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.

In this post I'm referring to the actual offense/defense match-ups versus the positional battles most people talk about. Here's the top 5 battles I'll have my eye on.

1. Jordan Gross vs. Julius Peppers

I bet Gross was happy moving to the left side just to avoid matching up with Peppers in practice. Sorry Jordan, Pep has followed you to the other side. I will be anxious to see who picks up the nuances of their new position more quickly. Let's hope its both.

Prediction: Draw

2. Jeff Otah vs. Tyler Brayton

The other side of the line should bring intrigue as well. We've got the massive rookie RT Otah lining up on the under-achieving vet Brayton. Brayton better get his speed rush going because I doubt he has enough bull rush to get through Otah.

Prediction: Otah shuts him down except for the occasional outside speed rush

3. Toniu Fonoti vs. Maake Kemoeatu

The two Samoans go at it like a Sumo wrestling match in their native Hawaii. Honestly I'm not sure if they are both Samoans but they sure look like it. Just imagine them in the little sumo diapers chest butting each other around the field. Reminds me of the Austin Powers scene when Fat Bastard was in the sumo attire. Ha!

Prediction: Fonoti returns to his Pro Bowl form and pancakes Kemo over and over

4. DJ Hackett vs. Richard Marshall

I'm assuming here that DJ ends up the 3rd WR and Marshall remains the nickle back. Of course they could still end up being matched up with both in their respective #2 slots. Marshall is a great tackler and plays the short pass well. DJ runs the short pass well too and goes across the middle of the field without fear. It should be a good match-up as both will be trying to crack the starting line-up.

Prediction: Richard Marshall wins a close match-up

5. Steve Smith vs. Charles Godfrey

I realize Godfrey won't have sole coverage of Smitty but you know he will keep a close eye on him. Godfrey has to know that if he can play effective double coverage on Smitty he can do it on anyone in the league. Smitty on the other hand will be looking to teach the rookie a lesson or two. I'm also curious to see how well Godfrey can tackle a player like Smith in the open field. Or even DeAngelo Williams for that matter.

Prediction: Smitty torches the rookie on several occasions and spikes the ball in his general vicinity.

Any other match-ups you are looking for Panther fans?

SBN is promoting fantasy leagues for each of its NFL team blogs including yours truly. Please respond in the comments to this post if you want to play in my league or you can email me at jack.finney@gmail.com.

More details to come in the next week or two. We will be using software made by fleaflicker.com I believe but its coming through AOL.

Here's essentially what I'm looking for as far as players in the league:

• Please don't sign up if you aren't going to stick it out till the end, even is your teams sucks beyond belief. I can't stand seeing teams playing dude's on the bench because someone bailed out.
• Low levels of profanity
• Don't get too personal on your smack talk but ...smack talk is required and expected!!
•  No Cowboys, Redskins, Bucs or Saints fans...just kidding, kind of
• Must be willing to participate in a live draft
• You are not allowed to draft Steve Smith...he's mine...now if only there was some way to actually make that happen
• yes, I might finagle the draft order though I loathe the #1 pick so don't worry about that one
• Serious, experienced players only...I want this to be competitive.

Alright, who's in?

Here's a decent post from ESPN about potential Panther training camp battles to watch. Nothing too surprising here but I thought the post hit on some key areas.

#1 Running Back

They lament DeAngelo Williams poor luck.

Williams will most likely get the first crack at the starting job in camp, while Stewart recovers from toe surgery and learns the team's playbook, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the rookie getting the call come Week 1.

As I've said before I'm not so sure D-Will won't be the starter for the first several games. It's his postion to lose in my opinion.

#2 Wide Receiver

Then again, the bar has been set so low, it shouldn't be difficult to improve on the 10 touchdowns the departing duo provided over the past three seasons combined. If they provide even a modest threat, that should free up Smith to have a 1,600-yard season, and even if they fail, Smith will still reach the 1,000-yard plateau with a handful of scores, simply by sheer force of will.

