Did we need to have this sort of season?

[jarhead]

I think if Cam can take it to the next level and our FO adds some talent on the OL and the wr position we will have a very good offense.Top 10 easily

[Cary Kollins]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I think a few years down the road, we'll look back at this season as the turning point in the franchise. Had we not had such a poor start, and if Hurney had kept his job, I don't know that we would be the perennial contender I believe we will be.

We needed some definite changes to this organization and the locker room culture. We also needed growth and maturity from the young leaders on this team.

I think this season has shown the type of core players we have. Players with resolve, heart and integrity to play the game the right way. Not to mention we have truly elite players on both sides of the ball.

It all boils down to learning from your mistakes. If you don't learn from your mistakes, you are doomed to repeat them. As long as we continue to progress and learn from our mistakes, the sky is the limit for this franchise.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Cam, Young players, JR, Rivera and Staff actually should grow exponentially bc of the adversity of this season and correct the past mistakes.

Also experiencing a season without Beason, Gamble kind of strengthens the team as we see expensive vets may be expendable.

Gamble way more so than Beason.

[Marguide]

Considering how terrible we have been for years, if they thought they were "invincible" heading into this season they need mental health professionals, not another losing season.

Experienced coaches would have kept the team more grounded. Unfortunately, a lot of our coaches were too inexperienced to handle it properly.

And I don't think we'll see any more Super Bowl ads in the immediate future.

[panthers55]

What I like about this season and hope trends to next season is guys stepping up and filling in with great results. Who thought that we would have practice squad guys coming into to starting roles and stepping up as they have. Frankly it gives me hope that we can drop some of the overpriced veterans and not suffer next year as we have in the past. Seems that some young hungry guys are actually playing better than some of the vets not worse.

[iampantherman]

And a pretty good thought imo.

Just look at Kalil's ad. Look at how we came out against Tampa, and then how we followed up the Saints win. From the front office to the coaches to the players, they bought into the hype too much.

Time will tell whether or not they have learned their lesson. Gut feel says yes, but it's too early to tell. Let's see how they come out against the Raiders. This is a team they should beat, but also the type of contest in which we seem to often underwhelm.

As competitors, both as individuals and collectively as a team, it is vital to always respect your opponent, no matter who it may be, and prepare with the mindset that every foe is dangerous and capable of defeating you. This is a mindset that successful individuals and teams always carry. You believe in yourself, but you respect your opponent. When you respect your adversary you are capable of remaining detached from the pitfalls of ego/pride and "hype". In the NFL, performance on game-day is the only measure of aptitude- not chest thumping proclamations of self-contratulating greatness.

[Ken]

Our defense is not top 10......

I do agree though that the adversity will/should help the team next year. Have to be humble and not expect greatness without actually doing it first.

[Kakarot]

I'm just glad we finally got rid of Hurney. I guess it won't matter, though, if we hire Beane. He'll probably be Hurney 2.0

[rayzor]

if....and this whole thing is a stretch.... but if the team needed another losing season to get its crap together then its just as possible it hired the wrong coach.

i think its more likely that unless this team can get someone to rally the troops before they've lost out on a shot at the playoffs, they will continue to do so.

i see a coaching staff reluctant to change what needs to be done to make this team win until its too late. they know how to adapt, they just pull the trigger too late.

if rivera comes back next year, he and the coaching staff needs to be on a short leash. winning season or hes gone. two winning seasons in a row or hrs gone. i would even say that if they start off the season with two losses in a row or head into the bye with a losing record, he's gone.

losing can not be accepted anymore and we have to quit justifying or rationalizing it..

no more lipstick on a turd or whatever.

the reason we have a losing culture was because 1) the goal was to be just better than average, not great or the best which led to 2) losses being acceptable . which led to 3)losing being ok because theres always next week which is leading to 4) losing seasons being ok because theres always next year.

i'm tired of losing being the status quo and i dont see rivera as being the guy to turn it around. he certainly hasnt done anything to prove he can or that the new GM shouldn't go out and find his guy who can.

[GRWatcher]

No team should ever "have" to go through a losing season to learn any lesson. There are better lessons to learn while winning.

losing can not be accepted anymore and we have to quit justifying or rationalizing it..

no more lipstick on a turd or whatever.

the reason we have a losing culture was because 1) the goal was to be just better than average, not great or the best which led to 2) losses being acceptable . which led to 3)losing being ok because theres always next week which is leading to 4) losing seasons being ok because theres always next year.

This is so true, rayzor. So true. I will never accept a losing season and no one with the Panthers should either. The only time to consider this past losing season is to examine how to avoid it for years to come. Then turn around and look forward.

[Gabeking]

if....and this whole thing is a stretch.... but if the team needed another losing season to get its crap together then its just as possible it hired the wrong coach.

i think its more likely that unless this team can get someone to rally the troops before they've lost out on a shot at the playoffs, they will continue to do so.

i see a coaching staff reluctant to change what needs to be done to make this team win until its too late. they know how to adapt, they just pull the trigger too late.

if rivera comes back next year, he and the coaching staff needs to be on a short leash. winning season or hes gone. two winning seasons in a row or hrs gone. i would even say that if they start off the season with two losses in a row or head into the bye with a losing record, he's gone.

losing can not be accepted anymore and we have to quit justifying or rationalizing it..

no more lipstick on a turd or whatever.

the reason we have a losing culture was because 1) the goal was to be just better than average, not great or the best which led to 2) losses being acceptable . which led to 3)losing being ok because theres always next week which is leading to 4) losing seasons being ok because theres always next year.

i'm tired of losing being the status quo and i dont see rivera as being the guy to turn it around. he certainly hasnt done anything to prove he can or that the new GM shouldn't go out and find his guy who can.

I love this post... Which means has getting a 3rd year >_>