Dave’s Football Blog

This might be the first time since probably the Marc Malone era in Pittsburgh that I’m not truly looking forward to the start of the NFL season.

One reason is that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-game schedule features eight teams that made the playoffs last year, and Mike Tomlin’s idea of improving a shoddy offensive line was to draft more running backs and bring in rejects from the Carolina Panthers. Dude, there’s a reason Carolina cut Justin Hartwig, and it’s not because Ryan Kalil knows Will Ferrell.

Then there are the Panthers, who seemed to be moving along just fine until Ken Lucas found out that you wouldn’t like Steve Smith when he’s angry.

Now Mr. Punchy is out for the first two games of the season against San Diego and Chicago, meaning they only have a realistic chance of winning one of them, assuming Lucas’ vision isn’t so blurred that he can’t see Rex Grossman throwing right at him. More importantly, the lack of Smith could easily make the Panthers even more one-dimensional. In the wake of Smith’s absence, John Fox will end up giving the ball to Jonathan Stewart on 3rd and long five times a game. He might give it to DeAngelo Williams once. For Fox, that’s the height of offensive imagination.

Still, it’s not like you can trade Mr. Punchy. What could you get for him? Chad Johnson? Show me one Panthers fan or player who wants to see him here. Torry Holt? That would be a better fit; his brother’s here, he’s said he’d like to finish his career here, and he might be more willing to mentor the youngsters. He’s also three years older than Smith and just starting to slow down. Combine him with Muhsin Muhammad, and you’ve got the oldest receiving tandem this side of Tampa Bay. No, the Rams would have to throw in a first-rounder to make that trade work, and they wouldn’t.

The only thing this mess will create is an opportunity for everyone else. Guys like D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett, Jason Carter and Ryne Robinson have to step up and prove that this team has more than one weapon in the passing game. And you know what? I think I might put my money on Carter, and not just because the practice-squader is such a longshot. Hackett’s legs snap more easily than Smith’s temper, Robinson hurt his knee and could be limited to special teams, and I’ve heard no buzz about Jarrett in this camp. All the buzz right now is about Carter.

Keep an eye on that kid. He might be the only thing that makes Carolina’s passing game worth watching in early September. Maybe that will get me a little more excited about the start of the NFL season.

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