Here is why I think the Panthers will go 9-7 at best

[guyinchesapeake]

No one can predict what will happen this year. Any observing of the NFL proves that no one can predict success based on the previous year's record. Hand-in-hand with that, a strong division one year is often not so much the next. Remember, we were supposed to walk to the Super Bowl in 2006 based on what we did in '05, we didn't come close. Over the last several years, the league is littered with teams that were playoff contenters one year, and busts the very next. We have the nucleus to be very good again this year, many starters are returning. Hopefully, our new DC will instill the 'tude that was so absent late last year. I think the real key for us is staying healthy. If we can stay healthy, we'll be alright. By alright I mean we should contend for a playoff berth.

[Happy Panther]

No one can predict what will happen this year. ...we should contend for a playoff berth.

:D

[mantal]

It has been noted on 2 occasions. Gantt discussed it on numerous blogs. In 2007 when our defense really struggled and again this year after the bye. On both occasions the defense was struggling and Fox attempted to fix it, not meddle or screw it up. As I mentioned any good leader is obligated to get involved when someone or something under his control screws up. That is his job and obligation. That doesn't mean he micromanages his people when they are doing well or that he dictates or limits what they can do. And that is what the implication has been in this thread and among his critics. What some call meddling could easily be called supporting and offering helpful advice. Both look alike but the connotations are very different. When we had good defenses in 2003, 2005 and 2006 this never came up. If he was a control freak it would have been an issue all along.

Well said, I don't know why this assumption gets so much wheels on here, it's like people can't think for themselves, so they just feed off others. Fox attends some defensive meetings and in his own words, didn't take over, just observed and all of a sudden he is taking over. Meeks seems to me to be someone who would not accept that type of arrangement, so I'm sitting back and observing myself...

[Gscottnc5]

The reason i think this is because I don't think they can beat top teams and I think the snuck in a couple of victories lagainst average teams last year that they will not this year.

The first two victories of the season looked great at the time but it ends up that these were both .500 teams

Then loss to the vikings who ended up 10-6.

Then beat the falcons. This is a big time win i think.

Then KC - crap

Then NO - crap

Then Arizona - 2nd big time win although still a 9-7 team

Raiders - Crap

Lions - Crap

loss to Falcons - looked terrible

Green Bay win - 6-10 team

TB - good to win in division 9-7 team

Denver 8-8

Giants - better team than Carolina but put up a fight

Saiints - crap

CAROLINA's two quality wins were Arizona and Atlanta?

Carolina barely did better than 500 against the division - a 2 point win against NO at the end of the season ensured that they did

Carolina did not beat a team with a record better than 9-7 except Atlanta

Don't get me wrong, carolina beat the teams it had to beat and that is what it is all about. I hope they do it again. But there is no way they do well against Patriots, Giants, Miami, Philly, Minnesota. And if they don't then they need to run through the division which they will not.

before you get all riled up, i love the panthers and hope they do well. i am buying PSLs for a crap load of $$ and i hope they win the superbowl. But i don't think they can win big games.

Flame away!

F-N idiot

[panthers55]

The record of the team we play doesn't seem to matter. Historically we play up or down to the level of our competition. Last year we lose to the Giants but take them to overtime and earlier in the year stink it up against Oakland who was pretty bad.

Our record will depend on staying healthy, playing up to our potential, and developing a killer attitude which puts away teams instead of letting them hang around. Doesn't really matter who we play.

[beastson]

Hell of a schedule

But the running game will keep us going

[rayzor]

Hell of a schedule

But the running game will keep us going

add to that still one of the most dangerous WRs in the game and an improved, more aggressive, and more disciplined defense and there is no reason that we shouldn't be competitive and legit contenders for the playoffs.

[pantherclaw]

Not going to flame.

Just going to point out some very simple things.

We have a damn good o-line, with two very good running backs.

With a dominate running game (i.e. an offense that controls the clock and puts up points) and defense, we'll win many games, regardless of the stiff competition.

So many fans around here have already written off our defense.

With a defensive minded head coach, and a DC that coaches the fundamentals and details well, that is a mistake.

Do I expect the best defense in the league? No, I don't.

I do expect our defense to still be a leading unit on this team.

[Gman was right]

First of all unless you are in the locker room or meeting rooms you have no idea how much Fox dictates the defensive or offensive meetings. All accounts I have read suggest that Fox lets the coordinators do their thing until they struggle at which point he comes in and tries to fix things. That is what any boss does in any company that is struggling and is his perfect right and obligation to do so.

By all accounts at minicamp both coordinators were running the show and Fox was not that involved.

Tell me who have you talked to or what insider information do you have to justify your point of view. Otherwise you are just passing around an old tired opinon with no fact or reason.

From what I can tell the execution will be different in that the players will play with more aggression and energy running to the ball and swarming the receiver. In addition Meeks is making the players stick to the fundamentals and is working on the basics like footwork, maintaining discipline in the zone, working on their hand techniques, etc.

It isn't the scheme that matters but how well you execute the scheme. Meeks is known for getting the most out of the players he has. With great execution it won't matter if it Meek's or Fox's scheme. What we have lacked is execution under Trgocrap. Hopefully Meeks keeps it simple as well.

Sorry that I missed your post. Since you dont beleive me here is what Pat yasinskas said in his recent chat:

Steve (Apex): How big of an impact is Ron Meeks going to have as Carolina's DC? Fox always has his hand in the D, will he loosen the reins for Meeks?

Pat Yasinskas: It's not going to change much, if at all. Fox runs the D.

[rayzor]

yas has been an hater for a while. almost like the anti-gantt (for those who think that gantt is a suck up).

[Gman was right]

Yeah that must be it. Anyone who doesnt slobber all over the panthers must hate them. Please explain exactly why him and Gannt would hate the panthers so much.

[panthers55]

Sorry that I missed your post. Since you dont beleive me here is what Pat yasinskas said in his recent chat:

Steve (Apex): How big of an impact is Ron Meeks going to have as Carolina's DC? Fox always has his hand in the D, will he loosen the reins for Meeks?

Pat Yasinskas: It's not going to change much, if at all. Fox runs the D.

Yeah that must be it. Anyone who doesnt slobber all over the panthers must hate them. Please explain exactly why him and Gannt would hate the panthers so much.

Yaz has been pissed since his best buddy Kris jenkins was traded to the Jets. Jenkins would only talk to Yaz but interestingly few other players did. He doesn't like Fox and has taken shots at him on a regular basis. He does know about our team but is anything but unbiased. I would take what he says with a grain of salt espacially when it comes to Fox or Hurney. Most knowledgeable Panther fans do as well.

And Gantt doesn't hate the Panthers in fact he might be the favored son.. I have always felt that Yaz might be a little jealous of that.

[rayzor]

Yeah that must be it. Anyone who doesnt slobber all over the panthers must hate them. Please explain exactly why him and Gannt would hate the panthers so much.

didn't say that gantt did. yas has a history of having an anti-panther bent. he isn't a fan and was chummy with the last malcontent we had here (jenks) and was the only person that the fatty would talk to because of it.

not something that was any secret and that wasn't well known, at least around here.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Jenkins isn't fat rayzor, he's big boned.