NFL PREVIEW: Carolina Panthers
by Sports Xchange
The 2005 NFL season is mercifully finally just around the corner, which means it's time for our preseason previews from Sports Xchange. In a league where parity rules, can any team catch the Patriots as they shoot for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat?
Click around through our team-by-team preseason guides to find out the chances your favorite team will be playing to win Super Bowl XL in Detroit this February. Feel free to thank us now or later.
CAROLINA PANTHERS |
SEASON PREVIEW & PREDICTION | Position-by-Position Analysis
The biggest question when the Carolina Panthers opened training camp is who would be the team's featured back?
Well, with less than a week before the regular season opener, the Panthers still haven't made a declaration.
But they should soon.
Ordinarily, there wouldn't have been much interest surrounding the Panthers' final preseason game last Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, considering the starters were to play only about a series or two. But this game was different.
There was a clear sense of anticipation among team officials, coaches and players as three-time Pro Bowl running back Stephen Davis returned to the field for the first time since Oct. 17 of last season.
Despite surviving the game with his five carries for 17 yards, the big question still lingers: How will the 31-year-old's surgically repaired right knee hold up to full contact?
While Davis has practiced with the team for a couple weeks, he has yet to take a direct blow to the knee or participate in any full contact drills in which the defense has been allowed to tackle.
"My thing is I can't worry about 'what if something happens' or 'what if I take a hit,'" Davis said. "I just have to go out there and play football. Once you start worrying about something happening, something will happen. You just have to go out there and compete. As long as you've got the Lord on your side, He will take care of you."
So much is riding on Davis' return.
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Head Coach: John Fox 4th year, all with Panthers (25-23)
Player to Watch: RB Jamal Robertson
By the Numbers
Quote to Note |
Davis could end up starting the regular season opener on Sept. 11 against New Orleans. If the knee swells up in the hours or days after the season opener, Davis could spend another season on the bench, or in a worst-case scenario, on injured reserve.
Davis, who ran for a club-record 1,444 yards in 2003, said the knee feels fine and he has suffered no setbacks during rehab, so he expects no problems.
"The trainers are doing a great job," Davis said. "I'm still doing my treatment every day; then I come out here and move around a lot. Everything is looking good. But I've still got to take it one day, one practice at a time."
Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme said Davis has looked like the running back of old since he returned to work.
"He hasn't lost his vision," Delhomme said. "That's one thing. He's good. The guy is smooth and knows how to set up blocks. He's a veteran, too. It's fun to watch him run. Hopefully everything works out all right physically, but certainly he looks good so far."
If Davis remains the featured back, expect the Panthers to run the ball more. If DeShaun Foster is the guy, look for Delhomme to throw more.
Even if Foster is the featured back, the Panthers still have a very realistic chance of returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. They still have Nick Goings in the backfield and some very good receivers in Steve Smith, Keary Colbert, Rod Gardner and Ricky Proehl.
They return an outstanding defense consisting of several dominant players including defensive end Julius Peppers, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, linebacker Dan Morgan and corners Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble.
Look for the Panthers to at least return to the NFC Championship Game this season.
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