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Thu May 14, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

Offseason progress reports: Carolina Panthers

By MJD

It's too early for '09 season previews, and too late for '08 season reviews. What's an NFL blog to do in the never-ending quest to overcover the bejeezus out of the NFL? Offseason progress reports. Let's go in alphabetical order. Today, the Carolina Panthers.

Free agents lost: OT Jeremy Bridges(notes), C Geoff Hangartner(notes), WR Mark Jones(notes), CB Ken Lucas(notes), OT Frank Omiyale(notes), LB Adam Seward(notes)

Free agents gained: None

Drafted: DE Everette Brown(notes), S Sherrod Martin(notes), DL Corvey Irvin(notes), RB Mike Goodson(notes), FB Tony Fiammetta(notes), OT Duke Robinson(notes), CB Captain Munnerlyn(notes)

It's been a pretty uneventful offseason for the Panthers, with the exception of the Julius Peppers(notes) situation. And I don't even know if the Julius Peppers situation qualifies as a situation, because he's probably not going anywhere. He's got a huge cap number and he wants a new contract, and there just aren't many teams out there in a position to give it to him. Especially when you factor in the draft picks they'd have to give Carolina on top of it.

I think the "Julius Peppers situation" has turned into "Julius Peppers and the Carolina Panthers are stuck with one another," and that's just going to have to be okay with both of them. Peppers gets over $16 million for one season, and the Panthers get a guy knows he has to have a good year, or no one will want to pay him. Both sides need to just embrace the reality.

The biggest change the Panthers will see in 2009 will be in defensive scheme, as former Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks takes over the same job in Carolina. He'll bring in a Tampa-2 scheme, as well as a burst of energy. If Peppers is around, and with Jon Beason(notes) in the middle, he's got some fun toys to work with.

Other than that, the biggest changes for the Panthers will be Richard Marshall(notes) stepping in for the departed Ken Lucas at corner, and the possible insertion of  DE Everette Brown into the lineup. The Panthers gave up next year's first-round pick to grab him in the second round this year, so it's pretty important that he contributes right away.

Also, for some reason, the Panthers gave Jake Delhomme(notes) a big new contract extension. I've got no quarrel with Jake Delhomme. As a starting quarterback in the NFL, he's fine, I suppose. But he's 34 years old, coming off an absurdly bad playoff performance, and not a superstar. Why commit $20 million guaranteed to him? Really, why?

Progress: Honestly, I don't see a lot here. The emergence of DeAngelo Williams(notes) as a star running back is exciting for 2009, but some offensive line depth is gone, there's still no one formidable playing across from Steve Smith, and Jake Delhomme is still Jake Delhomme. And while the defense might be improved under Meeks, I don't see any reason to bank on that as truth.

Minus 3 games. 12-4 last year, 9-7 this year.

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72 Comments

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  1. DCwhiteowl
    1. Posted by DCwhiteowl Thu May 14, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    i see them missing the playoffs this year. Maybe 8-8
  2. Patriots R Cheaters
    2. Posted by Patriots R Cheaters Thu May 14, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    he aint going nowhere........and I'm first.
  3. Patriots R Cheaters
    3. Posted by Patriots R Cheaters Thu May 14, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    thought I was
  4. Patriots R Cheaters
    4. Posted by Patriots R Cheaters Thu May 14, 2009 5:05 pm EDT

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    The Jake Delhomme dilemma is more of a situation than Peppers.
    I like Jake but c'mon he's , well I mean he's....uh ya'll know.
    - psssst!!....he's old
  5. Scott E
    5. Posted by Scott E Thu May 14, 2009 5:13 pm EDT

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    Peppers needs to grow up. He is making a mountain of money and threatening to "slack off" if he isn't given more. Them's walkin' papers where I come from.
  6. a k
    6. Posted by a k Thu May 14, 2009 5:21 pm EDT

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    I think that panthers will have the same record as last year. The only team that can stop double trouble is the vikings!
    GO PANTHERS
  7. Patriots R Cheaters
    7. Posted by Patriots R Cheaters Thu May 14, 2009 5:32 pm EDT

