FP's Season-Ending Thoughts

[Mother Grabber]

Gettlemagic round 2 coming atcha. can't wait for next season!!!

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

gettleman needed to go balls deep on one side of the ball to start righting the ship and they chose defense and we won 12 games thanks in large part to it.  that's coming on the offensive side of the ball this offseason.

[Banana_Grabber]

my season ending thoughts:

 

We were playing with house money most of the year. I don't believe we honestly should have been THAT good. But an amazing ride it was. We've gone from worst to a top 5 team in the league in only 2 years and thats due in part to 80% young players. The panthers have more then enough reason to believe we will be a force in this league for the foreseeable future.

 

With all our deficiencies, we nearly toppled the most-stacked team in the league, along with 7 of Goodell's henchmen he sent to "ref" the game. Terrible day, but I am beyond proud of what this team has accomplished.

 

Also, it feels so great to say for the first time in 18 years. But we have a franchise quarterback who is here to stay.

[2 x C]

Its time to address WR and CB most in the offseason.  

  The OL is 3rd to WR and CB.   If having to choose between paying Hardy or paying a WR free agent--We should pay for a WR (or two).   If we dont pay for a WR we will not improve next year.   For the 1st round we should go BPA for WR, CB, or TE.  I dont want another OL until at least round 3.   I would love for us to sign some WR talent and its out there.  There is some talent to be had:  Eric Decker, Emanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cothchery, and Jeremy Maclin. 

 

Unrestricted Free Agent Wide Receivers: 2014

 

Eric Decker Broncos $828,788

Jeremy Maclin Eagles $2,875,000

Emmanuel Sanders Steelers $2,500,000

Jerricho Cotchery Steelers $1,500,000

 

 

Unrestricted Free Agent Wide Receivers: 2014 Name Team Prior APY Anquan Boldin 49ers $8,333,333 Devin Hester Bears $5,489,006 Santana Moss Redskins $5,000,000 Jacoby Jones Ravens $3,250,000 James Jones Packers $3,233,333

Jeremy Maclin Eagles $2,875,000 Emmanuel Sanders Steelers $2,500,000 Jerricho Cotchery Steelers $1,500,000

Darrius Heyward-Bey Colts $2,500,000 Hakeem Nicks Giants $2,215,000 Jerome Simpson Vikings $2,100,000 Kenny Britt Titans $1,830,002 Mario Manningham 49ers $1,800,000 Jerricho Cotchery Steelers $1,500,000 Dexter McCluster Chiefs $1,325,000 Domenik Hixon Panthers $1,200,000 Ted Ginn Panthers $1,100,000 Plaxico Burress Steelers $1,005,000 Kevin Walter Titans $1,005,000 Brandon Tate Bengals $966,000 Brandon Stokley Ravens $940,000 Kassim Osgood 49ers $940,000 Andre Caldwell Broncos $900,000 Brandon LaFell Panthers $869,600 Damian Williams Titans $864,063 Golden Tate Seahawks $852,875 Josh Cribbs Jets $840,000 Eric Decker Broncos $828,788 Jacoby Ford Raiders $787,211 Louis Murphy Giants $780,000 Julian Edelman Patriots $765,000 Kevin Ogletree Lions $715,000 Robert Meachem Saints $715,000 Tiquan Underwood Buccaneers $715,000 Lavelle Hawkins Chargers $715,000 Michael Spurlock Lions $715,000 Taylor Price Jaguars $661,145 Marlon Moore Dolphins $630,000 Seyi Ajirotutu Chargers $630,000 Tandon Doss Ravens $555,000 Riley Cooper Eagles $527,870 Kyle Williams Chiefs $504,838 Dezmon Briscoe Redskins $485,000

 

[Semaj]

It's been fun hanging with you Huddlers all season. Even if I often disagreed with some of you we all rooted for a team that fought hard all year. Now, I'm sure a lot of people will refuse to see the positives points I will make but the reality is that this team still has a ceiling to grow into if the right actions are taken this offseason.

POSITIVES:

- We have built a framework on defense that can carry over into the future. Kuechly, Star, Short, Thomas Davis, and Charles Johnson are all going to return with invaluable experience for young players like Addison, Melvin White, Robert Lester and A.J. Klein. The big question will be about Hardy, Mike Mitchell, and Captain returning, of which I feel the odds are decent for Hardy and very good for Mitchell and Munnerlyn. With some improved talent at corner and the growth of our young players we can continue to ascend defensively.

- Cam refined a lot of raw aspects to his game, ironically with the worst supporting cast he's had in his time here. He made a lot of big plays in big moments, and despite the outcome of this game he wasn't the reason we lost. He now is intimately aware of what it takes to win in this league and will go into his offseason ready to assume the mantle of leading the franchise. The torch has passed from Steve to Cam.

- This team has an identity it can build around. In years past they have been working towards molding them into a particular type of team without knowing if it would ever resemble the plan. Now it's established, and only requires tweaking and preparation rather than a full overhaul.

- I cannot stress this enough: it's a miracle how far this team has come with such a limited offense. I know everyone and their mother criticizes Shula, but we simply lack players that can consistently win one-on-one matchups without a healthy Steve Smith. Olsen is a great player but he's stretched as a downfield threat, LaFell is who he is, and Ginn relies on the threat of his speed to get open, not route running. Tolbert is a jack-of-all-trades but he's still a fullback, DeAngelo can't get through the vanishing running lanes, and Stewart was MIA. Everything depended on Cam having to make plays without trying to make too many. It is an excruciatingly difficult job and he did a fine job for such a young player. Why is this all a positive? Because there is tremendous room for improvement for the offense, and a few good draft picks and free agent signings could make a huge difference productively. Give Cam a go-to wide receiver, get back a bruising left guard in Silatolu, see what we have in Kugbila, get Stewart either healthy or Barner up to speed, and this offense can improve drastically.

NEGATIVES:

- Our division will get tougher next year as Atlanta will be back and Tampa Bay will get a good coach in Lovie Smith. New Orleans is capstrung and will have to figure out how to bring back Jimmy Graham, but they're always a threat.

- We'll have to hope for good fortune in the draft with such low picks.

- This offseason will hurt because of the heart and effort our team showed all season. You want such effort to be rewarded and are disappointed when it is not.

- There's no guarantees in the NFL that we can make it back soon. This league is difficult to win in. It's an unfortunate truth and painful to think about.

OVERALL:

Please stop with the Rivera/Shula/Cam/whoever-bashing. This team has clawed it's way back from hell to even be in this position. By any reasonable expectation it's amazing we were in the position to host a playoff game in the first place. That should be commended rather than calling for heads because people couldn't make miracles out of the dearth of pieces available to them. We're not the Broncos with receivers galore, or the Seahawks with corners tumbling out of their back pockets, or the 49ers and their overall roster talent. We got a long ways with heart and smart play and maximizing of the talent available, but we're weren't a juggernaut. But we have the makings of one, with smart drafting, a commitment to the young players we have, and refinement. Don't get down, this team reminds me very much of the young Cowboys squads that just needed seasoning before dominating.

Overall, from 1-3 to NFC South champions when no one could have expected it, for the growth and moxie of the team and the emergence of Riverboat Ron, for all the big wins and comebacks and fight, and for the overall bright future, this season should be considered a success. I'll see you all at the draft.

Keep Pounding!

Great post! Truth.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[KendrickPanther]

We need some Gettle brilliance in the draft. Absolutely we can add 2 or 3 studs in the draft. There is very legitimate talent well into the third round. There are also guys that have the talent if someone will just recognize it.