Jeremy Igo

Longtime visitors of the Huddle know how big I am on Ricky Proehl as a wide receivers coach. Over the past few seasons I have seen Proehl take a hands on approach to his guys and use his experience as a NFL player to teach the finer points of the position. Today was a good example of that. Ricky played defensive back as receivers practiced a curl with an ever so slight push off in the end zone. The kind of push off that gets six points, not a flag. Arms not extending fully, all well and good in the eyes of the NFL refs. Proehl provides a luxury for the Panthers at receivers coach that may allow them to need less of a veteran presence this year. Aside from looking like he could still suit up and contribute on the field, his real world knowledge of the game from having been there is just invaluable to this franchise. View full article

​Yes. I interviewed Corey after practice. Full writeup tomorrow.

The last OTA practice of 2015 was both the hottest and the practice with the least enthusiasm. With Ron Rivera in California for his daughters graduation, the Panthers seemed to lose focus. It showed both in their demeanor and on the field. It was a rough day for Cam Newton. After looking pristine for most of the OTA sessions, today he looked off kilter. Many of his end zone passes were high. His long throws either short or long. Colin Jones made the play of the day, intercepting Cam Newton in the red zone and taking it for what would have been a pick six. Cam Newton was visibly unhappy about the interception, and tried chasing Jones down.... without luck. Colin Jones also made a beautiful break on a ball from Newton later in the practice, nearly intercepting another ball meant for Ted Ginn on a curl route. Yes, Colin Jones is my player of the day. The first defensive player of the day I have named... which should tell you how the day went. Other Notes: - Brandon Williams struggled as he dropped a catchable 30 yard bomb from Cam Newton. Williams had both hands on the ball, but could not hold on. - Devin Funchess had more second string snaps today, due to Kelvin Benjamin being back on the field. Funchess did get a few first string reps in. When with the second string, he appeared to be running many of the same routes as Benjamin did with the first string. - Cam's sure fire connection to Greg Olsen was just not there today. Both targets in the end zone soared well above Olsen's head. - Both linebacker draft picks, Thompson and Mayo, spent time in the second string together. - Stephen Hill mainly played with the second string, no plays of note to mention. View full article

Lol solid thread

Lmaooooo

Not even a hint of one. But given the source.... Not shocking.

Forgiven, mainly because you are completely incorrect.

Long shot.

​Yeah, who cares if they actually make clutch first downs.

Maybe, maybe not. They may just want another tight end for camp.

​He is out there with Funchess and Brown most of the first string snaps. It isn't evaluation. I am sure Boykin or Hill would trade places with him in a heart beat.

​I hope not also, but its a rough business.

This could be bad news for Brandon Williams who has tried to carve himself out a spot for a few years now. While Williams has showed promise at times, he has been unable to grab valuable playing time. View full article

​Unless you actually knew what you were talking about and took into account number of active games and snaps.

​SMH

​Not really.

Don't be shocked if Bersin is kept in favor of Cotchery. He has been getting more first team snaps.

Fact: Brenton Bersin has been one of the more impressive receivers again this offseason. Fact: Brenton Bersin appears to still be one of Cam Newton's favorite targets. Yet, fans are completely split on their excitement level over Bersin. Some recognize the work he has put in and admire the job he has done. Others believe he is the product of favoritism and doesn't deserve the first team reps he is receiving (and crushing, btw). Well, it is time to clear the air a bit. On the opinion that Bersin is on the team out of some sort of favoritism. While it is true that his Wofford and rumored Jerry Richardson connection may have played a role in his invitation to rookie camp years ago, every snap he has received since then has been earned. The Panthers have had plenty of "feel good" rookie camp invitations over the years. Bersin is the only one to have stuck. He did it by working hard and earning it. Not by his draft status, not by his 40 time, but by simply getting out there and catching passes. On the misconception that Bersin is not an adequate game day player. I will be the first to admit that Bersin may not be the best choice on punt returns. Heck, I think even Bersin would admit to that. But after being thrown into the punt return role last year (Bersin had no punt return reps in camp or preseason), his performance was at best unspectacular. The problem here is that is a position he should have been put in to begin with. But, to his credit, he did what he was asked and special teams turnovers decreased as a result. As a receiver, Bersin is a solid third down over the middle possession receiver and should be treated as such. At 6'3 he has the size to fight for the ball, as he did last season. Bersin had crucial first down catches last season, some fans seem to forget that. His short comings as a receiver occurred when he was not being used to this strengths (Bubble screen to Bersin? First read in the playoffs?). I find it difficult to fault him there. If Bersin was a third or fourth round player from a large school and a fast 40 time, fans would be tripping over themselves right now to praise his potential based on his 2014 production. Instead, Bersin again will need to shake the UDFA small school type casting to earn the respect of the fans, which is a shame. But, he will do so, quietly and confidently, earning every snap..... again this season.

​Ouch.

The offensive line has seen a few changes in week three of the Carolina Panthers OTA practices. One of those changes puts #77 back in at the left tackle positions. Instead of Byron Bell, this time is was Martin Wallace. Wallace moved up to second string left offensive tackle for a few plays. While this doesn't sound like a major accomplishment for Wallace, it actually is. Getting second string reps is something some players will never see in camp. So who is Martin Wallace? Listed at 6'6 and 330lbs, Wallace played college ball at Northeastern and Temple. As a senior he made the second team All-Big East Conference team. Wallace came into the league at 305lbs. His added bulk may be by the direction of David Gettleman, but that is speculation on my part. Wallace was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an UDFA back in 2013. He was then released and signed to Carolina's practice squad last October. As of now, it looks like Wallace has leap frogged Canadian project David Foucault, who hasn't seen any time with the second string (at least on media days).