The Carolina Panthers on Thursday went through their third and final offseason practice session of the week, and the first one open to the media.Before we get into observations, it’s important to remember these disclaimers:
- OTA practices are pad-free, so it’s tough to get a good read on things such as who’s winning what battles on the line.
- Training camp is still two months away, so where a guy is right now on the depth chart doesn’t mean that’s where he’ll be come Week 1.
- “Sweeping conclusions will be reached — players will be elevated, demoted, cut and traded, at least on Twitter, based on what can be gleaned from 50 yards away on one afternoon.” – This is from Philadelphia, but it speaks for most NFL markets these days.
With all that said, there were a number of notable notes Thursday:
DIDN’T PARTICIPATE
- WR Kelvin Benjamin: Sitting out with a hamstring he strained when he slipped on wet turf coming out of a cut a couple weeks ago. He caught some light tosses early in practice, but it won’t be surprising to see the Panthers hold their top receiver out until training camp.
- WR Devin Funchess: The second-round pick is in Los Angeles for the NFLPA’s Rookie Premiere.
- CB Bené Benwikere: According to coach Ron Rivera, Benwikere’s hamstring was “real tight” Thursday morning, so he spent the day watching from the sideline.
- CB Charles Tillman: Had an excused absence to take care of a family matter in Chicago. Rivera assured “it was nothing serious.”
- CB Garry Peters: The undrafted rookie is missing valuable time as he deals with a lingering hamstring issue.
- LB Shaq Thompson: Finishing up the quarter at Washington.
- FB Lee Ward: Finishing up the quarter at Stanford.
- OL Nate Chandler: Will be limited after undergoing offseason surgeries.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB — Cam Newton, RB — Jonathan Stewart, FB — Mike Tolbert, WR — Jerricho Cotchery, WR — Corey Brown, TE — Greg Olsen, LT — Michael Oher, LG — Andrew Norwell, C — Ryan Kalil, RG — Trai Turner, RT — Mike Remmers
- Notable: Benjamin and Funchess were out; WRs Brenton Bersin, Ted Ginn and Stephen Hill saw plenty of snaps with the first team.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DE — Wes Horton, DT — Star Lotulelei, DT — Kawann Short, DE — Frank Alexander, OLB — Thomas Davis, MLB — Luke Kuechly, OLB — A.J. Klein, CB — Josh Norman, CB — Melvin White, SS — Roman Harper, FS — Tre Boston
- Notable: White replaced Tillman; Colin Jones was in for Benwikere at No. 1 nickel corner; DE Charles Johnson had a semi-vet day, only participating in individual drills; DEs Kony Ealy and Mario Addison and DTs Colin Cole and Dwan Edwards saw plenty of snaps with the first team; Kurt Coleman rotated in a bit with Harper at SS.
NOTABLE ROTATIONS
- RBs: Stewart, Fozzy Whittaker, Jordan Todman, Cameron Artis-Payne
- LT: Oher, Jonathan Martin, David Foucault
- LG: Andrew Norwell, Amini Silatolu
- RG: Turner, Chris Scott
- RT: Remmers, Daryl Williams
- MLB: Kuechly, Klein, David Mayo
OTHER NUGGETS
- Newton had a great day throwing the ball, and he flew past the defense on a designed run to the left side. His health compared to last year at this time is the most underrated story of the Panthers offseason.
- Norman batted away a pass intended for Bersin on the first play of 11-on-11’s, but that was one of the few highlights of the day for the defense.
- The offense spent the day installing deep routes, and it was rough timing for a secondary missing two starters (Tillman, Benwikere). Hill and Corey Brown each hauled in multiple long completions in seven-on-seven’s and 11-on-11’s. After Hill’s first catch — against Norman on a perfect pass from QB Derek Anderson — Newton ran down the field to congratulate the 6-foot-4 wideout. Afterward, Rivera twice said Hill “had a real big day.”
- It almost wasn’t fair to see Newton toss a long completion to Olsen, who beat undrafted S Dean Marlowe down the left sideline.
- Corey Brown said he’s faster this summer, even though he’s gained some weight. He backed that up by beating speedster Teddy Williams and Lou Young for a pair of deep receptions.
- It was amusing to see 5-foot-9 undrafted WR Damiere Byrd standing next to the 6-foot-5 Benjamin on the sideline. Byrd backed up his standout rookie minicamp early on in individual drills, but he was quiet later in practice.
- CB Teddy Williams had a nice pass breakup on a ball intended for WR Mike Brown, but Williams was later beaten deep by Hill and Corey Brown.
- S Robert Lester appeared to tweak his right foot midway through practice.
- Undrafted DE Arthur Miley got a handful of snaps with the second team.
- Rivera said this is a “make-or-break” season for Alexander, who spent the day at the top of the depth chart. But the buzz after practice was Addison really stood out among the DEs.
- Lotulelei, who suffered a fracture in his foot before January’s playoff loss in Seattle, appeared to be feeling fine.
- Oher, who was bothered by a toe injury the last couple seasons, said the toe is now “excellent” and “it hasn’t felt this good since I entered the NFL.”
I’m so excited…about to jump out of my skin!
I’m so excited…about to jump out of my skin!
between hill , Byrd , lee ward , mayo , etc we should see some new guys making significant contributions. Special teams have the potential to make a difference in games and I think the Panthers will make strides in this area . Look forward to the upcoming season . Go panthers !
between hill , Byrd , lee ward , mayo , etc we should see some new guys making significant contributions. Special teams have the potential to make a difference in games and I think the Panthers will make strides in this area . Look forward to the upcoming season . Go panthers !
