5 Ways to fix the Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers:

It’s been a long tumultuous season for the Panthers whoa re currently 1-12. Before this season started there were many scouts and fans who believed that this team could surprise this year. Why or how? Well QB Matt Moore came on towards the end of last season and also the Panthers had two 1,000 yards running backs last year with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. On defense the Panthers had good depth and talent on the defensive line and also at the linebacker unit. But why has this team regressed so bad this year? Lets find out why and how to prevent another losing year like this in the near future.

1. Fire John Fox:

Its time for a new head coach in Carolina, lets face it coach Fox did all he could in his tenure with this team. He did take the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003 and to the NFC Championship in 2005 and playoffs in 2008. But this season has been Fox’s worst. His team has pretty much quit on him and the team has shown no signs of improvement. Time to go Fox, you had a great run Charlotte, enjoy your vacation!

2. Who’s the future QB?

This team needs to make a decision in the off-season on who’s gonna be the team’s future receiver. Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen has had an up and down rookie season. He hasn’t been spectacular this year. To me he hasn’t shown that he is ready for the NFL, maybe he needs more time and seasoning. This off-season will be important for him to study film and develop chemistry with his receivers.

What about Matt Moore? Well Matt Moore showed before he landed on IR this year that he wasn’t ready to be the Panthers future QB. He struggled mightily this year and at times looked lost. He threw for 650 yards and had 4 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Whoever the new Panthers coach in 2011 is will probably bring in a veteran QB or will let Clausen and Moore battle things out in the off-season to see who will be the starter in 2011.

3. Get WR Steve Smith some help:

WR’s David Gettis and Brandon LeFell are strictly slot receivers, I believe. LeFell could blossom into a solid No. 2 receiver with more seasoning and practice. He does have the talent to do so (31 receptions for 372 yards). The Panthers also drafted former college QB Armanti Edwards and moved him to WR. The transition for Edwards has not been a smooth transition as he has struggled to get playing time. Matter of fact he has been deactivated this whole 2010 season. Wow, what a great 3rd round draft pick Panthers! Steve Smith is a future Hall of Fame WR and needs a playmaker by his side to help stop teams from doubling him.

4. The next Julius Peppers will be…….

The Panthers have some good talent on the defensive line. But they don’t have a true stud in the middle of the defensive line or a premier pass rusher on the outside. Before this season LE Charles Johnson has never had more than six sacks in the season and now has 8.5 sacks. Johnson could be the next Peppers, he just needs to be more consistent. Rookie DE’s Greg Hardy and Eric Norwood have an abundance of talent. Hardy showed some flashes this season and has posted 2 sacks on the year. Norwood hasn’t played much but in the near future could see more playing time if he produces. The team was so high on DE Everette Brown when they drafted him a couple of years ago, but his play has been inconsistent. Brown is playing at 256 pounds which is light at the DE position. He makes up for his size with quickness of the edge. But he can be overpowered by offensive lineman. This off-season he really needs to bulk up, his inconsistency is due to his lack of strength and size I believe. This season Brown had 3.5 sacks before being placed on IR in week 14.

The DT spot is troublesome. Derek Landri is probably the Panthers most consistent DT on the roster, but to me he is strictly a backup. He is not a run stuffer and is a decent pass rusher. Ed Johnson and Nick Hayden are strictly serviceable backups at best. this team should of not released Damoine Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu before the 2010 season. The Panthers organization thought these two players were past their prime.

5. Release CB Chris Gamble and bring in some cover corners who have good ball awareness skills:

CB Chris Gamble has the busty bust tag written all over him. The 2010 season was the worst season in his career (0 interceptions).  In 2008 he signed a contract extension where he received $23 million dollars guaranteed. His best season was in 2005 where he had 7 interceptions and since then he has only had 11 interceptions with none this year. He is definitely a buyer beware player. How can Gamble be paid as one of the best corners in the NFL?  I don’t understand it. He plays too soft and is not a true shutdown corner.

CB Richard Marshall is the Panthers best cover corner. He plays physical and is a good tackler. Over the last 10 games Marshall has averaged 6.7 tackles a game.

Captain Munnerlyn has had a good 2010 season and has shown the Panthers organization that they can count on him when he is needed. When Gamble was hurt in a few games this year Munnerlyn step in and held his side of the field down. He is a good tackler as well and has good ball awareness skills with 3 interceptions on the season.