SetfreexX

​Jawalruss Benjamin??? Lol, I'm not worried, IT'S JUNE!

​I think you're seeing that because the ball to KB is led further outside, so he uses a small leap forward to extend to make the catch. On Funchess' route the ball is put on his body, so he is able to catch it in stride and turn up the field. Ball location affects the type of attempt made on the ball, I don't know if it is, but I'm guessing that is Proehl throwing the routes, or another assistant. There are plenty of times we saw KB catch the ball and turn up field for yac.

​I still can't believe we signed Haruki Nakamura, let a lone had him starting. Good Lord, just how bad was our defensive back field for that to have even been the out come. Nakamura, Godfrey, that guy from SF (forgot his name), Sherrod Martin, who were our safeties that year as Norman was in his rookie year at the time.

I don't see us keeping 10 DB/S combined, also you listed 11 players. (7 DB's and 4 S's) ​I can see us keeping 5 DB's and 4 S's on the active roster, with guys like White or Byndom hitting the PS if eligible. My DB list looks more like- Norman, Tillman, Benwikere, Byndom/White (one will not make it IMO), and Williams. Same group of Safeties. You also cut Brandon Williams at TE, with no drafted TE's and no Brockel (per your cut) who's going to be the 3rd TE? Who would make more sense than keeping Williams? He knows the playbook, still has a lot of potential, and has some familiarity with Cam already.

I think I’d like to see the ‘’backs’’ positions shake out like- QB- Newton Anderson HB- Stewart Artis-Payne Whittaker Todman (takes spot previously occupied by Joe Webb) FB- Tolbert Ward (takes spot previously occupied by Richie Brockel) I think Joe Webb was Cam insurance last season, with the emphasis to run, and on special teams I don’t think a 3rd QB option carries the value of keeping Todman in the fold. Prior to Cam’s injury we ran with two quarterbacks to keep the extra spot open. I think we return to that formula in favor of a value at running back, kick returner, special teams coverage vs inactive or DNP 3rd quarterback. No offense to Webb as he looked serviceable last pre-season, I just think the team is healthier, and improved across the board in too many areas for him to survive the final cut as I think he’ll make it that far.

I think some of ya'll over-exaggerate the drops. Ted Ginn was considered a ''dropper'' yet many grew to love him as a play-maker, and he was a priority to re-sign but we didn't have the cap. The Jets ran Hill as their number 1/2 way before he was ready, then add in Sanchez as the QB and their west coast offense and you are not utilizing his best attribute. He may not be ideal on intermediate, and short routes, but with a QB who can lead him deep he has a chance to show out like GInn did when much wasn't expected of him, and his signing was not a fan favorite excluding his returner skill set. We've seen Bersin's best for the most part, we've yet to see Hill's, give it time, and let the pads sort it out.

​This is my stance on the 4th-6th spots as well. With Benjamin, Funchess, Olsen, Dickson, Ginn, Brown and the backs all being involved in the passing games, barring injury guys 4-6 on the depth chart won't see that much action. With that being said those last spots IMO are for developing future contributors, so to me potential ceiling should trump a ''solid'' guy. I'm not saying Hill is the next anything, I just think his future could be brighter. You can find possession receivers across the board. However Hills raw abilities are much harder to come by. If we kept Bersin around 3 years on the PS before he played, who's to think we wouldn't let Hill occupy the 5th or 6th spot to continue his development...

​Umm, where are the reports saying Hill has had stone hands in OTA's I've heard good reports on him. The reports on Boykin and some other the others haven't been as good however. 1-Benjamin 2-Funchess 3/4-Ginn/Brown (not sure who wins here yet) 5-Cotchery/Bersin (I think vet presence wins this battle) 6-Hill (if we keep 6 receivers)

​Add Philly Brown, Damiere Byrd, DeAndre Pressley, Mike Brown, and Kurt Coleman to that list, you're a few short* (see what I did there) http://www.panthers.com/team/roster.htm

The contract iirc should kick it's 1st year into gear after this one ends. So he'll play out the 5th year option, then the contract takes affect in the space that would have been the open year. Which iirc is why they call it an extension. I'm not a guru, but that is how I understand it.

