Carolina Panthers NFL Odds

Cam Newton was able to earn the Rookie of the Year title, but can he help to trun the Carolina Panthers around this season? Join us as we preiew the Panthers' upcoming season.

The Panthers had an average season last year, considering they were coming off of a one win season and had a rookie quarterback. With the exception of a big sophomore slump from Cam Newton, the Panthers should continue to improve in 2012. They have a date in Tampa Bay with the Bucs in Week 1, and they come in as -2 ½ favorites, with a total of 46 ½ points.

This one is easy for me, because I see no way the Bucs win this game. I think Tampa Bay will be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, and I think the Panthers will be close to a .500 team. That being said, the Panthers should win this game somewhat easily.

My Pick: Panthers -2 ½ 

Not much has been coming out of Carolina about this upcoming season. Their vacation season (Cam Newton’s rookie year after a season of garbage before that) is over, and it is time to start working towards getting back to the playoffs. Though I have no doubt that the Panthers will start to compete, Cam Newton’s performance in his sophomore season will be more than a big part of the Panther’s season’ it will basically be their season.

Carolina went 6-10 last year, and even though at times they looked bad, they had some good looks as well. This season they will focus more on the run, and probably not make Cam Newton throw the ball a ton.

This season, Cam Newton has also pledged to be a better teammate. He stated in an interview a few days ago that he was a bad teammate and was “very immature,” in his record setting rookie season.

This is a big step for a kid that is so young. Sophomore slumps are extremely common in the NFL, especially among skill players. If Newton can continue to work hard on the field and work even harder on his maturity level, he will be a force in this league and the 2^nd season slump will be no where to be found. 

Carolina did an excellent job of building towards the future with Cam Newton last season, and with their draft picks this offseason, they will no longer be the doormat of the NFC South. 

The Panthers got my favorite linebacker of the draft, when they selected Luke Kuechly out of Boston College. Kuechly is a great middle linebacker, and will help in run stopping and coverage for a defense that was awful last season. Slowly but surely, the Panthers’ defense should become a lot better than last season.

As for the offense, Cam Newton will have plenty of help in the backfield. As for the receiving core, Newton will still have Steve Smith, but aside from him, the Panthers’ receiving core is young and inexperienced. I’m afraid if the Panthers don’t find themselves at least one more receiver to go on the opposite side of Smith, Newton might not get the passing numbers he got last season. Keep an eye on the Panthers’ receivers in practice and in the preseason.

Carolina Panthers NFL Odds to win Super Bowl XLVII - 35/1

Throughout the offseason, we here at SBR Forum will be bringing you offseason news and odds for NFL teams. For a team that had the number one overall pick in last year’s draft, the Panthers looked like they had a lot of promise heading into this season.

Their number one draft pick, and Rookie of the Year winner, Cam Newton, looks like a legitimate superstar in the making, and besides their inability to stop anyone and injuries, things are looking up for them in one of the toughest divisions in football; the NFC South.

Trade/Free Agent Signings 

One of the most recent free agent signings by the Panthers happened just two days ago, as they agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Reggie Smith. Smith spent the last four years playing for the 49ers, where he played in 45 games, and had 60 tackles and 2 interceptions. Another big signing for this team was the acquisition of Mike Tolbert. Tolbert will be somehow worked into an already crowded backfield. 

Here is the main problem for the Panthers; they have no money to spend this season. They didn’t even have a million dollars worth of cap space when free agency began. This team has a lot of money tied up in tackle Jordan Gross, and newly signed (and barely used) running back DeAngelo Williams.

They have made a few minor moves other then Smith. They signed defensive end Antwan Applewhite, wide receiver Chris Manno, and linebacker Kenny Onatolu. They also traded running back Mike Goodson, ($615,000) for tackle Bruce Campbell after the signing of Tolbert.

Draft buzz

The Panthers pick 9^th overall in the upcoming NFL Draft. Carolina could go a few different directions. If the likes of Justin Blackmon falls to them at nine, they would be stupid not to take him to put opposite of veteran Steve Smith (in the last year of his deal).As I mentioned above, the Panthers were a very good offensive team last season, but they could not stop anyone. They gave up over 130 rushing yards per game and nearly 250 passing yards. Of course, common thought would lead us all to believe that the Panthers will target some sort of defensive player as their first round pick. 

However, I think the Rams will snatch him at 6, so the Panthers will have a few different options. I think it will boil down to either DT Fletcher Cox, or DE Melvin Ingram to help one of the league’s worst defensive lines. Other then those two hogs, inside linebacker Luke Kuechly might be a dark horse pick. If Kuechly can couple with veteran Jon Beason (or one of them move over to outside linebacker) it could be a dynamic and dangerous duo patrolling the middle of the field, or rushing the quarterback. Beason was hurt for all of last season as well.

General news

One big problem for the Panthers lasts season was injuries. This was one of the reasons a team with some promise only finished 6-10. They lost three of their five starting offensive lineman before the season even started, and it was kind of the start of a bad omen.

Zack Williams, Garry Williams, and Geoff Schwartz all went down with different injuries, either in training camp or the preseason. All three are working their way back. The Panthers were able to run their way to the third best rushing team in the NFL without them. If they all can come back in 2012-2013 healthy, Cam Newton and his endless arsenal of running backs will surely be one of the top three rushing teams this NFL season.