After reading ESPN today I am stoked

• Carolina Panthers
Best move: Spending $37 million over six years for cornerback Ken Lucas may sound like a costly investment, but that move enabled the Panthers to complete a two-year upgrade of their secondary. Remember Ricky Manning Jr., who excelled down the stretch in Carolina's Super Bowl run? He is now the No. 3 cornerback behind Lucas and Chris Gamble, who adjusted to the NFL faster than expected as a rookie starter. Lucas comes from Seattle following his best pro season. He intercepted six passes and finally gained enough confidence to play at a Pro Bowl level. Everyone knows how talented the Panthers' defensive line is. The front four is considered the best in the NFL. Matching better coverage in the secondary along with the pressure up front from Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers, it will be hard for teams to beat the Panthers through the air.

Biggest surprise: No one knows for sure how the Panthers will use former Packers guard Mike Wahle. They signed him for his versatility, but the surprise seems to be that they will use him at guard. Paying $5.4 million a year for a guard is a lot of money. For now, the plan seems to be putting Travelle Wharton at left tackle and moving Jordan Gross from left tackle to right tackle. Last year's training camp retirement of right tackle Adam Meadows created a problem along the offensive line that never got better. The Panthers needed to make a bold move to get an additional lineman and Wahle was their man. He has the ability to play left or right tackle. If Wharton does well at left tackle, the Panthers will be solid up front. Gross could be a Pro Bowler at right tackle. Because the Panthers are a running team, they should improve running to the right.

Bottom line: The Panthers fought through injuries last year and won six of their last eight games to finish at 7-9. The key to the season will be how good they are in the backfield. DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis are coming off bad injuries. Even now, the Panthers aren't certain what they have in Davis, which is why they drafted Eric Shelton in the second round. The Panthers win when they are successful running the ball. Nick Goings' hot finish allowed the Panthers to win down the stretch. The biggest hole right now is at wide receiver after Muhsin Muhammad signed with the Chicago Bears. Keary Colbert caught 47 passes and averaged 16 yards a catch and earned a chance to get a starting job. But the Panthers still need an insurance policy and continue to search for a veteran wide receiver. Of course, the Panthers can get by without that receiver as long as their running game clicks.

 

Lets all hope and pray the running game "clicks"

 

Hopefully we will add a guy before camp or Carter will somehow get healthy.

 

I like what I've heard so far this year about Carter (other than the injuries, obviously). If by some miracle he can stay healthy, I think he could really contribute.

 

Does this mean you'll stay to the the end of the games now?

 

What concerns me is that the coaches say they are ok w/ Carter being the 3rd wr.

These are the same people that said we would be ok on the oline w/ Willig

 

no... they said they've been pleasently surprised with his play. Delhomme said they will be fine with Carter.

 

Think the Bears would trade us Moose for Carter?:bananalam