This board seems kind of dead, and I've always liked NFL Head Coach 09, so let's start up another dynasty. I saw a thread that the Panthers on average have the least success in this game, so I'm gonna try to turn them around.
Coach: Everett Thomas
Personality: Captain
Skills: Ambition, Off Season/Regular Season Seminar, Playbook Training, Performance 3, Int. Dev 2 for DL, LB, DB
Offensive PB: Thomas Balanced (Bills Balanced with the 3 WR Singleback set removed and more plays from the other formations added)
Defensive PB: Thomas Rover (Raiders Rover with additional 4-3 plays and the 46 formation)
Position Philosophies:
QB: Field General
HB: Balanced
FB: Balanced
WR: Strong/Blocking WR (with my third receiver focusing on speed since he will only be playing the slot in shotgun formation)
T: Balanced
G: Balanced
C: Balanced
DE: Undersized Speed Rusher
DT: One Gap Penetrator
OLB: Balanced
MLB: Balanced
CB: Balanced
FS: Centerfielder
SS: Balanced
K: Balanced
P: Big Foot/Distance
I could have chose to tag Jordan Gross, but I will try to work out a long-term deal with him in free agency.
RFA's:
G Geoff Hangartner (OVR 74) - Lvl 1 tender
G Evan Mathis (OVR 73) - Lvl 1 tender
MLB Adam Seward (OVR 70) - Lvl 1 tender
Roster Analysis (overall/potential)
QB:
Jake Delhomme 84/84
Matt Moore 72/77
Delhomme is a solid option for our team, experienced with good intangibles. Moore is alright for a backup, and has a bit of room to grow. No real need to change anything here.
HB:
Nick Goings 70/70
DeAngelo Williams 68/76
Goings is nothing more than RB depth, possibly won't make the team. Williams has flashed some talent in his first two years, but doesn't have the intangibles to be a starter. He could be an elusive change-of-pace back, but nothing more. Need to address this.
FB:
n/a
I'd like to run out of the I as a base formation, so this is a definite need.
WR:
Steve Smith 84/84
Mushin Muhammad 83/83
Dwayne Jarrett 64/70
Ryne Robinson 51/56
Smith doesn't really fit the mold of a big, strong outside WR I'm looking for, but he's too talented not to start. Muhammad is getting up there in years, but has the size and intangibles I want. Jarrett has the size I want, but low awareness and learning could keep him from ever being a useful option; will possibly make the team as a backup. Robinson is an alright option for my slot WR, but his speed isn't elite and he has poor hands. Might look for an upgrade here.
TE:
Dante Rosario 69/79
Jeff King 60/63
Rosario is serviceable. He'll never be everything I want in a tight end, but with more experience, he could become a solid player. King will never be my starter (hopefully), but his blocking skills will be useful in 2-TE sets. Need more depth.
T:
Travelle Wharton 82/82
Frank Omiyale 73/75
Wharton is fine, not great, and his contract makes him impossible to drop or trade, so he's the starter for a while. Will hopefully resign Jordan Gross to play RT. Omiyale has poor speed and learning, but decent physical skills; could make the team as depth.
G:
Jeremy Bridges 75/75
Not a great blocker. Need help on the inside of my line.
C:
Ryan Kalil 77/85
Great prospect with room to improve. Will possibly kick him over to guard. But Kalil is one of my inside 3 linemen for sure.
DE:
Julius Peppers 90/91
Charles Johnson 75/80
Stanley McClover 74/77
Peppers is great and a definite starter. Johnson might be the other starter, depends how this position is addressed in free agency/the draft. McClover is solid depth.
DT:
Damione Lewis 69/69
Ma'ake Kemoeatu 57/57
Definite need. Lewis, if he makes the team, is no more than a backup. Kemoeatu is a big, strong DT, which doesn't fit my scheme at all. His contract is easy to deal, will try to trade him this offseason.
OLB:
Thomas Davis 83/87
Na'il Diggs 76/76
James Anderson 72/73
Brandon Jamison 69/70
Tim Shaw 67/68
Davis is a great starter. Diggs is passable, and the other three may or may not make the team.
MLB:
Jon Beason 88/91
Very solid player. Has the speed to move over to OLB. Looking for a third LB to start regardless.
CB:
Ken Lucas 84/85
Chris Gamble 83/84
Richard Marshall 81/86
Patrick Dendy 72/75
My nickel formation is 2 SS, so I only ever start 2 CB. Dendy might be cut, but the other players are all solid. May look to deal Gamble for picks.
FS:
Nate Salley 69/70
Poor coverage skills and intangibles, will only make the team as a backup. Need.
SS:
Chris Harris 73/74
I start 2 SS in my nickel, so this is a definite need. Harris has poor coverage skills, but it might be difficult to find 2 starting quality SS in free agency. Will probably be kept as the #2 SS.
K:
John Kasay 90/90
Solid kicker, no need.
