32 Teams in 32 Days, Team #15: The Carolina Panthers

a 7-9 record was not good enough to get the Panthers into the playoffs last year. Most of that can be blamed on their quarterback problems last season. Jake Delhomme was having a fantastic year until the injury bug hit him hard and ended his season. This forced the Panthers to play the under-achieving David Carr, a man I feel should not even be playing in the NFL, let alone starting for any franchise. Things got so bad in Carolina, that they even went out and got the older-then-God Vinny Testaverde. Testaverde played ok, but it wasn’t what this team needed to have success. Lets face it, the season was over when Delhomme went down. The offensive line played terribly last season. Delhomme may not have been able to avoid the injury, but Carr was getting killed back there when he played. The Panthers needed to fix that offensive line coming into this year. They did pick up a couple of good draft picks. Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh will be a great addition to the line. I don’t think its going to be enough, but lets hope for the Panther’s sake that the offensive line can come through.

Their defense isn’t loaded with stars. You gotta love Julius Peppers at defensive end, but really are there any more playmakers on that defense? The division they play in isn’t loaded with talent either, but you gotta believe that having a decent to good defense would give the Panthers an edge in their division. After all it was defensive football that won the division last year for the Tampa Bay Buccs. The only team from the NFC South to make the playoffs. Charles Godfrey out of Iowa may help out at cornerback and that could shut down opposing offenses. I’m hoping that Dan Connor out of Penn State can provide some spark to this otherwise dormant defense. Things have got to change in Carolina. The defense would have been a good place to start.

Muhsin Muhammad is coming back home. After spending a few seasons with the Chicago Bears, Muhammad is back in Carolina, ready to help bring this team a championship. Ok, Ok, well at least maybe a playoff birth. It is a situation where Steve Smith needed help. Smith is one of the best wide recievers in the game, but without help, he wasn’t going to make the type of impact that you would expect from a playmaker of his caliber. But now, The Moose is back. Muhsin Muhammad is a veteran wide receiver that has some of the most reliable hands in the league and he will help out Smith tremendously. The Panthers also picked up D.J Hackett, but he has struggled to stay healthy. If Hackett can avoid the injury bug this year, I’m sure he will be able to provide, but I’m banking on the wide receiver tandem of Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad.

The Panthers selected Running Back Jonathan Stewart for their first pick in the draft this year. Stewart is a stand out from Oregon that will fit perfectly into this offense. DeShaun Foster will no longer be running for this team and DeAngelo Williams has been never been anything more then a complimentary running back. This situation is perfect for Stewart to win the starting job in his rookie season. I think its going to start a new era for the Carolina Panthers as far as their running game is concerned. Stewart has the ability to get it done in the NFL, all we need to see is if he has the heart to do it. If Jonathan Stewart plays anything like his days with Oregon, he will be very successful in Carolina.

The quarterback situation is still a bit scary in Carolina. Jake Delhomme will be back and assuming he stays healthy, the Panthers should have a good season. However, if Delhomme gets hurt once again the Panthers are in a bind. Gone is David Carr, not a huge loss. Gone is Vinny Testaverde, again not a huge loss. The Panthers are left with two other options. The inexperienced Matt Moore and the un-drafted Brett Basanez. Moore has played a few games in his NFL career totaling 730 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He does not have the experience to get the job done. Basanez is an un-drafted rookie. He will only be used as an emergency last choice option. The Panthers have taken a big risk not signing or drafting a reliable quarterback. Lets hope for their sake Delhomme stays healthy.

The Panthers face an uphill battle this year. They start the season off with a game in San Diego against the tough Chargers. It doesn’t get better when they then have to play against the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Two defenses that are praised around the league. There doesn’t seem to be many winnable games on their schedule, but maybe with Delhomme healthy, Muhammad back on the team, Smith making big plays, and Jonathan Stewart breaking out, maybe the Panthers can get’er done. I have a soft spot in my heart for Carolina, but I don’t see the playoffs in their future. I hope they prove me wrong. Lets go Panthers!