Kevin Avery

Rush Review: Training Camp Day #3

Camp Wofford

#1. QB Cam Newton was held out of practice today as a part of a preplanned day of rest. Head Coach Ron Rivera said that there are zero issues or setbacks with the right shoulder of Newton.

#2. TE Greg Olsen C Matt Paradis OT Daryl Williams DE/LB Mario Addison and DE/LB Bruce Irvin sat out practice with a “Vet Day Off”.

#3. WR Torrey Smith and LB Jermaine Carter Jr. passed their physicals this morning and were taken off the PUP list. Both practiced for the 1st time today.

#4. DT Kyle Love DT Bijhon Jackson OT Dillon Gordon and LB Sione Teuhema all left practice early today due to heat related issues.

#5. CB Corn Elder switched from #35 back to #29. This was his number in college as a Miami Hurricane. He sees this as a way to get his “swag and mojo back”.

#6. Rookie QB Will Grier got all the reps with the 1st team offense today. QB Taylor Heinicke was 2nd and QB Kyle Allen was 3rd.

#7. During 1 on 1 pass rush drills the most excitement came from rookie LB/DE Brian Burns getting the best of LT Greg Little several times. Burns quickness is ELITE!! Also LB Marquis Haynes was simply abusing RT Taylor Moton. Haynes used a variety of moves to get free quickly.

#8. During 1 on 1 interior pass rush drills both DT Gerald McCoy and DT Vernon Butler Jr. both displayed powerful and violent bull rush and spin moves that was causing frustration throughout the period.

#9. During 1 on 1 WR vs. DB drills no one could keep up with WR Curtis Samuel. He had a beautiful deep ball bomb thrown to him in the end zone over CB Donte Jackson that was good for a TD. But on their next rep against each other Jackson made a very impressive pass deflection over Samuel.

#10. Team Drills Offense: Will Grier looked fairly solid for the most part throwing short, throwing intermediate and throwing deep. But offensive coordinator Norv Turner did let Grier know that he is staring down his receiver too much and that he is making predetermined reads instead of going through his progression. FB Alex Armah made some impressive plays both running and catching the ball. He ran a couple of defenders over. RB Cameron Artis-Payne showed incredible burst and change of direction to make a few runs of 8 yards or more. TEs Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz showed effectiveness together in multiple 2 TE sets. Both made several catches lined up in a 3 point stance and flexed out standing up. I can see the Panthers using more 3 TE personnel this season.

#11. Team Drills Defense: S Eric Reid was all over the field making plays. You can tell he really is comfortable with the playbook. His communication with other DBs helped others to be in position to make plays as well. CB Javien Elliott made it tough for all slot receivers to break free from his nickel CB position. DB coach Perry Fewell got fired up a few times raving about his play. LBs Shaq Thompson and Andre Smith were the hardest “thumpers” against the run game with various RBs. Both were very salty against runs up the middle. The chemistry between DT Dontari Poe, DT Gerald McCoy and DT Kawann Short is very strong when they are in together.

#12. I was able to count the defense being in a “30 front” 28 times and in a “40 front” 34 times. This hybrid mix can be disruptive when consistently executed. It was fun seeing players lining up differently from play to play. Saw quite a bit of pass rushers dropping into coverage at times. I also noticed some unique defensive personnel being used. I saw some 2 DL 4 LB 5 DB sets. Also some 3 DL 3 LB and 5 DB looks. I even noticed more dime personnel with 4 CBs and 2 Safeties. With Rivera now calling plays it is easy to see that he is ready to finally play “chess” on defense instead of just “checkers”.

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Rush Review: Training Camp Day #2

Camp Wofford

#1. QB Cam Newton was cleared to throw with no limitations. Head trainer Ryan Vermillion thoroughly examined the right throwing shoulder after 80 passes on Thursday night between individual and team drills.

#2. WR Torrey Smith was doing some running along the sidelines all practice long. Trainers believe he is almost ready to come off the PUP list. TE Ian Thomas was a full go in practice today after being limited Thursday night.

