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  1. Ok folks, one week to go. Much has changed in April, and the draft somehow seems to have gotten even more difficult to predict. I can't remember a draft where such question marks remained at picks 10 and below. Picking a single pick per round seems pointless. As such, I have decided to give you my top 2 picks for rounds 1-3, with a few other possibilities thrown in. Round 1 Andrus Peat - OT - Stanford - At 6'7 330 pounds this hog mollie could anchor the offensive line for years to come. This would put two Stanford tackles on the Panthers roster this year. Landon Collins - S - Bama - Hard hitting run stuffing safety that could make Roman Harper expendable. Collins was my original first round mock selection. He fell off due to wide receivers falling to the Panthers. I think he may be there now. Other possibilities: Shaq Thompson, DJ Humphries Round 2 Preston Smith - DE - Miss St - Panthers liked Smith at the Senior Bowl, and we all know Gettleman loves him some defensive ends. Smith has the frame and the motor to develop with Kony Ealy as a couple of solid defensive ends for the next 5 years. Devin Smith - WR - Ohio State - 27 yards per reception. I repeat, 27 yards per reception at Ohio State. Could be a solid #2 for the Panthers. Would be the second best receiver on the roster day 1 of OTA's. Other possibilities: Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Fisher, Breshad Perriman Round 3 Devin Funchess - TE/WR - Michigan - Has been buzzing on the huddle lately, and for good reason. Many compare him to Kelvin Benjamin. Having Funchess, Benjamin, and Olsen on the field together would create a lot of opportunities against teams with smaller corners. Justin Hardy - WR - East Carolina - Hardy has impressed every team he has met with, including the Panthers. He may have worked himself up to a 3rd round selection. Skilled player that fills a need. It doesn't hurt that he also brings a built in local fan base. Other Possibilities: Duke Johnson, Jacoby Glenn
  2. Here is a look at how the Carolina Panthers receiver depth chart is shaping up, as I see it. #1 Receiver Kelvin Benjamin - Looking to build on a solid rookie campaign. #2 Receiver Help Wanted - Apply Within #3 Receiver / Deep Threat Ted Ginn - Back in Carolina, looking to regain stride Corey Brown - Showed great potential to build on. #4 Receiver / 3rd down possession guys Jerricho Cotchery - Mixed results in 2015 Brenton Bersin - Dependable role player, had a few nice first down grabs. Jarrett Boykin - Will push Bersin, possible special teams roster spot Question Marks / Special Teams Stephen Hill - Fan favorite with much to prove still De'Andre Presley - on the bubble Mike Brown - Special teams signing Marcus Lucas - Big body that showed flashes in 2014 training camp The Carolina Panthers still appear to be primed to draft a wide receiver early in the 2015 NFL Draft. I still like Jaelen Strong in the first round at 25, who the Panthers are also interested in.
  3. According to NFL.com the Carolina Panthers are working out safety Landon Collins on Tuesday. "Alabama safety Landon Collins, the top safety prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft, will perform for the Carolina Panthers in a private workout Tuesday. One of three Alabama underclassmen to enter the draft, Collins told al.com of his scheduled workout with Carolina, which holds the No. 25 overall pick of the draft." Link Collins fits perfectly what Ron Rivera and Dave Gettleman love in a strong safety, mainly run stopping ability. I had the Panthers selecting Collins in my first However, due to the many wide receiver free agent moves this offseason, I no longer believe the draft's best safety makes it to pick 25.
  4. One of the more intriguing defensive players in this years draft is Shaq Thompson out of Washington. While reading up on his abilities, I couldn't help but make comparison's to the Panthers own Thomas Davis. Davis is in the twilight of his career, and now would be the time to groom an eventual replacement. Shaq Thompson might be the perfect candidate. Here is why... View image | gettyimages.com First, the measurables ... Thomas Davis 2005 Draft Profile Height - 6'1 Weight - 230 40 yard dash - 4.6 3-Cone - 7.10 Vertical - 36.5 20 Yard Shuttle - 4.01 Shaq Thompson 2015 Draft Profile Height - 6'0 Weight - 228 40 yard dash - 4.64 3-cone - 6.99 Vertical - 33.5 20 yard shuttle - 4.08 As you can see, the two have a similar size, with Thomas Davis being slightly taller. Thomas Davis has slightly faster straight line speed, but Shaq Thompson was faster in the 3 cone (a more important measurement for a linebacker, imo). Most NFL scouts have Thompson playing a OLB in a 4-3 scheme but have some concerns about his size and ability to keep enough weight on. Thomas Davis had these very same concerns surrounding him, enough so that coach John Fox tried him at safety early in his career. I am not so sure if Shaq Thompson's case that is of real concern to the Panthers. They have a good history of keeping guys bulked up through their training staff. Like Thomas Davis who played safety and linebacker at Georgia, Thompson also played outside and inside linebacker and safety on occasion. He also played running back, which is pretty incredible. This tells me this kid is just pure football player, and if there is one thing that Dave Gettleman loves, its real football players. Shaq Thompson is all over the place on the mock drafts. Most agree he is a first round selection, but no one knows where he should fall. It is hard to project with a player like Thompson. Many teams may pass on him due to his uncertainty. It will take a strong defensive mind to take him and put him in a place of success. Should Shaq fall to the 25th pick, don't be shocked if the Panthers pull the trigger on him.
