September 9, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Joe Adams (15) runs during the kick off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

People often overlook the importance of special teams, but when your offense and defense are sputtering, special teams can make all the difference. Field position, missed points, it all comes from special teams. We Panthers fans know just how true this can be as we’ve watched time and time again as our opponents take off down the sideline for another punt return or kick return TD. Likewise, we haven’t seen those big plays come from our own special teams returners and it often results in poor starting field position, or even turnovers if you’re last name is Edwards or Adams. But if you look at teams like the San Francisco 49ers you’ll see just how big a role special teams plays. Last year the Niners had one of the best punter and kicker combinations in the league which took them to the brink of the Super Bowl, and they seemed to be in control until a costly fumbled punt return gave the ball back to Eli, who did what he does best.

The Panthers have had their share of coverage and return issues and as a result fired Special Teams coordinator Brian Murphy, making way for Coach Rivera’s former team mate at Cal, Richard Rodgers. Rodgers was hired over the past offseason as an assistant to Murphy but with no improvements, changes were necessary. Rodgers looks to keep things simple with a “Controlled. Intense. Aggressive.” approach that should help contain opponents and give our defense a better chance to make stops deep in opponent territory.

In other news, Armanti Edwards’s injury coupled with the loss of Pilares makes room for rookie Joe Adams to make up for lost fumbles earlier in the season. We’ve all seen what Adams can do on returns, just search Joe Adams punt on Youtube and see what he did against Tennessee. That video alone has over 350,000 views (and can be viewed below). We need to control the field position battle much better if we are going to stand a chance while our offense and defense continue to work out their own issues. At least this gives us a fighting chance.

This weekend the Panthers play conference rivals the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I will be at Bank of America Stadium again this weekend, and I’m just ecstatic. Not only do I have a gut feeling that the Panthers have a shot at winning, I have a gut feeling that they might actually win this matchup. I don’t know what it is that makes me feel like we’re going to win, I just do. The Panthers will see their revenge though, and hopefully embarrass the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A few things happened over the past week that could affect the Panthers coming into this matchup. We all know that Special Teams Coordinator Brian Murphy was fired this week, and his assistant will be replacing him for the time being. Besides the firing of Brian Murphy, a few things also happened as well. The Panthers signed veteran Offensive Lineman Jeremy Bridges. Bridges was a former Panther who was let go a few seasons back, but has now returned to bring support to our struggling O-Line. As the time seems right for Bridges, it doesn’t seem to be panning out that way for fourth string Wide Receiver Armanti Edwards. Edwards sat out during Thursday’s practice with a groin injury he suffered during the previous day’s practice.

Jun 1, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Carolina Panthers wide receiver Joe Adams walks to the practice field for organized training activities at the team

Though it’s terrible for Armanti to injure himself after he just now started getting more playing time, it opens a gate for unproven rookie wide out Joe Adams. Adams, who has sat every game since he fumbled the ball twice against the New York Giants in week three, might get his chance to redeem himself against the Buccaneers, if Armanti’s injury is more serious than coaches currently believe. Ron Rivera told the Official Panthers website that, “I have really tried to pay close attention to (Joe), and he’s doing a lot of work, he’s put his nose to the grindstone,” Rivera said. “He’s stayed after practice and he’s been very diligent catching (punts).” Armanti handled the kickoff returns and not the punt returns, but his absence would open up room for Joe. As for the kickoff returns David Gettis and Adams will both be considered if Armanti is out for the game.

That’s great news for the young receiver whose chances are going to be few and far between in the first half of this season. I personally cannot wait for the game this weekend, a game where we should see more action through the air, since the Buccaneers have the worst Pass Defense in the league. Fantasy owners, start Brandon LaFell…

Go Panthers!!!

Ironically, other than his back, it’s Garrard’s first injury at 34. What it means is Matt Moore and rookie Ryan Tannehill will split time…Moore probably with the first team and Tannehill with the second.

August 10, 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass during the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sun Life Stadium. Tampa Bay won the game 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

On the Miami side, Tannehill is the most glaring player to keep an eye on. I’ve seen him practice and throw, and the guy’s the Real Deal, folks. His style is in stark contrast to that of Chad Henne, the Michigan product who was released after a four-year stint trying to become their franchise QB. Henne became known as “Checkdown Chad,” and similar rumblings are coming out of Arizona about Kolb and Skelton.

Not so with Tannehill.

He’s not afraid to fit throws in tight windows, has a very quick release and strong arm, can run, can throw ON the run, and is accurate. I had been saying from day one that Tannehill would be their regular-season opening day QB and Garrard’s injury only helps his chances.

With the release of Chad Johnson last week, the Dolphins are without a go-to guy at the WR position. They’re using the preseason to see who steps up and there are two guys to watch here in particular:

First is #81, Chris Hogan. Hogan is an undrafted free agent from football powerhouse Monmouth College and has earned the nickname “7/11″ from teammate Reggie Bush, and the name has caught on. Why? He’s “always open.” Miami QBs would be foolish not to look for him more in this game.

The flip side is #18 Roberto Wallace. He has the size, speed, and physical skills that Hogan lacks, but hasn’t been able to get open much in camp. By contrast, Wallace has earned the nickname “Ankle Weights Wallace” – not exactly flattering for someone in his position and with his god-given ability, but the competition can only help. We’ll see if that starts translating on the field.

