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The resurgence of the ground game was reminiscent of when Stephen Davis was churning out yards in the Carolina ground game last season.
The Panthers combo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for over 2,300 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns making them the top combo in the NFL.
“The tailbacks we have in here this year are all high quality backs. You definitely got to keep your head on a swivel and definitely have to work hard because at any given time, you know if one of us, you know God forbid one of us go down. DeAngelo Williams said
I’m comfortable enough the coaching staff is comfortable enough to put one of those guys up and they can play in front or behind me or Stew (Jonathan Stewart)”.
Adding to the core and turning heads this spring is rookie running back Mike Goodson who brings more speed than Williams or Stewart. Goodson has been the talk of camp early and his progress could make this running game that much better this year.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: In all the moves made this off-season the Panthers not addressing the quarterback position certainly raised some eyebrows from league observers. Jake Delhomme single handedly brought the Panthers down last season in the playoffs, throwing five interceptions in the home playoff loss against Arizona. It’s not that Delhomme bad but when he is he’s down right awful, having four games combined with a total of 14 picks That should have been a red flag for this organization to address this area. Josh McCown and Matt Moore are the back ups so the Panthers coaching staff must know more than we do because if Delhomme misses a long stretch of time the thinking would be the Panthers are in trouble.
 Running Backs: Could of typed superb and ended it right there. DeAngelo Williams broke out in 2009 like bad acne on a teenager last season. His 1,515 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns put ranked him third in the entire NFL in rushing and led the league in rushing touchdowns. Aiding in his ability to make plays and stay fresh was standout out rookie Jonathan Stewart who displayed the same burst at this level as he did in Oregon. The addition of 2009 rookie Mike Goodson brings another speed level to this class and should make the Panthers that much harder to stop late in games. Doing the dirty work and paving holes is long time Panther Brad Hoover.
Wide Receivers: Is there a better run-after-the-catch receiver in the game besides Steve Smith? Smith creates after the catch on his own and makes high plays as much as Dunkin Donut’s makes coffee. Smith enjoyed one of his finest seasons in recent years while averaging 18.2 ypc on 78 receptions. Father time Mushin Mahammad enters his 14th season. Muhammad is still productive for 36 years of age his 923 yards in 2008 were the most receiving since 2004 his last season with Carolina before returning from Chicago. Dwayne Jarrett is a big receiver who has yet to put it altogether. Entering his third season in Carolina Jarrett is going to have to make some strides or he could be looking for a new team.
Tight End: This position isn’t a big part of the Panther offense or at least since Wesley Walls was last seen there. Jeff King, Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge will platoon at the position.
Offensive Line: The re-signing of unrestricted free agent left tackle Jordan Gross was the key move for this Panther club this off-season. Gross is one of the best at his position and with the ground game the focus of the offense his return was key. Next to him is Travelle Wharton who can play both guard and tackle. Ryan Kalil the teams center has played well in his two short years with the club and while not the biggest guy out there he can handle his own and plays with smarts. The right side of the ball has both the youngest and oldest players on the line. Right guard Keydrick Vincent enters his ninth season, while last years first round pick Jeff Otah looks to play all 16 games in his second season. Otah the other of Carolina’s first round picks last season missed some time but was awfully good when he was healthy. Vincent is physical and his experience should help Otah along.
DEPTH CHART
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FS |
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SS |
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CB |
CHARLES GODFREY |
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CHRIS HARRIS |
CB |
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CHRIS GAMBLE |
NATE SALLEY |
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SLB |
MLB |
WLB |
QUINTON TEAL |
RICHARD MARSHALL |
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RICHARD MARSHALL |
SHERROD MARTIN |
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NA'IL DIGGS |
JON BEASON |
THOMAS DAVIS |
ANTHONY SCIRROTTO |
C.J. WILSON |
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LANDON JOHNSON |
ANTHONY HEYGOOD |
JAMES ANDERSON |
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CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN |
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K |
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MORTTY IVY |
MIKE JUERGENS |
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D.J. CLARK |
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JOHN KASEY |
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LDE |
LNT |
RNT |
RDE |
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P |
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TYLER BRAYTON |
MAAKE KEMOEATU |
DAMIONE LEWIS |
JULIUS PEPPERS |
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JASON BAKER |
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CHARLES JOHNSON |
CORVERY IRVIN |
JUSTIN KERSHAW |
HILEE TAYLOR |
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COACH |
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EVERETTE BROWN |
LONNIE HARVEY |
MARLON FAVORITE |
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JON FOX |
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WR |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
TE |
WR |
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STEVE SMITH |
JORDAN GROSS |
TRAVELLE WHARTON |
RYAN KALIL |
KEYDRICK VINCENT |
JEFF OTAH |
JEFF KING |
MUSHIN MUHAMMED |
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RYNE ROBINSON |
PATRICK BROWN |
KEITH GRAY |
GEOFF HANGARTNER |
C.J. DAVIS |
DUKE ROBINSON |
DANTE ROSARIO |
DWAYNE JARRETT |
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JASON CARTER |
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JUSTIN GEISINGER |
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GERALD CADOGAN |
GARY BARNIDGE |
LARRY BEAVERS |
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FB |
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QB |
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RB |
KEVIN BROCK |
JASON CHERY |
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BRAD HOOVER |
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JAKE DELHOMME |
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DEANGELO WILLIAMS |
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TONY FIAMMETTA |
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MATT MOORE |
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JONATHAN STEWART |
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JOSH MCCOWN |
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MIKE GOODSON |
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HUNTER CANTWELL |
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JAMALL LEE |
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DEFENSE
 Defensive Line: Hard to believe Julius Peppers 14.5 sacks last season were the most in his career. Maybe because he has been such a force off the edge since he entered the league back in 2002. Peppers may be one of the top three defensive players in the league when he is on. After the season he expressed his desire to be dealt out of Carolina and while some rumors swirled about him going to New England, nothing ever materialized. Everette Brown the rookie from Florida State will play left end for the Panthers assuming he can beat in incumbent Charles Johnson. Brown should benefit immediately from having Peppers on the other end. Filling the 4/3 front are interior lineman Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis both are solid players.
