With the two new defensive tackles and Greg Hardy getting attention, is Charles Johnson poised to have a breakout season under the radar? – Joel in Boiling Springs, S.C.

I believe Johnson had a breakout season two years ago, yet he remains under the radar when it comes to national recognition. I said so much in this article on NFL.com, where I broke down the five most underrated Panthers of all time. Johnson is a soft-spoken sort, especially when compared to the never-shy Hardy, but he has the potential to put together a season that screams Pro Bowl. For that to happen, Johnson must be consistent, and the team must enjoy consistent success right along with him.

Johnson racked up a career-high 12.5 sacks last season despite not recording any in 10 games. That's understandable given that favorable matchups can lead to multiple sacks in a game while difficult matchups can lead to sack shutouts. Johnson has shown the ability, however, to get to the quarterback regardless of the matchup, as evidenced by the stretch late in the 2010 and early in the 2011 seasons in which he recorded at least one sack in 13 of 15 games.

Sacks can be random, with a great rush sometimes yielding nothing on one play and then a quarterback virtually landing in a defender's lap on the next. Johnson can play at a Pro Bowl level regardless of his numbers, and if he keeps up the effort he's put forth since becoming a starter, everything else should eventually take care of itself.

First off, great piece on the NFL top 100. Great read all around. My question is, are there any rumblings about getting all four linebackers on the field at once? – Eddie in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Thanks for the kind words. The short answer to your question is no, at least not in the traditional sense that you see in a base 3-4 defense. The Panthers plan to continue mixing in a 3-4 look to keep offenses off-balance, but when they've done so in the past, they've tended to use a defensive end as the fourth "linebacker." I could see a fourth linebacker on the field in a passing situation, but he likely would be employed as more of a fifth defensive back than fourth linebacker.