Sporting News Panthers Preview

[panthers55]

injuries were not an issue until late in the season. everyone should delete that off their list of why we sucked last year.

QB wasn't even the biggest case.

coaching and playcalling.

Hard not to put Clausen in that mix last year. He had the worst rating in football and was horrible even when we cranked up the running game the second half of the season. Not to say that Fox and Davidson didn't have a lot to do with it as well.

[bleys]

Hard not to put Clausen in that mix last year. He had the worst rating in football and was horrible even when we cranked up the running game the second half of the season. Not to say that Fox and Davidson didn't have a lot to do with it as well.

not saying he wasn't a part of it.. but our playcalling and coaching did nothing to help out a rookie QB.. he was after all a rookie.

I'd put Clausen on the list of:

1)Coaching

2)playcalling

3)Clausen

20)injuries

the Eagles game of 09 is the perfect example of what ridiculous philosophy we had. from whoever gave it.

they stacked one side of the ball, and yet did not call for quicker routes or better protection. and that resulted in 3 QBs seeing the field.

[TheRealDeal]

You need to stop with all the hater posts as if it is some badge of courage to display. Little of what you said has any validity and you have relegated yourself to troll status as far as football is concerned. But then again you seem to want to argue all the time and like people flaming you, so here you go.

Everything I said is based in more logic and fact than anything you said.

I said he's never been a head coach, you say he's been a DC and assembled a great staff. How do you know the staff is great? Coordinators don't always translate to head coaches.

I make a statement that our two offensive weapons MIGHT not be here and you say definitively that DWill is GOING to be here.

FACT: Steve Smith and Williams might not be here next year.

OPINION: Williams will be here next year.

You're right though, I'm the troll.

I don't want to go through the whole post and point out what's wrong with it but you get the point.

I look forward to your future posts founded in reason and logic. Good day sir :seeya:

[Montsta]

Atlanta and NO both can easily put up 40, and Tampa Bay really came on last year, but they won't really be able to sneak up on anybody this year, and all 3 could have some issues on defense. I still think we'll be last in the division, but it won't be such a huge discrepency this time. I can see it like this:

NO - 12-4

ATL - 11-5

TB - 9-7

CAR - 6-10

This will put us in probably Top 5-7 range and maybe we get Alshon Jefferey next year. I'm good with that.

To be honest though if Fox took a 1-15 team to 7-9, I don't see why Rivera can't either. I think this squad has every bit the amount of talent that the 02 squad had. We get a decent CB and Coefield we could surprise people. I'm not expecting miracles, and 90% of it hinges on Cam's playmaking ability as a rookie.

[Jackofalltrades]

I expect a poor year, 4-12 or so given the circumstances.

[bleys]

I see 6-10 at best... a lot of change in the last year. if we do better, great. I won't be expecting it though.

[Captain Obvious]

My guess is 5-11 but each week that is lost to the lock out that seems like we will have to overachieve to reach the 5.

[mav1234]

given the schedule, division, and situation with the lockout, I think 4-12 is likely, 6-10 is as good as possible when I'm being extremely optimistic and the reality is that we very well could be in the worst handful of teams again next year which may just get us picking #1 overall when all falls into place... and that's with us seeing strong improvement.

the reality is that we have a new system to implement, the lockout is dragging on, we've got a fresh HC and a totally new staff, huge free agency question marks at key positions, an unknown at quarterback... i mean honestly I could go on and on... sure maybe we'll do okay this season, but it seems far more likely we'll see a ton of improvement near the end of the season but that still might not translate into us having a ton of wins.

[TheRealDeal]

You guys better not let Panthers55 read any of your well thought out opinions stemming from facts.

It's all rainbows and butterflies or you're an idiot and a troll!!!!!!!!!!1!

[mav1234]

Here's our schedule for this coming year, according to NFL.com...

1 Sep 11 CAR @ ARI University of Phoenix Stadium 4:15 PM Tickets FOX

2 Sep 18 GB @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

3 Sep 25 JAC @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets CBS

4 Oct 02 CAR @ CHI Soldier Field 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

5 Oct 09 NO @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

6 Oct 16 CAR @ ATL Georgia Dome 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

7 Oct 23 WAS @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

8 Oct 30 MIN @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

9 Bye

10 Nov 13 TEN @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets CBS

11 Nov 20 CAR @ DET Ford Field 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

12 Nov 27 CAR @ IND Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

13 Dec 04 CAR @ TB Raymond James Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

14 Dec 11 ATL @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

15 Dec 18 CAR @ HOU Reliant Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

16 Dec 24 TB @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

17 Jan 01 CAR @ NO Superdome 1:00 PM Tickets FOX

[TheRealDeal]

Seriously stop it Mav, that edit to your post and the tough schedule are too negative here. We only want opinions, scratch that, we only want blind optimism not based in anything but optimism with a side of optimism no matter how far from the truth it is.

If you don't, I'll tell all my e-buddies to give me pie and poo after I call your ass a troll, troll.

Got it, Troll?

[mav1234]

Seriously stop it Mav, that edit to your post and the tough schedule are too negative here. We only want opinions, scratch that, we only want blind optimism not based in anything but optimism with a side of optimism no matter how far from the truth it is.

If you don't, I'll tell all my e-buddies to give me pie and poo after I call your ass a troll, troll.

Got it, Troll?

you're right, we didn't fire fox and draft Cam Newton to keep losing! THIS IS ABOUT WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Double34Trouble28]

There seem to be two camps in this thread and while everyone on here is entitled to their opinion I think the reality of what happens next season likely falls somewhere in between.

It is likely that either Smith or D Will will return, unlikely both will or both won't. TRD, you are right that we can't look at everything as a homer but on the other hand we can't be completely negative about things because think about where that negative attitude got us last season. The players seem to be excited and are showing some real vigor about the upcoming season, whereas they seemed to be playing for paychecks last year as most of them had mentally and emotionally checked out on the coaches, probably because some coaches had done the same thing to them given the circumstances.

Something that has been mentioned countless times in other threads but not in this one(unless I missed it) is Charles Johnson. We're all sitting here talking about Smitty and D Will coming back. The TRUTH is, if we lost Smith we would absolutely bring in a WR, probably on the level of a Malcolm Floyd. IF we lose DeAngelo, we still have Stewart and Goodson. BUT, if we lost Charles Johnson, where does that leave us? Starting Brown(whom we would all have to consider closing in on bust status) and Hardy(who may end up being something), but we know that is not a starting DE tandem that is going to scare anyone. We can't get better at DT and lose pace at DE. Johnson, for me, is the key.

The schedule is tough, end of story. But if Cam can play decent our defense will be good enough to win some games. How easily we forget the amount of time they were forced to spend on the field due to three-and-outs and turnovers. No D can rise up under those circumstances. Imagine getting the ball back for your team only to know you are going to the sidelines just long enough for a taste of gatorade then its back to busting your ass, and for what? Nothing. That likely won't be the case this year. Its all about attitude, and I think the team's attitude will be much improved this year.

We won two games last year and as HORRID as we were we should have won the Cleveland game, the defense played well enough to beat the dog crap out of Chicago, and we were in the road game against the Saints under two minutes.

Let's be positive, but not overzealous in our expectations. I think 5-6 wins, being competitive in most losses, and picking 7-10 next season is something we could all be happy about. Anything more would be stupendous.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Hate to say it but we will have a top 15 pick.