What will it take to win it all in 2012?

by usana_gaines on Dec 15, 2011 9:56 AM EST

So I'm looking at CAM break all these records, and the won people seem most concerned with is Peyton Manning's yardage record. So I look at CAM and I wonder if he can do other things like Peyton, such as win 13 games in his second season. I belive we have the talent now on our roster to win it all, but we aren't winning very many, so what does it take to win it all in 2012?

First of all, there are three very obvious answers that I think come to mind for everyone. The first is having healthy players. Next year, it is possible that Beason, TD, Otah and Gettis play 12-16 games a piece. I'm not making any bets, but I think that would be a major step in winning more games. Second of all, we need to commit less turnovers. CAM has committed far too many, but for a rookie, he's actually not doing too bad, and better than some expected. After last game, I fully expect him to be even better at taking care of the ball. The last thing, IMO, is penalties. However, we've already seen a major decrease in penalties the last couple weeks.

With that said, I want to bring up coaching as the key to winning it all. Coaching is needed to prevent multiple punt returns for TDs. We seem to have corrected that to some degree already. We also need to learn to close out games. That goes with coaching. It seems that there is a lead-threshold where if our lead is big enough, our DBs relax, our play-calling gets stale, and guys forget to block and tackle. Coaching and practice are also going to make our record-shattering QB even better. I would like to see him run some no huddle.

So if all that goes well, the last thing I think we need, but is obviously a priority for every team, is to bring in new talent. If I had my choice, we'd get the best CB in the draft, and the best DL available with the following pick. Then I'd try to add depth at LB, OL, and DB again. I think that simply going BPA for this team in the draft will also work. If the best CB available when we pick is not worth that high of a pick, and we can't trade back, I'd be okay getting a top tier OL or WR who is good value at the pick.

Then there is the RB question. I gotta be honest, I would get rid of D-Will. He is a great RB, but we are paying him too much for the production we're getting. He's averaging 5.2 yards a carry, so it's certainly not his skills or talent that are the problem. We simply don't give him the ball enough. I think if Stew gets 15-18 carries a game, he'd be fine, and Goodson could get 3-5, and catch some screens. I would just rather use D-Will money on a player who's on the field more than he is. It's not his fault. BAMF is the first coach to find a way to stop D-Will, put him on the bench. I think Stew is a better back, but I think both are top 5 RB talent in this league. We just don't use D-Will enough IMO.

Well there you have it. If the Panthers just do what I say, then we'll win it all. And from where I'm sitting, it seems that I may be right on a couple things.

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I agree on some of your points.

I’m pretty sure that Goodson will be cut by the end of the year though. Don’t be surprised if they pick up a RB in the latest round of the Draft or a UDFA, or in fact bring that one guy from the practice squad up. I think that they should reconstruct Dwills contract and resign J stew. these guys could be a RB tandem till they retire and will definitely be contributing factors if we make it to the Play offs or even the superbowl

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by Blacmomba on Dec 15, 2011 1:35 PM EST reply actions

i completely agree

I think Goodson is a solid RB, but my opinion doesn’t count to BAMF. I think Goodson will be gone, and I agree with your points exactly. BUT…I hope we keep Goodson and Stew, and turn D-Will into a couple defensive studs who play more than his 12-15 plays a game.

by usana_gaines on Dec 15, 2011 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

Personnel overhaul.

I want winners.

I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.

by ERL on Dec 15, 2011 3:29 PM EST reply actions

To win it all next season

There are a few things that the Panthers need to change in order to win it all next season.
In no particular order.

1. Improve on discipline.
Carolina is the 6th most penalized team in the NFL. A great part of why we have such gaudy numbers, but we do not have gaudy scoring is because we move the ball well, and then we get a holding penalty and we we don’t score.

2. Fewer turnovers.
I don’t really need to say much here, we’re winless when Newton turns the ball over. We’re undefeated when he does turn the ball over. I expect fewer turnovers next season as I expect Newton to progress when he has an actual offseason as well as experience.
Turnovers are also a big part of why we don’t score as much as our yardage indicates we should.