  5. Per his agent... Williams is in his 4th NFL season, most recently with the Jaguars. A journeyman CB and WR, Williams will hope to catch on with the Panthers. Most likely, you will see him on special teams where his top end speed would be an asset. Williams has only played a single defensive snap in his career according to Ian Rapoport.
  6. By now it has become clear to most Carolina Panthers fans that again this season the free agency frenzy that applies to the rest of the league won't be entertained in Carolina. This may be upsetting to the casual Panthers fan, but for people who are really paying attention... this is no surprise. Jon Beason once told me "If you aren't getting better, you are getting worse". He was speaking about his offseason regimen, but I think the same principle applies to the Panthers this offseason. And guess what, the Panthers are better... much better... than at this point a year ago Here is how: 1. Cam Newton is healthy. How quickly we forget that Cam Newton is a year removed from ankle surgery. Last season he didn't take a legitimate practice snap until training camp. At this point last season, Cam had zero receivers he had ever thrown a pass to and zero opportunity to remedy that situation. This year... the opposite is true. 2. Those rookies. What other team in the NFL can say they made the playoffs with 8... yes 8 rookies making major contributions to the team? Kelvin Benjamin, Andrew Norwell, Trai Turner, Corey Brown, Bene Benwikere, Tre Boston, Adarius Glanton, Kony Ealy... All stepped in and not only played, but played well. These young guys should be even more improved in 2015 having benefited from actual playing time including post season snaps. That experience is invaluable. 3. Remmers and Oher. I know, I know, you are concerned about the offensive tackles. So am I. But I am not nearly as concerned as I was last season. I am not expecting this to be a pro bowl caliber combination, but I am expecting at the very least for this to be a significant improvement over the Chandler/Bell combination from last offseason. Remmers has already proved he is a marked upgrade over Chandler. Oher is the only question mark here. Put all of those things together, and the picture becomes much clearer. The Carolina Panthers do not need to rush and overpay in free agency for players that aren't the perfect fit. The areas of need that remain on the Panthers roster at this point can easily be addressed in the NFL draft in May at a fraction of the cost. Considering the number of starters GM Dave Gettleman found in last season's draft, asking him two find two or three more this year doesn't seem too daunting of a task. My advice? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that the Panthers aren't a team that overpays for other team's players. It is much nicer drafting the players that other teams covet, isn't it?
  7. Now that Ted Ginn has been signed and Brenton Bersin re-signed I thought it would be helpful to take a look at the Carolina Panthers roster as far as wide receivers are concerned. Kelvin Benjamin - 6'5 240lbs Second year player. Huge target. Had a solid year as a rookie aside from more drops than the Panthers wish he had. Has solid #1 receiver potential. Ted Ginn Jr - 5'11 185lbs Speedy nine season veteran return man and receiver. A nice deep threat and end around runner. Capable of stretching the defense. a 3rd or 4th receiver option Brenton Bersin 6'3 210 Local dark horse receiver that beat the odds and made it to the pros. Had key first down receptions in 2014 that Panthers fans seem to have forgotten about. 3rd receiver at best. Jerricho Cotchery 6'1 205lbs Twelve year veteran. Great leadership and locker room presence. Questions linger on how much he has left in the tank. A solid second receiver earlier in his career. No better than a third now. De'Andre Presley 5'10 190lbs App State QB that has seen time at corner and receiver. A long shot to make the Panthers squad this season. Corey Brown 5'11 180 A lot like Ted Ginn, but less punt returner and more receiver. Proved himself late in the season as a deep threat. A long term 3rd or 4th. Looking over this roster it becomes clear that the Carolina Panthers are missing a true number two receiver. A guy that can take the pressure off of Kelvin Benjamin and force more single coverage. Last year, the Panthers learned a lesson at the receiver position. They had too many 3rd and 4th receivers, and not a legitimate 2nd. Jason Avant, Jerricho Cotchery, Brenton Bersin.... all three basically the same. The result? No one getting open, Cam Newton being sacked. Looking at this year's roster.... don't they have the same problem? At least for now, it appears they do. However, look for the Panthers this season remedy the situation before the season begins. This current roster is not complete. Two, or possibly even three of names on it now will not be on it come September. The Panthers will try to fill the number 2 receiver void through the draft (probably) or free agency (less likely). This post has been promoted to an article
  8. The Carolina Panthers have signed offensive tackle Michael Oher two a two year deal. Oher struggled last season with the Titans, but some speculate it was mainly due to a nagging toe injury. Oher spend the last few games on injured reserve. He is now said to be healthy and anxious for a new start. It is debatable if Oher is an upgrade over the much maligned Byron Bell. Pro Football Focus had Bell ranked next to last in 2014, with Oher a few slots above him. If injuries did play a role in the decrease in Oher's performance, he could very well come in and perform at a higher level than Bell on day one. I do not think the offensive tackle positions are concrete yet. I still do expect for a rookie and/or possibly another free agent offensive tackle to be brought into the mix by the Panthers along with right tackle Mike Remmers. I am convinced Remmers will be given a shot at left tackle at some point this offseason. Afterall, Nate Chandler was given that opportunity last offseason... so why not? Edited for front page by IGO
  9. It appears Byron Bell has been notified he will not be re-signed by the Panthers. This does not come as much of a shock for anyone. Bell absolutely did the best that he could and that is admirable. Thanks to JOAT for tweeting this at me. I am flattered that Byron decided to use one of my photos as his farewell.
