Gotta disagree. In 2006, Jake threw for 2800 yards in only 13 games. In the previous three seasons, he played all 16 games and his worst output was 3200 yards and 19 TDs. I predict 3500 yards and 25 TDs. Smith and Moose will both go over 1,000 yards. Remember when T.O. caught 9 passes for 122 yards in the Superbowl. That was only 12 months after Moose had an 85 yard TD in the Superbowl. They were drafted in the same year and Moose’s skills have fallen off as much as T.O.s – not much at all. The difference, though, is the number of #2 corners trying to cover him. He’ll go for 1100 yards, and Smitty will get 1250 (like Jaxon said). D-Will is much better receiving than Stewart. He will have more receptions and yards than Stewart, as well as more TDs overall. Some may say that D-Will can’t be all that when he was Foster’s back-up. Foster had more carries because we needed a guy who could get up in there and get 2-3 yards. There weren’t any holes. D-Will’s line will look more like the Vikings line last year (when even the back-up Chester Taylor ran for 5.4 yards a carry), than our line from last year. I think Hackett and King may be bad picks all around. Hackett may finish with 550 yards and 3 TDs, but Drew Carter in Oakland as a starter may produce more than our #3. Our defense is going to be spectacular because they won’t be on the field as long. We’ll have more sacks and interceptions because teams will throw more in the 2nd half. As a side note, if you pick up Stewart, pay attention every week if he’s gong to return kicks. You might get a couple returns for TDs. I have the utmost confidence that he’s going to be an outstanding RB, but beating out D-Will is going to be much tougher than “experts” make it out to be. He doesn’t have the burst D-Will has and he has zero reps with the first team. D-Will has better timing with the O-line and Jake, has more practice and has more time learning and playing in this offense.

I know I can be overly optimistic, but every year since 1995 I’ve picked the Panthers to go all the way. This year is no different. Just to say you heard it hear first, I’m going to give you guys a heads up on who’s going to the Pro Bowl:

Jake Delhomme
Steve Smith
DeAngelo Williams
Jordan Gross
Julius Peppers
Jon Beason
Chris Harris (he’ll create more havoc since the other starting safety will be much better in coverage than last year’s safety)

You know I’ve always been an optimist. I look at our record over the last two years with a healthy Jake and Smitty, and we’re 9-5. I predicted we’d go 10-6 to 12-4 last season. That was before Jake’s injury. Now look at our team and you see major roster improvements over the last two years. Last year’s team had the talent to win 10-12 games, but we came up short. Injuries took a toll on us, but there was a lack of effort and mental toughness during some games that we should’ve won also. We’ve replaced a lot of players who brought mental mistakes and lack of desire to the field. The attitude, attention to detail and work ethic mistakes are being addressed. We have new talent, and we’re ready to get it done. Just looking at our players who have been in the league three years or less (incl. this year) is impressive: Beason, Connor, McGlover, C. Johnson, Marshall, Godfrey, Kalil, Barnidge, King, Rosario, D-Will, Stewart, Moore, Robinson and Otah. We’re not only set to win this year, but we’re set to be a Superbowl contender for the next several years.

I expect us to get a Superbowl win this year. John Fox will get an extension, and he’ll lead us to at least one more in the next five years. I could see him as our coach for the next decade.

I’m really curious to see how Jarrett does this year. I think he’ll get on the field as the #3 a few times because I doubt we’ll get 16 games out of all three top receivers. However, do you think he should or will get suspended for his DWI. I personally think a DWI is worse than a hit of marijuana because we know which of the two kills more people every year…just ask Leonard Little and Jared Allen. Anyway, there goes my two cents.

I despise stupid mistakes like drinking and driving. Allen never killed anyone, you’re right, but I think the league should take a tougher stance on it. As for Allen, he did close down his bar and swear off drinking altogether. We’ll see if it’s true. I’m also hoping Marshawn Lynch gets a suspension for a hit and run. I don’t care who’s a star and who isn’t. We fans pay a lot of money to these guys on a regular basis, and they are professionals. Asking them to not hit people and flee the scene (a la Lance Briggs) isn’t too much, really.

As for the #3 receiver, it’s hard to tell. Here are the stats from last year’s 2-4 receivers.

Jeff King 46 406 8.8 29 2
Drew Carter 38 517 13.6 49 4
Keary Colbert 32 332 10.4 43 0

My optimisitc hopes are that Hackett can outperform this group with a solid QB for all 16 games. The key is that these are all decent numbers for a #3, but we had no #2. Of these 116 catches from last year, I expect Moose to get 70 of them. So the #3 has to be really good to get to 500 yards. You’re right about that.

Either way, if Smith has to have four games where he catches 12 passes, I’m fine with that, too, as long as we win.