Quick turnaround by Lovie?

[Jackofalltrades]

I'm just worried about the Panthers.

[Gin and Juice]

I'm just worried about the Panthers.

And you genuinely seemed worried! What's up big guy? Little faith in Gman?

[carolina-chuck]

What if they go :

(1) Watkins

(2) Shazier

[CelticCat]

What if they go :

(1) Watkins

(2) Shazier

 

Bucs and Falcons really need to address their lines, hopefully we avoid them adding playmakers.

 

Don't want to see Clowney or Watkins in the South, I could deal with Robinson and Mathews.

 

I wonder how sold the Bucs are on Glennon, that'll be interesting if a QB slides.

[MHS831]

BASED ON PRODUCTIVITY ONLY--what did we lose (or stand to lose)?

 

LT-above average (Gross)

WR-average (smitty), below average (Lafell) and one dimensional (Ginn)

S-Average (Mitchell--the front 7 made him seem better than he was); slightly below average (Mikell-did not have a great year)

CB--Average (Munnerlyn--see front 7 comment above), slightly below average (Florence)

 

Aside from LT, we lost players in our areas of weakness--areas we were going to strengthen this offseason any way.

 

We can create enough cap room to bring in a few solid players and we have the draft. 

 

[CelticCat]

Yeah, even Lester had 3 picks behind that front 7. An UDFA in White was able to hold down one CR spot. We're built so whomever is back there, as long as they're competent should have success.

 

God forbid we actually draft some talent.

[Snake]

Love Smith barley got above .500 with a team that was well managed and had good coordinators. People expecting him to come in and take the div this year should not hold there breath.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Too bad the bucs won't win anything due to their suck ass qb

Sent from my SCH-I545 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[stirs]

The team actually likes the QB.

 

He did a good job under the circumstances

[TN05]

Lovie Smith is beyond overrated. I don't see Tampa having a major improvement this year.

[hepcat]

Jordan Gross is a HUGE loss.  He might have not been the premier LT he once was, but he damn well had one of the best years of his career in 2013.  And off the field, he was a huge vocal leader of the team.  Cam Newton's blindside might be protected by a rookie or worse, Byron Bell (but he's a FA so who knows).  I hope they spend what little money they have and fill the LT position with some quality talent.  Travelle Wharton is probably gone as well.  The whole left side of the O-Line is gone.  Ginn I could see back, but again, he earned a bigger contract than what he was playing for in 2013, so in all likelihood he's gone too.  LaFell should just straight up be replaced.  The offense, especially the passing game, is a mess.  A lot of overhaul on the offense this offseason...remains to be seen how they'll address it.

 

Otherwise, the safeties will take a step back.  Mikell probably won't be back, Mitchell is as good as gone because he'll get a nice fat contact somewhere else - and he earned it.  Godfrey SHOULD be gone.  That leaves Robert Lester who needs to keep improving, and....?  Cheap FA?  Draft pick?  Munnerlyn will probably get a big contract somewhere else.  Florence might be able to be re-signed but at his age and skill level, a younger FA or even a high draft pick could replace him.  

 

Overall Carolina has a lot of holes to fill and not a lot of money to do it.  They'll have to hit on their first three draft picks and get immediate starters to have any chance of repeating as NFC South Champs.  Atlanta and Tampa will definitely be better next year and the Saints still have Drew Brees.  I don't see another 12-4 year but I can see 10-6 and a tough division win if the right moves are made.

 

[TheRumGone]

BASED ON PRODUCTIVITY ONLY--what did we lose (or stand to lose)?

LT-above average (Gross)

WR-average (smitty), below average (Lafell) and one dimensional (Ginn)

S-Average (Mitchell--the front 7 made him seem better than he was); slightly below average (Mikell-did not have a great year)

CB--Average (Munnerlyn--see front 7 comment above), slightly below average (Florence)

Aside from LT, we lost players in our areas of weakness--areas we were going to strengthen this offseason any way.

We can create enough cap room to bring in a few solid players and we have the draft.

You underestimated the majority of those players. Especially mitchell

[MHS831]

You underestimated the majority of those players. Especially mitchell

 

I didn't underestimate them--their numbers are what I went by.

 

In the NFC last year, Mitchell was the 26th Safety in combined tackles (67).  There are only 32 starting safeties in the NFC.

He was better in Interceptions (4) and sacks (4) but statistically, was right there with the Lions' Louis Delmas (64 combined tackles, 2 sacks, 3 Interceptions)--the 28th ranked S in combined tackles.  Thomas DeCoud (65 tackles and 2 Ints) is also in that group of Safeties.  Mitchell was behind a great front 7 and followed Nakamura.  I think his value is currently inflated.

 

Even here, he was inconsistent in some areas of his game (like tackling angles)--winning makes it forgettable.  The other players, statistically, are as I said. For example, if you are referring to Smitty, a 4-td, 765 yard season is average at best.  Munnerlyn?  average-  he may have overachieved, but his productivity was pretty average. 

[TheNewStandard]

I completely disagree. We have no idea what will happen in the coming weeks and the draft. The only huge loss is Gross, the rest are pretty much just fill-in players that we signed last season to fill the roster who ended up playing well. We can definitely do similarly to last year through FA and we can do well in the draft and improve in areas we need improvement. Could we take a step back? Certainly. But will we definitely? No. Our entire front 7 will stay dominant which takes the pressure off of whoever we have in the secondary and with our young DT's having a year of experience, it'll be even better. Our defense will surely be top 5 if not top 2-3 again. On offense if we can get solid OTs and draft WR or get someone like Nicks, we'll be improving. Why does everyone think that we're definitely going to take a step back? We don't have Hurney any more and we've got Ron Rivera and DG, who are actually smart.

Schedule gets easier and all our starters should progress. Plus we get our interior linemen back on the field and hopefully a full season from JStew.

No reason why the Panthers should take a step back, especially considering two of our losses came on the final drives and our playbook should be more developed.

7 draft picks in a sting class shouldn't hurt either.

Lots to be optimistic about and players roles and comfortability within the system should be more defined.