Panthers moving on from Mike Adams

[Davidson Deac II]

15 hours ago, panthers55 said:

And last off-season he dumped KB which also proved to be  the best move. This year TD and Munnerlyn. As for Shaq it depends on who we can pick up or draft that is better. That is why TD was a starter for so long. He was the best option not named Kuechly.

I just find it funny that when Hurney does well it is let's see how it plays out first before giving him credit  But the same folks don't wait to complain and give him the benefit of the doubt the other way. 

With KB, the move was correct, but the timing was horrible.  As bad as KB became, he was still better than our receivers that we had against the Saints in the playoffs.  

[panthers55]

57 minutes ago, trueblade said:

It's a side effect of everything around personnel moves coming down to a DG versus MH fight. Each side is looking for any tidbit of news to say 'see, my guy is great' or 'see, your guy is terrible'. I know its not really allowed on the Huddle - you've got to be a MH guy or a DG guy - but I don't care about that particular battle.

Any off-season move needs at least a season, sometimes two before it can be evaluated (drafts need a minimum of three). Of course, this is a pipe dream in the instant analysis world we live in.

In the original comment you responded to, I stated my premise that I see a weakness in the current leadership (Ron and Marty). When they make moves, even good ones, its late. The best analogy I can think of is a QB who has to see a guy is open versus a QB who throws guys open. Ron and Marty have to see the guy open, other teams seem like they see those openings faster, and have better strategies for addressing their needs. Moves like letting TD go are encouraging as they show that perhaps Ron and Marty are learning (whether through pressure from Mr. Tepper or on their own). I hope so, because Ron and Marty are running this offseason and at the end of the day, I want to see the Carolina Panthers have tremendous success.

I think your analysis is a little overly critical and biased against Ron and Marty. For example TD has been our second best linebacker and has played at a high level even through most of 2018. Moving on from him is really about the future not a repudiation of the past. Plus it is being done now because it is the logical progression from what we did last off-season which is try and fix the secondary and get more weapons for Cam. Keeping Adams was more of a move to allow him to teach the young guys and the free agents our scheme which by most accounts is complex. Now that that is done, we can move on from Adams and try to upgrade. We dumped Captain because cap wise this was the first opportunity we could without large dead cap issues. 

Most of the criticisms are often lodged by posters who look at one aspect of the situation without a bigger understanding of why you can't always make wholesale roster changes without negative consequences, something Gettleman didn't seem to grasp which was a big factor in why we started out every year slowly. The CBA severely limits the time that a coach has with individual players meaning you can't always prepare the starter as well as the backup after preseason ends. So the idea that Marty and Ron don't know what they are doing is obviously false. But the balance between chemistry, experience, and ability often means you can't make all the moves you want to make in any one off-season but have to pick and choose what you do and take a more long-term approach.

[panthers55]

46 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

With KB, the move was correct, but the timing was horrible.  As bad as KB became, he was still better than our receivers that we had against the Saints in the playoffs.  

We didn't initiate the move and weren't clamoring for a change. So when it was presented we took it rather than wait until after the season and just release him and get nothing in return. Sometimes you have to take an opportunity even if the timing isn't ideal 

[LinvilleGorge]

I agree with those who say TD was showing his age and had lost a step, but he was still better than Shaq. Just as importantly, Luke looked a lot better with TD beside him than he did Shaq. Maybe making him a full time starter will build allow Luke to trust him more.

[Waldo]

Honestly, no one looked good under Washington. Even Luke. His demotion translated to a remarkable improvement in play for most. I give Rivera a ton of crap but he is a very good defensive coordinator. Those first four games that TD were out, I can't tell how much was Washington completely failing and what was Shaq not being TD. Looks like we will see this year unless they trade Shaq. 

[AU-panther]

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 11:34 AM, LinvilleGorge said:

It's the right move. I just hope we aren't planning to put all of our FS eggs in the Gaulden basket. He did not look good as a rookie for a  3rd round pick and if he doesn't look a lot better very early on in camp I think we should consider giving him a look at nickel where he primarily played in college. That spot should be open too.

Would be really interesting to know their thoughts. 

If they think he can be the answer it will change their approach to both FA and the draft.  If you assume we carry four safeties (2 SS and 2 FS) then I can't see them spending much in free agency or a high draft pick.  In some ways I don't really see them spending a mid or later draft pick either.  I would be shocked if RR had a 2nd year FS being backed up by a rookie FS.  

I could see us signing a cheap, vet to compete with Gaulden.

If they aren't sold on Gaulden I can really see us using one of our first 4 picks on Gaulden.

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, AU-panther said:

Would be really interesting to know their thoughts. 

If they think he can be the answer it will change their approach to both FA and the draft.  If you assume we carry four safeties (2 SS and 2 FS) then I can't see them spending much in free agency or a high draft pick.  In some ways I don't really see them spending a mid or later draft pick either.  I would be shocked if RR had a 2nd year FS being backed up by a rookie FS.  

I could see us signing a cheap, vet to compete with Gaulden.

If they aren't sold on Gaulden I can really see us using one of our first 4 picks on Gaulden.

I'm just hoping that he can be the answer at one of those spots. I don't care which. Either way, it would be a significant box checked. I also hope that we aren't just hell-bent on playing him at FS and keep our options open with him if he doesn't look greatly improved early on in camp. I get it that most people were projecting him at safety at the NFL level, but he primarily played nickel in college and he did it very well. If the FS thing isn't working out, give him a shot at nickel. We have an opening there too and we already have a 3rd round pick invested in Gaulden. Play him wherever he's best.

[mc52beast]

Pats will sign him and will subsequently run a 4.3 40

[panthers55]

I see Gaulden more of a strong safety rather than free safety. He doesn't have elite speed but has a head for the ball and is usually around the play. He can play coverage but does better lined up against folks his own speed. That limits his ability in the slot and makes him more of a strong safety versus free safety.  Honestly I don't see a great FS on the roster. Reid is a much better strong safety than free safety. I think we are going to pick up a veteran free safety in free agency. That would solidify the back end nicely. Then let Gaulden try out some positions to see where he best fits rather than trying to fit him into a specific role because we need him there 

[TheSpecialJuan]

16 minutes ago, mc52beast said:

Pats will sign him and will subsequently run a 4.3 40

yee