Carolina Huddle

by Steven Burton

With much attention on the safety position heading into training camp, what is shaping up to be possibly the most important position battle has largely been over looked in recent weeks. While the hole at safety is somewhat disconcerting, the offensive side of the ball hasn’t exactly been stellar the past few years, and the number two wide receiver position again appears to be in contention heading into the 2007 training camp.

Second round draft pick, wide receiver, Dwayne Jarrett has an uphill battle for the number two position beside Smith facing experienced, if underachieving fourth year wide receivers Drew Carter and Keary Colbert. Filling the void left by the release of veteran, Keyshawn Johnson will be no easy task. Johnson amassed 70 receptions for over 800 yards and four touchdowns in 2006. Though he was the number one target for two games, Johnson was playing with the useless (for lack of a better term) Chris Weinke at quarterback for three games and neither he, nor Smith ever consistently received adequate support in the running game.

Though knowledge of part of the playbook and familiarity with the supporting cast undoubtedly gives both Carter and Colbert the inside track in the competition, Jarrett certainly shouldn’t be counted out. Standing at an impressive 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 219 pounds his 4.62 forty yard dash makes him an impeccable athlete. The blend of size and speed possessed by Jarrett is often sought after, but seldom found in such a well polished receiver. Running great routes and possessing some of the safest hands in college his resume is packed with 100 yard games and touchdown catches.

While there were times when Jarrett was silenced on the field, due mainly to excess coverage and his inexperience there’s no reason why he shouldn’t excel in the NFL. Already a better physical prospect than Carter or Colbert, his sure handedness figures to set him apart once training camp gets into full swing.

Drew Carter has struggled to consistently catch easy passes and Colbert has slowly degenerated from his rookie form, at times failing to make levels of effort expected from players in his position and it seems struggling to get open. Changes to the offense by new coordinator Jeff Davidson should in some minor ways level the playing field for the young receiver battling his experienced team mates.

History suggests that head coach John Fox prefers to play veterans at skill positions and allow rookies to develop more slowly. This might just be one case however, where the veterans cannot keep pace.