Panthers Prepare For
Action-Packed Season
By Scott Veith
The Carolina
Panthers have been an on-again, off-again team
since the day they opened the front door at the
offices in Downtown Charlotte. Looks like the
pattern calls for an on-again season this fall.
The addition of a
pair of rookies from Southern Cal, one of
college football’s most successful programs,
could be just what the Head Coach Mike Fox
ordered to get the team back to supremacy in the
NFC South. Receiver Dwayne Jarrett and Center
Ryan Kalil were two of Carolina’s top draft
choices this season and could contribute right
away on the Panther’s re-tooled offense.
The Panthers
return a strong defensive group that weathered
the storm of an 8-8 season in 2006. Defensive
standouts Julius Peppers, Chris Gamble, and
Thomas Davis are back in black and blue for
2007. They’ve been to the promise land as
members of the 2005 NFC Championship squad, and
they’re hungry to get back to the playoffs.
Jarrett
has to contend with MVP candidate Steve Smith
for catches, but Jarrett could settle into the
role vacated by the recently retired Keyshaun
Johnson. In the running game, DeShaun Foster has
been the go-to guy, but DeAngelo Williams come
on strong as a rookie last season and could
benefit from a few more carries in 2007. And if
that’s not enough, Jake Delhomme, who has been
the Panthers QB since their super season of
2005, has company. Former Texan David Carr is
now a Cat and has been a starter in the NFL
since Houston came into the league in 2002.
As the battle for
the headlines heats up, fans will see some of
the NFL’s finest come through Charlotte. The
defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts
lead a list of NFL hierarchy that will be
traveling to bank of America Stadium this fall.
The New England
Patriots will visit Charlotte on Friday night,
August 24. The Patriots passing attack has been
bolstered by the addition of all-time great
Randy Moss. Moss will test the skills of a
venerable group of Panthers defensive backs that
includes 11-year pro Mike Minter and Gamble.
Curtis Delaoch, Deke Cooper, Ken Lucas Derrick
Straight and Richard Marshall all hope to
contribute in the defensive backfield as well.
Rookie C.J Wilson could also be called on to
show his skills in this pre-season match-up
between the Panthers and one of the best passing
games in all of football.
The final
pre-season tune-up of the year comes on Thursday
Night, August 30 as the Pittsburgh
Steelers visit Mecklenberg County. The Panthers
bring a strong running game led by UNC product
Willie Parker. The defensive line of the
Panthers will be in the spotlight.
Veterans Peppers,
Jordan Karstens, Kris Jenkins, Kindal Moorehead
and Mike Rucker have been feared since they came
together as a unit four seasons ago. Newcomers
David Ball, Jason Hall and 3rd-round
selection Charles Johnson look to contribute to
a unit that has been among the NFL’s best.
The
NFL regular season kicks in for Carolina on
Sunday, September 16. The Houston Texans bring a
new quarterback, Matt Schaub, to Charlotte to
visit their old quarterback, Carr. Carr was let
go by the Texas this off-season and will compete
for playing time with Delhomme.
Professional
football has long been dominated by the team the
runs the ball the best down the stretch. The
Panthers running game will feature a host of
capable backs and a strong offensive line. In
the backfield, veterans Foster and Nick Goings
will help carry the load and Williams will
provide a nice change of pace in critical
situations. Veteran North Carolina native Brad
Hoover will once again fill the role of the lead
blocking back and will also be relied upon as a
pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Up front, Carolina
will rely on a mixed group of linemen to set the
tone in the blocking game. Veterans Mike Wahle,
Justin Hartwig and Jordan Gross will help
youngsters Kalil and Eric Graham fit in on the
pro level and pave the way for Delhomme, Foster
and the rest of the Carolina weapons.
Tickets are
still available for most Panthers home games. To
learn more about the seats that could be yours,
visit
www.panthers.com
or call 704-358-7800.
