Ex-Pat Panther Jokes about Patriot-Gate

Ex-New England Patriot Christian Fauria laughed off his old team’s recent scandal before the press, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.  Fauria, signed by the Panthers on Tuesday.  The tight end was generally jovial, winking and smirking about his knowledge of the Patriots’ alleged filming of multiple NFL teams in the years leading up to them finally being caught by the league last week.  Fauria said that he knew nothing, but his laughter seemed to tell a different story.  More than a few Panthers players have stated for the record that they suspect New England of videotaping some of their practices before the 03 Super Bowl.

I, for one, believe this is all nonsense.  First of all, it’s the NFL.  If you’re not doing everything in your power short of performance-enhancing drugs to win, then you should get out of the League right now.  Anything a player or coach can do that does not harm their own bodies or the bodies of another individual (more so than the sport of football would normally), they will do to gain a competitive edge.  That’s the NFL.  The Pats got caught.  They were punished.  Everyone needs to move on and play the games and stop worrying so much about what the Patriots did four years ago.  Honestly, the Panthers should have much bigger fish to fry right now.

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Will Panthers Use Carr to Beat Texans?

The Houston Chronical is running a story today asking the question, “Will the Panthers use former Texans quarterback David Carr to their advantage in Sunday’s Panthers vs. Texans game?“  The writer of the column - Megan Manfull - is convinced that even though Carr isn’t likely to see any action on the field, the Panthers are using every single bit of knowledge that he has about the Texans’ offensive game-planning to formulate their own course of attack and defense as it pertains to their week 2 foes.  This is extremely likely, though one cannot say if this type of inside information will actually help the Panthers, as no one can know a) how much the Texans will change their game plan in response to the knowledge that Carr is now on the opposition’s sideline and b) how much their scheme may have changed in the offseason.

Teams are always adding new wrinkles to their offensive and defensive schemes.  They also tailor their play books to the talent they have from year to year.  Every year, you see these stories of players on other teams who will “help their team gain an advantage” by spilling their guts about their old team’s play books and game plans.  And every year, it seems that these players make absolutely no difference at all in the outcome of the game.  These types of stories are fun to talk about, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for some random interception or sack or anything of that nature that you can directly trace back to David Carr.

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Carolina Sports Writer Pessimistic About Season

In and article running in the Charlotte Observer today, Scott Fowler predicts that the Carolina Panthers will make the playoffs in 2007.  He also predicts that the Panthers will do only slightly better than last season’s 8-8 record, but will still make a quick exit from the playoffs.  Fowler cites a lack of ground-n-pound running game, a soft offensive line, and a linebacking corps lead by a man who has suffered fiver (reported) concussions.  These are all good points, but why the pessimism?

Perhaps Panthers fans are just a little burnt out after hearing all through the offseason prior to 2006’s 8-8 campaign that they were the favorites to win it all in the NFC.  Perhaps the let down of not making the playoffs when they were picked to go to the Super Bowl was too much for Panthers fans.  But fans in Carolina should take heart.  Your team should certainly be better this year than they were last year.  They should make the playoffs, and with the right amount of luck they could end up in the Super Bowl.  So don’t write off your Panthers yet, fans.  They may still yet surprise you.

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Panthers First Up in Burning Questions

The Carolina Panthers are featured today in ESPN.com’s “Burning Questions” segment.  The question is, “Is David Carr’s presence helping Jake Delhomme?”  The Panthers acquired the quarterback from the Houston Texans and then promptly made it clear he was the backup QB.  However, Carr has starting-level talent, and there were many whispers around the league in the preseason that Carr could certainly sneak up and steal Delhomme’s job.  The pundits at ESPN.com are now wondering, after Delhomme’s stellar opening game, if Carr’s presence is pushing Delhomme to another level.

Sean Salisbury and Joe Theismann differ in their opinions on the matter.  Salisbury seems to believe that Delhomme’s great game can be attributed mostly to having himself and Steve Smith healthy and on the field at the same time - something that hasn’t happened much lately.  Theismann, however, seems to believe that having a competent backup ready to take his job has spurred Delhomme to a higher level of play.  Whatever the reason, Panthers fans are just glad to see their team playing so well.

