News - Sports

Saturday, Jul. 19, 2008

A need to look deeper

Panthers look to turn page on a new season as camp begins next weekend

CHARLOTTE -- When the Carolina Panthers come to training camp on Friday, they'll take the first step in fixing a two-year mess.

It won't be easy, as evidenced by a busy offseason in which they turned over huge numbers of players. But they made more splashes than ripples, meaning the core that was already around will be largely responsible for getting them back to the playoffs or onto a new course.

The players they signed were reminiscent of coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney's early offseasons, in which they added low-cost, high-potential guys. Then they drafted a personality, adding a physical runner and a huge run-blocking tackle in the first round.

That doesn't mean there aren't questions entering camp, and here are the first 10.

1. Will the real Julius please stand up?

Yes, they've made schematic changes, moving defensive end Julius Peppers back to his natural right side and shifting the defensive tackles to create more pressure up the middle.

But the real pressure is on Peppers to get back to being himself, and not the guy that played in his spot last year.

If Peppers can return to double-digit sack form (not the 2.5 of last year), all the other pieces will fall into place for a defense that's looking at minor tweaks elsewhere. If he can't, the lack of pass rush will create more problems for the young back seven that carried them in 2007.

The only person that honestly knows the problem last year isn't talking, and until he fixes it, the entire defense will be suspect. Fox's defense is built upon getting to quarterbacks, and if the foundation is weak, the rest of the house will be shaky.

2. How important is the bullpen in camp?

Crucial. Quarterback Jake Delhomme will be on a relatively tight pitch count in Spartanburg, especially on two-practice days.

The purpose is two-fold. It gives him a final chance to rest his right elbow, rebuilt in October. Also, it gives more first-team reps to backup Matt Moore, who impressed enough in his three-game starting stint to keep the brass from hiring a veteran backup or drafting one.

As with Peppers, Delhomme's the key to the offense reviving. When he's on, Steve Smith's better, and it gives the running game a better chance. So keeping him fresh for the games that matter -- while getting him the necessary work with new people -- will be a fine line for them to walk.

3. When will they find their five?

For years the Panthers have struggled to find an identity on their offensive line, which is harder to latch onto than decent personnel. They were an odd mish-mash of players in the last few, with finesse blockers trying to play power and big-legged guys trying to work on the move.

The mandate is clear, and the parts seems to match the philosophy. Now all they have to do is get them all working together.

Jordan Gross is back to left tackle next to Travelle Wharton, and they think that's a solid side. Second-year Ryan Kalil's being given the ball to snap, but the right side's more of a question. First-rounder Jeff Otah will start at tackle, but the guard spot's wide open between generic veteran Keydrick Vincent and reclamation project Toniu Fonoti. Either way, they'd be wise to pick one and move forward, giving the rookie a chance to familiarize himself with a partner.

4. How long before, or will, Stewart take over?

Sounds like first-round running back Jonathan Stewart is largely recovered from offseason toe surgery. Whether he's ready to practice fully remains to be seen.

Either way, his absence has opened the door for DeAngelo Williams to claim a starting job. Williams might be the incumbent, but it's Stewart who best matches Fox's philosophy. A thicker, physical runner, Stewart appears to be the best chance they have of replicating Stephen Davis circa 2003, and all they did was go to the Super Bowl that year.

They'll use them both, but it's hard to imagine Stewart not having more carries by December.

5. Youth and money, or experience?

There was a sense that when they signed linebacker Landon Johnson to their biggest offseason free-agent deal (not saying much, although it was three years, $10 million), he'd start. The thought was the versatile Johnson, along with Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, gave them a young, fast trio. But then they lined up in summer school, and not-young and not-all-that-fast Na'il Diggs was with the starters. The changes up front put more emphasis on the linebackers being in the right place, and Diggs always knows where to be.