I'm starting to get an early 90s Cowboy vibe with this Panther team.

[SCO96]

It's way to early to say we are gonna win 3 superbowls in 4 years, but I'm getting a deja vu feeling about the Carolina Panthers. This is quite long, bit hear me out.

We have a new /charismatic/somewhat eccentric owner who is desperate to win. He  seems more excited talking to his new draftees on draft day than making money (Who does that sound like?)

We have a young HC who just left the collegiate ranks and replaced the most successful HC in the franchises history.(Our previous coach was HC of the year twice in case you have forgotten...2013 and 2015...and the only guy to get us in the postseason 3 years in a row). Rhule was successful at different college programs...just like Jimmy Johnson. He's well acquainted with all the talent in NCAA and is able to find talent in all over the draft and among the undrafted guys. I don't think it's a coincidence that Matt Rhule even spent some time this off-season on Jimmy's fishing boat to pick his brain.

Our GM loves playing chess on draft day. Jimmy Johnson( HC/GM on those 89-93 Cowboy teams) did as well and had some stellar drafts to build the championship foundation. A special emphasis was placed on building a fast/athletic defense and a powerful offensive line with a large number of draft choices.

Rhule had a losing season out of the gate (just like JJ), but it was obvious from day 1 that his guys play hard for him. Like Johnson, the team immediately improved on paper heading into year 2 with a very strong draft class.

The team had a great OC (Norv Turner) who quickly became a sought after candidate for a head coaching position (Joe Brady anyone?)

The QB who led the team, Troy Aikman, had a bumpy ride the first couple of years in the NFL. Don't forget he was 1-15 his first year. At one time he was benched for Steve Walsh (I bet most of you guys forgot that). He appeared to be a 1st round pick who wouldn't live up to his draft slot. Does that sound like anyone on our team? Once all the pieces were in place, Aikman put things together in a hurry.

Tom Brady is still QB I fear the most in the NFC but he's almost 45. Russell Wilson is great. Aaron Rodgers is the most physically talented guy in the conference. But neither of those guys have been able to make it back to a Super Bowl since their lone championship win. And, both guys appear to literally hate their front offices and would leave in a heartbeat if the right opportunity arose. Besides those three What other QBs in the NFC do you actually fear? The best young QBs are in the AFC now ( Allen, Jackson, Mahomes. Herbert, Mayfield, Burrows, Watson)

What does all of this mean? Perhaps nothing. But as the saying goes "history tends to repeat itself" I think this Carolina will be a playoff team by 2022, if not next year,  and the dominant team NFC by the middle of the decade.

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

[LinvilleGorge]

90s Cowboys you say? We need more

[Hoenheim]

I think the team is good but everything heavily depends on how well Darnold does. 

The early 90s cowboys definitely had a much better oline . We got several new pieces this offseason so maybe it'll be good ? Big question mark right now though . Darnold and the oline need to work .

Everything else is looking pretty good. Lots of young talent on offense and defense .

Edited May 2, 2021 by Hoenheim

[frankw]

I need to see some wins in our division before I even think about talk of playoff runs and super bowls. No team in the league is going to do much winning one game against their divisional opponents. Stepping our way out of the cellar is the first goal.

[rayzor]

I just know I'm feeling more giddy about this team than I have in years. 

Ever since that damnable SB loss, I've just felt pretty blah about this team.

This year feels fresh and it feels like it's finally being put together correctly. It has been deconstructed, torn down to it's foundation, and being rebuilt into something special by people who are very forward thinking and have a clear vision of the future rather than trying to hang on to the old school.

[Hoenheim]

We definitely massively improved the roster overall from last year and we were in every game besides two of them . With good qb play we could be in the playoffs . 

With bad qb play well get another mediocre record like we have been getting for the past 3 season straight.  We have too much talent overall to win less than 4 games or so . 

[Ready 2 Win]

24 minutes ago, SCO96 said:

It's way to early...

