First-Team Offense Based Off Team Drills

QB Anderson; RB Williams; FB Tolbert; WR rotation Cotchery/Benjamin/Avant; 2TE sets Olsen/Dickson; LT/RT rotation Bell/Chandler; LG Dennis in for Silatolu; Kalil; RG Turner

First-Team Defense Based Off Team Drills

Johnson; Addison in for Hardy; Lotulelei; Cole/Edwards/Short rotation; Davis; Kuechly; Blackburn; nickel – Benwikere; Cason; White/Norman rotation; Lester in for Harper; DeCoud

Punt Returners

Presley, Brown, Cason, Pilares

Overall Impressions

This was the third practice the media has been allowed to watch, and after a slower start, the Panthers did a lot more ones vs ones in team drills. Still a bit unfair to judge offensive line against defensive line in these practices. Overall impression is just how many spots are fluid heading into next week’s minicamp, and that’ll likely be the same story going into training camp.

Player Impressions

• Cam Newton, QB — Spent the day rehabbing inside; Ron Rivera said he’s “on schedule” and estimated Newton’s attended six of the nine OTA practices; Rivera rightfully became a bit annoyed by constant questions about Newton, whose pace is right where everyone thought it would be; after practice, Newton went out of his way to defend the team’s receivers.
• Derek Anderson, QB — Threw a bunch of darts during a real good day.
• De’Andre Presley, WR — First one out on field; not as noticeable as he was last Wednesday.
• Tiquan Underwood, WR — Doesn’t seem to be part of the higher rotations.
• Kelvin Benjamin, WR — Made some great catches in team drills, including one where he fought off Josh Norman for an Anderson bullet over the middle.
• Joe Webb, QB — Badly juked undrafted rookie Carrington Byndom on quarterback draw, eliciting “oooooooohs!” from teammates.
• Philly Brown, WR — Blazing speed helped him fly past Antoine Cason to catch deep ball from Anderson early.
• Kealoha Pilares, WR — More involved in team drills than he has been.
• Josh Thomas, CB — Bubble guy played a bit with the ones; made up ground to knock away pass intended for Underwood.
• Melvin White, CB — Not as many reps with the ones due to a sore hip.
• Tyler Gaffney, RB — Returned after finishing up last final at Stanford; said he doesn’t feel behind; not walking at next week’s graduation.
• Josh Norman, CB — Player of the day; rotated with White at starting cornerback; had multiple pass breakups, had play of the day — a one-handed falling interception; Rivera admitted he’s cautious about getting too excited about Norman, who’s flashed at times previously.
• Jonathan Stewart, RB — Looked really good again.
• Bene Benwikere, CB — Literally shadowed Charles Godfrey in defensive installation; starting nickel in team drills.
• Charles Godfrey, CB — Moving well; held out during team drills again.
• Tre Boston, S — Still watching after recent hernia surgery.
• Carrington Byndom, CB — Rough day; heard a “Wake up 3-7!” from defensive backs coach Steve Wilks; whiffed badly on Webb designed run.
• Robert Lester, S — Played with ones in place of resting Roman Harper.
• Roman Harper, S — Veteran’s day off.
• Colin Jones, S — Two interceptions off tips.
• Luke Kuechly, LB — Funny moment walking into practice: When fan wanted him to take a picture with Argentina soccer jersey, Kuechly refused saying “I root for the U.S.!”
• Garry Williams, T — Held out; worked on conditioning.
• Amini Silatolu, G — Still working with ones in installation and sitting out team drills.
• Ryan Kalil, C — Returned after taking veteran’s day off last Wednesday.
• Trai Turner, G — Worked with ones again; could very well stay there with veteran Chris Scott struggling with conditioning.
• Edmund Kugbila, G — Rehab on field included pulling weights across field about 10 times.
• Chris Scott, G — Held out, still not in shape.
• Greg Hardy, DE — Stayed inside for what Rivera called “leg maintenance;” not a big deal at all; expected to be back out there Thursday.
• Byron Bell, T — Still in LT/RT rotation with Chandler; tweaked right leg during team drills but waved off replacement.
• Nate Chandler, T — See above.
• Ed Dickson, TE — Played in more two tight end sets than we’ve seen the last couple weeks.
• Greg Olsen, TE — Fantastic day included display of soft hands on favorite route versus Lester near sideline.
• Frank Alexander, DE — Spent some time with the ones.
• Chase Blackburn, LB — Caught up to tight Ed Dickson for pass break up, heard “Way to finish the play, Chase!” from sideline.”
• Kony Ealy, DE  — Not yet in upper rotations outside or inside.
• Mario Addison, DE — Played majority of first-team snaps in place of Hardy.

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