The reality of the year and having lower expectations.

[musicman]

I am glad we didn't start off really good and fissile out like past regimes. The struggle with Bryce and the benching was just what everybody needed. Look at Stroud and teams like the Giants with Daboll's first year, they surprise everyone and then they can't live up to expectations the following year(s).

We looked at Canales and this team as hopeful and saw the struggles from day one. A HC learning on the fly how to be "the leader". A team who had no identity trying to find one in the midst of losing, even benching our #1 draft pick. But having most (fans and media) look past the Panthers as the worst was probably the breather, the space they needed to actually get better. Nobody really cared what or how the Panthers were doing. If we beat KC and/or the Eagles the expectations would have been high again. But playing better, very competitive (without winning) gave the team traction to evaluate the players, make mistakes and not be jumped on by fans and media. We weren't going to playoffs this year and by some chance we slipped in, we would have been a quick out with super high expectations next year. Now, we all just look for continued progress. The team is finding its identity while flying under the radar.

The next 2 games with even more injuries, there shouldn't be expectations of winning, just play hard and let's see what the players got. The more the back ups learn the system, the more the system proves it just needs decent players to play within it and not necessarily all to be stars. 

You can't help but feel Canales, Morgan, Tillis and even Tepper are on the same page. The NFL is not easy and it takes a lot of moving parts to win. A few really good parts and a lot of decent parts working together, FO to the back ups. The future looks bright, how bright? As long as it gradually gets brighter and doesn't die out, we could have a consistently winning team that always has a shot for the playoffs. That's what a winning organization looks like. Look at the many great examples of coaches and FO turning a perennial loser into a winner. It takes time and the right mix of people. That I believe we have.

[kungfoodude]

4 minutes ago, musicman said:

I am glad we didn't start off really good and fissile out like past regimes. The struggle with Bryce and the benching was just what everybody needed. Look at Stroud and teams like the Giants with Daboll's first year, they surprise everyone and then they can't live up to expectations the following year(s).

We looked at Canales and this team as hopeful and saw the struggles from day one. A HC learning on the fly how to be "the leader". A team who had no identity trying to find one in the midst of losing, even benching our #1 draft pick. But having most (fans and media) look past the Panthers as the worst was probably the breather, the space they needed to actually get better. Nobody really cared what or how the Panthers were doing. If we beat KC and/or the Eagles the expectations would have been high again. But playing better, very competitive (without winning) gave the team traction to evaluate the players, make mistakes and not be jumped on by fans and media. We weren't going to playoffs this year and by some chance we slipped in, we would have been a quick out with super high expectations next year. Now, we all just look for continued progress. The team is finding its identity while flying under the radar.

The next 2 games with even more injuries, there shouldn't be expectations of winning, just play hard and let's see what the players got. The more the back ups learn the system, the more the system proves it just needs decent players to play within it and not necessarily all to be stars. 

You can't help but feel Canales, Morgan, Tillis and even Tepper are on the same page. The NFL is not easy and it takes a lot of moving parts to win. A few really good parts and a lot of decent parts working together, FO to the back ups. The future looks bright, how bright? As long as it gradually gets brighter and doesn't die out, we could have a consistently winning team that always has a shot for the playoffs. That's what a winning organization looks like. Look at the many great examples of coaches and FO turning a perennial loser into a winner. It takes time and the right mix of people. That I believe we have.

IIRC, my preseason prediction was something in the 2-5 win range(maybe 3-6?). Ended up being correct largely due to the reasons I made, which was the worst talent on the roster in the history of the franchise. But....it didn't look like what I expected.

Bryce has earned a shot at being a FT starter in 2025 after a horrifying start and benching. Never thought that would happen. I figured either massive bust or he would recover and improve from day one.

The OL was not as disjointed as I expected, even after Corbett went down(which I and about 89% of the Huddle predicted would happen). In fact the OL and Chuba appears to basically be the core of the entire roster. If we get a true, starting caliber center this may be our identity for years. The money spent on the interior paid off in a way I didn't expect. Moton got back to his solid play and Ewonku finally looked like a long term solution at LT(albeit likely never an elite LT).

Unfortunately the draft picks were really quite bad, which was not a huge surprise as most were developmental players. The rookie bright lights, however, were brighter than we have seen in a long time with Sanders and Coker possibly looking like future building blocks.

The defense, well.....what can you say? As bad as advertised. Very few, if any of these guys will likely be on our roster in 2 years. This is an area that will likely take years to build. One of the few shining lights was Horn. While he is having arguably his worst season statistically, he has largely remained healthy the entire campaign. I do think that he does not mesh well with Evero's defensive philosophy. IMO, you gotta make a choice there. Is Horn a guy you want to spend a bunch of money extending if your DC isn't going to utilize him to maximize his talents? 

Overall, we are still a deeply flawed roster with several years of building before we can hope to finally break to back to back winning season wall but the grit and competitive spirit the team has shown in the back half of the season is definitely a faint light at the end of this tunnel. We just need a good draft(after literally almost a decade of poor drafting) process and another pretty good free agency to keep this momentum going. 

I started off the season utterly apathetic about W's and L's and the team got me to the point of being upset about losing to TB and Philly. So, they actually won me over. I am all in on 2025.

[frankw]

28 minutes ago, musicman said:

I am glad we didn't start off really good and fissile out like past regimes. The struggle with Bryce and the benching was just what everybody needed. Look at Stroud and teams like the Giants with Daboll's first year, they surprise everyone and then they can't live up to expectations the following year(s).

