Quick Preview: Carolina Panthers

Since the last time we saw them:
2008 Record: 12-4, Divisional Playoffs Loss to Arizona
Key Additions: OL Justin Geisinger, DC Ron Meeks
Key Losses: CB Ken Lucas, OL Geoff Hangartner, OL Jeremy Bridges, DT Gary Gibson, RB Nick Goings, OT Frank Omiyale, WR D.J. Hackett, WR Mark Jones, LB Donte Curry
Top Draft Picks: DE Everette Brown, CB Sherrod Martin, DT Corvey Irvin

What we now know:
Best Player: WR Steve Smith
Most Underrated: LB Thomas Davis

Looking Forward:
Breakout Candidates: DE Charles Johnson, RT Jeff Otah, CB Richard Marshall, S Charles Godfrey, TE Gary Barnidge
Time to step up: DT Nick Hayden, CB Richard Marshall, WR Dwayne Jarrett

Strengths:

• An elite RB tandem in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart
• A great O-Line, especially in pass protection, anchored by LT Jordan Gross
• Gamebreaking WR Steve Smith
• QB Jake Delhomme is a very strong leader and has won 5 playoff games
  
• NFL's most athletic DE in 2-time All-Pro Julius Peppers, complimented by solid incumbent DEs Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson
  
• Pro Bowl MLB Jon Beason and athletic blitz specialist Thomas Davis lead a solid, deep LB corp.
• CB Chris Gamble had exceptional '08 contract season, while new starting CB Marshall has been solid Nickel CB for years.
• S Chris Harris showed flashes in '08 and moves to familiar Tampa-2 system he played in in Chicago.
• Kicking game solid with K John Kasay and P Jason Baker
• In the John Fox era, Carolina has 2nd most wins of any NFC team
  

Concerns:

• Receiving corps is very thin
• Offensive Line lost its 3 key backups in free agency. No backup O-Lineman has started a single NFL game
  
• WR Smith's shoulder injury could force him to miss time early on
• QB Jake Delhomme occasionally has just dreadful games (at TB, at OAK, vs. ARI) that no team could overcome
• Achilles injury to DT Maake Kemoeatu is serious blow to run defense, which could be a huge problem since there is no depth at DT
• Panthers' schedule is absolutely brutal. (15 games against .500 or better teams in '08)
• Team was extremely lucky when it came to injuries to starters (only 18 missed starts combined). Odds are that number will be much higher
• Depth really is a concern at a lot of positions should injuries hit
• Coach John Fox's inability to back up winning seasons
  

Expectations: NFC South Division Title, Playoff Run