National Football League

Panthers hope to rev up offense

Published Aug. 1, 2011 1:56 a.m. ET

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Carolina offensive tackle Jordan Gross was ready for change, especially with the Panthers' attack.

The nine-year veteran was as frustrated as everyone else with last season's 2-14 flop as the offense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in nearly every major category. But Gross already sees a different attitude under a new coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

''Chud is excited for this job,'' Gross said Sunday. ''He's been prepared. He pushes our tempo.''

And also the Panthers' expectations. He had offensive linemen sit in on a meeting about keeping the ball safe, something usually reserved for skill position players. ''He's a detail-oriented guy and I think he's going to push the limits of what we can do and what we expect from ourselves.''

Carolina's offense was little short of a disaster last season. The team ranked last in NFL offense, passing and first downs. The 196 points scored - that's 12 per game - was a franchise low. Star receiver Steve Smith, who had just 46 catches and two touchdowns last fall, let his emotions get the better of him and lashed out at struggling quarterback Jimmy Clausen, saying, ''He ain't at Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure.''

Smith acknowledged last week he didn't handle last year well. He has seen Chudzinski's offense and believes there'll be plenty of opportunities for him to once again make major contributions. ''It's not just about words, `Hey, we're going to do something different.' It's different,'' Smith said. ''I'm excited about the offense.''

Some of that comes from who's back on offense and who's new to the Panthers. Carolina re-signed star runner DeAngelo Williams and locked up No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton. They beefed up the end spot, an important position in Chudzinski's scheme, adding Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen and Ben Hartsock through trades and signings.

''A lot of people were talking that we didn't have players here,'' Williams said.

Gross wondered the same thing last fall. He said he called Carolina owner Jerry Richardson in December and asked what his plan was for this year. Richardson said he planned to bring in a defensive coach (Ron Rivera), an attacking offensive coordinator (Chudzinski) and a quarterback with the top draft pick (Newton.) ''I had faith in it and it happened just the way he said,'' Gross said. ''It's great for me to be here. I've got four more years on my deal and hope I can be part of the turnaround.''

Rivera said the team could've used the offseason work lost to the NFL lockout to get familiar with the offense. ''But I believe it's just a matter of time,'' Rivera said. ''We do have guys who can step up and make plays.''

Williams and backfield mate Jonathan Stewart are one of the most potent running combinations in the NFL. Tackle Jeff Otah said he's healthy after missing last year with a knee injury. ''It's a good feeling to be back here, ready to get started, see what we're going to get out of this season,'' Otah said. ''We have a lot of new players and new guys. It's time to get that bond going and see if we can start meshing.''

Rivera said Chudzinski, who was San Diego's tight ends coach the past two seasons, is meticulous about all details. Gross said he's sped up practice plays to get the most repetitions out of his players in their limited time on the field. ''As soon as one play ends, he's calling for another,'' he said.

The one thing missing from the Panthers' offense is a veteran quarterback. Newton's a rookie, while Carolina's two other passers on the roster, Clausen and Tony Pike, were both 2010 draftees. Rivera said general manager Marty Hurney is seeking someone with experience to fill the gaps as Newton and the others grow in the system.

The Oregonian had a report that Derek Anderson signed to fill that role, but Hurney said the former Arizona passer is just on the way for a workout and no agreement had been reached.

The fans watching practice Sunday night again had their eyes on Newton. When he threw a deep ball to receiver David Gettis, the crowd cheered with one yelling, ''There it is.''

Chudzinski spent two seasons as Cleveland's offensive coordinator and picked up additional experience with the Chargers under Norv Turner. Rivera understands that offensive execution doesn't happen overnight, but he and Chudzinski aren't afraid to remind the Panthers what they went through a year ago. ''I'll bring up the past all the time to remind the guys that we can change it,'' Rivera said. ''It doesn't have to be the same. I've told them, we're going forward.''

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