Setup
Overview
Panthers Last Game
Meet the Panthers
Cardinals Roster
Panthers vs. Cardinals Matchups

 Setup:
Panthers come into Glendale with a new coaching staff and it looks like a new, dynamic young QB in Cam Newton. Newton's size, mobility and rawness will present unique challenges for the Cardinal defense. Cards will also have a new QB (Kolb) under center. Some observers (including me) feel tehat all that stood between the Cardinals and the playoffs last year was a capable starting QB.

 Overview
According to the Charlotte Observer:

The Panteras "remain very much a work in progress and the same goes for the roster, which dropped five players and picked up five more Sunday with more tweaks coming. The framework, however, is in place."

OFFENSE
There's Newton ("a potential franchise quarterback" plus a few new receivers to join Steve Smith in anew, more vertical offensive system to compliment a very capable group of running backs. Biggest question on the offense is the offensive line, particularly at RG, where the Panthers have lost Geoff Schwartz and Garry Williams.

DEFENSE
If Beason and Charles Johnson can stay healthy, they could anchor a strong defensive front seven. Unfortunately, everything seems to hang on whether or not the Panthers fix an ailing interior line (they added Marcus Harrison Sunday).

Late Breaking - Panteras picked up former New England  DB Darius Butler on waivers.

 Panthers' Last Game:
It was a preseason game and not worth detailing.

 Meet the Panthers

Quarterbacks
01  Newton, Cam QB 6-5 244 22 R  Auburn
03  Anderson, Derek QB 6-6 235 28 7  Oregon State
02 Clausen, Jimmy QB 6-2 222 23 2  Notre Dame
(Based on  Charlotte Observer analysis - my caustic responses in parentheses) -

Strengths:
Newton is a potential franchise quarterback , but he's still facing a sharp learning curve. He has already shown flashes of what he can be, both with his arm strength and running ability. Anderson provides a stable backup (well...no)! and Clausen is a year more experienced without the pressure to do it all himself.

Weaknesses:
Newton's a rookie and he'll struggle at times. He needs to become a more accurate passer and learn to read NFL defenses. It won't happen overnight.

 Running Backs

34  Williams, DeAngelo RB 5-9 217 28 6  Memphis
28  Stewart, Jonathan RB 5-10 235 24 4  Oregon
33  Goodson, Mike RB 6-0 212 24 3  Texas A&M
45  Felton, Jerome FB 6-0 246 25 4  Furman
47  Brockel, Richie FB/TE 6-1 251 25 1  Boise State
(Based on  Charlotte Observer analysis - my caustic responses in parentheses) -

Strengths:
If both Williams and Stewart stay healthy, they're among the most dynamic backfield duos in the league. The Panthers apparently believe Williams can be as explosive as ever. Stewart, meanwhile, is a more physical runner, while Goodson is a nice asset as a #3 RB.

Weaknesses:
Questionable durability - Williams missed 10 games last season and three in 2009. Goodson also had a problem with fumbling and spent part of the preseason carrying a football wherever he went as a reminder to hold it tight.

Wide Receivers

89  Smith, Steve WR 5-9 185 32 11  Utah
14  Edwards, Armanti WR 5-11 182 23 2  Appalachian State
xx  Ajirotutu, Seyi WR 6-3 211 24 2  Fresno State
11  LaFell, Brandon WR 6-2 211 24 2  Louisiana State
06  Naanee, Legedu WR 6-2 220 27 5  Boise State
81  Pilares, Kealoha WR 5-10 201 23 R  Hawaii
(Based on  Charlotte Observer analysis - my caustic responses in parentheses) -

Strengths:
In a more vertical passing offense, the receivers should play a bigger role this season. Steve Smith is 32, but he's still dangerous and a headache for opposing defenses, especially if they're forced to pay more attention to the other receivers.

Weaknesses:
The Panthers don't have a dynamic No. 2 receiver. LaFell has had good moments but needs to show consistency. Naanee is solid, and Edwards needs to show he can catch passes in traffic.

 Tight Ends
80  Shockey, Jeremy TE 6-5 251 31 10  Miami (Fla.)
88  Olsen, Greg TE 6-5 255 26 5  Miami (Fla.)
84  Hartsock, Ben TE 6-4 270 31 8  Ohio State
(Based on  Charlotte Observer analysis - my caustic responses in parentheses) -

Strengths:
Strongest part of the offense and should factor heavily into what the Panthers do this season. Olsen could have a huge season and be the team leader in receptions. Shockey (who's never had fewer than 41 receptions in a season, brings a toughness that the Panthers lacked last season, and Hartsock is an excellent blocker and all-around contributor.

