The Panthers have lost 3rd string QB Brett Basanez for the season with a hand injury.  He was not playing too good this pre-season and was on the roster bubble before the injury happened.  He completed only 5 of 17 (29.4%) passes this pre-season for 123 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception (52.3 QB Rating) and he also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc).  It’s likely that the Panthers will enter the season with only Jake Delhomme and David Carr at quarterback.

The Panthers looked pretty awful on Friday Night against the Patriots.  Jake Delhomme completed 11 of 18 passes for 162 yards with 1 TD pass.  David Carr completed 8 of 11 passes for 58 yards and an interception.  DeAngelo Williams led the way in the running game with 29 yards on 9 carries (3.2 ypc).  Drew Carter (3 rec, 52 yards) and Keary Colbert (1 rec, 48 yards, TD) both added spice to the passing game.  The Panthers finished up with 57 yards on 18 carries (3.2 ypc) and they completed 22 of 36 passes for 222 yards.

The Panthers defense did not play too well as the Patriots rushed for 148 yards on 36 carries (4.1 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 33 passes for 236 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270824029

The Carolina Panthers got pushed around all night long by the Eagles.  Jake Delhomme did not look good as he completed 9 of 18 passes for 78 yards with 1 interception (it was returned 40 yards for a TD by CB Lito Sheppard of the Eagles).  David Carr looked pretty good in relief of Delhomme as he completed 7 of 13 passes for 111 yards and he also ran the ball 2 times for 5 yards (2.5 ypc) with a nice 9-yard TD scamper.  Brett Basanez had a night to forget as he only completed 1 of 7 passes for 8 yards and he threw a pickoff.  Running back Alex Haynes led the way with 23 yards rushing for the Panthers last night on 5 carries (4.6 ypc) but he remains a very long shot to make the Panthers opening day roster.  DeShaun Foster looked good in his limited work as he carried the ball 3 times for 18 yards (6.0 ypc).  DeAngelo Williams also looked solid with 13 yards on 3 carries (4.3 ypc).  WR Taye Biddle continues to make a strong impression as he caught 2 passes last night for 43 yards.  The Panthers offense still has a long way to go in the next three weeks to get ready for the regular season.  They carried the ball 19 times for 73 yards (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 38 passes for 178 yards.

The defense had good and bad points last night.  The positive was the run defense was outstanding holding the Eagles offense to 67 yards rushing on 31 carries (2.2 ypc).  But, the Eagles threw the ball all over the Panthers’ defense as they completed 24 of 35 passes for 273 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270817021

The Panthers are going young and cheap at tight end for the 2007 season.  That’s not a bad thing as the TEs will be hungry to prove themselves.  Michael Gaines will probably have the best shot of winning the starting job.   He played in 16 games (9 starts) last season and he caught 15 passes for 146 yards (9.7 avg) for the Panthers lase year.  He has the best combination of receiving and blocking of the Panthers’ TEs.  He has now played in 42 games (21 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 31 passes for 335 yards (10.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  

Jeff King is a blocker in the running game, period.  He played in 12 games (0 starts) as a rookie for the Panthers last season and he caught 1 pass for 1 yard…..and it was a TD.

Rookie 5th round pick Dante Rosario will also battle for the starting job.   He was a good receiver at Oregon but he lacks punch as a blocker in the running game.

The Carolina Panthers will look to give their young wideouts a chance to replace the departed Keyshawn Johnson and provide Steve Smith with some more protection.  Steve Smith is one of the best receivers in the entire NFL and he proved it last season despite being banged up all year.  He played in 14 games (all starts) for the Panthers last season and he caught 83 passes for 1,166 yards (14.0 avg) with 8 TD grabs and he also carried the football 8 times for 61 yards (7.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.   He also returned 2 kickoffs for -1 yard (-0.5 avg) and he also returned 9 punts for 30 yards (3.3 avg).  Look for Smith to really have a monster season if an impact player develops on the other side of the field.   Smith has now played in 77 games (56 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 344 passes for 4,925 yards (14.3 avg) with 30 TD grabs and he also has carried the football 28 times for 167 yards (6.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Smith’s days as a special teams member are likely in the past but he was impressive before focusing on offense.  He has returned 98 kickoffs in his NFL career for 2,371 yards (24.2 avg) with 2 TDs and he also has returned 169 punts for 1,589 yards (9.4 avg) with 4 TD returns.

Dwayne Jarrett of USC was the Panthers’ second round pick in April and he will eventually be a starter for the Panthers but maybe not as a rookie.  He has great size which will help in the Red Zone and he played well in every big game he played in at USC.  He will be anywhere from #2 to #4 on the depth chart this season but he will contribute.

Drew Carter really stepped up and played pretty well late in the season when the Panthers gave him some extended playing time.  Carter played in 14 games (2 starts) last season and he caught 28 passes for 357 yards (12.8 avg) with 3 TD grabs and he also carried the ball 2 times for 18 yards (9.0 ypc).  Look for Carter to be no worse than the #3 WR and he will get the chance to compete with Jarrett and Keary Colbert for the starting job opposite Steve Smith this season.  Carter has now played in 17 games (2 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 33 passes for 460 yards (13.9 avg) with 4 TD grabs and he also has carried the ball 2 times for 18 yards (9.0 ypc).

Keary Colbert will also be in the mix for a lot of playing time this season despite having a rough 2006.  He played in 12 games (3 starts) last season for the Panthers and he caught 5 passes for 56 yards (11.2 avg).  He has been productive in the past so the Panthers will give him an opportunity to turn things around.   He has now played in 43 games (34 starts) in his career and he has caught 77 passes for 1,092 yards (14.2 avg) with 7 TD grabs.

The Panthers have brought in free agent Chris Horn to compete for a WR job this season.  He played in 14 games (3 starts) last season for the Chiefs and he caught 18 passes for 187 yards (10.4 avg) and he also returned 3 kickoffs for 31 yards (10.3 avg).  Horn has now played in 28 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 33 passes for 365 yards (11.1 avg) with 1 TD grab and he also has carried the ball 1 time for 12 yards.  Horn has also returned 7 kickoffs for 75 yards (10.7 avg).

The Panthers also drafted Ryne Robinson in this year’s draft and he has looked impressive in Training Camp.   He could definately beat someone out for a job and could be a fast riser on the depth chart.