Reasons for cautious optimism?

[frankw]

Ron was mediocre and needed to be fired but he still drinks Matt Rhule's milkshake who can't even hang with Joe Judge. Both things can be true.

[TheoJay10]

The only thing I want to be optimistic about is CMC lasting a whole year. Nothing else matters tbh at this point in the "rebuild".

[poundaway]

20 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

https://www.theringer.com/the-bill-simmons-podcast/2022/9/7/23340271/nfl-sleeper-candidates-with-kevin-clark-and-raheem-palmer-plus-heidi-gardner-on-the-chiefs-and-snl

 

Great Panther segment on the bs podcast.  Simmons argues for the team to make the playoffs and Kevin Clark talks about why its not happening

 

23 minutes in

Simmons was way more prepared for this discussion.  Kevin Clark almost concedes.  "You've made an incredibly compelling case, I'm almost on board, if not for the fact that my team is the Dolphins."
 

[Ezrider1423]

3 hours ago, trueblade said:

He also had Luuuuuuke.

Yes sir he did

[CPantherKing]

Optimism?

That hasn't been the case for a while.

I want a defense that can stop the run and create turnovers. This was not addressed in the offseason. The Panthers have a college speed defense that thinks they can blitz and pass rush their way to stopping an NFL offense.

I want a running game with a QB and 2 RBs that can effectively move the ball and make plays when the defense sniffs out the play on 1st and 3rd down. The Panthers are missing a backup RB who can make this a reality. So close and a miss. Should have kept Abdullah.

I want a QB who can produce GWD when the running game and defense fail to control a game and they are trailing late into the second half. The Panthers keep getting the worst GWD QBs in the NFL.

I want receivers who can make clutch catches/plays to make a defense miss and put the ball in the endzone. At the very least, I want receivers who can consistently make the plays and run effective routes to change field position. In the NFL, this requires consistently catching your targets and having high yac. None of the Panthers receivers fit what an NFL team needs at receiver to win. Robby is a one trick pony and drops too many balls to make that trick worry a defense. DJ is a flashy receiver who can run nice routes and get open, but rarely blows up a defense to consistently change the game/field position. His drops keep him from being that clutch receiver in the redzone. Brandon Zylstra is the closest the Panthers have to a receiver with the NFL abilities to win games, and he is average if you don't count CMC as a receiver.

I want an OL that can dominate ToP. This means they have to be consistently effective at 2nd level run blocking and pass blocking. They must not give up negative plays on every drive due to sacks, penalties, or runs for loss. They must allow the QB and RB to play a patient game and not rush any of their decisions during a play. Some of the moves in the offseason seemed to point at an improvement here. I feel BC and Ickey are out of position and I'm concerned Elf, Jordan, and Erving will find their way into the starting lineup. I believe BC is better at LT and Ickey would be the best OG in the NFL. I feel if the Panthers were to flip BC and Ickey and the OL stays healthy most if not all of the season, the Panthers have one of the best OLs in the NFL. Instead, the Panthers decide to play BC where he can't use his strength in pass blocking and work through a very raw project at LT who has noticeable weaknesses in pass blocking on the NFL level.

I want the team built around 9 natural captains with a championship mindset (5 on offense, and 4 on defense). CMC, Baker, Bozeman and Corbett are the only players on the team who fit this role. Moton, Burns, Shaq, and Chinn are good players/specialists but they are not championship leaders to build a team around.

So, CMC, Baker, Bozeman, and Corbett MUST stay healthy and the Panthers defense needs to make sure the offense does not trail late in games to have a shot at the playoffs. That is the extent of my optimism. It is paper thin, but possible with a lot of luck.

I do feel Rhule will ruin anything that may be good for the team due to his ego, and make some really bad late game calls when top level coaching/decision making truly matters.

Several missed opportunities in the 2022 offseason. Let the 2022 season begin and hope they don't keep missing when opportunity strikes.

[Ezrider1423]

10 hours ago, frankw said:

Why do you keep trying to drag politics into discussions about our head coach? His record is what it is and that is the opposite of good. If you can't handle it being discussed you can choose not to open this website or these threads. He is a undeniable downgrade from the last head coach we moved on and that is a fact you are going to have to live with until he can prove otherwise this season. I hope he does I want a competitive team. But in the meantime I'm not going to engage in this self deception about his current record to appease your bizarre need to be a sycophant 24 hours a day. We will know some things for sure on Monday.

Once again, I’m not a Rhule homer.  So sycophant, I am not.  I get the criticism, I do; But when it’s almost every post that says the same thing bitching about him.. it gets just a tad stale.  Negativity breeds negativity.  Did your parents ever once tell you if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all? Complain, bitch and moan and then move on.  Don’t lament the same damn thing over and over and over.  Rhule may suck, but guess what.. news flash: he still has a job.  Chances are you may suck at your job too.. but for some reason you’re still around cashing a paycheck.  We have absolutely no control over any of this.. all the griping day after day after day is just wasted energy.  I almost never post.. and I’ve been a lurker here for many years… the negativity and toxicity has gotten so bad that enough is enough.  Come Sunday at 1pm, just STFU and let the players do the talking.

Edited September 9, 2022 by Ezrider1423

[Ezrider1423]

5 hours ago, CPantherKing said:

Optimism?

