That's what I keep wondering as the kickoff approaches for Carolina's season opener.
The Panthers' run game in the four exhibitions was underwhelming. It says something when most of their memorable runs were made by Fozzy Whittaker, the fourth-string back.
Ultimately, I think the team that runs for the most yardage Sunday will win. Tampa Bay has Doug Martin back, and if you've forgotten how good he was as a rookie running back in 2012, you will be quickly reminded.
As for the Panthers, I think Jonathan Stewart has the best chance of being Carolina's go-to back. Stewart has shown some shades of 2009 in his brief appearances, but the question, as always, is whether he can stay healthy. DeAngelo Williams has been very ineffectual in the exhibitions and is now 31, but the franchise's all-time rushing leader has also been counted out before.
-- I will only be surprised Sunday if rookie Kelvin Benjamin doesn't have a big day. Benjamin is the clear No.1 wide receiver target no matter who is throwing the ball for Carolina, but I'm just not sure other NFL teams realize how good he is yet since he hasn't played in a real contest.
-- For some reason this week, I kept thinking of the Democratic National Convention.
It was two years ago that the DNC came to Charlotte, which meant the Panthers went to Tampa early for the season opener. They trained there for almost a week before playing the Buccaneers -- and then still laid an egg, falling behind 13-0 at halftime and losing 16-10 to a mediocre Tampa Bay team that ultimately went 7-9 (just like the Panthers did that year). Carolina ran terribly in that game -- 13 carries, 10 yards.
-- Now you know I am more optimistic about the 2014 Panthers than most. I picked them to go 10-6, while my colleague Tom Sorensen went for 8-8 and most national publications went lower than that.
Tampa Bay went 4-12 last season. Carolina went 12-4. Yet the Buccaneers are a slight favorite in this game.
Has the personnel really changed that much? I don't think so. So despite DNC deja vu telling me not to do this, here's my pick:
Carolina 13, Tampa Bay 12.
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10 comments:
Every team in our division got better this season but us. I agree KB will be a very good receiver. The issue is we have no O-line. Zero. We haven't had one in years. We will not win 5 games this season. Not a single chance of that. So again, for the 20th year, we do not have back to back winning seasons. In other words, the definition of poor to mediocre.
I sure do hope you're right Scott. I would point out though, that the Panthers tend to be creatures of habit. They don't seem to do as well with teams they know nothing about. The only time we lost to Tampa under Shiano was his very first game. There is a book on Lovie, but it's with Chicago. Last year, we lost our first game (a game we should have won) to Seattle. I worry that history will repeat itself and the Panthers won't be prepared for what TB is going to throw at them. Even when we've beaten them this time, we have no idea what Tampa has up their sleve. Keep in mind, TB has given the Panthers fits even when we've won.
It all comes down to the O-line and nothing in the preseason has given me any confidence thus far that this is not going to be a problem all season. No run blocking, run game suffers. No pass blocking, Cam having to do too much on his own and he has not shown the es-capability he did earlier as a rookie. Defense should put us in plenty of scoring opportunities, but can offense answer the bell. We will know soon....
Scott, I'm guessing that you're a glass half full kind of guy?
Scott,you suck. What do you go....8-8 every season? I'll bet you're batting around 40% in your pigskin pickem league! Tom Sorensen and Sacagawea were way better than you!
TB has nooooo Ideal what the Panthers bring neither. Tired of hearing fans hatin on Panthers and the NFL analyst . If Carolina is gonna crash...I'll believe it when I see it! Right Now U are All Wrong!
Hey FactsHurt, we are guessing you meant to say "off season" when you said "every other team got better this season but us." Newsflash: THIS season HASN'T STARTED YET....and we were 12-4 last season, and our defense HAS gotten better (most of our starting db's from last year don't have a job now....and we have BETTER ones). If you don't think our receivers are better this year, you are dreaming....and time will tell. We have all 3 running backs healthy for this game. Book this: no matter who is the quarterback, we will run the ball down the Bucs throats. NOBODY in Charlotte (except perhaps you) is afraid of the Saints, Falcons or Bucs. We win the NFC South again. BOOK IT.
Scott is pretty much on it. The record # of hits Cam has taken over the last couple of years' will likely continue so business as usual... doesn't bode well for his health but we can win with our backups. Benjamin will hookup regardless, D will be beastly again with occasional deep lapses. Translates to 9-7 with an outside wildcard shot IMO.
Scott is pretty much on it. The record # of hits Cam has taken over the last couple of years' will likely continue so business as usual... doesn't bode well for his health but we can win with our backups. Benjamin will hookup regardless, D will be beastly again with occasional deep lapses. Translates to 9-7 with an outside wildcard shot IMO.
How are the Redskins gonna do...oops I wasn't supposed to say that.
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