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Carolina Starts Season with a Win

The Carolina Panthers defeated the St. Louis Rams 27-13 in St. Louis on Sunday, starting out their 2007 season 1-0.  The Panthers and Rams played an extremely tight game through three quarters before Carolina pulled away in the fourth quarter on a monster play from wide receiver Steve Smith.  Smith, who had an amazing game, wowed everyone with a deep route reminiscent of the one he ran to give Carolina the victory over these same Rams in 2003 to send the Panthers to their first Super Bowl.

While much will be made of the Patriots, Colts, and Chargers games this week, many people will overlook the Panthers.  However, Carolina opened their season with a road win that they hope will begin a new season for their team, their fans, and the entire organization.  Winning on the road is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL, and I believe that these Panthers sent a solid message to the rest of the NFL.  They have a very potent offense that travels very well.  The rest of the league should be ready when Carolina comes to town.
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Smith Excited for New Offense

Carolina Panthers fans have heard all offseason about the new, revamped and improved offensive schemes of new coordinator Jeff Davidson.  This weekend they will finally see them in action.  And, according to a report out of the Charlotte Observer, Steve Smith is already very happy about the game plan.  Smith was practically gushing about the game plan he was given to study during interviews with the media yesterday.  He couldn’t say much, but what he did say was that he was very happy, and the fans will be too.

There was more than a little grumbling in Carolina when the Panthers’ new offensive schemes basically amounted to zone blocking during the preseason.  However, according to Smith, there are some big surprises coming up in week one, both for the St. Louis Rams and the Panthers faithful.  However, since he wouldn’t elaborate much further than that, you’re just going to have to watch the game to find out what those surprises are.

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Panthers Feel the Pressure

The Charlotte Observer is running their own version of the 2007 Carolina Panthers season preview.  The Panthers, after last season, expect quite a bit of themselves.  Their fans certainly expect more from them.  They are no longer the preseason media darlings they once were.  They have an offense that needs to find a real identity - and fast.  Their defense should be solid, but there are still many questions surrounding a team whose window of opportunity is certainly closing just a bit more every year.  Men like John Fox and Jake Delhomme who have been given a free pass since the Super Bowl appearance a few years ago are finally once again on the clock.  It’s do or die time for the Panthers.

The Panthers may very well become the sleeper team in the NFC this year.  With no one picking them to do anything this season, they could very well turn out to be much better than people believe.   This Panthers team might surprise a lot of people and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl if they could just stay healthy and find some offense.  Of course, this team could just as easily underachieve and lead to the firing of John Fox and the promotion of David Carr to starting QB, thus beginning a new era in Carolina.  Only time will tell.

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Steve Smith Injury Concerns

ESPN.com is running a fantasy football guide to wide receivers and tight end injury threats this season, and topping the list of injury prone wide receivers is Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.  After missing the first part of the 2006 season with hamstring issues, Smith still posted good numbers - more than 1,000 yards rushing and eight touchdowns - but was not the Steve Smith of old.  For a receiver who relies on his speed and ability to achieve separation from his coverage, a hamstring injury can prove fatal to nearly an entire season.  When that player has very little support offensively from him team, as Smith does, then the results can go from bad to worse.

With veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson out of the picture in Carolina, Smith will begin the season lining up with perennial underachiever Keary Colbert as Carolina’s number two.  If Colbert once again does not work out, then he will most likely be replaced by rookie Dwayne Jarrett.  Jarrett, while packed full of upside, is still just a rookie, and rookie wide receivers rarely break out in their first year.  The Panthers will need Smith to stay healthy all year if they want to avoid another disappointing season in 2007.

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Panthers Preseason Preview

ESPN.com has published preseason previews for every single NFL team, in preparation for the 2007 season.  The Carolina Panthers preseason preview is right here.  The Panthers are picked by the ESPN.com pundits to finish second in their division.  Once again, all the talk surrounding the Panthers has to do with the replacement of old offensive coordinator Dan Henning with new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson.  Davidson has brought a new approach to the offense that has his players excited and energized for the new season.  After a disappointing 2006, the Panthers definitely have a lot to prove.

Look for the Panthers to play very physical and tough football, especially right out of the gate in 2007.  Carolina will have to work hard to prove that last season was a fluke due to multiple injuries to important role players and not a symptom of an aging team whose Super Bowl window is closing quickly.  They will need at least one receiver to step up and take some of the pressure off of Steve Smith, and they will also need to get their running game going behind their new zone blocking scheme.  If the defense can continue to play at a very high level, the Panthers should be in very good shape in 2007.

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