Position Holes

[bLACKpANTHER]

Offense

Vet QB: I think we need to bring in a veteran presence at the QB position so Cam can just see how to study film and be mentored.. even if Cam is the starter from day 1, he would benefit from an extra set of eyes

RB: set

FB: set

TE: set

WR: is Smitty is trade we have a huge hole we need to fill

OL: if we stay healthy- we are pretty solid- if Otah or Gross goes down again we are shakey in depth

Defense

DE: set

DT: we had a nice draft and filled the needs there but still would benefit from a veteran DT that can get pressure

LB: set

CB: we need to find a starting caliber corner. we have just "gotten by" for the longest time. I think Rivera will look for a vet here- definitely

FS: set

SS: set

Highest priority:

CB

Vet QB

DT

WR - jumps to #1 if Smitty leaves

OL

[Mother Grabber]

That's not what I was thinking when I read the title...

[Double34Trouble28]

Sounds about right. We HAVE to land one quality DT, CB, and preferably an above average WR. We have the money to do it. I'd like another safety. I'm fine with the starters. I like Pugh as well, but we can do better than Marcus Hudson...although he did well on special teams. Even if its not a veteran, someone like Deunta Williams would be a great pickup for cheap.

[jtm]

I don't really see the advantage to bringing in a vet at any position other than quarterback. We are a young team that will most likely peak two years from now if all goes well. I would rather continue being young and learn to play together.

I wouldn't dismiss Marshall so quickly - he is better than most think. Granted I don't think he is worthy of a huge paycheck, but the Gamble/Marshall tandem has been solid for several years. Getting a reliable pass rush this year will help the corner and safety position.

[Double34Trouble28]

I don't really see the advantage to bringing in a vet at any position other than quarterback. We are a young team that will most likely peak two years from now if all goes well. I would rather continue being young and learn to play together.

I wouldn't dismiss Marshall so quickly - he is better than most think. Granted I don't think he is worthy of a huge paycheck, but the Gamble/Marshall tandem has been solid for several years. Getting a reliable pass rush this year will help the corner and safety position.

What's your plan if both of our drafted DT's fall on their face? Trot Landri and Neblett out there and pray to Jesus they don't get pushed back in Godfrey's lap on 50% of the plays?

[KSpan]

:jc:

[thefuzz]

How the fug are we set at DE?

The same can be said for O line, when counting on Otah.

[OchoNueve]

I read somewhere that Panthers philosophy (after Cam) was to draft a CB or 2 and concentrate on getting a veteran DT in free agency. They were high on McClain and they felt he slipped to them in the 3rd, so they decided to do the opposite. Thus drafting two DT's and I assume they will be targeting a CB with high priority in FA.

[bleys]

I don't really see the advantage to bringing in a vet at any position other than quarterback. We are a young team that will most likely peak two years from now if all goes well. I would rather continue being young and learn to play together.

I wouldn't dismiss Marshall so quickly - he is better than most think. Granted I don't think he is worthy of a huge paycheck, but the Gamble/Marshall tandem has been solid for several years. Getting a reliable pass rush this year will help the corner and safety position.

bringing in a vet isn't a bad thing. in all likelihood, a vet will help the young players grow more efficiently.

now we don't need to smother our roster with vets.. but adding 1 or 2 is going to help.

[mountainpantherfan]

QB - Ideally a vet would be nice but after hearing Rivera and Hurney I think it will be more along the lines of strickly a mentor and teacher and absolutely only emgergency backup rather than a Bulger or Hasselbeck short term starter. I think Todd Collens may end up being the guy as he has a long history as a backup in Coryell offenses.

RB - I think we are set here but don't be surprised if Goodson is traded once the season opens up. If they are able to resign Williams, Sutton is much more the type of back used in the Turner version of the Coryell system. Having Williams, Stewart and Sutton would allow them to deal Goodson and he might actually bring in some good compensation.

FB - This is a weird position. Jackson is more than likely gone and Fiammetta, while fairly athletic, isn't an ideal fit. I think he might make the roster but ultimently his strengthes will be largely unused in Chud's offense. Actually, the best fit for the starting FB in Chud's offense is Rosario who played FB in college. FB in this offense have to have great hands and run good routes on top of being a good blocker. That really hits Rosario to a "T".

