Did any Fringe Players Stand Out? (Quickly Turned Into an MZ Thread)

[KendrickPanther]

By now every Panther fan has gone crazy for Fozzy and Bersin. Did anyone else surprise you? 

 

For me I saw something we haven't had since 2009. A true Fullback, #39 Mike Zordich.

 

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Fozzy_Whittaker_1yard_TD_run/533b7fa0-6988-47fe-b4ac-2d247f03a36b

 

 

Mike Tolbert made the Pro Bowl as a Fullback but we all know he's an offensive weapon first, blocker second. He uses his brawn to blow guys up but defenders can take advantage of his technique.

 

Enter Michael Zordich. 6-1 245 lbs out of Penn State. This guy plays an extinct position. A position needed in the Mike Shula running game. Zordich is a solid athlete, I'm not going to pretend he is Rudy. But his value to the Panthers is his commitment to blocking. In training Camp I watched this guy stonewall and pancake would be pass rushers. 

 

I don't want to call him Brad Hoover because Hoover took several years to develop his game. But he can fill that role for us. The 14 year old Madden player in me is reluctant to take Tolbert off the field. He's a dynamic "joker" to go with a dynamic QB. But Mike Shula is vanilla. Michael Zordich is vanilla. When you're grinding out a game. Sometimes you need a Jack, not a Joker. 

 

An Observer piece on him.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/07/30/5076452/after-a-year-in-limbo-carolina.html#.U_GjO_ldVPY

 

This picture was photo bombed by training equipment but I believe the victim is #46 Anthony Morales

[KSpan]

He looked sharp but it's probably just a matter of numbers. Brockel is his direct competition and will get the nod because of his versatility. Olsen, Dickson, and Williams are the TEs, so unless something wacky happens like Dickson being cut or the team not carrying 4 RB there's not a spot for Zordich.

[Toker Smurf]

Maybe a mysterious injury will put him on IR again.

[csx]

Well, if they wanted they could carry Williams, Stewart, Tolbert, Zordich, and Fozzy and be carrying the same number of backs as last season.

[KendrickPanther]

I think the coaching staff loves Brockel but I see Zordich as a more useful player. You could get blocking production out of Olsen, Williams, and Dickson while retaining the threat of the pass. Brockel is below average as a lead blocker in the traditional running game. As long as Shula is here we need to give him the correct tools for his trade.

[frash.exe]

Wait are we actually talking about fullbacks

[Mojo]

I want Williams to be our #2 TE.  He did some great blocking and receiving last night.

[Peppers90 NC]

Wait are we actually talking about fullbacks

I think it's legit.  One possible reason for Deangelo's constant struggles, and it's been more apparent since Hoover has left, is the fact that Tolbert isn't near as good as a run blocker as he is a runner.  Since Brockel is pretty much a lock to make the team, I'd rather not use another roster spot on Zordich although he may deserve some consideration.