Weaknesses:
Not many though Shockey has dealt with injury issues (missed10 games the past three years).

Offensive Line
69  Gross, Jordan LT 6-4 305 31 9  Utah
70  Wharton, Travelle LG 6-4 312 30 8  South Carolina
71  Davis, C.J. G/C 6-2 308 24 3  Pittsburgh
67  Kalil, Ryan C 6-2 295 26 5  Southern California
73  Bernadeau, Mackenzy RG 6-4 308 25 4  Bentley
xx Max Jean-Gilles (FA signed Sunday) 6-3 358 Georgia
77  Bell, Byron G 6-5 339 22 R  New Mexico
79  Otah, Jeff RT 6-6 330 25 4  Pittsburgh
75  Ziemba, Lee T 6-6 318 22 R  Auburn
(Based on  Charlotte Observer analysis - my caustic responses in parentheses) -

Strengths:
Several - especially if Otah can stay healthy. Kalil is a top-notch center, Gross is a fixture at left tackle with Wharton beside him and Otah has the potential to be a massive force on the right side. The free agent signing Sunday of Max Jean-Gilles is meant to stabilize the right guard spot.

Weaknesses:
Right guard  "turned into a Bermuda triangle" for the Panthers through the preseason, losing Geoff Schwartz and Garry Williams. Jean-Gilles should took the pressure off Bernadeau at right guard.. Panteras are encouraged by rookies Ziemba and Bell, but they're still rookies.

DE - 93 Campbell, 98 Eason
NT - 92 D Williams, 79 Carter
DT - 90 Dockett, 91 Holliday
When they bring their "A" game, Campbell and Docket are as good a pair of bookends as there are in the NFL. Williams arrrived overweight and is playing himself into shape. Carter and Eason (though lighter) are pushing him at NT. Card pass rushers are doing a better job this season of getting their hands up into passing lanes.

WLB - 55 Porter, 50 Schofield
ILB  51 Lenon, 52 Bradley
ILB- 558 D Washington, 56 Walker,
SLB - 53 Haggans, 94 Acho
Most intriguing Cardinal unit. - full of potential but also questions of whether or not that potential will be filled. Biggest Cardinal concern is their pass rush (which figures to come mostly from their weak side. Questions are: Does the aging Porter still have enough left and will a healthier Schofield be as explosive as he's expected to be? Inside, we have an interesting 3-man starting rotation of Lenon (aka Mr. Solid), a budding star in Daryl Walker and newly added Stewart Bradley (Eagles) who, when healthy, can play at a Pro Bowl level. Acho is a rook. Walker adds ballast inside.

RCB - 21 Peterson, 31 Marshall,   22 Butler
LCB- 20 Jefferson, 27 Adams, 32 Lindsay   
SS-  24 Wilson,   41 Abdullah, 40 Tillman
FS- 25 Rhodes,  49 Rash Johnson
Coming into preseason, the Cardinal secondary actually looked overstocked due to the addition of high-profile draft pick Peterson to play next to DRC. But DRC was traded for Kolb and opposite starting corner (Toler) is injured and out for the season.  DRCe will be replaced by AJ Jefferson (whom I think is almost as athletic as DRC but more physical a tackler and more reliable and aggressive in coverage). Cards brought in veteran Marshall (more of an "off cover guy) to replace Toler until Peterson was ready to step in (& the Cards apparently decided that PP21 is ready, because they just promoted him to start opposite Jefferson). After the Final 53 cutdown, the Cards picked up youngsters Butler and Lindsay to add depth at corner..

K-04 Feely
P- 09 Zastudil
H - 009 Zastudil
LS- 82 Leach
KR - 37Stephens-Howling
PR - 21 Petrson
Feely's new nickname should be: "Mr. Everything." He accounted for 25 of the Cardinals' 43 points lvs. Denver. Ben Graham was a maestro at dropping punts inside the 10, but inconsistent booming long punts to get us out of poor field position holes. Zastudil (who struggled with injuries the past 2 seasons) beat out Graham and will now be our starting punter. LSH remains a home run threat if they don't kick off far enough, and Peterson has displayed the poise of a veteran (plus the home run potential of Sproles or Hester) returning punts.

  Panther vs. Cardinals Matchups

Panther Passing Attack vs. Cardinal Pass Defense
CW is that the new Panther coaches want to employ a more vertical passing attack, but the matchups don't square with this. It figures to be Newton running around behind the LOS, scaring us with his feet and throwing behind an excellent offensive line to his TE's (Olsen and Shockey), his two RB's (Stewart and Williams) with Steve Smith the only proven, viable deep threat. Newton's will be protected by one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Only weakness appeared to be at RG, but the Panteras brought in Max  Gilles just after final cutdown time.