P:
Jason Baker 87/87
Solid punter, no need.
Current Salary Cap Room: $46.30M
Current Draft Picks:
1/13
2/43
3/67
3/74
4/106
6/175
7/206
Panthers Signings
Eugene Wilson (89/89) - immediate starter at FS, position locked up for 5 years
Jordan Gross (92/93) - long term deal for about the price of the franchise tag
Michael Turner (84/86) - RB with the skills and intangibles to be the starter
Jeff Faine (86/88) - will be moved to G, another spot on the O-line resolved
Trades
Panthers receive:
DE Elvis Dumervil (88/90)
I received offers from a few teams for DeAngelo Williams. He was never going to be a focal point of my offense, and I get a couple mid round picks for him.
Current draft picks:
1/13
2/43
3/74
4/106
4/121
6/175
7/206
1st round trades
- Patriots trade 7th overall pick to Panthers for 13th overall pick, 2008 4th round pick (121) and 2009 2nd round pick
- Bills trade 11th overall pick to Buccaneers for 2008 3rd round pick (83) and 2009 1st round pick
- Eagles trade 19th overall pick to Panthers for 2008 3rd round pick (74) and 2009 1st round pick
- Dolphins trade 32nd overall pick to Bills for 2008 2nd round pick (41), 2008 4th round pick (111), and 2008 5th round pick (142)
Carolina Panthers 2008 Draft Picks
Pick
Player
College
Pos
Ht
Wt
7
Glenn Dorsey
LSU
DT
6'1"
310
19
Branden Albert
Virginia
G
6'7"
317
38
Trevor Laws
Notre Dame
DT
6'1"
283
64
Tavares Gooden
Miami
MLB
6'2"
231
82
Tom Zbikowski
Notre Dame
SS
6'0"
210
117
Jacob Hester
LSU
FB
6'0"
228
148
Mike Hart
Michigan
HB
5'9"
196
206
Jonathan Wilhite
Auburn
CB
5'11"
182
UDFA
Carl Stewart
Auburn
FB
6'2"
224
UDFA
Dorien Bryant
Purdue
WR
5'10"
175
UDFA
Eric Baker
Michigan St.
DE
6'3"
255
UDFA
Chris Horton
UCLA
SS
6'1"
210
UDFA
Kelin Johnson
Georgia
SS
5'11"
212
(all draft picks were GM recommendations)
Panthers draft trades
- Patriots trade 7th overall pick to Panthers for 13th overall pick, 2008 4th round pick (121) and 2009 2nd round pick
- Eagles trade 19th overall pick to Panthers for 2008 3rd round pick (74) and 2009 1st round pick
- Ravens trade 2008 2nd round pick (38) to Panthers for CB Chris Gamble
- Panthers trade 2008 2nd round pick (43) to Dolphins for 2008 2nd round pick (64), 2008 4th round pick (97), and 2008 4th round pick (111)
- Chiefs trade 2008 3rd round pick (82) to Panthers for 2008 4th round pick (106), 2008 4th round pick (111), and 2008 6th round pick (175)
- Panthers trade 2008 4th round pick (97) to Buccaneers for 2008 4th round pick (117) and 2008 5th round pick (148)
Thoughts on draft:
I gave up my top two picks in next year's draft, but I filled pretty much every hole I had if these picks pan out.
- Dorsey is a physical freak, over 300 pounds and over 90 speed, he should be a force on the line.
- Albert was projected to go higher and looked like an excellent prospect; when the Eagles wanted to trade down at 19, I made a move up to grab him.
- Laws should be a good starter opposite Dorsey, good speed and a prototypical one gap penetrator.
- Gooden is speedy and has the skillset to be a very good LB with Davis and Beason.
- Zbikowski is a very gifted athlete at SS; time will tell if he can develop the intangibles to succeed.
- Hester was the top prospect at FB and has the starter job pretty much by default.
- Don't know too much about Hart, he will fight with Goings for the backup RB role unless someone in training camp passes both of them.
- Wilhite was recommended because I only had 3 CBs on the roster, he will be a backup as long as he has some potential.
- Stewart intrigued me because of the 90 speed for a FB. Interested to see him in action and find out his potential.
- Bryant was the fastest WR available, he will get a chance to play the slot.
- Baker had the highest speed in the DEs as far as I could tell, could be part of the D-line rotation if he plays well in preseason.
- Horton and Johnson give me depth at SS. I want to keep at least 3 SS with my defense, so they will have a chance to make the team.
Both Dorsey and Gooden can have a tendency to get injured-I hope the Panthers have a good trainer. That and I think Dorsey only has 81 or 82 speed, at least thats what I see in my game.
I'd like to start a new dynasty if I can find a way to keep the games close playing games. That's always been the problem in the past. I'm currently running a test Bears franchise to keep an eye on it.
The Panthers trainer has a 1 overall, so we'll see how Dorsey and Gooden fare this year health-wise. And yeah, he has 82 speed, not sure what I was looking at.