  10. The following is my best guess at what will transpire in rounds 1-3 of the NFL Draft next month as far as the Panthers are concerned. All three picks are not only the best players available, but also players whose football talents line up perfectly with what the Carolina Panthers do on the field. So, without further ado... 2015 Panthers Mock Rounds 1-3 Round 1 , Pick 25 Landon Collins - S - Alabama Gettleman practices what he preaches in picking the best player available, but also fills a need. Landon Collins is one of those guys that is projected high but could drop in the first round. He ran a good 40, but other than that had a rather average combine. He won’t drop out of the first round, but he could drop to the mid 20s where the Panthers will select him if available. Collins is a prototype Ron Rivera strong safety. He punishes runners and has sound tackling technique. He is the best run defense safety in the draft, and as Dave Gettleman always says, you have to first defend the run to be able to rush the passer. Round 2, Pick 57 Jake Fisher - OT - Oregon FIsher had arguably helped himself the most at the combine out of all offensive tackles, which will bump him up into the second round. Fisher isn’t the physical stud that the first round tackles are, but he is a true football player. The Ducks offensive line performance decreased drastically without Fisher in the lineup. Throw in the fact that he is accustomed to protecting a mobile QB, and this is a no brainer for the Panthers. Round 3, Pick 89 Nick O’Leary - TE - FSU If there is one thing Ron Rivera and Mike Shula love, its an H-Back. A guy that can line up as a tight end or fullback opens up plenty of matchups that would be favorable to the Panthers. They tried this with both Ed Dickson and Brandon Williams last season, but had limited success. Nick O’Leary is the best H-Back this year’s draft and a good value in the late 3rd round. In addition, even though he is not much of a deep threat, he is a reliable receiver with solid hands for Cam Newton to target in mid to short yardage situations. He was a safety outlet for Winston at FSU, he can be one for Newton in Carolina.
  11. Until the NFL announces the 2015 compensatory picks during the NFL owners meeting, I will only be mocking the picks the Panthers have at this point without speculating on how many they may have. Hopefully they can pick up at least an additional fifth rounder. Round 4 Tyler Lockett - WR/PR - Kansas ST The Panthers address their long term punt return issues in the 4th round with this selection. Lockett could be the best punt returner in the draft. He could drop to the late 3rd / early 4th due to concerns over his size. The Panthers may need to trade up to grab him. Good college production and a solid combine performance keeps him from dropping further. Would also compete immediately as a slot receiver. Has quick first steps to get separation. Known as a student of the game with high football IQ. Quality route runner. Would love to see him develop chemistry with Cam Newton. This pick could change should Ginn or another free agent punt returner be signed by the Panthers. Round 5 Lynden Trail - DE - Norfolk St Lynden Trail is a raw NFL project with tremendous upside. Dave Gettleman won't be able to pass up this chance to discover a late round starting defensive end for the Panthers. Gettleman has also shown a willingness to take on projects if the physical upside is there. 6'7 and 270 pounds he has the frame to compete at this level eventually as a defensive end but could contribute immediately on special teams. Look for the Panthers to have him put on ten more pounds through their training regimen. This kid is pure athlete, can also play tight end. Long story short, Gettleman won't be able to stop himself from taking Trail late in the 5th.
  12. Justin Coleman - CB - Tennessee 5'11 , 185lbs This year I expect the Panthers to address their need for a nickel in the mid to late rounds of the NFL Draft. Last season we saw the Panthers adjust to not having a solid nickel option by often going with their "buffalo" package, which placed safety Colin Jones in the nickel spot. While this had positive results in run defense, it was a liability at times against the passing game. A guy they could be targeting is Tennessee corner Justin Coleman. The Panthers met with Coleman at the East West Shrine Game and were impressed with him. Coleman is a perfect fit for what the Carolina Panthers look for at the nickel position. Namely, tenacity and run stopping ability. Coleman spent most of his senior year at nickel for the Vols, and had his best college season to date. Coleman helped himself greatly at the NFL Combine when he ranked as one of the quickest corners, posting top 5 results in both the 20 and 40 yard shuttle. He posted a 4.5 40 yard dash which gave his straight line speed the 6th best ranking. Throw in the fact that his 20 reps on the bench press was the third best in the group and it is clear Coleman has the physical skills the Panthers look for at nickel. These impressive combine numbers could possibly take him out of the sixth or seventh rounds and up into the fourth or fifth. The Panthers are expected to have at least one compensatory draft pick in the area Coleman is projected to be selected. This only increases the odds of Gettleman pulling the trigger on him.
