But that is why there is training camp, and that is why the Panthers play the games
The Panthers jerseys will have to overcome youth, but they may have a better team than many believe. The Panthers are definitely hoping that is the case.
The NFL is a game of field position, and returner Edwards has the ability to give the Panthers a boost like Devin Hester does for the Chicago Bears.
Moreover, the special teams should improve from last year. The Panthers added Wallace Wright, Marcus Hudson, Aaron Francisco and rookie Armanti Edwards this offseason.
The passing game was ranked No. 27, but the Panthers have Steve Smith jerseys. He is still a top 10 receiver in the NFL, and he is capable of having six or seven big games.
In addition, the Carolina running game and special teams should be able to carry the team until the passing game and defense catch up. There isn't a team in the league that has a better running game than Carolina.
There will be some young players hitting the rookie wall. But many of the Panthers' first-year starters are not rookies, so that logic doesn't apply.
Despite the lack of game experience, the Panthers have a lot to look forward too. When many teams peek during the middle of the season the Panthers' young players should have fresher legs at the end of the year.
But he is not the only player who has something to prove. Several first-time starters such as fullback Tony Fiammetta, strong safety Sherrod Martin, defensive tackle Tank Tyler and defensive end Charles Johnson will get tested like Moore.
The obvious example of this is new starting quarterback Matt Moore, who is 6-2 as a starter. He will have a chance to improve on that record in meaningful games.
That is normally not a big deal. Thus, the Panthers are different because most of the new starters have only played when the team was eliminated from the playoffs.
This training camp is more important than just getting in game shape, learning new plays and developing team chemistry. Fox and the rest of the coaching staff have to use this camp to get game ready more than ever. The Panthers are looking at as many as eight or nine new starters.
Now, Fox and the rest of the coaching staff have to coach at a much higher level than ever before. The veterans also have to lead and play at a higher level until the younger players learn the ropes.
Carolina doesn't have the luxury of a veteran heavy roster because many of the Panthers backups don't have a lot of game experience. In the past, the Panthers would let a young player such as receiver Dwayne Jarrett learn from a veteran like Muhsin Muhammad.
Those days are long gone.
In recent history, the Panthers have never depended on so many first-time starters. Four years ago, many sports publications and NFL experts believed the new Panthers jerseys
would win the Super Bowl. In 2008, the team went 12-5 and had a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Unlike previous years, the Panthers are traveling a different path to reach their goals.
Fox's faith has more to do with what happens on Sundays than what begins this week in South Carolina. But training camp has to go well if Carolina expects to have a successful season.
He knows winning games are what is important and that management will not remember training camp at the end of the season. Fox, who is in the final year of his contract, knows that losing games could push the front office into moving in another direction that may lead to more turnover than this past offseason.
This is why when Fox was asked on the last day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) how comfortable he was with the Panthers heading to training camp, the coach said, "That is why we play the games."
Fox knows his answers will be based on how many games won this season, but training camp, which begins on Thursday in Spartanburg, is an excellent opportunity to prepare a young team to compete at a high level.
Carolina Panthers coach John Fox knows the questions concerning his young team will not get answered in training camp.
没有评论:
发表评论