My Steve Smith NFL Blog

The Carolina Panthers haven't started out their 09' season as well as they hoped for undoubtedly. Nothing has gone according to plan, Jake Delhomme isn't productive, the wide receivers haven't impressed much, the defense isn't what it was before, the whole team is in the dumps. As strong as the NFC South is now with the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, they better start making things happen before they are looking at a 6-10 season.

The Panthers second half of the season schedule is brutal - at New England Patriots, at New York Giants, at New York Jets, and at New Orleans Saints. While the Carolina Panthers weren't the over whelming favorites to win the NFC South, no one expected them to play this badly and unorganized. When teams start out this dreadful, they will struggle the rest of the season to catch up to the leaders in the division.

Can the Panthers turn their season around? Yes they can because they do have the talent to do so. The Panthers need to create more turnovers on defense and give Jake Delhomme more chances to use WR Steve Smith, as of now, Steve Smith isn't even on the radar as one of the best wide receivers in the league. It was just a couple years ago when Steve Smith was a MVP candidate.

If the Panthers expect to compete in the division they must improve on defense or otherwise quarterbacks Drew Brees and Matt Ryan will destroy the Panthers defense.

The Panthers either have had great seasons or terrible seasons - looking back over the course of their history since 1995. Panthers fans hope the 09' season won't be disaster but a season of redemption. Jake Delhomme can not keep throwing interceptions and putting his team in a hole if they hope to win football games.

Talk more about this situation at the Carolina Panthers forum and play some fantasy football at RootZoo.