NFC SOUTH PANTHERS 2014 STRENGTHS: • Defensive front seven, dynamic quarterback, consistent kicking game Panthers Offense CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/GETTY IMAGES SPORT Carolina Panthers fans only thought their team was offensively challenged last season, when the team finished 18th in scoring, 29th in passing and 26th in total offense—they did finish 11th in rushing. Heading into 2014, they may want to scale down offensive expectations, as there could be a drop-off in firepower, especially by air. There is good news in that fourth-year QB Cam Newton finally got his left ankle surgically repaired and has two good wheels for the first time since the middle of last season, or since the end of his lone season as an Auburn Tiger, depending on who you ask. Newton will run better, better than the guys who are paid to do so, veterans DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. While healthy, both are a year older and didn’t really move the chains last season, with neither hitting 1,000 yards. Williams came closest with 843 yards, 11th in the NFC, while Stewart chipped in just 180. Third down was good for the Panthers, as they ranked second in the conference and fourth in the NFL with a 43.8 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Offensive line hole at left tackle, unproven wide receivers, shaky secondary CAROLINA percent conversion rate, but that, too, may change this year, as three of the team’s top four receivers from 2013 are gone. Tops among the trio is locker room leader and lightning rod Steve Smith. Newton still has his go-to TE Greg Olsen, who led the team with 73 catches, 816 yards, and 6 TDs. Olsen will be Newton’s security blanket as he builds chemistry with top draft pick Kelvin Benjamin and veteran free agent pickups Jason Avant (38, 447, 2 with Philadelphia), Jerricho Cotchery (46, 602, 10 with Pittsburgh) and Tiquan Underwood (24, 440, 4 with Tampa Bay), all of whom ranked fourth in catches on their 2013 teams. Up front, the retirement of Pro Bowler and lifetime Panther Jordan Gross puts the entire front in flux. Byron Bell, who struggled some at right tackle, is slotted to move into Gross’ left tackle spot. Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil is the rock in the middle, but both guard spots could be questionable, with third-round pick Trai Turner seeing the field a good bit. Tight End Ed Dickson, signed as a free agent, could lead to more two-tight-end sets and will nicely complement Olsen. Offensive Player to Watch At 6-5, 240 pounds, Kelvin Benjamin was too big and too strong for anyone to cover last season. He was the big target for Heisman winner Jameis Winston and National Champion Florida State, pulling in 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 TDs, including the game-winner with 13 seconds left in the BCS Championship Game to beat Auburn. Benjamin is not a blazer but has deceptive speed and even when he can’t break free can use his tremendous athleticism, size, 83-inch wingspan and strong hands to pull balls in. Panthers Defense The defense, especially the front seven, was the main reason the Panthers turned around a 1-3 start, winning 11 of their final 12 games to finish 12-4 and match the single-season franchise record for wins. The unit held opponents to 20-or-fewer points 11 times in those 12 games, winning all 11 games, and grudgingly Cam Newton
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