Training Camp

Rush Review: Training Camp Day #9

Camp Wofford

#1. The Carolina Panthers practiced lighter today by wearing their “shells” which is just wearing a football helmet and shorts. NFL Network is also here doing live updates on the team. Reporting was Maurice Jones-Drew, Andrew Siciliano and Tiffany Blackmon.

#2. The following players sat out today’s practice due to injury concerns: DB Rashaan Gaulden (sore lower back), CB Kevon Seymour (hamstring) and RB Jordan Scarlett (head). Vet day off was granted to S Eric Reid and OL Tyler Larsen. DE Efe Obada was given a personal day off to handle affairs. RB coach Jake Peetz is back at practice after his wife gave birth to their son on Friday night.

#3. Here are the players who got first team reps today: LB Jermaine Carter Jr took the place of LB Luke Kuechly. CB Corn Elder took the place of CB Donte Jackson. S Colin Jones took the place of S Eric Reid. S Ross Cockrell took the place of DB Gaulden at S. LG Greg Van Roten took the place of OL Larsen at C on the second team. So OL Norman Price played second team reps at LG. CB Javien Elliott got first team reps at nickel CB.

#4. During 1 on 1 DL vs. OL drills, I was impressed with LB/DE Bruce Irvin using pure speed and low angles to beat RT Taylor Moton. I heard defensive coordinator Eric Washington scream out loud “Speed!” LB/DE Brian Burns, once again, is displaying how elite his get off timing is, along with taking the best angles low enough to beat his blocker. Today, it was fellow rookie and long time high school friend LT Greg Little who struggled keep Burns in check. I have noticed that Burns dominates Little during 1 on 1 drills, however in team drills Little does much better against him. C Matt Paradis and OT Daryl Williams finally did 1 on 1 pass rush drills today. Williams got lost on a spin move by DE/LB Mario Addison. Paradis got bull rushed quickly by NT Dontari Poe who has quietly had a very nice camp so far.  They did decent, but you can tell they need time to get up to expected levels of production.

#5. During 11 on 11 team drills, these were the plays that stood out to me as the defense had a strong day: CB James Bradberry made an excellent pass deflection on a ball thrown in the back of the end zone by QB Cam Newton to WR Curtis Samuel.  LB Carter Jr. made a big pass deflection in the end zone on a Newton pass to WR DJ Moore. S Tre Boston got his first pass deflection at Camp Wofford on a pass from QB Will Grier to WR DeAndrew White in the end zone. CB Elliott got an interception on a Grier pass to WR Andre Levrone. Later on Elliott got a pass deflection on a Newton pass to WR Jarius Wright. Now the offense did make some nice plays as well. TE Greg Olsen caught a wide open 25 yard pass from Newton. TE Ian Thomas also caught a nice intermediate pass from QB Kyle Allen. RB Christian McCaffrey had a strong day running between the tackles. It looks like he is hitting the holes faster than the defense can converge on him. RB Elijah Holyfield continues to improve as he displayed some nice cutting abilities to get free on a couple of decent runs.

#6. My impression overall from today is that the players are really focused on perfecting their individual crafts. Whenever a player rotated out, he would either seek coaching or seek advice from another player. One thing that has been constant throughout camp is plenty of communication between the players on both sides of the ball. It is definitely not quiet before the ball is snapped. Always nice seeing several players stay after practice to get extra work in as well. Not just rookie and long shot players, but starters and veterans.

 

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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 #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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