Carolina Panthers
Key Additions: QB Jimmy Clausen, WR Brandon LaFell, WR Armanti Edwards, LB Jamar Williams, S Aaron Francisco
Key Losses: QB Jake Delhomme, WR Muhsin Muhammad, LB Na’il Diggs, DE Julius Peppers
The Panthers enter this season with Matt Moore as their quarterback as Jake Delhomme has moved on to Cleveland. The Panthers are in the same situation as the Eagles are under slightly different circumstances. Moore started the final 5 games of last season and won 4 of them. The Panthers are putting their faith in him that he will play this season and beyond like he did the final 5 games of last year. He has only 8 career starts. His stats were not flashy but he did manage the team well and I expect he will do the same this season. If he wont, we may see Jimmy Clausen a little earlier than people may expect. The Panthers are built on their running game with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart. The Panthers as a team ran for 2,498 yards and 4.8 yards per carry last season, third in the NFL. The Panthers have been getting older at the wide receiver position. Mushin Muhammad retired after last year and Steve Smith is 31. The Panthers addressed this in the draft by selecting Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards. Dwayne Jarrett should will compete with those two for playing time. The Panthers will play it conservative on offense with the inexperienced Moore under center until he becomes more comfortable and opens it up. But the two-headed monster will rule in Carolina again this year.
Carolina averaged only 19.7 points per game last season, putting a lot of pressure on their defense, who averaged 19.2 points against a year ago. They lost their best player in the offseason in Julius Peppers. They no longer have a consistent threat on the d-line that will make offenses account for at all times. They have the fourth best passing defense in the league and take the ball away often. They had 22 interceptions last season. They are also good at getting off the field on thirds down, as teams were successful 36% on third down last season. What it will come down to on defense for the Panthers is will someone step up now that Peppers is gone and put pressure on the quarterback. No matter how good your secondary is, you give NFL quarterbacks time in the pocket, their going to find someone open. The success of the team this season will depend on that.
Schedule:
1 Sun, Sep 12 at NY Giants
2 Sun, Sep 19 Tampa Bay
3 Sun, Sep 26 Cincinnati
4 Sun, Oct 3 at New Orleans
5 Sun, Oct 10 Chicago
6 BYE
7 Sun, Oct 24 San Francisco
8 Sun, Oct 31 at St. Louis
9 Sun, Nov 7 New Orleans
10 Sun, Nov 14 at Tampa Bay
11 Sun, Nov 21 Baltimore
12 Sun, Nov 28 at Cleveland
13 Sun, Dec 5 at Seattle
14 Sun, Dec 12 Atlanta
15 Sun, Dec 19 Arizona
16 Thu, Dec 23 at Pittsburgh
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Atlanta
The Panthers have the 26th toughest schedule this season and opponents were 122-134 in 2009. They catch the AFC North and NFC West this season. They finish the season with the final two games on the road, and one in Pittsburgh in the cold. With Atlanta improving this season and the Super Bowl champs in the division, don't expect the Panthers to contend this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Additions: OT Flozell Adams, S Will Allen, WR Arnaz Battle, LB Larry Foote, QB Byron Leftwich, WR Antwaan Randle El, CB Bryant McFadden, C Maurkice Pouncey
Key Subtractions: WR Santonio Holmes, RB Willie Parker, CB Deshea Townsend, S Tyrone Carter
The Steelers enter the 2010 season after missing the playoffs last year and will have their starting quarterback out for at least 4 games to start the season as he serves his suspension for violating the leagues personal conduct policy. Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon will compete for the starting job in camp. But the loss of Roethlisburger is the least of their problems. WR Santonio Holmes was traded and Willie Parker departed as a free agent. Rehard Mendenhall had an excellent season last year rushing for 1,108 yards and 4.8 yards per carry. Replacing former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes wont be as easy. Hines Ward put up great numbers last year but he is 34 years old. Mike Wallace and Antwaan Randle El will have to pick up the slack that Holmes leaves behind. The line has had some injury problems this offseason, Willie Colon tore his ACL and is done for the year. The Steelers have been terrible in sacks allowed, and if not for the escape ability of Roethlisburger, they would have a lot more sacks on their record. The Steelers did a great move by bringing in veteran Flozell Adams. The unit must play better this season and get some better protection.
The Steelers defense has been and will continue to be the backbone of their team, but they are a completely different unit when Troy Polamalu is on the field. He needs to stay healthy for them to be sucessful. But the Steelers get after the quarterback, and get after him well. They recorded 47 sacks as a unit last year, second in the league led by James Harrison. The Steelers brought back Larry Foote to play alongside Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, and James Farrior. All those guys should see significant time. The Steelers brought back Bryant McFadden to play opposite Ike Taylor, and if Polamalu stays healthy, the Steelers secondary unit is very solid. A lot will depend on if the unit can collectively get through the season without significant injuries and keep putting pressure on quarterbacks.
Schedule:
1 Sun, Sep 12 Atlanta
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Tennessee
3 Sun, Sep 26 at Tampa Bay
4 Sun, Oct 3 Baltimore
5 BYE
6 Sun, Oct 17 Cleveland
7 Sun, Oct 24 at Miami
8 Sun, Oct 31 at New Orleans
9 Mon, Nov 8 at Cincinnati
10 Sun, Nov 14 New England
11 Sun, Nov 21 Oakland
12 Sun, Nov 28 at Buffalo
13 Sun, Dec 5 at Baltimore
14 Sun, Dec 12 Cincinnati
15 Sun, Dec 19 NY Jets
16 Thu, Dec 23 Carolina
17 Sun, Jan 2 at Cleveland
The Steelers have the 21st hardest schedule and opponents were 126-130 last season. They catch the AFC East and NFC South this season. The Steelers luck out in the schedule department in the first four games. They only have 1 divisional game and two of their easier road games. Should Roethlisburger come back on time, he'll have a nice warm up game Week 5 vs. Cleveland. The rest of the schedule however is not that simple. The AFC East has 3 contenders and they have problems in their own division with Baltimore and the defending champs Cincinnati. However 3 of their final 4 games are home. Expect them to be in the hunt down the stretch.
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