At 7:00 PM yesterday (April 19th) we found out the when and where the Carolina Panthers will be playing for the 2011 season (well that is if there is a 2011 season). There has been a large response to the fact that the Carolina Panthers have the #1 hardest schedule out of all 32 teams (ranked by NFL.com) even though the team was the worst team in the league.
I think the thing that I am most shocked about at this point is the fact that this is considered "new" news to so many. The schedule was released yesterday, but the opponents have been set for some time now. We knew we were going to be playing the NFC North, the AFC South, and obviously the NFC South we just didn't know what Sunday we were playing each team.
Regardless, we know that this upcoming year is going to be a tough one. Without the CBA in place the draft has limited options and is hurting the free agency markets, not to mention we have a new coaching staff with not a lot of time to "get on the same page". At this point the thing that will help the Carolina Panthers the most is getting a new CBA agreement in place as soon as possible!
For those of you that have not seen the schedule for the upcoming year, here it is:
** I have listed the 2010 record in the () after each team, all teams that made the playoffs last year are in RED , and I have put the teams in BLUE that were under .500 last season.
Sunday, September 11th 4:15 EST @ Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
Sunday, September 18th 1:00 EST vs Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl Champions)
Sunday, September 25th 1:00 EST vs Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
Sunday, October 2nd 1:00 EST @ Chicago Bears (11-5)
Sunday, October 9th 1:00 EST vs New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Sunday, October 16th 1:00 EST @ Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
Sunday, October 23rd 1:00 EST vs Washington Redskins (6-10)
Sunday, October 30th 1:00 EST vs Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
Week 9: BYE
Sunday, November 13th 1:00 EST vs Tennessee Titans (6-10)
Sunday, November 20th 1:00 EST @ Detroit Lions (6-10)
Sunday, November 27th 1:00 EST @ Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Sunday, December 4th 1:00 EST @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
Sunday, December 11th 1:00 EST vs Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, December 18th 1:00 EST @ Houston Texans (6-10)
Saturday, December 24th (CHRISTMAS EVE) 1:00 EST vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, January 1st 1:00 EST @ New Orleans
As you can see we have 7 games total against teams under .500 and 7 games against last season playoff teams (4 of which are divisional games). I have been known to be a optimist, but I do not see this as being the hardest schedule in the NFL. I see it as an opportunity to prove the doubters.
Here is to hoping that we do not make a stupid decision with the first pick (aka picking a QB). See you in a couple weeks.
GO PANTHERS!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Franchise Tag
The first question that came to mind when the Carolina Panthers started discussing the use of a franchise tag on Ryan Kalil, DeAngelo Williams, or Charles Johnson, was do we really need to?
The franchise tag is normally something that is used when a player is wanting an 'out', wanting to leave the team. This can usually prevent them from doing so or at least gives the team a chance at getting good compensation for their departure. But when it comes to these three paticular players, all of which we would like to see in Carolina blue again next year, is there a desire to leave Charlotte? Is there a hidden animosity that the fans are unaware of?
Let's face the facts...
Ryan Kalil is a great center. He earned his second pro-bowl spot this last season and has a proven track record with the team, showing great ability in helping our rush game. By using the franchise tag on Ryan Kalil, it locks him up for an additional year for $10.5 million.
DeAngleo Williams has been with the Panthers since 2006 and has become the teams leading rusher as well as breaking an NFL record in the 2009 season along with second running back Jonathan Stewart as being the first duo to both rush over 1,000 yards in a single season. By putting the franchise tag on DeAngelo, it would have committed $10 million and could have possibly saved him from walking cleanly away from the team. On the other side, DeAngleo is now 28 years old and has been injured off an on for the last couple seasons. Is this enough to let him go? Will Jonathan Stewart (also injured off and on in the last couple seasons) be able to maintain the rushing abilities that the Panthers are known for?
Charles Johnson has become a household name in Carolina and pretty soon around the league. This year, in his first full 16 game start, he had 11.5 sacks (7th in the league) 51 solo tackles and 1 forced fumble. [just an FYI, Julius Peppers was ranked 29th overall with only 8 sacks and 54 tackles, Johnson was also only 3 sacks away from out performing Peppers in his best year of 2008] I am assuming by not using the franchise tag on Johnson, means that a large long term contract is to follow. If the Panthers do end up drafting Nick Fairley, this combo will soon become one of the top in the NFL and you know what they say, "Defense wins Championships".