That hasn't been the case for a while.

I want a defense that can stop the run and create turnovers. This was not addressed in the offseason. The Panthers have a college speed defense that thinks they can blitz and pass rush their way to stopping an NFL offense.

I want a running game with a QB and 2 RBs that can effectively move the ball and make plays when the defense sniffs out the play on 1st and 3rd down. The Panthers are missing a backup RB who can make this a reality. So close and a miss. Should have kept Abdullah.

I want a QB who can produce GWD when the running game and defense fail to control a game and they are trailing late into the second half. The Panthers keep getting the worst GWD QBs in the NFL.

I want receivers who can make clutch catches/plays to make a defense miss and put the ball in the endzone. At the very least, I want receivers who can consistently make the plays and run effective routes to change field position. In the NFL, this requires consistently catching your targets and having high yac. None of the Panthers receivers fit what an NFL team needs at receiver to win. Robby is a one trick pony and drops too many balls to make that trick worry a defense. DJ is a flashy receiver who can run nice routes and get open, but rarely blows up a defense to consistently change the game/field position. His drops keep him from being that clutch receiver in the redzone. Brandon Zylstra is the closest the Panthers have to a receiver with the NFL abilities to win games, and he is average if you don't count CMC as a receiver.

I want an OL that can dominate ToP. This means they have to be consistently effective at 2nd level run blocking and pass blocking. They must not give up negative plays on every drive due to sacks, penalties, or runs for loss. They must allow the QB and RB to play a patient game and not rush any of their decisions during a play. Some of the moves in the offseason seemed to point at an improvement here. I feel BC and Ickey are out of position and I'm concerned Elf, Jordan, and Erving will find their way into the starting lineup. I believe BC is better at LT and Ickey would be the best OG in the NFL. I feel if the Panthers were to flip BC and Ickey and the OL stays healthy most if not all of the season, the Panthers have one of the best lines in the NFL. 

When do any of us get everything we want?  Ickey is just way too athletic to play guard imo. 

[frankw]

26 minutes ago, Ezrider1423 said:

Once again, I’m not a Rhule homer.  So sycophant, I am not.  I get the criticism, I do; But when it’s almost every post that says the same thing bitching about him.. it gets just a tad stale.  Negativity breeds negativity.  Did your parents ever once tell you if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all? Complain, bitch and moan and then move on.  Don’t lament the same damn thing over and over and over.  Rhule may suck, but guess what.. news flash: he still has a job.  Chances are you may suck at your job too.. but for some reason you’re still around cashing a paycheck.  We have absolutely no control over any of this.. all the griping day after day after day is just wasted energy.  I almost never post.. and I’ve been a lurker here for many years… the negativity and toxicity has gotten so bad that enough is enough.  Come Sunday at 1pm, just STFU and let the players do the talking.

You're not a Rhule homer but you are here day and night defending him. Right. Again if it bothers you so much STOP READING IT. One of the only people clinging to your posts is a lunatic on their second account spending their whole life sucking up to Matt Rhule. You two are no better than anyone else so keep telling yourself you're superior.

Edited September 9, 2022 by frankw

[CPantherKing]

5 minutes ago, Ezrider1423 said:

When do any of us get everything we want?  Ickey is just way too athletic to play guard imo. 

When a team puts together a SB contending team. That's when you get all of this.

[Mr. Scot]

41 minutes ago, Ezrider1423 said:

Negativity breeds negativity.

Being terrible breeds a lot more.

Show people a team that can win more than five games and then we can start talking.

[Snake]

10 hours ago, frankw said:

Ron was mediocre and needed to be fired but he still drinks Matt Rhule's milkshake who can't even hang with Joe Judge. Both things can be true.

Rivera's record isn't much better than Rhules with his new team. Both picks were poor decisions by Hurney. 

Edited September 9, 2022 by Snake

[Mr. Scot]

Future head coaching searches need a "no meatballs" rule.

[Ezrider1423]

45 minutes ago, frankw said:

You're not a Rhule homer but you are here day and night defending him. Right. Again if it bothers you so much STOP READING IT. One of the only people clinging to your posts is a lunatic on their second account spending their whole life sucking up to Matt Rhule. You two are no better than anyone else so keep telling yourself you're superior.

Day and night .  Thanks for the laughs. Preesh.  BTW, I probably have less than 50 comments on this site. You probably have 50 on the first page of threads alone   When did I ever say I was superior? I’m no better than anyone else.  We’re all equal… But keep putting words in my mouth, I’m clearly seeing this is pointless. I’m done here. Have a great night and I hope you enjoy the game Sunday.  

Edited September 9, 2022 by Ezrider1423

[Ezrider1423]

38 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Being terrible breeds a lot more.

Show people a team that can win more than five games and then we can start talking.

Fair enough.  I guess we will all see come December. I watched every game of their 1-15 season. So I’ve had enough of the shittiness, just like you.  I can’t stand losing.  I’m one of the most competitive ppl one would ever meet.  There is nothing better to me than winning.  It’s great, and suits me extremely well. I don’t do well losing.  AT ALL.  I’ll still be a fan whenever the next coach takes the reigns regardless of who it is. 

Edited September 9, 2022 by Ezrider1423