Is it the Panthers have arrived after cap jail? Could Gettleman be a genius finding diamonds that other teams cast away? Could this be the years we get to see Cam at his best?
It’s almost like Christmas waiting for the day to open the presents. Each day you see anew present and you pick it up and shake it hoping to guess what’s inside. This year Gettleman has put a lot of presents under the tree so to speak in players. Who are these guys? We see them shaking around and bumping, but still it’s just a guess.
Then finally on present opening day we get to see what we have been guessing at all along. This is how I feel about this season with WR coach Ricky Proehl and his group of WR’s. With Proehl and Rivera talking up Stephen Hill could it possibly be we will see 3 #1 WR’s on the field for the first time ever in Panthers 21 year history? Can this season be the turning point in a long run of being a contending team that we only had glimpses of in the past? Can this years team make the media take notice for once and for all and give the Panthers the recognition it really deserves?
Can this be a season of Cam going 7000 yards in a single season? Or could it be the Defense breaks the 72 sack record? This record would be sweet for Charles Tillman to break the 40-40 and coming from the Bears who hold the 72 sack record would be a great testament for Tillman. All the answer to these question is a huge whopping yes. Yes we can!
Cam is a testament just by himself after returning from last years troubles with injuries. That’s a whole story by itself. How about Michael Oher being reunited with John Matsko helping him regain his mojo to be a force at LT. How about last years draft class and what kind of impact they can have this year. How about Gettleman signing veteran players to be player coaches to this young stud group of 1 year and rookies. Then Corey Brown and Andrew Norwell are stories in their own right being way over looked and Gettleman grabbed them.
There is just to much to be excited about that we all can’t put the spot light just on 1 player or 5 players it’s about 20 players or more. Then for a talent like Stephen Hill to ride a PS all season and no one came calling for him. Hill will blow peoples minds for not grabbing him and spending time with him like Proehl. That’s like finding a cherry Corvette in a barn for 3000.00. It just don’t happen.
But the biggest thing that really hasn’t been brought to light is the impact of having back to back Walter Payton award winners in TD and Tillman. The leadership of just this two and what it means in the locker room for the rookies and younger guys. Folks if a rookies only complaint this year is carrying shoulder pads for veterans then they haven’t heard what a dinner coat on other teams.
Well I’m one person who is excited and can see the possibilities this team can have this year. I just hope the coaching staff is ready for the challenge that lies ahead. Game planning is going to be key in every game to repeat as NFC South Champions. But it’s very doable. Good luck guys.
No they (Panthers) can’t!!!!! 7,000 yards for Cam and 72 team sacks are impossible for them to reach.
Is it the Panthers have arrived after cap jail? Could Gettleman be a genius finding diamonds that other teams cast away? Could this be the years we get to see Cam at his best?
It’s almost like Christmas waiting for the day to open the presents. Each day you see anew present and you pick it up and shake it hoping to guess what’s inside. This year Gettleman has put a lot of presents under the tree so to speak in players. Who are these guys? We see them shaking around and bumping, but still it’s just a guess.
Then finally on present opening day we get to see what we have been guessing at all along. This is how I feel about this season with WR coach Ricky Proehl and his group of WR’s. With Proehl and Rivera talking up Stephen Hill could it possibly be we will see 3 #1 WR’s on the field for the first time ever in Panthers 21 year history? Can this season be the turning point in a long run of being a contending team that we only had glimpses of in the past? Can this years team make the media take notice for once and for all and give the Panthers the recognition it really deserves?
Can this be a season of Cam going 7000 yards in a single season? Or could it be the Defense breaks the 72 sack record? This record would be sweet for Charles Tillman to break the 40-40 and coming from the Bears who hold the 72 sack record would be a great testament for Tillman. All the answer to these question is a huge whopping yes. Yes we can!
Cam is a testament just by himself after returning from last years troubles with injuries. That’s a whole story by itself. How about Michael Oher being reunited with John Matsko helping him regain his mojo to be a force at LT. How about last years draft class and what kind of impact they can have this year. How about Gettleman signing veteran players to be player coaches to this young stud group of 1 year and rookies. Then Corey Brown and Andrew Norwell are stories in their own right being way over looked and Gettleman grabbed them.
There is just to much to be excited about that we all can’t put the spot light just on 1 player or 5 players it’s about 20 players or more. Then for a talent like Stephen Hill to ride a PS all season and no one came calling for him. Hill will blow peoples minds for not grabbing him and spending time with him like Proehl. That’s like finding a cherry Corvette in a barn for 3000.00. It just don’t happen.
But the biggest thing that really hasn’t been brought to light is the impact of having back to back Walter Payton award winners in TD and Tillman. The leadership of just this two and what it means in the locker room for the rookies and younger guys. Folks if a rookies only complaint this year is carrying shoulder pads for veterans then they haven’t heard what a dinner coat on other teams.
Well I’m one person who is excited and can see the possibilities this team can have this year. I just hope the coaching staff is ready for the challenge that lies ahead. Game planning is going to be key in every game to repeat as NFC South Champions. But it’s very doable. Good luck guys.
No they (Panthers) can’t!!!!! 7,000 yards for Cam and 72 team sacks are impossible for them to reach.
It’s good to see Klein as the backup MLB, Mayo will mostly play special teams as a rookie.
It’s good to see Klein as the backup MLB, Mayo will mostly play special teams as a rookie.