A Purrrseason Preview (Offense)

A  Purrrseason Preview

            The fans that prowl the Carolinas have very high hopes and expectations for their Carolina Panthers this season. To go along with the fans large expectations for the team, the players have their own high hopes. In the last 3 months, three Carolina Panthers (Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, & Ryan Kalil) have made guarantees that they would win the Super Bowl this season. Yes, 3 months, 3 Super Bowl Championship guarantees by 3 different players. The Panthers have made this season a mission and all of Carolina hopes they deliver.

Here is a position-by-position preview of the team as they open camp:

Offense

Quarterback:

          -Cam Newton enters his second season as the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year while coming off possibly the greatest rookie season in history. Newton seems to have done everything this offseason to avoid the dreaded off-season slump. He came to every single voluntary workout and participated in every single practice during OTAs. It is very important for the Panthers season that Newton improves on his season from last year, and Head Coach Ron Rivera believes that also. During OTAs Rivera was asked about the possibility of Newton going through a sophomore slump and Rivera responded with, “We’re going to go as far as he goes.” That’s a lot of pressure put on the young quarterback’s shoulders but as Pro-Bowl offensive tackle Jordan Gross said, “He’ll be fine dealing with pressure. No one puts more pressure on Cam Newton than Cam Newton.”

         

            *Derek Anderson will continue to be the back-up with 2010-2011 starter Jimmy Clausen as the third stringer. Panther fans should feel comfortable with their back-up quarterbacks; Anderson is a 1-time Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns in 2007 and is very familiar with the offense. Clausen has shown significant zip on his passes this offseason and has impressed Coach Ron Rivera.

Running Back/Fullback:

          -Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, also known as “Double Trouble”, combined for one of their worst seasons in history as a backfield duo last season. Both backs played injured for most of the year last season, however both enter training camp this July 100% healthy and would like to keep it that way. Arguably the biggest move by the Panthers this off-season was signing free agent all-purpose back Mike Tolbert. Tolbert, a former San Diego Charger, was attractive to the Panthers because of his offensive versatility. Tolbert will play some sort of a fullback/H-back role for the offense and will be utilized in creative ways by offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Chudzinski, who players & coaches refer to as Coach Chud, has been described as a “mad scientist” by Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, and many other players. During scrimmages this off-season, Chud has had Tolbert lined up in the backfield as the primary blocker, but also out wide in the slot and even out as wide as a primary receiver. In the OTAs lone scrimmage, Tolbert received as many touches as Williams and Stewart. Many players are looking forward to the extra dimension Tolbert will bring to the offense, and Panthers fans should too.

         

             *A player to watch out for, more than likely only in the preseason, is rooking running back Tauren Poole out of Tennessee. Poole went undrafted out of UT and the Panthers signed him as an undrafted free agent in May. Poole was an Academic All-American every year at Tennessee and  rushed for over a 1,000 yards in his first year starting as a junior, when he was named as an All-SEC Team selection but went on to have a rough senior season only rushing for 734 yards. Poole impressed me with his blend of size and speed, and also impressed the Panthers enough to sign him to a permanent team contract.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

          -The unquestioned leader of this unit is 5-time Pro Bowl WR Steve Smith, whose recent actions are just another example of how he’s grown up. Certain events transpired during the years of 2004-2007 that made people question his character (events that I will not speak of because as a Panthers fan I’ve blocked out because he’s the greatest Panther of All-Time). Smith recently donated $100,000 to the victims of the Aurora, CO shootings and their families. In the last 18 months, Smith has shown several times that he is now a great leader on the team to go along with the great family man and Christian he has always been off the field. Quite possibly the most anticipated position battle for the fans is the 2^nd wide receiver spot. Sorry to tell fans, but there is going to be no battle. Rivera and Co. love the work that3rd year WR Brandon LaFell has been putting in to go along with his talent and Rivera has said several times that LaFell is the Panthers #2 receiver, yet media people and fans seem never to take that to heart. Also I think I speak for a lot of fans when I say that I was impressed with WR Kealoha Pilares in his 1^st season and what he can bring to the Panthers receiving corp. This past week’s trade for former Oakland Raider receiver Louis Murphy brings another LaFell-like receiver to the roster; Murphy brings depth to the group and provides insurance for oft-injured WR David Gettis. Gettis, who in my opinion is becoming very Jeff Otah like, is beginning training camp on the PUP list and will start when team doctors feel like he can. The Panther coaching staff, along with fans, would love to see a 4-wide receiver set featuring Smith, LaFell, Gettis, and Murphy, a group who could cause many problems for an opposing secondary. Rookie speedster Joe Adams out of Arkansas will mainly be seen in the return game but could be useful in the slot with his elite quickness.

           

             -The acquisition of TE Greg Olsen from the Chicago Bears last season proved to be a valuable asset for sensational rookie QB Cam Newton. Olsen, who was not utilized correctly in Chicago, found a home in Chudzinski’s offense as well as in Charlotte. Olsen, a new father, said he and his family love Charlotte and the people that make the city what it is and he also stated he would love to finish his career as a Panther. The Panthers didn’t bring back his tag-team partner Jeremy Shockey, and are not likely to, because the coaching stuff very much believes in young tight ends Gary Barnidge and Ben Hartstock. Barnidge, who was having a great training camp last year until breaking his ankle, is 100% healthy and ready to show what he can bring to the table. Hartstock, who is more of a blocking tight end, compliments Olsen and Barnidge very well, who in my opinion are much underrated blockers at the tight end position.

Offensive Line:

          

               -The Panthers believe that they have one of the most underrated offensive line units in the NFL. I agree, with a line anchored by Pro Bowl Tackle Jordan Gross and Pro Bowl Center Ryan Kalil, the Panthers have experienced veterans at the two most important positions along the line. Only the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have had two players along the offensive line elected to the Pro Bowl in the same year in the last three seasons but only the Panthers have accomplished that in consecutive years. Gross, in an interview with WFNZ in Charlotte in July, was asked about Week 3's showdown with the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and their vaunted front 4, his response: "Just make sure to watch me that Thursday night."


               -In April, the Panthers invested their 2^nd round pick in Midwestern State guard Amini Silatolu who has been starting at LG since OTAs opened. Silatolu, a controversial pick to the casual football fan, has impressed players and coaches with his strength, hard work, and willingness to learn. Sticking Amini in between Pro Bowlers Gross and Kalil will help him exponentially in his rookie season. On the other side, the Panthers traded RB Mike Goodson to the Oakland Raiders for T Bruce Campbell but the right side will likely feature Geoff Hangartner at RG and 2011 undrafted rookie Byron Bell at RT. The front office and coaching staff obviously believe in Bell because of their recent trade of oft-injured T Jeff Otah to the New York Jets. Bell impressed in his rookie season and looks to continue is improvement during training camp and into this season.