The Carolina Panthers were one of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL last season and heading into 2013 the team is looking to improve on both sides of the ball and as minicamp begins on Tuesday, Cam Newton will have all the attention at quarterback as he matures into his third season in the league.
The Panthers are holding camp this week and the team has questions on both sides of the ball, including at wide receiver behind starters Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell, and on defense with the linebackers and the defensive secondary after losing some players in free agency. Newton put up solid numbers last season, but they didn't compare to his rookie year and after the team got off to a dreadful start, he helped turn things around and head coach Ron Rivera hopes that it will carry over into this season.
After offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski bounced to Cleveland, the team brought in Mike Shula and one of the most interesting things about minicamp will be what he brings to the table. Newton is bigger and stronger than RGIII and he can hold up when he runs and he will be expected to do more in the passing game as the Panthers added a number of players in free agency behind Smith and LaFell. The team also is planning on getting more work for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, as a balanced attack could really open things up for Newton.
Ron Rivera is looking to bolster the defensive line and the team likes what it has in their first two draft picks in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short and adding that size should only help in that area. The wideout position will be the most interesting to watch, as the team has Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn as free agents to join a number of players on the depth chart, including Kealoha Pilares, Armanti Edwards, David Gettis and Joe Adams and that should give Newton time to see who he vibes with the best, Hixon was an excellent third option during his time in New York and he could be the same in the NFC South.
On the line, defensive end Greg Hardy is expecting huge tings for himself and he said that he feels he can get 50 sacks. He has 18 in his career and after having 11 last season while teaming with defensive end Charles Johnson, who had 12.5 sacks, he feels that the team can drastically improve upfront. The team ranked 14th in rushing yards per game allowed and those numbers could improve with the size up front.
