Carolina Panthers 2015 Season Preview

Carolina Panthers

2014 record 7-8-1

2015 O/U 8.5

Off Season overview

You can look at most of the off-season additions and cannot look at much gain in what the Panthers did, but there isn’t really much loss either. Greg Hardy is clearly the big name sitting there and in football terms the Panthers got a worse deal than Hardy in all of this. Basically, if they signed the stud defender they drafted they look like hypocrites in the media, and so they let him walk and get nothing in return for finding a player who will make plays for the competition. Other than that the news of Kelvin Benjamin going down changed this teams identity. We will get into later, but the draft did fill a potential void and was added to one of the weaker units on the team. The Cam Newton contract was the headlines now that Hardy is gone from Carolina and it is safe to say this team goes where Newton takes them.

Offensive Strength

If the Panthers want to do anything above average on offense it will be due to the leadership of Cam Newton. Newton has to be one of the most underrated players in the league. Sure, he is the former number one pick but he took that team from literally the cellar, to 6-10, 7-9 and then the playoffs in his last two seasons is quite impressive when you look at the offensive players they surround him with. They have always made sure he has his one receiver, but that is usually it, and it has either been a guy over 30, or a rookie. Greg Olsen has emerged as Newtons’ go to guy. Olsen is also a plus blocker and helps Newton in a variety of ways, but he has that explosiveness and since signing in Carolina he has averaged over 12 yards a catch. I want so bad to say that Newton can rely on Jonathan Stewart and his 4.6 yards per carry to assist in the run game, but then you realize he has carried the ball 200 times in a season once, and has started in more than seven games just once in his seven full seasons. You want to say that Deangelo Williams opens time for him, but you also want to say it is just a better chance for him to get hurt. I would have to put him on the in between, but what we get back to is that besides getting the offense going with just a tight end, he now looks to get the run game going himself, with his career 5.5 yards per rush, and if guys like Fozzy Whitaker, and Cameron Artis-Payne can give decent carries the run game should be fine. Newton is most successful drop back and pass QB, but playing towards his strengths is what they have done, and his ability to open that run has turned him into an efficient passer. All in all, if Newton, who played through cracked ribs before rolling his car on the freeway and playing a week later, actually does miss significant time, I think this team is in big trouble.

Offensive Weakness

I think this way because who does Newton have on this offense that is worthwhile? Olsen, yes, and Stewert, for 18 carries a game over an eight game span sure, but what else do they have? They have a center in Ryan Khalil and thank goodness they do, because other wise this line would fall over pre snap. I see one of the worst offensive lines in the league, and a team that finished 13th in sacks allowed, mainly because Newton is so hard to take down, and is able to make throws staring down hits, because this line has him leading the league in quarter back hits. Swapping Michael Oher, a guy who the Tennessee Titans didn’t deem suitable to make their roster, for Byron Bell is probably a downgrade and you have to wonder if they even care about the safety of their franchise. While having Steve Smith you always wondered if they could get someone beside him for Newton and really turn this team into something. As they draft Benjamin, Smith is out the door in a one for one swap. They did draft Devin Funchess, and I did like his role with guys like Olsen and Benjamin. Without Benjamin, it turns the rookie into a focal point in the offense, and that I definitely do not see. Funchess is athletic for his size, but has played a lot of time being a tight end that couldn’t block. It makes him really raw as a wide receiver, and at Michigan he was much more productive from the slot than the outside. If he is getting beat outside, it will be the Corey Brown and Jericho Cothery show out there and lets face it those are not your game breakers. It is concerning with Benjamin now out of the equation how far Newton can take this group, but it is not like he hasn’t dealt with it for the majority of his career.

Defensive Strength

The front seven that made the Panthers a Super Bowl contender in 2013 is a bit shaken, and went through bumps in bruises since that run, but they have still been above average, and should be better than 2014 in 2015. Luke Kuechly doesn’t need too much to say about, he is the heart of the defense and can make tackles all over the field. The team drafted Shaq Thompson to ease the load, because Thompson was a player who would fly all around the field as well. In fact, in the draft process it was debated if Thompson was a linebacker or a safety. I think they can use him as a rover safety in formations, and line backer in depth, and he will get lots of play. He is a back up because Thomas Davis has been in the core for a while now, and AJ Klein is starter capable across from Davis. Star Lotulelei was banged up in his second NFL season, but he has shown that when healthy he is a stud and haul to move. They have strong depth beside him and Kawaan Short, and behind him in Dwan Edwards. The rotation is efficient when healthy, and with Charles Johnson, Kony Ealy, and Mario Addison rotating on the edges, the front seven should have plenty of depth, and should be able to survive a shake up like what happened last year.

Defensive Weakness

Although in terms of efficiency the passing game was better than rush, I do attribute the injuries and suspensions on the line being a reason, as well as the Panthers ranking 2nd against tight ends and 7th against running backs in terms of the pass. Kuechly and the linebackers usually suck these up, and it does force teams to move the ball deep on them. With 33-year-old Roman Harper, and 34-year-old Charles Tillman being your two most reliable secondary players there has to be a question in the entire unit. The corner back depth is bare completely, and it really makes beating this team deep more plausible. Tre Boston has done a decent job in his rookie season as a free safety, but now entering year two he will need to make strides to keep this unit from being the downfall of what should be an above average defense.

Where do they rank O/U 8.5

This team just doesn’t seem to have a chance to stay healthy around Newton. That said, Newton doesn’t seem to have a chance himself. All that and I still struggle to write this team off. It is tough having their two easiest games against the Jaguars and Titans on the road, but they also get the Redskins at home, and should find at least three division wins. I see this team sitting at 8-8 and due to their injury potential would look to the under here, but I have a hard time counting out Newton after another division winning season, even with it being only a seven win one. As for the division, I see a toss up, but lean to the Panthers because I see their defense as a more impressive unit.

Parkers Pick: 2nd in the division, No play (lean under)

Logans Pick: 1st in the division, Over 8.5 wins