It's That Time Again... The Armanti Thread

[TylerDurden]

Hopefully this version will be free of App St. homerism and full of objective discussion.

In all fairness, from what I saw of him last night, he looked better than he ever has over the last two years. He looked the most natural he ever has as a wide receiver and returner. He seemed much more decisive on his return, made his move, and cut it up field. As a receiver, he looked so much more fluid in route running and catching. I actually had to look twice to make sure it was him.

That being said, he has spent two years to get to this point and the fanbase has already written him off (I pretty much already did prior to last night). Has the front office and coaching staff as well? Even if they haven't, I honestly just don't see how he makes the team with the emergence of Tutu, the return of Gettis, the addition of Murphy, possibly expanding Pilares' role as a WR, and with Joe Adams as a returner/spot WR.

There is no doubt he looks much improved, but it seems too little, too late.

[Zod]

A rookie stepped in and did better at punt returns in his first game.

[PantherPhann89]

Armanti Edwards did look the best that he's look since he's been a Panther but I don't see him making the team. His return ability didn't impress me at all. He didn't do anything extra that I saw in his returns. It looks like we've found something in Adams on returns...maybe

[Cape Fear Cat]

You know, maybe I'm just showing my ignorance here, but while he seemed more decisive and adept at catching the ball last night than he ever has before, I saw that he still seems to just run straight to the part of the field that's all clogged up with large men seeking to do the returner bodily harm. Is there an issue with field vision that makes his returns so pedestrian?

[TylerDurden]

I know, but I guess I'm saying is there anyway his improvement as a WR and returner (in addition to his potential ability in wildcat packages) present enough versatility to keep him around?

I'm all but sure Adams will be the starting returner, at least as the PR, once the season starts. I think it'll come down to whether he's one of the top 5 receivers on the roster. His versatility could give him an edge, but I just don't see him beating out Pilares or Adams regardless for the last spot.

[SIGCHI222]

He looked "marginally better" than he has in preseasons past. He did not look "much improved" to me.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

I don't even know what the saying is for fool me three times.

[TylerDurden]

He looked "marginally better" than he has in preseasons past. He did not look "much improved" to me.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

I don't even know what the saying is for fool me three times.

In Armanti's case as a receiver though, looking at his past performances, "marginally" is equal to "much improved" in my mind. Any improvement is "much improved" because he looked so out of his element in his first two seasons.

[top dawg]

Everyone is thinking that Jared Green goes to the practice squad and Armanti goes home, but perhaps they'll both be good practice squad additions.

[NoDa Panther]

Armanti is not eligible for the practice squad.

[toldozer]

He is trying out for a new team, he is as good as gone. Smith, lafell, murphy, gettis, adams, kilo. No room at the inn.

[Ruff]

I agree that Armanti did look a tad bit better, but, the thing is, there's only a certain number of spots available to him on the roster.

With our WRs looking something like:

WR1: Smitty

WR2: LaFell

WR3: Murphy/Gettis

WR4: Gettis/Murphy

WR5: Pilares (KR)

WR6: Adams (PR)

Where is there room for him?

[top dawg]

Armanti is not eligible for the practice squad.

I don't know the rules. Someone please expound.

[EasternJ]

First, yes, I'm a homer.

Now, AE didn't get in the game until the third quarter. Clausen was already in the game, so other than two kick returns (total of 45 yards), he didn't have much of an opportunity to be evaluated. If you look at just stats, he looked pretty good on kick returns and was fourth in receiving yards (one pass caught). I don't think anyone can say from this limited time on the field that he has made improvement or not-- other than what has been observed at camp. Perhaps if he gets some time with on the field with someone other than Clausen we could see if he has what it takes or not.

As a Panthers fan I want to see the best guy out there and if it isn't AE, so be it. With this said, I don't think I saw enough of anyone to start feeling like anybody is a lock -- except maybe for SS.

And unlike many of the crazy fans and haters on this board, I'm confident that the coaches will pick the best players and if we see AE make the cut, he deserved it. It won't be because they are just trying to piss everybody off. At this point he's been given all of the chances one could expect, so it is what it is.

Of course, I was going to add that AE would be better at QB than Clausen, but then I realized that I would be better than Clausen. At 5'9", 150, I could easily be sacked every other play and I probably wouldn't complete any passes. I'd also go 3 and out regularly. See, just like Clausen.

[toldozer]

Hes been, in the league too long and been active too much. By A LOT