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    Walkin papers is just what he wants. And at this point , no way Carolina will do that.
    I hope he sits out the season and lets the fines consume all his paychecks.
    - then he'll be the laughing stock of the league
  8. JJO
    8. Posted by JJO Thu May 14, 2009 6:00 pm EDT

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    Peppers cant be fined he has not signed his contract
    Peppers cant be traded yet he has not signed his contract
    Jake had a bad game yes and yes jake is getting old and Matt Moore has not been given his fair shot,Jake got
    re-signed to clear some cap room to sign the rookies,and most likey Jake will not see the end of the contract maybe 1 or 2 more years
    Carolina should talk to Peppers and let him move to Linbacker and replace Diggs
    Before they draft i was guessing a 6-10 season and now after the draft im guessing a 8-8 season if Peppers comes back they could go all the way
  9. Greg C
    9. Posted by Greg C Thu May 14, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    wow couldn't more off base davols. peppers is making 16 million this year not 10 million read the article before commenting. the deal handed out to delhomme was ridiculous after all those turnovers in the playoff game and mediocre play throughout the entire season. the panthers made the best out of the situation with peppers that could. fortunately our running game is incredibly strong and steve smith is a monster at wide receiver. our defense will continue to be strong and matched with our running game could lead us into the playoffs again. I guess I shouldn't expect any kind of accurate analysis from a vols fan. go panthers.
  10. BRICKMAN
    10. Posted by BRICKMAN Thu May 14, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    davols is on da crack pipe.Everythings gonna be alright.
  11. Jay B
    11. Posted by Jay B Thu May 14, 2009 6:28 pm EDT

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    Davols thinks that Steve Smith is underachieving? I guess he didn't watch any Panther games. That Game against the Packers? He had a amazing catch just about every game. Get's hurt and comes right back. Jsut goes to show you how much davols knows. Ignore him!
  12. Tony H
    12. Posted by Tony H Thu May 14, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

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    They went 12-4 last season and return most of that team intact. Why show a 3 game drop? It is not like they lost a lot either. Lucas was getting burned constantly towards the end of last season. They have a very solid backfield and Moose still is good enough to compliment Smith. Moose had 65 catches last season and provided a boost to the running game with his excellent blocking skills. What more do you need from a #2 wide receiver on a running team? The biggest weakness I see is the lack of depth at DT. They drafted Irvin and better hope he pans out.
  13. Isaac M
    13. Posted by Isaac M Thu May 14, 2009 7:38 pm EDT

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    I think Atlanta wins the division next year, with a close race between New Orleans and Carolina for a wildcard spot. However, it is currently May. So who really knows?
  14. Fitzy
    14. Posted by Fitzy Thu May 14, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    9-7 seems about right here. Maybe 8-8. I don't really see DeAngelo repeating his Cinderella year last year, and Delhomme is pretty mediocre and getting older (can't even begin to explain that contract...). Team lacks a reliable deep threat to open up the field for shorter routes by SS (who may be one of the more underrated receivers around, can u imagine him together with, say, Peyton M.?). As far as I can tell, the D is still pretty decent. Not great, mind you (they still gave up over 100 more points than the Steelers), but decent.
    They'll prob. sneak into the playoffs this season, but they're in a very competitive division, and their long-term future (esp. offensively) looks foggy. But aside from a couple teams, whose doesn't?
  15. spardee
    15. Posted by spardee Thu May 14, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    I have a problem with the way these reports have been done. I think that the free agent add/drops and the write-ups are great, and totally up to snuff, but your predictions for the teams' records are weak.
    I don't mean to say that they're not accurate, but so far you've given out an awful lot of 9-7s and 7-9s, which is probably very close to what most teams end up on average (well, 8-8 is the average I guess). My point is, go out on a limb a little more, make a bold prediction. Predicting every team to end up 7-9 or 9-7 is boring to read and doesn't really generate and controversy (which makes the offseason much more fun)
  16. john k
    16. Posted by john k Thu May 14, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    wow, davols is an idiot and so is the writer of this, how can they lose one player(who wasnt very good to begin with in lucas) and drop from 12-4 to 9-7, d-will was not a cinderella story, over 5 yards a carry. and we have a pretty decent backup in stewart if you havent heard. smitty overrated? HAHA enough said. jakes extension was a mistake. JP need to suck it up and collect his 1 mil a game, and we will win the nfc south again. just wait and see. and as far as losing key backups on the line, to me it looks like we upgraded in duke robinson. omiyale never started til this season alway been on a practice squad, and bridges played ok but obviously not good enough to keep, and hangartner got replaced by kalil and has been a nonexistant back-up since.
  17. Zach
    17. Posted by Zach Thu May 14, 2009 8:26 pm EDT

