What is your opinion of the Carolina Panthers?

Question

Please, only those who actually pay attention to the NFL. I'm looking for people who pay attention to this sport to give their opinion on this question. Only 2 more weeks until preseason starts..OMG I'm so freakin' excited I think I'm gonna explode!!!

Answer 1

They're my obsession, so I feel I can answer this pretty well. Delhomme is the Tom Brady of the NFC; people can dispute that, but look at his poise in the pocket, his ability to raise the level of play, and his passion for the game. Weinke proved his worth last year too in Detroit, so I feel confident there.
Foster will be healthier and prove what he started to last year- that he is an effective and dangerous runner on all routes, including North-South. I am excited to see how John Fox and Dan Henning want to use DeAngelo Williams, but I would guess that he will see a lot of time in the kick return game and add yet another weapon to the most underrated part of the Panthers' game plan: the screen pass. Eric Shelton is determined to prove his critics wrong, and Nick Goings and Brad HOOOver is still around, so we're good at RB.
Steve Smith is a beast no matter what route he's running and who is chasing him, and the key will be keeping him happy with the number of balls thrown to him. I think he still has some maturity issues, as evidenced by last year's Dallas episode. But I think the media gives him a bad rap, and he knows how important he is to this team, so he'll keep being a stud. Keyshawn was a tremendous pickup, and he will keep secondaries honest with Smith. Drew Carter and Keary Colbert will make their plays in the slot, and it seems that Fox wants his tight ends to be blockers first and foremost, which they are.
I think Carolina made a mistake releasing Adam Meadows this week, because I sense some depth issues on the offensive line. Wharton is talented but small at left tackle, and Evan Mathis needs to grow up fast at right guard. But, Hartwig was a clutch signing, and he and Mike Wahle should steady the interior line.
Our defensive line looks as good, if not better than 2003. Obviously, the key is Kris Jenkins' health, and we just have to pray that he's back to 100% for good. If he's even at 80%, though, he's still one of the best DTs in the game. His return means big things for Julius Peppers, and Maake Kemoeatu and Rucker will make nightmares for backs across the league. Also, their depth is amazing, so they can give offenses different looks throughout the game.
Their linebacking corps is by far the weakest position. This scares me, because I saw what a lack of LBs can do to a playoff team (last year's Giants). Morgan, maybe moreso than Foster or Jenkins, NEEDS to stay healthy. We also need to see the big-hit ability of Thomas Davis right away, and hope that a combination of Chris Draft, Na'il Diggs and Keith Adams can plug the rest of the slots in this unit. There's definitely potential here, including rookie James Anderson, but this is the unit to monitor in the preseason for sure.
The cornerbacks are finally a position of stability for us! Gamble and Lucas are among the best in the league at being fast, aggressive ballhawks. Gamble just needs to improve in overall coverage skills. Getting Reggie Howard back was nice after the loss of Ricky Manning Jr., and Richard Marshall has first-round talent. Safety is another concern, but I feel bullish on Shaun Williams and Colin Branch being healthy, and Minter is a mainstay and rock. Plus, we have big hitters all over our defense, so safety is a weakness that can be covered up slightly by our other strengths.
John Kasay (except for his INEXCUSABLE KICKOFF OUT OF BOUNDS IN THE SUPER BOWL) is a Panther legend, and Jason Baker made everyone forget Todd (Steroid) Sauerbrun. And, with speed in the return game, we will defintely score a couple return TDs.
The intangibles on this team are great. John Fox is a great leader and example for the locker room, and the team is full of great personalities. Much is made of the Steve Smith-Keyshawn potential problem, but Johnson is a guy who gets down to business, and he will make it happen. They play in a stadium with great and passionate fans, and they have the experience from the last few years to help them handle success and adversity.
The schedule is definitely interesting and puts Carolina in primetime, which was long overdue. They play the AFC North and NFC East this year, maybe the hardest divisions in each conference. The opening eight games are tough, including a home opener with the Falcons, a two-week trip to Baltimore and Cincinatti and a Sunday Night game hosting the Cowboys. I see them going at least 5-3 in this stretch. After a Week 9 bye, they host Tampa on Monday Night, and two weeks later begin a grueling five-week stretch (at Washington, Monday Night at Philadelphia, Giants, Pittsburgh, at Atlanta). No question this qill test the team's determination and resolve. But, it's good preparation for the playoffs, and I see them again going no worse than 5-3 in the second half. T
his puts them at a worst-case scenario, in my opinion, barring injuries, at 10-6. Best-case scenario, they run away with a 13-3 mark and sweep up home-field. Either way, this team is playoff-tested, and will march to another finish deep in January. I won't predict exactly where (I WILL NOT JINX ANYTHING), but as of today, things couldn't be finer in Carolina.

