42 players remain from last years opening day roster.(T.C primer)

[panther4life]

Courtesy of this link from panthers .com here is a list of last years final 53. http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Breaking-down-the-53-man-roster/f8b6396f-4ac3-4bc5-b3d3-97deec514f5a

I have added my own commentary below the player names on the favorites to replace them assuming we allot the same amount of players per position again.

QUARTERBACKS (3):  Newton, Anderson, Webb

This unit remains the same. As of right now there is not a 4th arm signed up for training camp.

RUNNING BACKS (4):  Williams, Stewart, Tolbert , Fozzy Whittaker

Deangelo Williams is gone. Most likely candidate to replace him is 5th round pick Cameron Artis-Payne.

Other contenders include Jordan Todman who signed as unrestricted free agent, Darrin Reaves is a carry over from last years practice squad and Brandon Weghman was added as a undrafted free agent. 

WIDE RECEIVERS (5):  Benjamin, Cotchery,  Avant, Bersin, Philly Brown

Avant is gone and the obvious replacement here is 2nd Round pick Devon Funchess. Ginn was also brought back to handle punt returns and played good enough as a receiver here 2 years ago that I would deem him a near lock to make the cut this year.

 I feel confident based off last years production that in addition to Benjamin, Brown is likely a lock as well. Giving us  4 total for sure in Benjamin,Funchess, Brown, and Ginn. The final  spot will be competed for by Cotchery, Bersin, the following 2 free agent addition's  who had productive years in 2013 Brandon Boykin(681 yards 3 TD's in 13 with Green Bay), Mike Brown( had 446 yards and 2 TD's for the Jags in 13)  and the following practice squad carry overs; Stephen Hill, Demario Pressley, and Marcus Lucas.

That easily makes this one of the more intense and fun upcoming training camp/preseason battles to watch. 

TIGHT ENDS (4):  Olsen, Dickson, Brockel, Brandon Williams

Only 2 players were brought in to compete for a spot here. Both appear to be major underdog's. 

Jamie Childers and Scott Simonson. If any change is made here I suspect it will be in the number that we keep, not in the names we keep.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10):  Kalil, Silatolu,  Turner,  Bell, Chandler ,  Garry WIlliams , Velasco,  Folkert , Andrew Norwell,  Focault.

Bell, Williams and Velasco are all gone. Oher will replace Bell. Mike Remmers was added midseason last year and started 5 games at RT. He is also back. We invested a 4th round pick in in Daryl Williams so it's somewhat safe to assume he should make the cut as well. We all know Jonathan Martin was picked up off waivers from the niners. .  Guard Chris Scott who did not originally make the initial 53 but was added later is still on the roster as well. Practice squad carry over from last year Tackle Martin Wallace is still on the team for now. 3 other obscure names have also been added for competition.

Guard Tyrone Green, Spent 4 years and accumulated 13 starts from 09 -12 with the Chargers. Was out of football the last 2 seasons. 

Guard Jordan Mccray, spent time last year with the Packers practice squad as an undrafted free agent. 3

Guard Ricky Henry, practice squad guy since 2011 who's never seen live action in regular season

Bottom line this still not a promising bunch, but seems it has to be improved from last year. A couple good battles for starting spots should take place at LG and RT.

LT- appears to be all but Oher's.LG- Could go back to Silatolu unless Norwell beats him out, Center is Kalil's, RG- belongs to Turner,

RT should be between Rimmers, Martin, Chandler, and the Rookie Williams. 

 

DEFENSIVE ENDS (5):  Johnson, Hardy,  Ealy,  Addison,  Horton

Hardy is obviously gone. LE belongs to Johnson. However the battle for RE appears to be wide open between Alexander(was suspended first 4 games last year) Ealy, Addison and Horton. 

Those names give us 5 again, with Alexander taking Hardy's vacancy.

We added 3 other names (below) to compete but I don't see it likely that they beat out the above names for a spot. 

Rakim Cox, Arthur Miley (undrafted free agent) Steve Miller (undrafted free agent)

DEFENSIVE TACKLES (4): Lotuleli, Short, Cole, Edwards 

Assuming we keep 4 again, I don't see anyone unseating them. That being said heres the 3 bodies we added that are going to try.

Chas Alexich(spent last year on Steelers practice squad), Kyle Love( Journeymen since 2010),Terry Redden(undrafted F.A) Micanor Regis(former p.s player for Falcons in 12 and 13)

 

LINEBACKERS (6):  Kuechly, Davis, Blackburn , Klein,  Jason Wiliams, Ben Jacobs

Blackburn was allowed to walk, and was Jason Williams, We drafted 2 linebackers in Shaq Thompson (will fill the void from Blackburn) David Mayo another draft pick from the 15 draft class should fill in for Williams.

Adarius Glanton who was acquired midseason last year may beat out Jacobs this time.  

2 other Jouneymen in Kevin Riddick and Jason Trusnik will also compete for the final spot as well. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS (9): Decoud,  Harper, Melvin White ,  Cason ,  Godfrey,  Colin Jones ,  Norman ,Benwikere , Boston.  

