ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

Our final installment of today's team-by-team mailbags is on the Carolina Panthers.

Lee in Charlotte writes: Not sure if this is where to write for the weekley mailbag but here goes either way...First of all great job this year Pat! I think ESPN had a great idea by attaching one blogger to each division this year and I have really enjoyed your coverage of the NFC South and my Carolina Panthers this year!! That being said my question is this, what do you think Deangelo's chances at MVP are for this year? I haven't heard his name mentioned at all but he has had an amazing year!! He is averageing nearly 5 and a half yards a carry on his way to 1337 yards and a league leading 20 TDs (including his 2 through TD receptions). Impressive stats for any starting RB but even more impressive when considering that he is sharing the load with a very talented rookie in Stewart. Any thoughts?

Pat Yasinskas: No question DeAngelo Williams has had a breakout year and he seems to have gotten stronger as the season has gone on. At the very least, he has put himself into the conversation for MVP. My guess is that award will end up going to a quarterback, but Williams at least deserves some consideration.

Jonathan in Honolulu: Pat, Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan of your blogs. I'm a native of NC serving in the Army here in Hawaii and I'm a bigger fan of Panther's Football. I would like to point out something that maybe nobody outside my little hometown is aware of. Last night's game featured the two best running games in the NFL (in my opinion). Those two running attacks are lead by fullbacks from Ledford Senior High School in smalltown Thomasville, NC. I had the priveledge of watching Madison Hedgecock and Brad Hoover run for the Ledford Panthers while I was a student there and would like to send congratulations to both of them on the success they (and the running backs the block for) have had. Thanks.

Pat Yasinskas: That must have been a heck of a high school team. One other thing a lot of people forget about Brad Hoover is he was a pretty good tailback in college. He made the Panthers as an undrafted rookie and was very undersized. He took that opportunity, bulked up and has been a very solid fullback for a long time.

Ed in Boone, NC, writes: Why didn't John Fox throw to Steve Smith in the second half. He continues to be so monolithic in his play calls.

Pat Yasinskas: I hear you on that one. Steve Smith was only targeted twice in the second half, which is pretty ridiculous. The guy might have been the best player on the field, but he didn't get a chance to prove it. I thought he was going to have a big game early on, but the Panthers seemed to forget about him as time went on. You have to give the Giants some credit, but they weren't doing anything special. Most of the night, they had Corey Webster playing Smith with a safety leaning that way to provide help. But Smith wasn't getting full double coverage. I know the wind might have made it tough to throw the ball, but the Panthers barely even looked at Smith in the second half.