All Time Panther Team

[Smith vs Lucas]

Since its offseason, I am almost positive everyone is tired of talking about our WRs, Greg Hardy, and who the hell is going to be our starting LT. So I assembled the greatest panther team of all time. So look it over and tell me what you would change.

 

THE GUN SLINGERS

1st QB - Cam Newton - 2x Probowler, ROY, and posting a 60% completion rate with 11,300 and 64 passing touchdowns in 3 years is pretty impressive.

 

2nd QB - Jake Delhomme - A true underdog story and a fan favorite, if we could only forget about that home playoff game against the Cardinals.

 

3rd QB - Kerry "Drunken" Collins - I want to put Steve Beuerlein here, but with the lack of playoff wins I have to go with Collins. Simply because he took the team all the way to the NFCC game, where eventually we would get blown out by Brett Farve and the Packers.

 

SMASH N DASH

 

1st RB - Steven Davis - Has there ever been a better FA pickup by the Panthers? Davis really made the 2003 team into a smash mouth football monster. He posted 1,444 yards and 8 TD during that season.

 

2nd RB - Deangelo Williams - The Panthers all time leading rusher had 1515 yards, 18 touchdowns, and was averaging 5.5 yards a carrier in 2008. Even though Williams might have lost a step, he is still a good back in our offense today.

 

3rd RB - Johnathan Stewart - When we drafted Stewart a lot of fans could not figure out why we needed another back. With the 12th overall pick it didn't make any sense. Stewart has become the second all time leading rusher in Panthers history. Could you imagine if this guy if he stayed healthy?

 

1st FB- Brad Hoover- This was a really tough one with the emergence of Mike Tolbert, but Brad Hoover was one of the main reasons that the run game was so potent for so many years. Besides who doesn't like to chant HOOOOV to the top of their lungs!

 

2nd FB - Mike Tolbert - Great pass catcher, blocker, and everyone remembers the hit he put on San Francisco's Reid.

 

 

THE PASS CATCHERS

 

1st WR- Steve Smith aka agent 89 - arguably a future hall of fame player and definitely the best player that's ever worn a Panthers jersey. Steve Smith since being drafted in the 3rd round out of Utah amassed 836 catches, 12,197 yards, and has put up 67 yards per game. I think we all are going to miss Steve Smith this upcoming season.

 

2nd WR - Mushin Muhhammad - A physical receiver that could go over the middle. Drafted back in 96 in the 2nd round, Mushin has done nothing put strait produce. He racked up 860 catches, 11,438 yards, and 62 touchdowns. This offense has been trying to find his replacement for years... Is that you Kelvin Benjamin?

 

3rd receiver - Tie between Mike Carrier,Rickey Proehl, and Patrick Jeffers. This is a tough one to call If Jeffers did not get injured I really think he could have been a great WR for years to come for the Panthers. Proehl is a student of the game and had some of the biggest catches in Panther's history. Mike Carrier was a good player but not great. He tallied up 2,500 yards and 13 touchdowns in 3 seasons.

 

1st TE - Wesley Walls - Did not matter if he was doubled covered, he always found a way to catch the ball. In the red zone defenses knew the ball was coming his way and could not stop it. During his tender with the Panthers, he had 44 touchdowns.

 

2nd TE - Greg Olsen - Probably Newton's best friend. Traded a 3rd round pick in 2011 and has been worth every penny since then. Olsen was the leading receiver in 2013 and is expected to be a big part of our offense in 2014.

 

 

THE HOG MOLLIES!

 

LT- Jordan Gross - No competition here a corner stone of this franchise for over 10 years. Picked 9th overall from the University of Utah. I like when panthers pick Utah players, Steve Smith, Gross, and Star!

 

LG - Mike Wahle - In 2005 Jerry Richardson went on a spending frenzy and grabbed Wahle and Lucas. Did we overpay Wahle absolutely, but to be honest I can't think of anyone to overtake his spot. The closest in line would be Wharton. 

