2008 Carolina Panthers Season Preview

2008 Carolina Panthers preview from MadduxSports.com. The NFC South is a very difficult division to forecast on a year to year basis and the NFL lines makers often put up some soft numbers that sharp nfl handicappers pounce on. In 2008 be on the right side of games with the help of Maddux Sports handicapping team.

2008 Carolina Panthers Predictions
By Adam Barone

Rundown
The Panthers have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, so major changes were in order following a 7-9 2007 campaign.

Franchise mainstay DeShaun Foster was sent packing to make room for the eventual selection of Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart in the draft. Burner and former first round pick DeAngelo Williams should be a decent compliment to Stewart’s all-around style.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme played in only three games last season and had Tommy John surgery on his elbow. David Carr, Vinny Testaverde, and Matt Moore all did a great job of making Delhomme look good and the Panthers look bad in his absence. Delhomme is clearly the key to Carolina’s success this year.

There’s pressure on head coach John Fox and G.M. Marty Hurney to win this year, so they went out and made it quite obvious that they had no intension of watching the same personal have the same problems again in 2008.

Carr and Foster are gone, as are receivers Keary Colbert and Drew Carter, tackle Kris Jenkins, oft-injured middle linebacker Dan Morgan, defensive end Mike Rucker, and guard Mike Wahle.

Additions include receivers D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad, safety Terrance Holt, linebacker Landon Johnson, defensive tackle Ian Scott, running back LaBrandon Toefield, and defensive tackle Darwin Walker.

Jenkins, Morgan, Rucker, and Wahle will prove to be significant losses. However, Scott and Walker are more than capable lined up next to Julius Peppers. Second year linebacker John Beason had a fantastic rookie campaign, and should make everyone forget about Morgan, who was almost never on the field. If Delhomme can stay healthy, the offense is greatly improved, and Carolina has a great shot at winning the division. Expect a playoff berth and Fox and Hurney to keep their jobs.

Draft Analysis
Priorities in the draft included offensive playmakers, defensive end, and free safety. Holt later signed as a free agent and filled the hole at safety. Defensive end Tyler Brayton was also signed and no one was drafted at the position. There could be a hole opposite Peppers.

Stewart was seen by many as the draft’s best all-around back, despite concerns about his injured toe. Carolina also aggressively traded next year’s first round pick to Philadelphia in order to get Jeff Otah, an offensive tackle out of Pitt, at pick 19.

Well known Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, a tackling machine, went to the Panthers in the third round. He was seen by many as a first round talent and the best inside linebacker available. Pair him with Beason and the Panthers could have a star duo for years to come.

The Panthers had nine picks overall, giving them something of a new look for 2008.

After viewing the Carolina Panthers preview read up on the rest of the NFL Southern Division division teams including the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Saints.

Related Pages:
Panthers Official Site
NFL Gaming