Carolina Panthers Re-Sign DeAngelo Williams; Is Jonathan Stewart Odd Man Out?

Yesterday I wrote that the Carolina Panthers ought to dump DeAngelo Williams and use the money they would spend on him to get themselves a much-needed free agent wide receiver.  Today the Panthers scoffed at the idea and re-signed Williams to a five-year, $43 million deal.  I guess they aren’t that worried about his age or his ACLs after all.  As a fan, I am happy to see Williams’ contract renewed.  He’s one of the most exciting players on the team, and the money seems reasonable.

The Question Still Remains: Do the Panthers Need Three RBs?

The rationale for my earlier article remains.  The Panthers were pretty good running the football last year, even with Williams on the bench for most of the season, and everyone in the NFL knowing that they had no passing attack.  Mike Goodson in particular stepped up his game, ringing up almost 1,800 all-purpose yards (452 rushing, 310 receiving, 1,034 returning kicks).  Jonathan Stewart was his normal, reliable self, compiling 873 rushing and receiving yards.  The Panthers ranked 13th in rushing yards per game.

The Running Game Is Fine; the Problem Is the Passing Game.

Here’s the problem with the Panthers offense: last year, they ranked last in total offensive yards per game, last in passing yards per game, and last in total points scored per game.

In other words, the running attack is fine.  The passing attack is horrendous.

Surely QBs Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen had something to do with that stat.  Both started games for Carolina and both were awful.  The often-injured offensive line did not help much with pass protection.  

Can We Please Get Some Help for Smitty?

And in the John Fox system, where tight ends block but don’t catch many passes, there was really only one target for the QBs to throw to:  double- and triple-covered Steve Smith.  That worked about like you would expect: not at all.  The Panthers are in desperate need of another wide receiver.

Is JStew Going to Stay? or Go?

So, with a new coach in Ron Rivera, and with D. Williams re-signed, do the Panthers keep Stewart and Goodson too?

Stewart, out of Oregon, signed in 2008.  He has had a nagging big toe injury, but no other major injury problems.  He had a great year in 2009 (1,200+ yards) and two solid years in ’08 and ’10.  He is one of my favorite Panthers, a lunch-bucket, no-drama, bring-it-every-game kind of player.  When you absolutely, positively must have a first down on 3^rd and 3, he gets the call.

But the Panthers do not need three high quality backs as much as they need another good receiver.  I think we will see some action on that issue soon.