Real GM Panthers preview: best one I have read this offseason

[Fireball77]

Not that I agree 100% with all of it but the level of effort & detail (such as why Wharton fits better @ G than @ T) this guy exhibited is phenomenal.

http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_teamarticle/575/20090724/2009_season_preview_carolina_panthers/

Forecast: It's not often a playoff team returns almost every starter, but the Panthers lost only one (Ken Lucas). This is a veteran team with solid talent all around and exceptional talents in several key spots. All signs point to another 10+ win season and a dangerous playoff contender, but there is more pratfall potential with Carolina than perhaps any other playoff-caliber team. Special teams, poor depth at quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, and defensive tackle, overly conservative coaching, and a tangible sense of desperate urgency to win for Coach Fox and beloved owner Jerry Richardson, who is in poor health. There is a great deal of pressure, and the schedule makers did them no favors. Their first three games (PHI, @ATL, @DAL) and final four games (@NE, MIN, @NYG, NO) are all difficult, and this is a team that has been vulnerable to befuddling gaffes in what should be easy wins. I trust in their running game, their offensive line, and in their defensive talent. The Panthers won't repeat in the NFC South, but Carolina finishes 10-6 and sneaks into the playoffs thanks to early wins over Philadelphia and Atlanta.

[rayzor]

i can agree with all that.

this had me scratching my head but everything else seems pretty fair and reasonable and sounded like he, for the most part, did his research.

On the other side, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks deployed a platoon between Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson, with Brayton playing on run downs and Johnson coming in for passing situations.

[Rhys]

Overall a great article, and a fair assessment of our team. There are some intangibles that make the Panthers great and which make me believe we'll finish better than 10-6, but we'll see. If we can get to our bye week unscathed I think the momentum we generate from that and from a "softer" mid season could carry us through and get us to the playoffs super hot.

[AKPantherFan]

ehhhhh... Someone just needs to tell the team that they dont HAVE TO lose any game....

Its all up to them.

I think we have too much talent to not repeat in the south...

[AKPantherFan]

i can agree with all that.

this had me scratching my head but everything else seems pretty fair and reasonable and sounded like he, for the most part, did his research.

yeah, me too- i was like WTF?

[AKPantherFan]

Overall a great article, and a fair assessment of our team. There are some intangibles that make the Panthers great and which make me believe we'll finish better than 10-6, but we'll see. If we can get to our bye week unscathed I think the momentum we generate from that and from a "softer" mid season could carry us through and get us to the playoffs super hot.

I think we will start hot because of the big playoff letdown. The team will understand that they have too that way they dont lose the fans quick....

It should be a good season...

Just beat Dallas in week three

[Delhommey]

It's how I feel, sure. Especially the part about having lots of pitfalls that can ruin the season.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Sketchy special teams? Besides the early season gafs in punt coverage, we were pretty good...damn that NY wind, though.

[mantal]

Good article overall. Too bad for the brain fart in saying that Meeks was DC last year. And you can tell that's what it was by him talking about the new system Meeks will install this year with his arrival...

[thefuzz]

Didn't Conner tear his ACL?

That article said broke his arm....am I losing it?

[Brandon]

Didn't Conner tear his ACL?

That article said broke his arm....am I losing it?

You are correct he did tear his ACL.

I do think they are wrong about us not winning the easy games, we only lost to one non-playoff team last year and that was the Bucs, back before they imploded.

[Kevin Greene]

Good write up.

The Observer is probably taking notes.

[Delhommey]

Didn't Conner tear his ACL?

That article said broke his arm....am I losing it?

I think the author is mixing Connor up with Paul Pozlunsky

[grateflday]

Pretty good article, nothing us fans dont already know. The one part I dont agree with is the "dont expect another 1,500 yards and 18TD season from William" comment ;-)