I am sure you all at some point or another have heard a player refer to the phrase “ride the wave untill it crashes”. The problem with our Panthers it would seem, is that we can’t seem to even get off the beach. This team has certainly had its struggles in the last couple of seasons establishing any type of rhythm. They could not seem to find an identity or even attempt getting up on their boards. All that seemed to change the last few games of the season in 2012. After being tossed off of their boards throughout the season, with the hail mary nightmare against the Falcons or the CB collapse against the Bears, this team finally caught a nice wave and rode it into the offseason. The question now becomes: can they keep riding it into 2013.

The Panthers certainly have the talent to stay on the board this season. Dave Gettleman seems to have a strong sense of direction for this unit. The addition of Star and K.K. will definitely prove to be a good start. The secondary will continue to be a question mark until training camp gets underway. It’s hard to get a good idea of how much talent you truly have until the pads are on, and everything is full speed. The offense should be able to continue where they left off, and Shula I feel will certainly help to keep them balanced between the run/pass.

This team will most certainly have to have some things go their way this up and coming season. They will have to keep the penalties to a minimum and consistently put themselves in the best possible position. If the chemistry that is currently being established can carry over when it counts, this will be a big boost. This team has the fire power to do something special, they just have to make sure they stay on that wave they caught at the end of last season because as we all know, in the NFL, you will need to do more than just “hang ten”. If this team is to be successful, they will need to hang 40.

In the spirit of writing surfing articles about the Panthers; thanks for reading dudes. Please leave a comment and let us know if you think the Panthers can catch a big one this year or will they be pulled under.

For the past couple seasons there always seemed to be something keeping this team from coming all the way together. The lack of chemistry could have been the product of several things. Whether it was Cams inability to accept his role as the team’s leader while balancing his superstar status or Ron Rivera learning on the job, something was always creating waves and keeping the team segregated.

With the Panthers poised to start yet another season under the watch of Ron Rivera it would seem those waters are beginning to calm. Rivera has mentioned a couple of things during interviews that really tend to stand out. A while back he alluded to the fact that the vets were taking the rookies under their wing and showing them the ropes. Perhaps they are finally starting to understand that you are only as good as the guy next to you. His latest comment when referencing our star quarterback should leave Panther fans feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

“The nice thing that you see is the progression of our quarterback,” Rivera said. “I think Cam has done a really nice job. His rapport with the rest of the team has been really good.” Quote from Ron Rivera provided by panthers.com

This is the best news of the offseason Panthers fans. There is no denying that Cam has possessed the physical tools needed to lead this team since day one, however, this quote, provided by Rivera, provides us with some insight into the mental and emotional chemistry that is beginning to take shape with the Panthers.

I honestly have no issues with Cam being young and successful, however, I would like to see him put this team and the City of Charlotte before anything else. In todays NFL it takes that kind of commitment and more to be successful. I truly hope he is finally starting to understand the importance of team chemistry. Sometimes things just don’t come as natural as you would have hoped. Sometimes you have to work hard to put differences aside for the greater good of a common goal.

It all starts with Newton. If Newton sees the light he most certainly has the ability to tear down the currents and expose the rest of the team. Once this happens there will be no more excuses. This team has got the talent and with a good team chemistry to combine, the future could be very bright.

Now going into this season, the Panthers have added another Running Back to the roster, Kenjon Barner. Now I’m not saying that Barner is a threat to placement of Stewart or Williams, he just proves to be better than Poole and Smith, who were the other backs on the roster. So there could be some heat from Barner with the coming season, if he proves to be a pivotal player at the Running Back spot in the Pre-Season.

Williams’s biggest rival is basically himself. He seems to be the type of player who can get down on himself after a bad game and then let that affect him. I know I’m reading way too far into the situation and it could just be that he is becoming one of the older backs in the league, though he isn’t too old either, but that could be the reason his play last year was slipping. And for some reason I sort of saw Williams getting a sort of Julius Peppers syndrome, where he seemed not to be playing his best just to get out Carolina, I’m sure I’m the only one.

Dec 22, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) runs as /r29/ defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Stewart doesn’t really seem to be a point weakness either. Williams and Stewart have very different run styles. There was a reason while their nickname was, and forever will be, “Smash and Dash”. Williams is the type of runner to run around the outside and make people miss with his speed, the dash in the nickname, while Stewart is the type of player who runs up the middle finding holes, or creating them himself, the smash. The differences between them are somewhat astronomical and there should be no reason for either of them to be labeled the starter. They definitely work better together than against each other.

I think the best way for the Panthers to succeed is to do what they have done for the past few years, play both Stewart and Williams with equal amount of reps. Add in the addition of Tolbert last year, and the Panthers have one of the best backfields in the entire NFL. And with Kenjon Barner’s speed, there should be yet another reason for the Panthers to succeed in the NFL, especially in the backfield; I’m really excited to see how they play next year.

Those are my thoughts on the Running Back situation in Carolina, but what do you guys think? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.