Panthers Look Strange

August 26, 2010

No matter what happens during the 2010 season, this will be a strange season for the Carolina Panthers, win or lose.

Strange in that longtime quarterback Jake Delhomme is gone. Strange in that star defensive end Julius Peppers is no longer around either, off to the riches of free agency. Strange in that it looks like head coach John Fox will be leaving the franchise after nine years. Fox is in the final year of his contact and there are no talks for an extension on the horizon either. So win or lose, it looks like Fox is gone.

If he wins with this young Panthers team, he might be able to name his number with a new team and pick his team. If the Panthers struggle, he has got too good a resume not to get a top job again. There is already talk Fox would be the top target of the Cleveland Browns. Some say that job will be his once the Browns end the Eric Mangini tenure after this season. There’s also speculation that if Tom Coughlin is let go in New York, that would be the job Fox would most want. He was defensive coordinator there before becoming the Panthers coach.

Fox has a great deal of work ahead of him to make the 2010 Panthers team a playoff contender. The Panthers indeed are a team in transition. Since Fox arrived in Charlotte, the Panthers have been a primitive passing team that focuses on the run and plays good defense.

Photo: Coach John Fox

That will likely not change in 2010 though it would not hurt to establish a passing game. After all, isn’t the running game supposed to set up the pass? Carolina has a great 1-2 running combo in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and a good offensive line, so the running part makes sense. Matt Moore hopes that Williams and Stewart excel to open up passing lanes.

Moore takes over as the starter at quarterback for Delhomme. In five starts last season in place of Delhomme, he flashed some talent, winning four games and throwing eight touchdown passes against only one interception. He helped the Panthers finish 8-8. But it’s a lot different when you are the guy, rather than a late-season fill-in that teams might not know that well.

While Moore is looking over opposing defenses, he also will be looking over his shoulder. It can’t be too comforting for Moore to know the Panthers’ long-term answer at quarterback might be rookie Jimmy Clausen, whom they picked in the second round last April. Moore is playing under a one-year contract for just over $3 million, so, like Fox, he most likely is auditioning for another team. Unless Moore goes crazy and the Panthers go deep into the playoffs, Clausen should take over next year.

Photo: The Panther's Matt Moore

It was thought that replacing Peppers would be more difficult than finding a quarterback. But I want you to keep an eye on second-year player Everette Brown. He had two sacks against the Jets last weekend. Besides, Fox has always had an above average defense since taking over the Panthers.

So that means the Panthers’ success will be decided again by the passing game. If it works, they can be a wild-card team. If it doesn’t, they could be fortunate to get to five victories.

Shaq To The Celtics

Somewhat lost within sports headlines this past month was the announcement that Shaq and Boston Celtics agreed on a one-year contract for this upcoming season. I have to admit, I did not see this one coming. For either side.

Does Boston not understand that O’Neal has brought the last two teams he has played on, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns, down? Both franchises were in better shape prior to Shaq’s arrival than they were when he left them. And it did not take long for either franchise to come to that conclusion as Shaq lasted one full season with each team.

Does Shaq not understand that former Los Angeles Lakers greats do not suit up late in their careers for the hated Boston Celtics? Why would Shaq come back for a measly $1.3 million? A man who has made close to $300 million in basketball. Word has it that Shaq did not like how his nemesis, Kobe Bryant, acted after winning last season’s championship. Apparently, Kobe was very vocal about how he now has one more title, five, than Shaq. If you remember, Bryant let everyone know how much he enjoyed passing Shaq in the ring department. And he did it loudly to every media outlet that would listen.

I think Kobe’s act pissed Shaq off to the point that he’s getting his competitive juices flowing for the first time in years. And I think he realized Boston was his best chance to tie Kobe at five. I think he will be on a one-year mission. Remember, these two don’t like each other. If we get a rematch in the NBA Finals next year, look out. Of course, LeBron and the Miami Heat may have something to say about that happening.