Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2015 regular season. Today, the Carolina Panthers.
2014 in a nutshell: The Panthers start horribly, get hot late thanks to rejuvenated play on defense and sneak into the playoffs despite a losing record in the terrible NFC South. Then they even manage to win a postseason game after running into the depleted Cardinals in the wild-card round.
Why 2015 could be different: Quarterback Cam Newton is healthy and happy, shiny new contract in tow. A strong young defense should only get better after killing it late last season, especially with first-round pick Shaq Thompson ready to contribute at linebacker.
Major additions: Thompson and that’s about it. Guess a team that went 5-1 beyond the month of November is feeling pretty good about its chances.
Major losses: Offensive tackle Byron Bell left as a free agent, but Bell was graded by Pro Football Focus as the second-worst qualified player in the league at that position. Dude took eight penalties and gave up nine sacks. DeAngelo Williams is also gone, but Jonathan Stewart was a stud down the stretch and they also have Fozzy Whittaker.
Breakout watch: The obvious choice is second-year freak-of-nature receiver Kelvin Benjamin, but also keep an eye on the quickly-improving Josh Norman at cornerback. Late last year, the 2012 fifth-rounder looked like a Pro Bowler.
Position to watch: Norman and Bene’ Benwikere were lights-out at both corner positions down the stretch last year, but neither guy has much of a sample size. They’ve also got the 34-year-old Charles Tillman and a dude named Melvin White who quietly started seven games last year.
Prediction: They’re better than 7-9-1 and that division remains weak. With Newton and Greg Olsen and that much talent on both sides of the ball, they’ll win 10 games and push for another division title.
