The Offseason Isn't Over Yet....

[methodtoll]

Reflecting on the last couple of days of the fiery of activity that Carolina has done, I realize that the offseason is not over yet. We are just in the beginning of Free Agency and Pro Days are around the corner. By the time you know it, it will be the draft. So with that in mind, I figured that we need to start looking for some replacement players so lets take a look at the positions we need the most:

Defensive End

Obviously with Peppers now a Bear, we needed to fill his void but now it looks as if Tyler Brayton may not be returning as a Panther either so the Panthers are short handed on DEs. Likely, Charles Johnson and Everette Brown are the potential starters but I wouldn't be surprise if they bring in a vet like Raheem Brock to compete if he is at a reasonable price. Definitely will look in the draft and maybe even use the 1st pick on a DE like Austin Lane who is almost comparable in size to Julius Peppers.

Other notable free agents: Jason Babin, Cory Redding , Jarvis Green

Defensive Tackle

I know most feel that we are shored up at this position but I doesn't hurt to have competition. Likely right now, Louis Leanard and Tank Tyler are the possible starters with Ed Johnson and Nick Hayden as rotational players. Leanard and Tyler are both coming off of injuries and hopefully will be ready for the start of camp. One guy that I think could be a good choice here is Dywane Robertson, they thought about bringing him in last season but they didn't but he is still 28 years old so its not like he is completely old and would likely push these young guys. In the draft, I really like Dan Williams out of Tennessee, who I believe can play both the 3-tech and NT and I also like Geno Atkins out of Georgia, he showed promise at the Senior Bowl.

Other notable free agents: Ian Scott, Tank Johnson,

Quarterback

Jake Delhomme's release came as a shock to most around here but I understand the move because they are trying to get younger and they believe in Matt Moore as the starter, however, by releasing Delhomme and not re-signing Feeley and not haven't signed McCown yet, Moore doesn't have any vet behind him. On top of that, I am not sold that they are just completely handing the reigns over to Moore, I think likely they will try to bring in someone to compete against Moore. That said, I think someone like Kyle Boller could come in and provide that veteran presence at QB and also could possibly compete with Moore and the only reason I brought his name up is because Carolina were (or still is) high on Boller and one season was even thinking about trading for him when he was with the Ravens. Through the draft, I am almost certain that they will draft a QB and it may even blindside people and draft one with the 1st pick, which wouldn't be the most popular choice amongst huddlers. I think maybe Tony Pike or Dan LeFevour with the 1st pick (2nd round by the way) or maybe someone like Jarrett Brown in the 3rd.

Other Notable Free Agents: Daunte Culpepper, Patrick Ramsey, Rex Grossmen

Wide Receiver

Steve Smith is obviously our playmaker but when you look behind him, you have Dywane Jarrett and Kenneth Moore. I am probably the only one on here who believes that Jarrett will end up playing 10x better with Moore under center then he did with Jake but I don't know if he is a #2. I know a lot of huddlers are hoping for a guy like Kevin Walter but we will see. I think someone like Kassim Osgood could be a good pick-up. Through the draft there is ton of receivers to look at, someone like Mardy Gilyard from Cincy, who could not only be a solid receiver but a good returner as well or a Riley Coooper from Florida who has good size and one of the best blocking receivers coming out of college.

Other Notable Free Agents: Chris Chambers, Josh Reed, David Tyree

Over all, it is going to be an interesting few months, we will see what happens but just have patience folks as we are retooling.

[2jakefansinva]

Reflecting on the last couple of days of the fiery of activity that Carolina has done, I realize that the offseason is not over yet. We are just in the beginning of Free Agency and Pro Days are around the corner. By the time you know it, it will be the draft. So with that in mind, I figured that we need to start looking for some replacement players so lets take a look at the positions we need the most:

Defensive End

Obviously with Peppers now a Bear, we needed to fill his void but now it looks as if Tyler Brayton may not be returning as a Panther either so the Panthers are short handed on DEs. Likely, Charles Johnson and Everette Brown are the potential starters but I wouldn't be surprise if they bring in a vet like Raheem Brock to compete if he is at a reasonable price. Definitely will look in the draft and maybe even use the 1st pick on a DE like Austin Lane who is almost comparable in size to Julius Peppers.

Other notable free agents: Jason Babin, Cory Redding , Jarvis Green

Defensive Tackle

I know most feel that we are shored up at this position but I doesn't hurt to have competition. Likely right now, Louis Leanard and Tank Tyler are the possible starters with Ed Johnson and Nick Hayden as rotational players. Leanard and Tyler are both coming off of injuries and hopefully will be ready for the start of camp. One guy that I think could be a good choice here is Dywane Robertson, they thought about bringing him in last season but they didn't but he is still 28 years old so its not like he is completely old and would likely push these young guys. In the draft, I really like Dan Williams out of Tennessee, who I believe can play both the 3-tech and NT and I also like Geno Atkins out of Georgia, he showed promise at the Senior Bowl.

