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Rivera expects Bell to start at right tackle (Also other Tidbits)


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Link: http://sports.yahoo....Y3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers are hopingByron Bell gives them the stability and dependability at right tackle that Jeff Otah never could.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that he views Bell, a second-year player out of New Mexico, as the team's starting right tackle this season. Bell earned a roster spot last year as an undrafted rookie and started 12 games after Otah landed on injured reserve for the third straight season.

Bell will be counted on to help protect quarterback Cam Newton, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011.

''He played pretty doggone well last year,'' Rivera said of Bell. ''We were one of the top scoring teams in the league last year with him in there at right tackle. We think a year of experience bodes well for him and he'll continue to grow.''

However, Bell can still stand to improve.

He was flagged for 14 penalties last season, fourth-most in the league, and allowed five sacks as a rookie, according to STATS Inc.

Rivera said Bruce Campbell, acquired in a trade earlier this offseason with the Oakland Raiders, and Garry Williams, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, will also compete behind Bell at right tackle. Rivera said the depth at that position made it easier to pull the trigger on the Otah trade.

''We have three good young offensive tackles that can help contribute and be a part of what we want to do and a veteran on the other side (at left tackle) with Jordan Gross,'' Rivera said.

The decision to trade Otah on Monday came at almost exactly the same time the Panthers acquired wide receiver Louis Murphy from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a late-round pick in 2013. Essentially, the draft picks involved in both trades cancel themselves out, meaning the Panthers got Murphy in exchange for Otah.

Like Otah, Murphy has battled injury problems.

He missed five games last season with a groin injury. Rivera said Murphy tweaked his hamstring last week and may be limited at the start of training camp.

Murphy is expected to compete for the No. 3 receiver spot along with David Gettis, who is coming off a torn ACL last summer, and Kealoha Pilares.

Although Gettis has been placed on the physically unable to perform list, the move was mostly procedural. The Panthers can remove Gettis from that list as soon as he's deemed ready to practice.

Rivera has previously said Carolina's starting receivers will be Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell.

The Panthers also got good news at Tuesday's minicamp session for selected veterans and rookies when three of their defensive stalwarts - linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis and defensive end Charles Johnson - were back on the field together for the first time together since last year's season opener.

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I want to give Bell the benefit of the doubt. Like Cam he did not have an offseason and was put into a starting roll. Cam was drafted number 1 overall and Bell's phone still hasn't rung. Dude needs some coaching and needs to improve some technical aspects. Can not argue that there were growing pains but he definitely proved he was a player in the league.

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I think Bell will be fine. The guy had it tough during certain games. Heck Bell even did a pretty good job of guarding against Clay Matthews during the GB last year. The guy will learn and grow. Don't expect Bell to be great as if he was draft in the first round or something. He will be fine.

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BELL PLAYED GREAT LAST SEASON!!!!

one bad game against Bowers and all these haters going all up his @ss.

Give the kid kudos, he played extremely well last season.

Great is a very strong word for what he did. I would say he played avg and had a few bad games in there.

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Nothing else to say really... RR has spoken. You'd look foolish critiquing the HC's knowledge of this subject.

Rivera has praised Bell, Fua, McClain, Captain, defended both S all at various stages. maybe it is just positive motivation bc he simply needs them not to suck? That does exist. Coaches do try to get in players heads.

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For Carolina to get rid of him, you would think would make them a worse team. After all they’re now left with Byron Bell and Garry Williams fighting for the right tackle spot. Neither man is likely to fill you with confidence based on how they have played over the past two years. Bell put together a year in 2011 that earned him a -26.2 grade, although when you think he was an undrafted rookie you think he could have done a lot worse than give up seven sacks, seven hits and 24 hurries (heck, Wayne Hunter would have killed for those numbers). 2009 UDFA Williams was spotty as a starter in 2010, having some decent games, but also getting some severe beat-downs on more than a few occasions.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/07/24/jeff-otah-everyones-a-winner/

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