This is a list of what I consider the Carolina Panthers biggest offseason needs. Yes the Panthers played well at the end of the year but heading into 2012 there is a lot of work to do. With a few key additions the Carolina Panthers can be a playoff contender in 2012.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Needs

1 Keep coach Rob Chudzinski

Young quarterbacks need continuity to have success and Rob Chudzinski was a big part of Cam Newton’s great rookie season. The Jacksonville Jaguars are interested in Chudzinski and my big fear is that he will get a head coaching job somewhere. The Panthers should promote him to assistant head coach and give him a raise in order to try to retain him.

2 Address the Defensive Line

The Carolina Panthers are decent at defensive end but could use some depth there. But defensive tackle must be addressed via free agency and probably the draft again. Terrell McClain and Sione Fua were drafted at defensive tackle in 2011 but the team needs more young ones. A veteran defensive tackle who can still play would be a nice free agency pickup as he could help the young guys learn.

3 Defensive Back

The Carolina Panthers need at least one starting caliber cornerback to be added to the defense. Captain Munnerlyn would be a good nickel back but I don’t love him as a starter. It’s possible that Brandon Hogan can help out here now that he is healthy and will have some offseason work. The Carolina Panthers could also use some help at the safety positions but not nearly as much as at corner.

4 Wide Receiver

 It would be hard to expect Steve Smith to repeat his spectacular season he had in 2011. I do like the young Carolina Panthers wide receivers but the free agent list of receivers is quite impressive. Adding a good mid level veteran to the unit will help Cam Newton progress as a quarterback.  I also think it is time to get rid of Armanti Edwards and use his roster spot for a more productive player.

5 Offensive Line

The Panthers offensive line is better than most but I would love to see some additions there for depth if nothing else. The Panthers gave up too many sacks of a mobile quarterback for this line to be considered great.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think the Carolina Panthers offseason priorities should be heading into 2012. And don’t forget to check back here often for Carolina Panthers news and notes.

Steve Smith and Ryan Kalil are the only two Carolina Panthers to make the NFL Pro Bowl. Which means Cam Newton and James Anderson got hosed in the Pro Bowl voting. Fan votes make up 1/3 of the process with player and coaches votes making up the rest to see who is selected in the Pro Bowl.

Of course players like Cam Newton and James Anderson DeAngelo Williams and others still may play in the Pro Bowl. Injuries, indifference and Super Bowl’s will pull some players out of the game. Tim Tebow didn’t make it in for the Broncos despite placing 3^rd in fan voting.

Cam Newton got hosed in the Pro Bowl voting but he will play in plenty of them in his NFL career. I was very happy to see Steve Smith make the Pro Bowl but I think Kalil made it for his big contract as much as for his on the field play.

Tight end Greg Olsen has the misfortune of being in the NFC with Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez or he may well have made the Pro Bowl for the Carolina Panthers. James Anderson is a great player on a bad defense and didn’t get the recognition he deserved.

Trust me Cam Newton would be a popular choice by NFL officials to play in the Pro Bowl and I think he will as an alternate. After al lNewton set all kinds of records in his rookie season and is a fan favorite of people from all over the country.

Thanks for checking out my review of the Carolina Panthers at the Houston Texans game. The Carolina Panthers upset the Houston Texans by the score of 28 to 13. The Carolina Panthers managed to hold off a late game surge by the Houston Texans for the win.

The first half belonged to the Carolina Panthers as they took a 21-0 lead. The Carolina Panthers even used a fumblerooski type play as Cam Newton handed the ball to Brockel by slipping it between his legs. Brockel then ran a misdirection play into the end zone with ease as everyone else went the other way.

The Houston Texans started badly with a fumble by Foster on the first drive. The Carolina Panthers took advantage of that by moving down for a touchdown pass to Steve Smith from Cam Newton.

The Houston Texans were really banged up coming into the Carolina Panthers game. I also felt the Texans played flat for most of the game. It appeared the Texans let down a little after locking up the first playoff spot in franchise history last week. T.J. Yates struggled against the Panthers defense but the Texans kept plugging away before Carolina sealed the deal in the fourth quarter.

T. J. Yates completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. Yates had problems getting the ball to his receivers on a few plays but he kept playing hard.

Jordan Senn had his best game as a Carolina Panther in my opinion. Senn had 12 tackles, two assists, one interception and one forced fumble. James Anderson also stepped for the Panthers against the Texans. Anderson had five tackles, one assist and an interception of a T.J. Yates pass.

Of course Cam Newton was an important part of the Carolina Panthers upset of the Houston Texans. Newton completed 13 of 23 passes for 149 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. Cam Newton also had a 17 yard run among his 55 rushing yards against the Houston Texans.

Steve Smith had five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown pass from Newton. Jeremy Shockey had two receptions for 35 yards and one touchdown catch. Shockey was very animated during the game and played well.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and had a touchdown run. Jonathan Stewart ran for 43 yards on 11 carries against the tough Houston Texans run defense. Check back soon for my preview of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Carolina Panthers.

This is a preview of the Atlanta Falcons at the Carolina Panthers game to be played on Sunday December 11^th 2011. The Panthers will have a rematch against a Falcons team that slapped them around in a 31 to 17 loss earlier in the season. To read my review of the first Panthers and Falcons game click here.

