Kevin Avery

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.

#WhatARush #KeepPounding

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.

#WhatARush #KeepPounding