Just two years ago...

[Mr. Scot]

Starters at Offensive Skill Positions:

- QB Jake Delhomme

- RB DeAngelo Williams

- FB Brad Hoover

- WR Steve Smith

- WR Muhsin Muhammad

And that was a lineup we'd gotten used to over the course of a couple of years.

However, by the time the season starts this year, every single name on that list may be different :(

Three are confirmed. Only Smith and Williams remain, and both could wind up gone.

How quickly things change...

[The_Cannon]

I was just thinking the same thing as I was reading the Smitty thread earlier. Usually teams change gradually but it seems like with us its an over night face lift.

[koolkatluke]

Starters at Offensive Skill Positions:

- QB Jake Delhomme

- RB DeAngelo Williams

- FB Brad Hoover

- WR Steve Smith

- WR Muhsin Muhammad

And that was a lineup we'd gotten used to over the course of a couple of years.

However, by the time the season starts this year, every single name on that list may be different :(

Three are confirmed. Only Smith and Williams remain, and both could wind up gone.

How quickly things change...

Mr. Scot you start some really thought provoking threads. You must be getting fat with all the pie you receive.

[Sword]

youth movement! although i'd rather keep deangelo he's still young in my eyes..

[frash.exe]

we are rebuilding

[Lights CAM era Newton]

You could also substitute, Stephen Davis and Deshaun Foster in Williams Place. The other 4 were staples in the offense for years. I can only hope the future is brighter ahead. It really can't get much worse, or can it?

[Highlandfire]

Starters at Offensive Skill Positions:

- QB Jake Delhomme

- RB DeAngelo Williams

- FB Brad Hoover

- WR Steve Smith

- WR Muhsin Muhammad

And that was a lineup we'd gotten used to over the course of a couple of years.

However, by the time the season starts this year, every single name on that list may be different :(

Three are confirmed. Only Smith and Williams remain, and both could wind up gone.

How quickly things change...

Thank Free Agency. I wish it never happened, build through the draft and have players be here their entire careers.

[OneBadassCat]

It's amazing we got by with that. Williams and Smith made that season possible.

[countryboi]

this is football the avg life span is only 3 years for most players, turnover is just a product of the game.

[YourManInAmsterdam]

The Panthers are running headlong into a new era for good or ill. I'm okay with change, even if it's radical, as long as the same mistakes aren't made over and over.

This is, of course, my greatest fear when I think about the Panthers. Can we shake off the seemingly non-stop efforts towards conservative mediocrity or make bold moves towards being great?

Your guess is as good as mine.

[mountainpantherfan]

Sorry but I see the change as a good thing for the team and the fan base. Yeah, most of us die hard fans are going to moan when players leave. We all love Smith and while some on here would never admit it, even Jake held a special place in most of our hearts.

But to the average fan, none of those players mean that much to the team. Smith was exciting in 2005. Six years later most people refer to him as the "other Steve Smith." It is a what have you done lately league and bringing in new faces is a good thing. I'm not really sure how great of a move signing Jeremy Shockey was from a x's and o's standpoint but I know when I heard the news he was signed I got excited. New faces and names are going to re-energize this fanbase. Now we just have to hope that the new faces and names don't dissapoint...

[mountainpantherfan]

this is football the avg life span is only 3 years for most players, turnover is just a product of the game.

This really doesn't have much to do with the main conversation but I did hear a report about a week ago (sorry no link) that the "3 year average career" stat is misleading. That number takes into consideration every person who is signed to a contract going into a season/training camp.

If you figure the average length of a career by just looking at players were drafted or have made a regular season roster the number doubles to a 6 year average career.

6 years still isn't that long of a career but when you do the same criteria for what the average player makes (only players who were drafted or on regular season rosters) that average also doubles and the average career earnings goes way up. But you never hear the NFLPA asking for more protection or money for those guys who give it their all every offseason, training camp and preseason and never end up on a team. But they gladly use their careers to help the NFLPA public perception of career length.

[Bj-Monster23]

Everything dont always stay the same we are a young time. And all the players are learning to be NFL players together. And you shouldnt worry I believe 34 will be back this year. I cant really say the same for Smitty but he has had a great career here in Carolina and will go down as and all time best.

[Mr. Scot]

Sorry but I see the change as a good thing for the team and the fan base. Yeah, most of us die hard fans are going to moan when players leave. We all love Smith and while some on here would never admit it, even Jake held a special place in most of our hearts.

But to the average fan, none of those players mean that much to the team. Smith was exciting in 2005. Six years later most people refer to him as the "other Steve Smith." It is a what have you done lately league and bringing in new faces is a good thing. I'm not really sure how great of a move signing Jeremy Shockey was from a x's and o's standpoint but I know when I heard the news he was signed I got excited. New faces and names are going to re-energize this fanbase. Now we just have to hope that the new faces and names don't dissapoint...

I see some change as a good thing.

Jake Delhomme to Matt Moore was potentially good but didn't pan out. Pre-Cardinals Delhomme to Jimmy Clausen was a major downgrade, whereas 2009 Delhomme to Clausen could be called a wash. Next up is (possibly) Clausen to whomever. Ask me how that one went in about a year or two.

Williams/Stewart to Stewart/Goodson will be a downgrade if it happens. It's the least certain of the bunch.

Hoover to Fiammetta? I'm not seeing the benefits just yet.

Smith to Gettis / Muhammad to LaFell? Short term downgrade. Possible long term upgrade.

Change just for the sake of change isn't always positive. Right now we look to be batting a little under 500 :(