Carolina: Reason to worry-Reason to not panic..from SI.com

[adallastiger]

6. Carolina

REASON TO WORRY: Call me alarmist, but when I see a Panthers franchise in the midst of a payroll-cutting purge of veterans (see Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme, Damione Lewis, Maake Kemoeatu, Chris Harris and Brad Hoover), perhaps with an eye toward a potential 2011 lockout, and a head coach about to work the final, lame-duck year of his contract, I quickly deduce the coming season in Carolina might not be the proverbial magic carpet ride.

The Panthers are suddenly a pretty young team in a host of spots -- just four players on their roster are 30 or older, and two of those are kicker John Kasay and punter Jason Baker -- and that's not really the blueprint for success that the veteran-loving John Fox has used in Carolina the past eight years. Some speculate Fox will coach free and easy this year, with little to lose, but it looks to me like the Panthers decided to go lean and mean this season, and hope that will pay dividends down the road. In other words, this is a classic rebuilding year, even though it may be some other head coach in 2011 who winds up inheriting the fruit of Carolina's 2010 labor.

REASON NOT TO PANIC: No team with Jon Beason on defense and Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and a quality line on offense is going to be out-classed on too many occasions. The Panthers have talent, but there's not a surplus by any means. Still, they've surprised us with bigger than expected seasons several times in recent years, and might once again.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/05/06/troubled-teams/1.html#ixzz0nBrDz4Iw

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[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

Just like last season, I'm not gonna worry. Let's just hope it turns out better than the last time I didn't worry about my team.

[CatMan72]

The only thing I'm worried about is our ability to stop the run.

[Miaoww]

The only one of the players on that list I didn't like losing was Lewis. Everyone else was done or is easily replaceable.

[Makish]

no reason to worry we play the nfc west 4-0 right there:

[Starscream]

We're not as worried about interceptions anymore.

[Dpantherman]

4. New Orleans

REASON TO WORRY: What are the feel-good, party-loving, defending Super Bowl champs doing on this list? Well, if you're talking about teams in prime position for a letdown, the prior season's Lombardi Trophy winner is always a strong candidate. Need we remind you that there has only been one repeat champion in the past 11 NFL seasons (2003-2004 Patriots), or that the Steelers didn't even make it back to the playoffs last year after winning in 2008?

The Saints are undoubtedly still loaded and should again be the class of the NFC South. But there are factors that should make them wary. For one, Super Bowl champs seem to consistently underestimate the impact of having the shortest offseason in the league, and in New Orleans, where the victory parades seemed to roll on into March, that disadvantage might be even more acute this year.

And then, of course, there's the potential elephant in the room. I can't help but think it's not a positive development to be dealing with the specter of New Orleans coaches Sean Payton and Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis linked to a civil lawsuit and a DEA investigation involving stolen Vicodin from the team's medicinal cabinet. If this story grows legs, it would represent the kind of first-class distraction that could blow up a season and derail any team's plans.

REASON NOT TO PANIC: Check out the New Orleans roster, then check out the NFC South. With all that talent, and with the Bucs and Panthers unlikely to be making any playoff runs this season, Atlanta is the only team capable of making the Saints really work for another division title.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/05/06/troubled-teams/index.html#ixzz0nC1xyT1p

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[monstercat]

The only one of the players on that list I didn't like losing was Lewis. Everyone else was done or is easily replaceable.

You can't be serious. Peppers will be 10 times harder to replace than Lewis.

[pantherj]

Is Jake back on the team? Then I'm not worried.

[eViL jEsTeR]

The only thing I'm worried about is our ability to stop the run.

i'm with you. our defense is going to be worn out by the 4th quarter. our offense had better be putting up 35+.

i don't expect much improvement on last years record but do expect to see vast improvement in performance offensively. the hole jake put us in to start the season was devastating. even with superior play late, we barely avoided a losing season by beating the resting saints. this year, i feel we're a legit 8-8 and maybe a well earned 9-7 but still missing the playoffs mostly due to the lack of a run defense. drafting so many QB's and WR's will have a serious affect on our DL, especially after losing 3 starters from the DL.

we didn't address it, and it will be our downfall. last year it was jake, this year it will be our shallow, undertalented DL.

[brandon_87]

no reason to worry we play the nfc west 4-0 right there:

yep

[Udogg]

I rewatched a lot of games last year and I don't think with Irvin and Tyler we are going to get gashed on the run as bad as with lewis and Hayden. My main concerns are TD being able to get back up to full speed, depth and DE position, OL depth. Of course the never ending 2nd wide receiver quest is always a concern. Think over all it's gonna be a positive year.

[necroplasm]

Everyone counts out the Panthers but expect the Falcons to compete.

It's embarrassing.

[MadHatter]

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/05/06/troubled-teams/index.html#ixzz0nC1xyT1p

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What a joke concerning the Falcons.

Even with the veteran purge, we have a better defense....better Oline....better RB's....equal QB (yes I said it)....and the best WR in the division.

Falcons are second fiddle to the Panthers this season.