Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

[Maelstrom-XIII]

SETTINGS

Version Madden NFL 15
Console Playstation 3
Difficulty All-Pro
Quarter Length 12 Minutes
Game Speed Slow
Relocations Disabled
Slider Set Default (Will Adjust as Necessary)
Roster Official (Post-Super Bowl)

Note: I will be simming Season 1 and picking up playing in Season 2. I will do weekly recaps and scouting reports, etc throughout season 1, however.

Hope you enjoy.

Next Update: Season Preview

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

CAROLINA PANTHERS - SEASON PREVIEW
July 20, 2014, 12:00pm by maelstrom

The 2013 season saw Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers take a huge step forward, going 12-4 and winning the NFC South. They paired an efficient offense built to dominate time of possession with a stifling defense that paid huge dividends.

However, the offseason led to huge changes for the Panthers. Their longtime LT Jordan Gross retired. Their WR corps was dismantled (including an ugly divorce between the franchise’s best player, Steve Smith, and general manager Dave Gettleman). They rebuilt the secondary for a second year in a row. Pro-Bowl DE Greg Hardy was arrested for domestic violence, and may face suspension by the league. All of this adds up to the pressing question: After the success of last year, can Carolina repeat? Or will they regress?

The NFC South has never had repeat champions in the division’s history. It’ll be a challenge for the team to accomplish this feat. However, a promising draft may give the Panthers the talent necessary to push for a repeat.

Key Losses: WR Steve Smith, LT Jordan Gross, WR Brandon Lafell, KR/PR Ted Ginn, S Mike Mitchell

Key Additions: WR Jerricho Cotchery, S Thomas Decoud, S Roman Harper, TE Ed Dickson

Rookies To Watch: WR Kelvin Benjamin, G Andrew Norwell, G Trai Turner, CB Bene Benwikere

The Bottom Line: This is a team that has never had back-to-back winning seasons, in a division that has never had back-to-back champions with an unproven offensive line, WR corps and secondary. The front 7 remains largely unchanged, and that should win them a few games on its own.

2014 Prediction: 8-8.

Next Update: Position Battles

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

2014 NFL SEASON EDGES CLOSER - QUESTION MARKS FOR PANTHERS REMAIN
August 1, 2014, 12:00pm by maelstrom

A week ahead of their pre-season opener against the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers have huge question marks at several positions. They have open competitions at left and right tackle, left guard, and strong safety. At the tackle spots, Byron Bell has been moved from right tackle (where he played in 2013) to left tackle, where he is battling for a spot with veteran Garry Williams. Coach Ron Rivera has said that he has liked what the competition has brought out in both players, and would not say which player has the better shot at the starting job. The right side, however, is very different. While the staff had hoped that Nate Chandler, a converted DT, would be able to slide into the RT position, he has been struggling, and risks ending up 3rd on the depth chart behind Mike Remmers and the big Canadian, David Foucault. Chandler might be better tasked to moving back inside to RG where he started some games last season.

Left Guard has also seen a great competition this summer, as undrafted free agent Andrew Norwell battles it out with Amini Silatolu, a former second round pick. Norwell currently has the inside track, as Silatolu is recovering from some injuries sustained last season. Also in the running is 2013 fourth round pick Edmund Kugbila, who has himself had tremendous injury problems.

On the defensive side of the ball, Roman Harper was brought in to man the strong safety position. It was thought Harper would win the spot easily, but Robert Lester’s youth has him the frontrunner, with Harper likely playing a rotational role this season.

Regarding the competitions, Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman have remained tight-lipped. “It’s a process,” Rivera said, “one that we’ll be following closely throughout the preseason. We want to put the best 53 out there on the field, and that’s what we plan to do. We feel comfortable with the guys we have on hand, and we’re confident that they’ll step up.”

The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to play the Buffalo Bills next Friday, August 8 at home in Bank of America Stadium.

Next Update: Preseason Depth Chart

[patriot1136]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

Very cool, will be following

[weddlesbeard]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

Love the presentation - very clean and visually appealing with great writing. And should be an interesting team to build. They've got the pieces, but as you point out, sustained success will be the challenge.

Good luck and I'll be following.

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

STARTING LINE-UP VS BILLS SET
August 7, 2014, 12:00pm by maelstrom

The Carolina Panthers have released a depth chart ahead of tomorrow’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills. There aren’t too many surprises, and there shouldn’t be too many conclusions drawn from it, as it is incredibly early and doesn’t signify anything more than who has had the better practices.

Next Update: Preseason Game 1 Recap

Quick note, I will be playing the pre-season games to find out which QB I want to keep on as a backup, Webb or Anderson, but simming the regular season (this first season). Also, I have turned CPU trades off (allowing human trades), because I don't want this (this season at least) to be riddled with "Ellington traded," "Dwayne Allen traded" stuff. Might turn it back on in year 2.

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

REGULAR SEASON LOOMS, RIVERA PLEASED WITH PRESEASON PERFORMANCES
August 31, 2014, 12:00pm by maelstrom

The preseason is now in the books, with the Carolina Panthers beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-16, just one week after they were blown out by the New England Patriots. Rivera was much more pleased by their performance this week. “Last week we really struggled to get into the rhythm of the game. New England came out firing and we just weren’t prepared. This week, I feel like we really stepped up early.”

