Brenton Bersin, WR, Wofford
Will Blackwell, OG, LSU
Nate Chandler, DT, UCLA
Derek Dennis, OG, Temple
Jared Green, WR, Southern
Wes Kemp, WR, Missouri
Princeton McCarty, RB, Idaho
Matt Reynolds, OT, BYU
Lyndon Rowells, RB, Humboldt State
Ryan Van Bergen, DE, Michigan
Rico Wallace, WR, Shenandoah
By Jake Saltzman
In 2011, the Panthers used the draft to select two offensive linemen. By week two, they were forced to start undrafted free agent Byron Bell against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
By taking guard Amini Silatolu with their first and only scheduled pick on day two of the draft, the Panthers aimed to ensure such would not happen again this year.
Silatolu joins a talented group of linemen in Charlotte, and could potentially start in week one lined up next to Pro Bowl tackle Ryan Kalil. Silatolu, the highest ever draftee out of division-two Midwestern State, is noted for a physically aggressive style of play and solid versatility.
With last year’s sixth round selection Zachary Williams healthy and ready to compete for time at center, along with Bell and Lee Ziemba, Amini Silatolu gives the Panthers four 1st or 2nd year pros with the abilities necessary to succeed in the competitive NFC South.
The Panthers added girth on the offensive line on Friday night, as they picked up Midwest St OG Amini Silatolu with their second round pick.
Here’s a scouting report on Silatolu:
Positives:
Plays with aggression. Very heavy-handed with power in his punch. Has a nasty on-field playing temperament and seeks to bury defenders in the run game. Has a strong base, plays with power and relishes finishing blocks. Climbs defenders and can run the field and pick off multiple defenders. Likes to play and it shows — outstanding on-field energy and tempo. Street-tough and does not back down from a challenge. Good athlete — carries his weight well. Outstanding Combine positional drill performance and movement skill in agility drills. Has a 311?2-inch vertical jump.
Negatives:
Shows some small-school rawness in his play and can improve kick slide and hand use. Footwork is undisciplined. Will fall off blocks overaggressively attacking. Character will have to be evaluated closely. Academics have been an issue throughout career and some mental lapses show in his play — is not always quick to sort out the blitz or anticipate where pressure is coming.
Summary:
Tough, physical, nasty small-college left tackle who projects to guard in the pros. Stands out on the field and dominates lesser competition, but did not play in any all-star games to prove himself and has some off-field issues and intelligence concerns that could push down his draft status. Grades out like a first-round talent and should be able to step into a starting lineup readily on the inside and develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber performer with simple assignments. Scouts have compared him to New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl OG Jahri Evans, but he is much more athletic pulling and playing in space and tape will draw instant man-crushes from good evaluators. Can win with power or quickness and fit any type of blocking scheme.
By Jake Saltzman
Carolina was one of only four teams not to trade their top ten draft selection this year, and shortly before 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, linebacker Luke Kuechly became the newest member of the Panthers.
The highest rated linebacker in this year’s draft, Kuechly brings both coverage ability and youth to a group of linebackers that struggled last year after Jon Beason was lost to injury.
Kuechly, who did not attend the draft, was informed of his top-ten selection at his draft party at his family home in Cincinnati. The Panthers were at or near the bottom of the league in several key defensive categories last season, so the Kuechly pick fills a glaring void for Ron Rivera and company.
A defense that for many years was spearheaded by Beason, the selection of Kuechly and the emergence of James Anderson and Greg Hardy symbolize a changing of the guard for a franchise already much improved on offense.
Cam Newton has helped earn the Carolina Panthers two national television appearances in the 2012 season.
The Panthers host the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants in a Thursday night game on Sept. 20 on the NFL Network and play at Philadelphia on ESPN Monday Night Football on Nov. 26. The contest against the Giants will be the Panthers first nationally televised contest since hosting Miami in 2009. Carolina hasn’t played on Monday night since visiting Dallas in 2009.
The Panthers open the season on the road for the third straight season, facing Tampa Bay on Sept. 9 before returning home Sept. 16 to host New Orleans in the home opener.
One of the most intriguing games will be Nov. 11 when coach John Fox returns to Charlotte along with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in a 1 p.m. game.
