BY Cory Spiers
coryspiers@gmail.com
At long last, it's finally here.
The NFL is back and its a clean slate for all 32 teams.
I'm prepared to start putting the disastrous 2016-17 season in Carolina behind me, and I think the team is, too.
The Panthers are at San Francisco-- the site of their dreadful Super Bowl 50-- and will look to jump out to 1-0 start against former Falcons assistant and now Niners head coach, Kyle Shanahan.
We saw first-hand this time last year what a Week 1 loss can do to the momentum of your season.
If Carolina is to skate out of California with a win, here is what I'm hoping to see to make it a little easier.
It's an NFL road game, against a veteran quarterback
I've seen a lot of folks around the Internet penciling this in as an automatic win for the Panthers and I wouldn't be so quick to assume that.
First of all, it's an NFL road game. And trust me, those are never easy to win.
Going into hostile territory and winning in this league is difficult. The fans are loud, the environment is different and your weekly routine is shaken up ever so slightly.
Carolina lost its first three road contests last season before winning 13-10 at Los Angeles.
Not only is the game away from home, but the 49ers will also throw veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer at the Panthers.
The Panthers dismantled the visiting Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers 46-27 in Week 2 last season. Don't expect that to happen again.
Hoyer is not Gabbert. And while no one is confusing Hoyer with Tom Brady, at the end of the day he is still a nine-year veteran.
A nine-year veteran who posted a 98 quarterback rating in six games with Chicago last season. The season before that, he appeared in 11 games for Houston and had a 91.4 rating.
The 49ers are Hoyer's sixth NFL team, but don't underestimate the journeyman. Especially given Carolina's questions in the secondary.
Second-year corners James Bradberry and Daryl Worley will start for the Panthers. Bradberry had a good preseason but Worley looked lost at times.
The Panthers safety spots are held down by veterans Kurt Coleman and Mike Adams-- yes, the 36-year-old Mike Adams.
Don't forget, Denver's Trevor Siemian started last season's opener against the Panthers. The mantra going in was "he's not Peyton Manning, he's unproven, he's no threat".
All Siemian did was look quite comfortable while throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown as the Broncos started Carolina's long, lonely spiral from the top.
We learn lessons the hard way in the NFL and if there's anything the Panthers have taught us, it's to not get too cocky heading into a road game against a team led by a quarterback playing the role of relatively unknown commodity.
Don't be so quick to proclaim this one a blowout in Carolina's favor. I still think the Panthers win, but it'll be far from a cake walk.
Christian McCaffrey unleashed?
We saw flashes of rookie Christian McCaffrey's play making ability in the preseason. He got fans excited with a 17-yard touchdown scamper against the Titans in which he flashed his breakaway speed.
The chains will finally come off Sunday against the 49ers. The prized rookie will be free to roam, full-speed, no holds barred.
I imagine we'll get a couple of exciting moments. The kid is a playmaker.
The rumor is McCaffrey will also return punts. If true, it will make every San Francisco punt a breath-holding experience for both sides.
I expect the 49ers to pin their ears back and come after Cam Newton early and often, so having McCaffrey as an option in the flat should pay dividends.
I look for the Panthers to get the former Stanford standout involved early. Time to find out if the hype is deserved when it counts for real.
How are you feeling, Cam?
Panthers coaches are saying Newton is ready to go full-speed against the 49ers after missing all but one series in the preseason with soreness from a March shoulder surgery.
And that might be true. But I also expect there to be a little rust.
Newton threw twice against the Jaguars in the third preseason game and he looked good. The team engineered a beautiful opening drive that set the tone.
I'm interested in seeing how Newton reacts to playing in a meaningful game for the first time since Jan. 1.
Newton might feel fine, but I imagine it'll take a quarter or so for him to start truly feeling like himself.
As I mentioned before, I'd wager having McCaffrey as an option anywhere on the field will help and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is leaner, highly motivated and is coming off a great preseason.
Having a 6-5 target who is trending upward should help Newton settle in.
coryspiers@gmail.com
At long last, it's finally here.