However, problems are still apparent on Carolina’s offensive line. This preseason saw the two favourites to man the offensive tackle spots benched. Both Byron Bell and Nate Chandler were benched halfway through the preseason to make room for LT Garry Williams and preseason signing Brennan Williams. While the new pair played better than their colleagues, they were still average. This is something that must be addressed by GM Dave Gettleman if Carolina has any hopes to return to the postseason.

PRESEASON RECAP (Note: I ended up simming the preseason as I remembered how little I enjoy the preseason)

BUF @ CAR - W 13-16
KC @ CAR - W 21-19
CAR @ NE - L 51-3
CAR @ PIT - W 17-16

CUTS: QB Joe Webb, RB Darrin Reaves, FB Richie Brockel, WR Mike Brown, WR De’Andre Presley, TE JJ Jansen, LT David Foucault, C Kevin Matthews, RG Chris Scott, RT Mike Remmers, RT Kevin Hughes, DT Kyle Love, DT Micanor Regis, ROLB Chase Blackburn

SIGNINGS: RT Brennan Williams

Next Update: Regular Season Recap

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

CAROLINA LICKS ITS WOUNDS AS SEASON ENDS
December 29, 2014, 12:00pm by maelstrom

In the lead-up to this season’s start, I predicted that Carolina would go 8-8. I didn’t see them replicating last season’s success. I was half right. Carolina had an abysmal season, with a record of 4-11-1. It was a season marred by injury and poor OL play. Cam Newton was sacked 43 times and played injured most of the season before finally sitting out the final 3 games. The run game never got going. Cam never had time to pass without a rusher in his face. The defense failed to generate a strong pass rush, as Greg Hardy’s impending domestic violence trial was a cloud over his performance (and his return to Carolina depends in large part on the outcome of that trial).

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however. Jonathan Stewart stayed healthy for 16 games, which must be encouraging for the Panthers front office. Rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin fell just short of the 1,000 yard mark, although he didn’t show signs of being the red zone threat the Panthers thought he’d be when they took him 29th overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Charles Johnson finished with 8 sacks, and Luke Kuechly was a force at middle linebacker, racking up over 180 tackles on the season. But these individual performances did not have the impact that injuries took.

Both starting defensive tackles, Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, were lost for the season early, which certainly had a hand in the Panthers defensive woes. Cam Newton was hobbled most of the year, and offensive linemen were dropping like flies. It’s a miracle that Carolina won as many as they did, which might speak to why Ron Rivera is still the coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Rivera did his best with an ailing unit and very little in the way of offensive line talent. The Panthers could use upgrades at 3 positions on the line (LT, LG, RT) and will certainly be looking that way in free agency and the draft.

It was a down year for the Cats, but if they can stay healthy, there’s enough talent everywhere except the offensive line to have a big year. Every year won’t see this many injuries, and Dave Gettleman has to have seen what skimping on your offensive line can do to your team and your franchise QB. Look for major moves there.

SEASON RECAP

SUPER BOWL
Arizona Cardinals vs Denver Broncos (24-30)

SEASON AWARDS

MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Coach of the Year: Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
Offensive Player of the Year: QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens; QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Defensive Player of the Year: LB Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots; LB Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins
Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Zach Mettenberger, Tennessee Titans; RB Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
Defensive Rookie of the Year: CB Bradley Roby, Denver Broncos; DE Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

PANTHERS PRO BOWLERS
DE Charles Johnson
MLB Luke Kuechly
CB Melvin White (this was odd, because he didn’t have a particularly impressive season)

Next Update: Offseason! Retirements & Re-Signings[/center]

[Maelstrom-XIII]

Re: Tooth and Claw: A Carolina Panthers Connected Franchise Mode

CAROLINA RE-SIGNS NEWTON, OTHERS WHILE EDWARDS WALKS AWAY FROM THE GAME
March 1, 2015, 12:00pm by maelstrom

The Carolina Panthers announced today that they have agreed on a contract with franchise quarterback Cam Newton. It isn’t the 6-year deal that some outlets were expecting, but it ensures that the Panthers signal-caller is going to be in electric blue and black through the prime of his career.

Details of the deal are reported to be 4 years, $78M with only $18M of that being guaranteed. This is a very team friendly deal, and a long way from the 6 year, $119M deal that Newton’s agent put forth earlier this offseason. Clearly, last season, Cam was injury-plagued and under performing, and this deal provides both a show of confidence that last season was an anomaly in the young QB’s career, as well as giving Carolina an out in the event that Cam’s play continues to decline without being on the hook for too much dead money.

The Panthers also announced new contracts with OLB Adarius Glanton (4 years, $3.2M), RT Brennan Williams (5 years, $3.75M) and WR Brenton Bersin (3 years, $2.1M).

In less happy news, DT Dwan Edwards has decided to hang up his cleats at the age of 34. He was a free agent signing in Dave Gettleman’s first year as GM, and played spectacularly in a rotational role on the D-line. He also served as a mentor to young tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short.

Edwards joins a list of other NFL stars who have decided to hang it up, including QB Michael Vick, HB Maurice Jones-Drew, OLB Dwight Freeney, DE Jared Allen, WR Reggie Wayne and K Adam Vinatieri.

Next Update:Free Agency