Questions questions.....and questions...

Hello panther world i know things are quiet right now but i got a few questions about the upcoming season that im wondering could be answers about our team. Everybody thinks are team is going to be a force this year but i think we need alot of things to pan out for us to do that, heres a few i think should be the biggest buzz around our team this offseason through training camp and the entire season.

1. Can jake pick up where he left off last year?????

Jake was having a pretty good season before he got hurt last season and everything went down hill. I know everybody is saying his arm is healthy and its stronger then ever,But how is it going to look at gametime speed or after hes gotten slammed on a few times. Hmmmmm

2. Can DJ Hackett Stay healthy????

I mean opinion he was good off season pick up for us but there was a reason why i took so long before we signed him or any other team did. Health issues...I know there was swelling in his knee during otas and to me thats not a good sign at all. Hopefully this will be the year for him to be healthy Because we are going to need all the fire power we can to make a superbowl run.

3. Was Otah worth it?????

Now dont get me wrong i liked the pick,But for what we gave up come on thats a whole lot. I know somepeople willl say he will need time to develop but for what was gave up he needs to produce this year not only for us but for john fox and co as well.

4. Monster Julius or Soft baby??????

Julius Peppers Season last year was one of the most puzzling to me out of anybody on our team. I know he is not supposed to do it by himself but i was still dumbfounded. They said he had an illness in training camp last year and camp a lil underweight and at times he looked like he didnt have the same explosion he once had in previous seasons. Looks like this year he is in better shape and quicker. The good note is all the de's have had a off season before so i should be no biggie plus he is in a contract year so i think he will bounce back at least i hope so.

5.In Jim Mora voice(Playoffs....????PLAYOFFS???)

Do we have what it takes to make it to the playoffs??Givein what division we play in and with our schedule things dont look to bad. But things can change as well. You cant really rely  on schedule strength just because there is always at least 2 or 3 teams making noise around week 9 that anybody thought wouldnt be in the playoff race. I believe if we can stay a lil healthy and with a lil luck we can get in the playoffs. Good thing about us is when we go we dont do any worse then a NFC championship apperence.

In opinions anything i left out let me know.

GOPanthers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic post! My biggest concerns are the O- line and D line! Jake will be better than ever if the O-Line can protect him. You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned Jeff Otah. A lot  of people are saying that he is a project in the making and yet we need him to produce this year! That being said, he never allowed a sack during his senior campagin!

As for Julius Peppers, He would be on point if we had a stud DT and we don't! Our secondary looks really good now, but our front four is more suspect than OJ Simpson during a double homicide! I understand your concern but let's see what happens in training camp!

Answer to questions 1-4:

Who knows?  That's why they play the games.  You've identified all the areas that give the "experts" their reasons for predicting another 7-8 season -- because they think things will stay the same: Jake will be injured, rookies won't step up, Peppers is overrated, etc.  I take the other view: Jakes' a new man with a new arm, Pep will be motivated, Otah is the real thing, etc.

What really should be more of a concern, though, IMO, is whether success of Special Teams play depends on coaching (I confess I have no idea of how that's done, technically) -- and if it does, we're still gonna be second rate, cause our coach ain't so good -- or if it depends on personnel and their desire (that's what I consider the secret of that phase of play) -- and if it's that, then I think we're cool -- cause we added some highly motivated, tough new players there.  Deeper KO's, Stewart returning, more aggressive tackling -- can't be as bad as last year in that phase.

We WILL be the surprise team of this season.

Great Questions and worries Panther Attic.

On your first, I feel Jake Delhomme  will come back a new man.  I know that there is not a lot of history with QB's coming back with the Tommy John surgery, so we can only go by what we see and what Jake tells us.  He say's it feels better and let's remember he has been playing with pain in years past.

I feel D. J. Hackett will do better with the Panthers as we can spread his playibg time around three or four players. We can split the receivers time and spread the field with Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad, D.J. and Dwayne Jarrett.  Yes I expect Jarrett to catch some passes this year and get time.

I think Jeff Otah was a good pick, but if I was always right, I would not be here typing on this stupid keyboard.  I agree with mlf and my concerns are OL and the DL.

Julius Peppers will move back to his old position and be a monster if the DL gives him some support.  It is tough when the offense can double team you because of gaps in your own defense or lack of support.

Playoffs, well I am waiting for the fat lady to sing.  It will be week 9 or 10 before we can even think about playoffs and as long as we do not below 6-3, we have something to look forward to.

Go Panthers, lets start beating the Chargers !!!

Great post as we need things to consider and something to type about.

Here are my answers.

#1.