Carolina Panthers’ coaches and front office staff are currently huddled inside Bank of America Stadium whittling the roster down from 75 to 53.
Ahead of Saturday’s final cuts, I wanted to bring up a strategy general manager Dave Gettleman’s employed the past couple years.
In 2014, offensive tackle David Foucault was originally told he was being released. But later that morning, he was called back. Because the Panthers were afraid another team might scoop him up off waivers before they could add him to the practice squad, Foucault made the team.
A similar situation happened last year with running back Brandon Wegher. He didn’t have to go through the same emotional roller coaster as Foucault, but Wegher was added to the roster even though the Panthers knew he was far from a finished product.
“When you cut to your 53, you’re probably going to carry a couple of guys — rookies, young guys — that have all the physical skills, but they’re really not quite ready. But because of their skills, you don’t want to lose them,” Gettleman said Wednesday when I asked him about the philosophy.
“If you see a guy who’s a potential starter for you, you’ve got to be careful putting him out there.”
So when cuts come in Saturday, there may be a player or two who may never see the field in 2016. And that’s why roster management requires a longer lens.
“When I was in New York,” Gettleman explained, “at the end of the process, before we’d say, ‘OK, this is it,’ I’d ask the group a general question. I’d say, ‘Is anybody here going to have heartburn if (another team) claims (this player)? If you’re going to have heartburn, we’re going to continue the conversation.’
“With the technology now, the film’s instant, so everybody’s evaluating everybody else’s guys. And that’s the question you have to ask yourself. To get to the right answer, you have to ask the right question. The right question is are you going to be upset if you lose the guy?”
Predictions this way ——>
Projecting the final roster …
As we know by now, Webb is more Swiss Army knife than quarterback.
The Panthers remain intrigued by Wegher’s potential as a running back, but his spot would come via special teams.
Coaches hope Bersin will fill the Jerricho Cotchery role, and I’m guessing Ricky Proehl would have heartburn if Byrd were set free.
For what it’s worth, here’s a couple comments from Friday night:
Byrd — “I think that this year I really upped my game and I made a tough decision for these cuts come Saturday.”
Bersin — “It’s my fifth camp, and sometimes you think you’ve got a lock and then you don’t, so I don’t try to worry about that. I can’t control it.”
Make room for a sixth receiver by keeping just three tight ends. Simonson’s seemed destined for a spot since early in training camp.
Gettleman included guard David Yankey on his list of preseason “pleasant surprises,” but that feels more like practice squad potential.
IMO, this is the toughest group to predict. Would they chance not getting defensive end Ryan Delaire onto the practice squad? I was leaning toward Robert Thomas over Love, but went with experience in case Short’s “soreness” lingers.
Cash has gone from deeeeep down the depth chart to a guy who could give multiple coaches heartburn if he was released.
“I definitely think so,” Cash said Friday when asked if he felt he’s done enough to earn a spot.
“The versatility that I show when I go out onto the field, that’s something that coaches really look forward to. Also my ability to go out on special teams and make plays.”
Cash’s inclusion could knock out Ben Jacobs, who appeared on special teams in all 32 games the past two seasons.
I’m being a cop-out on this one. The Panthers could pull the plug on Marlowe’s hamstring and put him on injured reserve. If they don’t, Brown’s second stint in Charlotte may be as short as his 3-day stay in 2011.
And, an update from Friday night …
In the same week Carolina signed him, Panthers now have released former Giants S Stevie Brown, per source. https://t.co/sSda8Avt4E
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 2, 2016
It was just one preseason game, but that new punter sure seems like a keeper.