The numbers behind the 2010 season.

[TheWiz]

Ok, we all know how bad we sucked in the 2010 season. We were 2-14... but I actually did some research and I came up with some actual data which gives us insight to how bad our offense/defense was last year.

Opponents scored an avg of 28 pts/game on us.

We lost games by an avg of 15.8 pts.

We scored on avg 11.6 pt a game.

In our division:

We scored avg of 10 pts per/game against div opp

We lost games by an avg of 17.16 against div opp

Div opp scored 27.16 on our defense last year

Factor in the fact that we had a very young offense and a quarterback who cannot compete in our division...injuries to veteran players, a coach who knows he's on the way out... and an owner who is going cheap for the pending lockout... and 6 games in the toughest division in the league

It equals...

13th in Rush yds

Last in pts

Last in yards

Last in passing yards.

The reasons that teams scored so many points on our defense was primarily for 2 reasons, lack of a consistent DT, and basically because they had more opportunities to do so. Our offense could not stay sustain a drive long enough to rest our defense.

As soon as the season ends... we hire Ron Rivera, who soon after gets Jeremy Shockey to buy into coming to a 2-14 franchise. We draft a QB who won a National Championship, the Heisman trophy, and put up amazing numbers against some of the toughest defenses in nation. We address depth concerns on the O-line/D-line, WR and DB. (Pilares was a STEAL.)

Its apparent that Deangelo Williams wants to stay and as soon as the lockout ends, I expect the Panthers to sign him. He's one of the best backs in the league... and although I like what Mike Goodson has done, there are plenty of teams who have 3 solid backs.

Steve Smith: The longer the lockout goes on, the more likely it is that he will remain a Panther. Apparently, his wife has some health concerns and making a big move could really take a toll on his family. (Prayers.) Smitty isnt like a young player who wants to move because he wants to move to a bigger city. He's a married, family man, who has said over and over that he wants to make the best move for his family. Smith is very close to Jerry Richardson and he has never really said what he wants to do. He's said that He's impressed with Ron Rivera and believes that the Cam Newton trade was a "Great Move." The bigger question isnt whether or not Steve Smith wants to be a Panther... but whether or not the Panthers want him. If we do: I think Ron Rivera and Jerry Richardson will meet with Steve Smith and win him over... because in the end, I think he really loves being a Panther.

The Cam Newton pick was not a pick just to spark fan interest.... I believe that picking Cam was a strategic pick in convincing certain players to buy into the direction that Carolina is going... D-Will and Steve Smith.

Hopefully all of JR's move will prove to be brilliant... because he seems to be at the forefront of all this lockout business.

This is not a farfetched personnel list:

QB: Cam Newton

RB: Deangelo Williams, (Jonathan Stewart/Mike Goodson),

WR: Steve Smith, David Gettis, Brandon Lafell, Kealoha Pilares (Armanti Edwards)

TE: Jeremy Shockey, Dante Rosario

Cmon... dont that make you smile a little bit. This is going to be a physical offense that can throw the ball deep. These guys are going to punish some defenses. If we can run the ball effectively and put together a passing attack that isnt LAST... give our defense some time to rest and put them in a position to make plays... I know it sounds crazy... but we can make the playoffs this year. Why not? The steelers did it with Big Ben...

[fjblair]

Nice write up but the Panthers will not even sniff the playoffs.

[TheWiz]

Nice write up but the Panthers will not even sniff the playoffs.

I think that the lockout situation makes this more true than any other factor. Given a full season with training camp, etc... We could shock alot of teams... including ourselves.

[bleys]

Cmon... dont that make you smile a little bit. This is going to be a physical offense that can throw the ball deep. These guys are going to punish some defenses. If we can run the ball effectively and put together a passing attack that isnt LAST... give our defense some time to rest and put them in a position to make plays... I know it sounds crazy... but we can make the playoffs this year. Why not? The steelers did it with Big Ben...

because the Steelers had an established system and a buttload of consistency at coach and player personel.

we are a 180 from that. however, the future looks bright on 2 conditions: our coaches are legit and our new draft picks are legit.

but congrats for the write up and time put into it. I agree with most of your points.

[Ivan The Awesome]

[TheWiz]

Thanks bros. I know its a LONGSHOT... lockout fever has set in.

I dont expect Carolina to lose EVERY Division game next season. And if we can compete with the guys in the NFC South... we can compete with anyone else in the league.

Im very optimistic about where we're heading. Offensively... if we return D-Will, Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart, Jeremy Shockey... and a healthy line... we're suddenly not as young as everyone thinks. Depending on what our coaches do with Cam, we can see some early success. Of course that doesnt automatically translate into a playoff contender... but it does bode well for turning around what we did last year on that side of the ball.

[bleys]

I feel your enthusiasm, but more so for 2 and 3 years down the road.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Optimistic is about all you can be at the moment.

[rayzor]

agreed with bleys.

first year i just expect to see growth and development. there should be a lot of positives. not much in the way of wins compared to others in the NFCS, but still very competitive football. our schedule is going to be tough and you have to consider that we are in the strongest division in the NFC. even though the playoffs are a massive reach, panthers still should be good to watch.

the years following is where i think we will see the real benefit of everything that has been done this year. division will still be strong, but i like where we are headed, even before knowing who we get in FA.

[TruCatzFan]

I disagree with most of you throughout this thread... Even my boy Bleys.

I think we have a WINNNER at QB, and his work ethic and mentality will spread throughout that locker room like a wild fire.

