Positions likely to be addressed prioir to opening game

[45catfan]

We still have a month before camp, but looking over this roster I still see room for some improvement.  Once cuts occur, I can definitely see us picking up 1-3 guys.

 

1) LT-BIG question mark here.  The only solution on the roster is moving Moton to LT.  Erving isn't the answer, neither is Little etc...  Rhule has already seeming squashed the idea of Christensen playing there saying he's a RT or guard.  If a better alternative comes available during preseason, expect us to pounce.

2) DE- Burns, YGM and Fox.  The rest are JAGS.  Even then, YGM and Fox are honestly #2's.  We need a guy to play opposite of Burns.  Reddick at 235 obviously is a pass rush specialist and not a DE.  Maybe YGM steps up in camp.  Fox is simply filling the void of what we thought we were getting with Weatherly last year...that 3rd rotational end.  

3) LB- THIN here.  This is the very reason Chinn was turned into a LB last year; mainly out of necessity.  While the staff beefed it up a little this offseason, we still don't have the bodies needed if we are running a base 4-3.  I read somewhere that we were in our base 4-3 last year less than 10% of the time because of LB depth.  Yes, I understand nickle reigns supreme in the pass-happy NFL, but OUR personnel deficiencies were just as much of factor as match-ups with the opposition.

 

Left tackle is a starting issue, DE is a starting/rotational type and LB is purely depth, so that why I ranked them as such.  Even if the staff attempts to roll into the season without shoring up those spots, we are one injury away from serious question marks at any one of those positions.

Edited June 21, 2021 by 45catfan

[LinvilleGorge]

FS is the biggest glaring weakness IMO. There's no one on the roster there who anyone should be happy to see getting meaningful snaps.

LT is a question mark for sure, but there are guys here to compete. If Erving is healthy he can be a decent option. There's the possibility of Moton kicking over to LT also.

I think this staff is deemphasizing LB and that's okay with me.

DE depth doesn't concern me. I think we'll look for potential upgrades across the roster, but I don't see DE being a priority at all.

 

 

[45catfan]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

FS is the biggest glaring weakness IMO. There's no one on the roster there who anyone should be happy to see getting meaningful snaps.

LT is a question mark for sure, but there are guys here to compete. If Erving is healthy he can be a decent option. There's the possibility of Moton kicking over to LT also.

I think this staff is deemphasizing LB and that's okay with me.

DE depth doesn't concern me. I think we'll look for potential upgrades across the roster, but I don't see DE being a priority at all.

 

 

I'm not a fan of the depth at safety either, but I think the team liked what they saw in Franklin last year and Robinson has a chance to step up in camp...throw Chandler into mix as well.  Burris and Chinn are our unquestioned starters.  That said, I doubt the team is going to spend resources in backup safeties unless a fringe starter becomes available after cuts and the rest of our reserves failed to impress them in camp.

I would put safety at #4 if I would have done another position group.  However, who does a top 4 list, lol?

[LinvilleGorge]

18 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Burris and Chinn are our unquestioned starters. 

Therein lies the issue. Burris should be a depth piece at most. He was a liability last year and is likely to be one this year too if he's forced into a role he isn't cut out for.

[45catfan]

6 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Therein lies the issue. Burris should be a depth piece at most. He was a liability last year and is likely to be one this year too if he's forced into a role he isn't cut out for.

With $2.5 million in cap savings, if the team had any questions about Burris starting, he'd already be gone.  They are not paying that kind of money to a reserve safety.  They clearly chose him over Boston, one of the two had to go with the combined cap money tied up between them .  Being a converted corner, he has the coverage skills and he's big enough at 210 that he's not a 'shy' tackler.  My biggest issue with Burris last year was staying healthy.  I thought his play was good enough when he was actually on the field.

