2009 Record: 8-8, Third in Division
2009 Playoff Record: Did not Qualify
Key Losses: Na'il Diggs, Mushin Muhammad, Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme
Key Additions: Eric Norwood, Greg Hardy, Jimmy Clausen
The good news for Panthers fans is they were not all that bad last season. 8-8 is a decent mark, they played some good teams, and they had some very positive aspects on both sides of the ball. The bad news is might be tough for them to repeat. They lost a good chunk of their 2009 roster, they have a lot of youth that could make or break this team, and they still have to play some very tough opponents. I'm going straight for the worst news for this team, their defense got hit hard in offseason cuts. Julius Peppers, one of the league's elite pass rushers, is gone. Chris Harris, who they thought was on a downturn, is gone, though they haven't made much of an effort to significantly upgrade the position. Na'il Diggs is gone, though they made a good effort to replace him by picking up Jamar Williams, and Chris Gamble and Jon Beason are still here. The bottom line for this defense, though, is that they are going to have to improve, especially against the run. 22nd against the run simply is not good enough for them, especially not when they face teams that can pound the run, and they'll be facing plenty of those this season. Passing was better last season; they ranked fourth ion yards per game and fifth in interceptions. They also ranked 23rd in the league in sacks, though, and without Julius Peppers' ten and a half sacks they would've ranked 31st. This is a defense that lives and dies on two principles: pressure the quarterback and produce takeaways. They still have a good ability to do the latter in 2010, but between losses in the secondary that haven't been addressed and the loss of a payer the caliber of Julius Peppers they could be in for a long year.
Their draft was simply awful from a defensive standpoint, they didn't significantly address key positions in the draft or in free agency. Offense is a different story, they made one of the biggest steals landing projected first rounder Jimmy Clausen midway through the second round. There's debate as to who will start this year, Clausen or Matt Moore, but if Clausen does start he has one of the best opportunities to mimic the success of Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, and Mark Sanchez. The reason, DeAngelo Williams. The man is a sensational runner and almost a lock for his third 1,000 yard season. Jonathan Stewart is no slouch, either, and this is one of the most fearsome running tandems in the league. Having a rushing attack like that helps the passing game greatly, especially with rookies. Their line did allow 33 sacks last season, which is a concern for a rookie. They only picked up one offensive lineman during the offseason, though they didn't lost any names either. Their line is great allowing rushing yards, on the fringe with protecting the QB. It's the one big question in an otherwise solid offensive unit. Also of note is star receiver Steve Smith. The rest of the receiving corps is a bit thin, but should play solid enough to keep Carolina in games. I think the biggest question is can they keep the quarterback upright, and if they do will he make the tough throws, whether it be Clausen or Matt Moore.
Their schedule is definitely not favorable to them. The NFC West and AFC North both have some great rushing teams from top to bottom, and if the Panthers don't fix their run defense they could be in for a long season. Their swing games are against the Giants and Bears, both of whom could rush all over the cats if their running games are improved as everyone expects them to be. Many of these teams also have potent passing attacks, and without good run coverage the secondary could be in for more trouble than they're used to. Finally, none of their division opponents slouch at running either. Unless their offense really takes tremendous strides forward, their defense could cost them a lot of games. Under an inexperienced QB, I just don't see that. They'll put the scare into some teams, but it could be another long year for John Fox and company, and possible the last year Fox will spend in Carolina.
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