NFC South projected starters: Via NFL.com

[SetfreexX]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000662023/article/nfc-south-projected-starters-panthers-set-to-repeat

 

Quote

 

» There isn't a better defensive front seven in the NFL. The Panthers boast the best sideline-to-sideline tackling linebacker trio in the NFL in Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson -- expect Shaq to play an even bigger role this season. First-round defensive tackle Vernon Butlerseems like a luxury in his first year, giving Carolina a dominant rotation. Paul Soliai could even play a role if injures crop up. SO. MANY. HOG. MOLLIES.

 

Pretty solid praise for Carolina, and a decent read overall given the lack of off-season news / updates. 

[joemac]

We have assembled a pretty great roster top to bottom. We have the best front seven in the NFL...oh, and we also have the NFL MVP at quarterback. Add to that an emerging boss hog offensive line, and one of the top young WRs in the game. We are looking to be one of the top teams in the league for the foreseeable future. It's good to be a Panther.

[KB_fan]

It is interesting that they think McClain will start at CB.  Could be... Ron doesn't usually start rookies in week 1 unless he really has no choice.  That would almost certainly mean keeping 6 CBs on the 53 man roster  (Bene, Boykin, McClain and our 3 new draftees)...

Last year we started the season and went 11 weeks with 4 CBs on the 53.  Then we added new CBs (Finnegan, McClain & Young) as injuries took a toll.  We never had more than 5 CBs on the roster at any one point.  There were 3 weeks where we did have 5 CBs who were active on game day, but the clear preference was to keep only 4 active.

 

[Captain Morgan]

2 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

It is interesting that they think McClain will start at CB.  Could be... Ron doesn't usually start rookies in week 1 unless he really has no choice.  That would almost certainly mean keeping 6 CBs on the 53 man roster  (Bene, Boykin, McClain and our 3 new draftees)...

Last year we started the season and went 11 weeks with 4 CBs on the 53.  Then we added new CBs (Finnegan, McClain & Young) as injuries took a tool.  We never had more than 5 CBs on the roster at any one point.  There were 3 weeks where we did have 5 CBs who were active on game day, but the clear preference was to keep only 4 active.

 

 

this is interesting...looks like another position will be carrying one fewer player this year...wr?

[ctrcat]

I say we just keep Bene, Boykin, and the 3 rookies.  We don't play a QB/WR combo that strikes fear, especially early.  I hope we take advantage of that while our boys learn from live bullets.

[Bartin]

Just now, Captain Morgan said:

 

this is interesting...looks like another position will be carrying one fewer player this year...wr?

We carried 5 safeties all of last year. Kurt, Roman, Tre, Colin, Marlowe. Likely we just carry 4 instead this year. Keep the DB number at 9. One of Trenton Robinson/Colin Jones doesn't make the 53.

[KB_fan]

8 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

 

this is interesting...looks like another position will be carrying one fewer player this year...wr?

The position that suffered last year when we went from 4 CBs to 5 CBs on the 53 was Oline, oddly enough.  When we added Finnegan we had a temporary opening with Horton suspended.  But then when CJ returned from temporary IR the following week (week 12 against Dallas), Amini Silatolu landed on the IR, bringing down our Oline roster contingent from 9 to 8.  We brought in McClain, and we never replaced Amini the rest of the season.

[SetfreexX]

Good info ^^^ 

[SetfreexX]

I'd like to see this WR group-

KB

Ginn

Funch

Brown 

Garrett

Byrd (who I think we are grooming to replace Ginn potenitally)

 

Keep Bene, Boykin, and the rookis at DB, and Coleman, Jones, Boston, and Marlowe at S (not a fan of Robinson being 5'9'' at S given the size in our division)

[KB_fan]

We've definitely got some intriguing guys at WR and I wish we could keep 6 on the 53 this season as we did most of last season.  But with KB back, I just don't see it  given that we normally only keep 4 WRs active on game day.

Of course, we kept 4 RBs on the 53 last year even though we only had 2 active most weeks (11 of 19 weeks we only had 2 active RBs)... so, it is possible that if we really like a 6th WR we'd keep them and redshirt them to protect them from being poached on the PS or if they're ineligible for the PS.  A lot will depend on what they think the future is for Ted Ginn.  If they think this is his last season, then maybe they will want to be developing Byrd or someone else behind him.

[KSpan]

29 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

It is interesting that they think McClain will start at CB.  Could be... Ron doesn't usually start rookies in week 1 unless he really has no choice.  That would almost certainly mean keeping 6 CBs on the 53 man roster  (Bene, Boykin, McClain and our 3 new draftees)...

Last year we started the season and went 11 weeks with 4 CBs on the 53.  Then we added new CBs (Finnegan, McClain & Young) as injuries took a toll.  We never had more than 5 CBs on the roster at any one point.  There were 3 weeks where we did have 5 CBs who were active on game day, but the clear preference was to keep only 4 active.

 

I think they considered Colin Jones a backup nickel CB given his performance in 2014, but when he didn't progress/began to get exposed after Peanut got hurt last year they brought in another true CB in Finnegan.

[Bartin]

3 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

We've definitely got some intriguing guys at WR and I wish we could keep 6 on the 53 this season as we did most of last season.  But with KB back, I just don't see it  given that we normally only keep 4 WRs active on game day.

Of course, we kept 4 RBs on the 53 last year even though we only had 2 active most weeks (11 of 19 weeks we only had 2 active RBs)... so, it is possible that if we really like a 6th WR we'd keep them and redshirt them to protect them from being poached on the PS or if they're ineligible for the PS.  A lot will depend on what they think the future is for Ted Ginn.  If they think this is his last season, then maybe they will want to be developing Byrd or someone else behind him.

Not too worried about replacing Ginn if this is his last year here. Honestly no one is going to poach Byrd from the PS so it would be easy to just stash him there all year and there are always a couple track star deep threat WRs available in the draft if we need to go that route.

[KB_fan]

37 minutes ago, Bartin said:

Not too worried about replacing Ginn if this is his last year here. Honestly no one is going to poach Byrd from the PS so it would be easy to just stash him there all year and there are always a couple track star deep threat WRs available in the draft if we need to go that route.

Yes, I agree that Byrd is probably safe on the PS.  I was thinking more about Norwood or Hill needing to be on the 53 if we want more time to develop them.

I mentioned Byrd in wondering whether we'd ever want him to play late in a game to see how he develops and whether he can take the physical punishment.  I've been thinking maybe we might want to develop Byrd as a return specialist?

[Bartin]

3 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

I've been thinking maybe we might want to develop Byrd as a return specialist?

Could be but to me returning has always been one of those unteachable things. Either you've got the innate ability to make people miss and the vision to find a seam or you don't. That's purely instinctual in my opinion. You can teach a guy to better at fielding returns, but once the ball is in their hands it's all on them.