CHARLOTTE – The Carolina Panthers gave Chris Gamble a $54.5 million contract extension last season to be their shutdown cornerback.
   Give that financial investment the Panthers can’t be real happy with the effort they got from Gamble on Saturday night.
   The six-year NFL veteran had a rough first half against the Baltimore Ravens, giving up a 42-yard completion to Kelley Washington, completions of 26 and 10 yards to 35-year-old Derrick Mason and was flagged for illegal hands to the face, all resulting in Ravens first downs. If he's struggling against guys like Washington and Mason, you have to wonder how he'll fare Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss this season.

   Baltimore QB Joe Flacco had a field day against Carolina’s secondary, completing 23 of 28 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown in the first half. CB Richard Marshall didn’t play particularly well either.

   DEPTH CHART: The Panthers rested RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart which mean rookie RB Mike Goodson got the bulk of the work in the first half.
   Goodson responded with a solid effort, rushing for 40 yards on 10 carries while adding 26 yards on three receptions. He also had a 14-yard run called back on an illegal formation penalty.
   He also returned kickoffs for the Panthers.
   Williams banged his knee during practice earlier in the week and was held out as a precautionary measure. The injury is not serious and he should be fine for the regular season opener against Philadelphia.
   As for Stewart, it’s fairly obvious the team’s plan is to rest him in hopes that he’ll be ready for the Eagles. He’s missed nearly three weeks of practice with a sore Achilles.

   BY THE NUMBERS: 0 – Number of third-down conversions by the Panthers first-team offense in the first three quarters.
  
   SMITH PLAYS: WR Steve Smith returned to the lineup after sitting out the first two preseason games with a shoulder injury.
   He caught two passes for 37 yards in the first half, including an electrifying catch and run in which he threw Baltimore CB Domonique Foxworth aside, turning a 6-yard gain into a 26-yard pass play.
   Smith only played the first half.

   WHAT WE LEARNED: The Panthers are going to struggle covering the running back out of the backfield if LB Thomas Davis isn’t in the lineup.
   Baltimore’s RB Ray Rice abused Carolina’s defense catching eight passes for 67 yards. Anytime Flacco had nothing down the field, he simply dumped the ball off to Rice. Rarely was there a player within five yards of him.
   Davis sat out with a knee injury and LBs James Anderson and Na’il Diggs really struggled picking up Rice. The good news is Davis should be ready for the regular season opener.

   NOTABLE: Captain Munnerlyn has been returning punts for the Panthers, but on Saturday night they had Kenny Moore back in that spot.

   INJURY UPDATE: Rookie DB Sherrod Martin, who moved from cornerback to safety earlier this week, injured his knee in the first half and did not return.

   OTHER NOTES: Carolina’s only first-half sack came from DE Tyler Brayton as fellow DE Julius Peppers was largely invisible for a third straight game…. Panthers coach John Fox pulled QB Jake Delhomme at the end of the third quarter even though he’d driven the team to the Ravens 7-yard line… QB Josh McCown was the second quarterback into the game as the Panthers continue to rotate him and Matt Moore.

   ON TAP: The Panthers make their first round of cuts on Tuesday, trimming the roster by five. Final cuts come Sept. 5 when the roster is trimmed to 53.