Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Carolina Panthers OTAs Week Two Notes and Photos

Jeremy Igo

By Jeremy Igo,
in Carolina Panthers

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
Jeremy Igo Newbie

Jeremy Igo

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

The second week of the 2016 Carolina Panthers OTA's served up a further glimpse of what this season may bring. 

First of all, this was the first time Kelvin Benjamin practiced in front of the media. Clearly Ricky Proehl is happy to see Kelvin's return. 

carolina-panthers-otas-5.jpg

Kelvin participated in all individual drills but did not participate in many team drills. He did, however, catch the ball well in the drills. 

carolina-panthers-otas-22.jpg

After Practice, Kelvin ran extra wind sprints, sideline to sideline. 

carolina-panthers-otas-23.jpg

Afterward, he was visibly exhausted in the running. 

KB-1.jpg

Kelvin spoke to the media after practice about his conditioning. 

"It's not where I want to be at, but I am getting there" he said. 

After a year off it will take Benjamin well into training camp to be back in football shape. He is taking it slowly while rehabbing his repaired knee. Fans should pace their expectations slowly as well. 

Cam Newton continues the bandanna look, only upping the game to a throwback Panthers one. The Panthers store should stock these again pronto, would be a big seller. 

carolina-panthers-otas-4.jpg

carolina-panthers-otas-6.jpg

Once the helmet was on the smiles stopped and it was back to the business of football. 

carolina-panthers-otas-8.jpg

 

 

Stephen Hill continued to show improved hands over last season. One interesting thing to note was he was fielding kicks as well. This was the first time I have witnessed Hill do this as a Carolina Panther. If Hill can prove to be a solid kick returner, his roster spot is all but assured. 

carolina-panthers-otas-12.jpg

 

Other things of note: 

  • The Player of the day was Devin Funchess, who looked every bit as good as Kelvin Benjamin today. Funchess may quietly be the most imporoved player on the field. Keep an eye on this, he could turn heads sooner rather than later. 
  • In KK Short's absence, Vernon Butler got plenty of snaps. In the second play of team practice, Butler burst into the backfield for what have been a loss of yards for Jonathan Stewart. Butler may have the fastest first step on the defensive line. His speed was more than impressive today. 
  • Cam Newton's hard count drew Kony Ealy offsides, something Ealy still needs to work on. 
  • Cameron Artis-Payne took an increased number of second string snaps today compared to last week. He looked decisive in his running and caught the ball well out of the backfield from Derek Anderson. 
  • David Foucault had a glaring false start on a Derek Anderson hard count. Mike Shula was not happy and gave him more than an earful. 
  • Ted Ginn got by rookie corner Daryl Worley for a large gain. Steve Wilks immediately grabbed Warley and went over shoulder positioning with him. To say Wilks is in the ear of these young men daily is an understatement. 
  • Soon thereafter, Ted Ginn dropped a touchdown pass from Cam Newton in the back corner of the end zone. Very catchable ball was thrown. 
  • Punter Swayze Waters easily looked like the better punter today both in accuracy and hang time. I would say he is a lock. 
  • I am not convinced Robert McClain is the day 1 starter for the Panthers. He does well against larger, slower receivers. But he struggles against anyone with speed. 
  • One person that should be glad these practices are non-contact is Zack Sanchez. At one point he would have been responsible for tackling Greg Olsen head on. It would not have ended well for him, I believe. Sanchez gives up 6 inches and 60 pounds to Olsen. 
  • AJ Klein quickly snuffed out a Cam Newton screen pass, causing the defense to whoop and holler. Add screen passes to the list of things the Panthers offense constantly struggles with. 
  • Brandon Wegher also had more snaps today compared to last week. In my opinion, he is the most dangerous back on the roster out of the backfield. He turns around and heads up field much quicker than any other back on the roster. 
  • Though Luke Kuechly sits out of drills, he makes sure to engage in the defensive huddle before each practice period. His body may need time to recover, but his leadership does not. 

 

 

carolina-panthers-otas-1.jpg

carolina-panthers-otas-20.jpg

carolina-panthers-otas-21.jpg


View full article

  • Pie 32
Link to comment
Share on other sites
TheWiz Proficient

TheWiz

Posted
Posted

Two things that made me say wow.... Butler having the fastest first step on Funchess being a big time improvement. 

