THREEEE



Damn i was kind of hoping we would hang on to Draft. Oh well.....

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 6:16 AM. Reason : 3]

3/20/2007 6:15:48 AM

HUGE loss to an already paper thin LB corps. the panthers better start making some moves, or we'll be like swiss cheese in the middle.

and wtf is up with the rams taking all our FA LB's? why can't they take morgan for us too?

3/20/2007 8:09:08 AM

Quote :

"Panthers coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney know their jobs are on the line this season. Bill Cowher will be available and right down the road in Raleigh, and trying to hire him would be tempting if this current Panthers administration fails spectacularly. -- Charlotte Observer"

3/21/2007 12:01:24 PM

Quote :

"and wtf is up with the rams taking all our FA LB's? "

its so they can allow 200+ rushing yards to us even when they KNOW deangelo is getting the direct snaps

3/21/2007 12:02:35 PM

^^they would have to have a horrible season for that to happen.

^that was the last ATL game, but we did shread the Rams too.

i saw where we picked up another DT as well, we have quite a few on the roster.....writing on the wall for Jenkins or Kemo?

3/21/2007 12:28:25 PM

I would say Kemo because he was a waste, reminds me a lot of POG Sean Gilbert.

Its not that they don't want to move in FA its that they can't they are limited in cap space and need room to sign draft picks. LB's and DB's normally want more than DT's.

3/21/2007 12:40:59 PM

^^what classifies as a "horrible" season? im thinkin if we miss the playoffs, then things need to happen. there is way too much talent on this team to not be a playoff team every year.

3/21/2007 2:39:03 PM

go after David Carr?

3/21/2007 10:33:21 PM

^hope so, but i hear his contract is way too big as it is now.

^^6-10 or worse.

3/22/2007 7:49:30 AM

^^^ In all honesty last year we were one of the least talented teams in the NFL.

It just so happens we may have the best offensive and defensive players in the game between Steve Smith and Julius Peppers.

Those guys were one man units last year and that just isn't enough to get it done on a consistent basis in the NFL.

We couldn't run or stop the run and that's always going to be trouble.

3/22/2007 8:03:51 AM

I feel like the Panthers are not doing much to make this a better team. I have not seen them try to address any pressing needs...or making any advancement for the future...

I already don't like Fox's coaching style, but tried to be a lil patient. If he does not greatly improve the team record this year and make a dent into the playoffs I want him gone...


III

3/22/2007 8:23:31 AM

It looks like they're banking on the draft to fill most needs......bad idea, but they don't really have any other choice. They have enough cap room for maybe one or two bigger FA signings and to pay their draft pics. My problem is that we really need 'backers, but we've lost more than we've gained.

Imo, we need to pick up a minimum of 3 starter caliber players this offseason (OLman, saftey, linebacker). If we're smart, we can get 2 in the draft, so if we can get that one impact player in FA, I think we'll be in good shape.

3/22/2007 8:51:58 AM

Any of you guys who wants John Fox fired is retarded. The man is the most successful coach in panthers history.

3/22/2007 9:08:07 AM

^agreed, but you know when we start 0-1 or 1-2 like we do every year, the "fire fox for cowher chants will start."

3/22/2007 9:10:35 AM

The panthers haven't made any moves because they don't have any cap room. I'm as impatient as the next person but Fox is going to have to do the best with what he has. The organization needs to restructure some contracts or find some other way to make room. However, the Panthers philosophy has always been against Free Agency. They usually rely on the draft to fill in spots.

3/22/2007 9:14:52 AM

they have around 7-8 mil in cap space with 3-4 reserved for draft picks. they're just waiting for the right situation to present itself.

3/22/2007 9:26:03 AM

I don't like his coaching style i.e., the playing it close and conservative...we have some sucess but we always are clawing out a win at the end of the game.

Yes, Fox is the most successful coach - we have only had 3 (Capers, Seifert, then Fox) but yes, some good success.

I call into question Fox team management in regards to preparation for the future and addressing needs. I want Fox to succeed and Panthers win. If Fox can't correct the sinking ship, then some moves need to be made. No he should not be fired now, or this season. At the end of the season a determination needs to be made.


