Cat Crave » Cam Netwon

Grading The Panthers’ Free Agency

Slate Schwertner — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:25:58 +0000

(July 29, 2011 - Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America)

Now that the Free Agency has slowed almost to a halt, I felt it time to begin grading some of the moves the Carolina Panthers made. The Panthers obviously made a splash in the Free Agency and have been on numerous lists as having the best off-season possible. The Panthers made some great moves, and some questionable moves. Ultimately, the impact of this off-season should directly correlate to more wins.

Join me after the break as I grade a few of the moves the Panthers have made this year. Also, I’ll apologize in advance if I anger anyone with what I say. (more…)

Five fantasy football questions answered about the Panthers

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:04:33 +0000

Recently I answered a few questions for Razzball, a fantasy football website, about the outlook of the Carolina Panthers offense this season. We are looking to work along with this site down the road to provide some fantasy football advice for everyone on here so this is hopefully a good beginning between the two sites. Most of these questions were more fantasy related in terms of players values and such but I though I would share the first two questions and answers I did for the site and you can find the rest of the questions and answers here.

1. The Panthers offense was an utter disaster last season scoring a horrendous 12.3 points per game, 4.6 points behind the 31st worst Cleveland Browns. It’s hard to get excited about any Panthers player fantasy-wise this season, but Carolina did bring back DeAngelo Williams to start alongside Jonathan Stewart in their dynamic backfield. Even with numerous 8 in the box defensive looks and no certainty at quarterback, do you see the running game revitalizing in 2011?

I think the running game will improve this season. I think last season was a product of zero passing game and also the most predictable offense you could ever imagine in John Fox’s last season. No matter who is starting, whether it be Cam Newton or Jimmy Clausen, the passing game will be better with a revitalized Steve Smith and new tight end additions Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen. These guys have to be covered and should help improve the passing game, which will enviably improve the running game. Teams won’t be able to stack 9-10 guys in the box and get away with it like they did last season. (more…)

Expect a bit of trickery this season

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:31:16 +0000

Courtesy of the Winston-Salem Journal

Yes it is only the fifth day of training camp, but man it sounds like the offense is doing a bunch of different things that you would have never have seen, and I mean ever in one hundred million years, under the John Fox offense of run, run, pass.

But Fox is gone and some players like DeAngelo Williams seem excited that the offense is opening up.

“The ‘is what it is’ is no more. It’s time to go,” Williams said Sunday to the Charlotte Observer

It seems as though head coach Ron Rivera is a bit more open minded when it comes to offensive packages. So far, the Panthers have been practicing a couple different plays, including a reverse, double reverse and wait for it…… an option with Cam Newton leading the charge. (more…)