John Kasay

Carolina's offensive futility last season at least kept Kasay working. He ranked 13th in field-goal attempts with 29, converting 25 (86.2 percent) on his way to 92 points – nearly half of the Panthers' league-low season total. Kasay's work wasn't steady, though. Four games he went without a field-goal attempt, and his 17 PATs were by far the fewest of any 16-game kicker thanks to one of the most miserable offenses in recent memory that scored just 12.2 points per game. The Panthers signed Olindo Mare this offseason, which led to Kasay's release. While he will likely retire, he could bounce back with another team if someone goes down with an injury.

Perhaps no team’s offense took a bigger step back in 2009 than the Panthers’. The Panthers offered Kasay 14 fewer PATs, resulting in the end of the Jake Delhomme era in Carolina. Matt Moore appears the likely starter and played well in the eight games last season. The Panthers running game is still among the best in the league as both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart broke 1,000 yards last season. Kasay saw his accuracy slip to a fouryear low of 81.5 percent, but three of his five misses came from beyond 50 yards. At age 40, he no longer has the leg to produce consistently from long distance as he’s just 2-of-6 combined the last two years from 50-plus. Kasay has topped 100 points just once in the last four seasons. Don’t expect him to challenge 2008’s 130-point effort this season.

Kasay posted a career-high 90.3 field-goal percentage last season, but it was Carolina’s 46 touchdowns that vaulted him to fifth in the league in scoring with 130 points. The dynamic running back combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart totaled 30 touchdowns last season, three more than the entire team scored in 2007. Kasay does have some downside, however. First off, he’ll be 40 this season. Secondly, Jake Delhomme struggled through the second half of last season, throwing for more than 200 yards only three times and had an abysmal playoff performance against the Cardinals. If the running game, which was nothing short of spectacular last season, falls back to earth a bit, the team’s offensive could stake a step back.

The Panthers hoped for an improved offense in 2007, but that hope died when Jake Delhomme went down with a season-ending elbow injury in September. Carolina added some pieces on offense (D.J. Hackett, Jonathan Stewart, Muhsin Muhammad), which with a healthy Delhomme and the ever-reliable Steve Smith, should mean an increase from the team's paltry 16.7 points per game last season. That could make Kasay a good waiver-wire pickup. He was 24-of-28 last year and has strong leg – he’s a career 52.2-percent kicker from beyond 50 yards (2-of-2 last season).

The Panthers offense was one of the more disappointing units in the league last season, scoring just 28 touchdowns. Kasay, however, had one of his best seasons, missing only three field goals, all from beyond 50 yards. With a new offensive coordinator and an emphasis on getting the ball into Steve Smith’s hands, look for the Panthers offense to be much improved in 2007. Kasay also gets bonus

Kasay debunked rumors of his retirement and returns for season No. 16, his 12th with the Panthers. This is a team with an offense on the upswing with 81 TDs in the last two seasons. He’s converted a career 80.1 percent and has the leg for the 50-plus attempts (career 29-for-58).

Kasay returned from a hernia injury in 2002 to post good numbers the last two seasons, converting 85 percent (51-for-60) of his field goals. The Panthers offense ranked 13th in points last season and scored 11 more touchdowns than the previous season. Kasay should be good for 100 points if he can stay healthy. He missed two games last year because of a calf injury.

The Panthers offense, which produced just 53 field goal attempts in 2001 and 2002 combined, gave Kasay plenty of opportunities last year. A ball-control attack coupled with a strong defense resulted in several close games necessitating multiple field goals. We don’t expect a whole lot to change this season, and Kasay, who’s a career 80.1 percent kicker and 23-for-45 lifetime from 50-plus, could very well finish in the top five again in 2004.

Kasay missed much of last season with a hernia injury, but returns as the Panthers kicker for 2003. In his six seasons, Kasay has made 81.4 percent (149 of 183) of his field goals, averaging 103.8 points. However, recent Carolina history isn't one of an offensive juggernaut and that should continue in 2003. The last four seasons he averaged just 26 field goal attempts, resulting in an average of 93.25 points. Kickers should have 30-plus field goal attempts, but Carolina won't afford Kasay those kinds of opportunities. He'll also have to battle Shayne Graham to keep his job this summer.