CAROLINA PANTHERS will again be at the Bottom of the NFC South but the Division will soon start to look like the NFC WEST...Top Heavy...the Trio of Backers in KUECHLY & BEASON & DAVIS are "MONSTERS Inside QBs" and did CAM and WR SMITTY get WR Help?..A QB DRIVEN League... #PANTHERSbiz #PANTHERSnation

The Carolina Panthers stuck with Lead Man Ron Rivera and rightfully so as he is a defensive mind an that defense will start to show its promise in 2013. The Panthers get a "STAR" literally and figuratively speaking and a steal in round one when Runnin' Utes DT Star Lotulelei fell to them at pick 14. Second round pick Kawann Short might be a stretch that high on the board but we will see how it plays out. Coach Rivera just trying build that Defense from inside out an that's the way to do it.   They picked up two Wide outs in Free Agency in Ted Ginn Jr from the 49ers and Domenik Hickson from the G-Man but is that enough for QB Cam and Steve Smith? The Division is loaded as the Falcons and Bucs and the Saints will battle it out bit do not count out the Panthers in 2013 something tells me.

Key Players

Offense

QB Cam
RB J. Stewart/D. Williams
WR S. Smith...LaFell, Ginn, Hixson
TE Greg Olsen
C R. Kalil
LT J. Gross

Defense

NT Star Lotulelei
DE G. Hardy
DE C. Johnson
ILB Beason/Kuechly/Davis (pictured l to r)
SS C. Godfrey
CB J. Norman

Watch for Rookies RB Kenjon Barner and ILB AJ Klein as well 2013 Free Agent Pick Up in former Met Life Blue Backer Chase Blackburn.

Offensively the Panthers have weapons that are big-time Sunday Performers counting WR Steve Smith and that RB Tandem of Jon Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Can Cam go to LaFell, Ginn Jr., or even Hixson when Smith is covered as he is slowing down a tad bit? The O-Line should be solid as Center Ryan Kalil needs to stay healthy and they have bookend OT Jordan Gross.

Defensively it will start and end with those two "Monsters Inside QBs" Backers in Luke Kuechly (2012 NFL Leading Tackler) and Jon Beason and you throw in UGA's Thomas Davis. These three
gentleman will create havoc as they will on the field together for the first time as Beason was done in Week 2 last season. DT Star Lotulelei if he is as good as advertised the Panthers might be able to make a move north in the NFC South. Johnson and Hardy are underrated but when playing hard they can be a factor. The Defense should be a Top 15 as I worry about that back end and the corners.

Key 2013 Schedule Dates

Sep 8 vs Seahawks
Sep 22 vs G-Men
Oct 24 @ Bucs
Nov 3 vs Dirty Birds
Nov 10 @ 49ers
Nov 18 vs Pats
Dec 1 vs Bucs
Dec 8 @ Who Dat
Dec 22 Vs Who Dat
Dec 29 @ Dirty Birds

This has to be one of the top three most difficult schedules in 2013 and just looking at it the Panthers might be doomed. They will improve in areas they have to but the most important area is the "W" Column and Lead Man Rivera seat is luke-warm as we go to press.

Projected 4th in NFC South 6-10 w/ that difficult schedule!