The expectations aren't nearly as high as they were a year ago, but the Carloina Panthers sound optimistic.

They'll be hoping to avoid the kind of disappointment that marred their 2006 campaign Sunday when they kick off the season against the St. Louis Ramsat the Edward Jones Dome.

Carolina entered last season as a favorite to reach the Super Bowl, but stumbled to an 8-8 record and failed to even reach the playoffs.

"I don't think you could have a year worse than last year," said quarterback Jake Delhomme, who led the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003 and the NFC championship game in 2005. "We were not a good football team."

An anemic offense was largely to blame, as the Panthers ranked last in the league with a 31.1 third-down conversion percentage, 14th in the NFC with and average of 321.6 yards from scrimmage and 13th in the conference with just 103.7 rushing yards. Delhomme missed three games with a thumb injury and threw six fourth-quarter interceptions, while Steve Smith, who led the league with 1,563 receiving yards in 2005, missed the first two games with a hamstring injury - both losses - and saw his numbers decline.

Hoping to jump start their offense, the Panthers fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brought in Jeff Davidson, who is focusing the offense on getting the ball to Smith. He also brought in a zone-blocking scheme designed to improve the team's rushing.

Smith, who signed a three-year contract extension in May that makes him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, has even mentioned 2,000 receiving yards as a goal for the season.

'It's the year to swing for the fence,' Smith said. 'People may laugh at it, but what's wrong with having a goal that if I work hard enough that it's in possible reach?'

Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who was expected to open up more opportunities for Smith, was let go in the offseason, and Keary Colbert, who had five catches last season, will take over as the No. 2 receiver while rookie Dwayne Jarrettprogresses. The Panthers also signed former Houston quarterback David Carr, who will be ready to take over if Delhomme continues to struggle.

But despite all the changes, Carolina's offense was inconsistent in the preseason, scoring only one touchdown in the final three games.

The Panthers' defense ranked second overall in the NFC with 296.1 yards allowed per game last season, but allowed opponents to rush for at least 100 yards in nine games. It also enters this season with a number of question marks, particularly in the secondary.

Cornerbacks Ken Lucasand Chris Gambleare coming off subpar seasons, and veteran safety Mike Minterabruptly retired in training camp with sore knees. The other projected starting safety, Nate Salley, has been bothered by a knee injury.

In addition, middle linebacker Dan Morganhas played in only one preseason game as he slowly returns from multiple concussions, and another one could potentially end his career.

The Panthers, who are opening on the road for the first time since 2001, do have a relatively easy early schedule on their side - playing Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their opener.

"We haven't started fast the last couple of years. We just haven't," Delhomme said.

"We're going to have a different offense and bring some things to the table we've been practicing. I think we can be a decent football team. I really, really do."

The Panthers are hoping to get off to a quick start against a team they dominated last season. They beat St. Louis 15-0 on Nov. 19 in Charlotte, sacking quarterback Marc Bulgerseven times and rushing for a team-record 242 yards.

"If you were going to ask me who I thought the best defense was last year, I would have said them," second-year Rams coach Scott Linehan, whose team also went 8-8 last season and missed the playoffs, told the Rams' official team Web site. "We have a big challenge ahead, and it won't be hard to get the attention of our offensive players. We'll be watching a lot more of last year's film, unfortunately."

The Panthers held St. Louis running back Stephen Jacksonto just 27 rushing and 30 receiving yards, but that performance was hardly indicative of Jackson's season. He led the NFL with 2,334 yards rushing and receiving last year and figures to be fresh for this game after finishing the preseason with just two receptions and no carries.

"Taking out unnecessary hits is really a key," Jackson said. "Even though the games don't count, the hits can become effective. I think being cautious and making sure everyone gets to opening day safe is a smart thing and a new trend."

Jackson will lead an offense that ranked third in the NFC with both 383.3 scrimmage yards and 247.6 passing yards per game last season. Bulger is coming off his second Pro Bowl, and Drew Bennett- Tennessee's leader in receptions the past two seasons - joins a receiving corps that already features veteran stars Torry Holtand Issac Bruce.

Holt has seven straight 1,000-yard seasons but is coming off knee surgery.

The first-team offense didn't score any touchdowns during the preseason, but offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who took over play-calling duties after last season's loss to the Panthers, isn't concerned.

"I think you are going to see the Rams that you are expecting to see," he told the team's official Web site. "I think you are going to see an exciting, up-tempo offense, and I'll be very disappointed, as will the rest of the team, if we are not scoring points and moving the ball up and down the field. I just don't foresee that as being a problem."

The defense is the biggest concern for St. Louis, which ranked second-to-last in the NFL with 145.4 rushing yards allowed per game and 13th in the NFC with 23.8 points allowed. The Rams made a few upgrades, including the addition of defensive James Hallfrom Detroit to complement star end Leonard Little, and are hoping that the team is more comfortable in its second year under defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

"Making calls when you're not exactly 100 percent sure sometimes, that's when you feel like you've kind of fallen behind the 8-ball," said middle linebacker and former Panther Will Witherspoon, also in his second season with the Rams. "It was one of those situations where you were trying to think about everyone else around you and then trying to think of yourself."