Posted on Tue, May. 06, 2008

Thoughts and observations after checking out the Panthers' minicamp last weekend:

• This team has a chance to go places. If that sounds like territorial thinking, check out Peter King's new offseason rankings on Sports Illustrated's Web site. He rates Carolina 10th in the 32-team NFL.

The Panthers aren't there yet, but they could make a run at the playoffs if Jake Delhomme's elbow is healed, if Julius Peppers plays like Julius Peppers, if the offensive line is as good as seems capable, and if first-round pick Jonathan Stewart stays healthy.

• Without the protective black boot Stewart wore as he watched practices from the sidelines, the running back from Oregon might never have become a Panther.

If he'd never hurt the toe last season and thus not needed the surgery, he probably wouldn't have lasted until the 13th pick, where Carolina was choosing.

And if he'd delayed the surgery until after the draft, the Panthers likely would have passed because it would have been too late to do the operation and have him ready for training camp.

• Delhomme is almost giddy with the condition of his elbow after Tommy John surgery. He says he's throwing more pain-free than he has in years. The fact he threw some in full view of reporters was evidence that he and team officials are serious when they say he's coming along fine.

• Receiver Jason Carter was a dazzler during practices. He's quick, elusive and made a nifty one-handed catch on the run that had even the veterans cheering.

Carter was undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2006, partly because of his lack of outstanding speed (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash). But he sure seems to have everything else.

• There's lots of post-draft debate, locally and around the league, regarding whether the Panthers gave up too much to Philadelphia to trade up for a second first-round pick (No. 19 overall), used on offensive tackle Jeff Otah.

The price was second- and fourth-round picks this year and a first-rounder next year.

Team officials say they gave up a first to get a first, meaning the actual price was a second and a fourth. All that matters really is whether Otah can play. If so, it'll be a good deal.

• If the Panthers wanted to, they could field a 1,641-pound offensive line.

All are not starters, but here are the largest players at each position: tackles Otah (339) and GeoffSchwartz (331), guards Toniu Fonoti (340) and Milford Brown (330), and center Geoff Hangartner (301).

All except Hangartner are new to the team.

• Second-year receiver Dwayne Jarrett had a nice camp, catching almost everything thrown to him and looking the part of a former second-round pick (2007). But the true test lies ahead if he's to avoid the "bust" label after a disappointing rookie year.

• Neither Jarrett nor Peppers talked to the media despite daily interview requests. Hopefully, we'll hear from them during summer school practices, which start May 28.

But Peppers seemed to please his position coach, Sal Sunseri. It seemed most every time Peppers did a drill, Sunseri exclaimed, "Beautiful, Julius, beautiful!"

• The Panthers unveiled a new drill for defensive linemen that looked as fun as kids on waterslides.

With a long foam pad on the ground in front of them, the linemen were asked to make a leaping belly-flop dive straight ahead. Some of them nearly overshot the target. But Maake Kemoeatu (6-5, 345) almost missed the pad on the short side on his first try.