Wouldn't this comparatively be cause for caution rather than rejoice based on what remains a small sample size?

The Giants with Jones in 2022 and the Texans with Stroud in 2023 both went to the playoffs and won a playoff game. We struggle to even compete in our division.

[Jon Snow]

I saw no reason to doubt the Vegas odds at 4.5 wins before the season started and it looks as if that maybe 4 is all we win. Never doubt Vegas odds makers.

[SmokinwithWilly]

I think I had 2-3 wins predicted. As far as the players go, I'm not too concerned. My biggest worry is we've got a GM that has learned at the feet of the master, of failure, Fitts. We've done the same things again, drafting a 1st WR that needs work, a luxury pick RB that may be Eric Shelton 2.0, and spending big money on interior linemen when the most successful teams just draft them, thereby ignoring our defense. We're going to need at least 2 drafts, assuming we hit at a reasonable rate, to repair this defense, at which time Bryce is going into his 5th year option or we have to extend him. 

Morgan, our scoutng department, and the rest of this FO makes me nervous especially with Tepper's propensity to make his opinion well known. 

[Ricky Spanish]

I had us at 4 wins minimum, 6 wins ceiling. It was a building year to try and right the ship and see improvement as the season went on, and I'll be damned if that isn't exactly what happened and I'm going to nail my prediction.

[musicman]

1 hour ago, frankw said:

Wouldn't this comparatively be cause for caution rather than rejoice based on what remains a small sample size?

The Giants with Jones in 2022 and the Texans with Stroud in 2023 both went to the playoffs and won a playoff game. We struggle to even compete in our division.

That's my point. Lower expectation to "gradually" work on the team instead of all the outside noise making you feel better than you really are or breaking you down constantly. Small steps. Competitive games no matter the record is what I hoped to see this year.

[ProcessBlue2]

I said 3-6 wins and got poo on for it but whatever I was right. If we can finish 5-9 wins next year it's still on the right path. This is the 1st offseason in a while I'm actually excited to see what Morgan does with more money and picks. 

Not being the worst team in the league also gives a better shot with some Free Agents, especially if we can get a respectable DC in here (Saleh)

[kungfoodude]

18 minutes ago, ProcessBlue2 said:

I said 3-6 wins and got poo on for it but whatever I was right. If we can finish 5-9 wins next year it's still on the right path. This is the 1st offseason in a while I'm actually excited to see what Morgan does with more money and picks. 

Not being the worst team in the league also gives a better shot with some Free Agents, especially if we can get a respectable DC in here (Saleh)

I wouldn't but a specific win total on next year's success but I don't think there are many scenarios where 5 wins is still on the right path. TBH, that's probably the start of another Tepper rebuilding cycle.

I think this will be a critical offseason for Morgan and Canales. They have to build a more solid foundation for the franchise and show actual progress in the right direction. 

I think they have some more leash but I also doubt it's going to be a very long leash. Remember while Rhule was preaching the gospel of Jay-Z his NFL HC career was about 85% over(lasted a total of 7 games after that).

IMO, progress needs to be very visible throughout next season or DC is gonna enter 2026 on a scalding hot seat. 

[rayzor]

I'm just ready for the off-season to start at this point...get it going and get it over with.

I'm discontent right now and anxious to see us build on what we did this year.

I want more. I believe next year will be MUCH better. I wanted to finish out this season strong and winning. I still hope we can. I also hope I can win that 1+billion lottery.

News about all the injuries has me a bit upset. Losing Chuba has me frustrated. We can still disrupt and that's what I want us to do. I want us to fug up the bucs and the falcons. I want to be the ones who make one of them lose their spot and the other one get beat up so bad they get embarrassed in their one and done trip.

And I want everyone in the league on notice about next year's Panthers.

Oh well.

[kungfoodude]

Just now, rayzor said:

I'm just ready for the off-season to start at this point...get it going and get it over with.

I'm discontent right now and anxious to see us build on what we did this year.

I want more. I believe next year will be MUCH better. I wanted to finish out this season strong and winning. I still hope we can. I also hope I can win that 1+billion lottery.

News about all the injuries has me a bit upset. Losing Chuba has me frustrated. We can still disrupt and that's what I want us to do. I want us to fug up the bucs and the falcons. I want to be the ones who make one of them lose their spot and the other one get beat up so bad they get embarrassed in their one and done trip.

And I want everyone in the league on notice about next year's Panthers.

Oh well.

I know what you mean. This injury news(even after Chuba) really took the wind out of my sails. I was hoping to finish out the season 2-0. 

The real kick in the balls(if we go 0-2) is that we would still end up in the latter half of the top 10 with a 4 win season.  That would really be a typical Panthers turn of events.

[Johnstonny]

Its evaluation time... Lets see who else can play and who you want next year...lock in your draft position...

[kungfoodude]

11 minutes ago, Johnstonny said:

Its evaluation time... Lets see who else can play and who you want next year...lock in your draft position...

I mean, poo.....I think we have started a franchise record amount of PS players(would have to research that) this season. You want to start playing fans or cheerleaders???

[SmokinwithWilly]

14 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I mean, poo.....I think we have started a franchise record amount of PS players(would have to research that) this season. You want to start playing fans or cheerleaders???

I'll lay down and be a turnstile at LT for a couple hundred k.