Panthers Analysis | Position-By-Position

Panthers Analysis | Position-By-Position
Looking back at the season that just ended, and ahead to 2009.
By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009
Slideshow



QUARTERBACK

2008 Review: Jake Delhomme came back strong from reconstructive elbow surgery. He had a solid season except for the ending – a five-interception, one-fumble performance in the playoff loss to Arizona. He led the Panthers to 12 wins and was at his best late in games and in come-from-behind situations. He fit well with what coach John Fox wants out of a quarterback, but closed the season with critics aplenty outside the Panthers family.

Looking Ahead: Fox has said Delhomme, 34, is still his quarterback, but the Panthers might want to do something about Delhomme's contract. He has one year remaining and counts more than $11 million against the salary cap. The Panthers are scheduled to pay him a $1 million roster bonus and must decide whether to extend his contract, which would create more salary cap room for 2009. Carolina officials also must determine whether to bring in another quarterback to compete with Delhomme and backups Josh McCown and Matt Moore. It's probably time to think ahead to who will succeed Delhomme.

RUNNING BACKS

2008 Review: The Panthers had the best rushing season in franchise history behind DeAngelo Williams (team-record 1,515 yards, NFL-best 20 touchdowns) and Jonathan Stewart (team rookie record 836 yards and 10 touchdowns). Whether they were “Smash & Dash” or “Double Trouble,” they were perhaps the league's most dynamic duo. They combined for more rushing yards than any tandem from the same team since 1984. Fullback Brad Hoover had another strong season blocking. The Panthers set team season records for rushing yards (2,437), average yards per carry (4.8) and rushing touchdowns (30).

Looking Ahead: The future looks extremely bright as long as Williams and Stewart don't get frustrated splitting carries. Williams is under contract for two more seasons, and Stewart's deal runs through 2012. It'll be interesting to see if Williams gets a revised deal. He's on the contract he signed as a rookie and is to make a $645,000 base salary next season, which hardly reflects his current value.

WIDE RECEIVERS

2008 Review: Steve Smith was as good as ever, averaging more than 100 yards per game for the first time in his career. He made a habit of rescuing the Panthers with late game-saving catches. Muhsin Muhammad, 35, had a remarkable return, especially considering his age. Dwayne Jarrett finally started showing signs of promise. D.J. Hackett did little to merit the hoopla surrounding his free-agency signing last spring.

Looking Ahead: Smith and Muhammad should be back as starters, with Jarrett continuing to progress as a possible successor to Muhammad. But the Panthers probably will want to add another receiver or two. They could choose to part with Hackett, who is due a $500,000 roster bonus and a $1.045 million base salary.

TIGHT ENDS

2008 Review: Dante Rosario started the season with a huge game in the opener at San Diego but, for the most part, the tight ends had a relatively quiet season as receivers. However, they were again important as blockers in the run game. Rosario and starter Jeff King combined for 39 catches and two touchdowns.

Looking Ahead: King should continue to be a good fit for all the roles Fox likes in a tight end. Keep an eye on Gary Barnidge, who didn't catch a pass as a rookie this season, but has promise as a receiver, particularly his ability to stretch the field.

OFFENSIVE LINE

2008 Review: It goes without saying that the run blocking was outstanding most of the time. The pass blocking was generally good, too. The Panthers ranked eighth in the NFL for fewest sacks per offensive play, the best year-end ranking in that statistical category in team history. Left tackle Jordan Gross finally got the recognition he deserves, making the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro. Solid depth was a key reason for the line's success. When starters were injured, the backups filled in admirably.

Looking Ahead: If the Panthers can keep Gross, they have the potential to have one of the league's top offensive lines for years to come. Center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah are rising young stars, perhaps future Pro Bowlers, and left guard Travelle Wharton is vastly underrated. Right guard Keydrick Vincent should be back again in '09 after excelling in the running game. Gross is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and his market value hardly could be higher. He's in the prime years of his career and is coming off his best season. To keep him, the Panthers likely will have to pay him a multi-year deal averaging about $8million. That's based upon current contracts of the league's highest-paid offensive linemen.

