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The Panthers put the pads on for the first time today. After yesterday's big media day, where Newton described trying to stop him from running was like trying to stop a lion from roaring and Thomas Davis reminded that his business took place on the field not in the front office, the guys were surely ready to get the pads on and let out a little aggression.
Read MoreTwo of the six most versatile college football players are now Carolina Panthers. Brandon Boykin (2011) and Shaq Thompson (2014) are both recipients of the Paul Horning Award, which "recognizes and rewards versatile, high-level performers in major college football."
Read MoreWith the Carolina Panthers hosting the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship, much of the conversation has been focused on the Panthers thin secondary’s ability to contain the Cardinal’s powerful passing attack. Larry Fitzgerald’s impressive performance against the Green Bay Packers last week only narrowed many’s focus even more on Carson Palmer, the speedy wide receiver, and the dependable Michael Floyd even more.
Read MoreWhen the schedule came out this spring, fans of the Carolina Panthers generally saw an easy September, a harder middle of the season, with things unwinding a bit easier again down the stretch. What nobody considered was going into battle without the team's best player - middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Read MoreThe Carolina Panthers 1st Rd draft pick only saw 17 defensive snaps in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It amounted to only 25% of all defensive snaps. When asked about Thompson’s marginal role, Ron Rivera explained that the rookie’s usage was “dictated by the their [Jags] personnel groupings.” Without facing an athletic tight end, there isn’t always a need to play “base personnel” and against three receiver sets, Carolina feels substituting an extra corner provides a better defensive position to manage the passing attack.
Read MoreIt’s only happened once in history, and I even then it seems like one time too many. In 1967, Detroit Lions rookies Mel Farr (RB) and Lem Barney (CB) swept the Rookie of the Year awards. Landing one rookie of the year is impressive enough, but stealing both is the literal heist of the century. Could Carolina be the 2nd team in NFL history to sweep the Rookie of the Year awards?
Read MoreThe term, “embarrassment of riches,” doesn't even begin to describe how loaded the Panther’s linebacking corp is as a whole. The group has many of the key components that make up a special unit; there is star power, athleticism, smarts, cohesion, and most importantly depth. Over the next few weeks, Ron Rivera and Co. will begin to thin out the team and try to keep the 53 best football players on the roster. This will be no easy task, hours and hours will be spent in front of game tape and whiteboards in their attempt of choosing the best players for the team. Six linebackers made the final cut last year; and with more depth and competition, could we see that number rise? Let’s find out.
Read MoreThe Carolina Panthers should have a stifling defense once again this year, so when I began to think about positions that might be a bit shaky this season, I was surprised to acknowledge that four of those six are on the defensive side of the ball!
Read MoreAlthough the NFL Draft is barely a speck on the horizon in the rear-view mirror now, I sill hear grumblings about his being too small to play as a linebacker, or how he's not great in deep coverage as a safety, or labeling him as a dreaded "Tweener." All these folks need to take their 20th-Century thinking into the 21st Century, and the picture should be a lot more clear. To borrow a phrase, this isn't your Father's National Football League. Since I am 48 years old, well, it isn't my college NFL, either.
Read MoreDespite all the draftniks saying that the Carolina Panthers had a questionable draft, pointing to our first-round selection in Shaq Thompson. Some question if the Panthers are getting what they think they are in Devin Funchess. Still others question taking two linebackers in a 4-3 defense when we have Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, the best duo at those positions in the NFL.
Read MoreFew were not surprised when the Carolina Panthers picked Shaq Thompson at #25 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. Most of the guys people wanted or projected were gone by the Panthers pick. Todd Gurley shockingly went to the Rams, Andrus Peat went to the rival Saints, and hometown favorite DJ Humphries went one pick before to the Arizona Cardinals. As the Panthers pick came up, few thought that out of who was left it would be a “tweener” linebacker out of the University of Washington. A linebacker who is the size of a safety when the Panthers were in desperate need of a left tackle and a wide receiver?
Read MoreA few days before the draft, some of the C3 writers agreed to a friendly bet that pinned each writer’s Panther mock draft choices against one another. After this experience, it is safe to say that predicting all nine Panther selections is a hard. Very hard. It did get off to a good start however, when I mocked Shaq Thompson to Carolina in round one. Here are the several reasons why I thought he’d be the choice at #25.
Read MoreOkay folks, raise your hand if you had Shaq Thompson penciled in at #25. Raise your hand if you saw him there in ANY mock draft. Raise your hand if you saw him in the first ROUND of ANY mock draft. Now you see why I'm no fan of "mock drafts."
Read MoreThe Panthers find a long term companion for Luke Kuechly. Not the pick I anticipated but Gettleman gets my benefit of the doubt.
Read MorePick 25! Who do we get! In this article we will look at how 5 guys fit, and why I think they will be available, I will look at five guys all from different positions as not to just give the same reasoning each time.
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