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Published: July 15, 2010
It was a disappointing 2009 regular season for the Carolina Panthers as the team finished with an 8-8 record and failed to make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
The team parted ways with longtime starting quarterback Jake Delhomme who was cut in the off season. The veteran quarterback was an absolute turnover machine with 18 interceptions and only 8 touchdown passes a year ago.
A bright note was the team was a success on the ground with a rushing average of 156.1 yards per game and third in the league.
Defensively the Panthers were the 8th ranked defense in the NFL allowing 315.8 yards per game. They were 4th against the pass allowing just 191 yards per game and 9th in the league in points allowed. Those are pretty good numbers when your starting quarterback is mistake prone and putting opponents in tremendous field position. The Panthers lost key star defensive end Julius Peppers to free agency.
Head coach John Fox is in the last year of his contract and failed to earn an extension following the teams disappointing season in 2009. Fox’ job is on the line in 2010 and it may be post season or bust for the Panthers head coach.
The Odds:
The Carolina Panthers regular season win total has been set at 7 ½ wins by Bodog sportsbook with under favored at -145 with the over bringing back +115 underdog money.
Bodog has lined the Carolina Panthers as 35-1 to win the Super Bowl this season. The club is lined at Bodog at 16-1 to win the NFC Championship and +550 odds to win the NFC South division.
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2010 New Orleans Saints Regular Season Schedule:
The Panthers play in the NFC South division so they will play a game home and away against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The NFC South division in the 2010 regular season will face the NFC West and AFC North divisions.
Carolina in their games against NFC West opponents will host the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals with road trips at the St Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
The Panthers AFC North games will include home games to the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Colts with road trips at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
As the third place team in the NFC South the Panthers will play the other two third place finishers from the NFC so that will deliver a home date with the Chicago Bears and a road date with the New York Giants.
The Panthers will face back to back road games to conclude the regular season with their lone prime time game scheduled as a Thursday night at Pittsburgh prior to closing the season at Atlanta.
Offense:
Matt Moore has been penciled in as the Panthers starting quarterback as they team enters camp. Second year starter Hunter Cantwell has been listed as the teams backup on their July depth chart with Jimmy Clausen and former Cincinnati Bearcat starting quarterback Tony Pike competing for the #2 spot.
The four year pro from Oregon St Moore started the team’s final 5 games and led the Panthers to a 4-1 record to close the season. He defeated both the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints at home during two of his 5 starts down the stretch.
The Panthers QB completed 61.6% of his passes for 1053 yards 8 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions and had a respectable quarterback rating of 98.5.
Moore is supported by the 2009 #3 rushing offense in the NFL led by running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
The two headed monster for the Panthers had similar starts with each rushing for over 1100 yards with Williams bringing in a 5.2 yards per carry average and Stewart 5.1.
The Panthers receivers features Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett as the #1 and #2 wide outs with Kenny Moore and Dexter Jackson the number three and four. Smith broke his arm near the start of camp and is slated to be back at full strength just in time for the start of the season. Smith had 65 catches last year for 982 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Jarrett is a major question mark as he moves up the depth chart as the team lost Muhsin Muhammad in the off season. The Panthers drafted wide receivers Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards with both of their 3rd round picks to add needed depth at this position.
Roster spots here are up for grabs with so many questions beyond Steve Smith. The Panthers don’t throw much to their tight ends as they focus more on run blocking for their #3 rushing attack.
The offensive line features center Ryan Kalil with guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Travelle Wharton around him. At tackles are Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah. Four of these five started last season with Bernadeau slated to start in place for departed guard Keydrick Vincent who was lost in free agency. The Panthers offensive line allowed 33 sacks in 2009.
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Defense:
Impact pass rusher defensive end Julius Peppers was lost to the Chicago Bears in free agency for the Panthers. Peppers led the team in 2009 with 10 ½ sacks. The Panthers also released both of their starting defensive tackles during the off season so the clubs front four will have a much different look. The team was 8th in total defense last year allowing 315.8 yards per game.
Penciled in the front four for the Panthers is ends Tyler Brayton and Everette Brown with Nick Hayden and Louis Leonard inside at tackles. Brayton had 5 sacks last season. Defensive tackle Charles Johnson was signed in free agency from the Colts and the team drafted Greg Hardy out of Ole Miss in the draft to provide depth behind the starters.
At linebacker the team goes with Jon Beason in the middle flanked by Thomas Davis and James Anderson. Pass rusher Eric Norwood was drafted by the Panthers from South Carolina and has the ability to see playing time this season.
The secondary excelled last season as the club finished #4 in the league defending the pass allowing just 191 yards per game.
Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall start at the corners and Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey at safety. Godfrey is slated to start in place for departed safety Chris Harris who was traded to the Bears.
And now to my Selection:
Teams have tapes on Matt Moore and opposing defensive coordinators know his tendencies. Other than Steve Smith the Panthers first year starter will have very few targets to throw two. The Panthers running game could carry them to victory against lesser teams but they cant do it alone without help from their passing game against upper echelon clubs. The pass rush for the Panthers will be a question mark without Julius Peppers and two other starters departing this season from the defensive line. Panthers wont get to 8 wins this season.
Selection: Play Under 7 1/2 wins in 2010 Regular Season.
