Week after week, the Panthers step further into the abyss of a lost season. And after each loss, more theories are added about what’s gone wrong.Some say the problems prove the coaching staff overachieved in 2013. Others speculate it’s all a ploy to make Cam Newton’s future contract more affordable. But the real answers start with the team’s architect, Dave Gettleman.As a first-year general manager, Gettleman helped the Panthers return to the playoffs by nailing most of his choices last season. But in 2014, he’s swung and missed with many of his moves.Gettleman has a policy of not speaking to the media during the season, but multiple team and league sources have shed light on the plan he had this year.Unfortunately for Gettleman and the Panthers, five major parts of that plan appear to have failed.
1. WIDE RECEIVERS
PLAN:
Throughout 2013, Gettleman had conversations with Steve Smith about the receiver’s prickly attitude. Those talks didn’t change much. Smith couldn’t be trusted to help groom younger wideouts, and his production was no longer at an elite level. So Gettleman decided it was time to cut ties with the best player to ever wear a Panthers’ uniform.
As free agency approached, Gettleman had his eyes on a number of receivers, including Hakeem Nicks, who he knew well through their time together with the Giants. Gettleman was also interested in re-signing Ted Ginn and Brandon LaFell.
Another big piece of the puzzle could come from a draft loaded with talented receivers. Plus, the Panthers were hopeful Tavarres King, Marvin McNutt or Brenton Bersin would stand out if given enough reps.
WHAT HAPPENED:
Near the end of his media availability at February’s combine, Gettleman unwittingly spilled the beans about Smith’s upcoming release. A month of controversy followed until Smith was finally let go after 13 seasons in Carolina.
Gettleman underestimated the markets for Nicks, Ginn and LaFell, who were offered bigger deals elsewhere.
The Panthers then went into emergency mode, and Jerricho Cotchery — who was leaning toward re-signing with the Steelers — became a priority. Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood also wound up on the radar. After signing those three, the Panthers turned their attention to the draft.
They used their first-round pick on Kelvin Benjamin, but they didn’t take any other wideouts.
Underwood, King and McNutt were cut before the season began while Bersin earned a roster spot as a contributor at both receiver and on special teams.
Cotchery has been ok, but he has no touchdowns a season after he scored a career-high 10 with the Steelers. Avant has just 21 catches and a Week 2 touchdown.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the group lacks a speedster who can get vertical, a vital cog in an offense that needs to stretch opposing defenses.
Benjamin, while inconsistent, looks like he has a big future ahead of him. But after that, Newton has few true weapons who are not named Greg Olsen.
2. OFFENSIVE LINE
PLAN:
Gettleman knew long-time left tackle Jordan Gross was going to retire, which meant his good friend, Travelle Wharton, was likely done as well.
The Panthers had faith Amini Silatolu could return from a torn ACL to replace Wharton at left guard, but Gross left a huge void at left tackle. Right tackle Byron Bell was going to get a chance, but Gettleman was also hopeful he could find a solution in the draft or free agency.
WHAT HAPPENED:
Gettleman didn’t pull the trigger on a tackle in free agency. Looking back at who was available, the Panthers couldn’t afford Branden Albert, Eugene Monroe or Jared Veldheer. Zach Strief, Breno Giacomini and Donald Penn could have been had for a bit less, but they signed elsewhere.
At and after the combine, Gettleman grew convinced none of the second-tier tackles were worth a late first-round pick. The guys Gettleman did like, including Taylor Lewan, Zack Martin and Ja’waun James, were snagged before the Panthers were on the clock. Benjamin became the pick, and when Kony Ealy fell, Gettleman grabbed the defensive end as a late second-rounder.
The Panthers did address the line with guard Trai Turner in the third, but their final three picks were safety Tre Boston, cornerback Bené Benwikere and running back Tyler Gaffney.
In the hours immediately after the draft, the Panthers didn’t sign a single undrafted tackle. It’s unclear if they made an offer to a rookie free agent like James Hurst, who landed in Baltimore.