III

I understand the cap space and limits we have. That goes back to my statement about future planning and making moves for future. Again - I want him to suceed-he got us to the Dance and damn near won (I say best SB EVAR)...I just want to have continued success. At end of season I will make my final determination (as if it matters)


[Edited on March 22, 2007 at 10:04 AM. Reason : ...]

3/22/2007 10:00:06 AM

i think henning's departure will cure some of the offensive conservatism.

3/22/2007 10:26:52 AM

^That is true, actually had forgot about that information.


III

3/22/2007 10:31:01 AM

All I know is that the panther's have a management by committee system and it worries me that there are some bad decisions made. I know they've been successful, on-and-off, but i could see them making a step and everyone's gonna go, wtf?

3/22/2007 10:42:00 AM

^^^ Hennig was a pretty good OC, imo. This past year our O line was terrible(injured) and he didnt adjust his sets to sufficiently account for it. I think he would have been a great OC for us once again if we had an O-line that gave Jake time and made some holes for our RBs....

In the years '03 and '05 that we shocked the sports world with the players we had he was touted as one of the best OC's in the NFL... ppl were like steve who? jake who? mushin who? oh yeah theyre on steven davis' team...

[Edited on March 24, 2007 at 1:39 PM. Reason : sp]

[Edited on March 24, 2007 at 1:40 PM. Reason : gag]

3/24/2007 1:37:55 PM

Quote :

"Any of you guys who wants John Fox fired is retarded. The man is the most successful coach in panthers history."

ahah out of what 3? Come on. He is not THAT good of a coach. Super Bowl favorite teams not making the playoffs does not look good on a coach.

^Did you honestly like Henning?

3/24/2007 1:44:04 PM

Fox is a good damn coach, if they fire him they are fucking stupid

they just need to replace Delholme because he blows

3/24/2007 1:46:36 PM

^^ Yeah I didnt think Henning was the big problem. He only had one bad year where our O-line was demolished. I dont care how many badass position players you have on offense: if your O-line is down to one (maybe two) original starters and the backups are extremely inconsistent, then your playcalling options suffer greatly (especially when the other teams D knows your weak points). I cursed Hennig's name dozens of times this past year, but that was really the only year his playcalling was very suspect.
Even though Noel Mazzone was terrible, you can look at the tradeoff for Marc Trastman similarly here. The guy leaving gets all the blame and theres no reason to think the new guy will be any better. Certainly was not the case for Trestman because our O-line was horrible under both OCs and thus so was our offense. (sie note: So glad TOB is here now) The Panthers lost half of that Superbowl O-line to FA within the next two years and the rungame (the pillar of our offense) has never been the same. If the panthers O-line cant hold together and stay healthy, then they are fucked again even with all the talent that they have, regardless of who is calling the plays.

[Edited on March 24, 2007 at 2:03 PM. Reason : sp]

3/24/2007 2:02:09 PM

Henning and Fox both like that play it close and safe game. Our SB run we were Cardiac every damn week it seem like. Yes, we pulled it out, and made it to the Bowl, and gave a hell of a Offensive show...but how many times did we rely on Kasey's leg to win. How many times were we praying that the D would hold them the hold 4 quater why we played 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

I am not saying Fox is terrible or Henning is terrible, I am saying they are too conservative (espicially for me). Just b/c you ahead by 4 points in the 4th quater does not mean play it safe and run the clock.

Again - I don't think Fox should be fired now, b/c last year was def injury plagued...we lost our O-Line damn fast (and no matter what no one says, the O-Line is the key to successful offense). I think Jake will have a spectacular season with a healthy and full O-Line. But if Fox can't get the ship right and make a serious run, might be time to look else where. (AT THE END OF THE SEASON).


III

3/24/2007 8:10:11 PM

^ valid arguments echoed by much of the fanbase, but im trusting fox this year...i think we're gonna open up a whole new offensive scheme thats more downfield and let jake air it out to steve, but we do have deangelo williams, who i think is gonna be a sick RB..

we need to rebuild our O-line

3/25/2007 10:23:19 AM

^^ Just because Henning is gone, that doesent mean we will stop playing a "close & safe" type of game. Our team was built for defense (like all of the recent superbowl winners except for the Colts) and that is not going to change with a new OC. Conservatism got us to the superbowl and the NFC title game. Its not as much fun to watch, but it works when you can control the line of scrimmage. How many teams can you name that dont play "conservative" and are consistent playoff contenders? This is football, man, not Texas Holdem.....

