So what will Tepper's expectations be next season?

[DaveThePanther2008]

13 hours ago, EgoDogg said:

Are you sure? This season he has a 67 completion percentage. 4 Passing TDs, 9 INTs and a QB rating of 79.8.

Obviously he's quite a bit of damage rushing (387 yards, 9 TDs, 2 Fumbles), but even combined, that's 13 TD's and 11 Turnovers. 

This is with D. Byrd as his No. 1 receiver.  A running game that is nearly as bad as their receiving Corp.  I am surprised they've won any games. Cam screwed a couple of games up with bad decision in the end but that's because he was tryingo to do what Bridgewater can't do.  Win a game on his back.

If Cam had our receiving Corp we'd be talking playoffs in Rhule's first year.  

You gave Cam the weapons TB has and he'd take them to the playoffs.  Brady is showing that the system of Belichek had more to do with his success than him personally.  He is having a tough time executing BA system. 

[DaveThePanther2008]

1 hour ago, EgoDogg said:

Yes I have. Outside of Carolina, I've spent more time watching the Patriots / Cam than any other team. Cam's issues passing go beyond the lack of offensive talent in New England right now. He has looked good at times, and he has looked downright awful in other times.

And for the record, I'm watching with the hopes to see him succeed. And I still do want to see him do well, despite being on the Patriots.

As have I.  It appears to me Cam is not comfortable in NE.  I agree he has made some terrible throws but I also attribute it to his receiving corp. His WR are not getting any separation, NONE.  His INT on Sunday was his O-line's fault as he got hit trying to throw the ball. 

[DaveThePanther2008]

5 hours ago, panthers55 said:

We should draft a QB if there is a great one where we draft. I am.not a big fan of trading up in the first round because it costs so much and often doesn't result in a much better player. But if there is a quality guy in the first 3 rounds then why not. If he turns out to be  your franchise QB it will be low risk and high reward. Hurney is money in the first. If he picks a QB hopefully it turns out like it did with Cam. 

But there are numerous examples of franchise QBs found outside of the top 20.picks so the notion that we won't be able to draft a QB at any time is quite overblown. 

This is why I think the combine is going to be huge for us this year.  I know everyone wants a first round QB but the odds are stacked against us. If we draft well and get some solid FA this team will win more than we will lose next year.  I do not see us ever getting near the top again.  So it will be luck if one of our prospective QBs falls to us. Or maybe  we find a good one later in the draft.  With the talent we have offensively we don't necessarily have to have a Franchise QB. What we need is a smart QB that can run Brady's system. 

Most importantly, be able to make all the throws.

Secondly, we have to continue to nail the draft like 2020.  If we can find 4 or 5 starters like we did in 2020.  We'll improve drastically.  So far my only issue with Tepper, outside politics, is that he still has Hurney on his staff.  I am hoping that this is because Hurney's contract is almost up and he just won't renew him.    I believe this is the reason Hurney is still here but I also believe Hurney is pulling the trigger on who we draft but he's not making the final decision.   In other words, he's calling in the pick but Rhule, Snow and Brady are telling him who we want. 

 

[AceBoogie]

22 hours ago, WarHeel said:

My thoughts are we have exceeded expectations this year thus far and as such Tepp will likely look for a quicker turnaround than originally anticipated. 

Don’t know how we’ve exceeded expectations finishing with probably the same record as a year ago in a season where you lost your QB after week 2. This year you came in with Teddy, the guy everyone wanted and you failed. Having Teddy on that contract will actually put us a few years back if we don’t draft a QB.

[AceBoogie]

4 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

As have I.  It appears to me Cam is not comfortable in NE.  I agree he has made some terrible throws but I also attribute it to his receiving corp. His WR are not getting any separation, NONE.  His INT on Sunday was his O-line's fault as he got hit trying to throw the ball. 

It was actually James White’s fault who missed the blitz pickup. 
 

