I understand the optimism amongst Panther fans.
They get to play Atlanta twice, which is a gift any team would gladly accept. They also get Kansas City at home, Chicago at home, Arizona at home, Oakland on the road, Detroit at home, and Denver at home. All winnable games.
If they can win those games, they have eight wins. Which means they would only need to win two games against New Orleans, the Giants, Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and San Diego to get to the magic 10-win mark, which, in the NFC, basically guarantees a playoff spot.
But I’m certainly not convinced this is a 10-win team—I’m not even convinced this is an eight-win team.
I talked about chemistry in the Bengals' preview. Chemistry requires continuity. The Panthers’ roster had a ton of turnover this offseason. Their success (or lack thereof) will be a direct result of how quickly all the new guys can come together.
I’m also weary of teams starting quarterbacks who just had their arms reconstructed. I’ve always liked Jake Delhomme, but I’m not sure what to make of the post-Tommy John Jake Delhomme. If he reacts like an MLB pitcher, he may end up coming back with a stronger arm.
But we won’t know how well he’s going to hold up until we get into the season. The Panthers can’t afford to go through quarterbacks like they did last year. They need Delhomme for 16 games if they’re going to hope to play a 17.
DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will make up a pretty good running-back tandem. Williams is fast and shifty. Stewart is stronger; he's more of a power guy. They should make for a good thunder-and-lightning combo.
The Panthers didn’t like their wide-receiver situation last year, so they looked to improve it this season. Drew Carter and Keary Colbert are gone, replaced by Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett. Both are significant upgrades over the guys they replaced.
Dwayne Jarrett is still on the roster, and he looked pretty decent in the preseason.
We all know about Steve Smith, but he needs to take his aggressions out on opponents instead of his own teammates. Once his suspension is over, he’ll reunite with Delhomme and his lackluster 2007 season will be just a memory.
The offensive line is pretty good. Jeff Otah is a 340-pound monster, and he’ll step right into the right-tackle spot. Keydrick Vincent is big. Ryan Kalil was good in college. Travelle Wharton should thrive at left guard. Jordan Gross is a solid tackle.
The offense will rely heavily on the running game and the surgically reconstructed arm of Jake Delhomme. They have the talent to be good, but we’ll take a wait-and-see approach.
The defense has some good parts, but the problem is that they’re not on the defensive line.
Julius Peppers is supposed to be a premier player, but he was terrible last season. He’s the best player on the defensive line. If they’re going to be any good, he needs to be the Peppers of old, not the Peppers who looked like he was getting old.
He’s shown signs in the preseason of being back to his old self, but I don’t put too much stock in preseason performance.
8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew Kneeland 10 months ago
Excellent stuff, Sean, as usual.
"Jeff Otah is a 340 pound monster..."
That is simply a huge human being. Incredible.
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Bob Fletcher 10 months ago
Great article!
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Dwan Samuel 10 months ago
Superb article and very thorough! I'm skeptical about 10 wins as well. Although, I can see them in the 8 or 9 win range.
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Matt Gilmartin 10 months ago
Well, Sean, unlike you, I'm convinced that this is a 10-win team.
Their chemistry already looks good. The offensive line in particular looks to have gelled nicely in training camp.
Delhomme's arm is better than ever. Look for him to have the type of season he would have had last year had he not gotten hurt in Week 3 and been out for the remainder of the season.
Williams and Stewart are already making for an extremely effective running combo.
I agree with the part about the receivers being upgraded, but Jarrett will crack 750 receiving yards and 65 catches this year as the third receiver. His numbers would be higher, but the Panthers run too much. Also Smith is not going to duplicate what he did to Lucas in training camp anytime soon. He knows he means too much to the team for that.
The starting offensive line looked excellent in the two normal games they played in—against the Colts and Redskins. In the Eagles game—which was marred by poor playing conditions and an hour-long delay in the middle of the first half due to lightning near the stadium—they didn't look great, but they weren't bad, either.
Your assessment of the defensive line is excellent except for one thing: Brayton is starting. Peppers is back to his old self. I know you don't take too much from preseason games, but he was still an absolute force in the preseason.
Jon Beason is a stud who anchors the linebacking corps. Landon Johnson needs to start over Na'il Diggs. Thomas Davis is still developing.
Lucas and Gamble are both great players. I believe Lucas had a better statistical season in 2007.
Godfrey is starting at free safety, and I'm thrilled to have big hitter Chris Harris back this year.
You made a great point about King—he was average last year with awful quarterbacks throwing to him most of last year. I responded to a comment of one of my own articles by saying that I have a gut feeling King could break out this season.
I also agree that the Panthers will be in the playoff hunt. What's more, I think they will be in the hunt for the division title.
I'm leaning heavily towards the 10 or 11 win mark for the season.
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
The Brayton comment was my awful attempt at humor. I said "As a starting defensive end, Tyler Brayton is a decent backup." ... meaning he's starting, but he shouldn't be.
I would love to place a friendly bet on Jarrett going 65 for 750.
You could be right. Like I said, they have the horses. It's just a matter of whether they can put it together. Historically, teams with this much turn over don't....
Thanks for the comment! Hopefully you're right and I'm wrong!
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Matt Gilmartin 10 months ago
Oh, haha, I get the Brayton joke. Yeah, I'm not sure he should be starting over Charles Johnson, either. But that's another knucklehead move the Panthers coaching staff has made since the final roster cuts came out on Saturday. Oh well...
You're on: Jarrett will go 65 for 750 for better. I just want to make sure there's no money on it. Betting is a stupid, foolish way to lose money (Hey, I just thought of an article idea!), and it would be really hard for the loser to pay up.
To be honest, I had lots of doubt about whether the Panthers' completely redone roster could gel, too, before I saw them. Now I don't have nearly as many doubts about their chemistry.
Nothing against you, but I'm hoping for the team's sake and the our sakes as fans that I'm right, too.
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Sean Crowe 10 months ago
No offense taken.
There are only three NFL teams that I actively root against.
1) The Jets (obvious reasons)
2) The Broncos (obnoxious family out in Denver)
and
3) The Colts (Pats fans hate the Colts, and Colts fans hate the Pats)
I'll be happy if I'm wrong about the Panthers.
As for the bet, just a friendly bet. The winner gets to say "I told you so" at the end of the season.
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Matt Gilmartin 10 months ago
All right, Sean. Consider a friendly bet placed: Jarrett for 65 and 750.
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