Sports Illustrated has an infatuation with the Carolina Panthers that rivals bodybuilders’ obsession with protein shakes.
In 2005, the mag picked the Panthers to beat the Colts 31-27 in the Super Bowl. A year later, SI again went with the Panthers, this time choosing them to beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
And now in 2007, whom is SI picking to win the Super Bowl? Well, the Saints over the Chargers, but who do they have New Orleans beating in the Divisional Round of the playoffs? That’s right, the – in their estimation – 11-5 Carolina Panthers, of course.
Regardless of what you think about the Panthers – personally I think they’ll be lucky to win nine games this year – it’s flabbergasting that three years in a row SI has dropped to their knees in absolute worship of this team. The Panthers aren’t on the same level as the Patriots or Colts for SI to be predicting them year in and year out to make the playoffs. Seriously, two of the past three years they’ve picked the Panthers to win the Super Bowl and this year, which is probably the most flawed the Panthers have looked in years, they’re predicting them to go 11-5. Is Don Banks and knucklehead “Dr. Z” on Jerry Richardson’s payroll?
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How does their defense look? I just took them in a fantasy draft as the 11th DT off the board.
Aging, but still solid up front. Their front seven is outstanding with Peppers and a youthful LB corps other than the always injury-prone Dan Morgan.
The probelm is in the secondary. Their corners are good and I think Richard Marshall is an up and comer, but free safety has been a major issue over the years. Plus now they have to replace Mike Minter, who retired in the offseason. He wasn’t good in coverage, but he was always outstanding in run support.
Anyway, fantasy wise you should be fine…you should get lots of sacks, but that secondary is going to give up big plays from time to time.
Sacks are the lifeblood of a fantasy defense so that’s good to hear.
SI will fall in love with your team if it meets the following conditions:
1. IF you have a QB who is continually compared to Brett Favre even though he’s only ever had about half of Favre’s game…the 2007 Favre, not the prime of his career Favre. Other than that, they were born in the same locale so that must mean something, right?
2. IF for years, you haven’t had a running back who distinguished himself as the clear starter.
3. IF your defense has been overrated nearly every year only because head coach was once a D-coordinator on a Superbowl team (even though they got blown out) and he gives some good quotes in the press room.
4. IF Nick Goings will be your starting RB before Thanksgiving because the others ahead of him on the depth chart will be on IR or too banged up to play.