QUARTERBACKS

It's Matt Moore for the near term, but who knows what the future might bring. For the first time in a long time, the Panthers have young options in the pipeline.

You figure Jimmy Clausen will take over eventually, but how far into the future that is depends almost entirely on Moore.

Tony Pike gives them an intangibles guy to groom, and he needs some time.

RUNNING BACKS

Simply put, there's not a tandem in the league better than DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They each topped 1,100 yards last season, and they need to be in that same neighborhood to keep this team afloat.

With Tyrell Sutton and Mike Goodson, they have enviable depth, and options for the future (with Williams entering a contract year).

Fullback Tony Fiammetta has big shoes to fill. He has better physical tools than former mainstay Brad Hoover, but Hoover knew the game cold, and Fiammetta is still learning.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Steve Smith is one of the best in the game now, and they drafted three guys who could be starters three years from now. The problem is finding a happy medium between now and then.

Perennial tease Dwayne Jarrett has yet another chance to start, and has responded with a more mature approach than in the past. Whether it matters remains to be seen. Charly Martin made the club based on his special teams ability, but he's an underrated pass-catcher who could have more of an impact than people imagine.

TIGHT ENDS

Individually, none of these guys will ever go to a Pro Bowl. Collectively, it's a solid group.

Jeff King has taken huge steps in recent years and remains the most well-rounded of the three. His blocking and intelligence keep him in the starting lineup, but he's gradually becoming a better receiving target.

Dante Rosario has a niche as well (H-back style pass catcher and on-the-move blocker), and Gary Barnidge has flashed tools, but isn't the consistent player King is.

OFFENSIVE LINE

For starters, they're fine. Beyond that there are some questions.

With Jordan Gross, Travelle Wharton, Ryan Kalil, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Jeff Otah, they have five blocks on which they've built the offense. But Otah is no lock to play in the opener, and plugging the able Geoff Schwartz in at right tackle still gives them a good group.

The only problem is they lack depth and might continue to shuffle the bottom of the depth chart here looking for some longer-term security.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Where once there was one, now there are many.

The Panthers actually have multiple legitimate pass-rushers, with Everette Brown and rookie Greg Hardy enjoying breakout summers. Put them together with steady Tyler Brayton and emerging every-down end Charles Johnson, and it's a solid group replacing you-know-who who went to Chicago.

The defensive tackles are far from household names, but they've got five bodies in there, and hope to find some solutions from the mix. Front-liners Derek Landri, Ed Johnson and Louis Leonard could walk the streets without being recognized, much less Andre Neblett and Nick Hayden.

LINEBACKERS

With Thomas Davis on the field, it would have been one of the most explosive groups in the league.

Without him (at least for the first two months of the season), it's still OK. Jon Beason is a Pro Bowler in the middle, and he's not far from it when he has to slide outside to Davis' spot.

James Anderson and Dan Connor are solid starters, if not sensational.

They don't have much depth beyond trade acquisition Jamar Williams, who could start in all three spots if need be, but they do have some kids with potential in Eric Norwood and Nic Harris, along with special teams ace Jordan Senn.

CORNERBACKS

Chris Gamble never says much, but he's quietly a top-tier cover man, good enough to force plays the other way. Richard Marshall provides toughness and he's motivated to have a big year after not getting the payday he wanted.

They like what they've seen from seventh-round reserves Captain Munnerlyn and Robert McClain.

It's not a deep group, as the numbers game kept them from keeping a fifth one here, but they like the mix of players and abilities.

SAFETIES

They came into camp hopeful about young starters Charles Godfrey and Sherrod Martin, and neither did anything to diminish that enthusiasm. They wanted guys who could run and cover deep halves of the field, and they have that in a pair of guys with corner skills.

They think they found a steal in sixth-rounder Jordan Pugh, a guy who could start at either spot if need be without a huge drop-off. Veteran Marcus Hudson lends stability to special teams, and has a versatility that has them cooking up ways to use him on defense.

SPECIALISTS

John Kasay remains one of the most consistent field-goal men in the league, despite the fact he'll turn 41 in October. But he doesn't have the booming leg he used to, which means they kept rookie Todd Carter to handle kickoffs. It's not an ideal situation, but they're hoping Carter justifies his roster spot in field position.

Unlike past punters, you never hear much from Jason Baker, but he delivers consistently. And the fact you almost never say J.J. Jansen's name means the second-year long snapper is doing his job efficiently.