The Panthers finished 2010 with two wins and little hope. Major changes in Carolina have the franchise's prospects looking brighter, but it might take a while to see some rewards.
Ron Rivera was hired as head coach of the franchise, and like former coach John Fox, he's a first-time coach with defense on his mind and a no-nonsense approach. He swiped former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to help run the defense and stole Rob Chudzinski from the Chargers to map out the offense. At the very least, the Panthers should be a little less predictable offensively.
Of course, when you draft a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick there is complete unpredictability. That's what the Panthers have awaiting them after selecting Auburn's Cam Newton in April. Since the draft he's buckled down and learned the offense as best as he can (he did receive a playbook during the temporary lifting of the lockout). After being made out to look like a diva during the draft process, speculation is that Newton is working hard to prove he belongs in the NFL.
The rest of the roster is pretty much up for grabs, including veteran receiver and career-long Panther Steve Smith. The veteran claims he's complacent with his situation in Carolina but behind-the-scenes rumors have Smitty asking for a trade to a contender. While that would open up the door for the Panthers to get young receivers like David Gettis and Brandon LaFell on the field, it would also eliminate a veteran presence in the locker room and a quality target for Newton. About the only thing that's certain is that Smith will play somewhere this year.
Rivera and his staff will have their hands full, especially since they've been forced to work for several months without any players. They'll be rushed to have their guys ready to roll in new offensive and defensive schemes. Throw in a rookie quarterback leading the charge, and chances are the Panthers will be a work-in-progress in 2011.
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| Player | Draft Day value |
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| Cam Newton |
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| Jonathan Stewart |
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| DeAngelo Williams |
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| Mike Goodson |
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| Steve Smith |
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| Brandon LaFell |
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| David Gettis |
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| Jeremy Shockey |
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| John Kasay |
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| Panthers DST | |
Impact rookie ... Cam Newton, QB
An obvious choice, and barring Jimmy Clausen becoming Joe Montana, Newton should waltz his way onto the field for Week 1. He's an intriguing talent -- as raw as Tim Tebow was last year but with the same willingness to run and with a better arm. Questions about how quickly he can pick up the Panthers' offense will dog him over the summer, but he should be expected to raise some eyebrows. Remember, if he throws for 175 yards and runs for another 30 yards, that's the Fantasy equivalent of 250 yards passing. Throw in a touchdown and he won't be awful. Newton's not a terrible pick as a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback but probably can be had off waivers in the early going. He's far more appealing in long-term formats.
Late-round flier ... Brandon LaFell, WR
Chances are that Steve Smith will get shipped out of North Carolina, opening the door for LaFell to see more targets. After grabbing 38 passes for 468 yards and a score in '10, he's been working with teammates old and new this offseason, staying in shape in an effort to secure a starting lineup spot. He'll receive some competition for playing time and targets from fellow second-year wideout David Gettis, but LaFell is the more promising of the two. Once Smith's fate is known, LaFell is worth stashing on deeper Fantasy rosters.
Sleeper ... Jeremy Shockey, TE
When Rivera became the Panthers' head coach, the first promise he made was to find a difference-maker at tight end. After all, he had come from San Diego, where Antonio Gates baffled opponents game after game. The Panthers didn't hesitate to jump on Shockey when he shook free from the Saints before the start of the lockout, giving them a veteran that has caught plenty of passes and can be a mismatch for opponents. It only helps that Shockey has a relationship with Rob Chudzinski dating back to their days at the University of Miami. If this were 2007, we'd talk about Shockey as a No. 1 Fantasy tight end, but because so many other tight ends are coming into their own and carry higher expectations than Shockey, Fantasy owners can afford to overlook him until the very late rounds on Draft Day. Just remember, he's always been a good receiver, and young quarterbacks tend to lean on their tight ends. There's 60-catch potential here.
Schedule breakdown
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| @ARI | GB | JAC | @CHI | NO | @ATL | WAS | MIN | bye | TEN | @DET | @IND | @TB | ATL | @HOU | TB | @NO |
Hands down, the Panthers have the most unique schedule in the league. They play six of their eight road games indoors, and they have a three-game homestand wrapped around their bye week only to follow it with three straight road contests. A bonus for the Panthers' run game is matchups against the Cardinals and Jaguars in Weeks 1 and 3 -- if they run well, owners might opt to sell high on the likes of Jonathan Stewart early. Not sure if there's much else to like here -- the defense could get run over again as they face some serious offenses this season.
Training camp topics
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| Player | Touches |
| Jonathan Stewart | 186 |
| Mike Goodson | 143 |
| DeAngelo Williams | 98 |
| Steve Smith | 47 |
As soon as training camp opens, the Panthers will be working from behind as they attempt to adjust to a new offensive playbook and a new defensive coach. While all of their division rivals will keep their systems from years past, the Panthers are going to have to learn on the fly. It almost guarantees them another Top 10 draft pick in 2012.
The Panthers' run game will be the strength of the offense. The O-line is stout and the backs on the roster are good -- and that's whether they lose DeAngelo Williams or not. Williams is expected to test free agency, and the Panthers might have to let him go so they can afford other players at other positions. Besides, they'll still have Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson left behind, and many observers feel that they can provide the same kind of threat as Williams and Stewart. Of course, this would mean that Stewart would become the primary rusher and as such his Fantasy value would take a leap. Goodson's too.
Rivera will have his hands full with the defense. Last year's pass rush star, Charles Johnson, is expected to test free agency, as will cornerback Richard Marshall and linebacker James Anderson. That leaves a lot of holes to fill. Though the team spent three draft picks on front-seven players, they only spent four total on defense. They'll have a hard time convincing free agents to come to Carolina to help rehab the franchise. That's bad for them but good for the players that go up against them.
Injury update
DeAngelo Williams (foot; probable for the start of training camp) ... Jimmy Clausen (foot; probable for the start of training camp) ... Thomas Davis (knee; questionable for the start of training camp).
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