2016 offseason led to this

[TN05]

We let Josh Norman go, had maybe our second-worst draft this century (Butler is garbage and everyone but Bradberry is gone), and did nothing in free agency. We're still trying to fix the mess we made at cornerback and just this week we saw two people we brought in to "fix" the position (Corn Elder and Captain Munnerlynn) utterly implode.

Three seasons later and we're still trying to plug this hole up. 

[Mr. Scot]

It's everybody's fault but Rivera's and Hurney's.

[FugAllY'all]

I can't believe anyone is still jonesing for Norman after what Michael Thomas did to him on national TV. You do realize we have to play those guys twice a year, right?

[LinvilleGorge]

A lot of things led to this. Norman aside, the further we get from Gettleman's time here, the worse a lot of it looks. He missed on too many high picks. KB started strong but flamed out. Shaq has underwhelmed. Butler was an outright bust. He swung and missed repeatedly on DL prospects. Butler, Ealy, Hall - all picked in the first three rounds, all busts. When you add in Short and Star, that's five picks on the DL in the first three rounds and yet the is virtually devoid of young talent. He also chose poorly on some re-signings. Short and Turner turned into JAGs after getting paid big money. Safety remains unaddressed and has been a weakness since the days of Minter and Deon Grant. He got our CB position so depleted that he was forced to spam three picks in one draft at the position simply to field a secondary. Captain was a bust of a FA signing and so was that terrible WR from the Bucs.

Then Hurney came back and just added to the mess. Poe looks like a bust of a FA signing. Anderson was definitely a bust. It looks like he nailed his first two picks, but then he drafted a safety in the third who probably can't outrun a single LB on the roster.

The cherry on top was Ron promoting his buddy Eric Washington to DC effectively massively weakening two spots at once - DL coach and DC.

Add some water and mix it all up and you have the '18/'19 Carolina Panthers.

[Untouchable]

It wasn't one off season.  We've continuously missed on defensive prospects in the draft the past 5 years.  He have arguably 3 out of 17 as hits (Jackson, Bradberry, Thompson) and none on the DL that has been aging since it's peak in 2013.  Coincidentally the offenses rise is probably because of the draft  success on that side (probably 8/13 as hits).

[Mr. Scot]

So yesterday it was "we're going to be fine, stop being pessimists".

Today? "Okay, we're bad, but it's because of something that happened two years ago with the secondary...even though half our secondary is new this season and the real problem on our defense is a lack of pass rush...and the fact that we had a good season last year has nothing to do with anything."

 

[Peppers90 NC]

26 minutes ago, FugAllY'all said:

I can't believe anyone is still jonesing for Norman after what Michael Thomas did to him on national TV. You do realize we have to play those guys twice a year, right?

Yea I dont get it either, I couldnt imagine having that much money tied up into that fraud.

[Car123]

20 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

So yesterday it was "we're going to be fine, stop being pessimists".

Today? "Okay, we're bad, but it's because of something that happened two years ago with the secondary...even though half our secondary is new this season and the real problem on our defense is a lack of pass rush...and the fact that we had a good season last year has nothing to do with anything."

 

Funny thing is that the two new secondary players are the best of the bunch.

[LA_Panther]

This may not be popular, but firing Gettleman was the beginning of the end for the Rivera era. I will concede that Gettleman made some bad draft picks, but those things are 50/50 really. Sometimes you strike gold, sometimes you don't land a good pick. I still believe Richardson really fugged us with the G-man firing and took us a few years back.

We had a real GM for once that knew what he was doing. He was almost done cleaning up the mess created by Hurney. We didn't even get a better GM. We hired the same guy that created the mess. Ya, the same guy we fired. Who does that? Insanity is doing the same thing again and again expecting different results. That whole episode illustrates our priorities as a  franchise. Some veterans' feelings were hurt, so fire the GM. Hopefully Tepper changes that culture. 

[The Lobo]

It was a horrendous offseason for sure, but we made the playoffs last year and had a solid season with the 2016 offseason. This year, it’s all coaching, mostly RR and Washington. Norv has been solid for the most part, yesterday there were a few stumbles but every game can’t be called to perfection.

[trueblade]

[I had a much longer reply, but I realized it was just rehashing a 100 GM debates we've had over the past couple of offseasons and frankly....]

I'm really tired of the Gettlemen versus Hurney debates. Everything that happens has to be a talking point pro one guy or another. 

We need a new GM. Hopefully Tepper takes care of that soon.

[Soul Rebel]

Though we have missed on some draft picks and free agents, at what point is it on the coaching staff for continuing to mold these players into better players.

Could all of these players be that awful, or could it be that the tools that are needed to grow and progress from rookie to established player fall on the shoulders of those that coach them. Offseason regimens, OTAs, training camp, practices, pre-season, in-season progressions, and into the following offseason. Schemes, playing to players advantages and strengths, while minimizing weaknesses, etc.

This coaching staff from top to bottom is bad....it's not all their fault, as players are ultimately responsible for their success as well. However, years of Rivera, Shula, Washington and Rodgers definitely shoulder the blame as well. 

[Mr. Scot]

7 minutes ago, Car123 said:

Funny thing is that the two new secondary players are the best of the bunch.

Jackson is legitimately good. Reid was hailed as the key to Super Bowl victory but has actually turned out to just be a more physical version of Charles Godfrey.

[PanthersBigD]

Rivera actually stated that Hurney had to convince him to change his thinking and take Donte Jackson. Think about that. Ron had to be talked into taking our best rookie this season. Rivera and his mindset are the largest problem here. Not saying we should keep Hurney or that Gettleman didn't have some stinker drafts, but it's Rivera that the NFL has passed by.