^Yeah, I think our OL problems will not be our achilles heel this year. We never got to really see what Hartwig (our new center) could do and Im looking forward to that especially if smitty might be lining up at *new* positions (see below). Maybe pull Jake and put DeAngelo and Smitty back there to throw em for loops, eh?

Quote :

"Expect to see Smith in motion more, as well as lining up in different locations. And Smith already knows changes are in the works. "I'm excited that we have something new... I might be switching positions" said Smith, in Indy Thursday for a NFL Players Association meeting. "

Soften their D up with the rungame (requires solid OL play) and then let Jake throw when their D shifts to defend the run (again - requires solid OL play). Ram it down their throats when they shift back to defend the pass and continue the cycle until we win. We didnt have a very crucial piece to both sides of that coin last year. That has been our offensive philosophy for the past four years and that is not going to change under John Fox no matter who our OC is. The only things that Davidson will change are the specifics of our offensive sets. We will most likely still run the same type of plays with the same types of players in the same types of situations that we have in the last few seasons. Smitty is the only wild card.

[Edited on March 25, 2007 at 1:26 PM. Reason : ]

3/25/2007 1:23:07 PM

The problem, with winning the Line of Scrimmage...is that we don't. (IMO that is). We win the Kicking game and happen to have a God kicking field goals. Kasey kicks 50 yarders like changing the channel with a remote, he may occasionally press the wrong button and miss, but generally nails it with ease. That was our saving grace.

Yeah, Def does win SB, and I am grateful to have a strong D, but damn they did not maintain the same level last year. Losing LB's is not helping us right now, and our DB's are a lil suspect.

I am not saying we don't need D, D wins championship, but Offense is the vehicle that gets you there. NE - versatile strong defense, but they Offense was the key. Pittsburgh - Def seems always amazing, but Off puts the ball in the endzone -they grind the yardage out - but they not conservative. Cincy - OK, D is pretty solid, they get them TO's, but they offense Scores and lays it out. Philadelphia - Def always good, not great, but Offense pushed the ball down the field and went for the score.

Our conservatism generally happened in the 2nd half. If we were ahead we would not go for 1st downs or TD's. We would rather settle for 7/8 yards and punt. Putting the pressure on our D to hold nad win the game. Many times the other team would gut it out and score...then all of sudden we have to air it out and get to the 40 yd line and put God (Kasey) on the field to win the game. Our Offense needs to be geared more to playin on the other side of the field, getting points, and putting the game away allowing our D to play all out and not with the pressure week in and week out of pulling the game out for us.

I agree with you on the OL. We never got a chance to get OL going healthy. I expect some major changes in play calling with healthy OL and more productive plays. And allowing Smith to shift and move around, should set up great mismatches. I don't want Fox fired (at least yet) b/c he has done a good job with team. I just think that we should not have to play cardiac ball 3/4 of the season.

By the way, I have not heard anymore of Keyshawns threat of leaving if we got a new OC. Anyone know anything? I would like to see him stay...he was pretty clutch and with a healthy Oline and D-angelo with experience, we should make a pretty solid showing on O.


III

[Edited on March 26, 2007 at 11:08 AM. Reason : ...]

3/26/2007 11:04:26 AM

Quote :

"Ram it down their throats when they shift back to defend the pass and continue the cycle until we win. We didnt have a very crucial piece to both sides of that coin last year. That has been our offensive philosophy for the past four years and that is not going to change under John Fox no matter who our OC is. The only things that Davidson will change are the specifics of our offensive sets. We will most likely still run the same type of plays with the same types of players in the same types of situations that we have in the last few seasons. Smitty is the only wild card"

the problem is, it's the philosophy to a fault. even when they don't have the personnel to run the system efficiently (i.e. a bruising running back), they stubbornly do it anyway. Result is more than not, a 3 and out, b/c we run foster straight up the middle for a 2 yard loss every time (and then wonder why he's hurt all the time). I like the style, but you gotta adapt when you don't have the tools necessary to be successful.