Other notable free agents: Ian Scott, Tank Johnson,

Quarterback

Jake Delhomme's release came as a shock to most around here but I understand the move because they are trying to get younger and they believe in Matt Moore as the starter, however, by releasing Delhomme and not re-signing Feeley and not haven't signed McCown yet, Moore doesn't have any vet behind him. On top of that, I am not sold that they are just completely handing the reigns over to Moore, I think likely they will try to bring in someone to compete against Moore. That said, I think someone like Kyle Boller could come in and provide that veteran presence at QB and also could possibly compete with Moore and the only reason I brought his name up is because Carolina were (or still is) high on Boller and one season was even thinking about trading for him when he was with the Ravens. Through the draft, I am almost certain that they will draft a QB and it may even blindside people and draft one with the 1st pick, which wouldn't be the most popular choice amongst huddlers. I think maybe Tony Pike or Dan LeFevour with the 1st pick (2nd round by the way) or maybe someone like Jarrett Brown in the 3rd.

Other Notable Free Agents: Daunte Culpepper, Patrick Ramsey, Rex Grossmen

Wide Receiver

Steve Smith is obviously our playmaker but when you look behind him, you have Dywane Jarrett and Kenneth Moore. I am probably the only one on here who believes that Jarrett will end up playing 10x better with Moore under center then he did with Jake but I don't know if he is a #2. I know a lot of huddlers are hoping for a guy like Kevin Walter but we will see. I think someone like Kassim Osgood could be a good pick-up. Through the draft there is ton of receivers to look at, someone like Mardy Gilyard from Cincy, who could not only be a solid receiver but a good returner as well or a Riley Coooper from Florida who has good size and one of the best blocking receivers coming out of college.

Other Notable Free Agents: Chris Chambers, Josh Reed, David Tyree

Over all, it is going to be an interesting few months, we will see what happens but just have patience folks as we are retooling.[/QUOTE]

Nice work but, you are asking a little much of this fan base there at the end.

[Smithers]

As far as WR goes, I think we should take a serious look at Antonio Bryant. The guy had an off year last season due to a nagging injury...but he is still a top 15 WR IMO. Just let him get healthy.

I agree with the rest...I think we will sign Boller, and have made several posts about it. I would like to see us bring Ian Scott in as well for depth.

[methodtoll]

I forgot to add a position

Outside Linebacker

With the release of Landon Johnson and Nail Diggs, we are now in the market for a SLB. Likely, Connor or Anderson will be in competition for that spot but I think they will bring in someone else too. That said, I think someone like Angelo Crowell could come in and fit that spot. Through the draft, I think that Dakoda Watson or Rennie Curran could be good fits here.

Other notable Free Agents: Bryan Scott, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Chaun Thompson

[rayzor]

we won't be drafting a QB early.

[Darth Bobo]

A couple of notes.

The Panthers we recently released all had questionable to borderline contracts when you compare the salary they were guaranteed to their weekly production, and more poignantly their future salary as it compared to their future production and the players' age.

Our team got much younger and much cheaper, albeit at an unknown negative cost to immediate playmaking ability. Its fair to say, that the veteran losses are going to cost us some wins in early 2010/11, but our financial and personnel options in the 2011/12 season will be overwhelmingly in the favor of the Panther's franchise. Absent any major contract flops in 2011, this advantage should provide many years of solid personnel gains.

Everything about these moves shows we are looking forward to the next uncapped year. And this makes BIG SENSE, if we look realistically at the strength right now of Atlanta and New Orleans and how they relate to our immediate chances to make the big dance. Those two franchises are in a better position to make a Superbowl run this year, so our organization is yielding for now, so that we can dominate later. I think its brilliant, personally.

I cannot remember a time when we've seen the Panthers cutting edge be so sharp, they are easily the most brazen cuts we've ever seen from our franchise. Hurney/Richardson saw a unique financial opportunity to trim the fat , a scenario unlikely to repeat in future years, and the Panthers organization absolutely exploited it. It is only my opinion, but I believe this strategy is going to pay off big time.

2010/11 brings us a cake schedule. Withour running game, I'd say it is still quite reasonable to expect Moore to deliver a .500 record, assuming we design our offense to his strengths.

We can easily make a solid case that since our defense has suffered the most losses, that our defense should also receive the most offseason attention in the draft/FA. That is common sense, but I'm going to argue against that.

Matt Moore is going to be the commander in chief this year. He is not the same personality as our beloved Jake, he's a new man and he has to win this team over. He has to win the fans over. He has to prove that he can beat down any competent rogues we bring in to compete. Unlike 2009/10, Moore doesn't have the security of knowing that he's just filling in, that the expectations are low.

The Panthers have obvious expectations now. This is the make-it-or-break-it defining moment. He has to fly, has to produce, has to lead. The Panther's desperately need him to succeed, and for that reason I say that our focus should be on protecting him from all the challenges he will inevitably face. Our division rivals want to capitalize on his inexperience, to bull-rush and blitz him, to get inside his head.

We as fans must back him up, and the Panthers organization must look at any weak link in the offensive line and they must fix it. That has to be a top priority, before patching our wittled D-line. Fortunately this draft is DEEEEEEP in defensive linemen and linebackers. We will surely find bargains for the defense in the draft.

But before we do, we have to add a wide receiver who can play now. I see no great tight ends available to us, which hurts badly, because nothign would help Moore greater than having a solid offensive trifecta.

[Fiz]

before we look at Tank Johnson we better make sure he knows the NC gun laws.

[Fiz]

Oh also James Jones is just sitting there in Green Bay, they have a second rounder and they need richard marshall