The Panthers' not-so-sweet 16th training camp begins today. Players will report to Spartanburg in preparation for their first practice at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The Panthers got rid of a ton of veterans this off-season, which leads me to my choice for what should be their 2010 team motto – "Our Players Are Young and Cheap, But Your Ticket Prices Still Went Up."
Snarkiness aside, though, I believe this will be as difficult an NFL camp as any of the remaining Panther players have been through.
Head coach John Fox only has one year remaining on his contract and will quite possibly become a coaching free agent in 2011. He doesn't want the blot of a 4-12 season on his resume when, and if, he's searching for a new job in January.
So Fox will push. And the players, knowing that their own jobs are even more on the line than usual, will try to respond.
Will Fox be outwardly different in his ninth Panthers training camp? No way. Fox admires consistency. He will be outwardly optimistic, as always, believing that "it beats the alternative" as he likes to say.
But internally, Fox's mind will simmer. He has many more issues than usual to resolve in late July and August, most notably at quarterback but also in the defensive line and at wide receiver.
I've been at this newspaper for all 15 previous Panther training camps – all held in my Spartanburg hometown at Wofford College – and I'm perpetually glad to see another one roll around. It always feels like the beginning of a school year. For fans and media, it's a chance to study a new team, searching for its new stars and its imperfections.
For veteran players assured of a roster spot, "Training camp is Groundhog Day," as former Panther fullback Brad Hoover said back when he was an integral part of the offense. There are constants – Spartanburg's searing sun, the playbooks and the air horn that barks everyone out of bed each morning at Wofford College. Veterans frequently forget what day it is.
Steve Smith said in the offseason he would like to be a No. 2 receiver this year — that if the Panthers grabbed a new No. 1 receiver and he didn't have to get double-teamed all the time, he would welcome that. Fat chance. Smith, 31, is No. 1 until proven otherwise — even after re-breaking his arm while playing flag football in the offseason. He didn't have many big plays in 2009, but he still led the team in receiving yards (982).Steve Smith, who is expected to be healthy by Week 1, might have lost a step but remains faster and more elusive than most NFL receivers. But who will be the No. 2 guy? Rookie Brandon LaFell, a third-round pick from LSU, could have the inside track. LaFell is not a burner but is strong. Dwayne Jarrett could also be a factor in the race, although he has been a great disappointment in his three NFL seasons. Kenny Moore has good hands but is a possession type. Armanti Edwards, another rookie third-rounder, will be switched from his college quarterback position to receiver and will be very raw and athletic. At tight end, the Panthers employ the three-headed monster of Jeff King, Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge. King is slow but a steadier blocker, while Barnidge and Rosario both can occasionally get deep over the middle
Tailback is the Panthers' best position. Put it this way: DeAngelo Williams (pictured) was a Pro Bowler last season, and he didn't even lead the team in rushing. That honor fell to Jonathan Stewart by 16 yards, but both backs had great seasons. They each rushed for more than 1,100 yards — the first time two backs from the same NFL team have ever done that. Stewart is the pile-driver who runs through people but still has enough burst for big gains. Williams is a powerful scatback who excels at turning the corner. Fox likes to rotate the two almost evenly to keep them fresh, but either one is strong enough to carry the ball 30 times if necessary. Tony Fiammetta has basically been handed the fullback job over popular mainstay Brad Hoover in a cost-cutting move. The Panthers' fullback rarely does anything but block, and Fiammetta has the size to do that
The Panthers football jerseys have less experience at this position than any other NFL team. Moore has a 6–2 record as a starter and was 4–1 at the end of 2009, which made the Panthers decide to christen him the tentative No. 1 for 2010. Those eight NFL starts are all the Panthers have — combined. The other three quarterbacks in camp, Hunter Cantwell and rookies Clausen and Tony Pike, have never started an NFL game. Moore is a strong-armed, "What, me worry?" sort who doesn't know every nook and cranny of the playbook but throws well on the move and can really hum a deep ball. The Panthers jerseys were delighted when Clausen dropped to them in the second round. There are some questions about his leadership ability and a confidence that borders on cockiness, but none whatsoever about his arm. Pike, at 6'6", has ideal size for a quarterback but not quite the arm strength of Moore or Clausen. He will likely compete with Cantwell for the No. 3 spot
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