Carolina Panthers Team Report by Clayton Gray
| Car Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Rodney Peete Backups - Chris Weinke, Randy Fasani Starting Quarterback: That's not a typo. Rodney Peete will start the season as Carolina's top QB. Where this came from is anyone guess. I'm standing here in left field and can't believe it myself. It's next to impossible to see this as a permanent move. This team isn't ready to compete for a championship right now, and at 36 years old, Peete is simply not a QB that you build around for the future. Very strange things indeed. Backup Quarterback(s): Chris Weinke or Randy Fasani should be starting. Either you get behind Weinke, give him another full season of starting, and see if he can be a franchise QB, or you throw the rookie Fasani out there and let him learn on the fly. With the surprise move of naming Peete the week one starter, expect all three of these QBs to see the field this season. None are worth drafting except in large leagues. Running Backs Starter - Lamar Smith Backups - Deshaun Foster, Nick Goings, Brad Hoover Starting Running Back: Lamar Smith is simply keeping the engine warm for the return of Deshaun Foster. Smith had his one spectacular season and has since been exposed as a mediocre runner. He has none of the game-breaking ability that is required to be a successful full-time NFL running back. That said, he could find moderate success as the Panthers offensive line (most notably Todd Steussie and Kevin Donnalley) can cut a path. Backup Running Back(s): Foster is out until October (although there are rumblings of a slightly quicker return). When he is full strength, he'll easily seize the starring role from Smith. Foster is everything you want in a starting RB. He has size, power, and good speed. The only knock is a history of fumbling which didn't materialize in preseason action. Tuck Foster away on your roster for a while and reap the benefits come early October. In the meantime, Nick Goings will backup Smith. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith Backups - Isaac Byrd, Karl Hankton Starting Receiver(s): One has to pity Muhsin Muhammad. He's always been stuck with also-rans for quarterbacks. From Steve Beuerlein to Chris Weinke and now to Rodney Peete. How good would Muhammad be catching from Brett Favre? We'll probably never know. In reality, as a Panther, Muhammad (if he can stay healthy) will turn in a ho-hum season and finish somewhere around the #25 WR. There's some temptation to knock him down a peg or two, but then again will Peete be any worse than Weinke was last year as a rookie? Doubtful. With Patrick Jeffers not being able to go (he was released), Steve Smith has assumed control of the #2 WR spot. He still has little real value because Wesley Walls is the true 2nd receiver here. Backup Receiver(s): If your league only allows WRs from teams beginning with the letter "C" then consider Isaac Byrd and Karl Hankton. Maybe. Otherwise, moving on�. Tight End(s): Wesley Walls, Kris Mangum, Casey Crawford Back in the day�.Wesley Walls was an elite fantasy TE. He's still not too shabby, but the wear and tear has finally caught up to him. His body just can't seem to go a full season, and when he does play, he seems to play through a nagging injury. Still, in a regular sized league, Walls is worth consideration for a starting TE role on your team, and he's certainly worth a roster spot. If you could roll up Kris Mangum and Casey Crawford, you'd have yourself one decent TE. Mangum will be on the field quite often as he's an accomplished blocker and could pick up a short TD or two. Place Kicker John Kasay: Kasay is a decent kicker, but the opportunities will be severely limited this year in Carolina. In fantasy football, the PK position is all about opportunity. A decent kicker with few chances to score doesn't lend itself to fantasy success. Look elsewhere. Defense Last year, the Panthers were last in the league in both total defense and rushing defense. Only three teams were worse in passing defense and scoring defense. That's just horrid team defense. Individually, however, there is great promise. Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers should both be top 30 DLs. Mike Minter and Deon Grant could each finish among the top 20 DBs. And finally, Dan Morgan is shooting up the LB rankings. Coaching John Fox is an unknown as a head coach but was easily one of the better defensive coordinators in the league. He'll definitely improve the overall defense. Smartly, he brought in an excellent (and experienced) offensive coordinator in Dan Henning. This new staff has tons of work ahead of them though. Miracles will not happen here overnight. Intangibles When a team is on the right track, it does not change its starting QB seven days before the opening whistle. This team isn't on the right track. That said, there's obviously a fresh outlook here, and it should be easy to improve upon the 2001 record of 1-15. Overall, one just can't help but see a team that will struggle all season. |