GumboBC

Last year the Panther defense got most of the credit for their success. And rightly so.

However, I t hink the offense was underrated by many.

Stephen Davis was one of the top backs in the league and make the probowl.

Steve Smith was as good as just about any receiver in the league.

The O-line was dominate.

Here's the funny thing...

No one gave the Panthers other receiver the respect he deserved. Musin Muhammad had caught 100 passes in 2 concutive seasons.

Jake Delhomme had a better receiving corp than the Saints. Actually just about everything was better for Jake on offense when compared to the Saints.

This year Steve Smith is gone and Stephen Davis. Smith really hurts but they still have a back who is putting up probowl type numbers in Goings.

And Muhommad is putting up Randy Moss type numbers now that Jake had finally figured out what he has.

Also, the O-line is playing excellente for the Panthers.

On defense, Peppers is their version of Mike Vick on defense. He's so dominate that he makes everyone else on defense better. Especially the secondary. They lead the league in INTs.

The one are that is hurting is the Panthers' special teams.

These injuries with the Panthers aren't affecting their team that much because they built their team's strength on the offensive and defensive lines.

By have dominate offensive and defensive lines it allows their skill players to excel.

That -my friend -is and old school approach to buillding a solid team.

The Saints are much more talented at most of the skilled positions but .... the problem is our offensive and defesive lines haven't allowed those skilled position players to excell.

Game are won and lost in the trenchs. At least that's what Vince Lombardi used to say...