2006 NFL Season Preview: Carolina Panthers
Even as the Seattle Seahawks were finishing a 34-14 beating of the Carolina Panthers, people all over were already commenting on their prospects for the upcoming 2006 season. Experts and fans alike were impressed with the offensive capabilities of the Panthers to go along with the stout defense that shut out the high-powered New York Giants in the Wildcard round last season. With some of the moves they made, and with Head Coach John Fox still at the head of the charge, the 2006 edition of the Carolina Panthers look to be just as exciting to watch as their 2005 version. They have been the early pick by some experts to be the NFC’s representative for the Super Bowl, seemingly getting just as many nods as the defending NFC Champs, the Seahawks. Their offense only improved by adding more talent at some key skill positions, and their defense remains just a stout as ever. After being the fifth seed in the playoffs a season before, they are looking to be much better.
Offense
John Fox has trusted his offense to Dan Henning for the past four seasons, and Henning has been nothing short of spectacular in the role. Henning has been the key constructor of the offense seeing as Fox has been known throughout his career as a defensive coach. He has taken the Panther offense and made then into one of the strongest offensive attacks in the NFL both on the ground and through the air. With the continued development of the young receivers and a solid quarterback to make sure they can get the ball, and very strong veteran receivers at the top of the lists can make them incredibly dangerous. Meanwhile, the running attack has a number of running backs that can be spectacular in their efforts and dominate teams. With Henning and CO, you can expect another high-powered season from the Panthers offense and that spells trouble for their rivals.
QB: Jake Delhomme is a solid quarterback in NFL terms. He’s been a solid option for the Panthers’ at quarterback since he became the full-time starter in 2003, when the team made its first appearance in the Super Bowl. Delhomme is a strong quarterback who has the ability to make the decisive throws. He’s not physically tall or commanding in the pocket, but don’t let that fool you. He commands the attention of his teammates and he is the leader of the offense. He’s been through it all, including winning a World Bowl in 1999 with the Frankfurt Galaxy, and now he’s gunning for the Super Bowl. With Delhomme, you get a quarterback who doesn’t make silly mistakes but is known to take a chance that he doesn’t want to make. His 11 victories last season set a franchise record for most victories by a starting quarterback in Panthers history and earned his first career Pro-Bowl selection last season. Delhomme will make the plays, that’s key. You love having a playmaker as a quarterback, and Delhomme, quite simply, is exactly that.
RB/FB: Running back should be an interesting position for the Panthers. For the second straight year, the Panthers selected a running back on the first day, with Eric Shelton in the second round in 2005 and DeAngelo Williams in 2006. Williams, however, was considered by many the best back in the draft not named Reggie Bush. Williams will give the Panthers yet another option in a somewhat crowded backfield. This is necessary,. however, due to the injury problems which have plagued their running backs over the years. Incumbent starter DeShaun Foster has been injury prone in his NFL career but did break out last season before suffering an injury against the Bears in the divisional round of the 2005 playoffs. Foster is expected to be the starter going in with his ability to run and mix it up with speed and power along with his receiving ability, but the prospects of those other backs in the system should worry him a bit. Don’t forget about Shelton, who is healthy following spending his rookie season on the injured reserve with a injured left foot and has the size to be a short-yardage back, or Nick Goings, who has been awesome in replacement of Foster and Stephen Davis the season before. Fullback is held down by Brad Hoover, although Goings could have time there as well just to get him some playing time.
WR/TE: Steve Smith was the top receiver in the NFL last season, a remarkable comeback after missing the majority of the 2004 season with a broken left fibula. When he’s on the field, as he was in 2005, he’s so dangerous because of his ability to get open. His size doesn’t factor into the equation at all, especially in the NFL’s new age of tall and strong receivers. Smith is able to get into the middle and make the tough catches or get behind the secondary and burn you for six just as easily. Add to that the added improvements of both Keary Colbert and Drew Carter this preseason and the signing of Keyshawn Johnson. Johnson gives the Panthers an extra dangerous number two receiver, a guy who will also go up the middle and make the tough grab and be an exceptional possession receiver for the Panthers. He will make the defenses they face play him right and not cheat over to help against Steve Smith, which should in turn open things up for both receivers. At tight end, it looks like Michael Gaines has finally fully supplanted veteran TE Kris Mangum as the starter for the Panthers. He’s a big strong blocking TE who showed us last season some above average soft hands and an ability to make contributions in the passing game.
OL: They lack the depth that had been their staple over the past few seasons, but that doesn’t mean that the starting five aren’t still one of the strongest and most cohesive units in the NFL. Center Justin Hartwig is new from Tennessee, where he started 47 games for them over the past three seasons. He’s a strong run-blocker who possesses a high intelligence for reading defenses and making excellent reads for the rest of the line. On his left are Travelle Wharton at tackle and Pro-Bowl Mike Wahle at guard. After playing left guard the season before last, moved successfully and played all 16 games at left tackle last season. Very versatile and agile, Wharton provides good blindside protection for Delhomme. Wahle, meanwhile, made the Pro-Bowl last season and started all 16 games last season after coming from Green Bay as a free-agent in 2005. He is incredibly strong and is known to knock defenders off their line with remarkable ease. The right side is just as strong, with Evan Mathis and Jordan Gross. Mathis will be a new starter on the offensive line, but saw game action in 9 games as a rookie last season, mostly on special teams. He’s athletic and should work well with the rest of the unit. Gross has been consistent for the Panthers since being drafted by them in the first-round in 2003. He’s started all 48 regular season games and all 7 postseason games since he entered the league.