#3. Head coach Ron Rivera got fed up with the defense continually jumping offsides on numerous times. It was easy to hear him say…..”Get your head out of your asses! This shit is not acceptable!”

#4. The players practiced today again in just helmets and shorts. But tomorrow’s Saturday practice from 9:20 to 11:30 will be full pads.

#5. Cam Newton arm strength appears to be back. He did miss about 3 deep passes of at least 40 yards in the air. Clearly he is shaking off the rust. However he was nearly flawless in throwing intermediate and short passes.

#6. WRs Jarius Wright and Chris Hogan are as pure of route runners and as sure handed as anyone on the team. Both players went high and went low to catch passes without breaking stride.

#7. Everyone is talking about how low and how fast LB/DE Brian Burns is and rightfully so. But the same needs to be said about LB/DE Bruce Irvin. Whether he was standing up or whether he was down in a three-point stance the result was the same. If you are sleeping on his production then he will wake you up in 2019.

#8. S Eric Reid is quickly emerging as the leader of the secondary. He is making excellent calls and checks pre snap. Also he is helping fellow DBs after each play with advice and corrections. DB coach Perry Fewell gave him a few shout outs throughout team drills.

#9. OTs Daryl Williams and Greg Little both split reps at LT with the 1st team. Trainers want to gradually ease Williams back into the flow of things after having two surgeries to the same knee.

#10. Rookie RB Jordan Scarlett has clearly worked on his pass catching abilities since being drafted. He is laying a foundation to build his case to be the RB to substitute for Christian McCaffrey and the offense not skip a beat.

#11. CBs Kevon Seymour made several timely pass deflections today. CB Corn Elder started again at nickel with the 1st team defense and played well. He definitely fits better as an inside CB than outside CB.

#12. S Rashaan Gaulden was flying all over the field today. He made about 4 pass deflections today on deep routes while also coming up very strong in run support.

#13. During the last installation period the offense went over and practiced about 12 different types of screens. My favorite ones was a FB screen to Alex Armah and a read option screen to TE Manhertz. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s play design is simply fun to watch unfold.

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Rush Review: Training Camp Day #1

Camp Wofford

#1. OT Daryl Williams got all of the 1st team reps at LT. Head Coach Ron Rivera said that he will make rookie LT Greg Little earn his reps which is the right move.

#2. QB Cam Newton showed an accurate deep ball touch twice in 11 on 11 drills with a 40 yard pass to WR Curtis Samuel between two defenders who ran 20 more yards for a TD. His next deep ball went 45 yards down the right seam to TE Chris Manhertz who also split two defenders.

#3. DE/OLB Mario Addison was able to get quick pressure and tip up a pass by Newton which was caught in the air by LB Shaq Thompson and returned for a Pick 6.

#4. S Eric Reid got a great jump on a well thrown pass by Newton down the left seam about 20 yards to WR Jarius Wright to cause a pass deflection.

#5. CB Corn Elder, who was lined up at nickel CB, nearly picked off a ball intended for WR DJ Moore. He had it in his hands briefly before dropping it.

#6. CB Donte Jackson got the better of WR DJ Moore on an out route on the left sideline by getting a pass deflection.

#7. Rookie RB Jordan Scarlett consistently showed very good bursts running the ball and very solid hands catching the ball.

#8. RB Christian McCaffrey looks stronger and faster than he was last year. Clearly his offseason conditioning paid off very well.

#9. WRs Rashad Ross, Terry Godwin and DJ Moore all took turns returning punts tonight.

#10. During team drill of 11 on 11 there was a 30 front that had DT Kyle Love playing NT, DT Vernon Butler Jr. and Addison playing the 5 tech DE. Rookie Brian Burns and Bruce Irvin played OLB and Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson at ILB.

#11. DL Gerald McCoy took it upon himself to carry the helmets of several teammates including rookies after practice was over.

#12. Edge Defender Brian Burns elite “get off speed” from the line of scrimmage is as good as advertised. Several times he got low and under his blocker to get at the QB or RB.

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