Other than DT what areas have we really improved?

[sharonmcmillion]

to answer your Q....number one improvement : David G....#2 Shula as OC (our offense made what's his name look good-now our OC will make our offense look unbeatable)...and as things evolve we will see how good our RB's REALLY are and please don't forget OLSEN-he can catch anything as good as any other WR we could have signed...now for the unknowns: AE coming out...Gettis?...Ginn...and CAM maturing, Baby we have alot to look forward to...we have it this year, I really believe that!

 

[CRA]

to answer your Q....number one improvement : David G....#2 Shula as OC (our offense made what's his name look good-now our OC will make our offense look unbeatable)...and as things evolve we will see how good our RB's REALLY are and please don't forget OLSEN-he can catch anything as good as any other WR we could have signed...now for the unknowns: AE coming out...Gettis?...Ginn...and CAM maturing, Baby we have alot to look forward to...we have it this year, I really believe that!

I think people think the present day Double Trouble are much better than they really are....

That doesn't mean they suck....but they are overrated even if underutilized the past few years at this stage. Stewart's injuries are naggin year after year....hard to imagine he isn't declining in the process. Williams wasn't impressive last year. Good....not great.

We need to run....but only for balance. The key to our offense is Cam not who runs it at RB.

[FootballMaestro]

We need to run....but only for balance. The key to our offense is Cam not who runs it at RB.

 

Agree with this statement 100%. 

 

The reason why the Panthers are talking about the run so much, is cause play action worked great during Cam's rookie season. And if the team is going to de-emphasize the Read Option, as we been reading and hearing, then it only makes sense that you have to have a credible run threat to play action. 

 

This is all to make Cam better, while keeping him as a [mostly] traditional, pocket QB (unlike some of his younger brethren and their gimmick, run based offenses). 

[CRA]

Agree with this statement 100%.

The reason why the Panthers are talking about the run so much, is cause play action worked great during Cam's rookie season. And if the team is going to de-emphasize the Read Option, as we been reading and hearing, then it only makes sense that you have to have a credible run threat.

This is all to make Cam better, while keeping him as a [mostly] traditional, pocket QB (unlike some of his younger brethren and their gimmick, run based offenses).

When people talk read option they only want to talk about how it was used in about 4 of 32 games. Read option big picture has been great in Carolina.

Just a new age play action

[FootballMaestro]

When people talk read option they only want to talk about how it was used in about 4 of 32 games. Read option big picture has been great in Carolina.

Just a new age play action

 

I hear ya! But I read/heard the same thing on a recent Mike Shula/Ron Rivera article on Panthers.com. Unless, the writer mis-understood, I would think he would know?

 

Heck, I think it even came straight from Rivera's mouth as well. Lol

 

They wanna make Cam/The Offense more like 2011, and the second half of 2012. 

 

I'd rather see more play action, and less Read Option than last year as well. 

[FattyFatFat]

Special teams. Ginn, Klein, Kenjon should make it a more competitive unit.

[CarolinaCoolin]

The only thing I don't want to happen with this play action is having it being the key factor for our passin game. You see how the texans use it and whenever foster gets stopped in games they fall apart because they can't long ball it to Johnson. I love the idea of it but we can't sole use that in our passing game. With all that said I think we can all agree balance in all areas is the key for success this season

[MadHatter]

QB - better - played whole year healthy, learned lots of valuable lessons, showed that he learned them.

RB - marginally better - Added depth and another weapon.

WR - better - The return of injured players, the development of prospects, one more year of catching bullets from Cam and learning his nuances, oh ya and those two guys Ginn and Hixon who werent strangers to being called "playmakers" before arriving here. New systems can do wonders for a career . . . so can a new QB.

OL - better - The return of an All Pro center plus everyone else providing continuity. We'll see about Gross, but all signs are that he's still ready to ball. Adding Kugz is not too impacting to me because he's going to be learning all year I would think.

TE - same - I wouldnt rate any of the movement here significant yet

----

DT - better - lol nuff said

DE - same - so far no big changes here, but it should be noted that Alexander is in a possible break out year.

LB - better - the return of an All Pro LB and leader of our defense. The addition of some baddass depth. Wow LB is still our strongest spot by far.

CB - better - Gamble was injured and didnt return. Added a savvy vet and gave some young guns with potential a LOT of snaps last year to improve.

S - Better - Nakamura will go back to ST's if he makes the team, nuff said.

Coaching - who knows? Id like to say Chico got a year of experience but coaching is so complex that I dunno if that matters. I guess it does, but how much? whatever, different discussion maybe than what Jarhead was looking for.

Nice summary...I concur on all points

[MHS831]

Fair question, Jarhead.  I would like to add that we have upgraded several ways:  healing, experience, and adding talent/competition.  That is the understanding that makes Gettlemen smart. 

 

The oline healed (Kalil) and gained very valuable experience (Silatolu).

The QB gained experience and some simplicity.

The WRs are using competition and experience to improve; look what it has done for Edwards so far.

 

The offense will be much better in 2013---top 12.  And we improved most on defense.

 

DL--3 new faces at DT and we re-signed the fourth.  All better than Fua, Kearse, Neblett, and Ron Edwards.

LB--3 first round picks starting, solid backups (Chase blackburn, AJ Klein, Senn, etc)  With better DTs, these thoroughbreds will eat.

DB-competition and new blood have made the secondary the most aggressive battle on the team.  Experience added to Thomas, Norman, Campbell, Dockery makes the team better; Florence, Mitchell, and Moore  give the team ball-hawks who are experienced.  Watch for Captain to bring it in 2013. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MHS831]

Fair question, Jarhead.  I would like to add that we have upgraded several ways:  healing, experience, and adding talent/competition.  That is the understanding that makes Gettlemen smart. 

 

The oline healed (Kalil) and gained very valuable experience (Silatolu).

The QB gained experience and some simplicity.

The WRs are using competition and experience to improve; look what it has done for Edwards so far.

 

The offense will be much better in 2013---top 12.  And we improved most on defense.

 

DL--3 new faces at DT and we re-signed the fourth.  All better than Fua, Kearse, Neblett, and Ron Edwards.

LB--3 first round picks starting, solid backups (Chase blackburn, AJ Klein, Senn, etc)  With better DTs, these thoroughbreds will eat.

DB-competition and new blood have made the secondary the most aggressive battle on the team.  Experience added to Thomas, Norman, Campbell, Dockery makes the team better; Florence, Mitchell, and Moore  give the team ball-hawks who are experienced.  Watch for Captain to bring it in 2013. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MHS831]

I cannot think of a position that will not be better if we stay healthy

[jarhead]

I am a bit surprised that there is not bigger concern about the right side of our OL .I see Bell as a liability in our passing protection and Piggy a concern in the running game

[Navy_football]

I am a bit surprised that there is not bigger concern about the right side of our OL .I see Bell as a liability in our passing protection and Piggy a concern in the running game

 

Still with you on this one, particularly the RG position. Both guard positions were horrible at the beginning of the season, but Amini showed huge improvements towards the latter part of the year. That RG position never seemed to get straightened out. It was so bad, I'd be afraid of Cam or a RB getting injured. Can't allow DTs to get to the QB in less than 3 seconds or to the RB at the hand off. That just ain't gonna cut it. Quick pressure up the middle is every QBs achilles heel. 

[Zod]

I'd like to point out that a game has yet to be played and so we have no idea if our DTs were upgraded yet