  13. Cam Newton should be paid more than Luck or Wilson. If you ask yourself what percentage of the overall offensive success is each QB responsible for, Cam Newton comes out well above Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. Cam Newton and his legs are the main reason the Panthers offense had any success at all last season. If not for his ability to stay alive with his physical talents when linemen and linebackers are chasing him, the Panthers would have been ranked dead last in the league. In other words, Cam Newton is a huge band-aid holding together an inept offense. Partly due to lack of weapons, partly due to a below average coordinator, the Panthers offense was more of a hindrance than a help in the playoff race. Whatever the reasons for the bad offense, Cam Newton made sure it was at least competitive. I'm not saying Cam Newton will get more money. I'm not saying the Panthers will pay more money. I'm saying if you look at the situation objectively, Cam and his agent have a serious argument for more.
  14. The Carolina Panthers learned early in 2014 just how much they would miss Ted Ginn Jr. Early and often the punt return game of Carolina cost the team opportunity and momentum. Neither Corey Brown nor Brenton Bersin looked at all competent returning punts. Now in 2015, there is a real possibility Ted Ginn could return to the Panthers. Currently, Ginn is under contract in salary cap strapped Arizona where is due to make a base salary of $3,250,000. This number does not match his production in Arizona (14 receptions, 0 TDs). According to Sport Trac , the Cardinals could save $1,750,000 by releasing Ginn this year, enough money to replace his production and then some. If Ginn is released, I feel the Panthers would again be very interested in Ginn for a few reasons. First and foremost, Ginn would instantly fix the punt return problem. That fact alone may be enough for the Panthers to pull the trigger. Second, Cam Newton and Ted Ginn would quickly recover the chemistry they found in 2013. Cam would not be forced to once again get to know a brand new receiver during the offseason. Ginn was well liked by Cam and every other member of the Panthers squad and front office. Third, Ginn could mentor fellow Ohio State product Corey Brown. Ginn and Brown are a very similar type of player. I think they would have an instant positive vibe between the two of them. Ginn is 29 years old and could still provide a return game for a few more years. Admit it, wouldn't you love to see a three wide set with both Ginn and Brown stretching the field as Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen play underneath? I know I would.
  15. Dallas is in quite a conundrum this off season. They are in the rare position of having two starting caliber right tackles on the team, but both will be free agents come March 10. Doug Free was the starter most of the 2014 season with the Cowboys until a foot injury sidelined him. Then, Jermey Parnell stepped in and played just as well as Free, including starting the two playoff games. It is doubtful that Dallas will sign both players, as both know now that they are starters in the NFL. So one of these guys will be available. Most agree Free is the better player, but not by much. Parnell is 3 years younger, the Cowboys may go with youth. The Panthers look like they have a solid player in Mike Remmers, but there is no depth at tackle on the squad. The idea of bringing in another right tackle to compete, or possibly even toying with either at left tackle may be enticing to Dave Gettleman.
  16. Tonight the Carolina Panthers take on the Buffalo Bills in the first preseason game of the season. Expect Bank of America Stadium to be half full of transplanted Buffalo fans who gloat about how great Buffalo is but would never actually move back there. Kickoff: 7:30pm Weather: Chance of rain TV: WCCB Radio: 1110WBT Follow @CarolinaHuddle on twitter for live tweets from the sidelines before and after the game. The Huddle Chatroomwill be open during the game for out of towners to keep up live with the action. I don't expect Cam Newton to play. Derek Anderson will play the first series or two with the first string. The most interesting action of the night for die hard fans will come in the second half. Young prospects will be playing their hearts out for a chance at a roster spot. Players to Watch: - Kelvin Benjamin: Will his camp success translate to actual football games? - Marcus Lucas: 6'4 UDFA looking like a gem in Camp - Offensive Line: Will they hold up against the formidable Buffalo attack? - Bene Benwikere: The most promising CB prospect since Chris Gamble. - Kony Ealy: Has had mixed reviews in camp, is he more of a gameday player? Please use this thread to post your general thoughts throughout the day and during the game. Click here to view the article
  17. Carolina Panthers training camp is in full swing. Practice began at 9:25 with cooler temperatures. As I made my way to the practice field, I finally ran into Jordan Gross. He ignored me. Star was warming up before practice. It is amazing how these guys his size can just explode into action. If I tried that I am fairly certain I would be at the chiropractor every day for a month. The punt returners today stayed the same. Cason, Barner, Brown. Punts were done by machine, so there was more predictability and less drops. Perhaps building the confidence of the returners? Ricky Proehl was on the sidelines catching a few passes. I am certain he could suit up tomorrow if need be. OIe Ricky still got it. With Deangelo Williams taking a veteran rest day, Kenjon Barner saw increased play time. I don't know what to make of Barner. In some ways he looks like he could really make an impact on this team. Then you see him get stifled behind the line and you question it all. It could go either way with him this season. I won't be shocked to see him on the final roster, and I wouldn't be shocked if he wasn't. Cam