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So Bell and converted defensive tackle Nate Chandler were left to battle for the two starting tackle jobs, a decision that’s backfired badly. Bell started the season with a couple solid games, but he’s regressed and has had to battle injuries. Chandler hasn’t been good either.
While those two haven’t worked out, at least the Panthers aren’t saddled with a big contract of someone who’s not worth it. It’d be an even bigger problem if they owed someone like Michael Oher or Anthony Collins, who the Panthers never offered despite reports that claimed otherwise.
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At guard, Silatolu has struggled, but Turner and fellow rookie Andrew Norwell look like an intriguing part of the future.
Ultimately, not addressing the tackle position at all this spring should be Gettleman’s biggest regret. And this offseason, he’ll need to find at least one who is a surefire starter.
3. CAM NEWTON
PLAN:
The Panthers were hopeful Newton, who had been dealing with a troublesome ankle for years, could avoid surgery. But in March, they made the decision to get the procedure done. It wasn’t ideal, but he would be back for the start of training camp.
WHAT HAPPENED:
After his surgery, Newton appeared ahead of schedule when he took some surprise snaps during drills on the final day of May’s minicamp. But he wasn’t as far ahead as it looked.
Newton was bothered by twinges of pain throughout training camp, and the Panthers didn’t start opening up the playbook for him until the third preseason game. But in that game, he suffered cracked ribs when a Patriots defender landed on him at the end of a run.
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The setback forced Newton out of the season opener in Tampa Bay, but he returned looking like a more refined passer. Yet when the offensive line started having issues, so did Newton.
His ankle and ribs were already sore, and more defenders are coming at him every week. The ultra-competitive Newton has also been trying to do too much, which has led to a bundle of mistakes.
The lingering injuries have taken away much of Newton’s elusiveness, and it’s likely hard for him to trust an offensive line that changes every week.
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4. GREG HARDY
PLAN:
Gettleman believed the best route to the first back-to-back winning seasons in franchise history was to ride a dominant front seven.
A key cog in that unit was Greg Hardy, but the Panthers were leery of his off-the-field decisions. They never seriously considered giving him a long-term deal, but they felt his talent was worth a one-year rental via the franchise tag. They also hoped one of their younger defensive ends could emerge as a successor to Hardy, who was destined for a big deal elsewhere in 2015.
WHAT HAPPENED:
Three months after he received the franchise tag, Hardy was arrested.
The Panthers didn’t want to commit loads of money to a guy they couldn’t trust, but they never fathomed Hardy would be arrested or charged with domestic violence.
The morning after he played in the season-opening win in Tampa Bay, TMZ released a video tape that showed Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his future wife.
The media firestorm that ensued eventually caused the league to put Hardy on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. Since then, he’s made nearly $800,000 a week, and the Panthers’ pass rush has been nearly nonexistent.
Neither Wes Horton nor Mario Addison have emerged, and Frank Alexander has been suspended twice.
Gettleman couldn’t have known Hardy was going to be arrested, or that a video of another couple would set off an unprecedented chain of events, but the $13.1 million committed to Hardy left an enormous black hole in the Panthers’ salary cap and on the defensive line.
5. SECONDARY
PLAN:
Mike Mitchell had a fine season in 2013, but Gettleman wasn’t going to give the safety $5 million a year.
Captain Munnerlyn was also looking for a bigger deal, but the Panthers didn’t want to commit much to one of the shortest starting cornerbacks in the league. They also had little interest in bringing back cornerback Drayton Florence, and safety Quintin Mikell was leaning heavily toward retirement.
So Gettleman planned to bring in new parts to replace the spare parts.
WHAT HAPPENED:
The Panthers signed NFC South safeties Roman Harper and Thomas DeCoud, who were on the last legs of their careers. They also brought in cornerback Antoine Cason, who had a few decent years in San Diego with head coach Ron Rivera and Panthers defensive back coach Steve Wilks.
In the draft, Gettleman took Boston in the fourth round, and then moved up to grab Benwikere a round later.
