This week at Cat Crave, we did something a little different. We went “outside the box,” so to speak. As the regular season nears, we’re going to try and bring you an outsider’s opinion on their team; the team which our Carolina Panthers will be playing against this week. This week’s edition takes us outside of the realm of Fansided, to a site somewhere out there in the blogosphere, known as The Steelers N’at.

Okay Panthers fans, we’re one week — one game closer to final cuts, waives, releases (whatever you want to call them) before the final 53-man roster is set to start the regular season. Tuesday was merely one step closer before the final process of going from 75 to 53 takes place in approximately one week.
Some players can breathe a little easier tonight, knowing that they have played well enough or shown enough promise to remain on the team for a little closer observation, as the Panthers trimmed their roster from 80 to the League-required 75.

“Put in Clausen.  Sign Antonio Bryant.  Fire Fox.  Trade a running-back.”
Boy, some fans are in mid-season form, already.
After the Panthers’ 15-7 win(?) Saturday night against the Tennessee Titans, there is still a very unsettling feeling in the queen city.  Fans are not satisfied, nor should they be, with the paltry performance by the Panthers’ offense so far in the preseason.
But I beg you, step away from the ledge and/or take off your Jimmy Clausen jerseys.  I plead to you, let us remember one very important fact…this is the preseason, folks.

So today’s common theme is going to be “where is the offense?”. Looking at the early (early, early, early) assessments, by some accounts we are showing the best defense in the league (this is a preseason standard, nothing more). So if this is true, I sincerely hope that the coaches keep up the consistency.

What: Carolina Panthers vs. Tennessee Titans
When: Saturday, August 28, 2010; 8 p.m. ET
Where: Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, NC
The Carolina Panthers are 0-2 so far during preseason. Not that it matters — for the record, that is. If it’s any consolation, the Indianapolis Colts were 1-3 at the conclusion of preseason in 2009, and they played in the Super Bowl.
Tonight’s game will be Carolina’s final home game of the preseason, and to date, there remains a lot of unanswered questions.

Things aren’t looking up right now for the Carolina Panthers’ biggest “name” acquisition of the offseason, special teams player Aaron Francisco.
A solid contributor to special teams on two Super Bowl teams, Francisco is now being faced with his toughest challenge yet, and it’s not one on the football field, per se.

With the third pretend game rapidly approaching, there are several key positions on this team that are still very much up for grabs.  Among other positions, there is uncertainty at wide receiver, at defensive end, at defensive tackle, and there is a terrifying level of uncertainty on special teams.  Who are the players battling for these positions?
Do we have the answer to these positions on the current roster?  Let’s examine, shall we?

Change is in the air. It comes in many forms. Through changes in the season, change from a meal ordered at McDonald’s, or changing the number on one’s jersey. It’s unavoidable. Change. Whether we agree, disagree, like, dislike — for the better or not, is inevitable. And so it goes with the Carolina Panthers.
On Wednesday, Carolina made two moves. It parted ways with one, in order to make room for another. And no, Jimmy Clausen is not the starting quarterback.

Let’s get away from the wringing of hands we are doing, and take a fast look at the “other” big questions about the Carolina Panthers going into the 2010 regular season that are floating around. Just some odd stuff to consider.

Will the coveted “Black Glove” come back into being? Does anyone else remember this? I know that we are supposed to be pretty worried about what’s-his-face leaving and it will leave our defense without the ability to make an impact and all the other “yada-yada-yada,” but I wanna know…Is the “Black Glove Award” coming back en-vogue this coming season? For [...]

Two weeks into preseason, and we’ve already witnessed more than we can bear. Some say it’s time to hit the panic button, others say not so fast, and some take the wait-and-see approach, not committing to one side or another. I tend to ride the fence, though I dabble with pessimism and optimism.
A part of me says, “it’s only preseason, why the concern?” While the other half of me says “if this is how this team is going to look in Week One, they are in deep doo-doo.”