This pretty much signifies the end of the Jimmy Clausen era in Carolina, and should start setting up Newton to start Week 1 of the regular season.
The ‘Phins will also be starting a significant addition for the first time during the game.Reggie Bushwill be making his debut in Miami after being held out for precautionary reasons last week against the Falcons.
Who Will Win?
The electric running back is going to need to make a big impact, after the Dolphins first-team offense looked absolutely atrocious against theAtlanta Falcons. Daniel Thomas will also need to play better than his four-rush, five-yard performance last week.
Jimmy Clausen might not be the only QB to lose his job this week either. Chad Henne threw two picks in three drives for Miami last week, while former Panthers QB Matt Moore played relatively solidly.
The last matchup between these two teams went in the Dolphins favor, 24-17, during the 2009 regular season. The ‘Phins also won the 2009 preseason meeting against the Panthers, 27-17.
The team parted with long-time running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams this offseason. They decided not to re-sign either and traded for the New Orleans Saints RB. He needs to perform very solidly and stay healthy, or his tenure in Miami will be short.
Will Cam Newton Win the Starting Job?
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft is taking over the reins as the Panthers' starter this game. He had a solid, if unspectacular, game against theNew York Giantslast week, and will look to improve on that performance .
Williams is a very solid backup running back who was always consistent. He would always fall forward, always pass protect and always be in the flat. The team now has to rely on two backs, in Bush and Thomas, who are very streaky players.
Marshall has been one of the most consistent corners in the league and a stalwart at the position since his rookie year in Carolina. TheCardinalssigned him away to replace Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and the Panthers will struggle without him.
Will Reggie Bush Impress?
Josh Katzowitzof CBS Sports is saying that Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is still not sure who will start the regular season for the team. He said Newton starting Friday is part of the team's plan to bring both guys along and give them significant action against first-team defenses. He also mentioned the team will have a very clear indication of who will start Week 1 after this game.
Mike Berardinoof the South Florida Sun-Sentinel notes that the Dolphins are ridiculously thin at the tight end position. Dedrick Epps, Jeron Mastrud, Mickey Shuler and Brett Brackett, who will be backing up starter Anthony Fasano, have two combined career receptions. They must be very jealous of the Panthers, who grabbed Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen this offseason.
All eyes should be on this explosive player whom the Dolphins acquired in the offseason. Bush needs to play very well to prove that Miami made the right call in trading for him, as many think he has no chance of ever being more than an average NFL contributor.
Will Chad Henne Lose His Job?
All eyes will be on Cam Newton as he makes his starting debut on the road this week. Can he handle the pressure of being a starter and being on the road? If he does well, he will certainly have locked up the regular-season starting job.
Matchup to Watch: Miami Backup Tight Ends vs. Whoever is Covering
As Berardino noted earlier, the Dolphins’ backup tight ends are a group of castoffs and young guys. Someone will need to step up on Friday to prove that Miami can run a set with more than one tight end or fill in for Fasano if he goes down with an injury.
Key Dolphins Position Battle: Cornerback—Will Allen vs. Sean Smith and Vontae Davis
Will Allen has not played since Week 6 of the 2009 season. The Dolphins have acquired Sean Smith and Vontae Davis in his absence, and are most likely going to use the two young guys as their starters. Allen is the most experienced, but may lose out on reacquiring his starting job.
Key Panthers Position Battle: Quarterback—Jimmy Clausen vs. Cam Newton
Cam’s going to start this game and it is now his job to lose. If he does poorly under the pressure of starting and being on the road, and if Clausen has a solid performance, it could alter who the Panthers go with during Week 1 of the regular season.
Last week, both squads played most of their game without optimal set-ups. This week, Cam Newton will be playing with the first-team offense as the starter, and so will Reggie Bush. How they perform will be a good indicator of just exactly what to expect from both teams’ offenses.
I think Cam Newton and his first-string offense will win the matchup during their time on the field, but once the backups come in, Miami will take over with a late-game comeback.
For more coverage on your favorite team's second preseason game, visit Bleacher Report'sNFL page. Also don’t forget to check out our Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins pages
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