Reasons to feel good about 2011 in Carolina

[MHS831]

There were players who performed well at the end of the season. I think anyone interested in the draft and free agency needs to be introduced or reminded of these players whose performances might have been hidden beneath the pile of Fox poo we saw every week. If any of you have taped games, check these guys out during the last three or four games:

1. Andre Neblett, DT. Most notably, Neblett played his butt off vs. Pouncey at Pittsburgh. He was plugging holes and stuffing the run. Could be better rushing the passer, but he was pretty good down the stretch.

2. Geoff Schwartz, RG. Schwartz wanted to compete for the RG job, but had to wait for Otah to heal, so he went to camp as the starting RT. Halfway through the season, he gets bumped inside. He was terrible at first, especially in pass protection, which is understandable. But the light came on down the stretch. Will he continue this development? I would say that he might have won the job. It all depends on how the new coaches like him in the new system.

3. Robert McClain, CB. Undersized and should never be starting on the outside, when Gamble was benched he played opposite Munnerlyn there. He was made to look very bad on TV a few times, but overall, he is a nickle/dime guy. He got some good experience and was playing out of position.

4. Jordan Pugh, S. Jordan Pugh is a good player period. I think he showed enough on special teams and in spot duty to warrant more playing time in the defensive secondary. Since nearly all of our safeties played corner in college, I wonder how the Jim Johnson 4-3 that McDermott and Rivera install will use him. Could he be Marshall's replacement? If so, that would give us Gamble, Pugh, Munnerlyn, and McClain at CB, with the chance Marshall returns. If so, CB is less of a need than we thought.

5. Gary Barnidge, TE. You don't catch footballs if you don't play because your skill set doesn't fit the offense well. With Rosario as the finesse TE and King the blocking TE, Barnidge turned his focus to special teams. He was in on a lot of tackles. His speed and size made him tough to find and block. I watch him at OTAs every year (passing drills vs. the D) and his hands and speed are excellent. Maybe this is the year we learn more about this guy.

6. Jason Williams, OLB. Before falling to injury, Williams looked very effective. Should be solid depth and a special teams ace. I imagine he will start the season behind Thomas Davis at WLB, which means he could be called on a lot.

7. Greg Hardy, DE. I saw nothing vs. the run, but he is quick and big. I feel certain that he will step it up again this season, and should start opposite Charles Johnson. He had 3 sacks and played maybe 25% of the snaps (guessing). I still say we need a DE, however, because Everette Brown fell off the face of the earth. Florida State DEs bust in the NFL, along with USC WRs, and Louisville QBs. This should be written somewhere. Don't forget Hilee Taylor, however. He could find a spot now.

8. David Gettis, WR. Speaking of 6th round rookies, who can question his potential? His hands are a bit suspect and he had been working on catching the ball away from his body, but this guy is an athlete. No secret here because his success is clearly visible, but you have to feel good. At the end of the season, his routes were crisp and his confidence high. When I talked to him at OTAs, he was very intelligent and polite. I thought he would not make the team then. I asked him if he felt good about it, he responded. "I will make this team and I will contribute. The Panthers got a good deal when they picked me." Good answer.

9. Brandon Lafell, WR. I suppose you have to mention frack after talking about frick. The think I noticed about Lafell toward the end was confidence. It was as if he wanted the ball and felt it should be thrown to him. Miscommunications I saw early in the season with the QB were fewer. He was getting a swagger, if that is possible on a 2-14 team.

10. Derek Landri, DT. The defense likes gap control penetrators, and Landri showed everyone he can get into the backfield. Primarily on running plays, he was a big surprise.

HEY, HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT NIC HARRIS? Right, and I almost did. He has 4.85 40 and was a college SS. However, I think he needs to find a position. He played fairly well in spot duty at LB, and could be groomed to backup Beason if Connor moves to SLB. Harris has been able to get by with no speed due to his ability to read and react quickly. perfect for MLB.

A bunch of Talent, IR: With one of the biggest lists in the NFL last season, healing will be as if we have gone wild in free agency. Thomas Davis, Jeff Otah, Travelle Wharton, Dan Connor, DeAngelo Williams, Jason Williams, and Wallace Wright will infuse forgotten talent.

Hidden Gems? Rookies These guys may step up in 2010. For whatever reason, they did not have the opportunities to live up to thier potential under Fox.

Gotta start with Jimmy Clausen. I know, many of you think he is terrible and will never amount to anything. 50% chance you are right, but in reality, you do not know jack. He has the skill set. He needs time, protection, support, and coaching. I expect him to improve a lot in 2011. Enough? Dunno-neither do you.

Tony Pike missed most of OTAs and was never seriously considered because he is a project and Fox knew he was not returning. I think he was messed up by Scherer more than the other QBs. Maybe his arm is suspect, but Scherer was coaching QBs to lob the ball into the area where the WR would be--like a timing route. Jake did it, Moore did it in the red zone (INT), and it probably impacted JC. We don't know what we have here.

Armanti Edwardswill always be known as the worst pick in Hurney's life, even if he becomes a factor. He could have been drafted in the fourth or sixth, probably. Hybrid crossovers are risky, and when free agency was not an option, Hurney needed a home run. Having said that, maybe there is something in AE that I don't see. If they had not thrown everything at him (WR, a new position, Wildcat QB, punt returner) at once, maybe he could have developed in time. Giving the benefit of the doubt.

