Panthers Roster Projection Update

[MadHatter]

Just curious Jeremy.  Is your list of projected starters based on anything you are hearing from the team, or is it just based on your personal opinion and speculation? 

[Jeremy Igo]

Just curious Jeremy.  Is your list of projected starters based on anything you are hearing from the team, or is it just based on your personal opinion and speculation? 

Based on who is getting the most first string reps in practices. 

[PimpTrickGanstaClick]

Now that the Carolina Panthers training camp is underway, a clearer picture of the Panthers roster is starting to emerge. 

This roster assumes that Panthers GM David Gettleman will keep all 2015 draft picks. Here is what seems to be shaping up according to reps taken. 

Offense - 26

Quarterback - 2
Cam Newton
Derek Anderson

Note: Joe Webb is a very valuable player. This is a tough call, but to add Webb is to subtract from another position. Not easy to do. 

Running Back - 4
Jonathan Stewart
Fozzy Whitaker
Cameron Artis-Payne
Jordan Todman

Fullback - 1
Mike Tolbert

Tight End - 3
Greg Olsen
Ed Dickson
Richie Brockel

Note: Brandon Williams is on the bubble this season, and has yet to take a training camp rep due to injury. 

Wide Receiver - 6
Kelvin Benjamin 
Devin Funchess
Corey Brown
Ted Ginn
Brenton Bersin
Jerricho Cotchery

Note: Ron Rivera has eluded to keeping 6 or 7 receivers. These have been my 6 all along. 

Offensive Line - 10
Michael Oher
Andrew Norwell
Ryan Kalil
Trai Turner
Mike Remmers
Chris Scott
Daryl Williams
Amini Silatolu 
Brian Folkerts
Nate Chandler

Note: The Panthers have been grooming Mike Remmers as a center. They could opt to release Brian Folkerts and keep on an extra tackle like Martin Wallace. 

Defense: 24

Defensive Line - 9
Charles Johnson
Star Lotulelei 
Kawaan Short
Frank Alexander
Kony Ealy
Colin Cole
Dwan Edwards
Kyle Love
Mario Addison

Note: Considering recent injuries, Panthers opt to keep DT Kyle Love. 

Linebacker - 5
Thomas Davis
Luke Kuechly
Shaq Thompson
AJ Klein
David Mayo

Note: The competition between Klein and Glanton is pretty strong. Could be a coin flip. Glanton could lose out due to practice squad eligibility. 

Safety - 4
Roman Harper
Tre Boston
Kurt Coleman
Colin Jones

Corners - 6
Josh Norman
Bene Benwikere
Charles Tillman
Melvin White
Carrington Byndom
Lou Young

Note: Lou Young quietly having an impressive camp.

Special Teams - 3

Kicker - Graham Gano
Punter - Brad Nortman
Long Snapper - JJ Jansen 

Practice Squad - 9
Lee Ward
Damiere Byrd
Brandon Wegher 
Martin Wallace
David Foucault
Marcus Lucas
Adarius Glanton
Dean Marlowe

 

 

View full article

Are these in depth chart order?

[Jeremy Igo]

Are these in depth chart order?

Not really. Mario Addison should be above Ealy. 

[Gallagher]

 

Corners - 6
Josh Norman
Bene Benwikere
Charles Tillman
Melvin White
Carrington Byndom
Lou Young

Note: Lou Young quietly having an impressive camp.

 

Tell us more. My initial thought was that we should keep a 6th LB like Glanton over a 6th corner, since we know that Colin Jones can play the nickel. What have you seen out of Lou though?

[MV%doe]

Quarterback - 2
Cam Newton
Derek Anderson

Note: Joe Webb gets cut, due to cams health and a deeper roster than 2014.

Running Back - 4
Jonathan Stewart
Fozzy Whitaker
Cameron Artis-Pain

Mike Tolbert

Note- Ginn can handle KOs, besides most are touchbacks now.

Tight End - 4
Greg Olsen
Ed Dickson
Richie Brockel

Brandon Williams

Note: Brandon Williams is a good 4 phase STer

Wide Receiver - 6
Kelvin Benjamin 
Devin Funchess
Corey Brown
Ted Ginn
Brenton Bersin
Jerricho Cotchery

Note: in my original hill beat out cothery. STs will determine 4-6.