 

C - Ryan Kalil - Taken in the second round out of USC, also the only player in panthers history out of USC that has actually contributed. Ranked in this years top 100 for the 2nd time in 3 years. Do I need to say anymore?

 

RG - Evan Mathis - How in the hell did panthers let this guy slip away? Drafting him in the third round, he later played with the Bengals from 2008 - 2010 and did not allow a single sack in 2009, 2010 seasons. He currently plays with the Philadelphia Eagles and was rated by PFF the best guard in football in 2010 and 2011.

 

RT- Todd Stussie - Was a vital piece to the Panther's 2004 super bowl run and solid in pass protection for Delhomme. I know Gross played on the right side and he played on the left during the time, so you could argue to put Jeff Otah here. No one can deny that Otah was a beast in the run game, but injuries made his time short in the NFL.

 

GETTING DEFENSIVE

 

LE - Julius Peppers - Game Changer, elite skill set, but lacked hustle to be legendary. The Vick vs. Peppers was a great game every time they suited up in that era.

 

LE - Honorable Mention - Greg Hardy - STAY OUT OF TROUBLE!

 

DT- Star Lotuleli - I might have him a little high on the list for only one year production, but the panthers got a great steal when the 14th overall pick was announced. This kid is going to be a monster in the trenches for many years to come.

 

DT - Kris Jenkins - Selected in the 2nd round out of Maryland, Kris was a offensive coordinators nightmare. He excelled against the pass and run.  

 

DT - Honorable mention - Brentson Buckner

 

RE - MIke Rucker - Peppers on one side, Rucker on the other, equals the best pass rushing tandem in panthers history.

 

RE - Honorable mention - Charles "Big Money" Johnson

 

 

THE LINBACKERS

 

LOLB - Thomas Davis - Originally drafted to play safety out of Georgia, then later converted to outside linebacker. We all know what Davis has accomplished and should have been physically impossible. to come back from 3 ACL tears and to play at the level he did last year is nothing short of impressive.

 

LOLB - Honorable mention - Lamar Lathon

 

MLB - SAM MILLS - This is the hardest position to rank the top player because of so many great mlb in Panther history. This one is well deserved and Mills became the heart and soul of this team. By far made the biggest impact of any player off and on the field. Mills always led by example and when diagnosed with cancer he continued to coach. RIP Sam MIlls.

"KEEP POUNDING!"

 

MLB - Honorable Mentions - Luke Keuchly, Dan Morgan, Jon "The Beast" Beason. Keuchly could be the greatest MLB when it is all said and done. Its hard to argue that when a player wins DROY and DPOY back to back. The only player to achieve that honor was Lawrence Taylor... you might have heard about him.

 

ROLB - Kevin Greene - Nasty punishing hitter. Greene finished his career with 160 sacks, which 41.5 came while playing with the Panthers. Great expansion pickup and really helped put the defense on the map.

 

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

 

CB 1 - Chris Gamble  - Closest thing panthers ever had to a shut down corner. Drafted out "THE OHIO STATE" Gamble was a versatile weapon. He could return punts, kickoffs and shut down the opposition. Wish we was still on the team.

 

CB 2 - Eric Davis - Ball hawking corner that excelled in making breaks on the ball was a solid starter from 1996 - 2000.

 

Nickel - Ricky Manning JR - Without this man, The panthers would have never seen the Superbowl. His 3 pick performance was incredible against Donavan McNabb in the NFCC game.

 

Nickel - Honorable mentions - Captain Munnerlyn

 

 

SAFTEYS

 

FS - Mike Minter - Selected in the second round out of Nebraska, it didn't take long for minter to impress. He finished his career with 790 tackles, 15 forced fumbles, 8 recoveries, 15 interceptions, and 4 defensive touchdowns.

 

SS - Chad Cota - With exceptional speed and great tackling ability. Cota was a ideal safety at 6'1''. In 1996 he finished with a team high 5 interceptions.

