Training camp season is approaching, and one NFL team is more intriguing than all of the others. Can the Carolina Panthers make the leap from good to great?
Yes, they can. Excellent team management, player development, and experience will all play a key roll in the success of the Panthers this NFL season. Here are 10 things you should consider when evaluating this years Carolina Panthers crew.
1. CAMERON JERRELL NEWTON: His name is capitalized for a reason. Cam is the clear franchise quarterback for the Panthers and has been one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history while on his rookie contract.
In case you did not know, Cam landed a major contract extension from the Panthers this off-season. A contract that included numbers higher than the $100 million mark. To be honest, the organization has done a poor job of supplying Cam with talent. This seems to have changed. Cam now has two athletic studs to toss the ball to: rookie, Devin Funchess, and second year receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Not to mention the additional help in the receiving corps with the addition of Ted Ginn jr., and the return of Philly Brown.
This has added tremendous depth at the receiver position, so the unanswered question will remain as to whether or not the franchise decides to use any cap space to lure free agents. Cam has great options, but the more the merrier, right? Although they should proceed with caution because a major free agency splash would go against the grain, so to speak.
2) "LUUUUUUUUUUUUKE": Luke Kuechly is the best linebacker in the NFL. Luke Kuechly has accumulated 473 career tackles, and if you are wondering how many tackles that is... it's a lot! Luke is virtually involved in every play on defense, and never takes a snap for granted. The most important factor that culminates from Kuechly's on-field play may be his consistency. Of Kuechly's three seasons as a Panther, those 473 tackles can be broken down into over 150 tackles per year. In those three seasons, Kuechly has been awarded the defensive rookie of the year in 2012, and the defensive player of the year in 2013.
3. Defense: The Panthers boast one of the best defenses in the league. Beyond Luke, the panthers have another great linebacker: Thomas Davis. Davis has a knack for reading and tracking the route's of wide receivers. His skill set compliments Kuechly, as Kuechly is viewed as an elite rush defender. The defensive line is arguably one of the strongest pieces to this franchise. Loaded with guys such as Star Lotulelei, Charles Johnson, Mario Addison, Wes Horton, Kawann Short, and Kony Ealy, they pose a pass rushing threat like no other. Worried that they can't get to the quarterback in time? Don't worry. The Panthers secondary has that covered. Ask Matt Ryan.
4. Josh Norman: Speaking of the secondary... have you ever heard of Josh Norman? If not, that's okay! Norman is easily one of the most underrated corners in the league. His stats are growing, and he is consistently tasked to defend some of the best opposing receivers that face the Panthers each week. Norman is a lock-down corner that can be trusted with single coverage.
5. Offensive Line: Both Dave Gettleman and Ron Rivera believe that the offensive line has been fixed. This remains to be seen, but, if it is true, the Panthers offense should improve tremendously. Over the past few years, Cam has experienced more contact from opposing defenses than almost any other quarterback in the league. Granted, Cam scrambles often, but much of this is due to the pass rush that the previous offensive line was not capable of controlling. An improved offensive line will give Cam a few extra seconds to find a target or scramble for a first down. Lack of consistent offensive line play has forced Cam to make very quick decisions. Quick decisions lead to mistakes, and even a few extra seconds of protection could alter a quarterback's decision making.
6. Identity: Many, including myself, ridiculed the organization for the dismissal of Panthers legend Steve Smith. Lost, dazed, and confused, many pondered why we would make such a horrible mistake as a franchise. I felt that this past season (the first without Smith) would go horribly, and Cam would certainly have no targets to pass to. Many, including myself, were wrong. Cam excelled with the circumstances he was given. Maybe Gettleman was not as crazy as it seemed after all. With Smith on the roster, the Panther's offense truly had an identity crisis.
Cam was a marketing machine, the new face of the franchise, and a young leader trying to build support from the fan base. Smith was a beloved fan favorite. He was viewed as one of the most, if not, the most successful Panther of all time. Smith was our shining light in many dark horrendous years of football. Charlotte was not big enough for both of them. Somebody had to exit the franchise, and it wasn't going to be the former Heisman-winning quarterback Cam Newton, and rightfully so. With Smith out of the picture, the 2014 season was the first time that Cam was the TRUE leader of the offense. With one year of true leadership under his belt, expect Cam to flourish this season.
What about the defense? They had an identity crisis also. The untimely removal of defensive end and pro-bowler Greg Hardy, a.k.a. the Kraken, threw the defense into a limbo. The constant wait for his return as the NFL as Hardy dealt with his domestic violence charge left the defense in an awkward position. Would Hardy return during the season? Who replaces Hardy? And lastly, should they even expect Hardy to wear a Panthers jersey ever again? After it was clear that Hardy would not be returning to Carolina, the defense rounded into shape. After a mediocre first half of the season, the defense returned to its ways, and quickly re-established itself as a top five defense.
7. In Gettleman We Trust: I'll keep this point short and sweet. Gettleman has done a tremendous job of managing the Panthers roster. The Panthers are in the best financial shape that they've been in for years. Gettleman is one of the best General Manager's in the league, and Carolina should pay top dollar to keep him.
8. New Additions: The Panthers addressed many problems this off-season. The offensive line has been addressed with the Michael Oher addition - an addition that was criticized by many. This addition may go well. Oher has played well before, particularly during his time in Baltimore. If anything, Oher adds competition, which drives the effort of other potential starters. In addition, the Panthers added Devin Funchess at wide receiver and Shaq Thompson to the linebacking corps. Each were great additions for the Panthers. who needed a target for Cam to throw to, and Shaq offers needed depth in the rotation of Panthers linebackers. Outside of the draft, the Panthers beefed up the secondary with acquisitions such as Charles Tillman.
9. The team has overcome much adversity, including Cam playing hurt for most of the season. Ron Rivera's house caught on fire amidst a playoff appearance and Cam Newton had a late season car accident that sat him out one game during the most critical time of the year. These are just a few of a long list of difficulties the Panthers had to deal with. This brought the team together, and with most of the roster intact from last season, they have an opportunity at a clean slate in 2015.
10. Experience: Cam won his first playoff game last season, and this may have a tremendous impact. He now understands what it takes to win a playoff game, as do many in this franchise. Carolina has been the "little brother" of the NFC. They make noise only to be beaten by the older brothers, such as San Francisco or Seattle. This could be the year that the roles reverse.
Regardless of who you support, watch out for the Cardiac Cats in 2015! The pieces to the puzzle are there. Now, let's see if Carolina can launch themselves into the NFL elite.
