3 Reasons Why This Year Will Be Different For Carolina Panthers
By Joshua Dows
The Carolina Panthers are out to change the status quo.
We are 2 weeks into the 2018 football NFL season and all NFL teams come into the year feeling like this is the year. After months of waiting on revenge (unless your the Eagles) countless workouts, film studies, and off season additions or subtractions, the time is finally here. Let’s see if it all paid off. For many just making the playoffs or winning a playoff game is enough to keep your fans optimistic, but not in Charlotte, NC. Not this year.
REASON 1
This year the Carolina Panthers did a complete makeover, from top to bottom. Yes, that even includes a new owner. David Tepper is the new owner of the Panthers and he is bringing a new energy to the city. Jerry Richardson the former owner was known to be a very firm guy and many players felt like they couldn’t be themselves. We heard stories of how Richardson told Cam he couldn’t get tattoos if he drafted him with the number 1 pick. Many players felt last year they couldn’t express themselves the way they wanted to during the anthem protest and Richardson was the only NFL owner who kept the NFL logo in the middle of the field.
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Tepper has changed most of that. The Carolina Panthers logo is now represented at the 50 yard line, the Carolina Panthers will be wearing black pants with there blue uniforms this season, something Richardson never approved, there is even talks of a new helmet at some point. Ron Rivera has even discussed how training camp was much more loose this year. So it’s clear, the culture is changing in the Carolina’s. This team wants to have fun, more like the 2015″Dab” season, but not at the expense of winning and winning at the highest level.
Reason 2
The defense looks to be stronger than ever and that says a lot. Even though Kuechly got banged up in the week 1 win vs the Dallas Cowboys and Thomas Davis started the season on a 4 game suspension, the group looks strong. The addition of Dontari Poe at DT, Dontae Jackson at DB who was drafted in the 2nd round to strengthen the secondary, and getting Julius Peppers to come back for at least one more year excites this team. They look fast, they look hungry, and they look like they have a point to prove.
Reason 3
Cam Newton is a big QB with a big arm. He has had a known problem with over throwing guys and throwing high. Cam Newton’s best years came with Steve Smith a future HOF WR with tons of Speed and his years with Ted Ginn. Yes,Ted Ginn who had Just 44 catches in 2015 but had 10 TD’s! He avg 16.8 yards per catch. See Cam plays better with speedsters who he can’t over throw, and with there number 1 pick in this years draft they took D.J. Moore. The speed demon out of Maryland who can burn secondaries in the blink of a eye. Moore has been compared to Steve Smith, in fact Steve Smith himself said on draft night this is the first guy they have taken that can replace him. Moore combined with the speedy MCcaffery at RB, will give Cam plenty of speed and expect Chris Samuel to return soon to add even more speed, and there’s more! Carolina signed the speedy vet Tory Smith this offseason as well. Clearly Norv Turner sees what I see in order to succeed Cam needs speed! And does he have it now.
Next. Turner concussion worrisome for fans. dark
The Carolina Panthers take there talents to Atlanta this Sunday to take on the Falcons which is always a very interesting. Julio has had a 300 yard game on the Panthers and the Falcons gave the Panthers there only lost of the season in 2015 in Atlanta. Make sure you get your popcorn ready.