The Panthers open camp with a lot of uncertainty at several positions.
Today, the Panthers begin getting a look at who will fill some of those shoes.
"We are young, but I think we're energetic," Panthers Head Coach John Fox said on Wednesday. "I like the ability of guys. I saw enough in our offseason stuff to see that. Now it's just about molding this into a team. Every year your team has a new personality, whether it's laced with veterans or not. It's always an exciting time of year."
There figures to be competition for starting spots along the defensive line, at wide receiver and at right guard.
Some -- from a National standpoint -- think there will be competition for the starting QB job, however, it's believed locally that Matt Moore will be given the reigns to the offense until he proves he's unfit for the job.
Still, second-round pick Jimmy Clausen is signed and is in camp from day one, and it's clear that the Panthers intend on giving him a chance to prove himself on the field.
The competition at wide receiver figures to be fierce, with the only starter from last year's team -- Steve Smith -- sidelined with a broken arm. That will give young receivers like Dwayne Jarrett and Kenny Moore an opportunity to show that they still belong on a team that drafted two more receivers -- Armanti Edwards and Brandon LaFell -- in the third round last Spring.
Defensively, nearly every position along the line is up for grabs, with a particular area of concern in the middle. Louis Leonard and Tank Tyler are penciled in as starters, however Leonard enters camp on the PUP list with an injured knee. That will allow players like Ed Johnson, Corvey Irvin and Derek Landri a shot to shine.
"Every year this time of year, it's the first time back from a year ago that you're actually playing padded football," Fox said. "We've gotten a chance to see some of these new faces through minicamps and the OTAs, so it's not completely strange but it will be the first time that we'll be in full pads and practicing real football."
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