Observer: Five questions going into camp

[Mr. Scot]

From Joe Person (link)

The Panthers report to Spartanburg in 32 days for the start of training camp. That gives us four weeks to bat around popular storylines and intriguing position battles to watch at Wofford.

But why wait?

Here's one reporter’s take on five questions for the Panthers to answer at training camp as they try to make it three years in a row as NFC South champs.

 

Person's questions are:

1) Will Kelvin Benjamin show up in shape?

2) Can Michael Oher protect Cam Newton's blind side?

3) Will the new contract change Cam Newton's approach?

4) Can Charles Tillman stay healthy?

5) So what about that other defensive end position?

 

How would you answer these questions?

Are there additional questions you feel also really need to be answered?

 

 

[PhillyB]

i don't want no fats on my team. everything else is secondary.

[Mr. Scot]

everything else is secondary.

As an aside, this quote was first used to describe Rob Ryan's new Saints defense.

[London Loves Luke]

Yes

No

No

Yes

Big Frank

[arbnranger]

1- Yes I think KB comes to camp in shape. He got a taste of some negative publicity and I'm sure he didn't like it. Most people don't like when the radar is on them .

2- Big question for sure. I'm optimistic his performance will improve from the last couple of seasons. New scenery and injury free. We will know the answer to this question early on I believe.

3- I think it will, but in a good way . No contract distractions and from my experience he is at the age where most men starting getting their poo together. I think he will start focusing on the nuisances of the game and take his play to the next level.

4- Hopefully optimistic. His injuries weren't below the waist so I think he has that in his favor.

5- DE by committee until mid season. Ealy turns up his game a notch and gets the majority of the snaps.

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

1) Will Kelvin Benjamin show up in shape?  NO DOUBT HE WILL.   After the constant questions and the calling out by Rivera (in not so many words)   He'll show up in outstanding shape.

2) Can Michael Oher protect Cam Newton's blind side?  YES,  I believe being healthy and back with his O-Line coach that helped him his first couple of year will help him.   I believe at the end of the season.  He will prove he was more than adequate, won't say great but adequate.

3) Will the new contract change Cam Newton's approach?  He let his Representative work out the details.  Cam has been making a ton of money from UA for a couple of years.   This is only an increase in his paycheck.  He has already been rich for a couple of years.

4) Can Charles Tillman stay healthy?   Of the 5 questions this is the hardest to answer.  I am leaning more towards yes then no, His previous injuries weren't his legs but arms.  

5) So what about that other defensive end position?  I think Ealy beats Frank Alexander out for the starting role.

[Riverboat Ron]

Person's questions are:

1) Will Kelvin Benjamin show up in shape? 

He'll probably be shaped like a person, hopefully not flat.

2) Can Michael Oher protect Cam Newton's blind side?

He can, will he is another question.

3) Will the new contract change Cam Newton's approach?

Is he in an airplane that's been diverted?

4) Can Charles Tillman stay healthy?

He can, will he is another question.

5) So what about that other defensive end position?

There are two defensive ends on the field at once, it's nothing new.

 

How would you answer these questions?

Yes, I would.

Are there additional questions you feel also really need to be answered?

What is the meaning of life Person?

[MHS831]

From Joe Person (link)

 

Person's questions are:

1) Will Kelvin Benjamin show up in shape?  LEAVE IT UP TO PERSON TO ASK THIS QUESTION--JUST TRYING TO MAKE A STORY OUT OF SOMETHING THAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN RESOLVED AND WAS NEVER A HUGE DEAL ANYWAY.

2) Can Michael Oher protect Cam Newton's blind side?  DUH.  OBVIOUS, BUT HAD TO BE ASKED.

3) Will the new contract change Cam Newton's approach? CAM WILL BE MORE CONFIDENT AND RESPONSIBLE.  I THINK HE WILL FEEL AS IF THIS IS HIS TEAM NOW.  EXPECT A POSITIVE REACTION

4) Can Charles Tillman stay healthy?  NO, BUT THE BETTER QUESTION IS, 'CAN A 34-YEAR OLD CB' WIN A STARTNG JOB.