Overall Grade: A
Defense
Even with the explosive offense, the defense is still probably the key unit for the Panthers. They are so talented and have so many playmakers that they are just as dangerous defensively as they are offensively. With Mike Trgovac, they have one of the best defensive minds in the NFL who has constructed one of the most feared defenses in the league. This defense allowed only 16 points a game and 283 yards a game. They are athletic up front, solid and quick in the middle, and agile in the secondary. John Fox made sure that in building the Panthers he would have a defense that would be the strength of the team. Fox and the Panthers are definitely subscribers to the belief that defenses win championships.
DL: They got two of the best ends in the league in Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers. Peppers in considered to be one of the best defensive lineman in the game, and rightfully so. He’s got the speed of a skill position player and the strength of an interior lineman, something that is very rare in the NFL. He can get off the line faster than most and knows how to beat an opposing tackle with an assortment of moves. Entering his 5th NFL season with 40.5 sacks to his name and 13 forced fumbles. Rucker is solid on the other end, though not receiving as much credit as his counterpart or even Kris Jenkins on the inside. Rucker can also get to the quarterback efficiently and does so often because of the play of his linemates to occupy the linemen. Jenkins is coming back from injuries in each of his last two seasons, but he is one of the NFL’s best when he’s healthy. A great run-stopper who can get some pressure on the quarterback on occasion, Jenkins can give you the best of both worlds from the inside of the line. Maake Kemoeatu will be the other interior lineman after spending last season with Baltimore. Known mostly as a run-stopper, they expect he will fill that gap and make it easier for the defense to cycle opposing running backs to a linebacker free in a gap.
LB: Dan Morgan still leads this unit in the middle. Morgan has been a mainstay for the Panther defense for the better part of five seasons now. Morgan is a deceptively fast linebacker who just makes plays for the defense on a consistent basis and rarely finds himself out of position. He’s the leader of the defense when it comes to making reads, at least in the front seven. Expect 2005 first-round pick Thomas Davis to assume the starting strongside linebacker spot fulltime for the Panthers this season. He’s an incredibly gifted athlete who’s got a knack for making plays and now that Will Witherspoon is gone you should expect him to get into the starting lineup permanently. The battle for the weak side is especially difficult, but it looks like Na’il Diggs has the inside track due to his size and ability against the run.
DB: Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas make for solid corners in this defense. Gamble is true to his name, but only makes smart gambles on coverage that more often than not pay off in huge dividends for the Panthers. He’s got great closing speed and has some of the best instincts in the NFC in terms of playing the ball or the receiver. Lucas, meanwhile, is the shutdown corner of the Panthers. Teams cannot avoid his side anymore with Gamble getting better and thus have to challenge Lucas more than they would like. Reggie Howard and rookie Richard Marshall are in a heated battle for the nickel position. The safeties as of right now are veterans Mike Minter and Shaun Williams. Williams is in this position because Colin Branch is still recovering from an injury and they really aren’t too sure about the timetable for his return.
Overall Grade: A
Special Teams
K: John Kasay has been the only kicker that the Panthers have ever known in their history, and that probably won’t change this season. Kasay, an established veteran, is a kicker that the Panthers have grown to trust him in all types of situations. He’s got a decent leg, but the accuracy is what keeps him employed. He’s a solid kicker who rarely misses from inside 40 yards and can be consistent enough from outside 40 to be stronger.
P: Jason Baker will handle the punting duties once again. He’s had the best net average in the NFC and third-best in the NFL. He will also serve as the kickoff specialist, so that ensures him a job for another season. He’s a solid punter, a guy who handles directional kicking well but might not have the leg strength that others possess.
Overall Grade: B+
Coaching Staff
John Fox has been one of the best Head Coaches in the league. He led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in just his second season and then after narrowly missing the postseason in 2004, returned the Panthers to the postseason again in 2005 and made the NFC championship game. He’s a young coach who has a fiery personality just right for the system in Carolina. He’s made it acceptable to be emotional on and off the field and that fuels his players. Offensive Coordinator Dan Henning has been the main architect for the Panthers strong offense, and Defensive Coordinator Mike Trgovac has led their strong defense just as well. Trgovac is considered one of the best defensive minds in the NFL by most experts.
Overall Grade: A
Postion Battles to Watch
WR: It’ll be interesting for who will be the next receiver behind Smith and Johnson. Both Colbert and Carter are having excellent preseasons and you could make a strong case for either to assume the spot. It might not matter too much tot eh Panthers because they should use the four receiver sets a lot with Johnson.
WLB: The weakside linebacker spot is another hotly contested position for the Panthers. Na’il Diggs is the favorite because the coaches prefer his size and run-stopping ability to the challenger, Keith Adams. Adams has also performed well so far in the camp and in the preseason so they haven’t quite made the decision just yet.
CB: Nickel corner is also a big competition between rookie Richard Marshall and veteran Reggie Howard. Marshall has had lapses in coverage at times in the preseason. Howard doesn’t possess the speed you would want from a corner, but he’s solid and doesn’t make as many mental errors as rookie Marshall does.
Player to Watch
Chris Gamble, CB/KR: The real reason I suggest you watch Gamble this year is because of his importance to the return game of the Panthers. I doubt they really want to have Steve Smith returning too many kicks this year, and with Gamble they have another player who can perform that function for them. Gamble has also been steadily improving in passing defense and gives them a corner who compliments veteran Ken Lucas.
Bold Predictions
Record: 12-4, NFC South Champs
Offensive MVP: Steve Smith
Defensive MVP: Mike Minter
