2020 Carolina Panthers Roster Prediction

[Carolina Cajun]

5 hours ago, nctarheelreincarnated said:

Difference between that, and now? Rhule and Tepper want consistency. Not Ron Rivera bull s hit. We need a QB to build around for the future, Teddy B isn't it. EVERYONE knows this, but no one wants to say it. You get consistency by getting better players for the long haul. Not trying to go on one run, and hope for the best like that 2015 team did. 

Honestly, we don't know that Teddy isn't the guy anymore than you or anyone could be sure that Trevor is the guy.  I'm not saying to run CMC into the ground in a season we likely won't win in, or trade Brian Burns or DJ Moore, what I am saying is the core of our team needs to be competitors because just like winning is contagious, losing is, and its why the same 4-5 teams always pick in the top of the NFL draft.

[Tinamedina]

So matt Rhule is allowing backups to play ? It's a wrap for Teddy and will Grier

[WelshPanther]

I look at the LB group and it reminds me how quickly a position of strength goes to poo in this league. The opposite can be said of the defensive front. I think it’s a large part of why I love the NFL.

I can’t wait for the season, I can’t wait to see the pass rush, I can’t wait to see Teddy throw to Moore, Anderson and McCaffrey.

I can’t wait for a bit of normalcy.

[mbarbour21]

On 9/1/2020 at 10:39 AM, Jeremy Igo said:

None of us are even guaranteed to wake up in the morning. 

I am not interested in losing games in the hopes to maybe some day win games. 

That is loser mentality. Don't give into it. 

Not to mention, tanking doesn’t guarantee anything. There is always a chance of someone being a bust or not working in your system. Much smarter to try to win while not giving up too much in order to do so. Play hard now, but don’t get tunnel vision. The future will soon be the present. Don’t give it away. 

[Navy_football]

I don't get the pessimism at all. 

This team has ATHLETIC skills position players at every spot - right down to the safeties, TEs and slot WR. We almost always have a couple of positions with "gritty" players that lack speed and agility. This defense has a TON of young athleticism. There aren't any Gauldens or Bersins that we're marching on to the field this season. I don't think we've ever had this much speed at the DE position, depth of speed at the WR position, or pure athleticism at the safety spots. Pure athleticism has more of an impact in football than any of the major sports. If these coaches are worth their weight in salt, they'll be competitive at least. 

[amcoolio]

I have more faith in the DB's than the LB's or OL. 

 

I mean we are REALLY relying heavily on Shaq Thomspon here and I just don't see it. He's a complimentary player at best.

 

We need to spend the entire draft on defense again next year but focus on DB and LB.

 

Also don't count out that dreadful Kicker and Punter combo that will almost assuredly lose us a game or two this season

[TheSpecialJuan]

On 9/1/2020 at 4:31 AM, Jeremy Igo said:

With the Carolina Panthers making their final cut downs to 53 players later this week, i thought I would take a moment and provide my thoughts on what the final roster will look like. Unsurprisingly, it is vastly different than last year's, and that is a good thing. 

QUARTERBACKS  (3)

Teddy Bridgewater, Will Grier, PJ Walker

All three Carolina Panthers quarterbacks will make the team. However, the backup quarterback position is still up for grabs. According to head coach Matt Rhule that competition will go into the regular season. My gut says PJ Walker will win the position when it is all said and done. 

RUNNING BACKS (4)

Christian McCaffrey, Reggie Bonnafon, Mike Davis, Alex Armah 

Mike Davis has impressed as much as any player this training camp. There is some speculation that Alex Armah may not make the team but I don't see that happening. Armah is more than just a blocking fullback and has flashed ability both running and receiving. 

I hear that Christian McCaffrey guy is pretty good and is a lock. 

WIDE RECEIVERS (7)

DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Pharoh Cooper, Seth Roberts, Keith Kirkwood, Brandon Zylstra 

Matt Rhule has said that seven receivers is possible that season and I believe him. Joe Brady's offense is high paced and shows a high degree of ingenuity in the passing game. Not a shock for LSU's former passing game coordinator. You need plenty of tools in that of tool chest. 

TIGHT ENDS (3)

Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Free Agent 

Thomas and Manhertz are locks, obviously. But from what I hear the other tight ends have failed to make much of an impression at all. I look for the Carolina Panthers to pick up a free agent once cut downs happen later this week. Or, they may roll with two tight ends and allow Alex Armah to play the position if needed in an emergency. 

