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Looking At 2006 In The Rear View Mirror

By Dave Golokhov

The Carolina Panthers were supposed to be one of the NFC's top outfits last season, but once they stepped onto they field, they were a bigger disappointment than the Amanda Beard Playboy spread.

The Panthers, who looked fairly sexy at all the skill positions, just didn't have the muscle upfront to compete in the trenches.

Starting left tackle Travelle Wharton tore his ACL in Week 1 and free agent center Justin Hartwig also was lost for the season in the opener.

With the front five in flux, the Panthers were immediately reeling right off the bat.

They had two tough, early losses — at home to Atlanta in Week 1 and on the road in Week 2 in Minnesota — that stung. The Panthers have always recovered in the face of adversity and they did again, winning their next four games.

But as the Panthers battled through a see-saw season, it became evident that they weren't going to compete for any trophies.

With shaky protection up front, Jake Delhomme's numbers dipped a little bit. He starting making uncharacteristically poor decisions and really hurt the team several fourth quarters (versus Cincinnati and Philadelphia).

In fairness, he didn't receive much help in the running game or passing game.

The Panthers spent a first-round pick on DeAngelo Williams in 2006, in hopes that he would team with DeShaun Foster to add a consistent ground attack.

Neither was exactly lethal as the Panthers averaged 103.7 rushing yards per game, amassing only 7 rushing touchdowns (only Tampa Bay and Oakland had less).

On defense, the theme of injury continued as the Eric Lindros of the NFL, linebacker Dan Morgan, suffered yet another concussion, missing 15 games in 2006. There is no question that Morgan is a gifted playmaker when he is on the field, but he can't shake a harrowing concussion history.

The Panthers found it tough to replace Morgan in the middle, though a better contingency plan should have been in place.

On the line, the Panthers opened their wallet for free agent tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu, who underwhelmed in his first year. Factor in a season-long injury to Jordan Carstens and a late-season injury to Mike Rucker, and the Panthers were as beaten up on the front lines as anybody.

To put in plainly, the Carolina Panthers were one hell of an overrated squad heading into last season.

That fact, combined with injuries, kept the Panthers from the playoffs, but this coming year will pose them with the proverbial two roads diverging from the woods: are they a team that is on the ascent or on the decline?

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