Welcome to our next installment of Blogger Q&A as this week we have Brian Galliford from Buffalo Rumblings. Things have been rumbling in Bills territory as they face a number of significant injuries including the loss of QB Trent Edwards.

Question 1: I'm most curious how former Panther Geoff Hangartner is doing? I realize it can be hard to evaluate a center but is he starting? Performing well?

BG: Right now, he's grading out as one of our weakest performers up front - but that's not completely unexpected, given the importance of the center position against NFL teams who use three-man fronts far more often than they have in recent past.  There is no question that Hangartner has been a significant improvement over the Bills' two centers from 2008, Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston.  The difference, really, is night and day.  Hangartner has had some minor back issues and has had some issues snapping in shotgun sets, but he's been a steady performer to this point.

His importance skyrocketed when the Bills lost RT Brad Butler for the season; when the Bills take on Carolina, Hangartner will be centering an offensive line that features four players that may as well be rookies.  LT Demetrius Bell is a second-year player, but he was not active for a single game in 2008.  Andy Levitre and Eric Wood have started just six games apiece as our rookie guards.  With Butler (drafted in 2006) gone, we're starting another rookie, Jamon Meredith (drafted by GB in the fifth round this season), at right tackle.  Hangartner's leadership qualities are being put to a severe test, as he's now by far our most experienced starting lineman.

Hangartner is the elder statesman on the Bills o-line? The Panthers should be able to contain the Bills running game with their new DT additions. Who knows, they might actually be able to get pressure on the QB without blitzing. What a novel concept!

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More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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The Buffalo Bills started the 2008 season on fire, going 5-1, but it got ugly after that as they went 2-8 the rest of the way en route to a 7-9 finish. The Bills became the fifth team in the last 31 years to start 5-1 and not make the playoffs.  So they went out and took drastic measures, and in the process kind of got drastic results.

The biggest, and most risky, was the signing of Wide Receiver Terrell Owens.  They also traded pro-bowl Left Tackle Jason Peter to Philadelphia for draft picks, expecting Langston Walker to take his place.  Then they drafted a pass catching Tight End in Shawn Nelson, and signed free agent running back Dominick Rhodes.  Things looked good on paper.

In the real world, it hasn't worked out.  So far, Owens has been quiet in the locker room.  Unfortunately, he's been quiet on the field as well.  Walker couldn't cut it and was released after the Bills tried to trade him and found no takers.  The same thing happened with Rhodes, he just wasn't good enough to make the roster.  Nelson has been ok, but has yet to crack the starting lineup.

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More photos » by Donna McWilliam - AP

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Bad news, the Panthers rank last in rush defense. Good news, the Panthers rank 6th in pass defense. Although I do admit the 6th in pass is partly because everyone can just run the ball, but I would give the secondary a bit more credit than that. A large number of the points given up by the Panthers has not been the fault of the defense. Specials teams and offensive turnovers hold a lot of the blame.

In addition, it appears we should have both S Chris Harris and LB Na'il Diggs back from their injuries and of course we added yet another new defensive tackle in Hollis Thomas since the Panthers last took the field. With that in mind, two of the three start off my top defensive key match-ups:

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If there was one bright spot last week it was the defense, but that really isn't saying a lot. Saying the Panthers offense spotted the Eagles 14 points and then special teams allowing the KO return, that was 21 points right there. So when the defense was on the field they only allowed 17 points, which is respectable.

We all know the troubles the offense is facing, but how will the defense play this week. It could be argued (although it is early in his career) that Matt Ryan is a better QB than McNabb. Michael Tuner is a completely different RB than Westbrook but they are both clearly a threat when given the ball, yet Turner is more of a threat up the middle (our weakness). With the addition of Tony Gonzales at TE, the Falcons have the better pass catching TE. I would give the Eagles an the edge at WR however. I list these to point out that in total our D should be able to withstand the Falcons offense. Here are the match-ups I'll be watching when our D is on the field.

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On Sunday afternoon at 1PM, The Panthers face off against the Eagles at home in Bank of America Stadium to start the season. No more preseason, this is the real deal now. The depth charts have been set, the fields painted, and on Sunday the start of the 2009 Carolina Panthers season will finally begin.

