2009 Carolina Panthers: GROUNDbreaking Team

The Carolina Panthers are coming off a disappointing finish to what looked like was going to be a special 2008 season.

The team was crushed at home in the Divisional Playoff by the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. The bad taste left in the mouth's of Panthers players is something they have had to deal with all off season. With a new campaign on the horizon, where this team will end up is anyone's guess.

The Panthers are the proud owners of the top running game in the NFL. Anyone that is a fan of this league or knows much about football would struggle to argue against the one-two punch of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They are the shake and bake tandem of the Carolina's, but why weren't they given the ball in last year's playoff debacle?

The passing game was dreadful on that fateful night against the Cardinals. Quarterback Jake Delhomme threw five interceptions and coughed up another fumble, making him responsible for six turnovers. Williams and Stewart only ran the ball 15 times in that game, with Stewart only garnering three of those carries on the night.

The Panthers' defense and running game will not be what stands between this team and a possible NFC Championship. It's going to come down to Jake Delhomme's decision making and whether or not this coaching staff, who may be on a short leash themselves, put the Panthers' offense in a position to be successful.

Delhomme signed a new five-year extension with the club this off season, and a lot of Panthers' faithful are wondering why. If the coaching staff does not get in their own way and put Jake in dreadful situations, the team should be fine and will compete with anyone in the NFL. If the staff expects Delhomme to carry this team on his back, Panthers' fans will be sorely disappointed come the end of the season..again.