The word according to Lucas. Two dozen of his thoughts from training camp

[top dawg]

Well, oh well. I thought @PanthersLucas dropped some knowledge yesterday with his camp awards, but here are some more "gems" that Lucas Ewing of USA Today has presented based upon his observation. 

http://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2017/08/14/24-things-we-learned-from-the-panthers-2017-training-camp/

Of course most of it reinforces things that have already been said, but there are a couple of things I want to point out.

First, I guess that some may have assumed (if not hoping for desperately) that with Gano's miss versus the Texans (and near miss, IMO) and the Butt Kicker's make that the battle is tightening up. Well, not so says Lucas:

 

"Graham Gano is leagues ahead of Harrison Butker. The rest of this competition will be a formality, at this point."

 

If you're like me, you could have also easily assumed that Andy Lee was a shoe-in, but @PanthersLucas gives Palardy a punter's chance (ha ha).

 

"Michael Palardy vs. Andy Lee is much closer. Palardy is a talented punter that is not quite as accurate as his veteran counterpart, but he’s got a lot of power."

 

Was it @sanjay_rajput that was saying Lee would be usurped by Palardy? I do know that he and others wanted Gano and Dickson gone, bu it's looking like Gano is not "Gano-ing" anywhere, and neither is another Huddle favorite, Ed Dickson. Whether we like it or not, no one is up to the task of pushing him to even third string, much less out the door.

 

"Ed Dickson did just enough to keep the backup tight end position, but he also benefited from a lack of push from those behind him."

 

But, is there hope?

 

"Chris Manhertz is one of the most athletic players on the team. If he could learn to run crisper routes and catch the ball more naturally, he would be a force to be reckoned with."

 

And we've all heard some spotty good things about Garrett Gilbert, that kind of died down with each passing day (I'm on fire) of camp, but Lucas seems to think that there's more to Gilbert than providing an arm in camp.

 

"Fourth-string quarterback Garrett Gilbert looks like a lot more than just a camp arm. He won’t make the roster, but if he goes unsigned, look for him to be back next camp."

 

Of course I'm still not really buying it. Both Joe Webb and Derek Anderson have been spotty indeed in camp, so if Gilbert couldn't move them out of the way, then he's more a camp arm than a revelation. Yeah, I know that Anderson has all that experience and that Webb is a legit special teams contributor, but damn do we need an upgrade at this point if I clearly gather what happened during camp.

Lastly, I would like to note that Lucas is like every other writer that covers the team who said Boulware is just not going to make it.

 

"...The local fan favorite has not shown anything worth keeping him around for and the position is stacked."

 

But he also pointed out the gap that is between Cash and Norris. 

 

"Jeremy Cash has made the full transition to linebacker, but will be the worst one to make the team. Jared Norris, the other second-string linebacker, is leagues ahead of him."

 

I've always suspected from the time that I researched Norris that he is quite possibly the real deal in terms of being at least a legitimate quality backup (at least), destined to follow in the footsteps of A.J. Klein and David Mayo. Cash needs to up his game and continue to make his mark before another Boulware-like linebacker with faster feet takes his job.

 

Anyway, for the rest (e.g. Funchess was the main target besides Olsen, or Bradberry is da bomb), here you are:http://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2017/08/14/24-things-we-learned-from-the-panthers-2017-training-camp/

 

 

[Ace_Aladdin]

1 hour ago, top dawg said:

"Michael Palardy vs. Andy Lee is much closer. Palardy is a talented punter that is not quite as accurate as his veteran counterpart, but he’s got a lot of power."

 

Was it @sanjay_rajput that was saying Lee would be usurped by Palardy? I do know that he and others wanted Gano and Dickson gone, bu it's looking like Gano is not "Gano-ing" anywhere, and neither is another Huddle favorite, Ed Dickson. Whether we like it or not, no one is up to the task of pushing him to even third string, much less out the door.

 

"Ed Dickson did just enough to keep the backup tight end position, but he also benefited from a lack of push from those behind him."

The main reason was the cap space it would free up. Palardy average punt was 5 yards less than Lee which is minuscule  with an elite defense. 

Dickson is not a lock he hasn't shown any improvement  from previous seasons especially in blocking scenarios. Manhertz will take the job end of preseason.  If Simonson can stay healthy he can take 3rd spot and boot Dickson out. 

[ecu88]

5 minutes ago, sanjay_rajput said:

The main reason was the cap space it would free up. Palardy average punt was 5 yards less than Lee which is minuscule  with an elite defense. 

Dickson is not a lock he hasn't shown any improvement  from previous seasons especially in blocking scenarios. Manhertz will take the job end of preseason.  If Simonson can stay healthy he can take 3rd spot and boot Dickson out. 

Eh it all will be good when we draft Gesicki or Fumagalli next year

[JawnyBlaze]

I'm getting dejavu from some of that, specifically Manhertz, but maybe I'm just getting old heh

[scpanther22]

"Chris Manhertz is one of the most athletic players on the team. If he could learn to run crisper routes and catch the ball more naturally, he would be a force to be reckoned with."

That quote kind of makes me laugh because its basically saying "he's a really good athlete and if he just learned to do most of the things TE are suppose to do in today's league then he could be a TE"

but I really want more pass catching production out of the second TE..whoever that ends up being.

[Thunderbird037]

1 hour ago, sanjay_rajput said:

The main reason was the cap space it would free up. Palardy average punt was 5 yards less than Lee which is minuscule  with an elite defense.

Cutting Lee would only save $325,000 this year.  Cutting Palardy would save $540,000

[Ivan The Awesome]

I have a hard time believing Gano has won this competition. 

[Ace_Aladdin]

On 8/15/2017 at 4:12 PM, ecu88 said:

Eh it all will be good when we draft Gesicki or Fumagalli next year

I saw Fumagalli play against LSU and he was pretty good in blocking and receiving against a top notch secondary.

Which prospect do you like better? 

[ecu88]

1 minute ago, sanjay_rajput said:

I saw Fumagalli play against LSU and he was pretty good in blocking and receiving against a top notch secondary.

Which prospect do you like better? 

Depending but overall Fuma is better at this moment, NFL ready. Big G might be better long term. I cannot wait to see this upcoming college season. 2018 prospects, best TE class. Even better than this past draft.

[Ace_Aladdin]

4 minutes ago, ecu88 said:

Depending but overall Fuma is better at this moment, NFL ready. Big G might be better long term. I cannot wait to see this upcoming college season. 2018 prospects, best TE class. Even better than this past draft.

Will definitely scout them out this season, keep me updated on some other new gems