How Does A Strong Division Relate To A Team's Success? Just A Thought I Had...

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

You guys totally missed his question. The question is does a tougher, more competitive division help a newer team assemble faster and more efficientley because of the fact they are in a tougher division, not does a tougher division make your team stronger and tougher. The latter being highly debatable because of things like injuries and tons of examples that could support the argument either way.

The question regarded teams building, and the time it takes them to become successful, and the division's influence on said success or failure building a team in a 'timley manner'.

Good discussion either way, just thought I'd point that out.

ding ding ding

[top dawg]

Really I believe it all comes down to the Coaching staff. If they can make the right decisions early on, it makes things much easier later in the line. Rivera is doing all the right things thus far, here's to hoping our good luck continues.

I believe you are correct, though I'd have to include ownership and a great FO. I just don't believe that strength of a division, or lack thereof, acts as a catalyst for expeditious success. I have seen teams suck for years, and others dominate year in and year out, regardless of the state of their division counterparts.

On an off note, Indy and the Pats, and Ravens and Steelers, just bring it for the most part, not only in their own division, but in the league period. Basically to be the best, you have to have the ability to beat everyone, including the best.

[xerxes]

You can use causality. I'm going to use the transitive property.

Weak division = easier wins

More wins = Buying into the system

Buying into the system = cohesive team

Cohesive team = rebuilt team

Therefore:

Weak division = rebuilt team

I think a lot of rebuilding is about momentum, and a weaker division makes that easier. That said, if you took it as a weighted factor, it would be pretty low on the list.

Rebuilding Factors

Quarterback - 40 percent

Coach - 35 percent

GM/talent evaluation people - 20 percent

Everything else including Division Strength - 5 percent

[Snake]

Statistically both SF and DEN had faster turn arounds than we did. So yes a weaker Div does help and makes rebuilding easier. Den even beat the Steelers because they were beat up from a tough year.

It's just like in 2005 when we limped into the Game against the Seahawks. They had a cake walk Div and a healthy team. We had a hard year and unhealthy a one dimension team.

[carolinarolls]

Overall having a tough division is good. Our division is the toughest IMO. Not form a no overall talent standpoint alone however but venue, fan base, and geographical location as well. Two grass/two domes. SEC football fanatic regions. The south is where its at for football lovers IMO. These teams constantly roll over each other on their way to the top or the bottom because there is not that much that separates them. However the slightest difference, because of the venues mainly, is all that is needed to propel one or two teams to to the top leaving the others to struggle.

The OOD schedule matters as well. Because of the difference of the way dome teams are built as opposed to grass teams, more so dome teams who have to play grass teams in division (and vice versa), the OOD schedule can either amplify your strong points or your weak points dependent on how your team is tooled. That schedule of course changes each year as well as the tooling changes with player turnover and acquisition.

To me it is a constant battle of dome, pass happy speed teams built for max protect and surgical dissection of the secondary against run heavy power, ball control offenses trying to expand their offense but understanding what they have to do in division defensively each year. Not that one type has a real advantage over the other but with the current direction of the referees rewarding the big play, dome teams can manipulate the rules in their advantage a bit if they choose to make the hard decisions to do so. IMO both Atlanta and New Orleans are definitely focused primarily on their offense and spend money on defense only as a necessary evil.

That sounds confusing but the reason our division is so tough is because of who we are as four teams and how we differ fundamentally in what we want to do in the venues and the ownership visions we work under.

Having a tough division does make teams better but also breaks up some personnel at times. And with the differences on how these four teams are built, sometimes it only takes one or two key injuries to send you straight to the bottom.

Winning division games at home is pivotal to having a good season in the NFCS. If a team can steal some division away games in the South, they are always going to be in the driver's seat. That statement in itself tells just how competitive and cleverly balanced the South has become.

[Cape Fear Cat]

I used to have a sergeant major who would tell us that "If you want to run with the big dogs, you better be able to p@ss in the tall grass." I think that might apply here. To reach the playoffs it behooves a team to be competitive in their division. To do that in the NFCS, it's incumbent on the Panthers organization to stay on their toes and do the things required to be relevant.