5 NFL teams that could surprise
In his latest edition of Hashmarks, Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com mentions five NFL teams that could surprise this season.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Coach John Fox spent much of last year saying he didn’t like to make excuses and then turning right around and telling anyone who would listen how tough it is to win without your starting quarterback. That part was painfully true as David Carr flopped and Vinny Testaverde fossilized after Delhomme went down in Week 3. The bright spot was the play of undrafted rookie quarterback Matt Moore late in the season, but he remains a project.
Yasinskas also lists the Eagles, Jets, Cardinals and Raiders.
Aren’t the Panthers always listed in these types of write-ups? Ever since they went to the Super Bowl in 2003, the Panthers have been everyone’s “sleeper” damn near every year. SI.com is absolutely infatuated with them and rarely has them missing the playoffs. This team gets more love than Hugh Hefner.
It’s early, but I am not sold on Jets or Raidahs.
Wow, no mention of the Bears???? Rex Grossman to the Pro Bowl !!!!!!!!
Keep this in mind… Yasinskas is a former writer from here in Charlotte. He’ll probably always rate the Panthers high. However, I would agree with his comments more this year than in any of the past two. But it all hinges on whether all the changes they made in the off season are a success. But isn’t that true for everyone? The biggest things to watch on the Panthers are the O and D lines with the receivers and running backs a close second. If the D-Line picks up, we should be pretty stout on D this year. If the O-Line improves, we’ll be able to control the ball on most everyone. The only big question for me is special teams. Ever since the superbowl year, we’ve gotten steadily worse there. And it has hurt us.
Welcome to SR, Chet. What are your thoughts on Jake Delhomme coming off an injury-plagued season? Does he bounce back and if he doesn’t, do the Panthers start looking for other options at QB next year? I think so given Delhomme’s age.
I’m not sold on Delhomme, but, unless you New England or the Colts (and I guess you have to throw in the Giants) who is? The bar has been set so high as it relates to fans expectations of the QB by Manning (the Colts version) and Brady, that about anyone would pale in comparison. In the end, just like any other team, I think Jake will do fine provided our O line and our running game can produce this year. If we can rely on the running game to gain the 3 or 4 yards on 1st or 2nd down like in the 2003 season (yes, it’s a Panther’s fan recalling the glory year), then Jake will do fine. Injured or not, he’s not the guy to consistently take the game on his shoulders to make up for an anemic running game. I’m hopeful that resigning Musin that we can provide enough veteran leadership to get our younger receivers into the game mentally. Still, for the Fox Panthers, no running game = average year. The conservative Fox is all in this year, though. 2 1st round draft picks towards the running game with no first rounder next year speaks to the desparate state that he and the GM are in. If it pays off, he’s in for the next few years. if not, then look for a coaching/GM change for the 2009 season.
PS to the above post – For Ely Manning, I heard a stat today that he has averaged about a 60% completion rate over the last 4 years. That’s data around which anyone with a spreadsheet should be able to game plan. (I’d still rather have his brother in a Panther’s uniform, though.)