NFL Preview: Carolina Panthers

Here's a team that's been in the wilderness for some time. Their lone Superbowl appearance in the early days of 2004 seems a long, long time ago. Their then stud Quarterback, Jake Delhomme, lost his mojo and found himself traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason to make way for the startlingly impressive Matt Moore.

Moore has youth and plucky ingenuity on his side, but he lacks any sort of experience in either big games, or the responsibility of being the face of a franchise and a No. 1 QB in this league. Sure, he earned his starting berth with a brilliant run towards the end of last year, but by that time the Panthers' hopes of making the playoffs were dead and buried, Delhomme had been benched in disgrace and Moore inherited a role that no one expected him to make his own. Shortly put, he had nothing to lose.

For a young guy like Moore - as can be witnessed by Bill Parcells bringing Brandon Marshall to Miami for the benefit of Chad Henne - having a down-field threat who can stretch the field and buy the man in the pocket a few more jiffies to decide on the correct course of action, is an invaluable asset. The Carolina Panthers have that in Steve Smith.


Smith has been one of the league's best for a long time and, next to Barry Sanders, should probably feature on a novelty rankings list of the top ten 'little' guys to play ball. Despite his diminuitive stature, Smith stands tall amongst receivers in terms of stats and the contribution he makes to his team. Having him around will facilitate Moore's progression and help Moore's rookie back-up, the highly-touted Jimmy Clausen, find his comfort zone should his presence in the first team offence be required at any point this season.

The Panthers have a lot going for them, and contrary to the last two seasons of poor results, have a great deal of talent on the roster - I even picked them for the Superbowl the year my beloved Cardinals got there in their place (beating them en route in the game that Delhomme critics now refer to as 'the meltdown').

Their running game is awesome; with Smith on the field the play can always go aerial; two young, ambitious Quarterbacks vying to be top dog: this team could go places.

Unfortunately they find themselves in a stinker of a division: Atlanta should be tussling with New Orleans for the top spot and leave the Panthers duking it out for scraps. Can they snatch a second Wild Card spot? I don't see why not...