Reasons to think the Panthers will get better

Jake - for whatever reason he always starts slow and then picks it up a couple notches about mid season

DW - he will get more playing time as he learns the offense and Foster wears down

Smitty - he missed all of the preseason and the first two games, he should get better as he plays more

Key - still developing chemistry with Jake

OL - no where to go but up. Wahle and Hartwig should get healthy. Young guys played better against N.O.

Jenkins - been out for two years will get better as the rust comes off

Kemo - big dissappointment so far but should improve as he gets more comfortable in our system.

Thomas Davis - all the talent you could want, needs to learn how to apply it.

Lucas - been playing injured should be much better when healed

Marshall - playing well for a rookie, should continue to improve

 

7-9

 

this nugget from the paper.

" After yielding 252 rushing yards to Atlanta in the opener, the Panthers surrendered 140 to Minnesota, 64 to Tampa Bay and 63 to the Saints."

 

Even the 140 looks a lot better if you just limit it to regulation.

 

Wahle isn't injured--he was sick one day.

But the OL will improve with Hartwig in the middle and the continued improvements of Bridges, Mathis, Montgomery, et al.

 

yeah, the two-fiddy rushing looks bad

Panthers center Hartwig ready to return
By PAT YASINSKAS
[email protected]

Carolina Panthers center Justin Hartwig, who has been out with a groin injury since the season opener, is expected to practice Wednesday, a source close to the situation said.

Hartwig has missed three games and his return to practice doesn't automatically mean he'll be in the lineup Sunday against Cleveland. But, if Hartwig can go through several practices without any setbacks, he'll likely move back into the starting job.

Second-year pro Geoff Hangartner has started the last three games at center

 

Hangartner has not been terrible but I think we were all looking for Hartwig to make an impact and be a clear upgrade on Mitchell. Hopefully that will still happen and we will develop the ability to run the ball well. If Bridges holds up at RT we have the potential to have a decent OL. I like the fact that Mathis, Hangartner and Montgomery are getting playing time. That shoudl help us down the road.

 

There is no way that we go 7-9.Overall this panthers team is better then last year panthers team.In this case we go 12-4 or 11-5 the way we play on sunday you can see that this panthers team can and should make the playoff and make a deep run in the playoff.

 

Another name....

Oh, my good imposter Dukie, or is it Dukey? You now have another nickname: "Pollyanna" or for those of a previous generation or two: "Doris Day".
Whatever, it would certainly be a pleasant thing if you are right.

 

I was being sarcastic, Dukesuckgounc