1,600 yards and 15 TD's sounds good to me. Everybody recognizes Smitty's will to win and what a huge talent he is on the football field.

Offensive Line

In short, this musical-chairs experiment might result in an inexperienced line, in which its players need time to develop chemistry with one another. The unit must gel quickly for the team to have any chance at success.

Any other year I would be terrified of what might become of this many changes on a line. But given the players we have plugged into there I'm excited to see what they can do. It's true though our season swings heavily on Delhomme's arm.

Yes, the Panthers might go far this year, but only as far as Delhomme's elbow and bounce-back will allow. If everything falls just right, the five most feared words in the English language might just end up being, "You're playing the Carolina Panthers."

I liked the ending of this post as well. It's time to the Panthers to strike some fear this year like they used to.

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I realize I've sucked this past week keeping this site updated. Please have patience, I've had some serious personal issues this past week, I won't bore you with the details. If anyone wants to type a juicy post for the front page to help out just put in a Fanpost and I'll promote it.

Hopefully things will be back to normal in a couple weeks before training camp. I'm still planning on attending more sessions this season and will be posting my camp reviews like last year.

I was very pleased to finally see a post on Panthers center Ryan Kalil. Kalil will take center stage (pardon the pun) on the Panthers revamped offensive line this season. Though Kalil started his first two games last season at RG filling in for the suspended Jeremy Bridges he has returned to his more natural position at center.

"It's definitely a lot more comfortable than guard for me," Kalil said. "But I'm having a good time playing a spot that I love to play. Obviously, having that year's experience is a whole lot different coming in the second time around from a confidence aspect and just being able to know what's going on play-wise."

Many projected Kalil as first round talent last season. Like most rookies though he struggled with  the change to guard.

"Yeah, definitely I think at times it was a little overwhelming for me last year," Kalil said. "But coming back at center and feeling comfortable and feeling confident and them feeling confident in me, I'm excited."

I do remember Houston rookie DT Okoye abusing Kalil on a few plays though no one could blame him. The Okoye kid is good and had the advantage of playing his natural position. Don’t worry Panther fans, Kalil is feeling a lot more confident this season.

 

"In some senses, my job is a lot harder inside than it is for the tackles. Then on other plays, it is a lot harder for the tackles than it is for me inside," Kalil said. "It's just a matter of feeling comfortable there and getting used to it."

I’m counting on this guy to anchor our line for several years to come. I can’t wait to get a look at our o-line in training camp.

 On another note, I have to comment on a quote by LG Travelle Wharton.

"The technique is so different," Wharton acknowledged. "I can't sit like a tackle; I'll get bull-rushed right back into the quarterback. Just little things like that, you've got to remember, ‘OK, I've got to retrain myself; I've got to do this and do that.

 Yeah, I have to agree Travelle, getting knocked on your ass by a bull-rush is not what you want to do. This I why I maintain that Wharton does not have a lock on the LG spot. If he gets knocked on his ass a few times the Panthers may try one of the bigger boys they signed, Keydrick Vincent or Milfred Brown. Again, I can’t wait to see how this line looks when they get the pads on.

Outside of leagues full of Panther fans you should be able to get Panthers at good value. If you believe like I do that the Panther offense will be much improved then you will want to target the following players in the rounds suggested based on a ten team league:

 Steve Smith (ESPN Rank #27)

In past seasons Smith was a sure fire 2^nd round pick but he will probably slip to the 3^rd round this season. If you get him there it will be good value as I expect the return of Jake Delhomme will spark Smith’s production. I’m going to predict 1,250 yards and 10 TD’s through the air. He will add another 120 yards and a TD on the ground. Though he won’t be ranked in the top 5 of WR prior to the season he will finish that way.