has decided to make things a little more challenging for the receivers in some of the passing drills. Every once in a while he will run up and scream at them just as the ball reaches them. Couldn't hurt, right? Mike Tolbert also had a good number of carries today. I still feel he is our best running back. I have noticed and increased burst at the line, possibly due to him shedding 12 pounds this offseason. There is one thing you absolutely cannot teach a quarterback, and that is height. Ed Dickson looks like a solid offseason signing. When I watch Dickson (and all of the Panthers tight ends for that matter) play, I am much less concerned about the turnover at wide receiver from last season. Between Olsen, Dickson, and Williams... the receiving talent is there. Nate Chandler once again spent a lot of time at left tackle next to Amini Silatolu. The more I watch them work, the more excited I get. I know there are many doubters out there, but I think they will be pleasantly surprised. These two are extremely athletic and seem to gel well together. Chandler matched up very well against Greg Hardy today. His feet seem to have gotten quicker since OTA's. Byron Bell also spent time at left tackle today, so the matter is far from settled. You have to wonder though, how much longer will it be before the coaches make a decision? Surely they want their new starting left tackle to have plenty of time to settle in to the position. Joe Webb does a good job of running the ball. He may be worth keeping around, if nothing more than a scout QB for the Panthers to practice against the shiftier running quarterbacks. Just as long as he is not counted on to throw the ball. He was either long or short all day today. Jason Avant had another solid showing today. On one sidelines throw he was able to reach and make the grab while dragging his toes out of bounds. I am not sure if he will be starting, but I do feel he is an upgrade over Hixon from last year. After practice, instead of heading in, Jason Avant decided to get in some extra work. The ball machine shot low passes to him, as he practiced bringing them in. You have to love that work ethic. Cam cooled down on the exercise bike. Until he learned that Peter King was at camp... and then it was... Poor Peter. Today's Rising Players - Jason Avant. Like I said, the guy keeps catching balls and making plays. It will be noticed eventually. A highlight of my day was watching him toss aside DT Linden Gaydosh in a special teams drill. - Carrington Byndom. Solid day for this undrafted rookie corner. Ball hawked most of the day and capped it off with a beauty of an INT. - Melvin White. The former undrafted rookie also had a solid day. Maybe Gettleman just has a knack for spotting undrafted corner talent? - Nate Chandler. Looking more and more confident as he gains experience at LT. As such, I become less and less worried. Today's Falling Players - Matt Blanchard. Blanchard has a habit of setting up his tight ends or receivers to be demolished in the middle of the field by the safeties. I really hope the coaches get him out of that habit before preseason. - Receiving Corps. Too many drops today to mention. Even the sure handed Bersin had a few. - The rest of the team. After practice, Ron Rivera gave the team a longer than usual speech away from the media. From what I saw, and judging by the bulging veins in his neck, he was not at all pleased with the effort put forth at practice today. I expect the team will show up tomorrow ready to work. I will be there, once again, to provide you with these photos and observations you have grown to tolerate. Click here to view the article
  18. Camp opened up in Spartanburg in the sweltering heat. Attendance is said to have been 17,000 but I am not so sure of that number. It was a decent crowd, but did not seem as large as last season. Curious, after a playoff season that it was not more crowded. As the players warmed up I noticed Kuechly and Deangelo talking. Sometimes I think players talk to Deangelo just to check themselves out in his helmet shield. Kugbila was at practice. He has yet to be claimed off of waivers, and will probably not be. In all likelihood he will be on the Panthers IR list this season. Tiquan Underwood is looking better in camp than in the OTA's. While he doesn't appear to have the speed that Ted Ginn did, he does know how to run routes well enough to get some separation. His hands seem to be pretty good as well. I feel he is a lock to make the team. Rivera looks as relaxed as he ever has in camp. Its amazing what job security can do for your stress level. Cam wears a helmet shield in practice. It is unclear why, but once could imagine a stray lineman finger in the eye would be devastating for this team, so why not wear the shield. Charles Johnson is probably one of the more under appreciated players on the team. Not only is Charles one of the better defensive ends in the league, but he also can return punts. Although, to be fair, he waived for the fair catch. What is the point of a defensive lineman returning the ball if he isn't going to run with it? Bene Benwikere had a few technical miscues in drills and was quickly coached up by defensive backs coach Steve Wilks. Bene has looked pretty good overall, and the occasional miscue early can be expected. Defensive line coach Eric Washington is a big guy in his own right. He isn't afraid to get in and grab the guys to get their attention either. The crowd got excited when passing drills began. Cam looks like he does at every camp in his career. Mostly sharp, but has the occasional overthrow. One quick fix for the overthrows could be to throw to Benjamin more. I ran into Kelvin in the media room yesterday and was reminded how tall he really is. Sometimes rosters fluff the height numbers a bit in favor of the player, but Bejnamin is every bit of 6'5. One thing I noticed was how perfect his hands are when catching. He really does wrap those huge hands around the