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08/28/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's hard to view the Carolina Panthers as anything but a team in limbo, and it's difficult to see 2010 as anything but a way station that precedes the organization's real future.
Start with the head coach, John Fox, who is in the final year of his contract and looks less than 50-50 to return in 2011, whether he wins this year or not. Though Fox is well-respected both inside and outside the organization, and has experienced periods of success, there is a growing sense that a change of scenery could be good for the coach, and a new voice could be good for the Panthers.
Move on to the quarterback situation, which is as tenuous as just about any in the league this side of Arizona. After parting ways with declining lynch pin Jake Delhomme, the team has placed at least temporary confidence in the 26- year-old Matt Moore. Moore's 4-1 record down the stretch last year inspired his elevation to the No. 1 role to begin '10, but the subsequent selection of Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike in the April draft seemed to signal that the Panthers were hedging their bets on Moore.
It is the second-round pick Clausen, not Moore, that looks like the team's future at the position, and the inevitability of his ascension to the starter's role will grow with every Moore misstep.
Meanwhile, Julius Peppers - the team's biggest defensive star and the player that instilled the most fear in opposing quarterbacks and coordinators - is now in Chicago following a rocky eight-year tenure with the Panthers. Though there is still defensive talent, most notably linebacker Jon Beason, the team made no meaningful effort to replace Peppers and a piece of its identity on that side of the ball is gone.
All of the above circumstances have relegated the Panthers to afterthought status in the NFC South, where the Saints are coming off a Super Bowl title and the Falcons have emerged as a 2010 conference dark horse. Though anonymous status is not necessarily a bad thing - remember that New Orleans was an 8-8 team one year before lifting the Lombardi Trophy - the mediocre, at-least-a- year-away perception of this team is something that is going to have to be fought both inside the locker room and out.
Publicly, Fox is putting on the expected brave face, saying the right things and arguing that the youth-and-inexperience movement that seems to define this team at the moment is a good thing.
"I think we've increased our team speed some," Fox said in the spring. "We've got a lot of youth and with youth comes energy, so that's the good news. Now we've just got to direct that energy in the right way."
Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Carolina Panthers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2009 RECORD: 8-8 (3rd, NFC South)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Arizona, 33-13, in NFC Divisional Playoff
COACH (RECORD): John Fox (71-57 in eight seasons with Panthers, 71-57 overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jeff Davidson
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ron Meeks
OFFENSIVE STAR: Steve Smith, WR (65 receptions, 7 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Jon Beason, LB (142 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 INT)
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 3rd rushing, 27th passing, 21st scoring
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 22nd rushing, 4th passing, 9th scoring
KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jimmy Clausen (2nd Round, Notre Dame), QB Tony Pike (6th Round, Cincinnati), RB Dantrell Savage (from Chiefs), WR Brandon LaFell (3rd Round, LSU), WR Armanti Edwards (3rd Round, Appalachian State), DT Ed Johnson (from Colts), LB Jamar Williams (from Bears), S Aaron Francisco (from Colts)
KEY DEPARTURES: QB Jake Delhomme (to Browns), QB A.J. Feeley (to Rams), QB Josh McCown (not tendered), FB Brad Hoover (released), WR Muhsin Muhammad (retired), G Keydrick Vincent (to Buccaneers), DE Julius Peppers (to Bears), DT Maake Kemoeatu (to Redskins), DT Damione Lewis (to Patriots), DT Hollis Thomas (not tendered), LB Na'il Diggs (to Rams), LB Landon Johnson (to Lions), CB Dante Wesley (to Lions), S Quinton Teal (to Seahawks), S Chris Harris (to Bears), K Rhys Lloyd (to Vikings)
QB: Moore (1053 passing yards, 8 TD, 2 INT) deserves the shot he is getting, and while the Panthers are hoping for the best in terms of his maturation into a No. 1 NFL quarterback, they also have a keen awareness of his limitations. The former undrafted free agent out of Oregon State would function best as a game-manager who is capable of making the big throw if he has to, which is what he was when the team had success last year. The Panthers are going to be a run- first team and the whole world knows it. Moore just has to keep people honest. If he can't, the Clausen era could begin sooner rather than later. Questions about his leadership abilities and struggles in big games hastened the ex-Notre Dame star's fall to the second round, but there's no doubt he's more physically gifted than Moore. One thing that could hold him back is his toe, on which Clausen had surgery in January but is still experiencing pain. The battle for third string-duties is between sixth-rounder Tony Pike (Cincinnati) and former Louisville triggerman Hunter Cantwell.
RB: Though 2009 will not rank among the most celebrated seasons in Panthers history, the team did make some positive history in an otherwise disappointing year. Running backs DeAngelo Williams (1117 rushing yards, 7 TD, 29 receptions) and Jonathan Stewart (1133 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 11 TD) became the first teammates in NFL annals to cross the 1,100-yard plateau in the same year, with Williams catching fire in the middle of the season and Stewart bringing the Panthers home with an outstanding December. Though the Panthers will ride the two backs hard again this year, their health could determine how far this team goes. Williams missed three games in '09 with knee and ankle problems, while Stewart (who entered the league with injury concerns) has been limited in the 2010 preseason by a bad Achilles'. Mike Goodson (49 rushing yards) looks like the third-string back, though his preseason ankle problems make it more likely that someone like holdover Tyrell Sutton (68 rushing yards, 6 receptions) or Chiefs castoff Dantrell Savage (45 rushing yards, 7 receptions with Kansas City) can make the team. The Panthers are high on second-year fullback Tony Fiammetta, whose play in place of the injured Brad Hoover last year made the longtime Panther expendable
WR/TE: When Moore has to throw the football, the presence of a very shaky receiving corps isn't likely to make things any easier for him. Steve Smith is still a star, and should be well past the broken arm that limited him in the preseason, but following Muhsin Muhammad's retirement it doesn't look like there's anyone taking the pressure off of him on the other side. Dwayne Jarrett (17 receptions, 1 TD) has simply not developed the way the Panthers had hoped, and rookies Brandon LaFell (LSU), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State) and holdover Kenneth Moore (6 receptions) all elicit more promise at this stage than the ex-USC star. Others looking to make an impression are Jets castoff Wallace Wright (2 receptions with the Jets) and former Buccaneers second-round bust Dexter Jackson. Carolina looks to be in better shape at tight end, where Jeff King (25 receptions, 3 TD), Dante Rosario (26 receptions, 2 TD) and Gary Barnidge (12 receptions) are not a well-known group but are reliable. With the state of the wideout corps, look for all of the tight ends' numbers to increase.
