How many more players do we need to make a playoff run?

[Cyberjag]

This is kind of a trick question. With Rivera coaching, we probably need upgrades at both Safety positions, Defensive Tackle, Right Guard, and possibly Right Tackle, as well as several special teams players to make the playoffs. With a better coach, we could make them with our current roster.

[KJ89]

The HEALTHY team we have now is playoff caliber.

This.

Safties and receivers would help, but not needed as much as you're saying. Our roster is not why we're not in the playoffs.

[CardiacCats]

Are you saying we need 4-5 Safeties or 4-5 total, then listed the positions? My first impression, and what inspired me to click "Quote", was that you meant 4-5 Safeties lol. Then I realized there's another possible meaning :)

In my opinion, the only holes are RG and FS, but we need future replacements at DT, WR, LT, CB. Well, I guess I'd also consider DT a hole, I doubt R. Edwards is back next year and holy poo Fua is bad. Kearse is a solid backup (and possible future replacement) for D. Edwards, but not at NT.

4-5 players lol

[SCP]

Why cant we be like tha Patriots and be good with scrubs?

As Cam gets better this might become possible. Scheme and the best QB ever make the Patriots do what they do.

[Happy Panther]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Carolina_Panthers_season#Roster

Here is our roster last time we went to the superbowl.

That Defense of Jenkins, Peppers, Rucker, Buckner is the glaring difference.

[PhillyB]

fix the offensive line and you fix WR.

fix the defensive tackles and you fix the secondary.

[jarhead]

Exactly, we have the talent to go far. No team has superstars or even "good" players at EVERY position. The Giants won their Superbowls with a worse secondary than ours. The Colts won their Superbowl with half the talent on defense we have and their O-line wasn't particularly good either. The Steelers O-line might have been worse than ours in their Superbowls too. Yea we are way below average at FS and OG right now, but as a whole the sum of talent is there. Coaching kept us back this year.

I am not talking superstars. I cannot believe some say we have the talent to be a playoff contender.Coaching is just part of the problem ....talent in key positions is the other

[chknwing]

We need an Oline and a safety. I think the rest is coming together. The main problem with the team is the coaches are trying to do too much. and every weeks game plan is a kneejerk reaction to what happened the previous week.

[jarhead]

fix the offensive line and you fix WR.

fix the defensive tackles and you fix the secondary.

I see where you are going with this but feel we need another receiver. LaFell does not get the separation to be open enough.

[davos]

I think the biggest thing holding us back is another offensive playmaker. Our biggest problems that cost us wins this season other than coaching included our inability to close by getting first downs near the game's end and giving up big plays in the closing minutes.

3 Positions for me: 1-WR, 2-RG, 3-FS

SS, DT, and CB are ok by me for now.

[Fox007]

We need to fortify both of our lines(mostly DT on defense) and we will have a very solid team.

[jarhead]

With some of these guys like DJ Campbell and Josh Thomas are stepping up the list is getting smaller.We need an OL and wr as immediate needs

[BigSyke]

aint trying to be funny but panthers should be 14-2 at the end of this season buttt they cant close out games.

giants and broncos are their only true beat downs.

how a about few coaches away from making a playoff run...........

[jarhead]

aint trying to be funny but panthers should be 14-2 at the end of this season buttt they cant close out games.

giants and broncos are their only true beat downs.

how a about few coaches away from making a playoff run...........

It was not just the coaches that did not finish games. Was Cams fumble coaching? Was Naka getting beat coaching?Was LaFell dropping a TD pass coaching? There is no one single person to blame.

So you think we bring in a couple of new coaches does not come with risk?I do not care who you bring in they cannot mask the lack of talent we have in certain positions.It is very clear we cannot run the ball without an adequate OL. I am not saying Rivera is the answer but feel he should at the very least finish the season and then evaluate him on mistakes that can be corrected and characteristics that cant be fixed.

If we would have fired everyone that has been called out on this board we would have Cam,Luke and Olsen as our entire team.