You may have noticed that I tend to do a good number of fan polls on this site. I thought I would look back at some of the results and try to draw conclusions of what Panther fans have been thinking on a few issues in 2008.

Let’s start with my first right bar poll. The results of the most popular Panther currently on the roster (127 votes):

1.       Steve Smith (34%)

2.       Jake Delhomme (18%)

3.       Jon Beason (15%)

Two things surprise me, the first that Julius Peppers wasn’t even close to the top 3 with only 9 % of the vote. I guess that one bad season (statistically) will do that to your popularity (and jersey sales). The second thing is Jon Beason coming in third after only one season. Remember that he replaced a very popular guy in Dan Morgan too.

Yet maybe being popular is a function of how much excitement you bring to the game. Steve Smith isn’t the clear number one because he is such a great spokesman for the team or the community. It’s because he is exciting to watch on the field. Every time he touches the ball he could take it to the house. Jon Beason brings that kind of excitement on the other side of the line. He is lighting fast and isn’t afraid to hit someone. Of course Jake can be exciting too when he is throwing the ball with accuracy and firing up his team mates. I think this poll shows Panther fans like to see excitement on field and when you don’t provide it, for example… Peppers big drop in the ever exciting sacks, you pay the price in popularity.

Who will win the starting DE job opposite Julius Peppers (81 votes)?

1.    Tyler Brayton (40%)

2.    Charles Johnson (37%)

3.    Stanley McClover (17%)

I was surprised to see how quickly Panther fans assumed Brayton would beat out the 2^nd year player Johnson but it’s probably based on the fact the Panthers had Brayton running with the first team in mini-camp and OTA’s.  This could be reflecting a disappointment in Johnson not making a splash last season.  I myself was expecting bigger things from McClover but find myself being more cautious in my assessment of him this season.

I’m maintained recently that John Fox tends to give the nod to the veteran incumbent but maybe that is a wrong assessment (or maybe he has changed). Brayton leaped-frogged Johnson and McClover simply by arriving and the same can be said of rookie Charles Godfrey over veteran Terrence Holt (though Holt is new to the Panthers). Maybe Panther fans have adopted the same wishful thinking as John Fox that previously unproductive veteran can be “coached up” to fill a void at a cheap price. I’m hoping Charles Johnson gets it together and ends all the controversy in training camp.

 How many TD's will Dwayne Jarrett score in 2008?

1.    1 to 3     (45%)

2.    4-6          (36%)

3.    0              (11%)

This poll defines Panthers fans, mostly optimists mixed in with a few extreme pessimists. 81% think Jarrett will at least score his first TD and 11% already think he is a bust. A third not only think he will score but that he will produce quite well for a 3^rd WR, 4 to 6 TD’s. I have to mention though that 5 users went totally homer and picked Jarrett to get 10+ TD’s. That’s a pretty fat chance but would be a great story!

 How much better does the addition of Darwin Walker and Ian Scott make the Panthers d-line?

1.    Best in the NFC South (56%)

2.    Average at Best (30%)

3.    Best in the NFL (6%)

I have to admit I selected #2 above because of the Bucs line. Now if Peppers returns to form and we don’t get any fall off in the run stop game we will be the best in the NFC South. Going into training camp though I can’t be as optimistic as most Panther fans. I certainly can’t see them being considered the Best in the NFL (love those homers though!) Most pundits are in love with the Vikings front line in that regard.

I think overall Panther fans are not impressed with what has transpired with the defensive line. He lost a Pro Bowler and replaced him with two journeymen for the most part. Again I think this is another area whether the Panther brass is hoping they can coach up some veterans in the twilight of their career.

Back in February before the main free agency action began I asked this question: Which power RB would you prefer for the Panthers?

1.    Michael Turner (38%)

2.    Rashard Mendenhall (24%)

3.    Jonathan Stewart (20%)

20% of you correctly predicted the Panthers true desire was Stewart. Turner would have been nice and I sure hated to see him go to the Falcons. At the time I was worried about Stewarts toe and would have preferred Mendenhall. Given his drop in the draft I guess that’s why I’m not an NFL GM.