Ron Rivera has now been the Head Coach for the Carolina Panthers for four seasons. It doesn't feel like all that long ago when the fans were getting ready to run him out of town simply because his team was not seeing results. He was 13-19 in his first two seasons, and started his third season going 0-2, but since then has gone on a 19-10-1 record in the regular season, including going 1-2 in the playoffs, with both losses coming to the eventual NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. It now seems like all those rumors are just a long time ago as even with a rougher 2014 season where the team went 7-8-1 and still winning the division, Ron Rivera remains the secure head coach of the Panthers. How are things going to happen in 2015, it is far too early to tell, but one thing for certain is that they will certainly keep it interesting.
Off-season Changes
The first major known player to leave this off-season is one that didn't play much at all for the Panthers during 2014, defensive end Greg Hardy. His off the field issues have been well documented as he still does have a four game suspension to start the season with the Dallas Cowboys, who took care of him with a major contract for one year, mainly seeing how he will do and not knowing how long he would have been suspended. Also on defense, they lost cornerback James Dockery who signed a one year deal with the Oakland Raiders. Dockery isn't a major loss, as he only played in 7 games and had a total of 11 tackles, as he is primarily a special teamer and not a true cornerback.
Offensively, the Panther have lost two running backs this off-season. Most notably is running back DeAngelo Williams to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers really could have used Williams late last season when Le'Veon Bell went down in week 17 to an injury and they were forced to sign Ben Tate instead of using Dri Archer, who is more of a pass catching running back. Also, they had cut LeGarrette Blount earlier in the season, who wound up re-signing with the New England Patriots, and they could have really used him in their playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Will Williams' absence really hurt the Panthers? That remains to be seen as the former Oregon Duck Jonathan Stewart will now be the primary running back for the Panthers and Williams has had a pretty big injury history. They also lost running back Darrin Reaves who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Reaves was an UDFA from the UAB Blazers, but he only ran 32 times for 77 yards across 6 games and then was cut mid season last year and was only signed by the Chiefs on August 2nd.
The other loss on offense is their right tackle Byron Bell. Bell signed a deal with the Tennessee Titans this off-season to join their battles across the offensive line. It is somewhat ironic though as the Panthers signed former Titans offensive lineman in Michael Oher this past season. They also signed Tony Hills to a small deal to bring more depth to the tackle position.
Other off-season additions to the Panthers include former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Jordan Todman, who is currently listed third on their depth chart. They also signed Green Bay Packers castoff wide receiver in Jarrett Boykin.
Their biggest signing this off-season would be bringing back a former Ron Rivera disciple into the fold. Former Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman, affectionately known as "Peanut," signed a one year, two million dollar deal for just a single season, and is currently atop their depth chart as their left cornerback.
2015 NFL Draft
Free agency of course is not the only way to build your team, as the NFL draft always provides quality young players to help you build to the future. The Panthers started off the draft with the 25th pick due to their playoff victory to get them into the final eight picks in the first round. They used pick 25 to draft a SAM linebacker in Shaq Thompson. Currently he is listed on the depth chart behind A.J. Klein, but Klein has only started 10 career games in just 2 NFL seasons, and Thompson should have a good opportunity to pass him either before the season opener or a few games into the season, depending on how long it takes him to learn the playbook. They took another linebacker as well in David Mayo, who is currently the backup to their former first round pick at middle linebacker in Luke Kuechly. Kuechly is a tackling machine and they needed to find someone who could replace that if he were to get injured. Mayo has great size at 6'2" 228 and played last season for the Texas State Bobcats.
Offensively in the draft, they picked former Michigan Wolverines wide receiver in Devin Funchess. Funchess is currently listed around fifth or sixth on the depth chart behind NFL veterans in Kelvin Benjamin, Corey Brown, Ted Ginn Jr., and Jerricho Cotchery. This writer would project him to at least start the year in the slot and make a good four wide set with tight end Greg Olsen filling the other slot position. They also drafted guard Daryl Williams from the Oklahoma Sooners. At 6'5" and 327 pounds, Williams brings a big force to the Panthers offensive line. He is currently listed in the backup tackle position or more likely as a swing tackle for the Panthers which is interesting as the draft pundits were projecting him to be more of an NFL guard. They also went after a former Auburn Tiger in the draft with Cameron Artis-Payne. Artis-Payne is currently buried on the Panthers depth chart behind the previously mentioned Jonathan Stewart, Fozzy Whitaker, and Jordan Todman. His talent should be able to help him rise to the occasion. Plus he should help once again with the off-season departure of DeAngelo Williams.
2015 NFL Schedule
September 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars
September 20 - Houston Texans
September 27 - New Orleans Saints
October 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
October 18 at Seattle Seahawks
October 25 - Philadelphia Eagles
November 2 - Indianapolis Colts
November 8 - Green Bay Packers
November 15 at Tennessee Titans
November 22 - Washington Redskins
November 26 at Dallas Cowboys--Thanksgiving
December 6 at New Orleans Saints
December 13 - Atlanta Falcons
December 20 at New York Giants
December 27 at Atlanta Falcons
January 3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This schedule doesn't look particularly tough, but it makes you wonder just how many games they will win directly after the bye week as they will have to travel to the Northwest to face the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field and then host three games in a row against some tough teams like the Eagles, Colts, and Packers. Will they be able to split those games by going 2-2, because if so, that should set up them for another divisional title. Because their schedule is very heavy right there, but they don't face a team that had a winning record in 2014 after they play against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. So they should definitely be able to finish strong and possibly even finish 5-0 across their final five games.
Prediction
This writer sees another promising future for the Panthers in the NFC South. They have won it two years in a row and just don't see a quick enough rise out of the Buccaneers with their new quarterback in Jameis Winston and the Atlanta Falcons are going through the process of having a new Head Coach in Dan Quinn. That leaves the New Orleans Saints as the primary threat to defeat them in the division. Drew Brees and Sean Payton have been a formidable opponent in the past, but what exactly should be expected of the Saints after they have traded away Jimmy Graham? Who are they going to give the ball to down in the red zone? Do they trust Mark Ingram more all of a sudden? This writer just has too many questions regarding the Saints to project them as winning the Division as well. Right now yours truly would put them at a 10-6 season, struggling heavily right in the middle of the season with losses to the Seahawks, Eagles, Packers, and Cowboys. Not exactly sure where they drop their other games, but would likely project one loss to the New Orleans Saints, but not two. That leaves the final loss to be one that you wouldn't expect as most teams lose a game or two that leaves teams and their fans shaking their heads after that loss. Either way, they win the NFC South again at a 10-6 record and host a Wild Card game yet again.