...the more things stay the same

[top dawg]

Well, it's been one boring offseason so far. No money. No big moves. The more time passes by, the more it's looking like we will have last season's team in 2009.

Options are disappearing for Pep. The Pats don't generally open up the vaults and roll out the money to the extent that Pep wants, and where the hell else does it make sense for him to go? Y'all may not believe that a fanbase can play a part in the mindos of FOs, but I seriously think that a segment of Panthers fans may have just talked Pep's value down just enough that other teams are a bit reticent to bring the Brinks trucks as well. How ironic?

There is no irony at all in the stamp of approval on Jake Delhomme's forehead by Fox and company. It's "in your face---Jake's our guy, and there's nothing that anyone can do about it," sentiment that has been the hallmark of the current FO that rules the day.

All of the crying and whinig about new DTs , DEs, CBs, TEs, etc. is beginning to sound a little hollow---a little "canyon-esque."

But, look on the bright side! We did nake some moves at coaching, and perhaps---just perhaps---that may have been where the biggest problem was all along. We have a new DC to shore up and polish a defense that just wasn't consistent enough to get to February. We also have a new QC that will hopefully exercise the demons and ghosts from Delhomme's head. Yeah, the schedule is tougher and all, but history has proven that we are still a 12-game-win type of team. And, our talent---though some may argue---has as good as potential as any team's in the league.

We ended the season an awful note, but we were still a sleeping giant this past season, and jut may be this coming season.

[Fireball77]

If fans ever have an effect on a front office's decisions, those FO personnel who have rabbit ears need to be fired.

[[email protected]]

I have to agree with Dawg about the coaching changes. I was a firm believer all last season that the defensive meltdowns came from the coaches. We still have a very talented defense. If Peppers stays and can somehow play with some fire and motivation, the D line should be ok. Charles Johnson is coming off a good year and when you add in Brayton to the rotation, the DE's position will be fine. DT's are still a concern but honestly if we can just bring in 1 good DT and solidify a good rotation, the interior will be set as well. As far as the CB's go, I am not worried at all. I still think Lucas can play and think he was the main victim of bad coaching and a rookie safety. Godfrey will have a year under his belt and will play better. Gamble and Marshall are still young and have plenty of upside. Secondary will be fine. LB's are solid. Beason is one of the best defensive players to ever wear a Panthers uniform (I know this is a big statement but when you add up heart, drive, athletic ability, and will to win, he truly is one of the best.) Davis is a athletic freak as well. Diggs will be a solid starter.

My point is this. With Meeks and the rest of the new defensive coaches, we SHOULD see major improvement. If not, it will be obvious that Fox is to blame and he wont return.

[Frizzy350]

our defense is going to be exactly the same with coach fox. if we run all year long like we did in the second half, we will be nearly unstoppable. jake should never have been put into the position to throw so much against zona. we should have kept repeating what we did on the first. that and maybe... JUST MAYBE we should have actually tried to cover fitzgerald. hes not exactly a freakin speed demon and there was no bolden, yet NOBODY was even near him. 2 freaking weeks to come up with a solution to one offensive weapon, and we weren't even close...

[unicar15]

I wouldn't mind at all if Pep stayed as long as he decides he wants to resign with us after next year. Maybe meeks can change his mind....if it can't happen then I hope he goes but burning down the stadium if he walks next year shouldn't happen.

[The Link]

our defense is going to be exactly the same with coach fox. if we run all year long like we did in the second half, we will be nearly unstoppable. jake should never have been put into the position to throw so much against zona. we should have kept repeating what we did on the first. that and maybe... JUST MAYBE we should have actually tried to cover fitzgerald. hes not exactly a freakin speed demon and there was no bolden, yet NOBODY was even near him. 2 freaking weeks to come up with a solution to one offensive weapon, and we weren't even close...

Wrong.

[Jrock88]

yea fitzgeralds like the 2nd best receiver in the league.... behind steve smith

[Brooklyn Bully]

Why is everyone so sure Meeks will change the scheme? Half of you don't even believe in the "it was the scheme" philosophy to begin with. So what does that half say?

[Snake]

Why is everyone so sure Meeks will change the scheme? Half of you don't even believe in the "it was the scheme" philosophy to begin with. So what does that half say?

