I liked Ward's quote Monday, but Coleman's today even more. Trendsetters?

[top dawg]

Earlier in the week, Lee Ward got into a couple of scuffle's, basically stonewalling the rushes of Adarius Glanton and Jason Trusnik and their intentions to get to the quarterback as noted by our very own J. Igo.  One of the things that Ward said when asked about the little tiff's:

"The veterans don't appreciate a rookie coming and hitting them in the mouth..."

 

Well, today it was veteran newcomer, Kurt Coleman's turn to grace our ears with the sweet music of competition in Bryan Strickland's short update, where Strickland noted Coleman was basically warned to tone his tackling down a little bit by Ron Rivera:

"If I'm told to let up, I let up. But for certain inside run drills, hey, we've all got to get better, and sometimes I've got to thud you up and take you to the ground."

 

Now, I am going to tell you that it could have been luck, by design, or maybe a combination of the two, but it appears that Dave Gettleman may have found some players that will not only make a certain amount of appreciable production as Panthers---whether as starters and/or back-ups in the future---but also add a not-so-subtle edge to all three units of the team.  As tough as our team appeared on the outside last year, I don't know about you, but I still sensed some softness.  This year it looks like a few of our newcomers are dealing some much needed toughness and attitude amid competition. Our new additions may be busting heads and taking names, but they're also giving the team an identity.

 

 

[Ricky Spanish]

Possibly this year's Mitchell. 

[motocross_cat]

 nothing better than a man in the secondary that wants to send a message to anyone coming across the middle.

However i think we were plenty tough on d last year.

 

We really missed it on O until the turners and norwells emerged and the return of j stew.

[2jakefansinva]

as long as your "thuding'em up in practice" when their expecting to be thudded.

[motocross_cat]

Oh and uh....SKRONGHOLD dont take no poo.

[MHS831]

Possibly this year's Mitchell. 

Strong comparison.

[Jeremy Igo]

He has looked better than Mitchell,  imo. 

[imminent rogaine]

He has looked better than Mitchell,  imo. 

Blasphemy!

[L-TownCat]

Woot-woooot!

here come the COLE-Train!

[ShutDwn]

Seems like he has more coverage ability than Mitchell but still physical.

Old clip, but he sounds like a smart Safety, which I want for the last line of defense.

 

[KB_fan]

Coleman along with Peanut seem to be really awesome pickups by G'man.  I'm loving both of them. 

I imagine not only the "edge" of some of these new players, but also the pretty fierce competition at some of the positions is definitely helping to up the intensity, and help even our good Defensive players not take things for granted, but work to get better.

Coming off of the 7-8-1 season gives them something to prove the way coming off the 12-4 season did not.

I don't think this team will start slow.  (Of course it helps that our first 4 games are probably the easiest portion of our schedule.)

[Nick_81]

One of the things that Ward said when asked about the little tiff's:

"The veterans don't appreciate a rookie coming and hitting them in the mouth..."

 

I'm loving this kid.  My hype train ticket was punched when we picked him up as an UDFA.  The mother fuger is full steam ahead now.

[Carolina Cajun]

He has looked better than Mitchell,  imo. 

I personally feel like the comparison to Mitchell comes from the viewpoint that he is a hard hitter (that was Mitchell's niche), he was undervalued by prior teams, and he's got a certain amount of attitude that our secondary didn't have and desperately missed last season.  I was riding the Coleman bandwagon before most when I was saying he would start week one a few months back when I saw people acting like he was a fringe player who'd barely make the roster.  His mold is EXACTLY what Rivera and Mcdermmott look for in a safety and why having him and Tillman could take this defense from great to absolutely devastating.

[Nick_81]

I'm loving this kid.  My hype train ticket was punched when we picked him up as an UDFA.  The mother fuger is full steam ahead now.

Oh, and this...

 

Max Henson ‏@PanthersMax  1m1 minute ago

Rookie FB Lee Ward sure knows how to clear a path. Wow. Big time collision at the line during run drill.