Exactly.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

26 minutes ago, SCO96 said:

Russell Wilson is great. Aaron Rodgers is the most physically talented guy in the conference. But neither of those guys have been able to make it back to a Super Bowl since their lone championship win.

Russell Wilson actually did make it back to the SB and threw an interception at the goal line to lose the game to the Patriots.

Otherwise, nice post.

Edited May 2, 2021 by NanuqoftheNorth

[SCO96]

9 minutes ago, frankw said:

I need to see some wins in our division before I even think about talk of playoff runs and super bowls. No team in the league is going to do much winning one game against their divisional opponents. Stepping our way out of the cellar is the first goal.

You correct sir. But let's remember Jimmy Johnson and the Dallas Cowboys were 1-15 that first year. The next year they were 7-9. By year three they were 11-5 and in the playoffs. The won the Super Bowl back to back in 1992-1993 with regular season records of 13-3 and 12-4.

We were 5-11 in Matt's first year. Eight of those loses were by 8 points or less. Tampa spanked us pretty good both times they played us but their 7 time SB winning QB won't be around too much longer. New Orleans got us pretty good to end the season, but Brees is GONE now. I'm not too afraid of any other Saint QB lighting us up the way Drew used to year in and year out. Matty Ice is always a problem but he isn't quite as good as the former two QB's. I respect him, but I don't fear him.

We were a lot more competive in general than Dallas was in JJ's first year. 

[SCO96]

2 minutes ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

Russell Wilson actually did make it back to the SB and threw an interception at the goal line to lose the game to the Patriots.

Otherwise, nice post.

Thank you for the correction. I meant to say he hasn't won. Sorry about that. Ironcially a guy from the Seattle FO that helped build those back to back conference winning team is calling the shots in Carolina.

If he could repeat that here I think we could all live with that...but I want more...

[Pejorative Miscreant]

[CanePantherHornet]

I just want one single super bowl victory. Sure it would be nice to be consistent, but I can be content with just one.

Edited May 2, 2021 by CanePantherHornet

[SCO96]

36 minutes ago, Hoenheim said:

I think the team is good but everything heavily depends on how well Darnold does. 

The early 90s cowboys definitely had a much better oline . We got several new pieces this offseason so maybe it'll be good ? Big question mark right now though . Darnold and the oline need to work .

Everything else is looking pretty good. Lots of young talent on offense and defense .

Darnold and the O-line are the key. If were are successful on these two fronts the future looks bright. Here's the one thing I admire about how we handled the situation. "If " Sam fails, we still have plenty of draft capital to trade for a better QB  or pick a promising draft prospect. If you look at our roster as presently constructed, this would be a desireable place to place for any QB to play. If I'm not mistaken, aren't we going to have one of the highest cap spaces heading into the 2022 season? We should be able to absorb almost any QB salary next season.

Edited May 2, 2021 by SCO96

[frankw]

1 minute ago, SCO96 said:

You correct sir. But let's remember Jimmy Johnson and the Dallas Cowboys were 1-15 that first year. The next year they were 7-9. By year three they were 11-5 and in the playoffs. The won the Super Bowl back to back in 1992-1993 with regular season records of 13-3 and 12-4.

We were 5-11 in Matt's first year. Eight of those loses were by 8 points or less. Tampa spanked us pretty good both times they played us but their 7 time SB winning QB won't be around too much longer. New Orleans got us pretty good to end the season, but Brees is GONE now. I'm not too afraid of any other Saint QB lighting us up the way Drew used to year in and year out. Matty Ice is always a problem but he isn't quite as good as the former two QB's. I respect him, but I don't fear him.

We were a lot more competive in general than Dallas was in JJ's first year. 

I hear you man. In general I share your optimism but after years past of hype that resulted in failure I can't buy in just yet until I see some of this in action. I think now we matchup much better with Tampa though. Anywho if Bruce Arians can redeem himself the way he did last year after his previous postseason stints there is absolutely hope for us to make a quick turnaround.