First off Jake needs to get Hurt so Carr can start. I'll put money if hes starting for this team he'll be better. Jake costs too many games. They also need Dan Morgan for the whole season. The only team to worry about in the divison is the Saints.

I actually like our chances this year. Davidson will help open up the game like you want. Foxy will still be conservative with his play calling. Don't expect that to change and why should it? For the most part it's been successful. Being conservative doesn't win or lose you games, it does however limit the risks you take and allows you to close out games you're winning the 4th quarter, a deficiency the Panthers couldn't seem to fix last year.

I expect Foster and Williams to get more opportunities to run the ball in their style, which will help in that department. Part of the reason we had a horrible time converting on 3rd Down and why we completely collapsed in the 4th QT was a lack of a competent running game. Henning kept coaching as if we still had Stephen Davis and that was it in a nutshell.

I'm a firm believer that if we can run the ball successfully we will be unstoppable. Delhomme will make his share of mistakes, he's not perfect, but by no means is he Rex Grossman sucky. The guy knows how to win and I'd go to battle with him on any Sunday afternoon. He's guy that intangible that you just can't coach. You can see the fire in his eyes when he plays the game and that's something coaches and team mates love. A passion for the game. He's a guy that will force a throw or two, but he's not a guy that will make a lot of stupid mistakes. A good running game will limit how many passes he has to force in there. That, and it will also open things up for Smith and Jarrett to do what they do.

Defense is always solid. They shored up a few positions this year so barring any injuries, which I know we have had some already, but nothing really bad yet, I think we can be dominate again on that side of the ball.

I actually think the second most important thing Panthers need to address besides the running game, is Special Teams. What do coaches stress all the time? Field position. And how many times did the Panthers fumble a Punt Return or have a lousy return forcing the Offense to go 3 and out and make the Defense stay on the field longer? I'm not saying we need to keep Smith back there 24/7 or that we even need a TD every game from that position, but we need someone who's going to be consistent and not put us in a bad position.

My concern is this every other year pattern they seem to be in. If it holds that would make this a good year.

But good enough?Is there good reason to believe the Panthers could win the Super Bowl this year?

Probably not, unless the rookies come through and other players, especially 2nd and third year players, improve.

And unless John Fox can coach outside his rather limited box this year.

Therein lies my true concern.

Yes, I know the Panthers have finished no worse than 7-9 in his tenure.

Yes, I know he took the Panthers to the Super Bowl a few years ago.

However, from my view, had Fox opened up the game a bit more, they would almost certainly have won that Super Bowl. They would have finished every year above .500, and probably in the playoffs at the least.

What I'm saying is that John Fox, like many of the more conservative coaches, may have taken this team as far as he can. Unless he can change his coaching style a bit.

When your team is not as talented as a few others in some areas, you've got to make up for it with coaching, by opening things up a bit, maximizing player abilities as well as opportunities.

John Fox has not done this.

Fact is, for this talented team to have finished under .500 in any year of Fox's tenure--except possibly the 7-9 with all the injuries where they finished strong a few years ago--points clearly to coaching.

Fire assistants all you want, the buck stops with the Fox.

Granted, if the Panthers don't go far this year, management can be blamed as year. Some questionable moves and draft picks have been made over the last few years.

But they still made it to the NFC championship game two years ago. Furthermore, it is up to the coaches to develop players. And it isn't like Fox has no say in who goes or stays.

There may be a few teams in the AFC to tough for the Panthers to defeat in the Super Bowl. Though anything can happen.

But even Chicago and New Orleans are by no means uncatchable.

If the Panthers don't at least make the Super Bowl this year, Fox should be gone.

Fair or not.

To me, it would be fair enough.