^no news is good news on Key, he'll be back.

Quote :

"Panthers' safety Minter restructures contract Veteran safety expected to face stiff challenge for starting role in fall PAT YASINSKAS pyasinskas@charlotteobserver.com JEFF SINER / Staff photoCarolina safety Mike Minter has restructured his contract, assuring he'll spend one more season with the Panthers, according to a league source. More Panthers and NFL news Goodell about to lay down law for players Panthers content to watch free agency from sidelines Upshaw digs in: No positive test, no action PHOENIX --Safety Mike Minter has restructured his contract, assuring he'll spend one more season with the Carolina Panthers, according to a league source. With the Panthers likely to look for youth at safety in the April draft, Minter agreed to a deal that creates $1.43 mil- lion in salary-cap space. His base salary for 2007 was dropped from $2.15 million to the veteran minimum of $820,000. His cap figure dropped from $3.35 million to $1.92 million. The move leaves the Panthers with about $9.5 million in salary-cap space. League sources said the Panthers have advised Minter, 33, of their desire to get younger at safety and he has agreed to stay with the team in whatever role is available. Minter, a second-round draft pick by the Panthers in 1997, could be a backup if two young safeties are ready to play immediately, or he could remain a starter if the Panthers are not comfortable with the development of the young safeties. He is the only safety on the roster with much experience. Shaun Williams and Colin Branch, who shared a starting role last season, are free agents and aren't expected to return. Second-year pro Nate Salley was primarily a special teams player. The Panthers could target Louisiana State's LaRon Landry or Florida's Reggie Nelson with the 14th overall selection in the draft. -- Associated press "

So, Minter is here 1 more year.....but atleast we got some more cap room now.

[Edited on March 26, 2007 at 11:36 AM. Reason : .]

3/26/2007 11:11:51 AM

Ouch. yeha our pass D is going to be hurting. Even if we draft a rookie Safety, we cant expect him to heavily contribute immediately. Hopefully the offense will be able to stay on the field long enough to keep our D fresh and wont constantly put them in terrible field position situations (like last year).

3/26/2007 11:58:38 AM

Yeah, our Passing D is going to be rough. Last year was enough to bring me to tears. Something has t give, some late moves to give us some experience and speed.

O will have to help the Defense this years.


III

3/26/2007 12:34:20 PM

well thats a scary thought

3/26/2007 12:54:32 PM

Quote :

"well thats a scary thought"

[Edited on March 26, 2007 at 1:24 PM. Reason : or maybe we can have the best draft evar ]

3/26/2007 1:20:15 PM

I dont think anyone has any idea of what to expect from the panthers this year ~ and thats usually when we come out of the woodwork!

We were the most dissappointing team last year and the most surprising in previous years.
We look alot different this year than we have in awhile, so who knows really, eh?

For all we know Dan Morgan can have the best season ever and our young DBs turn into probowlers while smitty gets injured and drew carter finally shows some teeth to pick up the slack!

[Edited on March 26, 2007 at 1:58 PM. Reason : ?]

3/26/2007 1:55:45 PM

yeah, I've given up on excitement OR dread before a panthers season....you just never know what to expect out of em' from year to year.

3/26/2007 2:14:59 PM

^ LOL ....Seriously LMAO


III

3/26/2007 2:31:37 PM

4 more "backups" signed......now they get to sit around and wait to get cut this summer.

http://charlotte.com/141/story/64369.html

3/27/2007 8:43:42 AM

Well, looks like we got some experience back ups....Are we really expecting to fill all holes during draft? How many picks do we have this year? What free agents are out there that we could realistically get and can actually use?


III

3/27/2007 9:15:47 AM

looks like they are banking on the draft....they'll keep telling you that they don't need to do much b/c they're returning 20 or 21 starters from last year, but

that includes:

rucker - ended season on a severe knee injury, maybe in his last year
minter - maybe in his last year....lost several steps in the past few seasons. he was constantly a step behind last year, and now he's a year older.
kemo - hardly the impact player they thought they had
wharton - missed basically the entire '06 season, and they're banking on him coming back 100%
gamble + lucas - took a giant step back last season, but the talent is there
morgan - the glass bull......he'll be very lucky to play in 1/4 of next seasons' games
foster - yet to have a full healthy season, can't run up the middle, and his back up is better at hitting the corner
hartwig - had the groin that wouldn't heal last season, and didn't really show anything when he did play
davis - great upside, but still looks lost sometimes
delhomme - one of the best and one of the worst
gaines - basically a 6th lineman

that alot of ?'s for retuning 90% of the starting lineup.