Answer 2

The Panthers are amazing. One of the best upper management ever. Where else can you come back from a 1-15 season, and 2 years later make the superbowl, and still be the team to beat till this day? It's funny though, because how well the Panthers have done is all because of one game. In a Jacksonville v. Carolina game, where the Panthers were absolutely getting dominated, John Fox decides to bench starter Rodney Peete and play his backup, Jake Delhomme. Jake led a huge comeback, leading the Panthers to victory, Jake took the starting job from Peete that day, and you know how that worked out.


Yeah, I'm a Panthers fan.

Answer 3

If Foster fully rebounds from the broken ankle and can play consistently, and Delhomme can also play consistently throughout the season, then they're going to do well. Delhomme's 88.1 passer rating was decent but not great. Only nine other starting QB's were sacked more than Delhomme. This offensive line needs help. Although Foster was sharing carries with Davis, this doesn't excuse him from averaging 1.3 yards per carry one game and 5.3 yards per carry the next. He's had consistency problems. With second year man Eric Shelton and now drafting DeAngelo Williams, Foster could be shipped out. At pick #27, Williams was a steal. I think he's the real deal and will be a better back than Foster is.

The defense gave up only 282 yards a game, third best in the NFL, but they can't carry the team by themselves. The offense finished 22nd overall with only 309 yards a game.

Answer 4

HA. Jake Delhomme will shatter under the pressure. sure panthers have great receivers. actually some of the best in the leauge but they cant do much unless they have the ball now can they. all we(atlanta) have to do is apply the pressure and bring the pain with 1 of the best Middle linbackers Keith Brooking and 2 of the best defensive ends Patrick Kerney and John Abraham. Along with our cornerback DeAngelo Hall, whose speed rivals Mick Vicks, and our new safty NFL icon Laywer Milloy, we will either win by small margin or dominate Carolina. AND where is all this Tampa Bay talk commin from. As far as im concerend itll be between PANTHERS and FALCONS in NFC south.

Answer 5

Heh...I'm a Carolina Panther's fan for life...and this season looks to be better than our run in 2003. Sure Johnson isn't as quick as Muhammad...but that shouldn't matter so much, because Steve is much better than he was then. Foster needs to stay healthy...but we don't have Stephen Davis to slow us down this season and instead we have two very great backs with Foster and Williams. Keary Colbert is finally getting his leg better from playing hurt on it all last season, a very solid #3 reciever if he stays at 100%. Delhomme is probably looking at a great season...with Foster out of the back field to catch along with those other three...there's no reason for him to do poorly, our O-Line is still good enough to protect him.

Defensively, if Jenkins stays healthy...and even if not, our line is incredible...Rucker, Peppers, Kemo, Lewis, and Jenkins...We have some OLB issues but they'll work out, we have Na'il Diggs to play for one...and I'm thinking Thomas Davis shares time with another one. Secondary...we have Mike Minter, Ken Lucas, and Chris Gamble still out there...I'm not sure who's going to start at the other Safety spot...but Shaun Williams was signed and he's supposed to be pretty good, but we always have Colin Branch who didn't do so bad either. Then our old friend Reggie Howard is back (played in the 2003 super bowl and picked off Tom Brady) plus Richard Marshall from the draft...supposed to be a very solid player.

I'm extremely excited to see how they perform on the field, I'm already way excited about it on paper I can't even imagine come game time :D

GO PANTHERS!!!

Answer 6

Carolina will win the NFC South if the running backs stay healthy and they sweep Tampa. As an avid Bucs fan, the only team in the NFC south that concerns me is Carolina. Atlanta is way overrated and New Orleans is in as bad a shape as the city. I see Carolina and Tampa splitting the 2 games between them and whoever handles the rest of the schedule better will get the tie breaker. The other gets the Wild card.

Answer 7

Panthers are going to finish 12-4 and walk away with the NFC South. John Fox is one of the top coaches, Delhomme is a great leader, and that D is going to crush the opposition. They beat Washington and Dallas in the playoffs to get to the Superbowl.

Answer 8

the carolna panthers are the NFC team with the most man power and the most heart, I say this as a Buccs fan. The Panthers scare me! They have the best WR in the nfl and they have one of the most underrated QB in the leauge by far. Jake Delhome is one of the top 5 Qb's in the nfl.

Answer 9

I think that great Emily G. Root hard for your team and have fun as that's what it's all about. I think the Panthers have a good shot at either going to or winning the Super Bowl! They are a really strong team on offense and defense.

Answer 10

Im a Vikings fan so im not a really panther fan but i do admit that the panthers are good! They have Steve Smith, Keyshaun Johnson, Julius Peps, Jake D, D Fauster, i mean there practically good! But it doesn't help the fact they got owned by the Seahawks. Last year... Im not saying Panthers suck so dont get mad....please.