Black and Blue Review
OBSERVATIONS
After six practices in pads, including Saturday’s relative slugfest, head coach Ron Rivera delivered on his promise to make Sunday a lighter day. Not many players had a chance to truly shine in shorts and shells, but here are some observations from what Rivera described as “a big-time tone down.”
- When the offensive line shifted under the shade for a drill, assistant coach Ray Brown wondered aloud, “What’s happened to the NFL? Shade, then y’all get water. Modern day NFL!” A few moments later, Brown was handed a water bottle. He took a big chug.
- QB Cam Newton continues to play with the crowd whenever he can. At one point Sunday, when he wasn’t necessarily involved in consecutive plays, he looked at the fans gathered on the hill and flexed, drawing a big reaction.
- WR Kelvin Benjamin received the day’s biggest applause, for a ball he caught out of bounds. On a 3rd-and-eight call, Newton tried to hit Benjamin on an out. After he went high and extended to make the catch three yards outside the chalk, the crowd went wild.
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SUNDAY SIX-PACK
14players were held out of Sunday’s practice, mostly with minor injuries: WR Tavarres King (sore legs), RB Kenjon Barner (sore legs), RB Jonathan Stewart (hamstring), CBCharles Godfrey (foot), S Tre Boston (groin), S Roman Harper (toe), LB Jason Williams (ankle), DE Craig Roh (ankle), DE Linden Gaydosh (ankle), T Garry Williams (knee), DTDrake Nevis (leg), DE Greg Hardy (shoulder), DE Charles Johnson (hamstring), DE Wes Horton (groin).
