Why the Carolina Panthers Have a Chance Next Year

All right Panther fans, the time has come: Prepare yourself for my Carolina Panthers '08-'09 preview. I have never done this before, so please bear with me.

2007 Season

Last year was a complete disappointment. The Panthers finished with a 7-9 record and went through four quarterbacks. As a Panthers fan, I was embarrassed.

Quarterback

Obviously, this offense has no chance of succeeding without Jake Delhomme. If he goes down again, or his Tommy John surgery hurts his performance, the Carolina Panthers are doomed.

Last year, in the three games that he played in, Jake Delhomme threw for 624 yards and eight touchdowns, with a 64 percent completion rating. He also had a quarterback rating of 111.8.

His touchdown percentage was 9.3 percent, which means that almost 10 percent of his passes were touchdowns. As opposed to 2.9 percent, which was the Panthers' next leader in that statistic, Vinny Testaverde. The Panthers went 2-1 in the games that Delhomme played in.

He also only threw one interception in those games.

Delhomme should probably throw for 20 or more touchdowns and about 17 interceptions this year. It just depends on how that Tommy John surgery affects him.

It is my opinion that the Carolina Panthers will try to incorporate the passing game more this season, as the receiving corps has been improved immensely through free agency.

Running Back

The drafting of Jonathan Stewart could be huge, as he gives the Panthers the power back that they have needed. Losing DeShaun Foster was actually a good thing, in my mind. Last year, DeAngelo Williams averaged five-yards per carry last year, while DeShaun Foster only averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

DeShaun Foster had only 160 more rushing yards than DeAngelo, and he had 103 more carries. I just don't understand why DeAngelo wasn't named the starting back last year. He finished the year with 717 yards and four touchdowns.

He also didn't have a single fumble all season. While Jonathan Stewart has the potential to make an immediate impact, we will always have DeAngelo to fall back on.

I expect DeAngelo Williams to be the primary back for the beginning of the season, but for Stewart to eventually take over. Look for Jonathon Stewart to finish with about 800 to 900 yards, and six or seven touchdowns. DeAngelo will get about 750 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide Receiver

Steve Smith should have a great season this year. I think that he is hungry to have another season like his fifth year in the league. (103 receptions, 1,563 yards, and 12 touchdowns).

While I am not sure that he can produce numbers like that again this year, it is definitely a possibility, with the improved receiving corps. I would expect him to have about 95 receptions, 1,400 yards, and 10 touchdowns.

D.J. Hackett should be a good role player in the Panthers' offense this year. He most definitely showed potential last year, getting over 100 yards in three of the eight games that he played in. He had 136 yards and one touchdown against Chicago, 101 yards and one touchdown against San Francisco, and 101 yards and one touchdown against the Washington Redskins in the playoffs.

Carolina also acquired 35-year old Muhsin Muhamad. This helps by giving us a big, reliable receiver, but doesn't help to solidify our future in any way. Muhsin is definitely on his career's decline. Last year, he had 40 receptions, 570 yards, and only three touchdowns.

They also acquired Travis Taylor, who, in his best season, had 870 yards, 61 receptions, and six touchdowns. Travis Taylor is currently 30-years old.

Tight End

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