Panthers Need QB, WR and Defensive Lineman in 2011 Draft

The Carolina Panthers were just plain bad in 2010. They now have a new coach in Ron Rivera -- he used to a Bears' coach. The Panthers need a lot more than a new coach to solve their problems.

The Carolina Panthers' 2010 Season Overview

The 2010 season was one of the worst in franchise history for the Panthers; they were the worst team in the league, and their offense was laughable. They finished the season with less than 200 points scored, and their defense allowed over 400. That's a staggering negative point differential pointing to some serious team issues -- the kind that rarely fix themselves within a single season.

The Good

There isn't much, but we can always find something. First Carolina gets to trade away the memories of their 2010 season for a first overall draft pick, which could do wonders, assuming they use it correctly. The Panthers have a pair of, if healthy, great running backs who complement each other very well in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They also have one of the best young defenders in the league, middle linebacker Jon Beason.

The Bad

There's a lot of it and it all starts at quarterback. I don't think Jimmy Clausen has what it takes to be an NFL starter, and while I like Matt Moore, he displayed too much inconsistency in 2010 for me to trust him for 16 games. Whoever is QB really doesn't have many able bodies to throw to anyway, since star receiver Steve Smith is entering his 11th season and appearing to slow down. The Panthers could also use help at offensive line and tight end. Remember the two stellar running backs I talked about earlier? Well, DeAngelo Williams is coming off of a season where he spent the majority of time on injured reserve. Defensively, outside linebacker and cornerback have some big holes. The biggest problem is the defensive line.

The Carolina Panthers Draft Outlook

With a serious need at quarterback, the Panthers could very well draft Auburn's Cam Newton (a multi-threat weapon with a BCS Championship on his belt), or Missouri's Blaine Gabbert (a strong armed gunslinger with excellent vision and release).

The Panthers can also decide to go the way of defense, and prop up a weak defensive line with names like Da'Quan Bowers out of Clemson, Marcel Dareus of Alabama, Nick Fairley of Auburn, or Robert Quinn from North Carolina.

I would look for two possible things from Carolina. Considering their weak position they will try to get an offensive dynamo or, considering that their new coach is Ron Rivera, they will try to get a man that will kick-start their defense; look for a big name.

References:

Carolina Panthers' Website, Mike Mayock, "Draft Preview"

Carolina Panthers' Website, "Statistics"