I doubt we will see Tampa 2. Thats not Jon Foxes style but Cover 2 is. I think we will see less of soft zones and more cover schemes built around good coverage. If not then well whatever they do I hope it works.

[carpanfan96]

I doubt we will see Tampa 2. Thats not Jon Foxes style but Cover 2 is. I think we will see less of soft zones and more cover schemes built around good coverage. If not then well whatever they do I hope it works.

Beason's comments on his blog make me think Tampa 2 with cover 2 mixed in a lot.

[Fox007]

Wrong.

More like RIGHT

Read anything about him coming into the pros, and you'll see that pretty much the ONLY thing bad about the guy was he didn't have blazing speed.

And he doesn't he ran a 4.63

He is a great WR, but does not rely on speed to be great.

He may have looked fast vs us, but that's not hard to do.

[carpanfan96]

More like RIGHT

Read anything about him coming into the pros, and you'll see that pretty much the ONLY thing bad about the guy was he didn't have blazing speed.

And he doesn't he ran a 4.63

He is a great WR, but does not rely on speed to be great.

He may have looked fast vs us, but that's not hard to do.

yea neither him nor Boldin are very fast, both run in the 4.5 - 4.6 range, big reason why Breaston is so important to that lineup. He has speed and can stretch the field for Boldin and Fitz.

[sml1950]

Why is everyone so sure Meeks will change the scheme? Half of you don't even believe in the "it was the scheme" philosophy to begin with. So what does that half say?

I suspect Fox brought Meeks in for something other than his good looks. He doesn't have any connection with Fox's coaching tree, so there is something he brings. While I am certain that we're not converting to pure Tampa 2, I think he will influence several components:

1. Thomas Davis..Will LB- Converted college safeties are a speciality of T2 defenses. I can see Meeks expanding Davis' role and giving him the opportunity to follow up a breakout season with a pro bowl one.

2. Beason is poised to become Derrick Brooks II. Meeks knows all the tricks to accelerate this process.

3. Chris Harris..SS- While Harris is no Bob Sanders, Meeks can put him in the right position to create turnovers.

4. PEP- If the grass doesn't turn out to be greener, Meeks could convince Julie that Dwight Freeney thrived in his scheme and so can he.

5. Meeks made his bones in the league as a DB coach. We could use as much input there as possible.

[carpanfan96]

From Beason's blog. Tells you about his injury and that the panthers are putting in a new scheme.

I tore the labrum in my shoulder the first time we played Arizona, I think it was in October.

I put my arm down to push myself up and it kind of collapsed. I popped it back into place and got back in the huddle. I think we were winning, 24-23, and two plays later I made an interception that led to a field goal and we won the game.

It’s funny how certain players can play through pain and some can’t. I have values for the parts of my body. In terms of my wings—shoulder, elbows, hands—it’s not negotiable. Unless it’s sticking through the skin or bleeding bad, I’m staying in the game.

It was eight or nine weeks into the season, I was thinking about the playoffs, going to the Super Bowl, making the Pro Bowl. There was no way I was going to come out of the game ever.

The rest of the season I rehabbed it and treated it. It popped back out a couple more times, and I was basically playing with no strength. When I tackled someone it was almost like throwing a pillow at them. I had no grip in that arm, no way to stop someone. I played like that the rest of the season, just fighting to get the job done. It took away my range of motion. But I know my teammates would do the same for me.

And I wasn’t going to sit home through my first Pro Bowl, so I had the surgery done on February 12. It’s in a sling 4-6 weeks and I have to rehab it close to four months. After that I’ll be able to lift anything I want. I just got the stitches out yesterday, so I just started moving it again.

I absolutely will be ready for training camp and I’ll be at full strength for our first exhibition game. I really think I can be ready for OTAs at the end of May, but I don’t know how much they’ll let me play against guys who are trying to make the team.

I have to make sure there are no setbacks. We have new defensive coaches, new schemes. It will be a process learning that stuff and getting acclimated to new terminology.

I just want to let Panthers fans know that there’s no quit in us. Continue to believe in this team, in our coaches. We’re going to keep going at it and we’re never going to stop.

There’s a breakthrough coming real soon.