DEFENSIVE LINE

2008 Review: End Julius Peppers came back strong with a big season, ranking among league leaders with a career high 141/2 sacks. Tyler Brayton also set a career high for sacks (41/2) and Charles Johnson (6 sacks) continued to develop. Maake Kemoeatu was a key inside force against the run, and Damione Lewis flashed his first-round athletic ability and provided inside pressure at times. The line faltered late in the season, especially when Kemoeatu and Lewis were injured. Carolina's run defense allowed 4.4 yards per carry for the season, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. That is by far the worst they've done in that category during Fox's seven seasons. Their previous worst ranking was 12th, in 2003 and again in 2004.

Looking Ahead: If Peppers gets his wish to move to another team, the defensive line likely will look dramatically different. The Panthers need to upgrade their pass rush even if Peppers stays, so just imagine the challenge ahead if he doesn't return. The Panthers also need to boost the tackle positions with more depth via the draft and/or free agency. They might also have to address the contracts of Lewis and Kemoeatu. Lewis has a $2.5 million roster bonus due and a $6.8 million salary-cap figure for 2009 that is more than triple his $1.87 amount for 2008. Kemoeatu's cap number goes from $3.5million to $6.8million. The Panthers could try to renegotiate both deals to get more cap-friendly numbers for next season, but must also decide whether to keep both players.

LINEBACKERS

2008 Review: Jon Beason had an All-Pro, Pro Bowl season in only his second year. He has become the general of the defense and one of the rangiest linebackers in the league. Thomas Davis had his best pro season and finally is settled at outside linebacker after playing safety in college. Na'il Diggs started every game at the other outside linebacker position.

LOOKING AHEAD: Beason and Davis are fast and athletic, and should be fixtures on the defense for years to come. The Panthers will have to decide whether to continue starting Diggs, who will turn 31 before training camp opens but has a friendly $1.4million cap figure for 2009, down from $4.5million in '08. Next season could be a time to consider starting Dan Connor, a rookie and former Penn State star who missed 2008 with an injury.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: The secondary started out the season playing extremely well. There was talk that it might be the best defensive backfield in team history. But the pass defense struggled in the final seven games, including the playoff loss to Arizona. Cornerback Chris Gamble had probably his best season and rookie Charles Godfrey stepped in admirably at free safety, though he made his share of first-year mistakes. Ken Lucas was outstanding at times and struggled at others. Too many explosive plays were allowed late in the season. The defensive backs had a plethora of dropped balls on interception opportunities.

Looking Ahead: The Panthers simply must improve their pass defense. Some of that is dependent upon getting a better pass rush, but the secondary needs to play better, too, and simply must hang onto the balls that come into their hands. This is still a young group; Gamble, Richard Marshall, Chris Harris and Godfrey all will be 26 or younger when next season opens. The biggest question mark is whether Lucas, who turns 30 Friday, will return. He has two years remaining on his contract, but his cap number is scheduled to jump from $5.9million to $10.7million. Lucas said last week he didn't know whether the team would bring him back. The team might try to renegotiate, especially since releasing him could result in a cap hit of between $5million and $8.3million.

SPECIAL TEAMS

2008 Review: The kicking game was strong with John Kasay excelling on field goals, Rhys Lloyd on kickoffs and Jason Baker as the punter. Mark Jones did even better than expected as the kick returner, ranking seventh in the league in punt returns but in the bottom third in kickoff returns. Carolina ranked in the top 10 for fewest yards allowed to opponents on kickoff and punt returns. There were three punts blocked by opponents early in the season, but the Panthers seemed to fix that problem and it didn't recur.

Looking Ahead: Kasay and Baker have long-term contracts, but long snapper Jason Kyle is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He's been one of the league's most reliable snappers for years, but turns 37 in May, so the Panthers must decide whether to re-sign him. Jones is also set to become an unrestricted free agent. He could be brought back, but the Panthers also have returner/receiver Ryne Robinson returning from an injury.
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