As we head off into the offseason (yeah, playoffs start this weekend, but it’s the offseason nevertheless), I sat down and tried to come up with a list of changes I feel are necessary to make the Carolina Panthers a team to be reckoned with next season. This team looked at times like it needed many changes to get back on pace, but other times showed signs of brilliance. The good news, there are just a few short steps that need to be taken care of, before we’re back where we should be.

Quarterbacks
Jake Delhomme will be the starter next season with Matt Moore as a very capable backup. If things are done right, Jake will last another season, winning an elusive Super Bowl title, and then maybe one more season after that. Matt Moore, in the meantime should be groomed as the quarterback of the future. He played incredibly well in leading the team, albeit while on a leash (he wasn’t throwing all day like Peyton Manning), and did exactly as he needed to do. Matt is a very capable and is can almost be foreseen as Carolina’s first genuine Franchise Quarterback. (Kerry Collins *should* have been it, but he’s a douche.) David Carr? Do I really need to talk about him? Cut him.

Running Backs
I’m going to say it because it needs to be said: get rid of DeShaun Foster. I like the guy, but he’s been detrimental to our running game. Certainly the offensive line has been guilty of problems as well, but DeShaun simply won’t ever be a star running back. DeAngelo Williams, on the other hand has a bright future, as evidenced in a terrific Week 17 game against the Buccaneers. At the very least, start Williams over Foster next season.

Wide Receivers
It’s always said in the news that Carolina still needs a solid #2 receiver. I think we would have had that in Drew Carter this season had Delhomme stayed healthy. What needs to be looked at this offseason is how much Ryne Robinson and Dwayne Jarrett are expected to improve. They each showed flashes of brilliance *at the receiver position,* but clearly haven’t yet become full-NFL caliber wide receivers. That leaves out Keary Colbert. Colbert has had numerous chances to be that number 2 receiver, but hasn’t yet stepped up to the plate. Since his contract expires now, it’s in everyone’s best interest to just let him test free agency. He still could be good in the future, but he’s not worth cultivating anymore year. If there’s a chance we could resign him for less, that may be a viable option. On the other hand, while a veteran receiver could be good *again,* it’s something that doesn’t absolutely have to be done, unless Colbert leaves the squad.

Tight Ends
This position is set. We don’t have an Antonio Gates, but Jeff King and Daunte Rosario are both quality draft picks and can hold down the position for quite some time.

Offensive Line
This unit really has no excuse, they weren’t decimated by injuries like in year’s past, even with the few minor scrapes and bruises they picked up. Ryan Kalil has been a disappointment, but could still develop into a solid center. With that said, however, there should be very little to no changes in the line next season. Maybe along the backups, but what seems to be the issue is the lack of a familiarity and maturity that should come this offseason. As always, pick up available veteran linesman if the deal’s right.

Defensive Line
Where to start? This line severely underachieved all season and never became the dominant threat it should have been until the last few weeks. The good news is that Charles Johnson and Stanley McClover seem to have developed into solid defensive ends and could realistically replace Mike Rucker on the right side. It was, after all, towards the end of the season when those two players were playing more that this line improved dramatically. Kris Jenkins looks like he’s going to command a steep sum to stay and with how the Coaches view him, I would not be surprised if he goes elsewhere. That other DT, Maake Komeauto, had two of the best defensive sacks all season and might still have promise come next season. What does that mean? Draft a defensive tackle. And highly. As for Julius Peppers? Do not give him the biggest contract next season. He simply doesn’t deserve it. A player like him is expected to be productive, regardless of what’s going on around him. He wasn’t and that to me is a problem. Should he be resigned? Of course, there’s no question, but he simply does not command top dollar after that horrible last season. But I would encourage performance escalators, even if that indeed set him as the best paid defensive end. As long as he’s leading the league in sacks, we won’t have an issue.

Linebackers
Thomas Davis and Jon Beason are going to be mainstays here for quite some time. They both are incredibly solid and will hold down this unit for many years. Beason even deserves the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Apparently his only competition is some linebacker out of San Fran. Are you kidding me? Carolina beat ‘em, so give the award to Beason. Dan Morgan needs to be let go as he’s been replaced. He’s a great player and he’ll be missed as he’s meant a lot to the team, but we simply can’t keep having these injuries. I feel sorry for him, but he’s no longer truly needed with Beason in the MLB. His contract money could be used elsewhere. Adam Steward and N’ail Diggs are showing signs of promise and should be able to maintain that third linebacker spot.

Cornerbacks
Keep all of them were they are. Richard Marshall has played incredible all season, minus that T.O. touchdown against Dallas, but all of these players are still good enough to man the position as they are. The secondary was indeed one of the good parts about this defense. Of course, contract years are coming up and Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble should only be kept if they can improve on their past performances.

Safeties
This is surprisingly the most improved area for this football team. So much so, that most of you probably don’t even know who started here all season. They were that good in keeping their coverage solid. Although there were a significant lack of INTs, there were a tremendous amount of hits, courtesy of the best pickup this season, Chris Harris. He should be a mainstay for the next several years. The other four safeties are solid enough, but I’d be getting nit picky if I had to say who stays and who goes. That will be left up to the coaches, who have seen those players a lot better than I have. What does that mean? Nobody else was a star, but they were all solid.

Special Teams
I would say never start a rookie as your punt returner ever again. But that would be making too much sense.

Coaches
See my other entry. Don’t fire Fox. Don’t fire Hurney. Don’t fire any of the staff. Except maybe the Special Teams coach.

There you have it. That’s it. My list of changes. Something to mention real quick, however:

At the end of the season, nearly every playmaker was rookie or a sophomore: Matt Moore, DeAngelo Williams, Jeff King, Daunte Rosario, Drew Carter (alright, he’s a third year, bite me), Keary Colbert, Dwayne Jarret, and Ryne Robinson. Out on defensive, Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Charles Johnson, and Stanley McClover.

Just like that. We’re a young team. Tell me that’s not a good thing.