ball. It is textbook fundamentals every dad teaches his son. I will be showing this image to my boys before our next round of football toss. Greg Olson is also having a great camp so far this year. He has made some acrobatic one handed grabs. Greg isn't the most talkative guy on the practice field, instead he lets his play do the talking. However, I have seen him really help out the younger tight ends on their route running. Greg fits the wise veteran mold well. During blitz drills, Derek Anderson connected with Pilares deep on badly blown pass coverage by the defense. No safety was anywhere close to Pilares. However, before you get too excited... Derek Anderson would have been sacked long before the throw was made by a blitzing Jason Williams. I noticed a curious thing Cam has been doing lately that I did not notice last season... or at least that I can remember. In a play action drill he squats down, seemingly to hide behind the line. Could this be a way to compensate for his height? Nate Chandler was at left tackle for the majority of the last half of practice. I felt Chandler would end up at left tackle this season during OTA's, and my opinion has not changed on that matter. Nate can get off the ball and into position very quickly. Below he has Greg Hardy matched up right off the snap. Byron Bell was in at right tackle with Nate at left.... ...but then did get some more time at left tackle before the practice was over. While Byron is larger and takes up more room, his feet are heavier. It is a trade off that the coaches will have to decide on. Mike Tolbert had a few more carries at running back with Stewart and now Tyler injured. Tolbert somehow gets lost in all the running back talk sometimes, which is a shame. In my opinion, he is the most talented and effective guy we have that can run the ball. Cam also targeted Tolbert in the passing game. Tolbert caught every ball. Philly Brown made a really nice grab at the end of practice. He was able to get behind and out leap Cason, who is a starting defensive back in this league. This is great news for Philly Brown fans. I hope you enjoyed these photos and will share this link on your social media sites. Sharing the link is the single most important thing you can do to keep the Huddle plugging away. Today is the first practice in pads. I will be there covering the action. Follow @CarolinaHuddle for updates on twitter.
  19. It was an exciting day at training camp. Getting to see the guys in pads for the first time this season revealed a few new things you just cannot see without contact. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed to have been taken during the full team drills. As such, many of my observations will be without images. Most players did not sign autographs while coming on to the practice field. Kelvin Benjamin, Luke Kuechly, and Antoine Cason made at least some time for the fans, so big ups to them. Some players made time for mosquito repellant. Those things will eat you alive in the shady areas. But I digress.... The day started with the usual drills. Then, the passing drills started. Kelvin Benjamin had a great day. I am not sure it is possible to overthrow the man. He made catches on the sidelines and over the middle. I didn't see him drop a single catchable ball all day. I am telling you all right now that he is the real deal and will have an immediate impact on the offense as a rookie. At this point, and I know its early, I would be shocked if he is not a day 1 starter. He looks better right now than Brandon Lafell ever did. Bersin also continues to impress. I spoke to a Panthers staff member who told me he would be shocked if Bersin did not make the squad. I enjoy watching Cotchery play. He does all of the little veteran things to gain advantage. A little grab here, a little push there, but never enough to draw a flag. It quickly becomes obvious the guy just knows hot to play the game at the highest level. Bene Benwikere flashes from time to time. He has a knack for closing quickly in and getting a hand on the ball. The coaches spend quite a bit of time with Bene. That tells me they see real potential in him Ken Dorsey ran the QB drills on the far field where I was the only one to look on. I am glad I did. Included in this year's drill selection is a heavier emphasis on moving in the pocket and avoiding contact. While having to hi step over obstacles, Dorsey would rush in and grab a shoulder. I think getting these guys accustomed to improvising in the pocket is a great thing, especially considering the question marks surrounding the Panthers offensive line. Speaking of offensive line... today we saw the offensive line vs defensive line, full contact, for the first time this season. Lyndon Gaydosh has a size advantage over Brian Folkerts, but was unable to take advantage. Star won the battle between he and Amini Silatolu. Amini did fairly well though and in all fairness not many guys could go one on one with Star and do very well. Kawaan Short versus free agent offensive tackle Oscar Johnson went ... well... the picture says it all. Nate Chandler took on Charles Johnson and Chandler actually had the upper hand. It is unclear if Johnson had poor footing or if Chandler actually dominated him. The most interesting matchup was Trai Turner versus the veteran Dwan Edwards. During the first round, Trai Turner easily won. For round two, turner was outmatched by Edwards and was pushed back about 10 yards. Apparently, Edwards did not appreciate being handled by the rookie in round 1. At that point Turner was pulled aside and coached up. Turner bounced back and did very well all day long in the team drills, at one point pushing Edwards several yards up field. It appears, folks, that Turner really is the road grader he was billed as. Brief intermission... here is a picture of Ryan Kalil. I am not sure I have ever seen him smile on the practice field this year, and I am OK with that. Players Rising: - Kelvin Benjamin. So