By John Sarianides
The Carolina Panthers went 15-1 and made it to Super Bowl 50 in 2015. They followed that up by going 6-10 last season. It is hard to figure out why Carolina regressed so much considering there weren’t many changes to the roster.
Changes were made to the roster this off-season. Thanks to the infusion of some young talent on offense, an improved offensive line and the addition of a couple of veterans on defense, the Panthers should bounce back and contend for a playoff spot in the highly competitive NFC.
Cam Newton had a monster season in 2015 statistically but he took a step back last season. In fairness to Newton, he was worn down, the offensive line struggled and Carolina couldn’t effectively run the football. Newton should rebound thanks to an improved offensive line and the addition of rookie running back Christian McCaffery who gives the Panthers a dynamic weapon out of the backfield and in the slot.
McCaffety along with fellow rookie Curtis Samuel will complement a talented skill group that features veteran tight end Greg Olson, running back Jonathan Stewart and wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess. The skill is certainly in place for Carolina to bounce back offensively in 2017.
Defensively, the Panthers played most of last season without star middle linebacker Luke Kuechly would battled concussion issues. Kuechly is back and healthy. That should bolster one of football’s best front seven’s. The return of Julius Peppers should add some juice to a pass rush that was ineffective last season.
The Panthers were young in the secondary last season but now cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley have a year of experience under their belts. The additions of veteran corner Captain Munnerlyn and safety Mike Adams should aide the development of this unit.
Here three keys for the 2017 Panthers.
1. Newton Must Bounce Back: Newton didn’t have a terrible season in 2016, he just didn’t live up to his standards and the Panthers struggled offensively as a result.
Newton is battling a shoulder issue so the Panthers are taking it easy with him this summer. Assuming he’s healthy, Newton needs to have a bounce back season and be the catalyst for the Panthers turnaround.
2. Improved O-Line: The Panthers offensive line was a disaster in 2016. Thanks to injuries and inconsistent play, Carolina struggled in the trenches offensively. The addition of veteran left tackle Matt Kalil and rookie Taylor Moten should plug some of the holes that were exposed last season.
3. The Defense Needs to Get Its Swagger Back: The Panthers finished 6th in total in 2015. They finished 21st in total defense last season. That is a big drop. If Carolina is going to turn things around and get back to the playoffs, it is going to be on the strength of their defense. This unit must recapture their swagger from two years ago.
In the End: On paper, Carolina is as talented, if not more talented than they were two years ago. If Newton is healthy and returns to form and the defense plays at an elite level again, this team will make the playoffs in 2017.