NFL NFC South 2005 Carolina Panthers Published: 2005-08-30
2004 record: 7-9
Offense:
Big difference. Running backs Deshaun Foster(starter)and Stephen Davis return from injuries that kept them out for most of last season. Nick Goings stepped in and stepped up with 821 yards with a 3.8 yards/carry avg. and shouldn’t need to be relied on this season. Davis has not yet had any contact since suffering the career threatening knee injury last year and may still not be fully recovered. The backfield together is set to have a solid year. The NFL’s leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season, Mushin Muhammad was picked up by the Chicago Bears in free agency, however, wide receiver Steve Smith also returns after missing most of last year with a broken leg and immediately resumes his lead playmaker role. Wide receiver Keary Colbert had a solid rookie season stepping in for Smith and should be that much better now which may be good enough to start with Smith. Wide receiver Rod Gardner (Washington Redskins) was picked up and brings the size that left with Muhammad. The offensive
line is no longer shuffling and the addition of nasty left guard Mike Wahle(Green Bay Packers) instantly improves the unit. Quarterback Jake Delhomme, the leader of the Panthers should deliver another solid season, especially since he’s got to like most everything he sees on this team.
Defense:
2 time all-pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins returns to the line, after missing most of last season to injury(shoulder), to wreak havoc alongside all-pro defensive ends Mike Rucker and super freak Julius Peppers. The front 4 may be tops in the NFL. The Panthers selected safety Thomas Davis(Georgia) with the 14th draft pick but he may see time at strong safety and linebacker. Pro-Bowl linebacker Dan Morgan and Will Witherspoon are solid and should have no problem with position shifting if the hard-hitting Davis can join them on the strong side. Linebacker Mark Fields(cancer) is out for the 2005 season. Rookie cornerback Chris Gamble had a solid season, tying 1st in the NFC with 6 interceptions. The tie occurred with cornerback Ken Lucas(Seattle Seahawks) who now joins the Panthers starting opposite of Gamble. The Panthers led the NFL in interceptions with 26 and ranked 2nd in takeaways. Strong Safety Colin Branch is out for the year with a torn acl/mcl suffered in the 2nd pre-season game and free agent pick up safety Idrees Bashir (Indianapolis Colts) may now fill this spot. If Bashir can’t start at strong safety over a rookie with questionable pass coverage skills, this free agent pick up would be a bust, which would leave the safety unit thin. Mike Minter moves to free safety whether Davis lines up at strong safety or not. The safeties may be vulnerable to the deep ball, but otherwise, this is a solid, well-balanced defense. Special teams is solid on both sides as well.
Overall:
The Panthers finished the second half of the season with a 6-2 record, but more impressively, it happened after a 1-7 start. The Panthers appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII (lost to New England Patriots 32-29) was no fluke and the current team is deeper and better than that one. Head Coach John Fox has a well-balanced team and this is the best equation for post-season success. The Panthers face a tougher schedule than the Minnesota Vikings but the Panthers can win on the road. In 2003, the Panthers won 2 consecutive playoff games on the road, including one in Philadelphia before meeting the Patriots. The Panthers, up and down, share a lot of similar intangibles with the Patriots. The action may drop the line early in the season since their schedule is light prior to their week 7 bye. Prediction: 1st in NFC South.
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug 13 Washington Won 28-10
Aug 20 @N.Y. Giants Lost 21-27
Aug 26 @Cleveland Won 23-20
Sep 1 Pittsburgh 8:00pm
2005 Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Result DIRECTV® Channel
Sep 11 New Orleans 1:00pm 704
Sep 18 New England 1:00pm 704
Sep 25 @Miami 1:00pm 711
Oct 3 Green Bay 9:00pm
Oct 9 @Arizona 4:15pm 712
Oct 16 @Detroit 1:00pm 710
Week 7 BYE
Oct 30 Minnesota 1:00pm 704
Nov 6 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm 712
Nov 13 N.Y. Jets 4:05pm 714
Nov 20 @Chicago 1:00pm 709
Nov 27 @Buffalo 1:00pm 704
Dec 4 Atlanta 1:00pm 709
Dec 11 Tampa Bay 1:00pm 709
Dec 18 @New Orleans 1:00pm 706
Dec 24 Dallas 1:00pm 709
Jan 1 @Atlanta 1:00pm 704
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