far he appears to be everything he was supposed to be, and more. - Trai Turner. Playing with the first string and already looking competent. On one particular play he was able to pull right and seal off the block for a Kenjon Barner screen. Pretty advanced stuff for a rookie. - Philly Brown. Has made key plays two days in a row now in the passing game. If he can learn to hang on to punts a roster spot could be secured for him. - Tight Ends. Probably the most impressive offensive unit the Panthers have. Brandon Williams caught a beautiful long bomb today, catching it over his should, in perfect stride. Possibly the best catch of training camp so far. A;l of the tight ends made plays today. Four Tight End set anyone? - Bene Benwikere. Really like this kid's game, I think he could potentially contribute quickly. - Nate Chandler. Chandler is still getting a lot of time at left tackle and looks very solid. At this point, I think the job may be his to lose. Players Falling: - 2nd and 3rd string offensive line. These guys are getting obliterated out there. The Panthers have little depth in this area, pray for a healthy season. - Punt returners. At this point Cason looks to be the best of the bunch, but he has only returned 2 punts since 2011. The Panthers may need to look for an experienced hand here or once again special teams may cost them a game (or two). Click here to view the article
  20. Historically, Fan Fest has always taken place well into the start of training camp. Not this year. The Carolina Panthers are having their annual Fan Fest at the start of training camp this year. On July 25, the Panthers will open their doors to thousands of rabid Panthers fans. The Panthers are anxious to unveil their awesome new stadium upgrades to Panthers fans. Fans will see new scoreboard/video boards, 360-degree ribbons boards and hear the new sound system. The boards, which dwarf the previous video screens, will provide a much more enjoyable visual experience during the games. The sound system, which we learned from Vinny Esposito in the Huddle Podcast Episode 2, will feature an ability to "move sound around the stadium". The Panthers will practice, but whether or not they will be in full pads is unclear. In all probability, you can expect highly entertaining drills such as 7 on 7 and WR/DB match ups. This will provide plenty of excitement for the fans and their quest to quench their football thirst. The reason for moving Fan Fest to the start of camp is simple, the Carolina Panthers wanted their own fans to be the first to witness the new stadium upgrades. On August 2, there is a Guinness International Championship soccer match scheduled between Milan and Liverpool, whose fans will also enjoy the new upgrades. So, the date has been moved up and now Panthers fans, not soccer fans, will be the first to see the new diggs. Smart move. Fan Fest will take place July 25 at 6:30pm at Bank of America Stadium. Admission is free, but there will be a charge for parking around the various lots. Historically, parking has run 5 to 10 dollars depending on the proximity to the stadium. The South side of the stadium fills up quickly as more shade is available there. North seats will be in full sun for the start of practice. Autographs are signed after practice. Make your way down to the bottom of the seating where players will be walking around the stadium and signing whatever fans bring. I have noticed in the past that those closest to the south tunnel have the highest chance of getting something signed. Click here to view the article
  21. The Carolina Panthers opened up their annual mini-camp in the blistering heat. That heat, however, did not keep them from participating in one of the most impressive mini-camps I have seen. It felt less like a June mini-camp and more like an early August Spartanburg practice. This is not to say the day didn't have some light hearted and even touching moments... Cam Newton rolled up flashing an award winning smile, and he had good reason. Cam was playing host to rising first grader George Gring who attended practice through the efforts of the Make A Wish foundation. George, who was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma ,wished to play football with Cam Newton. Cam went the extra mile and acquired matching gold cleats for George. As Cam was stretching, he was having his fingers taped up. This got jeers from the Panthers defense, who were taunting him with "Does Cam have a boo boo?" I spotted Kelvin Benjamin on the sidelines learning how to juggle. Tennis balls have been a common theme this year. Time will tell if they had an impact on hand eye coordination. Practice started with punt returns. The punt returners in order were Antoine Cason, Kenjon Barner, and Philly Brown. Of the three, Cason continued to look the most promising and reliable. While no balls were dropped, Barner did have a bobble. Byron Bell and Nate Chandler again split time at left and right tackle throughout the day. Garry Williams was also thrown into the mix. Ron Rivera after practice describes Williams as a "Jack of all trades", indicating he will be used everywhere along the line this season. One area where Chandler has an all too obvious edge is getting off the ball quickly. Notice the difference in body positions in the above picture. Chandler, while giving up a bit of bulk to Bell, has much lighter feet. Offensive line drills began and were very physical. They worked on a variety of techniques under harsh criticism. Then, the practice really began. The day was filled with spirited offense versus defense play with a bit of contact. Stock Rising: Brandon Williams. Williams saw extended time with the first string today. He grabbed a couple of nice throws over the middle and on a quick out. He was also used as a lead blocker at times.Bene Benwikere. Benwikere abused Underwood on an extended pass play, blanketing him and helping to cause what would have been a sack.Trai Turner. Turner