While idly searching for new web content on the Panthers, I came across a series of position-by-position rankings posted by Pat Yasinskas over on ESPN.com. There's some interesting plaudits thrown our way...
The Panthers placed #2 (Julius Peppers), #8 (Charles Johnson), and #9 (). It's a little surprising to see Charles Johnson get on the list that high given his limited playing time. I would have thought Kemo would place a little higher.
The Panthers placed #1 (Jordan Gross), #7 (Jeff Otah), and #10 (Travelle Wharton). Personally, I feel like Otah ought to be higher on the list, despite only a single season rookie performance to date.
It's interesting that we placed #2 (Deangelo Williams) and #3 (Jonathan Stewart) behind Atlanta's Michael Turner. If our guys weren't splitting carries, they'd blow Turner off the list...and the field. Meanwhile, we also placed #10 (Brad Hoover). In a word...Hoooooooov!
The Panthers placed #1 (Steve Smith) and #6 (Muhsin Muhammad). Not too shabby, especially for Moose. He's essentially listed as the #2 WR2 in the whole group.
They only reviewed the starting primary TEs for each team and we placed dead last at #4 (Jeff King). I'd have liked to see a full Top 10 so they could have rated Dante Rosario, as I think he could have made the list, too.
And last but not least...
We get the #3 (Jake Delhomme) and #4 (Josh McCown) spots, right behind New Orleans' Drew Brees and Atlanta's Matt Ryan. I think it's somewhat humorous that our 2nd string QB is ranked ahead of the starters for two of our division rivals as well as all of the backups for every other NFC South team. Not too shabby, Josh!
Anyway, that's all they've done so far. No word on LBs or the DBs yet...or special teams, if they bother to rank them as well. They're obviously trying to fill in time on their blogs during the off-season. But it's still great fodder for discussion.
Update: Here's the rankings for the Defensive Backs
The Panthers Chris Gamble came in at #1 whom Yas says is the only 'shut down corner' in the division.