Some Norman respect

[Zaximus]

Gamble was underrated definitely, but he didn't seem to "love" football like Norman does.  I think if Gamble loved playing, he would be as good or better than Norman has been this year.   I still wish he didn't retire so early, we could have used him.  That first year with him and Lucas was awesome.   

Manning was good but when they changed the rules on bumping receivers it killed his game overnight.  

[motocross_cat]

Ken lucas in the conversation?

[beastson]

Gamble was a beast in coverage, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. We're talking about someone who had 13 INT his first 2 seasons. He still holds our INT record. Josh was a better tackler for sure though

[KSpan]

13 minutes ago, motocross_cat said:

Ken lucas in the conversation?

IMO, Lucas played lights out in 2005 and was a quality starter from 2006-2008 but overall a clear gap between him and Norman/Gamble. I don't think he was better than Davis, but it could be debated. That said, his 2005 season was one of the best individual CB performances in Carolina history and he was worth the FA contract.

[GRWatcher]

12 minutes ago, beastson said:

Gamble was a beast in coverage, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. We're talking about someone who had 13 INT his first 2 seasons. He still holds our INT record. Josh was a better tackler for sure though

Gamble didn't play both sides of the field like Norman does but he did shut down his side consistently, our left side, with QB's not throwing his way. He wasn't heavily involved in blitzes but his play allowed for a lot of safety blitzes because he could be trusted to handle man-to-man on his own. Quite a few of his INT's were from deflected passes because he always seemed to be around the ball & in the right place at the right time. Then injuries started to plague him including concussion. He played 9 seasons as a Panther. I absolutely loved watching him play.

[caatfan]

There's never been any speculation (by any respectable source) about any Panthers CB being the best in the league, until Norman. No doubt in my mind he's the best we've ever had at that position. I just hope they can get it worked out so he remains a Panther.

[KSpan]

16 minutes ago, GRWatcher said:

Gamble didn't play both sides of the field like Norman does but he did shut down his side consistently, our left side, with QB's not throwing his way. He wasn't heavily involved in blitzes but his play allowed for a lot of safety blitzes because he could be trusted to handle man-to-man on his own. Quite a few of his INT's were from deflected passes because he always seemed to be around the ball & in the right place at the right time. Then injuries started to plague him including concussion. He played 9 seasons as a Panther. I absolutely loved watching him play.

Gamble played one side because that was the scheme. not because he wasn't able. Fitzgerald even called it out after the AZ game in 2008, saying he was surprised Carolina came at them with the scheme they'd showed all year and that he was glad that Gamble wasn't covering him all game.

[Khyber53]

Norman has been having a stellar year and he is, right now, a shutdown corner. Opposing teams are beginning to do anything they can to just simply give up on whoever Norman covers. In a way, I wish he would fall off the radar a bit. Once they forget and start testing him, the interceptions will start rolling in again.

Gamble, however, is the best CB the Panthers have ever had. He quietly and without show simply shut down half the field when he played. His first two years, he was an incredible ball hawk, with 13 interceptions and 26 passes defensed. Those numbers dropped off after that as quarterbacks wouldn't even throw near him. He just about literally made the field disappear as camera men covering the games quit showing him and whoever he defended against, just because the ball was never coming over that way. He was a magician's cabinet that receivers would step into on the first play, then disappear only to reappear after the game in the locker room, bewildered and unable to explain where they had been. There's a slot receiver from the Texans that disappeared like that in one game in 2007 and no one has heard from him since! 

Had Gamble had a more outgoing personality, they'd be talking about him among the NFL greats, but he was quiet and didn't pursue attention. He got out of the game while he was still healthy, and he had a good approach to his finances, so I believe he is doing quite well for himself. Wish him the best!

Manning, was a bandit in the playoffs, and he shined greatly in that spotlight. He was good, but he benefited greatly from the team he was on. He had a penchant for off field violence and we quietly let him go out the door to where a lot of Panthers used to go and get the big checks -- the Chicago Bears. He did meh there.

[GRWatcher]

4 minutes ago, KSpan said:

Gamble played one side because that was the scheme. not because he wasn't able. Fitzgerald even called it out after the AZ game in 2008, saying he was surprised Carolina came at them with the scheme they'd showed all year and that he was glad that Gamble wasn't covering him all game.

lol all Huddlers know Trgovac was never considered innovative or imaginative. You are correct sir, which is why I did not type 'couldn't'.

[KSpan]

28 minutes ago, GRWatcher said:

lol all Huddlers know Trgovac was never considered innovative or imaginative. You are correct sir, which is why I did not type 'couldn't'.

Haven't thought about it in a long time, but Fitz's comment is still as head-shaking now as it was back then. The defense pulled it together in the second half after some adjustments, so while it's damn near impossible to overcome 6 turnovers they probably could have kept the game a little closer with a better performance from the coaches.  

On topic, I really like the way that this staff uses Norman and the defensive roster in general (Roman Harper manned up on TEs notwithstanding). His willingness and ability to play both sides really opens things up, and McD/Rivera are actually scheming that to their advantage.