Darin Gantt notices a very good sign in the lockeroom

[Captain Morgan]

CHARLOTTE — A funny thing happened in the locker room after Sunday's loss to the Eagles. There wasn't an immediate rush to the door.

Usually, after a road game, particularly a road loss, guys shower quickly, change, and head for the bus that takes them to the airport. And it's not that guys were lingering, but there was a clear sense of camaraderie after that game, which you don't always see.

After head coach Dave Canales spoke to the team and went back to his office to change for the flight, guys began to gather. Canales mentioned that Chuba Hubbard had topped the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. People came to congratulate him. Hubbard then thanked his offensive line, and people came to congratulate them. And that circle kept growing. It wasn't just the starting five, but backup guard and eligible extra blocker Chandler Zavala was part of it; injured center Austin Corbett was on the trip and he got pulled into the group. Like a rock dropped into a still pond, the ripple kept expanding, bringing more and more guys into the recognition.

It wasn't a party — they know they lost, and close isn't enough — but it was a growing number of people engaged in a shared purpose. And you could sense the difference.

Canales didn't tell them to congregate, it happened organically. And that's the important part. This team is beginning to internalize his message, say his words back, and get closer to the goals that were abstract concepts at the beginning of the season. They know the expectation and that they're still short of it. But they can also see that the work is beginning to pay off, and that's drawing them closer together.

 

https://www.panthers.com/news/ask-the-old-guy-coming-together-getting-closer

[Wolfcop]

Yeah, I’m about as positive as I can be for a 3 win team. It seems the future is bright for the first time in a while. 

[BeenPounding]

THIS is the stuff that goes unnoticed by "fans" who don't understand how to build a team and build a culture.  You can't just buy it.  Not many teams have won consistently by free agency alone.  Remember the Philadelphia "dream team"?  How many time have the Dolphins won the free agency Olympics?  Pats, Chiefs, Bills, Lions, 49'ers all have built culture through drafting THEN selective free agency signings.  

[L-TownCat]

Changing the culture was always going to be the hard part.  Usually the wins have to come first, but this is a sign that they’re truly buying in and that’s nothing to scoff at.

This could be a much bigger deal than most are willing to admit.  Maybe, just maybe, the darkest days are behind us.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Gay

[kungfoodude]

33 minutes ago, BeenPounding said:

THIS is the stuff that goes unnoticed by "fans" who don't understand how to build a team and build a culture.  You can't just buy it.  Not many teams have won consistently by free agency alone.  Remember the Philadelphia "dream team"?  How many time have the Dolphins won the free agency Olympics?  Pats, Chiefs, Bills, Lions, 49'ers all have built culture through drafting THEN selective free agency signings.  

Remember when a few weeks ago the tankers were fuming that we were winning games? "CuLtUrE dOeSn'T mAtTeR!!! mUh DrAfT pIcKs!!!!"

[Jon Snow]

Just now, L-TownCat said:

Changing the culture was always going to be the hard part.  Usually the wins have to come first, but this is a sign that they’re truly buying in and that’s nothing to scoff at.

This could be a much bigger deal than most are willing to admit.  Maybe, just maybe, the darkest days are behind us.

It's a good sign for sure. I'm not sure the darkest days are over just yet.  But maybe, just maybe this is the beginning of something to build on that has grown organically from within. Only time will tell.

[rayzor]

I think starting from the bottom of the hole they were in last year and climbing their way out the way they are together is what is going to be creating a winning culture.

Tough times come, but when you start out in the tough times you'll better understand how to navigate every other time together.

This struggle is the bonding experience needed to become a team that will be damn near impossible to beat.

[Manna]

People talked about Bryce (re)gaining confidence, but the team needs confidence in itself as well. Going toe to toe with the best teams the past few weeks have increased morale and confidence that the players have what it takes. Self-efficacy goes a long ways. I think this is what Canales and Morgan were wanting to create by building around dawgs who continue to scratch, claw, bite, POUND no matter the circumstances because they know they can defeat the opponent no matter the odds. Heck I even see this happening in our defense and it’s been ravaged by injuries this year, yet they continue to fight and not allow opponents to currently score at will as in past weeks. 

[Rags]

I really thought Jaycee was huffing copium with his comments before the Giants game but this team is starting to feel themselves. Lets not rest on our laurels though and continue to get better.

[JawnyBlaze]

Last time we had true chemistry and camaraderie like that was probably 17 or 18 when Cam was still the leader here. That is what made the ‘15 team so dominant and ‘17 team so good, it wasn’t offensive talent.  This is a very good sign

[Shocker]

Darrin Gamt is such a goober 

[bythenbrs]

52 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

It's a good sign for sure. I'm not sure the darkest days are over just yet.  But maybe, just maybe this is the beginning of something to build on that has grown organically from within. Only time will tell.

“Now, this is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end.  But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Edited 22 hours ago by bythenbrs

[Basbear]

The team does care, I see it on the field as well.