The Carolina Panthers will rap up the 2008 preseason tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz field.  The team will go through a rehearsal game plan as they would for a regular season game, but the starters are only expected to go a few series, maybe not even play.

So far this season the Panthers starters have gone 58-3 against first team opponents, their best preseason performance in years.  But the preseason can be deceiving, just because the Panthers are manhandling their opponents in the preseason doesn’t mean the same success with translate to the regular season, but it does show that Jake Delhomme and the Panthers are ready to contend in the NFC again.

This final preseason game is going go to be the most important to the guys on the roster trying to make the cut.  Decori Birmingham, Troy Flemming, Chad Upshaw, Ricardo Colclough, and a few other need to have good games if they want a spot on the final roster.  The release of quarterback Lester Ricard should also give these guys an opportunity because it means there’s one more slot available.  Keep an eye on Samie Parker, a wide receiver picked up Carolina on Tuesday.

Really there’s not much to be decided on position battles as most of them are already set.  Keydrick Vincent took over the starting right tackle job on the third day of camp and didn’t give it up.  Charles Godfrey has shown that he can start at free safety.  The two areas that are still up for graps are that number three receiving spot as well as the starting running back, but I don’t think those are going to be determined in this game.

Basically there really isn’t much to look at game wise.  This is going to be the backups oppertunity to shine, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Tags: panthers, pittsburgh, steelers