And Charles Godfrey, who was coming off a torn Achilles, took a major paycut after he was converted to nickel corner.
Ultimately, without much of a pass rush to worry about, opposing quarterbacks have been able to pick apart the suspect secondary. Harper has been especially slow, and it’s a wonder why the Panthers keep putting him out there. That may say a lot about Boston, who fell behind after undergoing hernia surgery in the spring.
Cason made some plays early in the season, but he’s reverted back into the player who was benched by the Chargers and Cardinals.
Benwikere was off to a good start, but he’s been out since Week 5 with a high ankle sprain.
Godfrey was released after he failed trying to replace Benwikere.
Josh Norman, who wound up in the coaches’ doghouse each of his first two seasons, has emerged as the Panthers’ best defensive back.
Gettleman bought Band-Aid brand Band-Aids last year. This season, they’re the generic kind.
IN 2015 …
With six games and a much softer schedule ahead, the Panthers still have a chance to slow down their spiraling season. But there’s no question Gettleman, who will have more cap room, has to be much more aggressive filling obvious holes this coming offseason.
Great write-up. I think you hit the nail on the head.
I wonder about the availability of quality offensive linemen in free agency next year. It seems like the O-line is an area of concern for a ton of teams this season. Across the league it just feels like defensive ends are progressing at such a phenomenal rate and that offensive linemen simply aren’t keeping up.
Luckily next year’s draft class seems heavy at OL. I’d love it if Gettleman employed the “hog molly” strategy that got us Star and KK and doubled down at offensive line with the team’s first two picks.
And an afterthought, two key missing pieces that Cam has missed in pass protection that you didn’t mention are Mike Tolbert and Ben Hartstock.
Great write-up. I think you hit the nail on the head.
I wonder about the availability of quality offensive linemen in free agency next year. It seems like the O-line is an area of concern for a ton of teams this season. Across the league it just feels like defensive ends are progressing at such a phenomenal rate and that offensive linemen simply aren’t keeping up.
Luckily next year’s draft class seems heavy at OL. I’d love it if Gettleman employed the “hog molly” strategy that got us Star and KK and doubled down at offensive line with the team’s first two picks.
And an afterthought, two key missing pieces that Cam has missed in pass protection that you didn’t mention are Mike Tolbert and Ben Hartstock.
The receivers bit is intriguing, if only for the fact that the full-story on why Nicks didn’t sign here was never revealed; considering the deal he took in Indy (which IIRC was pretty cheap), was it a matter of him believing he could max his value in Indy better than in Carolina (despite being a 3rd option, at best)? Or were we looking for something a bit more long term but still budget friendly, and Hakeem wanted to roll the dice on another contract year?
Considering we’ve drafted more legit starters in the past two years than the previous 4 combined, color me optimistic about fixing these issues in the offseason…
The receivers bit is intriguing, if only for the fact that the full-story on why Nicks didn’t sign here was never revealed; considering the deal he took in Indy (which IIRC was pretty cheap), was it a matter of him believing he could max his value in Indy better than in Carolina (despite being a 3rd option, at best)? Or were we looking for something a bit more long term but still budget friendly, and Hakeem wanted to roll the dice on another contract year?
Considering we’ve drafted more legit starters in the past two years than the previous 4 combined, color me optimistic about fixing these issues in the offseason…
TomDunphy Actually, the 2013 draft seems very weak in the O-Line. with almost all the OT’s in the coming draft have problems at LT. Ogbuehi, has had to be moved back to RT, while others are projected to have to make the same move in the NFL. Scherff, Collins, Robinson and others are projected to have to move inside to OG in the NFL.
With the weak 2015 draft for OT’s, the best plan will likely be to sign cheaper veteran FA’s, like Titans Pro Bowl LT Michael Roos (a stop gap at age 33, and coming off IR, should keep his price low) with backups like the Titans OT/G Byron Stingily and OT James Brewer.
