Panthers to Watch for in 2009

The Carolina Panthers want to avenge their loss to the Arizona Cardinals in last year’s playoffs. Not only that, but the Panthers also strive to be a better team in 2009 - with or without Julius Peppers. While the task before this team of all-stars is a little bit daunting and more than a little challenging, there are a few players who need to step it up for this year’s Panthers to be remembered, and a Bleacher Report article recently singled these players out, naming the top 10 most important players that will have to play well for Carolina to have a shot at the playoffs again this season.

In this mix of players are of course running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, who both feed off each other to form one of the most dynamic duos in Panthers history. Wide receivers Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad and Dwayne Jarrett are also on this list, as is tight end Jeff King and (of course) quarterback Jake Delhomme, but the last two positions on this top 10 list may be surprising. Hinging off the other, one more of these Panthers who will be crucial to the team’s success this year is Julius Peppers, and it all starts with whether he stays or leaves the team. In the case that he does indeed leave, the last spot on this top 10 list is really a slew of players that will have to step it up to take his place - Tyler Brayton, Casper Brinkley, Hilee Taylor, Charles Johnson and Everette Brown. Brown, of course, is the leading rookie for the position, but will he get his big chance this year to play in Pep’s spot? Stay tuned to find out!

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