I only care about 40 times from the combine/pro-days because it affects Madden ratings, if a guy can ball he can ball, Jerry Rice iirc (without double checking) was a 4.6 guy. Speed is over-rated aka combine times, it's just a filler (the combine) to give us fans something to watch, and to put top prospects in one setting for mass review by organization staffs. No position ever strictly drafted off measurable traits has succeeded on any level consistently far as I'm aware. You draft the guys who can actually play if that means you go from 4.4 to 4.5 to 4.6 that's fine, last I checked, WR's, TE's, and HB's don't run 'go patterns' all game. Boykin in this example in my humble, and unprofessional opinion brings more to the table offensively as he shows he's a hands catcher, can box out smaller DB's as he is 6'2", and can gain yac. Those are all things Brown did not show, could he improve sure, but he's not as dynamic or fast as Ginn, and he doesn't have any special traits, he's an average smaller receiver who falls down a lot and shows a knack for getting dinged up.

I think the backfield will shake out like this- 1)Stewart 2)Artis-Payne 3)Todman 1)Tolbert 2)Brockel I think Reaves and Whittaker may find themselves on the PS if eligible, I think this year we may carry six receivers vs five, and three backs vs four as we have a bit more talent at receiver than in past seasons. Tolbert allows some flexibility in the event we lose Stewart ''in-game''.

KB Funchess Ginn Boykin Cotchery Hill/Brown/Byrd I think Bird hits the practice squad, is Brown still eligible?

With the Corey Brown ''Highlight Thread'' going up, I thought I'd take a look at the newest non-drafted Panther receiver. I must say I had some familiarity with him, but just comparing the videos I saw more separation, ability to go up and fight over DB's, HANDS catching and YAC. From the Brown video, I saw body catch after body catch, a receiver who fell damn near every catch, and no real separation. He looked good as a gadget guy on the edge during the reverses and option play. But what does he really offer over Ginn who already put up better numbers in this offense in the same 3rd receiver role who has KR/PR value...and over Boykin who is a better receiver prospect? Oh and just for fun here's some Ted Ginn highlights in case you forgot what we lost in the 2014 purge, enjoy....

Steve Smith, straight up the reason I started watching the Panthers as a NC native my junior year in high school back in 2002. The GREATEST PANTHER, and my all time favorite player. Hell I still find 5'9" receivers on Madden to sign, and give the number 89 to and eventually develop into my #1 receiver lol. I tried to trade for him but the Baltimore user in our league wouldn't give him up. Hopefully we can find another player with his flair, and passion for the game. No one IMO even compares, Smitty was/is/always will be that dude! HBD!

Can't lie I'm a little frustrated that we didn't get him, don't know if we made an effort or not; but this would have capped off a really solid looking off-season.

FWIW Ealy has roughly the same physical traits Hardy possessed coming out of collge (6’4’’ 275 Ealy vs 6’4 277 Hardy). IIRC Hardy began turning the corner his 3rd year and then broke out in his 4th. I think that we are about a season or two away from really seeing Ealy hit his potential stride in the NFL. He may turn the corner sooner as Hardy was a 6th rounder (more due to injury, and a drop in production his last season at Ole Miss) vs Ealy as a 2nd. Either way seemingly defensive ends lately are flashing more early and coming into their own in the following seasons. I can’t think of many 1st round ends that have recently set the world on fire as a rookie, can anyone else?? All that being said I like our depth behind Johnson with Alexander, Ealy, Addison, and Horton. IMO we are featuring an enviable and versatile group of defensive ends by comparison to most NFL teams, but especially within our own division.

I think what a lot of people forget about Hill in comparison to Brown is Gettleman's philosophy, of big men allowing you to compete. That has applied not only to trench players but also skill positions. I think the team likes the 6'4 speed receiver, vs the 5'11 speed receiver. This isn't a "I like Hill because he's fast, I'm a Georgia Tech fan post"...But if I look at our trend of no loyalty to non-core players, an obsession with size to a healthy degree, as well as improving team speed. If that 5th spot comes down to those two I think Hill will get the nod. I liked Philly as a receiver and was glad when he was inserted into the line-up at the least just to change it up because the passing game was so weak; but he's not a Steve Smith caliber athlete, he's thin, not overwhelmingly fast, he was just OUR fastest receiver at the time.

Hill has caught passes, and touchdowns, look at LaFell, step up in QB step up in production. I appreciate Cam as our QB but going to Brady is a big difference. Hill going from Sanchez to Cam is a similar jump, a strong armed QB who can take advantage of what seemed like his biggest asset which is getting behind the defense (ala Ginn's resurgence). Asking Hill to be a possession receiver isn't smart IMO, he's a vertical threat, not a catch in traffic guy. But if you guys really believe Brown has a higher ceiling than Hill you're mistaken. In this group you tell me if you'd have Brown over Ginn, Jennings, and a rookie top 3 pick. If we hadn't lost Ginn in FA last year Philly likely isn't signed as an UDFA due to our HOLE AT KR/PR at the time. I'm telling you an UDFA is expendable when a better version is signed to a 2 yr deal.