Jake Delhomme (#200+)

Jake will get no respect in the preseason and fantasy drafts alike. He will still be available in most leagues in the 10^th round. I would not draft him to be your starter simply because you should be able to get him as a back-up. I think he will be a huge sleeper at QB as the improved running game will open up the passing game. I’m going to predict 2,900 yards and 27 TD’s with 11 INT’s. Jake will be a good back-up who you can start depending of the match-up. Given the Panthers have a fairly easy schedule there should be opportunity for spot starts. Who knows, he can easily end up starter material if the offense starts clicking.

 DeAngelo Williams (#79)

D-Will will start the season at #1 RB and get his share of carries. The problem is that J-Stew will steal his TD’s similar to what Marion Barber does in Dallas. Given D-Will averaged almost 5 yards per carry I expect him to top 1,000 yards in a season for the first time. Resist the temptation to take D-Will early as he is no more than a 6th rounder. I’m going to predict 1,000 yards rushing and 4 TD’s. He will also add 300 yards in the air and 2 more TD’s.

Jonathan Stewart (#65)

Though ESPN has him going in the 6^th round Stewart is the most likely Panther to get drafted too early. Many people will speculate on him winning a starting job out of the preseason and subsequent breakout season as the Adrian Peterson effect takes hold. I would love to see it but it would be a big risk fantasy wise. I think Stewart will start slow but rack up some short yardage TD’s as he becomes a specialist in that area. Stewart will finish strong though and end up with 800 yards and 12 TD’s. It’s hard to predict his receiving yardage but I have heard he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He could end up adding 200-300 yards in the air and another 3-4 TD’s. Certainly a nice season for a rookie but you want more from a #2 RB which is where he will be drafted in many leagues. If he’s there in the 4^th round take him but I doubt he will be there.

 Musin Muhammad (#178)

It’s hard to say whether Moose will be reliable enough for spot starts. It will depend on the match-up but he will put up an occasional good game. I expect 800 yards and 4 TD’s from Moose as he becomes the #2 WR in the offense. Moose should be worth a late round pick on your team depending on how many rounds you have.

DJ Hackett (#106)

Hackett will get draft higher than Moose but I won’t equal his stats. Hackett will go for 650 yards and 3 TD’s. He will get drafted but I would take a wait and see approach. If he starts slow he will probably be out there on the waiver wire and will be worth a look as he takes time to build a rapport with his new QB.

Jeff King

TE Jeff King has little fantasy value but may be worth an occasional start based on the match-up. I can’t see going for more than 300 yards and 3 TD’s on the season but it will be hard to predict when he will get his yards.

John Kasay

I think John Kasay will benefit from the improved offense and be a top 10 kicker. I think he will hit 26 FG’s and all his point afters to top 100 points pretty easily.

Panthers D/Special Teams

The Panther D will get no respect this season given their next to last place finish in sacks. They will fair a little better this season though you can expect to them to be available late. Given the Panthers start the season against the Chargers they should go undrafted if not for the optimistic Panther fan. I expect the Panther D to be middle of the road at best fantasy-wise.

Former Panther beat writer Pat Yasinkas weighs on the Panthers recent mini-camp and makes a few predictions for the Panthers. First and foremost, he thinks its do or die for Panthers HC John Fox.

 They're pretty much assured of being all out if they don't make the playoffs this year. Although owner Jerry Richardson rarely speaks to the Charlotte media, it's become common knowledge around the league that Fox and, possibly, Hurney will be gone if the Panthers fall short of the playoffs.

 ‘Common knowledge around the league’? I would be pissed if my boss was talking about my job security to my peers behind my back. I think what Pat means is that it is a ‘common assumption’ around the league based on the trade of next years #1 pick.

 Prediction #2: The Panthers Foes Will Run at Damione Lewis

 The Panthers did little to replace them (Jenkins & Rucker). Sure, they still have defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, but he's basically Jenkins with the size, but without the talent. The Panthers are hoping Damione Lewis can give them an interior pass rush and he just might. But watch how many teams target Lewis and try to overpower him in the running game.

 Even if this comes to fruition we have the LB’s to limit the opponents running game.

