PANTHERS 101

The Panthers finished with just a 6-10 record this season – not a mark that most would consider praiseworthy. However, when you consider all the circumstances including a short offseason, a plethora of injuries, a brand new coaching staff and a young quarterback, 6-10 isn’t bad – especially when you’re coming off a 2-14 season the previous year.

Curt Menefee would agree. The NFL on FOX host is officially on the Carolina Panthers bandwagon in 2012. He gloated specifically about Cam Newton and how he has completely revamped the team’s offense.

“Big difference between two wins and six wins,” Menefee said. “Simply because of the way that Cam plays, he brought Steve Smith back to life, the way that offense plays, it got more attention.”

Menefee went out to defend former head coach John Fox, who has done an excellent job in Denver, and declare the Panthers as a team on the rise over the next few seasons.

 “(Poor seasons in the past) wasn’t a reflection on (former head coach John) Fox. He did a great job in Denver, sometimes there is a just a need for change…This is a franchise you better watch out for.”

Menefee wasn’t the only member of the media to back the Panthers in the upcoming seasons. Former head coach and current NFL Network Steve Mariucci also believes that Cam Newton is destined for even more success.

“But boy oh boy, did he take the league by storm. It's really fun to see,” Mariucci said. “And Cam is growing up fast. He is in the fast lane to being a heck of a quarterback. So that's really going to stir it up in the NFC South.”

Mariucci also commended offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski for his job maximizing Newton’s talents in the Carolina offense. He also believes that a head coaching position will be imminent for Chudzinski if he continues to do well orchestrating the Panthers attack.

“I thought he'd be a little more in play this year. He will. His name was out there,” Mariucci said. “And if he has another good offensive year, finding a way for more wins – not just passing yards – but more wins, I think he's going to get a shot next year.”

It’s good to see some of the football pundits acknowledging the Panthers’ bright future as a franchise. The Panthers really did strike gold with Cam Newton in last year’s draft. In fact, most Carolina fans are probably happy that the team drafted Newton after Andrew Luck chose to stay at Stanford for his senior season.

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