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    The issue with the panthers a few years ago was having a bad running game and a great pasing game. Now the tables have turned. But There's hope for the paiing game bcause an improved run game makes the passing game better. Williams and Stewart are only going to get better. Dellhomes at that point where all he has to do is manage the game. He'll still get some good passes to Steve Smith. they aren't a top five offense anymore, but are easily top ten. And while although they didn't add anyone of note to their defense in free agency, their already young defense should improve. Pepper's is a great player, but as they showed two years ago, they can be a good defense with him doing minimal damage. They should have traded him in the draft, could've easily recieved a top twenty pick for him. Due to a superior run game, they will win this division, but the playoofs are up to how Dellhome plays at that time.
    12-4 Carolina
    11-5 Atlanta
    6-10 New Orleans
    5-11 Tampa Bay
  18. joey r
    18. Posted by joey r Thu May 14, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

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    Panthers blew a chance to trade Peppers to New England for Cassel!!!!!! Then they turn right around a give Jake Gohome Delhomme an extension. He must have something on John Fox. Jake is a average QB, his problem is he tries to do more than he is capable of doing. He constantly throws in double and triple coverage but that is what you need to do with the Panthers to get an extension. May be SANTA will bring you a 1st round pick to trade off again Fox. Or even better, swap Peppers for 2 4th rounds, and a 5th.
  19. jimmy
    19. Posted by jimmy Thu May 14, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    car 10 and6
    no 9 and 7
    atl 8 and 8
    tam 5 and 11
  20. ricjamz
    20. Posted by ricjamz Thu May 14, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    That contract for jake is very stupid!
  21. kevin
    21. Posted by kevin Thu May 14, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    Here is my thoughts. To make up for old Jake, D-Will will rush for 2 more TD's and 200 more yards this 09 season. The schedule is not easy. Record is 11-5.
    Atl 10-6
    NO 8-8
    Tam 4-12
  22. playmakersgoesdeep
    22. Posted by playmakersgoesdeep Thu May 14, 2009 10:18 pm EDT

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    The Carolina Panthers dont WTF they doin actually @ me
  23. kevin
    23. Posted by kevin Thu May 14, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    Here is my thoughts. To make up for old Jake, D-Will will rush for 2 more TD's and 200 more yards this 09 season. The schedule is not easy. Record is 11-5.
    Atl 10-6
    NO 8-8
    Tam 4-12
  24. BWiezee
    24. Posted by BWiezee Thu May 14, 2009 10:28 pm EDT

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    jake's contract was a pure cap move and yes, he won't play out the contract. the arizona debacle was just that, a debacle. the panthers need to recognize when jake is having a meltdown and make adjustments (see pittsburgh when big ben was horrible in the seattle super bowl game). carolina's schedule is much tougher on paper in 2009, so i predict a 10 - 6 record. the running back duo of deangelo and stewart should be one of the league's best and the d will hopefully stay off the field as much as possible.
  25. Jeff M
    25. Posted by Jeff M Thu May 14, 2009 11:27 pm EDT

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    john fox cannot coach a team led by any other QB than Delhomme, plain and simple ....

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