Offensive Line - 9
Michael Oher
Andrew Norwell
Ryan Kalil
Trai Turner
Mike Remmers
Chris Scott
Daryl Williams
Brian Folkerts
Nate Chandler

Note: folkerts is a lock unless Dave picks up a different C. Most carry either 2 or 3 or have a trusted backup that can snap. Scott fills the emergency role.

Defense: 25

Defensive Line - 9
Charles Johnson
Star Lotulelei 
Kawaan Short
Frank Alexander
Kony Ealy
Colin Cole
Dwan Edwards
Kyle Love
Mario Addison

Note: Considering recent injuries, Panthers opt to keep DT Kyle Love. I echo this

Linebacker - 6
Thomas Davis
Luke Kuechly
Shaq Thompson
AJ Klein

Ad Glanton

JasOn Trusnik

 

Note: big disagreement here. I'm cutting mayo, PS better fit. Focus on ST, need LBs.

Safety - 4
Roman Harper
Tre Boston
Kurt Coleman
Colin Jones

Corners - 6
Josh Norman
Bene Benwikere
Charles Tillman
MelWhite 

Teddy williams

Lou Young

Note: Lou Young quietly had an impressive OTAs and zod singing his camp Too.  its a tough group to judge.

Special Teams - 3

Kicker - Graham Gano
Punter - Brad Nortman
Long Snapper - JJ Jansen 

Practice Squad - 10
Lee Ward
Damiere Byrd
Brandon Wegher 
Martin Wallace
David Foucault
Marcus Lucas
david mayo

  Carrington-Byndom

Aurther miley

Dean Marlowe

Edited August 4, 2015 by MV%doe

[Mol3m4n]

Remind me why I want Brockel on this team over Wegher and Ward?

[MV%doe]

Remind me why I want Brockel on this team over Wegher and Ward?

hes the swiss army on this team. Smart knows playbookS. hes a 4 phase STer. A good one at that too.

[Thorrez]

Kalil to Seattle for Okung and a mid round pick in 2016. 

Kalil has a $7.5M salary next year so none will take that for an aging center regardless. Plus okung is a FA. So no. 

[Carolina Cajun]

 

I agree. I think Cotch and Bersin are redundant. Byrd has upside as a speed and slot guy. 

I can agree with that, but the positive we have is I don't think Byrd is going anywhere for a while.  I have no doubt that he will make to our practice squad safely.  I don't think we will end up with a Gaffney situation, Byrd will be on our team for the foreseeable future, and whether he gets reps on the practice squad or rides the bench during game week won't make any difference.  I actually am not high on Cotch, or really bersin, but having one of those guys on the roster is good, so why not go with the Young guy.  As long as Bersin doesn't return a punt for the rest of his life, I'm good.

[KB_fan]

I'm working up a comparison of how this potential starting roster would look in terms of age, experience & quality of play compared to last year's starting roster.

You can see the tables for the offense at my Huddle blog

Plus, I've posted a summary of the key findings here:

This is a work in progress.  I'll post on the defense tomorrow.

[KillaCamNewton]

I dont see the benefit of keeping Bersin over Webb. Even as a QB Webb looked like a way better ST player

[Woodie]

Based on who is getting the most first string reps in practices. 

A lot will change once we get into he preseason games though.  Right now, most of the young guns are still learning the system, and many haven't really had an opportunity to stand out.  Once the games start, some of these guys will have an opportunity to show something (ex. Wegher and/or Ward can earn more reps with the big boys with impressive showings against real opponents).  Also, as they get more comfortable with the system, some will begin making more plays and earn promotions. 

Over the years, I've learned that reading too much into these early reps is pretty pointless.  You have a core whose positions are set, then you have a group that will need to be clearly beaten out to win the position, and finally, you have the guys that have a hold on a position only because of experience or familiarity of the scheme, but the spot is there for the taking once the young guys get up to speed.  So, IMO, Ward, Wegher, and Byrd do have legitimate shots to make the team.  However, each will need to stand out in the games and continue to be impressive as their reps increase.  Average won't get any of these guys on the team, but consistently making plays very well may. 

[MadHatter]

Based on who is getting the most first string reps in practices. 

Thanks...probably the best indication that one could use right now.