Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Kony Ealy Impresses In Debut

Jeremy Igo

By Jeremy Igo,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Jeremy Igo Newbie

Jeremy Igo

Posted
Posted

Carolina Panthers rookie defensive end Kony Ealy has had mixed reviews in camp.

 

Ealy spent the first week looking out of place, unable to match up well against even the third string offensive line. Since then, Ealy has made progress.

 

Progress is exactly what you want to see from a rookie.

 

I asked Head Coach Ron Rivera his thoughts on Ealy's performance.

 

"I thought Kony showed up" Rivera said. "He applied some pressure on the outside. He a did nice job of getting in the fold on the bootleg. Made a couple nice knifing tackles on some runs. He made some mistakes obviously that will get corrected, but he showed why we drafted him."

 

"I'm very pleased of the effort we got from him today." Rivera added.

 

Panthers-Bills-30.jpg

 

Defensive ends rarely make an impact their rookie season. Starting veterans Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy also went through transitional periods from the college ranks to the pros. It is expected.

 

What coaches are looking for from Ealy is progress and the occasional flash of what he can grow to be. In this regard, Ealy is showing exactly what the coaches want to see.

 

"It's been a tough battle for him just getting used to the way we do things." Rivera remarked. "He came through for us today."

 

Ron Rivera was not the only one who noticed the improvements Ealy showed on Friday night.

 

As Ealy came off the field after showing real effort in a goal line defensive stand, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis was sure to let Ealy know his efforts were noticed.

 

Panthers-Bills-48.jpg

 

 

If Kony Ealy's play was good enough for Thomas Davis's attention, it should most certainly be good enough for yours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

Posted
Posted

I noticed that he was in the picture a lot, good contain, etc. but the thing I noticed most was his enthusiasm.  He was getting into it.  Love it.   If this continues, and we continue to get results from KB and Turner (TNT, heard it here first), I will punch the person who disses Gettlemen right in the mouth.  The fact that it takes DEs a bit of time to develop is one reason we took Ealy this year and not when he was a need. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

Posted
Posted

Any comments a coach makes before watching film is to be taken with a grain of salt--however, in this situation, Ealy played most of the game (so did Turner).  I have to think RR was focusing on Ealy when he was on the field.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lola Newbie

lola

Posted
Posted

He's lucky that he is on a team with such talented, hardworking, stand-up guys like Thomas and Luke, CJ. Guys that lead by example. Ealy will benefit from this on and off the field.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

Link to comment
Share on other sites
French Navy Newbie

French Navy

Posted
Posted

Ealy made at least 3 impact plays. thats very good for a rook. if you didnt see how disruptive he was (without getting the sacks) then i dont know who you were watching. 

 

Agree with this, Ealy was flashing on defensive. Looked the part. Usually it's the opposite - look good in training, bad in games. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BuffaloBills62 Newbie

BuffaloBills62

Posted
Posted

The Bills had plenty of holes at OL last night.  It was good watching 7th rounder Henderson survive, but without our starting LG and with questions still with who starts I fear the OL might not have time to gel.

 

Ealy took advantage of timing on every snap.  He quickly beat his man to the first two or three steps and then gained leverage every single time until he either out positioned his opponent or was overpowered.  It will not be long until his strength catches up with the rest of him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • PantherChris
      PANTHERS @ HURRICANES ROUND 3 GAME 1

      By PantherChris · Posted

      Yep he made the comment " I dont know what they were doing out there at that point" in the press conference. Let's be real they all got paid but they also know his system suppresses there offensive potential.
    • PantherChris
      RODS gotta GO

      By PantherChris · Posted

      Yup the casuals on Facebook ive gotten 85 laughing or angry emojis so far for pointing it out.  The amount of them throwing a fit because the canes were booed is insane  
    • woahfraze
      PFF ranks the 2025 starting QBs

      By woahfraze · Posted

      Why are you so fixated on yards? Even if yards were a good judge of QB play, his low yardage totals in some of those games were partly a function of drops (looking at you Xavier Leggette…).  I’m not advocating that Bryce was elite for the last half of last year, but the eye test certainly supported high level QB play for large stretches. He made a lot of high difficulty, put it on the money/drop in the bucket throws. He converted on 3rd and 4th down, kept drives moving, and put the team in position to win games. And it’s not on him that the defense blew it late after he led game tying drives, Leggette dropped a game winning TD, or Chuba fumbled the ball in OT. We could have finished the season close to .500 with wins against 3 playoff teams including KC and Philly during that stretch largely due to Bryce’s play.    Has he sustained this level of play long enough to deserve an higher ranking? No. But for judging based in that stretch alone, he would. But whether he can perform more consistently at that level or build on that, and thus earns a higher ranking, remains to be seen. 
×
×
  • Create New...