[panthers55]

You could include a number of positions among those we are looking for upgrades. In fact Rhule said they are always looking to upgrade at every position if the price is right and it fits in the long term plan. I don't think any position on the defense besides perhaps corner is deep enough we won't be looking to upgrade. The same is true with the exception of receiver.  I think even at qb and rb we would add a guy if the value was there. This roster will look different for sure in September particularly at depth positions.

 

[LinvilleGorge]

14 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

With $2.5 million in cap savings, if the team had any questions about Burris starting, he'd already be gone.  They are not paying that kind of money to a reserve safety.  They clearly chose him over Boston, one of the two had to go with the combined cap money tied up between them .  Being a converted corner, he has the coverage skills and he's big enough at 210 that he's not a 'shy' tackler.  My biggest issue with Burris last year was staying healthy.  I thought his play was good enough when he was actually on the field.

It could be as simple as they didn't anticipate a better option being available. $2.5M isn't much in the grand scheme of things if you think he's going to be the best option available. He's the 29th highest paid safety in the NFL.

[pantherclaw]

I don't agree with the OP at all. 

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, pantherclaw said:

I don't agree with the OP at all. 

Thanks for your insight. A truly valuable post.

[SBBlue]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

FS is the biggest glaring weakness IMO. There's no one on the roster there who anyone should be happy to see getting meaningful snaps.

LT is a question mark for sure, but there are guys here to compete. If Erving is healthy he can be a decent option. There's the possibility of Moton kicking over to LT also.

I think this staff is deemphasizing LB and that's okay with me.

DE depth doesn't concern me. I think we'll look for potential upgrades across the roster, but I don't see DE being a priority at all.

 

 

This is where I am, except the part about Erving.

Why do you think Erving can be decent, because most describe his play as horrible?

[thefuzz]

1 minute ago, SBBlue said:

This is where I am, except the part about Erving.

Why do you think Erving can be decent, because most describe his play as horrible?

Can be, and will be are different things.

Maybe with one position to work on, he can become an average to below average starter....not counting on it, but it COULD happen.

Would be nice to luck into another Oher situation.

[kungfoodude]

We have seen lot of question marks on the roster, IMO. 

QB, LT, LG, RG, S, LB, DT, WR, LS, K, TE, CB.

We still don't really know we have answers to those questions yet. If we have even half of those answers, it was a good offseason.

[SBBlue]

Just now, thefuzz said:

Can be, and will be are different things.

Maybe with one position to work on, he can become an average to below average starter....not counting on it, but it COULD happen.

Would be nice to luck into another Oher situation.

There was some luck involved:

"Oher was rehabbing from toe surgery in the offseason when he received a text from Cam Newton. The quarterback has recruited players before, but not this hard. Newton's brother, Cecil Jr., had played on the practice squad in Baltimore, and he was around Oher every day. They became friends. He knew Oher was talented and professional, and was confident he could protect his brother. Cecil told Cam that Oher would be a key acquisition to the team.

So Newton texted Oher, and he didn't just say he wanted him. He said he needed him. When the Panthers signed Oher to a two-year, $7 million deal this past March, the move was widely criticized. Oher, 29, appeared to be on the downswing."

Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton recruited Michael Oher to protect his 'Blind Side' (espn.com)

 

[45catfan]

18 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

We have seen lot of question marks on the roster, IMO. 

QB, LT, LG, RG, S, LB, DT, WR, LS, K, TE, CB.

We still don't really know we have answers to those questions yet. If we have even half of those answers, it was a good offseason.

Eh, it's all speculation prior to camp, but looking on paper that is what I saw as glaring holes.  I would say say short of camp injuries that we have most of those positions you listed settled in one fashion or another.  Granted teams aren't going to have all-pros at every position, but settled enough that the staff should be comfortable heading into the season.  I think we keep guys at WR, RB, OG, DT, LS, K, TE and CB we have heading into camp for the 53-man roster.   In other words, no post-camp upgrade FA signings.

Edited June 21, 2021 by 45catfan