This group saw a lot changes. Gone are Decoud, Cason, and Godfrey. We did not draft a single secondary player but did pick up Charles Tillman in free agency. Robert Lester was waived before the final cuts last year but did sign back on with the team later in the year. I am hoping he can be bigger factor this year. 

Other players who are competing for a spot here include, free agent acquisition Chris Houston (shortest of the bunch at 5'10) Carrington Byndom(practice squad carryover), Garry Peters(undrafted free agent), Teddy Williams and Lou Young. 

Personally I'd like to see Norman, Tillman and Benwikere as our starters at corner, with White as the primary backup. If we keep 9 that leaves 5 for names. 

Houston has shown flashes and in the past and brings veteran presence so he should factor in somewhere at corner. 

Then there's 6 players competing for the 4 safety spots. Harper, Boston, Jones, and Lester appear to be the favorites with newcomers, Kurt Coleman and Marcus Ball rounding out the group competing.  I am not a big fan of Harper starting anymore(too slow)so hopefully Lester or Jones can beat him out at SS. Tre Boston seems like the man for the FS spot. 

SPECIALISTS (3):  Gano, Nortman, Jansnen.

I see no reason for this to change and nor does the front office as no competition has been added at this point.

 

Hottest training camp battles imo are at: 

5th receiver spot behind, Benjamin, Funchess, Brown, and Ginn. Biggest names competing there is Cotchery, Bersin, Hill and Boykin. 

Starting LG Belonged to Amini for the past 2.5 seasons before getting hurt,  but Norwell should compete hard with him in camp.

Starting RT  Nate Chandler started the season there, Rimmers finished with the job. Now you've got Jonathan Martin and rookie Daryl Williams joining the party as well.

Starting RDE  Someone needs to step up. Addison, Horton, Ealy, Alexander. Who wants it and is going to earn it?

Corners  Norman is a lock at one corner spot. They like vets in the secondary(See Cason last year and Harper) so I'd imagine Tillman starts opposite of him. Benwikere is fan favorite around here and Houston is another vet but seems better suited for nickel.

SS  Can someone please step up and move Harper to the bench? Hopefully Lester can figure it out or maybe Jones will earn the spot. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[t96]

Nothing really groundbreaking but pie for the effort.

And by the way, LG is Norwell's. Locked in 100%. Not a battle at all.

h

And SS seems to be between Coleman and Harper, with Coleman the favorite.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Unlike any year in recent Panther history, this team actually has NFL calibre talent from top to bottom except Offensive Coordinator.

[Frank Hollywood]

The only spot we have regressed in is at DE with Hardy gone. However, he literally only played one game last year so I wouldn't even really count that. Therefore we have kept or improved our talent at literally every position.

[Plewis]

Adarius Glanton doesn't get enough hype. He looked great to me when we started winning games near the end of the season. I think he could be the missing link in the holy trinity of Davis, Kuechley and _______.

[t96]

Adarius Glanton doesn't get enough hype. He looked great to me when we started winning games near the end of the season. I think he could be the missing link in the holy trinity of Davis, Kuechley and _______.

 

Shaq

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

Hottest training camp battles imo are at: 

5th receiver spot behind, Benjamin, Funchess, Brown, and Ginn. Biggest names competing there is Cotchery, Bersin, Hill and Boykin. 

Starting LG Belonged to Amini for the past 2.5 seasons before getting hurt,  but Norwell should compete hard with him in camp.

Starting RT  Nate Chandler started the season there, Rimmers finished with the job. Now you've got Jonathan Martin and rookie Daryl Williams joining the party as well.

Starting RDE  Someone needs to step up. Addison, Horton, Ealy, Alexander. Who wants it and is going to earn it?

Corners  Norman is a lock at one corner spot. They like vets in the secondary(See Cason last year and Harper) so I'd imagine Tillman starts opposite of him. Benwikere is fan favorite around here and Houston is another vet but seems better suited for nickel.

SS  Can someone please step up and move Harper to the bench? Hopefully Lester can figure it out or maybe Jones will earn the spot. 

Nice write up.

Seem a lot of people think Cotchery is odds on favorite for this spot because he is a veteran.  On a team without Ricky Proehl as coach, I might agree.   With him, Cotchery is expendable.  Bersin has been with this team for four years.  He has grown as a receiver and I like his chances the most.  Hill has improved but not nearly enough and Boykins has been a disappointment too this point.

Starting LG on day one of TC should be Norwell.  If Amini is placed in front of Norwell than we might as well bring Freaking Bell back too.   Insane to think Amini is better than Norwell.  Norwell brings a nastiness Amini doesn't

Starting RT should be Remmers at least to start.  I find this position more open than LT.  Remmers did a great job and deserves the nod at at #1 Team RT.  I am all for someone beating him out.  But, day one.  He is first team.

Starting RDE  I think Alexander will emerge as the other RDE but Ealy came on strong last year and could push Alexander.   Worse case scenario we do RDE by committee.

Corners.  Agree on Norman, of course.  I could also see Benewikere taking the other corner and bring in Tillman to play corner and Bene drops into the Nickel spot.  I think it is a mistake not to have Benewikere on the field as much as possible.

Safety - Harper has some limitations but he is very knowledgeable on the back end and I am not sure anyone behind him is tha much better.   We'll see.