The NFL is back and its a clean slate for all 32 teams.
I'm prepared to start putting the disastrous 2016-17 season in Carolina behind me, and I think the team is, too.
The Panthers are at San Francisco-- the site of their dreadful Super Bowl 50-- and will look to jump out to 1-0 start against former Falcons assistant and now Niners head coach, Kyle Shanahan.
We saw first-hand this time last year what a Week 1 loss can do to the momentum of your season.
If Carolina is to skate out of California with a win, here is what I'm hoping to see to make it a little easier.
It's an NFL road game, against a veteran quarterback
I've seen a lot of folks around the Internet penciling this in as an automatic win for the Panthers and I wouldn't be so quick to assume that.
First of all, it's an NFL road game. And trust me, those are never easy to win.
Going into hostile territory and winning in this league is difficult. The fans are loud, the environment is different and your weekly routine is shaken up ever so slightly.
Carolina lost its first three road contests last season before winning 13-10 at Los Angeles.
Not only is the game away from home, but the 49ers will also throw veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer at the Panthers.
The Panthers dismantled the visiting Blaine Gabbert-led 49ers 46-27 in Week 2 last season. Don't expect that to happen again.
Hoyer is not Gabbert. And while no one is confusing Hoyer with Tom Brady, at the end of the day he is still a nine-year veteran.
A nine-year veteran who posted a 98 quarterback rating in six games with Chicago last season. The season before that, he appeared in 11 games for Houston and had a 91.4 rating.
The 49ers are Hoyer's sixth NFL team, but don't underestimate the journeyman. Especially given Carolina's questions in the secondary.
Second-year corners James Bradberry and Daryl Worley will start for the Panthers. Bradberry had a good preseason but Worley looked lost at times.
The Panthers safety spots are held down by veterans Kurt Coleman and Mike Adams-- yes, the 36-year-old Mike Adams.
Don't forget, Denver's Trevor Siemian started last season's opener against the Panthers. The mantra going in was "he's not Peyton Manning, he's unproven, he's no threat".
All Siemian did was look quite comfortable while throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown as the Broncos started Carolina's long, lonely spiral from the top.
We learn lessons the hard way in the NFL and if there's anything the Panthers have taught us, it's to not get too cocky heading into a road game against a team led by a quarterback playing the role of relatively unknown commodity.
Don't be so quick to proclaim this one a blowout in Carolina's favor. I still think the Panthers win, but it'll be far from a cake walk.
Christian McCaffrey unleashed?
We saw flashes of rookie Christian McCaffrey's play making ability in the preseason. He got fans excited with a 17-yard touchdown scamper against the Titans in which he flashed his breakaway speed.
The chains will finally come off Sunday against the 49ers. The prized rookie will be free to roam, full-speed, no holds barred.
I imagine we'll get a couple of exciting moments. The kid is a playmaker.
The rumor is McCaffrey will also return punts. If true, it will make every San Francisco punt a breath-holding experience for both sides.
I expect the 49ers to pin their ears back and come after Cam Newton early and often, so having McCaffrey as an option in the flat should pay dividends.
I look for the Panthers to get the former Stanford standout involved early. Time to find out if the hype is deserved when it counts for real.
How are you feeling, Cam?
Panthers coaches are saying Newton is ready to go full-speed against the 49ers after missing all but one series in the preseason with soreness from a March shoulder surgery.
And that might be true. But I also expect there to be a little rust.
Newton threw twice against the Jaguars in the third preseason game and he looked good. The team engineered a beautiful opening drive that set the tone.
I'm interested in seeing how Newton reacts to playing in a meaningful game for the first time since Jan. 1.
Newton might feel fine, but I imagine it'll take a quarter or so for him to start truly feeling like himself.
As I mentioned before, I'd wager having McCaffrey as an option anywhere on the field will help and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is leaner, highly motivated and is coming off a great preseason.
Having a 6-5 target who is trending upward should help Newton settle in.
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