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5 Things the Carolina Panthers Must Do in 2016

By John Sarianides

Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at Levi
Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera reacts during the third quarter of the game against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at Levi /
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The Carolina Panthers will be looking to win it all in 2016 after a 15-1 regular season and a championship run that ended with a loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

The Carolina Panthers still have a bitter taste in their mouth after losing Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos. They’ll need to get over it, however, because it’s a new season now.

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Cam Newton and company should be bitter. After fashioning one of the best seasons in NFL history, the Panthers fell short of their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

Now Newton and the Panthers will try to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke. Most of Carolina’s core remains in place with the exception of one notable omission, Josh Norman.

It’ll be interesting to see if Carolina can replace a core player like Norman. General manager Dave Gettleman addressed the cornerback position in the draft, but replacing a talented player like Norman is not easy.

Here are five things the Carolina Panthers must do in 2016.

1. Replace Josh Norman: As I mentioned, GM Dave Gettleman will attempt to replace Norman with a collection of rookies. Veteran corner Bene Benwikere now becomes the leader of a young secondary that will feature rookie corners Zack Sanchez, James Bradberry and Daryl Worley. All three will be counted on to make an impact in 2016.

2. Integrate Kelvin Benjamin Back Into the Offense: Cam Newton gets his best receiver back this season in Kelvin Benjamin. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula must find a way to integrate the big receiver back into the offense. The Panthers offense centered around the tight end and running the football with Newton and the backs last season. The offensive philosophy will change slightly this season.

3. Get More Base Pressure Defensively: One of the best ways to protect an inexperienced secondary is to not blitz a lot. That means that the defensive line must generate a consistent rush. Luckily for the Panthers, they have one of the best defensive lines in football, so getting consistent four man pressure shouldn’t be an issue.

4. Keep J-Stew Healthy: Jonathan Stewart was healthy for the most part last season, and you saw the positive impact it had on the Panthers offense. If Carolina’s vaunted ground game is to be productive, Stewart must stay on the field.

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5. Avoid the Super Bowl Hangover: Losing the Super Bowl hurts, but the one thing a team that loses the big game cannot do is let it linger into the following season. The Panthers need to move on from losing the Super Bowl and focus on this season.

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