Rookie Contracts
Glenn Dorsey: 5 yr/$36M, $8M bonus
Branden Albert: 5 yr/$10.5M, $2M bonus
Trevor Laws: 4 yr/$3M, $1M bonus
Tavares Gooden: 4 yr/$2.5M, no bonus
Tom Zbikowski: 3 yr/$1.8M, no bonus
Jacob Hester: 3 yr/$1M, no bonus
Mike Hart: 3 yr/$800k, no bonus
Jonathan Wilhite: 3 yr/$820k, no bonus
Carolina Panthers Depth Chart - 2008
Regular Offense
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
WR
Steve Smith - 84/84
Dorien Bryant - 47/69
TE
Dante Rosario - 69/79
Courtney Anderson - 62/62
Mike Peterson - 58/84
LT
Branden Albert - 81/92
Frank Omiyale - 73/75
LG
Travelle Wharton - 82/82
J'Covan Beck - 74/78
C
Ryan Kalil - 78/85
Nick Mihlhauser - 72/78
RG
Jeff Faine - 87/88
Jeremy Bridges - 75/75
RT
Jordan Gross - 92/93
Rob Petitti - 76/77
WR
Mushin Muhammad - 83/83
Al McGwire - 68/84
QB
Jake Delhomme - 84/84
Matt Moore - 72/77
Elliot Wright - 49/87
FB
Jacob Hester - 79/81
Carl Stewart - 76/84
HB
Michael Turner - 82/85
Samkon Gado - 74/80
Mike Hart - 64/83
Richard Williams - 73/85
Base 4-3 Defense
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
LDE
Julius Peppers - 90/91
Charles Johnson - 75/80
LDT
Glenn Dorsey - 90/95
Chartric Darby - 74/74
Damione Lewis - 69/69
RDT
Trevor Laws - 80/83
Jovan Haye - 70/73
RDE
Elvis Dumervil - 88/90
Eric Baker - 75/86
Stanley McClover - 74/77
WLB
Jon Beason - 88/91
Na'il Diggs - 76/76
MLB
Tavares Gooden - 81/87
Bernard Gant - 66/73
SLB
Thomas Davis - 83/87
James Anderson - 72/73
CB
Ken Lucas - 84/85
Demario Minter - 72/77
SS
Tom Zbikowski - 75/79
Kelin Johnson - 79/84
Chris Harris - 73/74
FS
Eugene Wilson - 89/89
Chris Horton - 78/83
CB
Richard Marshall - 81/86
Jonathan Wilhite - 68/82
Special Teams
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
K
Dave Yankowski - 80/84
P
Jason Baker - 87/87
I traded DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu to the Saints for a 2nd and 5th round pick in the upcoming draft, and K John Kasay to the Patriots for a 3rd round this year and a 6th round next year. Kemoeatu did not fit my system, and I found a kicker that originally played soccer, signed to the Jags, and they cut him in training camp. He has just as powerful a leg, is almost as accurate, and has the potential to be more accurate.
I have a few developmental prospects on the offensive side of the ball. Excited to see if I can turn Wright into the QB of the future for the Panthers. He is driven, and has great potential. McGwire is a big, strong WR that I hope to slide into the #2 WR spot when Mushin retires. Peterson needs work, but could become the star TE of the Panthers.
We lost every game this preseason, but the team was learning a new playbook and held their own when the starters were in. It is the Sweetney draft path.
Coming up, a week 1 matchup against LT and the Chargers. Michael Turner broke his arm in the final preseason game and will miss the first few weeks, we'll see how well Gado and a pair of rookies can fill his shoes.
Well this game was definitely a tale of two halves. Mistake in coverage lets Naanee slip behind our defense for a early TD. We could not run the ball to save our lives in the first half; we ended the half with -9 rushing yards. Gado was wholly ineffective. Hart was marginally better and I made him the lead back early on. With SD playing the run so hard, I pivoted my offense to be more pass-centric and it worked really well. Delhomme didn't throw a pick, although he held onto the ball too long a few times and took some unnecessary sacks. Yankowski missed 3 FG's in the first half (although one was a 53 yarder into the wind at the end of the half) and I'll be watching to see if this is a continuing problem.
The second half looked much better for us. Our run game was able to get positive yards and we were able to dominate TOP. Our defense looked great most of the day, especially Tom Zbikowski, who got 2 interceptions, including one with :16 left in the 4th quarter as San Diego tried to win the game in regulation. He earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance.
We get to go home next week and play Chicago, coming off a beatdown in Sunday Night Football against the Colts.
I've done Sweeney-you'll want to focus on bringing out talent with training camp invitees to supplement what you get in the first few years of the draft. It's really a very challenging draft path, even after the talent improves after the first 5 years.
Nice first games for Gooden and Zbikowski-hope they can sustain it through the season.
05-20-2017, 03:33 PM