TE - So basicly the FB and TE positions are somewhat interchangable. Actually, ideally you want a guy or two in this offense who can line up at multiple spots (TE, FB, H-Back, F-Back, Slot, Flanker) and the TE fits that mold perfectly. While I don't see King coming back I see them signing one more guy to help.

WR - There is now three starting WR spots on this offense so there will actually be more WR on the final roster than under Fox. Still I think they are set if Smith returns or not. There is a lot of young talent on this team and they all fit a spot in Chud's offense.

OL - This is a position where it's not about scheme fit or talent but about injury concerns. Starters are good and backups, in a termorary role, are set. But if say Otah is a no go again then there is issues. Basiclly we don't have that one backup that has talent and experience like we use to have in Hangartner and Bridges. But I just don't see this as being a priority until someone goes down for good.

DL - They are set at DE as long as Johnson returns but there is a hole with DT. They are set at the 3-Tech spot with McClain and Landri (great camp battle right there) but at the NT or 1-Tech spot Fua really is the only option and they need something more. I completely understand why there are rumors out there of Barry Cofield being on the teams wish list.

LB - Most everyone feels this position is set. It isn't. Davis has big injury concerns and a free agent. Anderson is a free agent and Conner has injury concerns. Williams is set to also be a free agent and the rest are a bunch of career back ups. Norwood is a nice young talent option and Wilson could develop into something special but for now he is just a ST ace. Don't be surprised if some players are brought in to compete. Remember, this is Rivera's position in the NFL and I'm sure he wants it to be as great as the 85 Chicago lineup was. Hunter Hillenmeyer is someone I expect to see in Carolina next year.

CB - Gamble is one starter but the other starter position is in question. If Marshall comes back, this position is set. If not, there are some major questions mainly because while Munnerlyn has impressed he just isn't a starter and Hogan who was just drafted will be out with injury until mid season. Stafford and McClain were really impressing the former staff and Ron Meeks is the new secondary coach, so there is a chance one of them could work their way to the starting position. If not look for them to look more at mid-teir free agents like Eric Wright and Johnathan Joesph but I do wonder how close Rivera and Antonio Cromartie were back in San Diego?

Safety - This is a position that we are set but again one don't be surprised if another guy is brought in. Eric Weddle comes to mind very quickly...

ST - Don't count out some changes here. Rivera's last two spots were effected a lot by ST play. In Chicago for the good with Gould and Hester and then in San Diego with the ST that was so bad that the #1 offense and #1 defense didn't make the playoffs. Kicker, punter, returners, gunners, ect. I think all will get a look at if they can be improved and some of that already began with the draft (see Pilares and Wilson).

I've mentioned a lot of names in free agency and no I don't expect all of them to be signing here. (Although I really think Hillenmeyer is almost a lock but just a gut feeling though.) Some moves will be made in the offseason but I think most will be made as either very short term to make room for the younger talent as they mature or they are already young talent and can be long term moves.

[GritsRgreat]

I like

Seneca Wallace, Carlos Rogers, Barry Cofield and a buckup swing guard/tackle.

[davos]

For CB:

If we can grab either Chris Carr or Josh Wilson, that would be awesome. Josh Wilson probably the more likely candidate but I think if we don't go after Nnamdi they would be ideal targets.

For WR:

We have now two slot-receivers in developmental stages and hopefully Smitty will return. If not, I think a great compliment to Gettis/LaFell would be either jacoby or James Jones. Both are somewhat inconsistent but have shown they could definitely be #1 receivers in this league imho.

DT:

I'm with the whole Cofield scenario. Also, I'd throw Bowen in there

QB:

I like the Collins and McNabb scenarios more than Volek and Bulger at this point. From the younger vets, I would consider Travaris Jackson, Gradkowski, and Rex Grossman

[davos]

Also, just wanted to throw out my favorite resource for FAs: http://walterfootball.com/freeagents2011DT.php

[CarolinaKat]

Sign Brett Favre. You know he wants to come back