DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

 

CUT: DE Arthur Miley, DE Larry Webster, DT Kyle Love, DT Robert Thomas, DT Eric Crume

 

The Panthers were excited to see what Miley would show them this summer and it turned out to be not much. A hamstring injury knocked Webster out for all but one preseason game, and he was pretty good against the Steelers. Love signed a 1-year deal to return this spring, but he was pushed by Thomas and Crume throughout camp. Ultimately, the Panthers decided to keep just four DTs.

 

KEPT: DE Charles Johnson, DE Kony Ealy, DE Mario Addison, DE Wes Horton, DE Ryan Delaire, DT Kawann Short, DT Star Lotulelei, DT Vernon Butler, DT Paul Soliai

 

Unlike last September, Johnson heads into the season healthy. If he can stay that way, a double-digit sack season is certainly possible. As he proved in the Super Bowl, Ealy can show up in spurts. Consistency is now his goal. Addison is a somewhat underrated pass rush specialist. There was some thought the Panthers would part ways with Horton or Delaire, but they each hung on. The middle of the line should be a nightmare for offenses. Waves of Short, Lotulelei, Butler and Soliai will wear out opposing lines.

 

LINEBACKERS

 

CUT: Brian Blechen, Ben Jacobs (IR)

 

Blechen spent last year on the practice squad, but the numbers were never in his favor. Jacobs missed the first two preseason games with an ankle injury, then hurt his quad in the fourth.

 

KEPT: Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Shaq Thompson, A.J. Klein, David Mayo, Jeremy Cash, Jared Norris

 

An embarrassment of riches. Kuechly and Davis are arguably the best LB tandem in the NFL, and Thompson’s set up for a breakout year. He won’t see 100 percent of the snaps, but he’ll spend plenty of time in the slot when the Panthers go to their big nickel package. Klein could play himself into a nice contract elsewhere next spring, and if he does, Mayo should be ready to take over that valuable backup role. Cash and Norris were the two undrafted rookies who made the roster. Cash, a converted safety who’s put on at least 15 pounds, had perhaps the fastest rise of anyone during the preseason. While we were all watching that, Norris was quietly impressing coaches.

 

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

 

CUT: Zack Sanchez, Lou Young, Marcus Ball, Travell Dixon, Stevie Brown

 

Sanchez was Saturday’s biggest shocker, but the fifth-round pick will likely be back for some roster squad seasoning if he clears waivers. Young, Ball and Dixon couldn’t crack through the established guys in front of them while Brown was around for just two days.

 

KEPT: CB Bené Benwikere, CB James Bradberry, CB Daryl Worley, CB Robert McClain, CB Teddy Williams, S Kurt Coleman, S Tre Boston, S Dean Marlowe, S Colin Jones

 

Because the defense is built from the inside out, Benwikere will share slot duties with Thompson. That leaves rookies Bradberry and Worley to man the outside, but the Panthers believe they can get through inevitable growing pains as long as the inside is solid and the pass rush works. McClain’s experience puts him on the roster over Sanchez, while Williams and Jones are on for special teams. Coleman and Boston aren’t the league’s strictest last line of defense, but they’re both ballhawks who should be able to force a fair share of turnovers. Marlowe has been out for nearly four weeks, but the Panthers must feel he’s close from coming back from a strained hamstring.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

CUT: None

KEPT: K Graham Gano, P Andy Lee, LS J.J. Jansen

 

It wasn’t easy making this team. All but 10 of the 53 have been on the Panthers’ roster before, and 40 percent of the draft class was cut. But Lee made it despite being around for just one practice and the preseason finale. Of course, his 13 seasons and three Pro Bowls made for a decent résumé.