GKS Contributor
Itching to get the bad taste out of your mouth
“We picked a bad day to have a bad day.” Those are the words uttered by John Fox, coach of the Carolina Panthers in the post-game press conference after the devastating playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals in January.
A bit of an understatement, wouldn’t you say? Let’s see, Carolina is hosting a home playoff game after plowing through their regular schedule at a record of 12-4. Their opponent, Arizona, one of the perennial doormats of the NFL, had a 9-7 record built on an explosive offense, but with a questionable defense. Just over three hours later, the result was what Panthers fans consider the worst loss in Panthers history…one that still stings 8 months later. QB Jake Delhomme turned the ball over 6 times including 5 INT’s and the Panthers defense, a key strength of the team, allows Larry Fitzgerald to run wild for 8 catches and 166 yards.
Yep, Panthers fans have never been more ready for a season to start, with one exception. Many of them would rather Delhomme not be returning as their field general. They won’t even get a QB controversy; Jake was re-signed to a contract extension in the offseason to create a bit of cap space.
This wasn’t the only move that was questioned by Panther fans. After the 2008 season, Carolina put the franchise tag on freakish, yet underachieving DE Julius Peppers. Through his agent, he soon came out and made it clear he no longer wanted to play in Carolina.
After dissing their beloved team, fans were ready to give him his walking papers. The problem, after taking trade offers up through the draft and beyond, Julius will again be wearing number 90 for the teal and black. And now, possibly after seeing that the demand was quite low for a high-paid DE who has a reputation for taking plays off, he has changed his tune. Julius now is saying all the right things and came to camp on time; wouldn’t you for over $1 million per game?
In addition to bringing Jake back and “tagging” Peppers, Carolina also gave a huge contract extension to OT Jordan Gross. Gross has performed well for the Panthers the past several years and solid Left Tackles are hard to come by. The problem is that between Jake, Peppers and Gross, the Panthers used a lot of cap space on 3 players, which left little room for signings any other free agents. They will enter the 2009 season with much of their 2008 roster in-tact and their recent draftees 2009. Not too shabby considering they went 12-4 last year.
PANTHERS CAMP ‘09
After an end to the 2008 season that everyone wants to forget, the Panthers were anxious to get camp started. At the start of camp this past week, they had 21 of 22 starters back from a strong 2008 team. Their concern is not the starters, but the depth behind those starters.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for those concerns to be realized. Just 30 minutes into the first practice, nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, who they rely on to take up space in the middle, went down with a torn Achilles tendon and after having surgery, was put on IR – out for the season. In that same practice, stud Middle Linebacker Jon Beason tweaked a hamstring as well, though he is just day-to-day and shouldn’t be out long. After just one practice under their belts, the Panthers had fans and Coach Fox pretty nervous.
On a more positive note, RB DeAngelo Williams looks to be picking up right where he left off, after an eye-opening 2008 season where he ran for 1500+ yards and 18 TD’s. he is showing off quite a burst in 7-on-7 drills. The Panthers also like what they are seeing from 3rd receiver, Dwayne Jarrett. Much like Robert Meachum of the New Orleans Saints, Jarrett was a high round draft choice, who has not done much in his 2 years with the Panthers, so 2009 will be a big test for him, especially with Mushin Muhammad getting up in age at 36.
The other point worth mentioning is that the Panthers new Defensive Coordinator is Ron Meeks, who held the same position with the Indianapolis Colts the past few years. His attack-and-pursue style has the Panthers defense looking forward to playing under him this year, though some media and fans, wonder if he will actually be controlling the defense or will Coach Fox, who always has seemed to have his own fingerprints on the defense.
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