2007 Carolina Panthers

Along with the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers were one of the biggest busts of 2006. There’s no doubt that the talent is there, but it is quickly aging. This could be Carolina’s last chance to bring home a championship with it’s current nucleus of players. Do they have a legitimate shot this season? Find out in Jeff Alexander’s 2007 Carolina Panthers predictions article.

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The Carolina Panthers were the pick of many to win the Super Bowl last season. Boy did they make those so-called experts look bad. I came out looking slightly better as my pick (Chicago Bears) at least made the Super Bowl. The tone seemed to be set for this team from the beginning of training camp when All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith went down with a hamstring injury. More injuries afflicted the offensive line and defensive starters Dan Morgan and Mike Rucker suffered season ending injuries as well. Management was not buying these injuries as excuses. They gave the axe to offensive coordinator Dan Henning and two assistant coaches following the disappointing season. I suppose head coach John Fox and GM Marty Hurney are feeling the heat now.

I’m not going to beat around the bush. There is enough talent here for a double digit win season and a solid playoff run, but that’s all I really see as the Bears, Eagles, and Saints all appear to be better suited to advancing to the Super Bowl.

New offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson steps in and is expected to get results. QB Jake Delhomme will have to have a 100 percent better season if this team wants to challenge for an NFC South division title. Davidson’s first focus will likely be to heal a ground attack which didn’t do much attacking last season, finishing just 24th in the league. Fox and Davidson both favor the between-the-tackles approach. A solid run game is essential to improve this teams balance to make them less predictable. I think Delhomme was so used to locking in on Smith the last few seasons that with him injured last year, he struggled to find targets.

Mike Trgovac’s defense stayed true to being one of the best in the business despite spending entirely too much time on the field. They kept the Panthers in nearly every game and did everything short of putting the ball in the end zone to help the offense. Well, they even did that sometimes. This was a top ten defense with defensive end Julius Peppers having one of his best seasons as a pro. The front line is so good that it allows Carolina’s sub par linebacker corps to hold their own. The Panthers are very good against the pass with an elite trio of corners — Ken Lucas, Chris Gamble, and Richard Marshall. These boys can flat out fly. Some teams are wishing they had just one guy who could lock up an opponent’s top receiver, the Panthers have three. Mike Minter is old faithful at the safety position, but this is likely his last run.

By Jeff Alexander – 7/24/2007

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