You can learn a lot from a Dave Gettleman press conference. The Panthers’ general manager won’t give away secrets, but he doesn’t flat out lie. Most importantly, he drops lots of little nuggets that can foreshadow many of the team’s upcoming strategies and moves.It’s always interesting to go back and listen to a Gettleman press conference a day or two after he talks. It’s even more interesting to re-listen a few months after moves are made. Eventually, we’ll be able to look back at what he said at Tuesday’s end-of-season press conference and think, “Woah, he said he was going to do that, and he did.”You can watch Gettleman’s entire 30-minute meeting with the media here, or you can read the entire transcript here.But for now, let’s read the tea leaves from 15 of his most intriguing comments.

1. “We’d like to get faster. We need more speed, we know that. We’re not silly. We’re not going to miss the obvious.”

When asked how the Panthers need to improve, adding speed was the prevalent answer from Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera. Gettleman won’t fall out of love with big hog mollies anytime soon, but look for the Panthers to add faster guys to the receiving corps and secondary.

2. “I told you guys last year at the post-season presser that we were going to struggle, and it was economic-driven. I’ve also said that when that cap jumped five million, that put us in a bad spot. I told you guys last offseason, again; it’s the credit card concept.  I owe 15 grand on the credit card, all of a sudden I got a big raise, oh boy, now I can jump it up to 20? Uh uh, you can’t do it. That cap-jumping and the UFA signings we did in the offseason was economics-driven.”

The Panthers had to know they needed speed last year, but none of their free agent signings addressed the issue. Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Avant, Roman Harper, Thomas DeCoud? Yeah, they’re not fast. But Gettleman was committed to getting the cap healthier last spring, and fast players cost money. Unless you’re talking about Tiquan Underwood, and when he couldn’t catch, the Panthers found themselves in a big bind.

3. “I told you guys we have to get out of this situation, and we are in a better place right now than we were a year ago, … What excites me is last year when I was sitting here talking to you guys, we had 22 UFAs. This year I think it’s 11. We’re in a better place. We’ve got younger talent under contract, and young talent that everybody in Charlotte should be excited about.”

What the Panthers did last offseason wasn’t about trying to win a Super Bowl in 2014. Even though they thought they could make another playoff run, they knew they were going to take a step back. But that step back allowed them to infuse young (read: cheaper and under contract) talent into the lineup, and a year later, they’re in a better spot as they build toward the future.

4. “Last year we were shopping in the dollar store. This year we may be able to move up in class a little bit.”

Gettleman made it clear last spring that the Panthers would not be big players in free agency. With a bit more cash to spend this year, they can consider bigger ticket items.

5. “I said we’re going to move up in class. I didn’t say we’re going to go out and spend big money on a player.”

The Panthers have more financial flexibility, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to land the big fish everyone will want when free agency starts on Mar. 10.

6. “We need him to be more consistent and the players around him need to be more consistent, … He told you himself after the Arizona game — he needs to improve his mechanics. It’s a building process. Everybody wants a player to be great yesterday. It doesn’t work that way with everybody. It doesn’t work that way with anybody. It takes time.”

As is his policy, Gettleman wouldn’t answer questions about contracts, even though reporters tried to get him to bite on Cam Newton’s future. Both Gettleman and Rivera stressed that Newton needs to be more consistent, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they want to see that consistency improve next season before they hand him a gigantic new contract.

7. “Yes.”

That was Gettleman’s answer when asked if he still sees Newton as a franchise quarterback. Newton will eventually be paid, and it’s highly likely the Panthers will write the checks, it’s just not a guarantee that will happen this offseason.

8. “We knew that we were going to rebuild the secondary, the offensive line, and the wide receivers. I’ve told you guys this before, I believe defense wins championships. Offense scores points; defense wins championships. I thought it was extremely important that we keep the front together. That’s why we made the decision to franchise Greg, and obviously it blew up.”

When the Panthers put the franchise tag on Greg Hardy, they never intended to sign him to a long-term deal. He was a rental, and it made sense. The best way to make another playoff run while rebuilding at other spots was to keep the dominant front seven intact. Hardy’s legal situation threw a wrench into that plan. And while Gettleman and Rivera won’t come right out and say it, Hardy is not in the franchise’s future plans.

9. “I need to talk to DeAngelo. He’s a pro’s pro. He had a tough season. The obvious, the loss of his mom was very, very difficult. He only played six games this year. It was tough for him, and before I say anything, just know he’s a pro’s pro. And they way he finished the season, he finished it like a man. And I’m proud of the way he finished.”

Few think DeAngelo Williams will be back in a Carolina uniform next year, and Gettleman seems to have learned from his mistake of talking about Steve Smith’s ‘evaluation’ while using the past tense last year. Sitting down and talking to the franchise’s all-time leading rusher before the parting of ways is just something that needs to happen.

10. “Byron showed flashes. It’s about consistency. I give him a little bit of the benefit of the doubt; it was his first year playing there. But I think we’ve shown if a player shows up that we think is going to make us better, we’re going to go get him.”

Gettleman stopped well short of praising left tackle Byron Bell. In fact, it’s hard to say he said something nice about him. The Panthers could sign Bell, who’s about to become a free agent, to a very small deal, but he wasn’t the answer on the roster.

11. “I’m thrilled for Steve, and I’m thrilled for us. I think Kelvin, as he learns how to play, he got deep Saturday night, unfortunately it was too close to the back of the end zone. Corey definitely gives us the speed we want. No, I don’t regret the decision. I think it was a win-win.”

Gettleman took a lot of heat for his controversial decision to release Smith last year, but he’s right — it was a win-win. Rookies Kelvin Benjamin and Corey (Philly) Brown likely would not have grown as quickly if Smith’s presence still permeated the locker room. Smith had a solid season in Baltimore, but it’s unlikely the Panthers would have gone much further with him.

12. “I felt good about the decisions we made going into the season based on the three positions we were going to have to rework, based on the economics, based on the decision of keeping the front together. I felt good about it. And then we had a season that you couldn’t make it up.”

Gettleman’s job this year — to rebuild three positions without a lot of money while trying to make another playoff run — was unenviable. And that was before Newton’s injuries, Hardy’s arrest and everything else that popped up.

13. “Do I have a say in Ron’s staff? I can make suggestions. But he’s going to make the ultimate decisions.”

When Rivera spoke earlier on Tuesday, he insinuated no changes were coming to the coaching staff. If it’s truly up to him, fans who want to see offensive coordinator Mike Shula and special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers replaced will be left disappointed.

14. “Ron and I are growing together. We’re tied together. I have complete confidence in him and his ability to coach, his ability to motivate these players.”

And fans who want to see Rivera replaced anytime soon will be left disappointed.

15. “It’s going to be strong at wide receiver again. It looks like it’s going to be strong at offensive tackle again. It looks there’s going to be some depth at defensive end, pass rushers. You know how I feel about pass rushers.”

It’s going to be hard enough to predict what the Panthers are going to do in the draft on the night it starts, let alone three months before that. And while Gettleman will always go with the best player available, it’s not a stretch to start focusing in on the available receivers, offensive tackles and defensive ends.

RON RIVERA’S PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS