Preseason football doesn’t mean a thing. Preseason football is just used for getting ready for the regular season. Teams all the time go undefeated in preseason then stink in the regular season and vice versa. I am certain this is said by 32 different fan bases this time of year. The Panthers play their fourth and final preseason game this week versus the Pittsburg Steelers. Traditionally, most NFL starters do not play more than a series, if at all, in the final preseason game so I am not sure anything else can be learned this week. All of this being said, I have to ask what have we learned about the Panthers this preseason? My response would be more questions have been raised versus being resolved. There is not an organization in the NFL that could be happy to be in the situation the Panthers are in. On top of this, both of Mr. Richardson’s sons resigned this week from the organization. At this point of the year, this is not what this team needs. Just a few thoughts on some different positions on this team:
QB- Jake Delhomme is the starter and Josh McCown appears to be the #2. I don’t want to see the #2, because if we do, the season will turn into a pile of #2.
RB- DeAngelo has looked great, Jonathan Stewart has as many carries this preseason as I do. Mike Goodsen has been the surprise of camp.
WR- Steve Smith has proved once again, he is just as valuable to this team as DeAngelo. Moose is the #2, and Kenny Moore has looked better than Dwayne Jarrett. How many chances to prove himself does Jarrett get?
Offense Overview- The Panthers do not have a lot of depth on the line, so staying healthy is the most important thing for this team. A lot of my friends are unhappy the team did not bring in a challenger to push Jake. The offense looked stagnant without Steve Smith early in the preseason. DeAngelo looks great while questions surround Stewart’s foot. Everyone knows Fox-ball is running the ball to set up the pass and needs the defense to do their role to ensure the philosophy doesn’t have to be altered.
DL- OK, this is the foundation to stopping the run. Kemo got hurt early in camp and that crippled this line. Guess what, if you don’t have to double team the tackle, guess who can be double-teamed on the outside? If you said #90, Julius Peppers, you are correct. Speaking of the million-dollar PER GAME man, no matter what he does this season, he will not win! 2 sacks, forced fumble, well, you are making a million dollars a game, he should do that. Nothing in the stat line one week, what the hell are we paying this guy for. Peppers asked to leave and I think a lot of it was for this very reason, HE CAN NOT WIN HERE! I am not defending him, but want someone to explain how he can succeed here now. The Panthers went and traded for Louis Leonard, link to learn about him (
http://www.nfl.com/players/louisleonard/profile?id=LEO693447 ). Writers in Cleveland did not know a lot about him, so why should we care about him? He was # 7 on the depth chart in Cleveland, and we gave an undisclosed draft pick for him? Why not wait and see what hits the waiver wire?
LB- Another defensive position with a key injury. MLB Jon Beason is out currently with a knee injury. Most think he will not be ready week one for Philadelphia, as to ensure he does not do damage that could cost him the season. So if you are looking at the Panthers from last year with that stout run defense, the plug in the middle isn’t there now.
Defensive Overview- The defense has been quite offensive this season. Teams have been able to move the ball on the ground and thru the air this preseason. Coordinator Ron Meeks from Indy is trying to simplify things for these guys, but maybe he has forgotten to tell them to do the most important thing: TACKLE! A work in progress needs to show A LOT of progress this week.
All of this being said, a little over one week remains until the REAL games begin. I don’t think it is time to hit the panic button, but I do know where the button is. The 2010 first round draft pick was traded so they could draft Everette Brown. People have suggested making a trade for a DT to replace Kemo. What do you give up since there in no #1 next year? I would think a player has to be involved. Dwayne Jarrett may want to pack his bags, just in case. I am not sure what you could get for # 80, but I think you have to go this route versus completely leveraging the future of the organization. #90 is making so much money, there I not a lot of money to go get someone great. The first three games before the bye week are all conference games, with one division game. Coach Fox’s goal is to break the season in quarters and try and go 3-1 in each segment. What I have seen this preseason, 1-3 may be more realistic. This regime has NEVER had back-to-back winning seasons, and with the injuries present on September 1, I do not know what expectations should be for this team. Is 5-11 or 11-5 possible? Yes, but I think the real answer lies somewhere in between. A lot of people are ready to panic, and if the Eagles come in and handle the Panthers, watch out!
Other Thoughts from the week
· College football begins this week. I will pick 5 college, 5 pro every week and keep track of how well I do this season. I won’t be picking the blow-out games, but the best games of the week. My plan is for picks to be go up Thursday for college and for NFL.
o South Carolina +5 @ NC State SEC vs. ACC gotta go ACC
o @ Boise -3.5 vs. Oregon. Boise doesn’t lose on Smurf Field.
o @ Oklahoma St -5 vs. Georgia. Too much to replace for Dogs.
o Virginia Tech +6.5 vs. Alabama in ATL. See State game above.
o @ FSU -6 vs. Miami. Gut feeling here.
· UFC 102 was pretty good with some awesome knockouts.
· LET COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEGIN !!!!