Strategy question

The Panthers have a pretty good D but it is not near the top of the league. The offense is pretty weak and basically is not much once you get past Steve Smith.

Here is where the strategy comes in.

1. Do you impove the defense first in hopes to have a dominating unit that allows you to get by with a weak offense.

2. Do you leave the defense as it is since it is good enough to get us there if we have a strong offense and instead focus all our resources on fixing our offense?

3. Or do you try to fix them both at the same time?

I am inclined to fix our defense first. Adding a free safety who can cover and a situational DE who can pass rush would round it out nicely.

 

i think you go defense.

for the offense: let jake get back healthy. let williams be the 1a back. get a decent veteran #2 receiver in free agency (who can get open and catch a ball) to take the heat off smith.

the defense is what needs more fixing, i think. i mean, who wants to be the bengals? they need to continue to get younger, faster and more aggressive.

 

I think the defense could be pretty awesome if it had a few tweaks. The linebackers are solid and fast. The corners are solid and 3 deep. Harris is adequate at strong safety but we need a guy who can cover back there. The DL is good against the run and tough inside. The pass rush is weak but we have some DEs who can play the run well. Add a guy who can pass rush and I think it is a solid unit.

The offense needs a lot more work and I would just try to stablize it and get as much from Smith as possible. We have to deal with our WRs and OTs since most of them are free agents. Other than that though I think I would stand pat and see if Davidson can get something done when Jake is healthy.

 

there's probably a 2-year window with smith being an elite WR. in 2010, he'll be good -- but no longer elite.

 

Both at the same time. A one sided team has no chance. A flawed but balanced team has a much better shot.

 

I don't think you disregard any chance to get you better. The O needs more work, so you could stress it first, the D needs a key piece that isn't easy to get.

With the above statement, the second two parts become an either/or. Since I already feel that doing everything you can to fix what you can is necessary.

The defense is the strong point- with no rush at all we still finished top third of the league in pass defense and 4th in rush average per carry. I don't think it needs much, but it could trump the offense if it can get that one piece that will make the ails better.

 

I don't think this team is as far away as some think. If a handful of players develop as expected, a couple of key FAs are brought in, and they have a decent draft, then this team should be right back in contention.

The positions that must be ugraded in order for the Panthers to be contenders are #2 WR, LT, RG, DE, FS, and short yardage RB (they could also really use a backup run stuffing DT). If Jenkins gets traded, which is very possible, then you could add starting DT to the list.

Specifically, this is what the team needs:

Kalil, Williams, Rosario, Johnson and Robinson need to continue the level of developent they have already shown. And if Jarrett shows decent growth, then that's just icing.

Bring in a decent vet with upside such as DJ Hackett as the #2 WR. Bring in a serviceable FS with coverage ability. Find a RG in FA, or move Hartwig there if he can play the position decently and Kalil is ready. And possibly get a DE, depending on whether or not Johnson is ready and the likelihood that they'll be able to pick one early in the draft.

From the draft, they need a starting LT (I don't think Wharton is a particularly effective LT, especially with the run, and is not worth what he'll likely be asking), a DE capable of playing in the rotation immediately (no more redshirt DEs). Ideally it would be nice to also grab a FS capable of starting, but after bringing in a serviceable vet in FA, LT and DE are more urgent needs, leaving the team with a 3rd or 4th round pick, at best. They should also be able to find a decent short yardage RB in the middle rounds.

so basically:

#2 WR - FA
LT - Draft
RG - FA or shifting Hartwig over and inserting Kalil at C.
DE - Insert Johnson (if ready) or either FA or draft
FS - Serviceable vet and mid-round draft pick.
RB (short yardage) - Draft

Of course they'll need to bring in some depth as well, but that should be relativey easy to find, and cheap. This also assumes either Delhomme is ready (which is questionable at best) or Moore holds the fort (as well as he did as a starter) until Jake is healthy.

 

At this point I think you have to fix the offense. If you look at all the top playoff teams they are at the top statistcally in offense and defense. It seems that the league has changed lately where you can't win with a dominant defense and have an average offense.
If the offense stays on the field, the defense will be fresh. Alf listed the spots that are needed. The question is where do you get those spots. I agree with OT, DE and a G as the top priority early.
If by the remote chance the FO feels those spots get fixed in FA, I wouldn't whine going for playmakers in the draft. Jonathan Stewart is one of those bowling ball type RBs that I think would be an ideal mate for DW. I haven't checked out the WR so much, but of course we need a good one.
Is Fox feeling enough heat to go with a position that has a short learning curve?

 

I think our defense is close. If we made an upgrade on Deke Cooper it would make a difference. We have literally lost some games because our safeties could not make a tackle. Plug Ed Reed back there and we are dominant.

The pass rush is a little harder to fix. If Peppers is retained and returns to form then that will go a long way towards fixing it not only with his production but by his drawing doubles. His status is the key to our future right now. I hope they get it right. I think we could find a guy who is a one dimensional pass rusher and use him situationally and get better results than we had this year.

 

DE in the draft or grab one in FA. Pick up a good replacement for Cooper and the defense is set. The offense is a whole 'nother story, that's going to take more than one off season to fix. So, do the defense first at least you'll be close at the end of the game <maybe>