What I Expect To See In Carolina's Monday Night Game At The Giants

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By Eric Quackenbush

The list of expectations is too long for one article, but the question many want answered, is what do I expect to see when the Panthers travel to the Meadowlands to face the New York Giants on ESPN at 8 p.m., on Monday Night Football, is the same thing you want to see: Everything.

I want to see the Panthers execute from start-to-finish. I want to see the new Panthers make a good first impression. I want to see all of these roster hopefuls show they can really provide quality depth.

I want to see quality, Panthers football. And, yeah, there are some specifics to look for. I already know what the Panthers' starters bring to the field of play. I know that right tackle Jeff Otah and left tackle Jordan Gross are two of the best linemen in the league, with their sheer size, and ease of maneuverability.

I already know the kind of impact players like Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart, Muhsin Muhammad, and DeAngelo Williams contribute on offense. I know the kind of playmakers the Panthers have starting on defense, as well.

But for the sake of having a conversation as our hearts and minds prepare for the game and the anticipation grows--finally, some football!!!--here is a top-of-the-list, list to consider for this game...

Everette Brown: Worth Next Year's First-Round Draft Pick?

Let's certainly hope so. Last year, the Panthers went ahead and traded this year's first-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles in order to move up and take Jeff Otah. Hopefully that trend works well for Carolina, as already Brown has shown a lot of pop in his hits and explosiveness in training camp at left defensive end. However, the Panthers currently have Tyler Brayton penciled in to start opposite RDE Julius Peppers.

Monday night we'll see a battle between current LDE Tyler Brayton, Charles Johnson, and Everette Brown. Tyler Brayton, while he seems a favorite to play at defensive tackle, also has a lot of speed, agility, and most importantly, size. While Brown has great speed and seems farily agile, he needs to improve against the run, and he'll have to play with the heart of a lion to make up for what he lacks in size if he wants the starting spot at left defensive end.

On a side note, don't be too shocked if you see Peppers and Brayton switch from their positions and Pep is at LDE and Brayton at RDE. Coach Baker's philosophy is, that the defense and defensive ends need to be good at everything they do. And to do that, Baker must have as many men as possible who are multitalented.

Martin/Munnerlyn/Wesley/Wilson: Who Makes a Claim For the Nickel Cornerback Job?

Right now we can be assured that Chris Gamble is the No. One at left corner and Richard Marshall is No. Two at right corner. But the unanswered question, is who will make the biggest showing to be the team's nickel corner?

Right now it seems that rookie Captain Munnerlyn is leading the pack, with rookie Sherrod Martin on his heels. Behind them is Dante Wesley and C.J. Wilson, even though they are currently listed as No. Two options on the depth charts at LCB and RCB, respectively.

While Munnerlyn will likely see most of his action on punt and kickoff returns, he has made some really acrobatic plays on defending the pass. His most notable pass deflection came against receiver Steve Smith.

Sherrod Martin has shown what a run-stopper he can be--making the change from strong safety in college to cornerback in the pros--with the big hit he put on rookie fullback Tony Fiammetta in practice on Thursday.

C.J. Wilson has also had a good showing during training camp, deflecting some passes, and stating his case to become the third corenerback on the depth chart.

How Good is Goodson?

Right now, it seems as though rookie running back Mike Goodson will be used largely in kickoff return detail. But Goodson has taken some reps with the offense, and shown just how dynamic and explosive he can be from the backfield.

With second year running back Jonathan Stewart still experiencing soreness in his Achilles' tendon from his toe injury in college, Goodson might see more playing time at running back behind DeAngelo Williams.

A fourth round pick for the Panthers, Goodson could be quite the steal.

Now: Jarrett's Time To Shine

Third year receiver Dwayne Jarrett has been given something of a gift. That gift is in all likeliness, Jarrett will see playing time as the team's No. Two wide receiver in the absence of wideout Steve Smith.

Jarrett has spent almost his career in the shadow of Steve Smith. Not a bad shadow to be on the same team with, but his play has been very introverted since being drafted by the Panthers.

His days at Southern Cal were great, and that's the type of possession reeciver the Panthers had hoped they were drafting in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. So far, Jarrett hasn't lived up to much of the hype, so now is his opportunity to showcase his skills and talent.

Also fighting for the fourth receiver position is Kenneth Moore, Ryne Robinson, and Jason Carter. Not much has been said about Marcus Monk during training camp, although I think he could be among those battling for a spot on special teams.

The Rest Of What There Is To See...

Everything, right?

We want to see who plays harder and smarter for the backup quarterback position: Josh McCown, Matt Moore, or Hunter Cantwell? A lot of opinions have been that the battle for the No. Two spot will be between Moore and McCown, but Cantwell has been impressing both coaches and teammates in training camp. That will be the most interesting battle to watch, since experience at that position is questionable.

On the defensive line we have Marlon Favorite, Corvey Irvin, Lonnie Harvey, and George Hypolite seeking to fill the void left by nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu. Right now, it seems that Favorite is the favorite--pun intended--at that position, but the biggest battle to watch will be Hypolite, who has been cut from a couple professional rosters already. He will make a strong case as to why he deserves to be a Panther.

At kickoff and punt return; Ryne Robinson, Captain Munnerlyn, Mike Goodson, Larry Beavers, and possibly Marcus Monk will be among the competition for the return job.

We also want to see how much the defense overall has improved. Will it be stronger against the run and more aggressive in the backfield? Was Ron Meeks the right choice to take over the defense? These questions and probably more will be answered post game on Monday night.