3/27/2007 9:37:45 AM

I want Landry with our first pick, but wouldn't be disappointed with this guy ... from gbnreport.com...

"Top rated Mississippi ILB Patrick Willis ran for scouts and coaches yesterday and from all reports he was phenomenal. At 237 lbs, Willis ran the 40 in 4.37 and 4.38. He also had a 4.37 short shuttle and 7.10 three-cone drill. He stood on his numbers from the Combine for the rest. That kind of size/speed ratio should make Willis the first LB off the board come draft day."


Those would be outstanding numbers for a DB, let alone an almost 240 lb LB.

3/27/2007 10:33:49 AM

IMO, besides the offensive conservatism etc, the biggest problem for the panthers is that our defensive line is too good. If we had a okay d-line, we'd be blitzing LB's, safeties, and mixing things up to keep the quarterback under pressure and off balance (ref: new england patriots, far and away the best i've seen at that). As it stands, we have so many good players on the d-line that Fox & Co. make them do it entirely on their own. So because of this lack of creativity by the coaches, by the second half, the opponent has figured out that we rush the same 4 players in the exact same positions in the exact same way EVERY play, and even the stupidest coach in the league can figure out how to foil that plan. Add to that the fact that our offense becomes inept and the d-line backups don't play all that often, and the result is in the first half, players are fresh and look like the pro-bowlers that they are, but by the 3rd and 4th quarters, you have a tired and predictable d-line that simply can't keep going. THAT is why we had the lead at halftime so many times last year, but our 4th quarter record was so pitiful.

3/27/2007 10:37:43 AM

^and the fact that foxy and henning would try to sit on a 3 point lead the entire second half, until we were down with less than a quarter to go, at which point they would abandon the run all together, just to have jake try to needle one to smith (who is triple covered) for a game ending int.

3/27/2007 10:45:06 AM

Quote :

"hartwig - had the groin that wouldn't heal last season, and didn't really show anything when he did play"

-you have got to be kidding me dude! hartwig played the 1st half of the ATL opener and came back for another half game. how in the hell can you say he didnt show anything? please tell me!

3/27/2007 3:40:33 PM

they got rid of the OC right?...god they so didnt use who they had on offense to their fullest ability last year...smitty and keyshawn should have put up giant numbers(jake, i'm looking in your direction...) but i think the OC sucked anyway- always hated our play calls sometimes

3/27/2007 3:48:07 PM

^not talking about guts for coming back.....

for the money he was paid, he didn't really do anything spectatular when he played (remember, when signed, he was supposed to be the pro bowl signing that was going to solidify our line).....if anything, it showed us we had a pretty good back up in hangartner.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 3:48 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 3:48:22 PM

^dude he was injured the entire season, he only played in 2 games. prob only took 20 snaps the entire season. how can you judge someone based on that kind of playing time?

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 4:49 PM. Reason : ]

3/27/2007 4:48:09 PM

he just didn't look like what they said we were getting (especially for the high price) when he was out there....maybe he wasn't 100%, but he of no use to us hurt anyway.


Minter to retire after this season......announced officially yesterday, but was almost a sure thing after his contract restructure.

3/28/2007 8:54:29 AM

Quote :

"CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter, one of the most popular players in franchise history, said Tuesday he plans to retire after this season. Minter has played 10 seasons for the Panthers and started more games (141) than any player in team history. "This year is going to be it," Minter said."

DONT HOLD NOTHIN BACK

3/28/2007 10:01:42 AM

Well we know of at least one player that is going to lay it all down this season....


III

3/28/2007 10:07:39 AM

^^ Pretty much means we are getting a DB in the 1st round.

^^^^ Give Hartwig time, hes talented but also young. Ever heard of an OL needing time to mesh?

3/28/2007 12:15:20 PM