Ooohhh Carolina!!

To describe the Carolina Panthers season outlook in a word – bleak.

The preseason, meant to audition potential new teammates and get the kinks out of the regulars proved to be a four-game display of the incompetence and lack of focus of the first string quarterback, the head coach and the defensive and offensive coordinators.

This is shaping up to be the longest season in the Cats 15-year history. If losing four straight preseason games weren’t enough to start the season, a pair of front office departures and the subsequent firing of defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac.

If that wasn’t enough of a rough start, injuries have been pouring in since the first week of training camp. Defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu for the season to a torn Achilles. Linebacker Jon Beason, offensive tackle Jeff Otah, receivers Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad have all been sidelined at some point this season for injuries that range from twisted ankles to tweaked hamstrings and shoulders.

With all that going on, it’s no wonder the Cats remain winless going into the fourth week of the season. Week 4 is the Panthers’ bye week and fans everywhere are hoping the team is using the off time to regroup and figure out what has gone wrong in the first three games of the season.

Week 1 versus the Philly Eagles turned out to be a disaster ending in a 28-point blowout. Week 2 proved to be better for the Cats against NFC South rival Atlanta, but they still left the Peach State without a win. In Monday Night Football in Week 3, the team worked well together to give the game to Dallas.

Jake Delhomme, looking like the same quarterback from last year’s playoffs, has been unable to connect with Steve Smith or Mushin Muhammad consistently. The one two punch of Jonathan Stewart and D’Angelo Williams has proven to be the team’s saving grace. Sadly, the offensive line has been unable to open up gaps for Williams and Stewart when they care making stupid mistakes that cost the team far too many yards in penalties.

While the offense has certainly done its part to cause the team detriment, the defense has yet to show up in a major way. Franchise player, and my future ex-husband, Julius Peppers has not made much of an impact this season. Peppers has been vocal about his desire to leave Carolina and play in a 3-4 defense rather than the 4-3 Carolina usually runs. Because he was made a franchise player, any team looking to nab Peppers will have to pony up $16 million. So, he won’t be going anywhere until next season.

Unless Carolina starts to make changes soon, the season will be over in a few weeks at the end of the regular season.

The Panthers traditionally start slow, but a winless preseason and a loss of the first three games is virtually unprecedented. As a 15-year fan, it pains me to admit that the only way we’re going to get out of this rut is to light a fire under John Fox and the choke artist Jake Delhomme.

As a diehard fan, I won’t falter during this tough time, but I think we’re in for a long ass season.

Submitted by Smarty Jones.