Linebackers: Arguably, one of the finest linebackers in the NFL, Jon Beason enters his third season, having already established himself as one of the games best, as an All Pro and anchor of the team. Converted safety Thomas Davis plays weakside linebacker and is the best at blitzing with his speed. Nine-year veteran Na’il Diggs plays the strong-side role in the Panthers defense. Diggs doesn’t show the flash like the others but his game is steady and solid. Dan Connor aims to find a niche in the line up after missing his 13 games last season and being placed on the IR. He along with Landon Johnson and James Anderson provide nice depth for the team.
Defensive Backs: Chris Gamble is the main stay and best player on the secondary. Gamble can at times be and elite corner and the Panthers paid him like one last season. Ken Lucas the big free agent signing from a few years back was released giving way to Richard Marshall who will get plenty of action with teams shying away from Gamble on the other side of the field. Strong safety Chris Harris to me is one of the games most underrated players and his punishing style of play fits the bill for the Carolina club. Free safety Charles Godfrey enters his second season in the NFL and second season as starter to boot. Godfrey made some mistakes last year but what doesn’t? Sherrod Martin the team’s second pick in the 2009 draft from Troy has made a successful conversion from safety to cornerback and will hear his name called plenty as the teams third corner.
SPECIAL TEAMS
John Kasay remains the only Panther left form the inaugural 1995 team. Entering his 19th season, Kasay was 28/31 last season. While he doesn’t do kick offs anymore that duty belongs to Rhys Lloyd the long time vet Kasay looks to still have it. Jason Baker playing for his sixth team since 2001 and his last 4 with Carolina finished 13th in the NFL with and net average of 37.1, which gives the Panthers quality at the position. Steve Smith would be the first choice if injuries weren’t part of the game but since this isn’t Madden, Ryne Robinson get s the nod for the return duties.
CAROLINA PANTHERS OFF-SEASON TRACKER
Acquisitions
QB Brett Basanez: FA; 2 yrs, terms unknown
OC Justin Geisinger: Not tendered as RFA by Redskins; terms unknown
LS J.J. Jansen (traded Packers)
Drafted
RB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
FB Tony Fiammetta, Syracuse
OL Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
DE Everette Brown, Florida State
DL Corvey Irvin, Georgia
CB Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
DB Sherrod Martin, Troy
Undrafted Free Agents
QB Hunter Cantwell, Louisville
RB Jamall Lee, Bishop's College (Canada)
RB Markus Manson, Valdosta State
WR Jason Cherry, La.-Lafayette
WR Larry Beavers, Wesley
TE Kevin Brock, Rutgers
OT Patrick Brown, Central Florida
OT Gerald Cadogan, Penn State
OT Gary Williams, Kentucky
OG C.J. Davis, Pittsburgh
OC Keith Gray, Connecticut
DT Marlon Favorite, LSU
DT Lonnie Harvey, Morgan State
DT Justin Kershaw, Michigan State
LB Anthony Heygood, Purdue
LB Mortty Ivy, West Virginia
LB Mike Juergens, Wyoming
LB Brit Miller, Illinois
CB D.J. Clark, Idaho State
FS Anthony Scirrotto, Penn State
LS Nick Sundberg, California
Re-signed
WR Jason Carter: Not tendered as ERFA; $385,000/1 yr
TE Jeff King: RFA; $1.545M/1 yr
OT Jordan Gross: Potential UFA; 6 yrs, terms unknown
DT Nick Hayden: ERFA; $310,000/1 yr
LB James Anderson: RFA; $1.01M/1 yr
CB C.J. Wilson: ERFA; tendered at $385,000; terms unknown
DB Nate Salley: RFA; $1.01M/1 yr
Departures
WR Mark Jones: UFA Titans; terms unknown
RB Nick Goings (released)
WR D.J. Hackett (released)
OT Frank Omiyale: UFA Bears; $11.5M/4 yrs, $5.5M SB
OG Jeremy Bridges (released)
OG Geoff Hangartner: UFA Bills; $9.6M/4 yrs, guarantees unknown
DT Gary Gibson: Not tendered as RFA/Rams; terms unknown
DT J'Vonne Parker: Not tendered as ERFA/Broncos; terms unknown
LB Adam Seward: UFA Colts; 1 yr, terms unknown
CB Ken Lucas (released)
Unsigned
DT Darwin Walker (not tendered as UFA June 1)
LB Donte Curry (not tendered as UFA June 1)
LS Jason Kyle (not tendered as UFA June 1)
PROJECTION
Finishing first in the NFC South and losing in the first round to the Cardinals had to leave a very bad taste in everyone’s mouth. The Panthers didn’t lose much on the roster side of things might behind close doors some might of lost faith that Delhomme is the type of quarterback that can win the big one. Most of the team is filled with a super star at each position something most teams might not be able to say. Except Delhomme, who will have the target on his back from day one of the season and if he struggles early, don’t be surprised to see a quarterback change. Jon Fox was on the hot seat last year and the running game pulled him out of that chair, he’ll have to make sure Delhomme doesn’t push him back in it. Despite the concern of the quarterback play, this is still the best team in the South and look for them to win the division again at 10-6.
Photo Credit: College Press Box (Florida St., Syracuse)
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