Ten observations from Sunday morning’s practice
July 31st, 2011, 11:42 am · Post a Comment · posted by sreed
Back by popular demand, here are my “Ten Observations” from Sunday morning’s training camp practice:
1. The Panthers added LB Kelvin Smith (Cowboys) and DB Michael Greco (Packers) off waivers, bringing the roster to 89 players. Smith is likely a short-term replacement as the Panthers simply need bodies to practice with LBs Jon Beason, James Anderson, Thomas Davis, Jordan Senn and Omar Gaither unable to practice until Aug. 4.
2. Coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers are very much in the hunt for a veteran free agent quarterback, but wouldn’t say for whom. A source said the Panthers want Marc Bulger, but the free agent from Baltimore is still holding out hope of getting a shot to start somewhere else. He could change his mind. Jake Delhomme also remains in play, a source said. It sounds like the Panthers are waiting to see what Bulger will do first.
3. Third-round pick Terrell McClain remains a holdout and has now missed two days of practice. “The concern is for him more so than anything else,” Rivera said. “When you’re not here you’re not getting an opportunity to learn and that’s the thing. We have a lot of guys who are showing very well right now. We’re concerned with the guys that are here.”
4. CB Brandon Hogan, the team’s fourth-round pick out of West Virginia, won’t practice for awhile while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last December at West Virginia. The Panthers are bringing him along slowly. “It’s a matter of time,” Rivera said.
5. It doesn’t sound like the Panthers are in any hurry to bring in a veteran cornerback to replace Richard Marshall, who signed Saturday with the Arizona Cardinals. For now Captain Munnerlyn is working with the first team along with Chris Gamble. “Somewhere along the line we will look at it, but the guys we have here right now are showing well,” Rivera said. “We’re not in pads and it’s not a game situation.”
6. The overall fitness level is a little down, as expected, with players not having had OTAs this offseason. Rivera said it has forced the team to change its schedule from what it would have been. “We thought one of the things we could do was slow it down today and have it a little bit more of an instructional period,” Rivera said. “We went through it at a good learning pace for the players. That’s what we try to do. It also gives guys a chance to get their legs back so we can have a good tempo for tonight.”
7. For now, the Panthers are rotating QBs Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen with the first team offense. “That is one of the positions we have to continue to rotate guys through.”
8. The Panthers are limited with what they can do on defense until Aug, 4. As of now the Panthers have only three players from last year’s starting squad that are allowed to practice – FS Charles Godfrey, SS Sherrod Martin and Gamble. “So the guys who are working now need to take advantage of this time,” Rivera said.
9. Rivera said WR Armanti Edwards has done “a great job. Apparently whatever Armanti has done this offseason in terms of his commitment has paid off. He’s had a good couple of workouts and that was good to see. He’s transformed himself. He’s done a heck of a job…. He spent a lot of time working out with his teammates and developing that bond.”
10. OT Jeff Otah had another good practice and his knee appears fine.
Carolina Growl