Not this week.
Foster remains starting running back
9/18/2006 2:42 PM
By: Mike Cranston, Associated Press
DeShaun Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career.
DeShaun Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career.
CHARLOTTE -- DeShaun Foster will remain the Carolina Panthers' No. 1 running back, coach John Fox said Monday.
Rookie DeAngelo Williams had a better game Sunday in a 16-13 overtime loss at Minnesota, rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries. Foster had 26 yards on 13 carries.
"DeShaun Foster is still our starting tailback," Fox said. "We feel good about all our running backs, in particular DeShaun and DeAngelo. Really, each game takes on its own personality and (DeAngelo) was making some plays, but so was DeShaun."
Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career. The Panthers released Stephen Davis in the offseason.
Williams, the Panthers' first-round pick, didn't get any carries in the season-opening loss to Atlanta when the Panthers rushed for 65 yards. He ran for 19 yards on his first pro carry against Minnesota. He also had 5 catches for 24 yards.
"We ran the ball a little more effectively this past game than we did the week before," Fox said. "I think they had the same number of carries. That may not always be true, either. We try to spread the wealth in running the ball and I don't look for that to change."
The Panthers (0-2) continue to be plagued by injuries. Fox said receiver Drew Carter (broken finger), cornerback Ken Lucas (shoulder) and safety Shaun Williams (foot) were all injured against the Vikings. Fox said none of the three will require surgery, but it's unknown if they'll play next Sunday at Tampa Bay (0-2).
Fox provided no new details on All-Pro receiver Steve Smith and linebacker Dan Morgan. Smith has missed the first two games with a strained right hamstring. Morgan sat out the Minnesota loss with a concussion.
"When those guys are deemed able to play, we'll play them," Fox said. "The concussion and hamstring are two injuries that are harder to gauge. We'll wait and see."
Without Smith, the league's top receiver last season, the Panthers have scored only 19 points and one touchdown in two games.
"Well there's no doubt Steve's a great football player. I think he proved that last year to everybody," Fox said. "Obviously he's a guy we prefer to have out there, but the reality is he's not. We have to move on and make plays without him. When he's ready he'll be in. Right now, he's not ready."
Foster remains starting running back
9/18/2006 2:42 PM
By: Mike Cranston, Associated Press
DeShaun Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career.
DeShaun Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career.
CHARLOTTE -- DeShaun Foster will remain the Carolina Panthers' No. 1 running back, coach John Fox said Monday.
Rookie DeAngelo Williams had a better game Sunday in a 16-13 overtime loss at Minnesota, rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries. Foster had 26 yards on 13 carries.
"DeShaun Foster is still our starting tailback," Fox said. "We feel good about all our running backs, in particular DeShaun and DeAngelo. Really, each game takes on its own personality and (DeAngelo) was making some plays, but so was DeShaun."
Foster has averaged only 2.9 yards per carry in two games after starting the season as a No. 1 running back for the first time in his career. The Panthers released Stephen Davis in the offseason.
Williams, the Panthers' first-round pick, didn't get any carries in the season-opening loss to Atlanta when the Panthers rushed for 65 yards. He ran for 19 yards on his first pro carry against Minnesota. He also had 5 catches for 24 yards.
"We ran the ball a little more effectively this past game than we did the week before," Fox said. "I think they had the same number of carries. That may not always be true, either. We try to spread the wealth in running the ball and I don't look for that to change."
The Panthers (0-2) continue to be plagued by injuries. Fox said receiver Drew Carter (broken finger), cornerback Ken Lucas (shoulder) and safety Shaun Williams (foot) were all injured against the Vikings. Fox said none of the three will require surgery, but it's unknown if they'll play next Sunday at Tampa Bay (0-2).
Fox provided no new details on All-Pro receiver Steve Smith and linebacker Dan Morgan. Smith has missed the first two games with a strained right hamstring. Morgan sat out the Minnesota loss with a concussion.
"When those guys are deemed able to play, we'll play them," Fox said. "The concussion and hamstring are two injuries that are harder to gauge. We'll wait and see."
Without Smith, the league's top receiver last season, the Panthers have scored only 19 points and one touchdown in two games.
"Well there's no doubt Steve's a great football player. I think he proved that last year to everybody," Fox said. "Obviously he's a guy we prefer to have out there, but the reality is he's not. We have to move on and make plays without him. When he's ready he'll be in. Right now, he's not ready."
He'll still be on the waiver wire in 3 weeks if I feel the need to add him to my team again.
I'm a huge Gopher fan and would love to see Maroney become the next Edge. But while Maroney dazzled at times in his RBBC role in Minnesota (and he did), he never carried the full load and broke down quickly when he was asked to (after MBIII left). As great as he has looked in a few carries in the NFL so far, I would have zero confidence that he can stay as healthy as Edge did. I'm a big DeAngelo fan and while I think both he and Maroney have what it takes to become stars, IMHO Williams is the more likely because he has the wiggle to avoid some of the hits Maroney will be running headlong into. DeAngelo is more proven as a primary carrier as evidenced by his doing it for 300+ carries twice in his college career. Regardless, your comparison of DeAngelo to Dunn is just plain silly, since Dunn checks in at 180 soaking wet and DeAngelo measures in around 210-215; DeAngelo also had the 2nd most bench press reps among RBs at the combine. I'm just saying it shoots your credibility when you compare a guy who is every bit the size/strength/speed of a prototypical RB to the smallest feature RB you can think of. It comes off as reaching for a put-down comparison.
and Maroney was asked to carry much more than the full load, he was asked to carry the eintire team!!! Getting 35-40 carries per game is going to get any RB on the IR in a hurry.The reason I compare Dunn to DeAngelo is because if you actually watch them they play a very similar type of game, both are very illusive and built low to the ground, both can catch the ball well and can cut on a dime. Bench presses mean absolutely nothing, especially for an RB!!! Yes, DeAngello weighs more than Dunn but who cares, it's not like he's a power back. Before attempting to discredit someone you should try to actually watch a game rather than look at players bios to see how much they bench press!!! 
