SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Here are five observations from the Panthers' training camp.

Camp Classic Moment

Anyone who witnessed the scene last summer when place kicker and all-around good guy John Kasay blew out his left (kicking) kneecap on his first field goal attempt of camp still has a difficult time forgetting the shrieks of pain from the 10-year veteran. "Absolutely gruesome," said wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. "Just thinking about it sends chills up and down your spine." Kasay originally injured his knee in a late-season 1999 game at Green Bay while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff. His recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament appeared to be an incredibly quick one, but he avoided kicking a ball at full strength until the 2000 camp opened seven months after the injury. Kasay was only kicking through the ball, not even approaching it full speed, when he suffered the second injury. As he made contact with the ball, his kneecap fractured, essentially splitting in two, and Kasay fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He screamed immediately for the trainers, left the field on a golf cart, and the catastrophic injury set an ominous tone for the entire camp. Although Kasay discusses the event, he prefers not to dwell on an injury some felt might end his career. The epilogue to the tragedy, though, is a story of perseverance and confidence. The Panthers believed enough in Kasay that they didn't even try this spring to re-sign Joe Nedney, the kicker who replaced him and set a team single-season record for field goal accuracy. On Thursday, at the Panthers first dress practice of this year's camp, Kasay hammered home all five field goal tries from distances of 30-35 yards. "Not bad," he allowed, "for a cranky old knee." — Len Pasquarelli

1. Don't mention the term "microfracture surgery" here at Camp Wounded Knee. Wide receiver Patrick Jeffers, who earlier this week underwent his third knee surgery in a year, is still trying to recover from the controversial procedure performed approximately five months ago. Defensive end Chuck Smith was released on Monday after he couldn't make it back from the procedure, which was an attempt in part to address chronic arthritis in his right knee. Former defensive tackle Eric Swann, another "microfracture" patient, retired after playing only the 2000 season for the Panthers. In fact, the Panthers' fortunes for 2001 might just hinge on, well, the condition of the knee hinges of several players. Jeffers had a breakout season in 1999 when he caught 12 touchdown passes, but blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the first preseason game of 2000. Then as he was rehabilitating, he found that his left knee required the "microfracture" surgery. The latest surgery for Jeffers, an athroscopic procedure to clean up some cartilage, was on his right knee. There is some concern that Jeffers might not be able to play until October. Also standout tight end Wesley Walls is limited in camp as he still tries to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained last season.

2. The free agent acquisition of tailback Richard Huntley could spark Tshimanga Biakabutuka to his best season ever in the league. Huntley was signed after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers and, despite a history marked by off-field instability, he is a back with sufficient talent to push for a starting job if he ever stays healthy and keeps his mind on football. Team officials suggest that the mere presence of Huntley has forced the often-injured Biakabutuka to work much harder in the offseason. "I think he feels some pressure, not just from (Huntley), but to do well in general," said personnel director Jack Bushofsky. "It's been his most productive offseason by far." That may be the case, but Biakabutuka sounded a problematic note this week when he allowed that the turf toe that slowed in last year is still bothering him. This is a key season for Biakabutuka. He is entering his sixth season in the league, has never rushed for more than 718 yards, and never started more than 11 games. His contract runs through 2002, but unless he produces this year, the Panthers may decide to go in a different direction next spring. Like everyone else on offense, he should benefit from a dramatically revamped line unit.

3. Speaking of the offensive line, assistant coach Paul Boudreau feels the unit is progressing even a little quicker than he felt it might. "These are veteran guys and they know what they're doing," he said. After allowing 69 sacks in 2000, the fourth-most in NFL history, the Panthers upgraded the line by adding three veteran free agents in Todd Steussie (Minnesota), Jeff Mitchell (Baltimore) and Kevin Donnalley (Miami). Given the 2000 performance, the Panthers had little choice, and so the unit returns only one starter from a year ago. The club invested $9.7 million in signing bonuses and 2001 base salaries for the three veteran newcomers but, even after only two days of live practices, the improvement in the unit is notable. Although he has suffered through two straight subpar seasons, Steussie still provides the Panthers a proven weakside pass protector. Mitchell will start at center and Donnalley at one of the right guard spot and the trio's experience should help accelerate the progress of third-year right tackle Chris Terry. "I'm not worried about what happened here in the past," Steussie said. "This is an entirely new unit, (so) judge us on what we do this year, OK?"

4. There are a lot of people who feel that coach George Seifert, 15-17 in his two seasons with the Panthers, could retire if Carolina doesn't demonstrate significant progress this year. The rationale is that the team is in the midst of a rebuilding phase and that Seifert, a coach more accustomed to a veteran roster, might not want to stick around long enough to see the overhauling all the way through. At least early in camp, however, Seifert actually seems fairly intrigued by the prospect of coaching a team that is markedly greener than a year ago. "I'm excited," said Seifert, who holds the record for being the fastest coach in league history to 100 victories. "It might be sort of a morbid excitement, because I don't always know what to expect, but it's still excitement. I still enjoy the game and the challenge." Seifert has three years remaining on his contract and owner Jerry Richardson has been very supportive. Of course, Richardson was the same owner who awarded former head coach Dom Capers a 10-year contract and then fired him two seasons later.

5. A lot can happen between now and the final roster cutdown, but one longshot rookie who bears watching during preseason games is fullback R.J. Bowers. Not only is he trying to beat the odds by making the club as an undrafted college free agent, but Bowers is 27 years old as well. He was a workhorse tailback at Grove City (Pa.) College and holds eight NCAA records for all divisions and 11 Division III marks. Bowers rushed for 7,353 yards in college and scored 562 points, with 91 rushing touchdowns and 92 scores overall. He posted 35 games with 100 yards or more and 16 games with 200 or more yards. Bowers got a late start in college because he played six years of professional baseball, most of that time with the Houston Astros organization. The native of Honolulu won't get to carry the ball much at fullback in the Carolina offense, but the staff likes his toughness and he has displayed some signs he will develop into a good blocker and receiver.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.