 

Safety - honorable mentions - Mike Mitchell, Chris Harris.

 

 

LEG POWER

 

K - John Kasey - The last original panther to be on the team. Hate he had that mishap in the Super Bowl.

 

P - Todd Sauerbrun - The only punter in the league that could hit like a line backer.  

 

RETURN SPECIALIST

 

KR/PR - Rod Smart " HE HATE ME" - The ex XFL player was a pretty solid return man for a few years and who doesn't love the name He Hate Me? 

 

[KendrickPanther]

I think I would put William Floyd over Hoover. Michael Bates was a billion times better than he hate me.

 

I mean this type of thread is open to interpretation but I wouldn't put Evan Mathis at Right Guard unless you put Reggie White at Left End. Lamar Lathon, Deion Grant, Ken Lucas, and Will Witherspoon all deserve consideration.

 

I loved Rocket Ismail too. Not a great NFL player but I liked him.

 

Edit: I looked up William Floyd and it appears I was confused. While he was a great player and a Super Bowl champion with the 49ers then Panthers. I was thinking of Howard Griffith who played well for us and made a name for himself as a lead blocker for Terrel Davis on 2 super bowl runs with the Broncos.

[Ricky Spanish]

I'd have steve smith in KR/PR

[Smith vs Lucas]

I think I would put William Floyd over Hoover. Michael Bates was a billion times better than he hate me.

 

I mean this type of thread is open to interpretation but I wouldn't put Evan Mathis at Right Guard unless you put Reggie White at Left End. Lamar Lathon, Deion Grant, Ken Lucas, and Will Witherspoon all deserve consideration.

 

I loved Rocket Ismail too. Not a great NFL player but I liked him.

 

Edit: I looked up William Floyd and it appears I was confused. While he was a great player and a Super Bowl champion with the 49ers then Panthers. I was thinking of Howard Griffith who played well for us and made a name for himself as a lead blocker for Terrel Davis on 2 super bowl runs with the Broncos.

 

 I mentioned Lathon. Somehow I forgot about Reggie White and MIchael Bates.

[Growl]

This list is pretty shabby. Nobody will ever remember Mike Mitchell played here in 5 years, Evan Mathis was horrible here, Wahle was solid for a brief time and that's about it and Wharton's longevity here blows away any of the other possible options.

And those are only the lowlights. Seriously, no Michael Bates, but Rod Smart? lol

[Squirrel]

Who is Mike Carrier?

[jtm]

Great write up and it was a nice trip down memory lane.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[TheMostInterestingMan]

We have to make it players who actually truly produced for the panthers for a few years. So I can't really count players like Evan Mathis. Otherwise, you need to put Reggie White, Keyshawn Johnson etc. up there even though they didn't really blow it up for us

[LinvilleGorge]

No way we can include Evan Mathis based on his time as a Panther.  I thought he was a steal when we got him and thought we ended up getting the best OG in the draft in the 3rd round.  Turned out we tot the 2nd best OG in the draft (behind Logan Mankins) in the 3rd round, but he didn't become that until we let him go.  I also thought we got the best OG in the draft as a steal when we took Duke Robinson.  Well, uh... that didn't exactly work out. 

 

 

[Galvatron]

Rucker was good and I love him, but Charles Johnson is a better player.

[LinvilleGorge]

Rucker was good and I love him, but Charles Johnson is a better player.

 

This.  Rucker greatly benefited from the presence of guys like Peppers and Jenkins who were arguably the best players in the NFL at their respective positions during their time with the Panthers.  CJ has proven that he can produce even when surrounded with subpar talent.

[BigBoss]

I don't think it's close at all between hoover and Tolbert, as much as I like Mike, Brad was the stinking man.... plus he's from North Carolina :)

[brandon_87]

Rod Smart over Michael Bates?  wow, just wow

[L-TownCat]

Michael Bates and its not even remotely close.