Cam’s problems in NE are the same as Tom’s in Tampa. Both are on teams trying to run an offense that isn’t the best for their skill set. Cam is much better when he’s throwing the ball down field and Tom is much better when he can dink and dunk and carve up a defense. Both are being asked to do the opposite. Both are lesser players than they used to be. Only difference is Tom has the talent around him to compensate for it.
 

Sadly Cam will probably be out of the league next year and their won’t be 32 starting QBs better than him next year. Coming off injuries, replacing Tom Brady, your best WR is a guy who couldn’t make the Panthers roster. It’s tuff, but he’s getting all the blame for a flawed roster that he can’t lift up right now. 

[DaveThePanther2008]

29 minutes ago, AceBoogie said:

It was actually James White’s fault who missed the blitz pickup. 
 

Cam’s problems in NE are the same as Tom’s in Tampa. Both are on teams trying to run an offense that isn’t the best for their skill set. Cam is much better when he’s throwing the ball down field and Tom is much better when he can dink and dunk and carve up a defense. Both are being asked to do the opposite. Both are lesser players than they used to be. Only difference is Tom has the talent around him to compensate for it.
 

Sadly Cam will probably be out of the league next year and their won’t be 32 starting QBs better than him next year. Coming off injuries, replacing Tom Brady, your best WR is a guy who couldn’t make the Panthers roster. It’s tuff, but he’s getting all the blame for a flawed roster that he can’t lift up right now. 

I believe you are accurate on this however I believe Cam will either be with NE or somewhere else.  Honestly, I would love to see us bring him back next year.  This offense would be perfect for him.  The opportunity to throw deep will open so many things up.  I don't think his health will be an issue, which was our major concern. 

Get a decent O-line and he'll thrive here. 

[WarHeel]

40 minutes ago, AceBoogie said:

Don’t know how we’ve exceeded expectations finishing with probably the same record as a year ago in a season where you lost your QB after week 2. This year you came in with Teddy, the guy everyone wanted and you failed. Having Teddy on that contract will actually put us a few years back if we don’t draft a QB.

I don’t know many who wanted Teddy outside of the coaching staff embellishing his skill set. I still think we win a couple games to close out the year and seeing how we’ve been in every game outside of the TB games I’d say 6-10ish is decent. If you’ll remember, pretty much everyone thought we’d be the worst team in the league this year. That’s not even close to being true.

[MHS831]

If I were the owner, I would be encouraged with what I see right now.  Let's not forget how the roster was purged of talent over the past 2 seasons.  We lost our veterans.  In fact, our captains feature Bridgewater, Okung, and Whitehead--players not even on the team last year.  CMC and Short, 2 familiar captains, have been injured this season.  That should tell you how this team was built and developed during a pandemic. 

• The team has been in most games.  (The only team that beat the Panthers by more than one score is Tampa Bay.  They have a loaded roster) and the team has 25% of the cap in dead money.
• The team has played a ton of rookies (Actually, the participating rookies' weight is more than a ton-- 2340 pounds of rookies hit the field to actively participate each week)
  • Brown 320
  • Chinn 220
  • Gross-Matos 250
  • Pride 200
  • Roy 330
  • Franklin 220
  • Hartsfield 200
  • R. Smith 200
  • Thomas-Oliver 200
  • Charlton 200
• He is getting solid performances from unheralded players/budget acquisitions. (Davis, Walker, Kerr, Franklin, Larkin, Cannon, Scott, Douglas, Burris, etc.)
• Three defensive starters have been injured (played hurt, IR) this season (DT-Short, DE-Weatherly, CB-Jackson)
• Three offensive starters, including the Panther's best player and starting LT, have been injured most of the season (RB-CMC, LT- Okung, OG-Daley)
• Established players are better here. (Kerr, Miller, Anderson)
• Players love Rhule.
• The starting QB is a backup from a rival's roster.  His backup is from the XFL or whatever they called it.
• The Panthers play in a league with 3 other established QBs--2 certain hall of famers, the other has been to multiple pro bowls.
• The Panthers are likely the most impacted team in the NFL by Corona virus--new coach, new roster, no preseason.