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Taylor Moton, Russell Okung, John Miller, Dennis Daley, Greg Little, Michael Schofield, Chris Reed, Tyler Larsen, Matt Paradis

All in all this offensive line could be pretty average. That would actually be a huge win for the Panthers. An average offensive line with all this talent around them would yield huge results on the score board. If they could be just average, 30+ point games could be common as soon as this season. 

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)

Kawann Short, Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, Yetur Gross-Matos, Stephen Weatherly, Efe Obada, Zach Kerr, Bravvion Roy, Marquis Haynes

In my opinion, this is the most exciting positions group on the team. The front four of Burns, Short, Brown, and Gross-Matos could provide pressure on the opposing quarterback without blitzing. Pressure from the base linemen is the foundation of all great NFL defenses. The Panthers are on to something here. 

LINEBACKERS (6)

Tahir Whitehead, Shaq Thompson, Adarius Taylor, Jordan Kunaszyk, Jermaine Carter, Free Agent

The Carolina Panthers continue to churn their roster as far as linebackers are concerned. That tells me they aren't happy with the current state of affairs and may pick up a player off waivers. It would not take much for a castoff from a solid NFL defense to make this squad. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS (9)

Eli Apple, Donte Jackson, Jeremy Chinn, Corn Elder, T.J. Green, Troy Pride Jr., Tre Boston, Juston Burris, Kenny Robinson

This group could be the Achilles heal of the Carolina Panthers. They do have some talent here, but it is inexperienced talent. In the NFC South, that just won't work. Donte Jackson is pinned as the top corner in the group, but can you see Jackson covering Julio Jones in Atlanta? How about covering Michael Thomas in New Orleans? Not good. 

Again, picking up a veteran here or even trading for one is a real possibility (I hope). 

SPECIALISTS (3)

Joey Slye, Joseph Charlton, J.J. Jansen (3)

I hear the Panthers are still sold on Charlton as punter despite a highly visible horrible punt in training camp. Joey Slye is not a long term solution at kicker, but for this season he will do. JJ Jansen is a long snapper. 

CONCLUSION

On paper, this is a team that will likely struggle. However, this provides Matt Rhule with a huge opportunity to prove he belongs in the NFL. Rhule strikes me as the kind of guy that relishes such an opportunity. If you are expecting the Carolina Panthers to "tank for Trevor", you haven't been paying attention. 

 

RUNNING BACKS - Waiver pickup Trenton Cannon makes the team over Reggie Bonnafon

TIGHT ENDS - We keep Temarrick Hemingway as our #3 TE, we liked him enough to wait until he was healthy then cut Vollert who was immediately claimed by the Colts.

DEFENSIVE LINE - Marquis Haynes has been out with a concussion for over a week before being cleared two days ago, DC Snow goes with ex-Cowboy Jalen Jelks over the undersized Haynes. 

LINEBACKERS - Ex-Bills and Jets Julian Stanford makes it as the 6th LB

[Basbear]

I havnt got a good read on what type of players Rhule wants on his 53. He gave praise to Cam, Gano, and smith then cut each shortly after. Talks about gritty and special teams lots, but you can not trust him. Trying to think whats different form others head coaches, all coaches want smart,strong, and fast players. 

[Bostonheelfish]

Chinn on Thomas, Evans, and Julio.  Also not against putting Boston in on coverage against those three.  Chinn and Boston have the height, length and speed to match-up better than any of the corners we have on our roster.

[kungfoodude]

8 hours ago, Bostonheelfish said:

Chinn on Thomas, Evans, and Julio.  Also not against putting Boston in on coverage against those three.  Chinn and Boston have the height, length and speed to match-up better than any of the corners we have on our roster.

I am not sure he has the ability to cover those kind of players one on one. It would be fantastic if he did but I am not sure I'd stick my rookie FS/SS/LB on three of the best WR's in the NFL. At this point, if our corners can't bottle them up solo, you just give them extra help or scheme around them.

Not much else we can do.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

On 9/1/2020 at 8:22 AM, nctarheelreincarnated said:

I also heard Derrick Brown's been getting pushed around in Practice. 

You just may see it first hand instead of making an assumption like saying you heard he was getting pushed around. You seem to believe what anyone tells you and falls for nonsense like this. So gullible.

[nctarheelreincarnated]

24 minutes ago, PantherOnTheProwl1523 said:

You just may see it first hand instead of making an assumption like saying you heard he was getting pushed around. You seem to believe what anyone tells you and falls for nonsense like this. So gullible.

So, for one instance on an opinion I heard from elsewhere, you just made that generalization? Gosh that’s the cutest thing. 

[Shocker]

Lookin at dat WR depth we need to keep Samuel...