Perhaps they should even try to trade for Vikings LT Matt Kalil, their #4 pick in the 2012 draft, who’s having a horrible season (leading the NFL in sacks allowed with 10, and QB pressures with 32, as of week 9), maybe uniting with his brother Ryan could turn his career around. Maybe the Vikings (they need help at LG) would trade Kalil for Panthers draft bust LG Amini Silatolu, and maybe a conditional 2016 pick, or swapping an early 2015 pick.
TomDunphy Actually, the 2013 draft seems very weak in the O-Line. with almost all the OT’s in the coming draft have problems at LT. Ogbuehi, has had to be moved back to RT, while others are projected to have to make the same move in the NFL. Scherff, Collins, Robinson and others are projected to have to move inside to OG in the NFL.
With the weak 2015 draft for OT’s, the best plan will likely be to sign cheaper veteran FA’s, like Titans Pro Bowl LT Michael Roos (a stop gap at age 33, and coming off IR, should keep his price low) with backups like the Titans OT/G Byron Stingily and OT James Brewer.
Perhaps they should even try to trade for Vikings LT Matt Kalil, their #4 pick in the 2012 draft, who’s having a horrible season (leading the NFL in sacks allowed with 10, and QB pressures with 32, as of week 9), maybe uniting with his brother Ryan could turn his career around. Maybe the Vikings (they need help at LG) would trade Kalil for Panthers draft bust LG Amini Silatolu, and maybe a conditional 2016 pick, or swapping an early 2015 pick.
daringantt BlackBlueReview This is why I Gettleman deserves more time. He took some chances last year and won. This year snake eyes.
daringantt BlackBlueReview This is why I Gettleman deserves more time. He took some chances last year and won. This year snake eyes.
daringantt BlackBlueReview Now we’ll set him up with high draft picks and a slowly improving cap number.
daringantt BlackBlueReview Now we’ll set him up with high draft picks and a slowly improving cap number.
Jiveturkey_tom Gettleman’s drafting hasn’t been great.
2013 – Good Picks (1st Star and 2nd Short) – Bad Picks (4th the always injured OG Kugdila, 5th part-time OLB Klein who can’t play on passing downs, and 6th RB Barner who was traded away for nothing).
2014 – Good Picks (1st WR Benjamin and 3rd RG Turner), OK Pick (2nd Ealy, a disappointment so far, but a future starter), Bad Picks (2 very slow DB’s in the 4th and 5th rounds, 6th RB Gaffney who was lost to the Patriots by GM’s poor roster management, and traded away the 7th round pick to move up in the 5th round).
Jiveturkey_tom Gettleman’s drafting hasn’t been great.
2013 – Good Picks (1st Star and 2nd Short) – Bad Picks (4th the always injured OG Kugdila, 5th part-time OLB Klein who can’t play on passing downs, and 6th RB Barner who was traded away for nothing).
2014 – Good Picks (1st WR Benjamin and 3rd RG Turner), OK Pick (2nd Ealy, a disappointment so far, but a future starter), Bad Picks (2 very slow DB’s in the 4th and 5th rounds, 6th RB Gaffney who was lost to the Patriots by GM’s poor roster management, and traded away the 7th round pick to move up in the 5th round).
RLeeEarl Jiveturkey_tom While I can agree on the Kugbila, Barner, and Gaffney picks due to how they played out, disagree tremendously elsewhere; For what Klein provides (good depth at the very least, with potential to develop further) he has proven to be a good late-round pick up. Additionally, while Boston hasn’t played enough to make any sort of real judgements (though he’s looked decent in limited snaps), Bene has had what was an otherwise very good rookie season derailed by the unfortunately timed ankle injury (his skill-set translates perfectly to the NB position, and it has shown when he’s been on the field)
Time will tell how the pieces ultimately fall, but assuming Ealy, Klein, and Bene are classfied as OK (based on production vs. draft position), we will have come out of these two drafts with 4 legit starters (players who would realistically start on at least 16 other teams) and 3 legit role players (players who would contribute noticeable snaps in key roles i.e. NB, base SLB, etc.), with it being a 5/2 split if Ealy develops as expected (I have to imagine they planned on him playing less this year behind Hardy, since he was always a slightly raw prospect to begin with)…that’s 7 legit contributors to the team out of 11 picks, based on their draft position and expectations (i.e. never expecting Klein to become an all-pro, but expecting at least good rotational play). If we had approached ANYWHERE near that rate of draft success between 2008-2012, the team would be in a significantly better position. Obviously, injuries/unforeseen issues took a big toll on those draft classes (Otah looking like a future star before his injury, for example), but barring some catastrophic issues cropping up with these players this is an extremely promising start from a drafting perspective….