Expect Cam Newton to face a Ray Horton defensive buzz saw full of false looks, zone blitzes and organized confusion - but always a controlled frenzy (because Newton can beat you with his feet). So expect a lot of stunting and false-carding, but expect Campbell and Dockett (& the LB's outside them) to be careful about holding outside contain and not being sucked in by misdirection, end arounds and screens. Also expect the Cards to employ a "spy" on every play (but just who that spy will be will vary from down to down and they'll try to disguise just who that spy will be. Expect Jefferson to be assigned to Smith (which should prove to be quite an education). I also expect Bradley to show up at a different spot on every defensive down. Expect Peterson to make at least a couple of "wow" plays, but he'll als, no doubt, be torched at least once as part of his learning experience. Expect our safeties (Wilson and Rhodes) to be tested via a bunch of dinks and dunks to TE's and RB's with a few designed Newton scrambles mixed in to keep us honest.

Panther Running Attack vs. Cardinal Run Defense
Stewart (a thumper) and Williams (a slasher with home runs speed) are as dangerous a RB tandem as you'll find in the NFL - especially behind an experienced O-line as good as the Panthers have.

The Cardinal front seven will have its hands  full. They're kind of strange at NT, with Robinson, Branch and Watson gonzo and Dan Williams the primary "big guy" in the gaps. The strangeness is that Carter (under 300 lbs) and Eason (a smidge over 300) will back up Williams who (during his lighter moments) comes in at around 328 lbs. Adding to our toughness inside should be the ILB rotational triangle of Washington, Lenon and Bradley (who's got nice size for even an ILB). We don't know how well Adrian Wilson (playing with a torn bicep) will defend against running plays, but expect the Panthers to test him.

Cardinal Passing Attack vs. Panther Pass Defense
Kolb will try to get in a 3-step rhythm and spread the ball around to several excellent receivers and a group of TE's who can go up and get the ball (& also know what to do once they catch it). Based on what I saw in preseason Game #4, Stuckey looked more polished (& more explosive) in his #2 role than did Doucet or Roberts (who, while they looked fine, didn't sparkle as much as Chanci). I'd expect Carolina to try and take Fitz out of the picture with Gamble. Which means our #2, #3 and (even possibly) our #4 receivers and TE's will see a lot of footballs coming their way. More and more, look to Heap and King  to become Kolb's security blanket on passing plays.

Carolina will rely on its DE's (Hardy and Charles Johnson) to bring pressure from either edge, with additional pressure coming from Panther LB's (Beeson, Anderson or Davis). Although Gamble is considered to be excellent when he's on his game, the Panthers are considered vulnerable at corner, and the Cards figure to put a lot of receivers out there in the secondary to test them. Munnerlyn, Thomas, &  Standford do not terrify me. Godfrey and Considine are pretty good safeties,but , aside from Gamble, this unit very much looks like a work in progress.

Cardinal Running Attack vs. Panther Run Defense
It figures to be Beanie testing the suspect interior of  the Panther defensive line while also representing a play-action threat to protect Kolb. I expect the Cardinals to run the ball a greater percent of the time than in the recent past, but less to pound the opposition or control the clock and more to represent a threat to set up our passing attack and maybe pop loose a few long-gainers.

Five guys on the Panther front seven are very very good. The other two guys are works in progress and man the 2 DT posts. Although Beanie's best runs typically have been off tackle or around end, the Cards would be well advised to see what they can do vs.McClain, Fuha & Co.

Special Teams
Both teams have great FG kickers (Feely and Mare). In the punting game, Cards are replacing Graham with Zastudil. Baker is an 11 year veteran. I have no clue as to what Carolina will be in the return game. Some of the Cards's offseason moves seemed to factor in improving their coverage units. With the Howler returning kickoffs and if we have Peterson returning punts, the Cards are a threat to break a long one every time PP21 or LSH touches the ball.

Final Word
We should beat these guys, but this game is far from being a lock and could go either way. Overall I like our matchups, but the Cardinals have always found atheltic, mobile QB's (like Vince Young, Roethlsiberger and McNabb) to be challenging. Their chief objectives should be to (a) contain Cam Newton, (b) stop Stewart and D Williams and (c) cover Schockey/Olson while (d) letting Kolb run a very efficient offense (i.e. limited turnovers and penalties plus a high completion rate and 100+ yard on the ground) that can net us, say, at least 26  points.