, and our division is a crapshoot, but being completely objective I can see the argument for why they think we are in decline.

[top dawg]

With the history of this franchise, as well as this division, I don't see how anyone can make sweeping statements about the success or failure in any given year, much less over a period of time. Excuse me, but I'll wait to see what transpires this season, and I'll tell you the same thing next year. 

[TheCasillas]

Considering Cam, Luke, KK, and Greg Olsen are beginning the descent in their careers this is feasible. If ESPN is talking about over the coming years, but if they are talking decline for this season, then its just a piece to occupy space.

[trueblue]

The bulk of his argument was close games, which our success year over year has ebbed and flowed.. He's not counting on us to repeat last years #.. Also said we won't recover the same high percentage of fumbles... That coupled with the 10th hardest schedule, a new DC over the oldest snap adjusted D in the NFL, and a new OC whose not has success since the early Philip Rivers years is going to equal decline.

 

After reading his write up, we may as well cancel the season.

[panthers55]

3 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

No way to know if it's more accurate until the end of the season though. 

And how DARE you even suggest that "Even year" isn't worth debating. It's the biggest factor going against us as a franchise since John Fox was our HC. 

That and the fact that the Falcons and Saints seem to have only improved in the offseason as well, making our division even harder to win. The NFCS is such a crapshoot, you really can't predict anything one way or the other. It's incredibly frustrating and ridiculous. 

The difference is you are going into the season expecting the worse with a negative attitude, either because you have been disappointed by the Panthers before and are afraid to hope for the best to get dissapointed again or like being the negative contrarian.  I on the other am going in optimistically hoping for the best and riding the train until the very last stop. I like being positive and find it is a much better way to live my life despite the constant struggles and daily reminders that if life is a bowl of cherries you still end up at times with the pits. It can be both half empty or half full.  I prefer half full. I invite you to move away from the dark side into the light.

[therealmjl]

33 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

Considering Cam, Luke, KK, and Greg Olsen are beginning the descent in their careers this is feasible. If ESPN is talking about over the coming years, but if they are talking decline for this season, then its just a piece to occupy space.

How can you lump Cam, Luke and KK in with a player (Greg) who’s got 4 years on the eldest (Cam) of them and say they are beginning their descent?

If Greg Olsen is beginning his decent at age 33, wouldn’t that indicate Cam would “begin his decent“ 4 years from now, and the rest subsequently after?

overgeneralize much?

[TheCasillas]

4 minutes ago, mjligon said:

How can you lump Cam, Luke and KK in with a player (Greg) who’s got 4 years on the eldest (Cam) of them and say they are beginning their descent?

If Greg Olsen is beginning his decent at age 33, wouldn’t that indicate Cam would “begin his decent“ 4 years from now, and the rest subsequently after?

overgeneralize much?

Yikes, simmer down my friend. I should of added the parentheses, but Tight Ends tend to stick to their prime longer than other skill positions. Olsen has about 3 good years left if you look at history for All Pro tight ends. 

Each position is different. Cam has about 3-4 years left of good football if he adapts his game to his age. KK is 29 as well, and DT's tend to lose their muster at 31-33 range. MLB's as of recent begin to decline at 30. 

So I would't say I am too far off. As I said before, if we are looking at a 3-4 year outlook - Panthers are on the decline. Now is the time.