Panthers offense may be the key in 2008

If the Carolina Panthers plan on climbing back into the hunt in the NFC South, their hopes may very well hinge on whether their offense succeeds or fails in 2008. A year ago, it failed them, mainly due to the elbow injury to quarterback Jake Delhomme, and the Panthers paid for it by finishing 7-9.

Paramount is the health of Delhomme, who played in only three games last season before injuring the right elbow. The injury required major surgery and the Carolina offense was not the same without Delhomme under center.

Before the injury, Delhomme appeared to be off to possibly his best season in the NFL. In the first three games, he threw eight touchdown passes and only one interception and the team was off to a 2-1 start.

The Panthers won two of their next three games, but the wheels came off after the bye week in Week Seven.

Carolina lost their next five games in a row and started three different quarterbacks in their final 13 games. Unlike Delhomme, the trio threw more picks than touchdown passes, and the offense struggled to put points on the board.

In each of the three games Delhomme started, the Panthers scored at least 21 points. In nine of the 13 games after he went down with his injury, Carolina failed to score more than one touchdown and averaged under 15 points per contest.

So a healthy Jake Delhomme is a must if this team hopes to contend for the division title in 2008. Especially when one looks at the depth chart and behind him are three undrafted players.with minimal experience at the NFL level.

Needless to say, a healthy Delhomme also benefits wide receiver Steve Smith, who had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2007, but wasn't as lethal as he may have been with Delhomme at the controls.

Another key to the offense will be 2005 first round pick running back DeAngelo Williams. DeShaun Foster is gone and the time for Williams is now. The Panthers also drafted Johnathan Stewart in the first round of the 2008 draft, and he will undoubtedly get his share of touches. But Williams is the back the Panthers will be depending on to deliver.

Williams has the ability to be an explosive back and if he can produce the way some feel he can, and Delhomme can stay healthy, the Carolina offense will see a vast improvement over last year when it finished a dismal 26th in the NFL in points scored.

With a rejuvenated offense, the Panthers may actually surprise some people.



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