RLeeEarl Jiveturkey_tom While I can agree on the Kugbila, Barner, and Gaffney picks due to how they played out, disagree tremendously elsewhere; For what Klein provides (good depth at the very least, with potential to develop further) he has proven to be a good late-round pick up. Additionally, while Boston hasn’t played enough to make any sort of real judgements (though he’s looked decent in limited snaps), Bene has had what was an otherwise very good rookie season derailed by the unfortunately timed ankle injury (his skill-set translates perfectly to the NB position, and it has shown when he’s been on the field)
Time will tell how the pieces ultimately fall, but assuming Ealy, Klein, and Bene are classfied as OK (based on production vs. draft position), we will have come out of these two drafts with 4 legit starters (players who would realistically start on at least 16 other teams) and 3 legit role players (players who would contribute noticeable snaps in key roles i.e. NB, base SLB, etc.), with it being a 5/2 split if Ealy develops as expected (I have to imagine they planned on him playing less this year behind Hardy, since he was always a slightly raw prospect to begin with)…that’s 7 legit contributors to the team out of 11 picks, based on their draft position and expectations (i.e. never expecting Klein to become an all-pro, but expecting at least good rotational play). If we had approached ANYWHERE near that rate of draft success between 2008-2012, the team would be in a significantly better position. Obviously, injuries/unforeseen issues took a big toll on those draft classes (Otah looking like a future star before his injury, for example), but barring some catastrophic issues cropping up with these players this is an extremely promising start from a drafting perspective….
BlackBlueReview One of the better posts you have made thus far. Hopefully folks read it and remember what it says.
BlackBlueReview One of the better posts you have made thus far. Hopefully folks read it and remember what it says.
well thought out article…and accurate. i mentioned to someone that if this offseason isn’t our most aggressive in franchise history i’d be shocked. the gm decided to save this year, and we are putting our QB in jeopardy. it can’t happen again. minimally, the OL should be will need to be sufficiently addressed in the offseason, and i think we’ve seen enough out of this coaching staff. we don’t win the overall “coaching battle”….ever really.
well thought out article…and accurate. i mentioned to someone that if this offseason isn’t our most aggressive in franchise history i’d be shocked. the gm decided to save this year, and we are putting our QB in jeopardy. it can’t happen again. minimally, the OL should be will need to be sufficiently addressed in the offseason, and i think we’ve seen enough out of this coaching staff. we don’t win the overall “coaching battle”….ever really.
daringantt BlackBlueReview totally en pointe
daringantt BlackBlueReview totally en pointe
BlackBlueReview gettlemen is the worst gm ever hope they Fire him
BlackBlueReview gettlemen is the worst gm ever hope they Fire him
ugizzle23 were you saying that last year at this time as well?
ugizzle23 were you saying that last year at this time as well?
BlackBlueReview ok not fired but can we get some better decision making this offseason…..
BlackBlueReview ok not fired but can we get some better decision making this offseason…..
ugizzle23 he’s 1-for-2. this yr shouldn’t be final condemnation, just like he didn’t deserve a ticker-tape parade last yr. tough, tough job
ugizzle23 he’s 1-for-2. this yr shouldn’t be final condemnation, just like he didn’t deserve a ticker-tape parade last yr. tough, tough job
BlackBlueReview just want some better offseason moves.
BlackBlueReview just want some better offseason moves.
