Debate the Carolina Panthers offseason needs in The Football Fan Forum
2010 Preview:
I’m projecting a bounce back year for the Panthers this year. Matt Moore had 5 starts last year and they went 4-1. The schedule wasn’t the hardest for them in those 5 games, Tampa Bay (win), New England (loss), Minnesota (win), New York Giants (win), New Orleans Saints without Drew Brees (win), but it’s still something that gives them hope going into this year.
Moore is not guaranteed to win the starting job, but I’m a fan of Jimmy Clausen (who reportedly already knows their playbook as well as Moore, because he ran a similar one at Notre Dame) and if Clausen wins the job, it’ll be because he is the better quarterback. Rookie quarterbacks struggle, unless they have three things, a good supporting cast (running game, offensive line, receivers, D), experience in a Pro Style offense, taking snaps from under center, and 30 or more collegiate starts. In the last 2 years, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, who had all three of those things, succeeded as rookies, while Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman, and Matt Stafford, who lacked one or more of those things, struggled as rookies. Clausen has all three of those things so he would be fine as a rookie.
I compare Clausen’s supporting cast to Matt Ryan’s in his first year in Atlanta. Good running game, one talented receiver, strong defense, good offensive line. Carolina has the better running game and Atlanta had the better defense, but they’re similar supporting casts. If Clausen were given the ropes to this team, he should do fine.
Likewise, if Moore were the starter, he’d do fine as well. They added some more depth to their receiving corps across from Steve Smith, so his receivers are better this year than last. As long as they have that two headed attack at running back, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, Moore, or Clausen, won’t have to do a ton at quarterback, except not throw picks.
Their defense could be a bit of an issue, especially in terms of pass rushers. Julius Peppers and his 10.5 sacks in 2009 are gone. As a team they only had 31 last year, even with Peppers. 2nd year player Everette Brown should step up this year, but I doubt he’ll be to their line what Peppers was so I’m expecting a low sacks total from them this year. Also, Brown isn’t even half the player Peppers was against the run. That hurts as well. They have good corners so this should still be a solid defensive unit, but if you want to pick out a flaw on this team, point to it and say, that’s why this is not an elite team, it’s their defensive line first, and their inexperience at quarterback second.
All in all, they have the talent to make the playoffs and win 10+ games. Look for either Moore or Clausen to do what this team did late last year and that’s keep the turnovers down, run out the clock, keep the defense fresh, and, most importantly, win football games.
Projection: 10-6 2nd in NFC South
Power Ranking: 10
Last season: 8-8
Draft:
#48 QB Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)
Clausen was my 2nd rated player and top rated quarterback so obviously I love this pick at 48. He is an immediate upgrade over Matt Moore and he could not have had a better situation given their strong supporting cast. If Matt Ryan he take the Falcons to the playoffs as a rookie with that supporting cast, Clausen can certainly do the same time this year with the Panthers.
Grade: A
#78 WR Brandon LaFell (LSU)
Jake Delhomme struggled last year because he had to keep forcing things to Steve Smith. With a solid big receiver like LaFell, Clausen won’t have to do that and LaFell was a 2nd round prospect.
Grade: A
#89 WR Armanti Edwards (Applachain State)
Edwards will probably move to receiver for this team, but he can play some wildcat quarterback. However, he was not a 3rd round pick and doesn’t add a lot to the team, especially when you consider they gave up a 2011 2nd rounder for him.
Grade: F
#124 OLB Eric Norwood (South Carolina)
Norwood was a major steal in the 4th and fills two needs. He gives them a solid nickel rusher, but he can also play strong side linebacker on running downs and be used like Brian Orakpo was this year as a rookie.
Grade: A
#175 DE Greg Hardy (Mississippi)
They needed to get two pass rushers out of this draft with Julius Peppers leaving as a free agent. Hardy should not have slipped this far as has some upside as a starter.
Grade: A
#198 WR David Gettis (Baylor)
Gettis fits the range, but, including Edwards, he’s the 3rd receiver they’ve drafted in this one draft. Their receiver weren’t that bad, but then again, it’s not a bad idea to get a bunch of pass catchers for Clausen.
Grade: B-
#202 CB Jordan Pugh (Texas A&M)
The Panthers didn’t need an upgrade at corner that badly, but Pugh is a good value and it’s doesn’t hurt to have depth when they have to face Matt Ryan and Drew Brees a total of 4 times a year.
Grade: A-
#204 QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati)
Pike fits the value, but they already drafted a quarterback in this draft class as well as a wildcat quarterback, and they still have Matt Moore on the roster, so I don’t see the need. They needed to bring in a defensive tackle or some offensive line help.
Grade: D
#223 CB RJ Stanford (Utah)
Another corner? Not a bad value, but did they really need him at all.
Grade: C-
#249 CB Robert McClain (Connecticut)
A 3rd corner? Huh?
