2015 Carolina Panthers season preview
Photo by: panthers.com
By Collin Giuliani. Staff Writer//
Since the creation of the NFC South in 2002, no team had ever won the division twice in a row. However, after winning the NFC South last year with a 7-8-1 record (just the second time in NFL history, aside from when the Seahawks won the NFC West in 2010, that a team with a losing record won their division), the Carolina Panthers did just that. This season, Ron Rivera will be looking to lead his Carolina Panthers to a third straight division title, and perhaps a third straight appearance in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. What are the three key questions for the Panthers heading into this season?
1. Replacing Benjamin
The Carolina Panthers were already somewhat thin at wide receiver, and things didn’t get much easier when Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins. After recording over 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie year, Benjamin will not play a single snap in his sophomore season, as he was placed on injured reserve. In his first season, Benjamin set the Panthers’ franchise record for most receptions (73), most receiving yards (1,0008) and most receiving touchdowns (nine) by a rookie. Now, Cam Newton will have to look elsewhere for receivers to throw to. Much of Carolina’s success in the passing game this season will have to rely on Devin Funchess, their second round pick out of Michigan. The 6’5” wide receiver recorded 62 receptions for 733 yards in his junior season at Michigan; with Benjamin out for the season, if Funchess can have a rookie season that’s even somewhat comparable to what Benjamin did last year, then the passing attack should still be solid. One of the pleasant surprises of last season was Philly Brown, who, as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, recorded 21 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns, as well as one punt return for a touchdown. While those numbers aren’t exactly impressive, for an undrafted free agent to have any type of role in the offense in the first season shows that he has potential. He recorded a reception in his final eight games, including the postseason; we’ll see if his role in the offense expands. Whether it’s from unknown players like Funchess and Brown or from seasoned veterans like Ted Ginn Jr. and Jerricho Cotchery, the Panthers need to find a way to replace Kelvin Benjamin and still have an offense that can be an aerial threat.
2. Cam’s Contract
Off of the field, perhaps the biggest story from the Panthers’ offseason was the re-signing of quarterback Cam Newton. In the beginning of June, Cam Newton signed a five-year contract worth more than $103 million; $60 million of that contract is guaranteed. Last season wasn’t a great season for Newton; after making the Pro Bowl in 2013, Newton had a disappointing season by most standards. His completion percentage of 58.5% was 29 in the NFL out of 33 eligible quarterbacks, his 18 touchdown passes was the worst total of his career, his passer rating of 82.1 was the worst of his career, and his 3,127 yards thrown was the worst of his career. On top of that, Newton was involved in a car accident in December that caused him to miss two games; safe to say, 2014 wasn’t a great season for Cam Newton by any stretch of the imagination. This season is about Cam Newton living up to his $100 million+ contract. Yes, he doesn’t have Kelvin Benjamin with him, and longtime halfback DeAngelo Williams is gone; however, for Carolina to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year, he needs to perform better. A losing record isn’t winning the NFC South this season and if Newton plays like he did last season, they’re not making the playoffs. Newton is a good quarterback, but he didn’t always play like it last season; he had as many games throwing for under 200 yards (five) as he did throwing over 250 yards. He must be better this season for the Panthers to have the success that they did last year.
3. Tillman Time
The Panthers didn’t make too many signings in free agency of note; however, their biggest signing had to be the pickup of cornerback Charles Tillman. After playing for the Chicago Bears from 2003-2014, he signed with the Carolina Panthers in the offseason. Tillman didn’t play much in 2014 after injuring his triceps. If Tillman is fully healthy, then he is one of the best and most consistent cornerbacks in the game; in seasons in which Tillman played more than eight games, he has recorded three+ interceptions eight out of nine times, and has defended 12+ passes eight out of nine times. There’s a reason that Tillman is a two time-time Pro Bowler. This is big for the Carolina Panthers because their secondary wasn’t exactly a shutdown secondary last year. The most interceptions that any cornerback had on the team last year was a two-way tie between Josh Norman and Antoine Cason, who each had two interceptions. The player that led the Panthers in passes defended was Luke Kuechly, who is a linebacker (albeit, maybe the best linebacker in the game… but still, a linebacker). In fact, the last time that a Panthers’ cornerback had 3 interceptions in a season was all the way back in 2011, when Chris Gamble did it; the last time a Panthers’ cornerback had more than three interceptions in a season was in 2009, when both Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble recorded four interceptions. For perspective on how long ago that was, Jake Delhomme was still the quarterback of the Panthers, John Fox was still the head coach of the Panthers, and the team was one season removed from having the number one seed in the postseason for the NFC. Basically, Carolina hasn’t had a shutdown cornerback who can force turnovers in a long time. Even though Tillman is 34 years old and is coming off of back-to-back season ending injuries, maybe he can be that shutdown guy.