What have we really lost?

[bLACKpANTHER]

I will start with the more obvious ones:

Defense:

Gamble - yes he was our best corner by far and away, but spent almost all of last year on the shelf.

Munnerlyn - quality slot corner and punt returner, but he still hasnt signed with any else either

Pair of DTs - still possible to re-sign Dwan, but its not like we a losing a COG in our D-line. This has been a turn-style line for the past 5+ years

Anderson - dependable LB that wasn't necessarily a playmaker, rather a player that made the necessary plays

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Offense:

Chud - probably the biggest loss we have had, but might be "addition through subtraction." I think everyone was ready for his departure- including Cam and the fans. We aren't sure exactly what Shula will bring but confidence is about the same level even if Chud were here.

Barney - a TE that couldnt crack the starting lineup.. nothing much

Murphy - a decent 3-4 WR that made a few key plays but never pushed Lafell or Smitty for time

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None of these losses will lose or win us a game. I think we will fill the holes with cheap backups for another year and maybe grab a quality starter or 2 on defense. Another year of a 6-10 floor and 10-6 ceiling.

[SuperMan]

Not nearly as much as some would like to believe.

[PantherAZ]

Biggest loss is that we were a 7-9 team and haven't improved while others have. There's still time for that. We just need a few lucky bounces in the draft and we'll be fine.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I agree. I think the frustration is these losses coupled with our lack of additions. But I think there's still time to add some solid, affordable pieces that will have us looking pretty good for the draft.

[Keep Pounding]

I did not really expect for us to be busy in FA.

I also felt that Gamble and Gross would be cut.

I did think that we would resign Dwan Edwards and pursue Canty or another vet DT to beef up the interior DEF Line.

I did not expect for us to cut James Anderson.

I dont think we are as bad as it may seem, but we sure as the hell aint getting better.....

[OneBadCat]

Murphy isn't a decent #3. Too many drops in crucial moments. Anderson needed to go.

Losing Gamble and Munnerlyn is a tough loss imo. But I'm actually very confident in Josh Norman and Josh Thomas. I just want a legtimate starter at FS that can let those guys play physical. No more throwing BS at the wall hope it sticks like Nakamura. DJ Campbell did look good but he was only in a handful of games.

Need to either bring Dwan back or sign a NT worth a damn and then draft a complimenting tackle to either of them.

[carolina-chuck]

SUPER BOWL or BUST!!!!!

[PantherAZ]

I have nothing to base this on, but the way things played out with gamble makes me feel like there was a lot more to it than, "hey you're released, good luck brother." I wonder if he would be willing to come back on a one year deal if needed after FA and the draft.

[rayzor]

i think we'll re-sign capt and dwan.

we'll also pick up another WR, FS, and OG...at least thats what I'm hoping for.

[iampantherman]

..... but we sure as the hell aint getting better.....

That may or may not be the case. We are young and improving at a number of positions, including the most crucial- QB. We've got a defense that is already good and improving under the leadership of a proven defensive mind in Rivera- a defense which finished top 10 with a number of positions filled by average to below-average, or at the very least unproven, talent. Free agency just started and we will fill the glaring holes there and in the upcoming draft with stop-gap, but adequate players in some cases, and hopefully some stars, in the case of the draft, in others.

I'm not going Ryan Kalil on you, but I think our woes are being exaggerated by many.

[iamhubby1]

i think we'll re-sign capt and dwan.

we'll also pick up another WR, FS, and OG...at least thats what I'm hoping for.

I'd like to add TE to that list. Other than that, I think you covered it nicely.

Would be interested to know if there is something other than money keeping these guys away? We can't be too far off of market value that we can't get something done? Are they insulted by our offer? I mean, what is the deal guys?

Too many questions.

Is the reason we are being...cautious, player related? We aren't getting any deals done because players aren't taking any? They're all in, FU mode?

Or? Is Gettlemen really this...casual, in his approach? We havent' made any deals because we haven't offered any deals? Or is he just waiting for the bottom to drop out, then come in and finish them off? He must have a plan man, tell me, what is it? I just gotta know. The suspense is killing me.

Something just seems a tad askew, as to why we are being so quiet. Or is it just me?

Too many questions.

[hepcat]

Biggest thing lost was Chud by a mile, followed by Gamble, then Dwan Edwards. Munnerlyn hurts to lose but he is by nature a replaceable player. He replaced Richard Marshall who replaced similar players before him.

[iamhubby1]

That may or may not be the case. We are young and improving at a number of positions, including the most crucial- QB. We've got a defense that is already good and improving under the leadership of a proven defensive mind in Rivera- a defense which finished top 10 with a number of positions filled by average to below-average, or at the very least unproven, talent. Free agency just started and we will fill the glaring holes there and in the upcoming draft with stop-gap, but adequate players in some cases, and hopefully some stars, in the case of the draft, in others.

I'm not going Ryan Kalil on you, but I think our woes are being exaggerated by many.

Well said. Bravo. Rah Rah. Atta boy. You go boy. And my personal favorite, and there was great rejoicing.

Don't ever let them tell you being a Homer isn't fun.

Fill Rayzor's list with FA and we are better than last year. Get two athletes with our first two picks, and we are even better. Hit on one or two of the later rounds, and away we go.

The future is still bright. Even though it is sure taking its sweet ol' time getting here.

[iamhubby1]

Biggest thing lost was Chud by a mile, followed by Gamble, then Dwan Edwards. Munnerlyn hurts to lose but he is by nature a replaceable player. He replaced Richard Marshall who replaced similar players before him.

Losing Chud, who basically screwed the pooch half the time he was here, was not our biggest loss. Dwan was/is our biggest loss. Both in girth, and, playing ability.

His pass rush from the inside will be missed. Sure we can go with Alexander, Hardy, and CJ and still be quite good. But having that pressure up the middle was invaluable. And yes, Hardy, and to a lesser extent Alexander and CJ, can all play inside on passing downs. Just not to the level of Dwan.

We want Dwan, he wanted to come back. Why is he not a Panther?