Rotoworld's pre-draft NFL lineup rankings

[Cary Kollins]

Evan Silva ranks every team's starting lineups. Can't be mad at where he put us. Does say we have "mammoth, top-five potential" if Cam can put a full season together. Seattle is ranked #1 fwiw.

complete list: http://www.rotoworld...p-rankings?pg=1

24. Carolina Panthers

QB: Cam Newton

RB: Jonathan Stewart

FB: Mike Tolbert

WR: Steve Smith

WR: Brandon LaFell

TE: Greg Olsen

LT: Jordan Gross

LG: Amini Silatolu

C: Ryan Kalil

RG: Geoff Hangartner

RT: Byron Bell

Offensive Overview: For Carolina's offense to reach its mammoth, top-five potential, it will need Newton to cobble together a full season of outstanding performance. In 2011, his passing production tailed off in the second half after a blazing start. In 2012, Cam's first half was startlingly rough before a red-hot finish. This is Newton's third NFL season and time for him to develop into a consistent player. His weapons are above average but can afford to be supplemented at wideout, upgrading on LaFell. Carolina could also use more talent on the right side of the offensive line.

LE: Charles Johnson

RE: Greg Hardy

DT: Sione Fua

DT: Colin Cole*

MLB: Luke Kuechly

WLB: Thomas Davis

SLB: Jon Beason

LCB: Captain Munnerlyn

RCB: Josh Norman

FS: Charles Godfrey

SS: Mike Mitchell*

Defensive Overview: Like Newton, Carolina's defense came on strong in the second half of 2012, providing reason for 2013 optimism. Johnson and Hardy are a dynamic rush-end duo and the linebacker corps can be as good as any if Beason (knee, Achilles') returns healthy. The Panthers have settled on moving Godfrey from strong to free safety, but now must fill the former position while somehow unearthing two legitimate starting corners. Carolina's defensive tackle situation is annually cloudy. This is a roster with some great individual pieces, but too many glaring liabilities to come in high on the lineup rankings. Perhaps most troubling, rookie GM Dave Gettleman only has five draft picks this year, and just two in the top 100.

[TheRumGone]

Agree with all of the overviews. The lineups are not gonna be that, especially defensively.

[thefuzz]

Pretty good overall analysis, however I don't think that we will finish in the top 5 offensively.

Mainly because of the issues on the O line.

[Louie]

If we could just sign a FA O lineman and draft another one, we might be ok there.

[CarolinaNCSU]

ESPN had us at #20 on their power rankings, which I would agree a little more with. 24 is a bit too low IMO.

[SCP]

Perhaps most troubling, rookie GM Dave Gettleman only has five draft picks this year, and just two in the top 100.

I loathe you Marty Hurney

[TheRed]

Perhaps most troubling, rookie GM Dave Gettleman only has five draft picks this year, and just two in the top 100.

Yet huddlers want to draft another running back, lol.

[Mr Mojo Risin]

ESPN had us at #20 on their power rankings, which I would agree a little more with. 24 is a bit too low IMO.

With 4 consecutive losing seasons I'm surprised we aren't lower especially with that secondary lineup we have no playmakers or ball hawks at either db position except nickleback hopefully some of these young guys step up

[rayzor]

Pretty good overall analysis, however I don't think that we will finish in the top 5 offensively.

Mainly because of the issues on the O line.

and lack of playmaking receivers.

and mike shula.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Man we really need to address DT and OL soon. That lineup is scaring me

[panther4life]

Okay so I successfully googled how to take a screen shot.(pff stats) How can I post those screen shots from a mac to share with you guys?

[Frizzy350]

The perception of our team is startlingly low. Whenever I tell people in my area (usually fugtard jets fans) that I'm a Panthers fan they always say something like "Oh what didn't you guys win like 4 games last year". Going 6-10 and 7-9 are hardly BAD years. Yes they are average to below average, but you also have to factor in how well we play against top tier competition.

IDK I find it shocking that so many believe we on the same level as like the Cardinals and Raiders.

[panthers55]

The thing you have to always remember when they rank individual players and then cobble them together and rank their ability is that it isn't just how good the pieces are arithmatically or when added together but how they play as a total unit. Teams that play well together don't always have to have the best athletes and conversely Philly showed us that having the best individual players doesn't always equate to having the best team. Our defense last year didn't have the best athletes and guys like Hardy and D Edwards as well as the back 7 played much better than expected. So these ranking mean absolutely nothing.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

ESPN had us at #20 on their power rankings, which I would agree a little more with. 24 is a bit too low IMO.

I agree 20th sound more reasonable. Our roster only looks like it's #24 when you apply our #30 ranked coaching staff to the picture.