The Panthers prevailed on Saturday Night when John Kasay connected on a 46-yard field goal in overtime.  The Panthers unleashed a dominating running attack on the poor Colts’ defense over the weekend.  They kept the passing game pretty conservative in the first preseason game but it was still effective.  Jake Delhomme played the first two series of the game but he only threw 1 pass and it was incomplete.  Matt Moore followed Delhomme in the game and he was effective completing 7 of 14 passes for 107 yards.  Brett Basanez also had a decent game except for the fact that he threw an interception.  Basanez completed 7 of 9 passes for 54 yards with 1 interception on Saturday.  Lester Ricard also had a decent game as he is likely fighting Basanez for one roster spot.  Decori Birmingham was a workhorse for the Panthers on Saturday Night as he led the team in rushing yards with 70 in 17 carries (4.1 ypc).  DeAngelo Williams was electric on Saturday Night as he rushed for 55 yards on 9 carries (6.1 ypc).  He also scored 2 TDs rushing on carries of 1 and 10 yards.  LaBrandon Toefield had a solid debut for the Panthers with 49 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.1 ypc).  Nick Goings pitched in with 27 yards rushing on 7 carries (3.9 ypc).  2nd year WR Dwayne Jarrett led the way in the passing game for the Panthers with 3 grabs for 43 yards (14.3 avg).  It was nice to see him starting to wake up.  The Panthers finished up with 207 yards rushing on 48 carries (4.3 ypc) on Saturday Night.  The Panthers also completed 20 of 36 passes for 236 yards against the Colts.  The Panthers held onto the football for 43:12 compared to the Colts 27:55 and that is a great sign for the offense.

Rookie linebacker Dan Conner led the way for the Panthers against the Colts with 6 tackles.  DE Julius Peppers played like a man possessed as he only made 1 tackle but he also had a sack and recovered a fumble.  The Panthers did give up a lot of yards to the Colts so they have some things to work on.  The Colts rushed for 97 yards on 18 carries (5.4 ypc) on Saturday.  They also completed 29 of 51 passes for 268 yards against the Panthers.  Still, this was a good first game for the Panthers.

38-year old John Kasay had been a very solid kicker for the Panthers in his NFL career.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he made 24 of 28 field goals (85.7%).  He also connected on all 27 of his extra points last season.  Look for Kasay to be solid again in 2008 as he has shown no signs of slowing down.  Kasay has now played in 237 games in his NFL career and he has made 358 of 442 field goals (81%).  He has also made 430 of 440 extra points (97.7%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

The Panthers might be willing to throw to the TEs a little bit more in 2008.  25-year old Jeff King had a solid year in 2007 for the Panthers.  He played in all 16 games last season and he caught 46 passes for 406 yards (8.8 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  King is also a solid blocker in the running game who is capable of being a solid all around TE like he was last season.  King has now played in 28 games in his NFL career and he has caught 47 passes for 407 yards (8.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

23-year old Dante’ Rosario did most of his work in short yardage situations as a blocker.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he caught 6 passes for 108 yards (18.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Look for him to get more playing time in 2008 and for him to be more involved in the passing game.

22-year old rookie Gary Barnidge could move up the depth chart soon.  He is a good receiver but he’s not the fastest guy around.  He played in 12 games (10 starts) at Louisville last season and he caught 53 passes for 655 yards (12.4 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Barnidge is a tall target at 6′6″, 234 pounds so he should be able to catch a lot of short passes over the middle.  He played in 48 games (31 starts) at Louisville and he caught 108 passes for 1,491 yards (13.8 avg) with 17 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Carolina Panthers are expecting to have some help for Steve Smith after his suspension this season as they have brought in Mushin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett for air support.  29-year old Steve Smith is the main playmaker of the Panthers.  He played in 15 games last season for the Panthers and he caught 87 passes for 1,002 yards (11.5 avg) with 7 TD grabs and that was with some really awful QB play after Jake Delhomme went down.  Smith also carried the football 9 times for 66 yards (7.3 ypc) last season.  Look for Smith to have a solid season after his suspension as long as both he and Jake Delhomme stay healthy.  Smith has now played in 92 games in his NFL career and he has caught 431 passes for 5,927 yards (13.8 avg) with 37 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 37 times for 233 yards (6.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his career.

35-year old Mushin Muhammad should be more than able to handle the heavy lifting on the tough passes over the middle of the field.  He played in all 16 games for the Bears last season and he caught 40 passes for 570 yards (14.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for his numbers to improve a lot playing with a real QB this year in Carolina.  Muhammad has now played in 172 games in his NFL career and he has caught 742 passes for 9,934 yards (13.4 avg) with 56 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 11 times for 64 yards (5.8 ypc) this season.

27-year old D.J. Hackett has a ton of talent but he has issues with staying healthy.  That’s because he’s fearless over the middle of the football field.  He also has good hands and enough speed to get down the field.  Hackett only played in 6 games with the Seahawks last season but he caught 32 passes for 384 yards (12.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for his numbers to double if he can stay healthy this season for the Panthers.  Hackett has now played in 33 games in his NFL career and he has caught 105 passes for 1,394 yards (13.3 avg) with 9 TD grabs. 

23-year old Ryne Robinson appears to have a leg up on Dwayne Jarrett for the #4 job at WR on the Panthers.  He is very small at 5′9″, 179 pounds but he is very fast. Robinson played in all 16 games for the Panthers last season and he only caught 4 passes for 35 yards (8.8 avg).

21-year old Dwayne Jarrett is a huge receiver at 6′4″, 219 pounds but he disappointed the Panthers big time as a rookie in 2007.  He played in 7 games and he only caught 6 passes for 73 yards (12.2 avg) last season.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 11 yards.  Jarrett appears to be walking in the footsteps of another former standout WR at USC…….Mike Williams…..and that is not a good thing.

30-year old veteran Travis Taylor might have a shot to stick with the Panthers in a backup role.  He only played in 1 game for the Rams last season and he caught 1 pass for 4 yards.  Taylor has had a solid career as a #3 WR in the NFL and he could regain his stature this season in Carolina.  He has now played in 100 games in his NFL career and he has caught 312 passes for 4,017 yards (12.9 avg) with 22 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 32 times for 232 yards (7.3 ypc) this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Carolina Panthers have suspended #1 WR Steve Smith for the first two games of the season due to a fight he got in with Ken Lucas in practice.  Smith broke the cornerbacks nose and injured him pretty seriously.  The suspension is the result of the injury and the fact that this isn’t the first time that Smith has got in a fight with a teammate.  Smith will not play September 7th at San Diego or September 14th at home against the Bears.  Look for the Panthers to rely on Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams a lot in those games running the football.  Also keep your eyes on D.J. Hackett who is a very underrated receiver.