Share your key takeaways from Minicamp

[KB_fan]

So... Thinking back over the 3 days of minicamp this week and the observations / chatter from various sources, what are your takeaways, impressions, concerns? 

Here are a few of mine.

1) Thrilled Cam was making progress throwing each day. I almost expected that after Tuesday's hoopla they'd put him back in bubble wrap. The fact that they didn't bodes really well... If Norv and Scott Turner's coaching about his mechanics can help him throw quickly, efficiently and with less torque, and it STICKS in game time... Could be super fun.

2) Curtis Samuel, making plays. This kid seems poised to explode.

3) The pick your poison D.  So much potential among front 7. If realized, it's a game changer. When a guy like Bruce Irvin almost becomes an afterthought because you've got so many weapons...  It's cool. Burns seems like the real deal. And signing McCoy seems to have pumped up the whole team. They sense the front office believes they can make a run.

4) The vibe. Guys seem like they're having a blast. Always bodes well for this team when the fun level is high.

5) Concerns:. Ian Thomas / Jermaine Carter.  Never like mystery lingering injuries. These are 2 young guys we're counting on to take the next steps. Hate that they've missed so many reps.

6) Oline: a bit of a concern that our 5 presumed starters haven't been able to really work together yet. Got to hope that Paradis, Williams and Trai are fully healthy and full go for camp.

[top dawg]

Paradis, Williams and Turner are on schedule from everything I've read. As for Thomas and Carter, you just never know. We've seen it go every which way in the past. I'll hope for the best. 

I've read that by most accounts, Samuel was the most impressive offensive player during minicamp.  For me, this is super exciting. I don't want to play into what  I consider as the myth of him being injury prone, but I wouldn't mind putting Samuel in bubble wrap during camp, because that's how important that I think he'll be once September rolls around. He's got it, I know he does.

I am also encouraged by Will Grier's progress. Sure, it's just a little something before the battle begins in earnest next month, but his progress from rookie camp to now was noted by @Jeremy Igo and Max Henson, so it has to be real. Just the fact that he seems to be making strides faster than Heinike or Allen did this time last year is encouraging to me. 

Burns' speed has also been noted by multiple writers, and that's encouraging even if pads aren't on. 

One player that I haven't necessarily heard anything about other than here is Christian Miller. I've had my eye on him anyway, but I will certainly keep focused on him. Igo has to follow through by continuing to give us info on Miller.

Overall, I would have liked to have heard more info regarding how Godwin and the two rookie RBs did, but I guess that little is to be expected. One reason why we may have heard so little is because the defense had a markedly better three-day outing. 

[Paa Langfart]

TBH I don't put too much stock in anything that happens in any of the practice/training camps.  It seems like Every damn year everyone gets all excited about this player or that and what they are seeing and we go on to have another medocre season, all our hopes from camp dashed against the reality that the other 31 teams are  professionals and practicing too.  

I'll let you know what the key take aways are after our first real test on September 8 th after we play the Rams.  Everything before that is IMHO meaningless fluff.

[Tepper's Chest Hair]

My key takeaway is that there was no Funchess of Benjamin present.

I know.  I am holding a grudge.

 

[Basbear]

Key is beside Fraizer, the team came away healthy.

For me, it's super difficult to read all fluff and know what is really happening. Done this too long, TC/OTAs superstar rookies and FAs disappear once the season begins. 

[Snake]

7 minutes ago, Basbear said:

Key is beside Fraizer, the team came away healthy.

For me, it's super difficult to read all fluff and know what is really happening. Done this too long, TC/OTAs superstar rookies and FAs disappear once the season begins. 

At least this year we have a FO commuted to winning. Having Bruce Irving and McCoy is big moves.

[Basbear]

4 minutes ago, Snake said:

At least this year we have a FO commuted to winning. Having Bruce Irving and McCoy is big moves.

I concur. I love the mentality each brings. Irving is a pros pro and McCoy is that good side of being a goofball. Both are hard workers too. I already know each is sharing which is the most valuable thing in football- knowledge. Each has learned so much for 8 years, passing that to Burns, Miller, and Haynes is priceless.    

[top dawg]

4 hours ago, Paa Langfart said:

TBH I don't put too much stock in anything that happens in any of the practice/training camps.  It seems like Every damn year everyone gets all excited about this player or that and what they are seeing and we go on to have another medocre season, all our hopes from camp dashed against the reality that the other 31 teams are  professionals and practicing too.  

I'll let you know what the key take aways are after our first real test on September 8 th after we play the Rams.  Everything before that is IMHO meaningless fluff.

Granted, but though all the teams are professionals and such, some teams have better offseasons than others. And, yes, winning the offseason doesn't equal winning a championship, but it surely helps. We've had easiest the best off-season for our franchise in a long time (if not the best). That being said, it's going to take more than the Rams game for me to make any grand proclamations or even prognostications as to whether or not we are contenders or pretenders. Even still, things seem a little different this year. I don't think we're the same ol' Panthers.

BTW, IMO, Samuel's continued progression from OTAs to minicamp seem very meaningful in light of the fact that this is his first completely healthy offseason, and when looking at how he showed out last preseason, was interrupted greatly by injury, but then gradually made notable production with relatively modest touches after his return. He just keeps on rolling, and the needle is pointing in the right direction. I wouldn't necessarily call that "meaningless."

[shaqattaq]

14 hours ago, KB_fan said:

2) Curtis Samuel, making plays. This kid seems poised to explode.

[WOW!!]

Haynes getting alot of talk up from his teammates was something I noticed..

[Captain Morgan]

The single most important thing I took away is that the team is gelling.  Gelling like a felon.  They seem to be very together.  The group taking Gerald to lunch away from the coaches and staff, his choosing us when he thought he was going to sign with Baltimore...him bringing in the ice cream truck...

And all this with TD not being there.  There just seems to be a team vibe that these guys like and respect each other.  I could see us hitting a groove where we buzzsaw everyone put in front of us like 2015.  Or not.

But it's starting to feel that way.

[saX man]