OL: Though much of the focus will be on Moore and the rest of the skill- position players, you could argue that the 2010 Panthers will go as far as this group can take it. Though not often mentioned among the top trench groups in the league, Carolina gave up a modest 33 sacks a year ago and also paved the way for those two 1,100-yard rushers. Back to man the left tackle spot is Jordan Gross, who missed the final seven games of last year with a broken ankle but is solid when healthy (which until last year was always). Travelle Wharton, who slid to tackle when Gross was out, is back to line up at left guard while center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah are also back in place. The big change here is at right guard, where Keydrick Vincent is now starting for the rival Buccaneers and 2008 seventh-round pick Mackenzy Bernadeau is being asked to step in. Swing tackle Geoff Schwartz and fellow 2009 backup Garry Williams are also around should anything go wrong.
DL: Whether you're a fan of his attitude or not, there should be little question that at his best, Peppers provided an edge pass rushing presence that could be equaled by few around the league. Thus, it was surprising that Carolina made a minimal effort to replace him or three former interior line starters - Damione Lewis, Hollis Thomas and Maake Kemoeatu. The main guys off the edge are now lunchpail-type right end Tyler Brayton (45 tackles, 5 sacks), two former early-round picks who have yet to live up to their promise in Charles Johnson (25 tackles, 4 sacks) and Everette Brown (22 tackles, 2.5 sacks), and even younger players like sixth-round rookie Greg Hardy (Ole Miss). Defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is going to have to get mighty creative in finding ways to generate pressure. On the interior, the team took a major gamble in bringing in troubled former Colts tackle Ed Johnson (11 tackles with Indianapolis), who is expected to start alongside Louis Leonard (6 tackles, 1 sack), who missed most of last year with a broken ankle. Holdovers Tank Tyler (31 tackles), Nick Hayden (17 tackles, 1 sack) and 2009 third-round pick Corvey Irvin are trying to insert themselves into the interior mix as well. Irvin missed all of last year with a knee injury.
LB: The Panthers defense was struck a major blow in June, when weakside linebacker Thomas Davis was lost for the season with a torn ACL suffered at a team mini-camp. It is a testament to how important weak side coverage is in this scheme that the team subsequently moved star middle linebacker Jon Beason to Davis' spot, inserting backup Dan Connor (16 tackles) into the middle. The former Penn State star Connor is getting his first chance to play meaningful minutes after being drafted in the third-round back in 2008. On the strong side, James Anderson (58 tackles, 1 sack) is back after starting a career-high seven games a year ago. On the backup forces, holdover Jordan Senn (9 tackles), ex-Bear Jamar Williams (40 tackles with Chicago), and rookie fourth-rounder Eric Norwood (South Carolina) will likely garner most of their reps on special teams. Norwood could also see time up front as a situational pass rusher.
DB: There probably isn't an area on this defense that is more settled than the cornerback position. Chris Gamble (58 tackles, 4 INT) and Richard Marshall (83 tackles, 4 INT) are subject to occasional lapses, but on the whole do not make things easy for opposing QBs or wideouts. Captain Munnerlyn (42 tackles), a seventh-round pick in 2009, did a nice job last year and will also have a role. The safeties are a little shakier. Charles Godfrey (44 tackles, 1 INT), who is penciled in at strong safety, has been somewhat hit-or-miss over his two years in the league. At free safety, Sherrod Martin (19 tackles, 3 INT) is a second- year pro who must prove he is ready for his close-up after starting five games a year ago. Depth at safety will be provided by journeyman Aaron Francisco (9 tackles with Colts) and sixth-round rookie Jordan Pugh (Texas A&M).
SPECIAL TEAMS: No change in the kicking game, where 40-year-old John Kasay (22-27 FG) is moving up NFL scoring charts and solid punter Jason Baker (44.1 avg.) is also capable of handling kickoffs. Munnerlyn (9.0 avg.) did credible work on punt returns last year, but who returns kickoffs will probably be determined by the bottom of the depth chart at running back. Mike Goodson (20.7 avg.), Tyrell Sutton (21.6 avg.) and Dantrell Savage (20.0 avg. with the Chiefs) have experience in that realm, but ex-Jaguar Brian Witherspoon (22.9 kickoff return avg. with Jags and Lions) was brought in to compete as well. J.J. Jansen is back for a second season as the Panthers' long-snapper.
PROGNOSIS: The Carolina Panthers are a quality organization with a solid coaching staff, and their middling Q rating at the moment is not necessarily indicative of where they'll finish in 2010. After all, this team has defied preseason expectations more than once in its short history. At the very least, the Panthers are talented enough to be a tough out every week. But it's a stretch to think much will happen beyond that, with questions at quarterback, wideout, and within a defensive front seven that had its problems even with Peppers and Davis in the lineup a year ago. Something close to a .500 finish looks a strong possibility, as Carolina doesn't look like it can compete consistently with the Saints and Falcons in what might be Fox's final season on the job.
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The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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