5) So what about that other defensive end position?  TO ME, NOT A BIG CONCERN.  EALY AND ALEXANDER AND ADDISON--WE ARE BETTER OFF THAN MOST 4-3 TEAMS.  DO THE SAFETIES NOT MAKE YOU CURIOUS, JP?  NOTHING ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS?  NOTHING ABOUT WR?  YOU REALLY THINK CAM'S APPROACH IS A  BIGGER CONCERN THAN HOW WELL OUR WR'S PLAY?

 

How would you answer these questions?

Are there additional questions you feel also really need to be answered?

 

 

I am interested in seeing the following, in order:

1. Michael Oher and the RT competition.

2. The wr combinations that we will use

3. how much different will special teams be and how improved will they be.  KR, PR, coverages, etc.

4. The defensive backfield

5. the new RBs-including Stewart as the lead back.

6. The development of second-year players Benjamin, Ealy, Norwell, Turner, Brown, Boston, Benwikere.

7. The progress of some of the undrafted free agents--I am very high on a few of them. 

8. The offense--how will the new tools expand it.

9.  Shaq Thompson and how he will be used in the defense.

10.  Ron Rivera's game management and his personnel decisions.

[Mr. Scot]

I'd agree that a question about Shaq Thompson probably should have found its way in there.

[TheRed]

I hope Benjamin shows up in shape. If he doesn't, then we have problems. My Benjamin related question, however, is:

- Will Kelvin drop more or less than 8 passes this season?

What made you arrive to the number 8?

Sportingcharts has him at 10 drops in 2014.

Not a good number, but for a rookie who put up 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns, not as bad as some made it out to be.

Now, look at some other receivers who also had drops near that number.

Demaryius Thomas: 10

Jimmy Graham: 8

T.Y. Hilton: 7

Rob Gronkowski: 7

Anquan Boldin: 7

Martellus Bennett: 7

Marques Colston: 7

Now those guys are among some of the best and better players at their respective positions, and they are not rookies.

So basically to summarize, calm down a bit about the drops.

 

[Mr. Scot]

 

Rob Gronkowski: 7

With Gronkowski, the better question is whether he will have more drops or drunks.

[TheRed]

With Gronkowski, the better question is whether he will have more drops or drunks.

The guy definitely likes to have a good time, but for however you feel about the Patriots, you cannot deny that he comes to play on gamedays.

[Mr. Scot]

The guy definitely likes to have a good time, but for however you feel about the Patriots, you cannot deny that he comes to play on gamedays.

No doubt he plays great.  He's just such an utter meathead. 

Watching him is like watching the case of 'Jersey Shore' play football.

[TheRed]

Eh, improvement I hope.

To be honest, Benjamin had more than 10 drops. Heading into Week 11, he already had 15 by my count. Perhaps the analysts viewed certain balls as 'uncatchable' but to me they were catchable.

Those stats would nice and all... IF Beckham Jr and Evans didn't surpass Kelvin after having such a head start. Tampa Bay had no QB and Benji had a 307 yard lead on Mike (455 on Beckham). What's the excuse there?

I'd calm down more if Benjamin would show some initiative after such a mixed rookie season. Instead he arrives eight pounds overweight. So I have to question what his mindset is at the moment because he ran into focus issues last year. Do we need Benji going through them again? I don't want to hear excuses for him. Cam and Luke always show up in tip top shape. And before anyone says it's not a big deal, Ron and company wouldn't have called Kelvin out on it for no reason.

The point here is that school is out, the rookie card can't be used anymore and he's off to a bad start thus far. 

Well trying to make direct comparisons between receivers total yardage wise without taking various factors into play is pointless.

Beckham Jr, and Evans did not come into a WR core that had literally just been completely gutted.

Look man, how many times you are going to mention the word "excuses" in your post? I'm not making excuses for the dude.

You think was I happy about him coming in overweight? My post was directed at the drops.

Just let the guy come into training camp and prove himself. You've been railing against him since last year. I'm not going to change your mind.