Friday's Panthers Training Camp Digest

[Rod Butsecks]

p/FAN'S GUIDE hellip;/pp/TODAY'S PRACTICE: 3:10 p.m./pp/strongWEATHER:/strong Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. /pp/strongWHERE: /strongWofford College, Spartanburg. /pp/strongADMISSION: /strongFree and open to public. /psubheadp/Upcoming schedule/p/subheadp/strongToday: /strong3:10 p.m. /pp/strongSunday: /strong9:30 a.m. /pp/strongMonday: /strong 8 p.m. at N.Y. Giants /pp/strongTuesday: /strongNo practice /pp/strongWednesday/strong: 9:10, 3:10 /pp/strongDIRECTIONS: /strongFrom Charlotte, take Interstate 85 South to Spartanburg, to Exit 72 (I-585). At the end of exit ramp, turn left toward Spartanburg, crossing over Business I-85. After I-585 becomes Pine Street, turn right on Twitty Street and into training camp at second stop light. Park at the top of the hill on the right of Twitty Street. /pp/GETTING TO KNOW hellip;/pspan class=subheadstrongp/Richard Smith, Linebackers coach/p/strong/spanp/strongBackground:/strong Smith spent the past four seasons as a defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2005) and Houston (2006-08) where he helped in the development of Pro Bowlers strongMario Williams /strong(defensive end) and strongDeMeco Ryans /strong(linebacker). Before that, he coached four Pro Bowl linebackers in San Francisco ndash; strongKen Norton Jr./strong, strongLee Woodall/strong, strongWinfred Tubbs /strongand strongJulian Peterson/strong. /pp/strongWhat you need to know:/strong Smith inherits one of the top linebackers in the NFL in strongJon Beason /strongand a player just hitting his prime in strongThomas Davis/strong. /pp/OBSERVATIONS/pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanPlayers seemed particularly ldquo;chipperrdquo; during Friday morning's practice. Running back strongDeAngelo Williams /stronggot the chatter going during stretching exercises. /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanDefensive end strongCharles Johnson /strongmade a hard hit on the pads of running back strongMike Goodson/strong, making more of a ldquo;thudrdquo; sound than usual in non-tackling drills, in morning practice. /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanReceiver strongMuhsin Muhammad /strongwent high for a nice touchdown reception from strongJosh McCown /strongin goal-line drills. /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanCornerback strongRichard Marshall/strong, expected to be a full-time starter for the first time this season, jumped high to knock down a pass to Muhammad from strongJake Delhomme/strong. /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanUndrafted rookie strongMarlon Favorite /strongand third-round pick strongCorvey Irvin /stronglook to be the second-team defensive tackles behind starters strongDamione Lewis /strongand strongNick Hayden/strong. /pp/BY THE NUMBERS/pp/4 Number of days that passed after strongSteve Smith/strong's shoulder injury before he reappeared in shoulder pads on the practice field. However, he did not take part in contact drills. /pp/301 Rushing yards gained by the New York Giants, Monday night's exhibition opponent, against the Panthers late last season. /pp/QUOTING/pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanldquo;I think he'll make it. I think the early prognosis around the country was maybe not, but he'll be ok.rdquo; Coach strongJohn Fox /strongon Smith's health. /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanldquo;It's going to be a learning curve.rdquo; Defensive tackle strongDamione Lewis /strongregarding the process of developing reliable depth at the position from among an inexperienced group of backups. /pp/QUICK HITS/pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanRunning back strongJonathan Stewart /strong(sore Achilles tendon) missed practice for the third consecutive day. Also sitting out were guard strongC.J. Davis /strong(ankle), linebacker strongThomas Davis /strong(knee), linebacker strongLandon Johnson /strong(hamstring) and safety strongNate Salley /strong(knee). /pp/span class=icon icon-bullet/spanIt was great seeing ESPN.com guru strongLen Pasquarelli /strongat Monday's practice. He's made an amazing health recovery over the past year. /p

More...