What team would you like to see the Panthers pattern after?

Not exactly . . . he wanted (wants) a solid O-line and thought (thinks) that with a legit line with 5 starting caliber players on it instead of just a couple we can both run and pass much more effectively . .. Henning, or not. Thelt preached O-line first for quite a while and I can imagine that he is frustrated to find that Fox and Co have apparently had a substantial lapse in judgement in that department this year (bugs me too). Even WITH Meadows and the other OLs that they started out with healthy and playing up to potential that "potential" seems to be well under what they thought they had. Pinching pennies to count on thier cockiness as coaches to bring around a couple of new Jenos from the scrubs bit them in the ass.
The major difference seems clear that last year “the plan” was working (though just barely in several of those wins) because we were lucky with the health of key players. With Smitty, our two starting RBs, and a couple more starting linemen I bet we’d only have 2 or 3 in the L column right now (max). The system WILL work if we have enough talent on the field to implement it. Yeah for teams like the Pats and Broncs to a lesser degree they seem to be able to breach injuries but keep in mind that those systems have been in place much longer than Fox and his boys have had theirs in place. In a couple of years I think it’s quite possible that the Panthers will be able to plug in backups and keep winning too. This years injuries are just too much to overcome in a system that is still in it’s infancy here. We are also not nearly as deep as we thought . . . yet. I have faith that they have learned a huge lesson from this year and do a better job of stocking up next year.

 

Iggles. Actually, we ought to just throw a wad of cash at Joe Banner. That man is a f'n genius.

 

Agree. Still, this is the team Thelt wanted a blueprint for. He, philosophically, wanted this type team. And there's nothing wrong with that, but damn, don't bail on it because of a few bad games.

It could be run better, though, at least as bad as it's been played.

 

I did want a team that would run the ball and play good defense. That is what we had for the most part last year. I do not fault the idea of building that sort of team.

I do reject outright that the reason we are so bad right now is that we followed that blueprint. I would argue we are so bad because we have fallen off that blueprint.

We neglected our OL this past offseason. We have Gross, who I wanted here badly, but he is still learing to play left tackle. Mitchell is still in place but the rest are just scrubs plain and simple. If we are going to get any better and be like the team we were last year then we have to build our OL back up. If the OL were playing at a high level then Hoover or Harris would be able to run well enough to win some games. Jake would have more time to throw and would look a lot better.

My problem is that we can never find a course and stick to it. We always do it well for one year and then fall apart. We are never going to have an identity that way.

We should have brought some free agents to help the OL and maybe draft a lineman higher. No one knew Meadows would be a total bust but there was every reason to believe our guards would struggle. We neglected to maintain the course we set in 2002. Now we are back to a hodge podge team that has no real direction.

 

The Cowboys of the early 90s could not exist today. They had way more talent than the other teams. But I get the idea. I admire the Steelers most today. On O: Build around the OL. Smart and tough WRs. Power running game, setting up an intelligent passing game. Tough D. Stop the run. Play the pass well. Resign your own players more than bring in high priced FAs.

(Although I do want to bring in a good RT next year for 3 to 4 mil a year.)

 

I disagree with the idea that we don't have direction. I don't suggest that we're bad because of the blueprint - more that the blueprint is unwaveringly staunch about doing what it says, regardless of the logic of it. I don't think that we put enough into the passing game as a team overall, and as numerous teams have shown, it's OK to be a strong running team and a good passing team. It takes dedication to both, something I don't know we have in full.

But either way, I wasn't the one potentially suggesting change to the staff or the plan, either.

 

agreed. Too much reliance on draft picks immediately starting at high pressure situations could be harmful, and too much reliance on initially strong prospects with low ceilings hurts in the long run. A tackle need is now - and if you're good you're not filling a ton of "now" needs in April. Put that position into an impact player and we do become a better team immediately.

 

btw, yes, i posted on charlotte.com and here previously. i took a couple years off and couldn't get back in with my old username - which is just as well. i was new to message boards then and really didn't know how to act. you would probably say, wow, you're a lot nicer, and a lot less reactionary, and its true. so, to not ruin any potential 'friendships', i'm going to leave the old id dead and buried if that's ok. i just took it too personal before. i'm not, however, anyone famous from the old boards.

 

There seem to be several candidates too.