Not too worried about the DB's just yet. Its very early and we should expect them to have these kinds of growing pains. 

Excellent write up as usual. My expectations for KB are just to have him "back." They should bring him along as slowly as possible. 

 

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
caatfan Newbie

caatfan

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

To say Wilks is in the ear of these young men daily is an understatement. 

I think it's safe to say that Wilks is feeling more pressure than any Panthers' coach.

18 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

I am not convinced Robert McClain is the day 1 starter for the Panthers. He does well against larger, slower receivers. But he struggles against anyone with speed. 

Might be the #1 reason he was available for pick up last season. Nobody wants a slow CB.

20 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Brandon Wegher also had more snaps today compared to last week. In my opinion, he is the most dangerous back on the roster out of the backfield

I'm hoping he prompts a lot of 'who IS that guy?' questions this season.

  • Pie 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Clicheking Mentor

Clicheking

Posted
Posted
  • The Player of the day was Devin Funchess, who looked every bit as good as Kelvin Benjamin today. Funchess may quietly be the most imporoved player on the field. Keep an eye on this, he could turn heads sooner rather than later. 
  • Brandon Wegher also had more snaps today compared to last week. In my opinion, he is the most dangerous back on the roster out of the backfield. He turns around and heads up field much quicker than any other back on the roster. 

 

 

All my blood has left my head and went ummmmmm......elsewhere

  • Pie 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nick_81 Newbie

Nick_81

Posted
Posted
Just now, Clicheking said:
  • The Player of the day was Devin Funchess, who looked every bit as good as Kelvin Benjamin today. Funchess may quietly be the most imporoved player on the field. Keep an eye on this, he could turn heads sooner rather than later. 
  • Brandon Wegher also had more snaps today compared to last week. In my opinion, he is the most dangerous back on the roster out of the backfield. He turns around and heads up field much quicker than any other back on the roster. 

 

 

All my blood has left my head and went ummmmmm......elsewhere

From BBR:

Quote
  • WR Devin Funchess had a big day, going up to snag a couple of high throws from Newton. An analogy for Funchess right now: He looks like Benjamin did during the spring of 2014.

http://blackandbluereview.com/panthers-2nd-offseason-practice-session/

 

 

  • Pie 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Adb6368 Rising Star

Adb6368

Posted
Posted

If Hill shows enough to make this team I will undoubtedly anoint him the next Randy Moss and assume he will have 2,000 yards receiving and 16 TDs. Just want to go ahead and get that out of the way. With his speed and size, knowing he would be, at best, our 4th option, makes me reallyyyyy intrigued by him showing even the slightest progress.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • hepcat
      Did Evero nuke his chance at being a head coach by returning to Carolina?

      By hepcat · Posted

      Hard to judge Evero right now. They gutted the defense and replaced several positions with practice squad guys. Spent very little money on the defense compared to the offense this offseason. And when the offense is starting a QB has historically bad as Bryce Young it’s tough to say how bad the defense really is when your offense is turning the ball over and struggling to complete a pass. 
    • BombzAway
      You cannot start Bryce Young again. He is not an NFL player.

      By BombzAway · Posted

      As historically bad as he was last season, all we really had was hope... hope that somehow he'd be better. We had more smoke blew up our rears over the offseason by those who were either on Panthers payroll or on some management staff for Bryce's agents or whatever. He's definitely going to improve with an offseason, new coaches/system/added offensive pieces. Tell me how... how... HOW TF do you immediately come out, over throw an open guy and have an interception on the FIRST freaking offensive play? I feel like the team may like Canales and his energy but -I- do not believe there is enough positive energy to have them believe in Bryce, who is supposed to be leading them on the field. How can you? What has he shown that would make them believe if they do what they're supposed to do he'll put them in position to succeed on the field? I wanted the little guy to be a success cause he seemed like a nice kid and of course they chose him to be a Panther. But even when he's not making mistakes, struggling to make plays he just isn't doing anything at all really to make the team better. It's time to accept it was a massive error and a failure.
    • hepcat
      So the Defense...

      By hepcat · Posted

      Defense has a lot of new players. There was bound to be a learning curve but giving up 47 takes a level of ineptitude. Doesn’t help that the entire team knows Bryce isn’t that guy. When you don’t believe in your QB this is what happens. 
×
×
  • Create New...