Be honest, and tell us where you are.

[Happy Panther]

I think we have too many holes and too many question marks right now to be confident in much. O-Line could be a mess. I think Sam Darnold might just be a bad QB. Can't recall the last time we talked about special teams.

Defense could be fun though.

[Sgt Schultz]

I'm somewhere between category 1 and 2.  I am optimistic, but I am also patient with this process.

We spent years with a front office believing we were only one or two players away.  We would go out and sign one or two players (or more), but not get over the hump.  Meanwhile, we got farther away as time went on and the roster eroded, due to bad evaluations on draft day.  We also had a bad habit of awarding contracts based on past performance and not expected future results.

Breaking that cycle, purging the roster of overpaid, under-performing, and aging pieces who were past their primes takes time.

It is said that the number one cause of disappointment is unrealistic expectations.  Last year's Panthers were right about what I expect in wins and losses, maybe even a little better.  The on-field product, while frustrating at times, was better than I thought it would be. 

Snow surprised me.  I'm not yet sold on Brady being a genius, in part because I have seen that label attached to a number of offensive coaches that never lived up to it.  I'm happy with what I see from Rhule thus far.  It seems like he can get players to step up their games.

I'm not expecting playoffs this year, and realistically not even expecting 8-8-1 (who thunk of an odd number of games for a season?).  I just hope for the next step in an evolutionary improvement.  Who knows, it might bring 8-8-1 or better and a glimpse of the playoffs into the discussion, but my expectations do not rely on that.

 

[rayzor]

I'll just say that I'm more excited about this coming year than I have been in a long time. 

Ever since we lost #50, I've been kind of 'meh' about the team. 

We had some really good players to be excited about but the leadership of the team sucked. We peaked with Ron at #50. Hurney did nothing to inspire confidence, either. I had been dreaming of a younger and more progressive and aggressive HC/GM combo who weren't chained to the worn out and predictable old school way of building and running a team.

Love them or hate them so far....Fitt and Rhule and Tepper are definitely running the team differently than we've ever seen here. 

What we were doing obviously wasn't working and whole I admit to scratching my head initially at a few moves, I wanted something less predictable and we've got it. 

Secondary looks at their moves has me seeing the wisdom behind them and the result is a team that has a ton of potential and, from Rhule's history (even though it's been at the college level), he's a guy that can make that potential realized.

Right now the big question is Sam and while he wasn't our first or even second choice I think he's someone that I think Rhule and Brady can take the potential he came to the league with and the experience he gained (good and bad) and turn him into a franchise QB. 

And if Sam isn't the guy, I'm confident that, unlike the last two regimes, they won't hold into him too long. It won't take very long to find out if he's worth the (limited) investment and they'll be move on and throw everything they can at the next guy.

I'm not expecting a playoff run this year (though I wouldn't be surprised). I'm just expecting progress  and the continual building of what I believe will be a championship team.

[Call Me James]

The team needs a winning season. Until then, it's the same ole Panthers. 

We gear up every week in anticipation of a win and see how it turns out after the final whistle. 

Hopefully we move past the one player away from being good phase this year. 

Edited June 9, 2021 by Call Me James

[RenoCarolina]

Pawleys Island SC

 

[mbarbour21]

I am optimistic, I THINK I like where we are headed. Lol! A lot of that will depend on Darnold. I feel like the organization has already proven thru two drafts and a COVID season that they are not the same ol Panthers.
 

Just adjusting in the middle of a game (I know....shocking) has made me optimistic. The defense played well last year considering the personnel. The offense played well despite losing CMC and having QBs without the ability to push the ball. Add in the fact that the staff took notice of where we were struggling and picked guys to combat that, I’m stoked! (3rd down defense - Horn, Bouye, Reddick, Fox, Jones) (Redzone - Dan Arnold, Marshall, Darnold) Just too name a few.

[pantherclaw]

I didn't see my choice. 

I believe in this coaching staff. I like the way they are building the team. 

I expect improvement. 

I know the toughest road is within our division, but I also know every HC knows they must take care of business inside the division. 

I expect a winning season, possible playoff run. 

[ForJimmy]

3 hours ago, Jon Snow said:

I'm on my couch.

Still there? Just checking in…

[iamhubby1]

Well, that went better than I had anticipated. Thanks for the input. Seems folks are at least excited for the future. That in itself is progress of a sort.

[iamhubby1]

3 hours ago, Jon Snow said:

I'm on my couch.

 

I have a recliner. Recliners are cool. You should get a recliner.

[Riverboat Ron]

I think the team is headed in the right direction. We have a good young core starting to form and if Darnold can step up we have a good chance to make some noise. Remember, Darnold just turned 24.

[Kentucky Panther]

I think Darnold could be our long term answer at QB. And I think our coach and GM have shown they are fiery and aggressive, which is needed to be successful in the NFL. If our OL holds up, I could see us in the Playoffs this year at 10 wins. If not, I fully expect us there next season. 

[Jon Snow]

54 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

 

I have a recliner. Recliners are cool. You should get a recliner.

I have 2 already.  The dog has one occupied and the other is for when I get off work.  I work from the couch. 

[Madwolf]

I'm optimistic but patient.

I'm not convinced Darnold is the solution and I'm not thrilled with what we gave up for him. I simply believe we're pretty much the same team wins wise with Darnold or Bridgewater, so the price irked me a bit.

That being said I do believe Darnold can turn it around and fix his career here. I just wish the offensive line was better for him to do so.

I think the defense is going to be solidly middle of the road this year barring serious injuries and the Panthers will have around a 7 win season. 

Year 3 will be when we can really break out.