How Ron Rivera Can Save The Panthers And Go to The Playoffs

Jon Fox had a tumultuous last season ending his tenure with a 2-14 record with the Panthers. Ron Rivera has a tough task ahead of him. But things shouldn't look so bad. The St. Louis Rams went from 3-13 to winning the Super Bowl. Lets look at some of the aspects the Panthers have in front of them to get them to the big game once again.

Trade A Running Back

Double Trouble

Jonathan Stewart is a ferocious running back that run you over and sprint by you. The Panthers have gotten good production from him in his 3 years in the league. He has a slight fumbling problem that he should fix this offseason but other than that he has been lightning in a bottle. 

DeAngelo Williams has been hurt the last two seasons and many rumors have popped up stating that he will be traded this offseason. He may not get the same vale because of these injuries but is still worth something and is a proven back

Both these backs should be able to get at least a second round pick and maybe a conditional pick, but one of them needs to move on. Mike Goodson can compliment either of these backs and wouldn't force the Panthers to get another back in the draft or free agency.

What Teams Are Willing To Trade

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) Pierre Thomas #23, Reggie Bush #25, Lynell Hamilton #30 and Mike Bell #21 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate in the locker room with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bow

Arizona- Last year in free agency, the Cardinals signed All-Pro Alan Faneca to boost their suspect o-line. Beanie Wells has done little in two years, and Tim Hightower is more of a complimentary back. Whisenhunt does not have a quarterback to lead his team and his offense so a veteran running back would help nurture the quarterback they get from this draft.

Buffalo- Where do I begin? C.J. Spiller is a great athlete, not much of a running back. I would recommend the Bills get an o-line to help.

Denver- The former Carolina coach may want to get Williams on the cheap if he's going to go back to the ground and pound offense he had with the Panthers. The Broncos were 26th in the league in rushing yards

New Orleans- The literal definition of a running back by committee, the year the Saints won the Super Bowl they had four different running backs start at least 2 games. This year was not much different. The Saints need a back that won't get hurt and more of a between the tackles back, although Pierre Thomas does a good job as an every down back in that offense. Reggie Bush should be moved to wide receiver and should almost mimic Devon Hester's role with the Chicago Bears. 

What The Panthers Need

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

To put it mildly, they need a lot.

The Panthers are an interesting team. Once know for running and a dominant defense, they seem to now have a identity crisis.

There is still uncertainty on defense whether Rivera will run a 3-4 or a 4-3. Rumor has it that he will keep the already in place 4-3. 

Other than the Jets, the Panthers have the best cornerback tandem in the league and are finding adequate support from safties Charles Godfrey and Sherrod Martin who helped the Panthers to the leagues 11th ranked passed defense.

Their run defense, however could use some help. Jon Beason is a maniac on the field. Unfortunately he is only one man. They gave up an average of 123 rushing yards per game. Not good to say the least. I feel a compliment at linebacker would help the Panthers.

But all in all the Panthers need a healthy runningback that can last 16 games.

PICKS

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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Wide receiver #2 Austin Pettis of the Boise State Broncos tries to avoid cornerback #21 Rashad Carmichael of the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 6, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Imag

Needs: LB, WR, TE, OL, DL

Picks:

Round 1 pick 1 DL       Prediction: Da'Quan Bowers, Nick Fairley

Round 3 pick 65 WR    Prediction: Leonard Hankerson, Austin Pettis

Round 4 pick 97 TE     Prediction: Charles Clay

Round 5 pick 129 LB   Prediction: Casey Matthews, Scott Lutrus

Round 6 pick 161 OL   Prediction: C.E. Kaiser, Bo Thran, Jordan Holmes 

Round 7 pick 193 QB  Prediction: Anybody at this point

Draft Ideas

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers against Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There is still uncertainty on defense whether Rivera will run a 3-4 or a 4-3. Rumor has it that he will keep the already in place 4-3. 

Personally I would trade out of the number 1 pick, but sometimes the ball does not always bounce your way. 

If they go with a 4-3, which makes sense, people think that they will automatically pick Auburn DT Nick Fairley. Something tells me though, that Rivera will go a different route and take Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers. Rivera is use to having a consummate pass rush with past teams to keep pressure off the secondary. The Panthers seem to have done the exact opposite. With a fairly good secondary, the Panthers should concentrate on the front seven. They could make a mediocre pass rush even better, and pick up a linebacker in a latter round. They could also trade up for a wide receiver in Leonard Hankerson because there is no way he drops to the 3 round (the Panthers do not have a 2nd round pick).