 Prediction #3: Jonathan Stewart Will Start Game 1 at RB

 The Panthers are always politically correct and they're implying veteran running back DeAngelo Williams will get the first shot at the starting job. But that's not going to happen. The Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart 13th overall for a reason -- they want to get back to a power running game that's been lacking since Stephen Davis started falling apart.

 I would be worried about what this would do to DeAngelo Williams’ confidence. Starting the rookie is not John Fox' MO when he has a veteran who has not done anything to lose his job. Until I see otherwise at TC, I still say D-Will starts game 1.

 Prediction #4: Toniu Fonoti Will Start Game 1 at RG

 Otah brings more size, Wharton has bulked up for the move inside and Kalil has added some weight, but still is not particularly big for a center. The right guard job appeared wide open early in the off-season. But Toniu Fonoti, who has had trouble keeping his weight under control elsewhere, appears to be in shape and the favorite to win this job.

 I hope this one comes true. He’s a former Pro Bowler who is still young and has tremendous experience. If he can return to form then the Panthers running game will be a force to reckon with.

 We shall see how Ol’ Pat does as TC and the pre-season unfolds.

Panthers DT Darwin Walker says he chose to come to Carolina because he wants to win a Super Bowl ring .

 "Playing at home in front of family will be nice, you bet, but most importantly I want a chance to win a championship - and I think this team gives me that opportunity," said Walker.

 When the Panthers first signed Walker I was a little skeptical of how he would fit in the Panthers systems. The Panthers usually avoid problem players (Keyshawn aside) and Walkers reputation took a hit in Buffalo. In case you missed it, when Walker was traded by the Eagles to the Bills Walker demanded an new contract immediately and never played a down for the Bills. I’ve been a little worried that this type of "me first" attitude might rear it's head in Carolina.

 "Right now I'm just coming out and working hard every day, learning the defense and trying getting into the swing of things," Walker said recently during off-season training activities. "Wherever the coaches feel like I can help them win a championship is where they will use me. It doesn't matter to me."

 This seems like a 180 degree turnaround from the guy that arrived in Buffalo. In fact, Walker seems like just the kind of veteran the Panthers need in the locker room. He won’t be happy just getting to the playoffs, he wants the SB and he’s been there before. I hope Walker can use his experience and SB desires to fire up the rest of DL. It’s nice getting to the SB but when you don’t win it you’re left with an empty feeling. Walker wants the real thing as do all the Panthers left over from our 2003 run.

 When asked about the Panthers talent and experience along the defensive front he had this to say.

 "I think it should help us down the line," Walker said. "I think the coaches do a good job taking care of us and taking care of our legs. I think to win a championship you have to have good veterans on your team and I think we have that here. And like I said, that's why I'm here - to help this team win a championship."

 I’m sure the Panthers want to win the championship but what they need in order to make it happen is players who believe they are good enough to get there. Walker will have the experience and credibility in the locker room. Let’s hope the rest of the team hears it.

Any news during the dead period is news that gets reported. In this case the Panthers claimed a center off of waivers in exchange for one of the UDFA guards on the roster.

Pat Ross, a product of Boston College, spent the last month of the 2007 regular season on the Colts' practice squad.  He also spent 20 days of the New England Patriots' practice squad earlier in the season after being waived by the Seattle Seahawks at the final roster cutdown last September.

He spent the entire 2006 season on Seattle's practice squad after being signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2006 draft.  He then went through the entire 2007 offseason and preseason with the Seahawks before being waived.

I don’t see any reason to read too much into this. I think centers Ryan Kalil and Geoff Hangartner are secure in the #1 & #2 center slots. I think this guy Ross is an upgrade on the guy we cut and that’s it. GM Marty Hurney stays ever vigilant for more talent.

Smitty Says Panthers are Better

Steve Smith is echoing what many others are saying , that the Panthers will be a much better team this season.

"With those two (receiver) acquisitions and with some of the big guys on the offensive line -- the rookie (tackle Jeff Otah) -- offensively I think we finally made an upgrade," he said, pausing as he left the Bank of America Stadium practice fields Thursday.

