Black and Blue Review

Black and Blue Review

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5 Takeaways from Panthers’ Offseason Practices

Cornerback Roller Coaster

 

You may be worried about the Panthers' cornerback situation, but Carolina's coaches aren't. Yet.

James Bradberry, Daryl Worley and Zack Sanchez are going to play, and like all rookies, they're going to make mistakes. At minicamp, we saw Bradberry beaten by Damiere Byrd, Worley fooled by Devin Funchess and Sanchez picked apart in the red zone. But the trio also showed flashes of why the Panthers picked them with an eye on the present and future.

Bené Benwikere could have done more if trainers let him, but he'll be full-go in Spartanburg. The Panthers are also confident in Robert McClain and Lou Young. So while an unemployed veteran like Charles Tillman may be a 'why not?' add, the Panthers' current plan is to remain patient through growing pains.

 

The Butler Did It

 

Apologies for going there, but Vernon Butler did what the Panthers were hoping this spring.

Just as their scouts said, the first-round defensive tackle showed uncanny explosiveness for someone his size. When Kawann Short skipped the final two weeks of OTAs, Butler lined up with the starters.

Like Shaq Thompson in 2015, Butler was somewhat of a luxury pick who, barring injury, won't get starter snaps. And like Thompson, the Panthers couldn't be more excited about who they picked up late in the first round.

 

Funchess the Pro

 

Coach Ron Rivera wasn't just blowing smoke when he said Funchess was "light years ahead" of where he was as a rookie. Funchess often looked like a boy among men last spring and summer because he was.

No longer confused by a new playbook, Funchess was more confident and comfortable the past month. He made more plays than anyone, plus he appeared to be carrying himself differently. Now an old, wise man at 22, Funchess looked like a true pro.

 

Right Tackle Remains the Same

 

The Panthers promised Mike Remmers he'd stay in his starting role to start the spring, and he did nothing to change their minds. Neither did Daryl Williams.

Last year's fourth-round pick isn't in a bad place, but Williams needs to work on his conditioning and pass blocking. There's still a chance this could turn into a closer competition in training camp, but Remmers heads into the summer with a solid grip on the starting job.

 

Curb the UDFA Enthusiasm

 

In the days following the draft, it seemed like many Panthers' fans were more excited about two of the team's undrafted free agents additions. But receiver Keyarris Garrett and linebacker Jeremy Cash didn't make up much ground on the depth chart this spring.

Both are in logjams near the back of their position groups, and they'll need big training camps to separate themselves from the pack. Currently, undrafted rookie fullback Devon Johnson and tryout tight end Braxton Deaver have better chances to stick on the final 53-man roster.

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  • Keoni Pleasants

    Good insight, Bill. Thanks.

  • Joel Carver

    Personally I’m hoping Byrd lands himself a roster spot, but there’s so many of them and 3 might as well be written in stone. Seemed to hear a lot of good things about Beau Sandland, looking forward to seeing him progress through training camp. Lets just get through this offseason without any key injuries and we’ll be good.

  • Carpanfan95

    It’s really going to be hard to pick the best 53 going into the season. Like this statement from Dave Gettleman from the Panthers main page.

    Dave Gettleman: “We have a good foundation”
    “I feel like with Kelvin coming back we have an extra first-round draft pick this year,” Gettleman said. “Everything works out for the best. Having Kelvin and Stephen (Hill) back certainly makes you more comfortable.”
    http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Dave-Gettleman-We-have-a-good-foundation/532025d9-1a0a-42f8-bdd0-07e8d473a527
    So if you go by Gettleman and Rivera here is your starting WR’s KB, Hill, Funchess, Ginn and Brown. Add Webb as a QB/WR. Though until pads come on and we see what transpires it’s not a lock. I like Byrd and think he would make a great Return guy and add depth at WR with his speed.
    Though if we keep RB/FB Devin Johnson which I believe we will, then to make room either Fozzy or Wegher has to go.
    This is a great problem to have. I feel for everyone of these guys. These guys need to remember though they are coming away with some of the best coaching in the league.
    So many variables to this. If the young CB’s don’t pick it up fast enough and whether we run a 4-3 with Thompson taking more reps as a hybrid LB/S with coverage skills. This will decide if we bring CB Charles Tillman back. Some think we keep 5 DT’s, but with Ealy being able to put his hand in the dirt as a DT makes you wonder if we don’t keep more edge rushers.
    Then people don’t even know who CB Lou Young is. Young has been a understudy of Norman and Tillman for 2 years. He has been quite and I think Gettleman loves keeping a lid on players and hold them back until the right time to turn them loose. CB Lou Young is a big CB at 6’1 205 lbs. pretty fast at 4.47-40 36 1/2″ vertical. So believe it or not Young is faster than the 3 draft picks this year. So don’t count him out of the running.
    So you see never count any player out. Remember other teams will cut lower round draft picks and Gettleman has a knack of finding diamonds too.

    • William Berry

      Young faster than the 3 picks? I don’t know about that and even if it is true CB is not played by the fastest runners. It is a skill position of technique. The team is investing their future in these three so we need to get on board with it.

      • Carpanfan95

        Yep we drafted 3 CB’s. You just need to remember Lou young was pulled off the PS and put on the 53 man roster for a reason. He wasn’t going to sit there long with us moving up the chart as undefeated after losing LB Adarius Glanton to the Bucs.
        I’m a huge Panther fan and I don’t count any player out until the 53 man roster is set. Out of the 3 draft picks 1 might start and Bradberry has been taking a lot of reps with the ones.
        I use 40 times as a base to show that all these guys are close in size and speed and point out Gettleman is getting bigger across the board with the DB’s. Like move future reserve signee CB Travell Dixon to Safety, who is even faster than the CB’s. We also have Marcus Ball and Dean Marlowe who will be competing for reps.
        So it could come down to either we don’t see enough improvement from Bradberry, Worley and Sanchez that either Young starts like Melvin White did or we sign a veteran. I’m not 100% sure Benwikere will be 100% come the start of the season.
        Gettleman is full of surprises and that’s why I nick named him “Slick Willie”.
        Don’t get me wrong I like both Bradberry and Worley, but they are both green. I seen Garrett work over Sanchez in college and Garrett wasn’t drafted and hasn’t shined in OTA’s.
        When second year WR Damiere Byrd works Bradberry for big yardage then the flag goes up.
        So the best I can hope for is these rookies are hard at work learning on their own or as a group somewhere getting the reps needed to take it to the next level.