So yes, Copernicus-like statisticians, we have 4 wins vs. 8 losses and "we suck."  However, an informed owner sees the foundation being laid.  If we get a GM that can fill the roster with talent at the top, Rhule can coach the bottom of the roster up.  Get rid of the bad deals.

Other bright spots:

We did NOT sign Cam to a 4-year, $125m deal.  I have a feeling that Marty without Rhule would have.

We did NOT pay Olsen $10m for another season, only to see him go to IR again.

We can CUT KK Short and save a bundle.

We know our needs and we seem to have a staff that has an eye for the skill sets they need.  The Panthers have experienced rookies and know what their needs are.  They know who is developing and who should step up.  They will not enter the offseason with aging veterans contemplating free agency or retirement without knowing what their backups are capable of doing in games. 

If I am the owner, I am giddy about the first year.  Giddy, I say.

I think the owner wants to see growth.  That may not be in the form of wins, but I expect 8 wins next year, even with Bridgewater. 

 

 

 

[panthers55]

6 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

This is why I think the combine is going to be huge for us this year.  I know everyone wants a first round QB but the odds are stacked against us. If we draft well and get some solid FA this team will win more than we will lose next year.  I do not see us ever getting near the top again.  So it will be luck if one of our prospective QBs falls to us. Or maybe  we find a good one later in the draft.  With the talent we have offensively we don't necessarily have to have a Franchise QB. What we need is a smart QB that can run Brady's system. 

Most importantly, be able to make all the throws.

Secondly, we have to continue to nail the draft like 2020.  If we can find 4 or 5 starters like we did in 2020.  We'll improve drastically.  So far my only issue with Tepper, outside politics, is that he still has Hurney on his staff.  I am hoping that this is because Hurney's contract is almost up and he just won't renew him.    I believe this is the reason Hurney is still here but I also believe Hurney is pulling the trigger on who we draft but he's not making the final decision.   In other words, he's calling in the pick but Rhule, Snow and Brady are telling him who we want. 

 

Hurney has never overrode his staff and forced coaches to.use his guys. He has always been collaborative and talks about getting the coaches the players they want. So he is doing nothing different that he did with Rivera and Fox. A GM that doesn't listen to the coach and goes off on his own won't be there long and can't expect to win.

[SizzleBuzz]

Playoffs. 

Hurndog's seat is safe.  

What @MHS831 said...great post. 

[parker]

I think his expectation will be improvement.  The team was horrible last year.  The defense was so horrible even without Keuchly, this defense is better. I think he signed Rhule to a long term deal because he knows it isn't a quick fix team.  Despite performing better than expected, we are in dismantling and rebuilding mode.  We brought in some key players, will bring in some over the offseason, but I think it takes 2 more season to be better than a marginal team.  I expect Tepper sees this too. 

[DaveThePanther2008]

1 hour ago, panthers55 said:

Hurney has never overrode his staff and forced coaches to.use his guys. He has always been collaborative and talks about getting the coaches the players they want. So he is doing nothing different that he did with Rivera and Fox. A GM that doesn't listen to the coach and goes off on his own won't be there long and can't expect to win.

Decisions are made based off what the GM recommends. I also believe with Fox and Rivera he had more say than he does with Rhule.

I cannot remember a draft that he hit the way we did in 2020 and I don't think that was a by accident.  I believe Rhule had far more say than Hurney usually gets.  No crazy trade ups for players that didn't work.  

[LinvilleGorge]

1 hour ago, panthers55 said:

Hurney has never overrode his staff and forced coaches to.use his guys. He has always been collaborative and talks about getting the coaches the players they want. So he is doing nothing different that he did with Rivera and Fox. A GM that doesn't listen to the coach and goes off on his own won't be there long and can't expect to win.

Marty Hurney at GM summed up in four words.

[Ready 2 Win]

I don't see anything changing at all really in terms of the team.

All the problems this year will be swept up in the broom that is Covid 19, new coaches staff, etc.

Tepper is a businessman. Perhaps more so that JR was. Things getting back to something close to normal and the balance sheet from the big mans office not in the red is likely all he cares about at this point.