"Compared to the years prior when we had some guys come in, and as those guys have left we really hadn't replenished. And we have finally, and I can honestly see a big difference."

I was just lamenting the key free agent losses the Panthers suffered.

Smith also thinks Moose is aging like fine wine.

"With age comes things that you lose and gain," Smith said. "I was told the things I can do at 25, when you're 30, 34, you'll be able to do a little bit better. Because you've been in the game for so long you'll be able to just manipulate routes and stuff like that.

"So I don't really see any loss. I think he's gained a lot of knowledge."

I’m sure he’s gained an appreciation for an accurate QB too. Jake’s passes are surely a welcome sight. I likes the idea of the power running game as well.

"There were times in the game where if (running back) Stephen Davis was in his way, he would run him over. We've got guys of that caliber, outstanding, that I like watching play."

 The Panthers line will be hard to run over for our height-challenged RB’s. D-Will will counter move his way to daylight while J-Stew will wedge his way between their big behinds. I can see many a Panther scrums turning into five yard gains as the pile can’t help but move forward

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 Jason Peter  Pans His Book

I would probably find Jason Peters book compelling if he wasn’t a former Panther . He cost the Panthers a 1^st round pick and lots of money before being cut loose.

This is more than a book about a druggie who had a failed pro football career. It's a good look into the sordid world of how a pro football player survives when he feels pain every day of his life. And Peter doesn't blame Nebraska, the Panthers, the NFL, or his family.

"I didn't want to put the blame on anyone for my drug use -- anyone but me,'' he said. "I've got great parents. I had all the advantages any kid would want growing up. I take all the blame for everything. There are guys who come out of the surgeries I had and they don't get addicted.''

At least he is manning up and not blaming someone else like so many before him. I may not buy his book but I’ll give him a break. I can’t say for sure if I was handed a couple million bucks at 21-22 yrs old I wouldn’t turn into a party animal. Hell in college I could get in trouble with just $50.

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Mason’s Minutes

 Here’s links to the latest Mason’s Minutes. I have found Andrew to be a good addition to Panthers.com as he gives good detail and seems to focus on topics of importance.

Mason Minutes 1

Masons Minutes 2 

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Catfight: Jags vs. Panthers

 The Panthers and the Jaguars will always be linked given they came into the league together in 1995; ‘sister’ franchises if you will. I found this little comparison on Jaguars.com comparing the two franchises on and off the field.

 Michael from London, UK

At this point, how would you compare the Jaguars franchise to the Carolina Panthers, since they came into the league together? Although the Jags are a better football squad on paper, Carolina is having absolutely no problems selling tickets or finding a corporate sponsor for stadium naming rights.

 Vic: I’ve answered this several times but I’ll do it again. The big difference between the Jaguars and the Panthers is that the Panthers solid Permanent Seat Licenses (PSLs). That’s what has allowed them to sell their tickets; the threat of forfeiting their PSLs if they don’t buy their tickets. The naming rights thing is a function of the difference between the two cities. Charlotte is a banking capital. It has a far bigger corporate community than Jacksonville does. On the field, the Jaguars have the edge in wins. The Jaguars are ninth in the league in winning percentage since the team began playing. If you eliminate the first season, the Jaguars are sixth in the league since 1996. The Panthers are 21st since ’95 and also 21st since ’96. Carolina, however, has done something the Jaguars haven’t done: They’ve won a conference title and played in the Super Bowl. Both teams built stadiums that are too big for the markets, but the PSL concept has kept Carolina’s stadium sold. Could you sell PSLs in Jacksonville? I don’t think so. That’s the big difference.

 I do hear a lot of fans bitch about the PSL cost and price of tickets but hey, it’s worked. The Panthers always have fans in the stands. If you put out a winner then the bitching will subside. Both franchises have fared well and both should be very competitive again this year. How about a Panthers vs. Jags Super Bowl?  The biggest  cat fight in history.