3. Better special teams play.
By that, I am mostly talking about our coverage and our FG kicking.
Pilares is doing a great job, and he has the 5th best average in the league(and it would be higher if 1/3 of his kicks weren’t brought back by aforementioned penalties).
I’m not as impressed with Edwards, but I can’t really complain either, he’s not coughing the ball up every time he touches it.
On the other side, we give up far too many big returns, and we have a 76% FG percentage. That’s not good enough.

4. Fewer key injuries.
I expect a playmaker or two to be lost to injury every season, having our best two playmaking LBs in the same season was brutal.

5. Better DB play
We need to either cut or see drastic improvement throughout the secondary by every player not named Gamble. I admit Godfrey hasn’t been as bad as the rest of them, but he’s not playing up to his contract.

6. Better Dline play.
Hardy and Johnson are playing well. Others are showing sparks, but they seem to be more of rotational players rather than the every down players that we need. If Edwards is healthy, that may go a long way towards making our Dline acceptable.

7. Better play calling.
Especially in the 2nd half, our play calling can get really, really bad.
This needs to improve.

8. Newton must improve.
Newton is great for a rookie, and I fully expect him to improve and play better ball next season, but we have seen QBs in the past look great in their first season, and look bad in the next season. For us to have a chance to win, Newton must improve instead of regress in the offseason.

9. More turnovers on defense.
Carolina has a negative 5 total on turnovers for the season. If we want to win games, we need that number reversed. We would likely be in the playoff hunt this season if we had a positive turnover number(granted, we’ve given up a lot of turnovers, so that’s asking a lot of a defense).

10. A bit of luck.
Every team that wins it all, has a few lucky breaks in the close games they play, such as James Harrison’s 100 yard interception against Arizona in the Super Bowl. We need some of the breaks to go our way.

If all of this happens, I think we could win the Super Bowl in 2012.

by Philipkcks on Dec 15, 2011 4:43 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Something I've been thinking about D-Will

As much as I hate to say it unless they can restructure his contract I don’t know if we will be able to keep Stewart. Other teams know how good he is and he definitely deserves the same money that D-Will got. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to keep both of them at that price and our offense doesn’t really call for two elite rb’s that can handle 20 carries a game. As much as I love our 1-2 punch it seems like it would be difficult and foolish to pay both of them stud rb $. If they were both getting 15 touches a game I’d say it’d be smart, but their not. Just a thought.

"One step at a time"

by mcdonaldwr on Dec 15, 2011 6:30 PM EST reply actions

I agree on some points you made

IMO I think we take the best DB (Claiborne) in the draft if we cannot trade back. I like Claiborne have seen him play a lot this yr and he is physical and will be good in run support as well. Can help out in the return game and is a better man cover corner than ppl tend to give him credit for. I like his nose for the ball and can make plays. With him and Gamble and if Hogan can be healthy with Capt and Butler, I think we could be set. I think that in the second rd we might take a chance on an OLB from Georgia in Jarvis Jones. Nobody has really said anything about him or if they have I have not seen or read anything. Jarvis Jones I believe is a red shirt Soph, but has great size at 6’3 and weighing at 241. He is on Mcshay’s top 32 board. I like him cuz he could be a hybrid player as well for us if we use some 3-4. He can rush the passer and also plays great in run support. He’s physical and I think would be a great asset to our D. With Beast and Anderson with Jarvis that would be a pretty good LB core. Anyways that is just my opinion.

by blitzcatz21 on Dec 15, 2011 9:36 PM EST reply actions

Not bad at all usana_gaines.

Personally, I hope we’re able to keep both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. To me, the odd man out is definitely Mike Goodson. I really wish we would bring back Tyrell Sutton, although it seems highly unlikely at this point in time. I can’t believe no one has signed it yet either. Classy guy and a great football player. Although Josh Vaughan has looked good in limited action. I believe Carolina will be a great team come next season, and anything is possible. Hopefully this team can continue to gell and we can get some awesome draft picks. If Cam can clean up his mistakes (turnovers), then we can be a very effective and scary team. I also hope Jeremy Shockey is resigned because we need his passion for the game on our team.

by JayfromVA on Dec 16, 2011 10:01 AM EST reply actions