Offseason Breaking non-news

[MHS831]

Just a simple question, and at this point, we must say, "on paper" at the end of every sentence after this one, which was not written on paper.  (dammit).

Have we ever, in 1 offseason, ever upgraded one position more than we seem to have upgraded CB, on paper?

Here is my thinking, on paper inferred throughout.

1.  Donte Jackson is more productive than we thought.  In fact, with better S play, we can do more with him.  I see the competition and the improvement up front as a big plus for him.

2. Jaycee Horn is the real deal.  I see why we took him, although I did not want him over Surtain. 

3.  AJ Bouye is going to be solid here, and he will be on the field a lot--after the suspension.

4. Keith Taylor has Snow feeling as if we stole him in the draft.  He should be solid depth--he might have been a starter at times last year.

5. Rashaan Melvin is a veteran who can play the slot and might not make the team.  He would have started here last year, at least at times.

6.  Troy Pride is a really good athlete.  I think we should move him to S, but it is possible that he is the 6th best CB on the team this season.

7.  Stanly Thomas-Oliver III is hoping to make the PS.

On paper. 

By game 2, we will have 6 CBs with starting experience.

 

[kungfoodude]

Yes. In 2019 our defensive line. On paper, it was supposed to be one of the most talented and dominant in the NFL.

In reality, it was one of the worst we have ever fielded. 

[LinvilleGorge]

I'd say when we drafted Cam and signed Derek Anderson that was a pretty significant upgrade from Clausen and company.

[DeSim]

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I'd say when we drafted Cam and signed Derek Anderson that was a pretty significant upgrade from Clausen and company.

Damnit, you beat me to it. 

[kungfoodude]

I would say I wouldn't be at all surprised if our secondary is only a minor upgrade from 2020, a moderate upgrade from 2020 or a massive upgrade from 2020. All of those are equally plausible scenarios to me.

In fairness, Jackson could continue to be injury prone, Horn could basically be a standard rookie, Bouye could prove to be over the hill and our promising group of young backups could all prove to be mostly depth guys and little else. If any one of those things happens, it limits the ceiling. 

For us to be a GREAT CB unit in 2021 a lot of things have to go really well for us. I don't think we specifically need that to happen for the long term. If we can see Horn show he clearly was a top 10 caliber prospect(even if he is up and down), and then 1-2 of our other young guys show they can be a #2 or #3 starter for a few years, I'm good. That shows a bright future at the position. 

[MHS831]

22 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Yes. In 2019 our defensive line. On paper, it was supposed to be one of the most talented and dominant in the NFL.

In reality, it was one of the worst we have ever fielded. 

Right.  It was a train wreck.

[kungfoodude]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Right.  It was a train wreck.

I remember how hype everyone was(including myself) about that unit. That front 7 looked amazing........on paper.

Edited June 30, 2021 by kungfoodude

[Moo Daeng]

In 95 we went from nobody in every position group to actually having position groups.

On paper.

[bythenbrs]

44 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I would say I wouldn't be at all surprised if our secondary is only a minor upgrade from 2020, a moderate upgrade from 2020 or a massive upgrade from 2020. All of those are equally plausible scenarios to me.

Not disagreeing with you but…. You see all three possible outcomes as equally likely, literally a coin flip?

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, bythenbrs said:

Not disagreeing with you but…. You see all three possible outcomes as equally likely, literally a coin flip?

If this hypothetical coin had three sides, yes. Mainly because it may only take a few things changing for that to happen. I think we will be better than in 2020(not a high bar to hit) but I think it could go really anywhere on the scale for how much better because there are only a couple of a returning players and they are all young or have question marks. 

[iamhubby1]

4 minutes ago, bythenbrs said:

Not disagreeing with you but…. You see all three possible outcomes as equally likely, literally a coin flip?

 

Now that's what you call a mild prediction. lol

[Basbear]

40 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I remember how hype everyone was(including myself) about that unit. That front 7 looked amazing........on paper.

I gave Herniay the gold star for signing Mccoy to a cheap deal and thought this team should go 12-4.......i just didnt buy Cam shoulder is done talk, I thought just a fluke/unlucky deal. It was awful to watch that team unfold into bunch of weak only caring about my stats DL. They only cared about 2020 free agency. So what a RB is getting 7 yards per attempt, "But look at my sacks doe, str8-fire son!!". SOFTNESS DL IN NFL HISTORY, compete joke!!

[kungfoodude]

1 minute ago, Basbear said:

I gave Herniay the gold star for signing Mccoy to a cheap deal and thought this team should go 12-4.......i just didnt buy Cam shoulder is done talk, I thought just a fluke/unlucky deal. It was awful to watch that team unfold into bunch of weak only caring about my stats DL. They only cared about 2020 free agency. So what a RB is getting 7 yards per attempt, "But look at my sacks doe, str8-fire son!!". SOFTNESS DL IN NFL HISTORY, compete joke!!

That was one of the worst teams in Carolina Panthers history. They were much worse than their record indicated. Not many squads have so clearly mailed it in while wearing the jersey.

[Basbear]

7 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

That was one of the worst teams in Carolina Panthers history. They were much worse than their record indicated. Not many squads have so clearly mailed it in while wearing the jersey.

It was almost like Ron Rivera told the players to play that way- " Hey guys Im done here, best thing for you to do is pad your stats so you look better during free agency" I forgot who asked, but some reporter did and rivera was like" Doing the best we can, the team cares, they are doing their best". Rivera never had that problem before, but the total team quit/checkout and it was one of the worst panthers teams in our history. Theres lots I can take, one I can NOT is RB getting first down every two carries.