A pretty interesting statement by a man who knows the NFC South as well as anyone.
On a conference call with the national media, “Monday Night Football’’ analyst Jon Gruden singled out the Carolina Panthers in a very positive way.
“A sleeper team I like is the Carolina Panthers,’’ Gruden said. “I realize they've lost some good players, but they still have the best 1-2 running combination in football in (Jonathan) Stewart and (DeAngelo) Williams. I don't ever see anybody score on these guys ... They play hard, they play sound, they're going to surprise some people."
I agree with Gruden. Sure there are some questions about young players at a variety of positions. But, as I’ve been saying all along, the Panthers have a good core in place with players like Williams, Stewart, Steve Smith, Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, Jon Beason and Chris Gamble.
That’s enough talent to make a team competitive. If the Panthers catch a few breaks and some of the young guys produce, they could be a playoff team.
On a conference call with the national media, “Monday Night Football’’ analyst Jon Gruden singled out the Carolina Panthers in a very positive way.
“A sleeper team I like is the Carolina Panthers,’’ Gruden said. “I realize they've lost some good players, but they still have the best 1-2 running combination in football in (Jonathan) Stewart and (DeAngelo) Williams. I don't ever see anybody score on these guys ... They play hard, they play sound, they're going to surprise some people."
I agree with Gruden. Sure there are some questions about young players at a variety of positions. But, as I’ve been saying all along, the Panthers have a good core in place with players like Williams, Stewart, Steve Smith, Jordan Gross, Ryan Kalil, Jon Beason and Chris Gamble.
That’s enough talent to make a team competitive. If the Panthers catch a few breaks and some of the young guys produce, they could be a playoff team.
Pat Yasinskas | email
NFL- ESPN NFC South Blogger
- Joined ESPN in 2008
- Began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990
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Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
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