ANALYSIS: We will add a few free agents, add a few players in the draft, and this team could turn it around quickly. QB, DT is key. We shall see.

[Primetime 89]

nice post :)

[Catalyst]

I really like Andre Neblett. Could be a real dark horse starter next year and I don't mean just filling space on a depth chart because there's nobody else. He has a real chance to really contribute in a big way, IMO.

[countryboi]

you going have players to feel go about on carolina and not talk about goodson? thats just not right

[klbishop143]

WALLACE WRIGHT!!! im psyched to see this guy play. went to high school with him.

[teeray]

You forgot that Fox and Davidson are no longer on the sideline. That by itself is a reason to feel good about next season.

Great post.

[jtm]

How many teams can say they have DWill, JStewart, SSmith, Beason, Kalil, Gross, Gamble, and CJohnson as our core and still have according to the experts a "ton of holes to fill." I personally don't bye it. I think we are a reliable QB and a DT away from being a 500 or better team. No team is stacked at every position and we have a ton of youth and a lot of money to spend.

With a different offensive coordinator and Otah healthy last year I bet we would have won 8 games.

[Lumps]

meh sorry but this thread comes up every year, there were a billion last year saying all the young guys were going to get us a winning season of 9-6, 10-7

sorry but there are just too many calculations this year for me to comment, just going to wait and see this year could be a bomb or a gift.

[jtm]

meh sorry but this thread comes up every year, there were a billion last year saying all the young guys were going to get us a winning season of 9-6, 10-7

sorry but there are just too many calculations this year for me to comment, just going to wait and see this year could be a bomb or a gift.

I hear you but the fun of the offseason is the fact that every team is undefeated. Also, this is the NFL and nothing is a given. I think the Dolphins and Bengals are perfect examples of how fast you can fall. Also, the Falcons are a perfect example of how fast you can rise. All the teams are so close in talent now.

[Mr. Scot]

Reason to feel good about next season...

[janderson20vt]

Don't forget that Otah will be back...

Hopefully.

Edit: Oops, just realized you listed players from IR. Maybe I should learn to fully read.

[rayzor]

1. Andre Neblett, DT. meh....he's ok for depth i suppose.

2. Geoff Schwartz, RG. really hoping the dude can show up and solidify RG, but as it stands, we can't depend on him being the guy there. at the very least we are in serious need of depth. i would like for us to address RG the same way we did a couple years ago. bing in a bucnh of cheap guys and see what floats to the top. need depth at OT as well.

3. Robert McClain, CB. great speed. nice to have on special teams. i agree he's a best fit for the nickle job.

4. Jordan Pugh, S. good utility player. should have a long future.

5. Gary Barnidge, TE. best receiver of the TEs (with the exception of shockey). he should be a solid backup for shockey. i would be fine with just having shockey and barnidge on the rosterm though we'll probably bring back one of rosario or king (most likely rosario) or we could pick up a cheap and promising FA or draft someone mid round.

6. Jason Williams, OLB. love the speed on this kid. excellent for rotation at LB. dude was a orced fumbling machine in college. with rivera's influence he could do that again.

7. Greg Hardy, DE. i love the potential on this kid. straight up player. i like charles johnson and everette borwn as well, but i think hardy and CJ are going to be the bookends for a long time.

Don't forget Hilee Taylor, however. He could find a spot now. who?

8. David Gettis, WR. i love the size and speed on this kid. great hands. going to be a nice deep threat for a while.

9. Brandon Lafell, WR. i really like the idea of lafell being on the other side from gettis. we were hoping he would be the next moose and watching him grow as a pass catcher and a blocker last year, i think he could be that guy, just a little bit faster. i'm not as worried about his midget hands as much as i thought i would be.

10. Derek Landri, DT. excellent guy to have in rotation. nice depth. wouldn't want him starting for long, though.

A bunch of Talent, IR: i can't wait to get these guys back.esp. davis, williams, and otah.

Hidden Gems? Rookies

Jimmy Clausen. i would love for him to be able to be the franchise QB, but based on what i saw last year and the lack of growth i just don't see it happening nor do i see any reason that we should avoid trying to find a franchise QB because we hope he can be much better than last year.

Tony Pike meh...shouldn't even be in the discussion.

Armanti Edwards ton of potential. locing that we have a coaching staff that actually wants to get him involved. kids eager to learn and get on the field.

ANALYSIS: yeah, just a few additions and we will be solid. with an improved QB we could easily get to .500.

[panthers55]

There is reason to beleive that the team will be better. However I am waiting to see what happens with the QB position and the D line before I can get too excited. Bottom line is that both of those areas need serious upgrades before we can expect to compete in this division.

[carolinarolls]

The reality is that there are reasons to believe we will be better than last season when you look at the IR returnees and the experience factor of such a young team growing from year one to year two. Especially on offense.

At the same time there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic if you get stuck on the QB play and consider the fact that a new system is coming in that may negate both experience advances and IR-returnees.

This is a good thread and there will be valid arguments against it as well as in support of it that will show merit, but this is all opinion based right now.

If you like bitching, bitch. If you like gushing, gush.