Carolina Panthers:             

2013 RECORD: 12-4  
2012  RECORD: 7-9   
2011 RECORD: 6-10   
2010 RECORD: 2-14   

TEAM OVERVIEW: Carolina started 1-3 in 2013 and the GM was openly courting future coaching candidates to replace Ron Rivera at that point. Fast forward to January, where at 5-1 odds (thanks), Ron Rivera was winning the NFL coach of the year award thanks to an 11-1 finish. Good for Rivera, who overcame some rather horrible drafting decisions from the previous GM, who was fired DURING the ’12 season. 

Meanwhile, Cam Newton has evolved not only as a top-ten QB but also as a maturing leader of a team on the rise. Can these Panthers continue to improve? Maybe, but the pass D needs a major overhaul and the collective corps of WR’s needs an upgrade. Can second-year GM Dave Gettleman fill in the missing pieces during the ’14 draft?  

KEY STATS: The Panthers doubled up on their opponents in TD’s 42 to 21, aided by a +11 turnover ratio. Carolina was 2nd in points allowed. Other great stats include the No. 1 sack D at 60, the No. 2 run D at 87 yards per game, the No. 2 total D allowing 3.1 per game and a tied 3rd in allowing just 17 pass TD’s. Two areas need immediate attention. The total offense was 26th, at 317 per game. The pass D was awful at 66.6 percent, about the same as ‘12’s 66.8%. Carolina will not get any better until that number improves.

2013 DRAFT REVIEW: Carolina GM Gettleman’s background (NYG) told us that Carolina would target DL in this draft. They double-dipped at DL and have to feel good about Lotulelei and Short’s performances, although Short was a bit lower rated. OG Kugbila was on IR all year. As noted below, Klein is just a great 100 percent effort guy. Barner didn’t deliver as a rookie. As noted last year, I liked the after draft pick up of rated safety Lester from Alabama. He played in 12 games and started four, with 21 tackles and 3 picks. Free agency netted them WR/PR Ginn and safety Mitchell. They contributed but better players are needed. 

1-14, DT Lotulelei: Strong and versatile, a pure run stopper who had 16 starts and 43 tackles

2-44, DT Short: Boom or bust guy who can be an interior sack guy. Streaky, Nice 30-1.5 debut.

4-108: OG Kugbila: Valdosta state won Title! A project who was taken a bit too early. On IR as rookie.

5-148, LB Klein: Remember Zack Thomas!  Klein’s the same player. Won’t cover today’s NFL TE’s.

6-182, RB Barner: Finesse RB with high average. Can’t run inside. Limited action as rookie. 

2012 DRAFT REVISITED: LB Kuechly may look like an accountant but his work on the field is amazing. He has 320 total NFL tackles and quite a number of game saving plays. The rest of the draftees have mixed reviews. OG Silatolu started 15 games as a rookie but went on IR with a torn ACL in October ’13. DE Alexander has 33 tackles in two years and like I said when drafted, brings only rotational value. WR Adams was waived during the ’12 season. CB Norman had just four tackles in seven games, a year after this decently rated 5th round choice had 12 starts and 73 tackles. He fell completely out of favor. NR Punter Nortman greatly improved in ’13. NR Safety Campbell was waived early in ’13.

TOP STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT: Cam Newton brings that extra run dimension to the team, making the overall backfield play the strength.  Maybe things will change, but the pass D% is clearly the weak link right now.

FREE AGENCY ANALYSIS AND STAFF NOTES: So far, so bad! Every Carolina Panther who caught a pass in ’13 is gone! Stud LT Jordan Gross retired, joined by OG Hangartner. A pair of serviceable DB’s, Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell also depart. For most teams these DB’s are replaceable but here the DB talent was already rail thin. LB D.J. Smith and rotational DB’s Menzie, Cason and Harper were the only notable additions until Carolina signed WR Cotchery.

2014 DRAFT NEEDS: Draft Needs as of March 20th.  Multiple WR’s, OT and maybe 1-2 other OL, 2 starting DB’s, young LB, RB, No. 2 TE, new return specialist.  Carolina’s WR crops were gutted. My recommendation as of 3/20 would be to sign Sidney Rice, draft OSU’s Brandon Cooks in round #1 and hope a draft dropper like Penn State’s Robinson is available for a trade up early in round three.  LT is now a critical need. If the Panthers lose OG Wharton then the situation gets even more critical.  The hope is that recent DB draftees Josh Thomas, along with undrafted but rated safety Robert Lester become solid players. The reality is Carolina has major issues in the secondary! LB Kuechly is amazing, and Thomas Davis is a medical miracle, but youth needs to be added as Davis can’t be completely counted upon to stay 100% healthy. How long can the old guys at RB hold up? Carolina could use a more useful back-up TE. Someone needs to replace Ginn as the primary return man. In summary, the needs are fairly major for a team that just went 12-4!