continues to impress and has the most nimble feet of any guard in recent memory. His pulling to the left to block for Deangelo Williams got me very excited.Chris Scott. Scott made it onto the practice field today and participated fully. That is a win for him.Mike McNeil. Mike had the best grab of the day in the end zone, leaping over Colin Jones who could not make the play.Stock Falling:Byron Bell. Bell struggled most of the day today. On one play in particular, Mario Addison was able to get low and gain the outside edge on Bell with ease, resulting in a would be sack. Bell also struggled in blitz pickup, allowing blitzing linebacker DJ Smith to get the the quarterback. Which leads us to the next falling...Blitz Pickup. Head coach Ron Rivera remarked after practice "Sean put in some new blitzes today, they were new and different for our offense to try to pick up". There needs to be much improvement in this area if we want Cam Newton to stay healthy.Marvin McNutt. While McNutt did make a few routine catches, he missed a ball that he had to extend for that did hit him in the hands. You have to make those plays if you want to make the roster.Overall, it was a solid practice that both showcased what the Panthers can do but also a few opportunities for improvement. Click here to view the article
  22. Last season, Brandon Williams entered training camp as a long shot. Williams was signed to the Panthers roster in April of 2013 after having been out for football for two years. In 2011 he was diagnosed as having a narrow spinal canal and bulging disk that prevented him from continuing at Oregon. Instead, Brandon played basketball for a small bible college. What a difference a year makes. This year in offseason workouts Williams, or "Swole" as his teammates call him, is spending a good amount of time with the starting offensive unit. This is a big leap from last season when he mainly spent time with the third string units. It appears one of David Gettleman's gambles could be paying off again. I caught up with Brandon after practice to get his thoughts on his progress. "I feel a lot more relaxed. Having that year of experience under my belt, everything is starting to slow down for me. I also know the play book a lot better. Whatever the coaches want me to do, I am going to do what I can to get comfortable doing it." Williams understands that the more versatile he can make himself, the more likely he will be again earning a roster post this season. This means not only performing on offense, but special teams as well. After practice, Williams spend a long while with Special Teams Coordinator Richard Rogers. They were going over his stance and tweaking the things Williams needs to do in order to excel. Not many players stay after practice to put in extra work, and even fewer stay to practice special teams. But Brandon seems determined to do whatever is necessary to succeed as a Panther. Click here to view the article
  23. With the Carolina Panthers 2014 Rookie Camp coming up tomorrow, you may want to keep an eye on one name in particular. Of all of the undrafted free agents signed with the Panthers, wide receiver Philly Brown may have the best chance to catch on with the team. Brown led the Ohio State Buckeyes with 10 touchdowns last year. At a lean 5'11 and 178 pounds, he has decent size but could use to put on a few pounds. His route running also has much room for improvement. But Philly has one thing you can't teach, speed. His 40 low was a 4.38 making him on of the fastest guys on the practice field and able to compete as a return specialist. With he departure of Ted Ginn it remains to be seen who will be fielding punt returns. Kenjon Barner will be given another chance at the duties, as will Pilares. However, punt return talent is at its thinnest in many seasons. This may be the opening an UDFA like Philly Brown needs to find his name on a locker. Click here to view the article
  24. You love the Kraken, I love the Kraken. We pay to watch him perform on Sundays. But Greg Hardy has needed to learn to separate his professional life from his personal life for quite some time now. A bit of maturity is needed, and quickly. That is usually how it goes for 25 year old men. Throw in plenty of money and fame and often times you have a bigger problem. Over the years with the Panthers there have been signs of trouble. Namely tweeting pictures of dozens of shot glasses, his Bentley speedometer going over 100mph, a driving record with plenty of speeding tickets and a motorcycle accident to name a few. A problem that began in college causing him to plummet in the NFL draft has bled into the NFL Hardy can add a domestic abuse charge to his record, and that is no laughing matter. A lack of maturity has now cost him millions, and could cost him much more. It threatens the long term contract he has worked towards. Personal problems will now fall into the risk category when weighing Hardy's benefit. Even if found completely innocent, the domestic violence charge will follow him around the NFL. We don't yet know what happened yesterday morning. He very well may not be entirely at fault. However, he is 100% responsible for the position he has put himself in. The people he chooses to surround himself with also fall into the "needs maturation" category. These are all red flags leading up to something more substantial. All signs point to more serious problems on the horizon. The NFL is littered with these stories, and Hardy could just be the next sad character and punch line. Unless Hardy can get it turned around, and I mean right now. A full night in a jail cell could be the wake up call Greg has needed for quite some time. Forced to stay the night as a cooling off period, he hopefully used the time wisely and went through accelerated maturation. We all love the Kraken on the field. Lets hope Greg Hardy can learn to leave him there. Click here to view the article
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