Overall, I think placing the franchise tag on Kahlil was not a good move nor was it a bad one. I think Carolina will sign each of these guys to long term contract once the CBA is reached, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later.
My biggest prediction for possible off-season moves, the Carolina Panthers trade DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart and sign a veteran quarterback to a 1-2 year deal, such as Vince Young, Carson Palmer, or Donovan McNabb. This would allow Carolina to possibly add some additional draft picks in this years draft (since we currently have 0 picks in the second round) while also maintaining a strong running game with the emergence of Mike Goodson and T.Sutt. And this allows Jimmy Clausen to sit on the sidelines and develop into the quarterback that we need him to be in the future. And let's not forget Jerry's message to the fans this year, that once the CBA has been reached, we will see the team start spending money again on bringing talent and a championship to Carolina. Time will tell!
Until then, everyone keep your fingers crossed that the CBA gets reached in a timely fashion, that we have football in 2011 with a good free agency market, and remember to start saving your money for a Charles Johnson and Nick Fairley jersey because they are going to be tearing it up whenever football returns.
As always, GO PANTHERS!
The franchise tag is normally something that is used when a player is wanting an 'out', wanting to leave the team. This can usually prevent them from doing so or at least gives the team a chance at getting good compensation for their departure. But when it comes to these three paticular players, all of which we would like to see in Carolina blue again next year, is there a desire to leave Charlotte? Is there a hidden animosity that the fans are unaware of?
Let's face the facts...
Ryan Kalil is a great center. He earned his second pro-bowl spot this last season and has a proven track record with the team, showing great ability in helping our rush game. By using the franchise tag on Ryan Kalil, it locks him up for an additional year for $10.5 million.
DeAngleo Williams has been with the Panthers since 2006 and has become the teams leading rusher as well as breaking an NFL record in the 2009 season along with second running back Jonathan Stewart as being the first duo to both rush over 1,000 yards in a single season. By putting the franchise tag on DeAngelo, it would have committed $10 million and could have possibly saved him from walking cleanly away from the team. On the other side, DeAngleo is now 28 years old and has been injured off an on for the last couple seasons. Is this enough to let him go? Will Jonathan Stewart (also injured off and on in the last couple seasons) be able to maintain the rushing abilities that the Panthers are known for?
Charles Johnson has become a household name in Carolina and pretty soon around the league. This year, in his first full 16 game start, he had 11.5 sacks (7th in the league) 51 solo tackles and 1 forced fumble. [just an FYI, Julius Peppers was ranked 29th overall with only 8 sacks and 54 tackles, Johnson was also only 3 sacks away from out performing Peppers in his best year of 2008] I am assuming by not using the franchise tag on Johnson, means that a large long term contract is to follow. If the Panthers do end up drafting Nick Fairley, this combo will soon become one of the top in the NFL and you know what they say, "Defense wins Championships".
Overall, I think placing the franchise tag on Kahlil was not a good move nor was it a bad one. I think Carolina will sign each of these guys to long term contract once the CBA is reached, which hopefully will be sooner rather than later.
My biggest prediction for possible off-season moves, the Carolina Panthers trade DeAngelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart and sign a veteran quarterback to a 1-2 year deal, such as Vince Young, Carson Palmer, or Donovan McNabb. This would allow Carolina to possibly add some additional draft picks in this years draft (since we currently have 0 picks in the second round) while also maintaining a strong running game with the emergence of Mike Goodson and T.Sutt. And this allows Jimmy Clausen to sit on the sidelines and develop into the quarterback that we need him to be in the future. And let's not forget Jerry's message to the fans this year, that once the CBA has been reached, we will see the team start spending money again on bringing talent and a championship to Carolina. Time will tell!
Until then, everyone keep your fingers crossed that the CBA gets reached in a timely fashion, that we have football in 2011 with a good free agency market, and remember to start saving your money for a Charles Johnson and Nick Fairley jersey because they are going to be tearing it up whenever football returns.
As always, GO PANTHERS!
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