See who starts the game covering Steve Smith. Miami CB Vontae Davis (#21), San Francisco’s star TE Vernon Davis’ younger brother, is by far the most physically gifted corner the Dolphins have and is probably most able to cover Smith but look to see if ANOTHER Smith – Sean Smith (#24) – is covering him. If it’s Smith-on-Smith, then Davis still hasn’t worked his way back up the depth chart. He arrived in camp out of shape and for a while he lost his job to Sean, so the Dolphins are challenging his dedication to his craft and making him play his way back in. He has supposedly worked hard on his endurance and tomorrow’s game should help gauge his progress.

Louis Murphy, #83, caught two passes in his first performance as a Panther and looks to be everything the team thought they were getting and more when they picked him up from the Raiders. The Panthers desperately need a #2 receiver to take some pressure off of Steve Smith. If he keeps playing like he did last week, he could well be in the starting lineup opening day.

Aug 11, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Carolina Panthers wide receiver Louis Murphy (83) stands on the sidelines during the second half against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium. The Texans defeated the Panthers 26-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

As with Miami’s corners, watch the Carolina defenders trying to cover. With 2011 draft pick Brandon Hogan nursing still another injury, look for 2012 5th-round pick Josh Norman, #24, and track his progress. Without some pressure from the front seven, no secondary can cover forever so the two are intertwined. Norman has a chance to make an impression and should see the field quite a bit.

Staying with Carolina’s defense, 5th-yr Panther Jordan Senn, #57, played a heck of a game last week, leading the team in tackles with 10. He was all over the field making plays, as was second-leading tackler Kenny Onatolu, #56. Onatolu also had a sack in the contest.

The linebackers are by far the strength of the Panthers’ defense, the team being long on both talent and depth. With Luke Kuechly’s arrival from play one, their starters are set. With the injuries they suffered at the position last year, I would think that the reserves will see most of the action tomorrow night. Jon Beason was held out of last week’s game with a strained leg muscle and Rivera wanted to take no chances.

Other than Norman on the defense, the other rookie to watch is #90 Frank Alexander. Alexander was traded up for in the fourth round and played pretty well against the run last week but he really needs to show some pass rushing ability. None of that surfaced last week, so it’s important to see how he progresses with another week of camp under his belt. Don’t expect anything out of him if he’s going up against perennial pro-bowler LT Jake Long, but I doubt Long will play much for Miami in this game.

Conversely, #93 Antwan Applewhite and #98, Thomas Keiser each had a couple of tackles and a sack. Applewhite has 5.5 career sacks in 5 years, so I wouldn’t read much into one preseason game. At least he got noticed with a strong performance. Keiser was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and could be developing into the pass rusher the Panthers need. Last week’s play may have earned him some more playing time to evaluate his progress and should help light a fire under Alexander as the battle heats up. So far, Alexander appears to be better against the run, so it’s possible Rivera may use Keiser in situational substitutions on some passing downs. It’s an interesting and unpublicized competition going on that die-hard fans will want to follow.

Keep an eye on the entire interior defensive line for Carolina especially early on. They had their woes stopping the run last season and didn’t look any better last week against the Texans, save for their goal-line stand on the first Texans possession. Watch those tackles on any inside running play that the Dolphins throw out there.

One interesting combination to watch, should they ever be on the field together, is Cam Newton and #18 Darvin Adams. Like Newton, Adams is a second-year pro out of Auburn and was Newton’s main target during their BCS national title season. With a year of learning under his belt and his history with Newton, be watchful and see if the two hook up any. Probably not, since Adams is down the depth chart, but if you do see his number on the field while Cam is taking the snaps, it bears keeping in mind.

As for the special teams, Carolina return specialist Joe Adams, #15, showed us last week why he won the Johnny Rogers Award last year as college football’s best return man. He had one return on the night, which undoubtedly had Panthers’ coaching going “NO NO NO NO NO…YES!” on a 34 yard return where he probably ran more like 80 in actual yards in going from one sideline, bowing back to lose some yardage, then turned the corner to pick up those 34 yards.

Aug 11, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Carolina Panthers wide receiver Joe Adams (15) returns a punt during the second half against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium. The Texans defeated the Panthers 26-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

On any punt that he can’t return this week, however, look for him to be NOWHERE NEAR THE BALL. Last week, he decided not to field a punt that landed close to the sideline and awkwardly and narrowly missed touching it as it bounced. I’m sure his special teams coordinator, Brian Murphy, had a few words with him about it after the play and again in the film room this week. We’ll see if Adams is retaining those tidbits this week.

It might not be sexy, but there’s a battle of punters in Carolina. 6th-round pick Brad Nortman out-punted Nick Harris 49.7 to 44.7 – a five-yard average per punt difference, but Harris downed one inside the 20, which skewed the numbers on 3 punts apiece. The fact that a punter was drafted at all means the Carolina brass felt they needed to improve the position or that Nortman has some ability – either leg strength, coffin-corner accuracy, or both – that they coveted. Preseason games are where you look to see how the battle works itself out under pressure situations. Nortman had a 57-yard effort from his own endzone last week that was fair-caught. That’s why you use an actual draft pick on a punter right there instead of sorting through the heap of undrafted free agents after the draft.

Overall, on the Panthers’ side, it’s all about the pass rush and stopping the run.