Fox spent nine seasons with the Panthers before leaving after the season 2011 season.
“We had a strong finish last year and hope to maintain that momentum for the 2012 season,” Panthers second-year head coach Ron Rivera said. “We play in one of the best divisions in the NFL and play all three division teams plus the New York Giants in the first four games. It’s going to be a challenge, but one that excites us.”
Carolina finished just 6-10 last season but made major strides offensively behind Newton, The Associated Press Rookie of the Year.
The Panthers closed the 2011 season by winning four of their last six games and jumped 25 positions in total offense, finishing seventh after being last the previous year.
Carolina also tied for fifth in scoring last season.
The Panthers four-game win improvement on the field was reflected in the television ratings with a 25 percent increase in viewership throughout the Carolinas.
The Panthers are hoping for a strong start at home where they have four of their first six against New Orleans (Sept. 16), the Giants (Sept. 20), Seattle (Oct. 7) and Dallas (Oct. 21). The Cowboys game follows the Panthers bye week Oct. 14.
The Panthers close the season at New Orleans for the second straight year.
The season should be a reunion of sorts for Rivera, who will return to all of his previous NFL coaching stops as the Panthers face Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego on the road.
PRESEASON:
Sat. Aug. 11 HOUSTON TEXANS, 7 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS, 8 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 26 at New York Jets, 8 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 30 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:30 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON:
Sun. Sept. 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:15 p.m.
Sun. Sept. 16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1 p.m.
Thurs. Sept. 20 NEW YORK GIANTS, 8:20 p.m.
Sun. Sept. 30 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Sun. Oct. 7 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:15 p.m.
Sun. Oct. 14 BYE
Sun. Oct. 21 DALLAS COWBOYS, 1 p.m.
Sun. Oct. 28 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 4 at Washington Redskins, 1 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 11 DENVER BRONCOS, 1 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 18 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 1 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 26 at Philadelphia Eagles, 8 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 2 at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.
Sun. Dec. 9 ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 p.m.
Sun. Dec 16 at San Diego Chargers, 4:05 p.m.
Sun. Dec 23 OAKLAND RAIDERS, 1 p.m.
Sun. Dec 30 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m.
Last season at this time many so called “experts” were slamming the Panthers for proclaiming to take Cam Newton with the number one overall pick.
A year later, he’s the starting QB for the Cats, and is coming off a season where he threw for 4051 yards and completed 60 percent of his passes.
Last year Newton was unable to workout with the team and coaches until training camp due to the lockout, but is already talking like he’s ready for the 2012 season.
Newton feels his improvement going into his second season as an NFL quarterback “is through the roof” according to the Associated Press. The NFL’s Rookie of the Year says that with an offseason to review game film and work on areas in which he needs improvement, he’s grown.
He also says it will help his growth to have wide receiver Steve Smith around. The Panthers’ receiver recently signed a three-year contract extension.
It was around last year at this time that there were rumors the Panthers were going to move wide receiver Steve Smith.
One year later, not only has that not happened, but reports are Smith and the Cats have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Pro Football Weekly reports the extension, which runs through the 2016 season, is similar in structure to the three-year contract that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne signed last month.
A 2001 third round pick out of Utah, Smith is the Panthers’ all-time leader with 699 receptions for 10,278 yards and 59 touchdowns during his 11-year career. Last season, Smith led the Panthers with 79 receptions for 1,394 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors for the fifth time in his career.
Smith was entering the final season of his contract and was due a $7.75 million in base salary with a cap number of $10.713 million. With the Panthers pressed up against the cap — with less than $1 million remaining on their adjusted cap number of $126.206 million — the extension with Smith allows them to prorate a signing bonus over four seasons to reduce his cap imprint and clear cap space.
The Panthers “really like” third-year wide receiver Brandon LaFell and believe he is “poised for a breakout” this season according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Some observers have pointed to David Gettis’ return from a torn ACL as reason to think Carolina is comfortable at receiver, but LaFell’s expanded role might mean more inside the organization.
The Panthers have made no attempt to re-sign free agent Legedu Naanee. LaFell, who played behind Naanee for most of last season, flashed big-play ability while leading the team in “catch rate” (64.3 percent) and averaging 17 yards per reception.
April 29th, 2012 
Matt Loede 
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