Grade: D
Overall:
I really think they made themselves a ton better through this draft. They got an upgrade at quarterback and upgrades at receiver and good value for their first 2 picks. They also got two steals with Eric Norwood and Greg Hardy, who help them rush the passer, a huge need for this team, considering that, if you take away Julius Peppers’ 10.5 sacks, they only had 20.5 last year. However, they once again traded a future pick, a 2nd round pick, for a wildcat quarterback they didn’t need and they seemed to have trouble changing up positions. 3 wide receiver is alright, because they needed some help, but 3 cornerbacks? That wasn’t a need. They could still have some trouble against the run without upgrades or at least more depth inside. However, you cannot ignore how much better they got through this draft, even without a 1st rounder.
Grade: A
Positions of needs:
Wide Receiver:
Part of the reason why Jake Delhomme struggled last year was that he was forcing things to Steve Smith too often. Smith is a good receiver and an amazing deep threat, but they really need a solid possession guy to compliment him and gave new quarterback Matt Moore the best opportunity to succeed. I think they’ll take one in the first two rounds of the draft.
Drafted Brandon LaFell (#78), Drafted David Gettis (#198)
Defensive Tackle:
The Panthers struggled against the run last year in a huge way until the last 3 or 4 weeks of the season. They also did not get any pass rush from the interior of their defensive line. They need one, if not two, upgrades at the defensive tackle position because things are only going to get worse with Julius Peppers no longer taking up double teams at the defensive end position.
Signed Ed Johnson
Defensive End:
Julius Peppers isn’t coming back. Even when he was there, they didn’t have anyone on the opposite side of the line with more than 5 sacks. Even if Everette Brown, a 2009 2nd round pick who is a bit undersized, pans out next year, they would still need an upgrade at left end. They might actually need to add 2 more ends to the mix.
Drafted Greg Hardy (#175)
Tight End:
Matt Moore needs more than one upgrade in his receiving corps. I can’t think of the last time the Panthers had a good pass catching tight end. The tight end class has a few good players who could start right away in the first 3 rounds so they could look for Dennis Pitta or Rob Gronkowski in the 3rd round.
Outside Linebacker:
Na’il Diggs is decent, but could be upgraded if a player they like at the outside linebacker position falls to them. More likely, this will not happen because they lack a high number of picks to fix their other needs.
Drafted Eric Norwood (#124), Traded for Jamar Williams
Quarterback:
Matt Moore appears to be the longterm guy going forward, but he really is only proven over a few games. I don’t think they really want to have to go back to Jake Delhomme, so they could use a late round pick on a 3rd guy or sign a veteran backup in free agency.
Drafted Jimmy Clausen (#48), Drafted Tony Pike (#204), Drafted Armanti Edwards (#89)
Free agents:
QB Jake Delhomme- signed with Browns 2 years
QB Matt Moore (exclusive rights)- 1 year 3 million
QB AJ Feeley- signed with Rams 2 years
QB Josh McCown
FB Brad Hoover
WR Mushin Muhammed
WR Kenneth Moore (exclusive rights)- resigned 1 year .47 million
TE Jeff King (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
OT Rob Petitti (restricted)- resigned
G Keydrick Vincent- signed with Buccaneers
DE Julius Peppers- signed with Bears 6 years 91.5 million
DT Damione Lewis- signed with Patriots
DT Hollis Thomas (restricted)
DT Louis Leonard (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.2 million
DT Tyler Brayton (restricted)- resigned 3 years
DT Tank Tyler (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
DT Nick Hayden (restricted)- tendered
DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu- signed with Redskins 2 years 7 million
OLB Thomas Davis (restricted)- resigned 1 year 3.2 million
OLB James Anderson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
OLB Na’il Diggs- signed with Rams
CB Richard Marshall (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.7 million
S CJ Wilson (restricted)- resigned 1 year 1.1 million
S Quinton Teal (restricted)- not tendered, signed with Seahawks
Offseason moves:
Panthers re-sign CB Richard Marshall
Panthers re-sign OLB Thomas Davis
Panthers announce retirement of WR Muhsin Muhammad
Panthers trade S Chris Harris to Bears for OLB Jamar Williams
Panthers re-sign S C.J. Wilson
Panthers re-sign OLB James Anderson
Panthers re-sign DT Louis Leonard
Panthers claim CB Brian Witherspoon
Panthers re-sign TE Jeff King
Panthers re-sign DT Tank Tyler
Panthers sign S Aaron Francisco
Panthers re-sign WR Kenneth Moore
Panthers cut DT Damione Lewis
Panthers re-sign DE Tyler Brayton
Panthers sign CB Marcus Hudson
Panthers re-sign OT Rob Petitti
Panthers re-sign QB Matt Moore
Panthers cut FB Brad Hoover
Panthers sign WR Wallace Wright
Panthers cut OLB Na’il Diggs
Panthers cut DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu
Panthers cut QB Jake Delhomme
Panthers tender WR Kenneth Moore
Panthers tender DT Nick Hayden
Panthers tender OLB James Anderson
Panthers tender DT Tank Tyler
Panthers tender DT Louis Leonard
Panthers tender TE Jeff King
Panthers tender OLB Thomas Davis
Panthers tender CB Richard Marshall
Panthers tender S C.J. Wilson
Panthers sign DT Ed Johnson
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