Just trying to keep the option available, but I included a disclaimer in case he is not. This is just a feeling I had. Of the teams that need a veteran receiver who else is out there offering him a contract....I've heard Miami. If I'm Jennings I'm staying away from the AFC East, and having to face a revamped Todd Bowles, Revis and Cromartie secondary, Rex Ryan and the Bills, and Belichek who always finds a way to at least be sound on defense. Especially when I could come to the NFC South and play with Cam an OROY, Kuechly DROY, and Star DROY. We featured one of the league's best defenses down the stretch in 2014 and were 2nd in 2013, 7-8-1 or not we're breeding a winning culture (one year removed from 12-4, after a planned step back) and as the roster currently is constructed you're the #2 (even if not spoken) from day one.

1-KB 2-Jennings ® 3-Ginn ® 4-Rookie 5-Hill Some of you may agree, some of you may not. As you can see Brown, Cotchery, and Bersin have been replaced with Ginn, a rookie, and Hill. (Disclaimer--Cotchery stays if we miss out on Jennings)** Personal opinion after seeing all of these players play in the NFL at some level I see Jennings, Ginn, Hill, and a rookie as upgrades over Brown, Cotchery, and Bersin. Brown and Bersin made our roster over other UDFA/practice squad players like McNutt, King, an oft-injured Gettis, and Tiquan Underwood. Bersin in my opinion got the nod due to his 3 years of being a camp body, no real difference between him and the other young possession receivers and the Wofford connection with the Big Cat. Some of you may like some of his 3rd down grabs but his ceiling athletically is very low, and he's not the kind of talent that can consistently threaten NFL secondaries. Brown made our roster ORIGINALLY as a returner, not as a receiver; as he was behind Cotchery, Avant, and Bersin. We had no one else to return punts, and by the time he lost his job we were already too far into the season to replace him (hint-we just did that with a 2yr deal for Ginn). Cotchery, left a lot to be desired slow, no yac, but was a mentor and at least had good hands. Honest opinion his best season was as the 3rd it Pittsburgh touchdown wise because he was used primarily in the slot, asking him to play outside was out of necessity because we had the mass exodus at receiver last off-season cutting Smith, and not re-signing LaFell, Ginn, and Hixon. If we take a receiver in the first three rounds like many think we will ® will mean he could be at any of those three spots on the depth chart based on how early one is grabbed. If we take one in the first two rounds IMO the expectation is he'll likely start in the slot and rotate with Ginn, but eventually we will see Jennings relegated to the slot if the rookie catches on. Hill to me is the wild card, he possesses so much more upside than Bersin and Brown, raw size and speed, (something Bersin/Brown would have combined if they were one player). After an off-season of working out, last season, and this coming training camp to learn the offense, I find it hard to believe that Brown/Bersin supporters wouldn't prefer him as the 5th receiver who legitimately has number two receiver potential. At the very least I'd rather see a go pattern thrown to a 6'4 4.4 speed receiver vs a 5'11 180lb receiver, and as the 5th that's not a bad option. twenty-three year old with plenty of room to be brought on slowly, I'd gladly like to see our own "Optimus Prime" come out of no where seemingly. If we can develop Brown, and Bersin enough to actually get some on field reps, and make a few plays, there's no reason to believe we can't do the same for Hill, because whether you want to admit it or not he's made just as many plays already.

Can’t deny it though, I remember looking at his highlights, I actually really liked the pick aside from his injury, he was a beast on Madden for what his overall was lol!

So Whatever Happened to That DB We Drafted from WV??? With the off-season lul I figured why not, I liked his tape, then he played, got hurt and disappeared....

Yes he is.

Also because we will likely draft a DB, I look at this signing as insurance in case a young DB we want 1) isn't there, 2) we draft a young DB that will need some time to be ready. On Paper Ball 6'2, Norman 6', and Bene 5'11/6' (depending where you look), with a 3 Safety rotation of Boston, Harper, Coleman things sound a bit more solid than this time last year. Factor in we'll likely add a DB/S via draft or UDFA or both the room for potential is nice with proven commodities already on the roster.