Biggest difference from last year?

[BigBoss]

Ron and the coaching staff have really been much improved. There are obviously other factors, but I'm really believing in Ron.

[Vampire the buffet slayer]

One thing is the fact that we dont have an OC thats auditioning for a HC job.

[toldozer]

I agree with the ball control. The big plays were fun, but hit or miss they were putting the defense right back on the field. Control the clock win the game. Don't do to much. Cam is playing SMART football. I give the credit to one Mike Shula

[MechaZain]

Coaching. Rivera went from "How is this guy an NFL coach?" to possibly coach of the year. There's been other stuff but that's the most drastic.

[Inimicus]

If I can only have one then its got to be Coaching.

 

It covers not only the gameday decision making but also game planning and player preparation.

 

 

[rayzor]

the coaching.

 

i think that gettleman absolutely has done a good job of getting more talent in here, but it was up to ron to make the best use of it.

 

remember how things were going the first couple weeks? same ol' style of coaching. same ol' results.

 

then ron had his epiphany and we see the change in the team's direction.

 

the talent was there, but it wasn't until ron made changed that we saw real improvements.

 

[Navy_football]

Players.

 

Easier to coach better players.

[carolina-chuck]

Identity

[Mr. Scot]

Anybody wanna suggest that we could have gotten to this point with Marty Hurney as GM?

[TheRumGone]

Dat 4th and 1 call in da first....shivers. Coaching if I had to pick.

[footballisasport]

Is it...

1) Better players on the roster, courtesy of Dave Gettleman

or

2) Better coaching by Ron Rivera and his staff

If you have to pick one, to which do you give more weight?

 

I say neither. Like I have been saying since last season, this team simply needed to remember how to win.

 

They are all talented in their own rights. They have the confidence as individuals but what seem to have been missing was the confidence to win as a team. One person cannot win where there are 21 other guys with mindsets not in the games.

 

What has changed is, the Panthers realize that it's okay to win. It's okay to win with a lead. It's okay to come from behind and win. It's okay to not always be firing on all cylinders on both sidese of the ball and still win. But what is not okay is the lack of confidence this team had shown for the past two seasons. They clearly was finding their way back but it always seem to show up when it didn't matter, at the end of the season.

 

Something finally clicked, and the Panthers have figured out that winning isn't just physical. it's just as mental.

[PantherFanOne]

 It is a combination of better players on the roster, courtesy of Dave Gettleman,better coaching by Ron Rivera and his staff,the maturity and development of Cam Newton...It is a three tier deal that aids one another,so I would have a hard time choosing just one.

[dpanther69]

I think it is more of Dave Gettleman influence. I believe he is respondible for changing the culture of the organization. Yes he has bought in better depth and players who contribute game in and game out. He also got rid of dead weight. This I believe along with a 0-2 start changed RR mindset (having faith in players) therefore changing this team. Also you have to give JR some credit for sticking with RR who has finally implemented his offensive system with Chud gone. To make a long story it is a combination of a lot of things and hopefully this will be a magical season.

[Peppers90 NC]

we are actually getting some calls or bounces.  a tiny bit of luck goes a long ways considering last year we were a team losing by single scores over and over.