Cam Newton is playing well although against Tampa and Indianapolis which are not exactly defensive powerhouses. The Falcons defense isn’t elite either at least not against the pass where they rank 21^st in the NFL. The Falcons run defense is good as they are ranked 3^rd but that is in part because teams throw so much on Atlanta.

For the Carolina Panthers to beat the Atlanta Falcons they have to hold Michael Turner in check. Turner burned the Panthers for 139 yards in the first game and was the big reason for the Falcons victory. The Falcons rank only 16^th in rushing but the Panthers defense ranks 27^th in the league currently.

The Panthers offense must not abandon the run against Atlanta. Their balanced offense is playing well and Williams and Stewart need their carries. Cam Newton also needs to get his tight ends involved in the offense more even though Shockey is banged up a little. LaFell and Naanee have stepped up because Steve Smith and the tight ends are being covered so well, but that needs to change.

The fact that Cam Newton is so mobile will give Steve Smith a chance to get open despite the expected double coverage on him by Atlanta. Cam Newton can buy some time and Smith will exploit that against the Falcons and could have a big day.

Atlanta will be fired up coming into Carolina as they fight to remain in the NFL wildcard picture. However the Carolina Panthers would like nothing better than to play spoiler to the Falcons. The NFC South has a history of home teams winning most of the games and I think Carolina can upset the Falcons on Sunday.

For the Panthers to upset the Falcons they need to keep the turnovers and penalties down thus winning the field position and time of possession battle. Keeping Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and company off the field is a key to a Panthers victory over the Falcons.

Look for James Anderson to step up as he gets a little healthier and Dan Conner has to be active in stopping Michael Turner. I don’t fear Matt Ryan as much as Turner but the Falcons do have great weapons in the passing game.

My prediction for the Atlanta Falcons at the Carolina Panthers game is that Carolina will win 28 to 24. The Panthers have some momentum building and could play the spoiler role often for the rest of the 2011 NFL season.  

Steve Smith has found the fountain of youth with Cam Newton as the quarterback. At 32 years old Steve Smith is having one of his best seasons in the NFL. 10 games into the 2011 NFL season Steve Smith has 56 receptions for 992 yards and five touchdowns. The amazing thing is in a era of dunk and plunk passing Steve Smith is averaging 17.7 yards per catch, over three yards higher than his career average.

Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski has opened up the playbook and lets Cam Newton throw the ball all over the yard. Steve Smith gets very few bubble screens thrown his way these days. The fact that Chud has been flexible and uses some plays that Cam Newton used in college, makes the whole offense more successful.

Steve Smith has found the fountain of youth but Cam Newton is supplying the water for the fountain! I long said Steve Smith was a Hall of Fame wide receiver if he had played with a great quarterback. Now Smith and Cam Newton are a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

I fear Steve Smith may have a bit of a fall off for the rest of the season. Defenses KNOW they have to stop Steve Smith. The rest of the receivers are decent but they don’t scare defensive coordinators like Smith does.

The fact that Cam Newton is such a great running quarterback will help Steve Smith though. Few wide receivers ad lib and get open better than Smith and Newton’s scrambles allow him to that.

My only problem with the Panthers offense is that Stewart and Williams need more carries. If the safeties are scared of the run that limits double teaming of Steve Smith. Of course the tight ends Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey help Steve Smith when they are playing their best, as well.

Steve Smith’s fountain of youth may run dry any season now because skills diminish quickly at his age. But few people work harder than Steve Smith and few are as hungry for the Super Bowl ring. I feel the Panthers will compete for a Super Bowl in 2013, I just hope Smith is still on the roster to enjoy it.

This is a preview of the Tennessee Titans (4-4) at the Carolina Panthers (2-6) to be played on Sunday November 13^th 2011. Since I cover the Carolina Panthers this preview will be slanted towards that team.

The 4-4 Tennessee Titans come into Bank of American Stadium a little banged up. Matt Hasselbeck has an injured knee which limited him in practice this week. Nate Washington, Ahmad Hall, Jared Cook, David Ball and Barrett Rudd all missed practice time this week with various injuries.

Hasselbeck has been having a decent year despite the loss of Kenny Britt and the lackluster play of Chris Johnson. Despite Johnson getting a big contract he has not played well and the Titans use Javon Ringer more and more at running back.

The Carolina Panthers are coming off a bye week and were fairly healthy until Thursday when Linebacker James Anderson injured his ankle in practice. It is unclear whether James Anderson will be able to play in the Titans game.

The key to the Carolina Panthers defeating the Tennessee Titans is stopping turnovers and penalties on offense. Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers offense can score on anyone if they don’t shoot themselves in the foot. Look for Steve Smith to have a big game to continue the monster season that he is having. The Titans pass rush isn’t the best and this will give Smith time to get open.

I would like to see the Panthers get a lead and keep it. The Panthers have struggled with success often losing a lead this year. Cam Newton needs a solid win to help build up his confidence. 

The once awful Carolina Panthers run defense has been improving and I think they can keep Chris Johnson and Ringer in check. If Hasselbeck is forced to throw then the Panthers defense can get some sacks since Matt is limited his mobility with the knee.

I expect the Carolina Panthers to defeat the Tennessee Titans 27 to 21 this Sunday. The Panthers will then hopefully build off this win and get some momentum for the rest of the season. There is talk among fans of being competitive but losing to get a higher draft pick. I say to heck with that I want some Carolina Panthers wins!