The game not only gave fantasy owners some wins if they had the courage to play Smith but it changes around the entire outlook of 2011.  Though Smith was considered to be in a tough situation, it’s clear that Newton is further in his progression than anyone would have thought.  Even if the Cardinals defense wasn’t quite the biggest test in the league, it’s still impressive to see Newton take to the road in his first career game and spin the football all over the field.  For now, Smith looks like a must-start once again, even if you should still expect some big-time struggles from time to time because of the inexperience at the quarterback position.  Either way, so far so good.

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Talking with the Gaston Gazette, GM Marty Hurney said, “I think Steve is probably not unlike everybody in the building – he was not happy with 2-14. Different people handle frustrations in different ways, but I think it comes down to frustration. I think it comes down to, in the coming months, we have to make the right decisions that will instill that confidence in the people outside the building and inside the building. It’s all part of a process.”

Will team owner Jerry Richardson finally give into the idea of trading Steve Smith? Smith has two years left on his contract, but we could sooner than expected see the end of the Pro Bowl wideout in Charlotte.

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GM Marty Hurney is jumping aboard this plan, speaking to the Gaston Gazette about implementing a new offense. Talking about how the Panthers offense will resemble the Chargers offense next year, Hurney said, “That will be the system. You can take the same system and different teams can run it and have different identities and different personalities with it. But yes, that will be the system we bring offensively.”

Of course, the Chargers offense revolves around a solid quarterback in Philip Rivers, and that’s one piece of the Panthers offense that desperately needs an upgrade. Names like Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore and Tony Pike are still in the running for starting quarterback next season, but the team’s revamped offense might just require a new ball tosser to get the Panthers up to speed.

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New head coach Ron Rivera wasted no time this offseason in clearing out the Panthers’ coaching staff and filling it with new names and faces, keeping John Fox’s staff to a minimum and roping in several other top figures from teams all over the league. Rivera’s staff is now almost complete, with an assistant strength coach position the only one left to fill.

Earlier this week, the Panthers hired Joe Kenn as the team’s new strength coach. Kenn has experience as a strength coach at the collegiate level, working with Wake Forest, Boise State, Utah, Arizona State and – most recently – Louisville. Kenn worked with Steve Smith while at Utah, and will be a solid addition to the team. Once Rivera hires Kenn’s assistant, the Panthers’ coaching roster will be complete, allowing the team to focus in completely on April’s draft.

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If the franchise tag is available at the end of this month – and it might not be, judging from the way labor talks are going – the Panthers have several options as to who they want to retain. The no-brainer for the tag this year is running back DeAngelo Williams, a standout player who is set for free agency, but there are other names the Panthers might not be willing to give up without a fight, as well.

Players like Jonathan Stewart, Mike Goodson and Ryan Kalil could also be on their way out of Carolina in the near future, giving the Panthers some more options to consider with the franchise tag. What happens with labor talks will influence what the Panthers do with the tag, and it could all change sooner than expected. Stay tuned to see how labor talks will have an impact on the 2011-12 Panthers.

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Warren Belin joins the Panthers as linebackers coach after spending the last year as a college assistant at Georgia. Before coaching at Georgia, Belin spent eight years with the Vanderbilt Commodores. As for his own football experience, Belin played ball in college at Wake Forest.

John Settle becomes the Panthers’ new running backs coach after spending the last four years with the Wisconsin Badgers. Prior to his tenure at Wisconsin, Settle spent eight years coaching at Fresno State. He also spent brief stints with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, serving under Bill Belichick and Ted Marchibroda, respectively. Settle’s playing experience includes a college career at Appalachian State and at the pro level with the Atlanta Falcons (1987-1990) and Washington Redskins (1990-1991).

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Belin will leave Georgia after just one season spent at the university, where he took a role with the team as inside linebackers coach. Speaking with Macon.com about Belin’s jump to the NFL, Georgia head coach Mark Richt said, “Warren made some outstanding contributions to our team and program in his year with us, and we wish him the very best in his new role with the Panthers.”

Prior to his tenure at UGA, Belin spend eight years as linebackers coach at Vanderbilt University. He’s also coached at schools including Cornell, East Tennessee State and SMU. Belin also played college ball at Wake Forest.

According to the Gaston Gazette, the Panthers are closing in on final negotiations with Warren Belin, and they’re also expected to sign a running backs coach from the college circuit in the near future.

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The hyped prediction right now is that the Panthers will search for their next franchise quarterback with the top pick in April’s draft. With Jimmy Clausen not measuring up to standards and a golden opportunity to find talent elsewhere, the Panthers could opt to trade down for Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, giving them some flexibility for future positions in draft picks. They could also lure a trade with another team in exchange for the draft pick, selecting to go with a veteran quarterback for next season.

Of course, there’s also the chance that the Panthers will stick with Jimmy Clausen (after all, rookie years are supposed to be tough, right?). If this happens and the Panthers keep their No. 1 pick, there are a few standout players above the rest of the pack in positions the team could use. Most notably, these include defensive end Da’Quan Bowers (Clemson), defensive tackle Nick Fairley (Auburn) and wide receiver E.J. Green (Georgia).

What will the Panthers do with that coveted No. 1 pick? Stick around as more developments emerge.

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Proehl is no rookie when it comes to NFL offense, as he spent 17 years in the league as a wide receiver. Proehl was drafted out of Wake Forest in 1990 to the Cardinals, also spending time with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts and, of course, the Carolina Panthers. During his tenure on the football field, Proehl played in four Super Bowls, and he finished his career with 669 receptions for 8,878 total yards and 54 touchdowns.

Now that he’s been tapped as an offensive consultant for the Panthers, speculation is astir that disgruntled receiver Steve Smith will want to stay with the team for the long run. Smith had an off year in 2010 thanks in part to the Panthers’ dismal quarterbacking situation, and he’s been quick to let out his frustrations. With the additions of Graves and Proehl to the offense, however, Smith might now have more a reason to want to stay with the Panthers instead of seeking out a trade.

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Fred Graves, Wide Receivers Coach: Graves reunites with WR Steve Smith in Carolina after several years, as he is Smith’s former WR coach from Utah. Graves has spent the last four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Before that, he worked for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, also having spent 19 years coaching at Utah.

Pete Hoener, Tight Ends Coach: Hoener has been in San Francisco with the 49ers for the last six seasons and is credited with helping aid in the development of tight end Vernon Davis. He’s also spent stints with the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals.

Eric Washington, Defensive Line Coach: Washington comes to Carolina from Chicago, where he spent last season as the Bears’ defensive line coach. Prior to that, Washington served as the assistant defensive line coach in Chicago for two seasons. He coached at Northwestern before joining the ranks of the NFL.

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