Shakedown cruise starts at minicamp

Observer's Charles Chandler tackles big questions facing Panthers

CHARLES CHANDLER

cchandler@charlotteobserver.com

JEFF SINER

Carolina's Matt Moore will practice with the first-team offense during this weekend's minicamp as starting quarterback Jake Delhomme continues his recovery from elbow surgery. (JEFF SINER -- jsiner@charlotteobserver.com)

New draftees to attend

The Panthers' top two picks in the 2008 draft -- running back Jonathan Stewart and offensive lineman Jeff Otah -- are expected to attend this weekend's minicamp at the practice fields near Bank of America Stadium.

The practices are closed to the public.

The new-look Carolina Panthers will open a three-day minicamp today at Bank of American Stadium. There will be five practices -- two today, two Saturday, one Sunday -- and lots of meeting time indoors.

The sessions are mandatory for all players, bringing together for the first time the team's nine picks from last weekend's draft, and free-agent signees and holdovers from last season.

It'll begin the four-month process of preparing for the season's start in September.

Here are the most burning issues:

Will the Panthers' 1,600-pound wall stand?

All five positions on a transformed offensive line will have a different person than who finished the season there last season. First-round pick Jeff Otah is one of five newcomers to this group who each weigh 325 or more pounds, meaning the starting line figures to total 80 percent of a ton.

The sound of stomping feet

Jonathan Stewart, selected with the 13th overall pick last weekend, won't be able to practice because he's recovering from toe surgery. He'll probably be wearing a protective boot this weekend. But his presence will be huge when he starts practicing in July and not just because he's 5-foot-10 and 235 pounds. DeAngelo Williams hears footsteps, for sure, as they look ahead to battling for the starting job in training camp.

Defensive end questions to ponder

Can left end Julius Peppers return to Pro Bowl form after a sub-par 2007? Who'll start on the right side, Charles Johnson or newcomer Tyler Brayton, and will either one come close to filling the shoes of recently retired Mike Rucker?

Linebacker logjam: a luxury or headache?

Either the Panthers will have the best, deepest linebacking corps in team history or they'll have some unhappy campers, much like a hoops team with too many scorers and only one basketball. The surprise drafting of former Penn State All-American Dan Connor in the third round has the Panthers overflowing with talent.

More Matt Moore

With starting quarterback Jake Delhomme recovering from elbow surgery, second-year man Moore will be back with the first-team offense for the minicamp. He played surprisingly well in the final three games last season as an undrafted rookie, and team officials are hoping the extra repetitions accelerate his development.

Brad Hoover and then who?

Veteran Hoover is back at the fullback position, but it doesn't look like the Panthers have a backup yet. Nick Goings is more of a tailback, and Troy Fleming is a long shot to make the team. Be on the lookout in coming weeks as the Panthers look to boost at this position. They would've selected a fullback last weekend if one had been available at the right spot in the draft, but the picks didn't fall their way.

Does DT mean double trouble?

Though Carolina signed free agent veterans Darwin Walker and Ian Scott to be backup defensive tackles behind starters Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis, the search for depth likely isn't over at this all-important position. Walker and Scott both are returning from injuries. So more insurance might be needed, potentially leading to picking up another tackle later in a trade or via waivers after teams begin making cuts in August.

Steve Smith's new help

The Panthers believe they've finally addressed the issue of having legitimate receiving options to complement star Smith. Muhsin Muhammad is back after three seasons in Chicago, and D.J. Hackett is hoping for a healthy season after an injury-riddled 2007 with Seattle. There's also a new tight end in fifth-round pick Gary Barnidge, whom ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. dared to compare to former Dallas Cowboys' standout Jay Novacek.

Free at last?

The Panthers' search for a free safety who's more than just a fill-in might have ended when they picked Iowa's Charles Godfrey in the third round. Plus, there's former Detroit and Arizona starter Terrence Holt, a free agent signee.

Surprise, surprise?

Carolina isn't picked to do very well next season. Early projections for next season's draft order have the Panthers somewhere in the middle of the pack. In the past under coach John Fox, they've done best when they weren't expected to excel.