The Carolina Panthers didn’t expect this to be a bad season. I know no team ever does (for the most part), but they really didn’t. They traded their 2011 2^nd rounder for a 2010 3^rd back in April, trying to put together one last shot at the Super Bowl before John Fox’s contract ran out. Unfortunately, this season was worse than anyone could ever imagine. The Panthers only scored 196 points to 408 allowed and only won two games, both at home, by a combined 10 points, against two terrible NFC West teams who had to travel across three time zones.

This season was really over before it started. Going into his contract year without an extension, John Fox, who has been with the team since 2002, simply didn’t care about this team. They were overmatched and outcoached in every game, even their wins. Fox has coached this team to an NFC Championship game and a Super Bowl appearance in his tenure with the team, but simply didn’t care this year.

In fact, on several occasions, he actually made several moves that could be viewed easily as Eff Yous to the front office. He started the terrible Matt Moore over rookie Jimmy Clausen for a few weeks, not willing to let the front office see what Clausen had. It took Moore going on IR for Fox to make Clausen the starter and then when Clausen missed a game with a concussion, Fox signed Brian St. Pierre, who hadn’t been through an NFL practice since January, rather than letting the front office see what rookie Tony Pike had.

Of course, this entire season can’t be blamed on John Fox. The talent on the field was simply lacking. They couldn’t run. The receivers couldn’t get open or catch. The offensive line couldn’t block. The defensive couldn’t stop anyone. No matter who they put behind center (Moore, Clausen, Pike, St. Pierre), it was the same story. None of their quarterbacks had any help whatsoever, not from his supporting cast, not from his coaching staff. Their quarterbacks only threw for 200+ yards once this season.

Say what you want about Jimmy Clausen, but it’s hard to be productive without any help, especially as a rookie. Clausen put up horrific stats, causing me and my claim that Clausen was the best quarterback in this class last April to become laughing stocks. He went 157 for 299 (52.5%) for 1558 yards (5.2 YPA), 3 touchdowns, and 9 picks. His season high in passing yards was 195, week 12 against Cleveland. Still, if I were a quarterback starved team, I’d give up a mid round pick for him, give him a better supporting cast, and try to get him sorted out.

The future looks brighter for this team. They might not have their 2^nd round pick (#33), but they have their first round pick #1 and will be able to take Andrew Luck (arguably one of the top quarterback prospects of the decade), assuming he comes out.  Luck is drawing very valid comparisons to Matt Ryan, as the redshirt sophomore went 263 for 372 (70.7%) for 3338 yards (9.0 YPA), 32 touchdowns, and 8 picks in a Pro Style Offense for 11-1 Stanford. Stanford’s only loss came to Oregon, who will compete for the “National Championship” against Auburn later this week. Luck’s defense gave up 52 points in that 52-31 loss.

Of course if Luck decided not to come out, the Panthers would be screwed, but after this miserable season, I’ll spare their fans and not mention that.