Older fans, who ya got? Olsen or Walls?

[Cyberjag]

Most of the posters here are probably too young to remember Wesley Walls and what he meant to the franchise in the 90s, but the guy could block, run, and catch.  He was pretty much our first homegrown star, even if he was drafted by another team.  The guy could do it all, and established records that stood until Olsen came along in a much friendlier passing era.

If you were building a team from scratch and got to choose between all Panthers players to date in their prime, which player would you start at Tight End?  And why?

[jayflip]

I was actually thinking of this today while driving to work. Funny you should post this. 

I still have my alt blue 85 Walls jersey. However, if I were to choose, I'd choose Olsen. 

 

[bababoey]

I don't think your memory is that good if you think Walls could block.  Fox let him go because he could not block.  But he probably had the best hands of any player in Panther history.  If you threw it within 5 yards of him he would find a way to catch it.  With that being said I would still rather have Olsen.  He is faster and a better blocker, now.  When Olsen first got here he was on the Walls level of blocking but now he is pretty good at it.  Walls was not the athlete that Olsen is but damn, he could catch everything.

[stirs]

Depends of offense and QB

For Steve B, Walls was a great TE, For Cam N and our downfield attack, not many fit better than Olsen.

 

Two different offensive systems, two different QB's and two different TE's.  I think Olsen has been asked to do more, especially with the blocking assignments.  Not that he has mastered it yet, but I think covering more responsibilities than Walls.

[Mr. Scot]

I remember Walls. He was great.

Overall better? I probably go with Olsen, but it's a tough call.

[mesolith]

Depends of offense and QB

For Steve B, Walls was a great TE, For Cam N and our downfield attack, not many fit better than Olsen.

 

Two different offensive systems, two different QB's and two different TE's.  I think Olsen has been asked to do more, especially with the blocking assignments.  Not that he has mastered it yet, but I think covering more responsibilities than Walls.

Ditto.

[Mr. Scot]

Wanna throw in Pete Metzelaars?

(actually his best years were before he got here)

[Cary Kollins]

I just remember Walls being a monster. Two great players. I think Olsen is the better weapon for today's game.

[Snake]

Olsen, Walls was a cry baby that would whine like a bitch if he didn't get the ball. 

[B.BERSIN]

Walls is a legend.

[GRWatcher]

Walls complained about blocking all the time much like Tony G did. He was a heck of a player, but I'd even choose Kris Mangum over him. Mangum may not have the numbers of Walls or Olsen but he did everything. Lunch pail type of team player. But I'd choose Greg Olsen over them all, cerebral type of team player willing to do anything to win.

 

[pantherclaw]

Walls couldn't block. 

He was a heck of a pass catching TE. 

 

My vote goes Olsen. 

 

If you had told me a few years ago that I'd take another TE other than Walls, I would have ignored you.

[Datawire]

Big Walls fan but I have to go with Olsen.

[Carl Spackler]

Another vote for Olsen here. I always enjoyed Walls when he was here but I've been an Olsen fan since his Miami days. That aside, he's a tad better than Walls as well – due to his blocking skills he's picked up the last couple years.