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Dallas Cowboys: Here’s the Carolina Panthers’ biggest weakness

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs against Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half as Randy Gregory #94 of the Cowboys and Greg Olsen #88 of the Panthers look on at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs against Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half as Randy Gregory #94 of the Cowboys and Greg Olsen #88 of the Panthers look on at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images /

3. What would you consider to be the Panthers’ biggest strength? Biggest weakness?

BS: Undoubtedly the Panthers biggest strength is their front-seven, even without linebacker Thomas Davis, who is serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL banned substance policy.

Defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mario Addison combined for 22 sacks one year ago and when you combine Luke Kuechly with anyone they immediately will rank near the top of the league for linebackers.

When those two are Shaq Thompson and David Mayo – or Davis when he returns, they round out the strength of Carolina.

Many believe the biggest weakness is the secondary but they should be improved with some stability and Donte Jackson starting opposite James Bradberry at cornerback.

This group should also benefit from the Panthers strength, their front-seven and the pass rush. For this reason, the biggest weakness could be at wide receiver.

The potential is there with Funchess, Smith, Moore, Jarius Wright and the speedster Damiere Byrd but this unit is largely unproven.

Funchess barely began to emerge from former first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin‘s shadow late last season but has never been the number one option – that changes this season.

Smith and Wright can obviously play but they haven’t been in the Panthers system or paired with quarterback Cam Newton, ever – the remaining options (with Curtis Samuel out) have 11 catches between them. Expectations are high but if the results follow remains to be seen.

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