Let me ask you guys this... Do you think that Auburn fans thought they would even be in the National Championship discussion last year!?? Junior college QB at the helm... Hell no they didn't but Cam believed, stayed after practice, worked his ass off, and what happened!?

The stat that really jumped off the page at me in ole boy's write up was the fact that we still finished 13th in the league in rushing... That Fugin BANANAS!!! Williams was hurt for a good portion of the season and opposing defenses were stacking 10 in the box... Not the usual 8... And still we finished 13th with an injured O-line!

I don't think there's really any question about U's making the playoffs this year. I know that we will! The defense wiling able to rest with Cam out there extending plays... We have a smorgasbord of Defensive GURU's for coaches, and a shiny new O coordinator from The U. Our offense will have a swag that will undoubtedly surprise even the most optimistic Panthers fans.

Didn't the jets make it pretty far with rookie QB Mark Sanchez at the helm?? No disrespect to mark, but he's not even a 1/4 of the athlete that Cam is.

Don't get me wrong... I understand the cautious pessimism. We were 2-14 last year and anybody with even 1/2 a football brain says 7-9 would be a great turn around. I get that! Believe me.

I'm just sitting here looking at what we have, and I'm afraid that if we dint make the playoffs this year, the year will be a disappointment for us. Sure the coaches and staff have a mulligan to use this year. I for one dint expect them to use it.

I have HIGH expectations for this team this year. I think that we all should, and it's not blind optimism. I think it's easy to sit here and say we won't do shyit this year. Lockout, completely new staff, new players at leadership positions.

Sometimes being a leader means going against the grain, because you have a gut feeling... Saying what's unpopular at that point in time to inspire greatness.

If you guys are content with following, then follow me and this year's Carolina Panthers right to the top of this Division. Get on the wagon while it's still empty... You don't want to be feeling silly when you find yourself agreeing that Carolina is the truth come mid Oct!

[rayzor]

as long as i see this team getting better each week and not giving up then i'm not going to be disappointed. i doubt they will either.

[jarhead]

Ok, we all know how bad we sucked in the 2010 season. We were 2-14... but I actually did some research and I came up with some actual data which gives us insight to how bad our offense/defense was last year.

Opponents scored an avg of 28 pts/game on us.

We lost games by an avg of 15.8 pts.

We scored on avg 11.6 pt a game.

In our division:

We scored avg of 10 pts per/game against div opp

We lost games by an avg of 17.16 against div opp

Div opp scored 27.16 on our defense last year

Factor in the fact that we had a very young offense and a quarterback who cannot compete in our division...injuries to veteran players, a coach who knows he's on the way out... and an owner who is going cheap for the pending lockout... and 6 games in the toughest division in the league

It equals...

13th in Rush yds

Last in pts

Last in yards

Last in passing yards.

The reasons that teams scored so many points on our defense was primarily for 2 reasons, lack of a consistent DT, and basically because they had more opportunities to do so. Our offense could not stay sustain a drive long enough to rest our defense.

As soon as the season ends... we hire Ron Rivera, who soon after gets Jeremy Shockey to buy into coming to a 2-14 franchise. We draft a QB who won a National Championship, the Heisman trophy, and put up amazing numbers against some of the toughest defenses in nation. We address depth concerns on the O-line/D-line, WR and DB. (Pilares was a STEAL.)

Its apparent that Deangelo Williams wants to stay and as soon as the lockout ends, I expect the Panthers to sign him. He's one of the best backs in the league... and although I like what Mike Goodson has done, there are plenty of teams who have 3 solid backs.

Steve Smith: The longer the lockout goes on, the more likely it is that he will remain a Panther. Apparently, his wife has some health concerns and making a big move could really take a toll on his family. (Prayers.) Smitty isnt like a young player who wants to move because he wants to move to a bigger city. He's a married, family man, who has said over and over that he wants to make the best move for his family. Smith is very close to Jerry Richardson and he has never really said what he wants to do. He's said that He's impressed with Ron Rivera and believes that the Cam Newton trade was a "Great Move." The bigger question isnt whether or not Steve Smith wants to be a Panther... but whether or not the Panthers want him. If we do: I think Ron Rivera and Jerry Richardson will meet with Steve Smith and win him over... because in the end, I think he really loves being a Panther.

The Cam Newton pick was not a pick just to spark fan interest.... I believe that picking Cam was a strategic pick in convincing certain players to buy into the direction that Carolina is going... D-Will and Steve Smith.

Hopefully all of JR's move will prove to be brilliant... because he seems to be at the forefront of all this lockout business.

This is not a farfetched personnel list:

QB: Cam Newton

RB: Deangelo Williams, (Jonathan Stewart/Mike Goodson),

WR: Steve Smith, David Gettis, Brandon Lafell, Kealoha Pilares (Armanti Edwards)

TE: Jeremy Shockey, Dante Rosario

Cmon... dont that make you smile a little bit. This is going to be a physical offense that can throw the ball deep. These guys are going to punish some defenses. If we can run the ball effectively and put together a passing attack that isnt LAST... give our defense some time to rest and put them in a position to make plays... I know it sounds crazy... but we can make the playoffs this year. Why not? The steelers did it with Big Ben...

I respect your optimism but this aint Auburn.It is the 2-14 panthers paying in one of the toughest leagues and the lockout is not helping either.It may take a year or more but we are now heading in the right direction.

[TruCatzFan]

Jarhead, don't EVER EVER EVER quote a post that long again. Just address him by name in a post.

P.S. I'll add you to my list of people who had no faith in our team.