However, the Panthers have many questions going into Week 1. How effective will our new 3rd receiver Kenny Moore be? Whom will be the punt and kick returners for the Panthers now that Steve Smith and Chris Gamble's names have been thrown into the competition? How will the Panthers recover after a 0-4 start during the preseason? All of these questions will finally be resolved.

There is a cause for hope. There is a cause for faith in our team. I believe the Panthers starters held back during the preseason. I believe the coaching staff called very conservative plays with loose coverage in order to keep the defense healthy. I believe that the players were instructed not to go all-out against their previous opponents, hence all the missed tackles. That is what we have to hope after a 0-4 start during the preseason. In addition, Linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis among our other starters were lining the bench to keep them from being injured during the cursed offseason. They will be back. Safeties Chris Harris and Sherrod Martin were nursing injuries right up into this very week before being declared good to go for Week 1. Besides our players on IR, the Panthers are healthy going up against the Eagles this Sunday.

Expect for the full fury of our defense to be released on game day. Like I said, you cannot judge the Panthers for their preseason. They calling a conservative game in order to minimize contact and prevent injuries to our players. The Panthers will change that on Sunday. Expect Panthers to blitz like crazy and carry a 4 man D-Line rotation in order to account for the losses of Corvey Irvin and Maake Kemoeatu to IR. The Panthers may have a huge weakness at DT, but our linebacker core are one of the strongest in the league. They will not, and cannot let us down.

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When looking at the key match-ups from week to week it is easy to always pick the big names (Peppers, Gamble, Beason), which I try to shy away from, instead choosing players that I think will have to step up their game for the Panthers to win. Yet saying it's the first game of the season I thought I'd start with the usual suspects as there are plenty of questions to go around.

1. DE Julius Peppers vs T Jason Peters

After the offseason showdown, and now receiving $1+ million per game, everyone is expecting Peppers to produce. He lack of production during the preseason is a concern. He has stated he prefers to lead by example instead of words. Well, now is the time to produce and lead in his own way.

He will primarily line up against All-Pro LT Jason Peters. Peters was acquired from the Bills during the offseason and although he gave up a league high 11.5 sacks last season, he will be formidable first opponent for Peppers. The Eagles have a great line coach in Juan Castillo, having coached four lineman to the Pro Bowl in his career. He has also has created several offensive line starters from rookie free agents, including current start C Jamaal Jackson. Jason Peters was already good, but his coach could make him that much better.

However, also starting Sunday on the other side of their line is backup T Winston Justice. The regular start, Shawn Andrews, is out with back problems. Justice is a very questionable in his ability and whoever plays left end, or if Peppers moves to LE during the game, could be poised for a big day.

Peppers is on a short leash with the fans and he will need a stellar performance to hold of his detractors.

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More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP

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Carolina opens its season this week by hosting the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that they've beaten only once in the regular season.  The Panthers have never fared well against the NFC East.  During the regular season, their combined record against East teams is 5-21.  Against the Eagles they've gone 1-4.  At the same time, John Fox is 14-9 in the month of September, and last year the Panthers were undefeated at home. 

Philadelphia was a popular choice to go all the way this year, before training camps and the presesason gave everyone a look at teams around the league.  Since then the Eagles have had several injuries and setbacks.  The championship predictions have cooled off somewhat, but this is still a very talented football team.  They've got it all--a franchise quarterback, a star running back, an up-and-coming wide receiver, an outstanding offensive line, and the third best defense in the league in 2008.

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by Chuck Burton - AP

2 months ago: Carolina Panthers' Dante Rosario (88) runs past Baltimore Ravens' Paul Kruger (99) during the Ravens' 17-13 win in a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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As we are all aware, the Panthers will open their season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Fox doesn't have a good track record against the Eagles, going 1-4 against them, with the only win in the 2003 playoffs when we went to the Superbowl. Philly is best known for the offense with names such as McNabb, Westbrook, the up and coming receiver DeSean Jackson. Yet their Defense is no joke, ending the 2008 season ranked third in the league.

So what can we expect on Sunday. We know the questions our team has all to well and it's hard not to see past them at times. We bring the same offense with hopefully a few new twist and play makers. It appears we have found a reliable 3rd WR in Kenneth Moore and a great 3rd running back in Mike Goodson. And of course we can't forget our TE. Hopefully our John Fox and Jeff Davidson can take advantage of or talent.

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