Gantt and the Observer on Jimmy Clausen, Jonathan Stewart, and Charles Johnson

[neverlosethefeeling]

the tampa MNF was one of the best regular season games ever, but it was a complete game like you said. I'm talking about games where Stewart has geniunely carried the team. The day he rushed for 200+ against NYG brad hoover ripped off an 18 yarder, anybody could have gone for 200+ on them.

Bears 08, Steelers 10, and Vikings 09 are the only games I can think of where we've played a good defense and he's been the difference maker. We lost the Steelers game but he still played pretty well.

But he's been splitting carries with DeAngelo his entire career, so it's not like we've even needed him to be THAT guy more than a handful of times.

Jonathan Stewart is no slouch and that is a fact.

It's gonna be a hard choice, if we let D-will go and Stewart gets injured do we really want Goodson as our primary back?

Well, I don't think we're going to let DeAngelo walk, so I'll start out by saying that.

And I do think that both Goodson and Sutton have shown flashes and Goodson, I think, is more than capable of being a backup.

I've always said that we have 2 RBs who could start on any team in the league and I think Goodson would be a starter on a lot of teams.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

Williams has been able to keep up with a good D while it seems like Stewart gets tripped up.

really?

name all the top 10 rush defenses williams has effectively run well against.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

the tampa MNF was one of the best regular season games ever, but it was a complete game like you said. I'm talking about games where Stewart has geniunely carried the team. The day he rushed for 200+ against NYG brad hoover ripped off an 18 yarder, anybody could have gone for 200+ on them.

Bears 08, Steelers 10, and Vikings 09 are the only games I can think of where we've played a good defense and he's been the difference maker. We lost the Steelers game but he still played pretty well.

maybe new york picked a bad day to have a bad day, but only 2 running backs were able to rush for 100+ yards on them the entire 2009 season.

the other guy was marion barber.

the giants had the 8th ranked rush defense before stewart embarrassed them.

so no...not just anyone was gonna rip off 200+ on them.

[OneBadassCat]

Between Stewart and Williams, Stewart is the logical must keep. He's younger, cheaper, plus we have a future break out RB in Mike Goodson.

However I do believe we will keep Williams. I think the bond he has with the team will override any concerns we have with his age. He's 28 but he's a young 28. He will have plenty of years left.

But make no mistake about it... Stewart is a future #1 RB and I see him being that on the Panthers, with Williams or no Williams. He has some of the best raw talent and potential in the league. He has it all, speed, power, heart, agility. I really don't see his talent being that far off from the likes of Adrian Peterson. I know that sounds homer, but just watch the guy play.

EDIT: This is not a comparison of Williams and Stewart. I actually think that Williams is a better and more skillful RB but Stewart is a genetic monster of a RB. A Julius Peppers of RB's.

[neverlosethefeeling]

Good point about DeAngelo's age. He spent his first couple years mostly behind Foster, so he's probably got more tread left on the tires than your average 28 year old RB. Besides, if Stewart and Williams continue to split carries, that's only going to prolong both of their careers.

No matter how you look at it, you have to love what we have at the RB position. If there's one thing Hurney has done right, it's been assembling the stable of RBs that we have.

[jtnc]

I actually see Williams being the #2 back when he starts wearing and tearing.

[neverlosethefeeling]

That would make sense as he gets older. Number 2 doesn't mean back-up on this team, though. He'd still be good for 10-15 carries/game IMO

[4Corners]

I actually see Williams being the #2 back when he starts wearing and tearing.

starts wearing and tearing?

how many games has he started/played the past 2 seasons?

$40 million worth?

[neverlosethefeeling]

starts wearing and tearing?

how many games has he started/played the past 2 seasons?

$40 million worth?

He's started 19 games the last 2 seasons. So? He's really only got 2.5 years as a full-time starter under his belt, and of those, he's not had to carry the load of an every-down back because he's had Stewart there.

DeAngelo is going to get paid, and he's going to deserve what he gets paid.

[Seamonk]

I think you missed the point with Gantt. He's no longer covering the panthers for the Observer. But he can still write articles for other places.

[mav1234]

I think you missed the point with Gantt. He's no longer covering the panthers for the Observer. But he can still write articles for other places.

Who exactly is he writing articles for these days then? Or is he just freelancing? I haven't found anything recent of his, what did you come across?

[CatMan72]

Guess there isn't much to talk about at Winthrop these days... LOL

I would love to know the story behind his "re-assignment", he must have really pissed someone off.

[jtm]

I love Stewart but people need to remember that he gets a lot of his yards in the 4th qtr. when teams are tired. He reminds me a lot of Marion Barber. Barber couldn't excel as the starter b/c he made his living in the 4th qtr. pounding defenses when tired. Having said this, I think J Stew. is a better back and can probably do well as an every down back, but this is an unknown.

[jtm]

I've always said that we have 2 RBs who could start on any team in the league and I think Goodson would be a starter on a lot of teams.

Perhaps, but Goodson HAS to get the fumbling under control. Not only would he not start, but he won't be in the NFL if he doesn't correct this. Having said this, many backs have corrected this problem but it is a major concern for me.