BlackBlueReview just like letting Steve smith go i think the world knew that was crazy
BlackBlueReview just like letting Steve smith go i think the world knew that was crazy
BlackBlueReview been a fan for years still think we can make the playoffs gonna be tough but it’s still very possible
#keeppounding
BlackBlueReview been a fan for years still think we can make the playoffs gonna be tough but it’s still very possible
#keeppounding
Jiveturkey_tom Perhaps the better QB broke an even decision Indy’s way.
Jiveturkey_tom Perhaps the better QB broke an even decision Indy’s way.
Teh_Biscuit BlackBlueReview excellent summary.
Teh_Biscuit BlackBlueReview excellent summary.
Jiveturkey_tom RLeeEarl Berwikere had a great opening game, but his play declined with each following game, until he was injured. He is only average size (5’10 7/8″), with short arms (only 30 inches), and overwhelmingly slow speed (an “official” Combine 4.63-40, “unofficially” 4.60-40, with a 1.64-10, and a Pro Day 4.67-40, with a 1.70-10). Perhads that’s why his level of play declined, as teams learned to take advantage of his weaknesses.
You also must give Gettleman credit for signing some good UDFA’s, like White and Norwell, but it’s like the Saints said about drafting Colston just a few picks before the end of the 7th round, “If we had known he’d be that good, then we would have drafted him much earlier”.
Jiveturkey_tom RLeeEarl Berwikere had a great opening game, but his play declined with each following game, until he was injured. He is only average size (5’10 7/8″), with short arms (only 30 inches), and overwhelmingly slow speed (an “official” Combine 4.63-40, “unofficially” 4.60-40, with a 1.64-10, and a Pro Day 4.67-40, with a 1.70-10). Perhads that’s why his level of play declined, as teams learned to take advantage of his weaknesses.
You also must give Gettleman credit for signing some good UDFA’s, like White and Norwell, but it’s like the Saints said about drafting Colston just a few picks before the end of the 7th round, “If we had known he’d be that good, then we would have drafted him much earlier”.
The Panthers need to add some dominate game changers this off-season. Such dominate game changers positions are in order QB (they have Cam and can’t improve upon him this year), RB, WR (Benjamin might become one, if he can learn to overcome his problem with drops), a Great Pass Rusher, a #1 Shutdown CB, and a good LT or O-Line as a whole. Such a RB can be found in the 1st round (Gurley or Gordon), or the 2nd and 3rd round (Yeldon, Davis, Johnson, or Allen). A WR who will contribute as a rookie must be found in the first 2 rounds (Cooper, White, Parker, Strong, Coates, and Montgomery), while Lippett and Mayle might be good in the 4th or 5th round. The only good pass rushing 4-3 DE is Dupree, probably going in the 2nd half of the 1st round. I’m not sure this draft has a shutdown CB (but such a FA would be much to expensive), so maybe the 2 Florida St. CB’s, Williams in the 1st, or Darby in the 2nd rounds. Other than maybe Peat in the top 5 picks, I doubt this draft has a top LT, so FA or a trade is probably the best option.
The Panthers need to add some dominate game changers this off-season. Such dominate game changers positions are in order QB (they have Cam and can’t improve upon him this year), RB, WR (Benjamin might become one, if he can learn to overcome his problem with drops), a Great Pass Rusher, a #1 Shutdown CB, and a good LT or O-Line as a whole. Such a RB can be found in the 1st round (Gurley or Gordon), or the 2nd and 3rd round (Yeldon, Davis, Johnson, or Allen). A WR who will contribute as a rookie must be found in the first 2 rounds (Cooper, White, Parker, Strong, Coates, and Montgomery), while Lippett and Mayle might be good in the 4th or 5th round. The only good pass rushing 4-3 DE is Dupree, probably going in the 2nd half of the 1st round. I’m not sure this draft has a shutdown CB (but such a FA would be much to expensive), so maybe the 2 Florida St. CB’s, Williams in the 1st, or Darby in the 2nd rounds. Other than maybe Peat in the top 5 picks, I doubt this draft has a top LT, so FA or a trade is probably the best option.