Panthers signed CB Brian Witherspoon

[DaveThePanther2008]

wow, the dude is actually a pretty decent returner. he's really fast as well. 4.29 40 but there is video of him running it in 4.16 out there.

in 2 years at jaxville he was 23.9 avg on kick returns and 11.3 on punt returns compared to our paltry 19.9KRs and 8.3 last year and the 22.9/10.8 the previosu year.

yeah...we've been needing this.

Do you know why he was cut? Seems like they let a pretty good returner go. Then again maybe it is because they couldn't afford him in J'Ville.

[cookinbrak]

Witherspoon ranked #23 in KRs for returners with at least 20 returns. The highest average out of that bunch was Clifton Smith who returned 31 times for 29.1 average. Witherspoons average: 23.7 / Suttons average: 21.6

He ranks #9 in PRs for returners with at least 5 returns. The higheest average out of that bunch was Desaun Jackson with 28 returns for a 15.3 average. Witherspoons average: 11.1 / Munnerlyns average: 8.7

Also remember he was with the Lions, so both of those rankings could be better with us.

You have no clue what you are talking about.

Last season, there were only 15 players with 20 or more kick returns. Witherspoon is not one of them. Goodson and Sutton came in at 20 and 22.

linky

After narrowing it down to only second year players, Witherspoon did show up at 15. Just ahead of Gary Barnidge, and behind Kenny Moore.

linky 2

This is based only on NFC numbers. If you go by the entire NFL, he was 28th. Barnidge was 29th.

[MadHatter]

as in.....he will never see the field or be horrible. Seriously, whoever is trying to find a return man.....really sucks at his job.

just go get a legit return man. not as hard as Carolina is trying to make it.

We tried that with Rhyne Robinson.....did not work so well.

[MadHatter]

absolutely. i don't understand what everyone is getting pissy about. he's an upgrade over what we have. isn't that what people want?

is he the next devin hester or josh cribbs? probably not but he's a step in the right direction and has a lot of things that are coveted in a returner. if he works out, awesome. if he doesn't...wasn't really a lot of risk involved.

the big picture is the panthers are looking at improving STs and are being pretty active in doing it. they brought in good gunners, they brought in a decent KOS, and they brought in the first of what will likely be several return specialists.

STs have been incredibly weak for years. they moved on past that flaming turd we had as a ST coordinator and have brought in three skilled gunners to help with punt and kickoff coverage. we have addressed the kick off situation. we have now started trying to address the return game by bringing in someone with a ton of potential. what's not to like? STs are a priority finally.

Exactly.

Nothing to lose. Bring him in and give him some time in TC. He plays well, we keep him for cheap. If he doesn't, we cut him

[CRA]

We tried that with Rhyne Robinson.....did not work so well.

Robinson was a college return man. When your team has been the worst at returns for a half decade in the league....it is time you simply go get a legit NFL guy that is proven.

[MadHatter]

Robinson was a college return man. When your team has been the worst at returns for a half decade in the league....it is time you simply go get a legit NFL guy that is proven.

Like who?

[rayzor]

Like who?

like someone who was "cut" from a roster? of course if they deserved a job they wouldn't have been cut, would they have? then how are we going to find one? we could trade but then the same munchkins who have been whining about every single move the panthers have made thus season would be fussing over wasting a draft pick or whatever.

every person who moves from one team to another was not considered worth the cost by their former team. just because they weren't considered worth the cost doesn't mean that they can't/don't have value to someone else. the panthers are pretty good about finding talent in what others have cast aside. it's about time they started using that on special teams.

[Urrymonster]

Last season, there were only 15 players with 20 or more kick returns. Witherspoon is not one of them. Goodson and Sutton came in at 20 and 22.

linky

After narrowing it down to only second year players, Witherspoon did show up at 15. Just ahead of Gary Barnidge, and behind Kenny Moore.

linky 2

This is based only on NFC numbers. If you go by the entire NFL, he was 28th. Barnidge was 29th.

That is just using the numbers from Detroit, he also returned kicks for the Jags in the same season and posted the numbers you disputed.

[CRA]

Like who?

well, just talking this year and ignoring the options they have opted to stay away from in prior years.....Ginn has been the 1st legit return threat that was avaliable and Carolina passed on.

Fox's method doesn't work....that has been proven. He inherited Smith. Once Smitty quit the job...no team has been as horrific in that department. At this point we just need a specialist....we can start looking for a dual threat once we have a a returner in place.

[rayzor]

well, just talking this year and ignoring the options they have opted to stay away from in prior years.....Ginn has been the 1st legit return threat that was avaliable and Carolina passed on.

Fox's method doesn't work....that has been proven. He inherited Smith. Once Smitty quit the job...no team has been as horrific in that department. At this point we just need a specialist....we can start looking for a dual threat once we have a a returner in place.

they passed on him? how do you know?

he went for a 5th round pick WHICH WE DON'T HAVE. he wouldn't have been worth a 4th. he just isn't that good.

[Urrymonster]

well, just talking this year and ignoring the options they have opted to stay away from in prior years.....Ginn has been the 1st legit return threat that was avaliable and Carolina passed on.

Fox's method doesn't work....that has been proven. He inherited Smith. Once Smitty quit the job...no team has been as horrific in that department. At this point we just need a specialist....we can start looking for a dual threat once we have a a returner in place.

Ginn only had those two returns for touchdowns. Whilst that is better than what we can boast, his averages for his career are decidedly that, average.

In 2008 he had a 20.7 average and removing his two TDs, in 2009 he had approximately 21.7 average.

He can't return punts.

[Panthers128]

Woah, buddy! What an awesome addition! You guys were right, I have been guilty of judging this team before giving them a chance to better themselves this offseason.

I look really silly looking back. With the addition of premiere players like Brian Witherspoon, Aaron Francisco, Todd Carter and THE Wallace Wright this is a team destined for greatness.

[CRA]

Ginn only had those two returns for touchdowns. Whilst that is better than what we can boast, his averages for his career are decidedly that, average.

In 2008 he had a 20.7 average and removing his two TDs, in 2009 he had approximately 21.7 average.

He can't return punts.

Only had those 2 KR for TD? How many does Carolina as a team have in the past 5 years?

He can't return punts? The one season he got the workload he returned one for a TD

[Nu Guns]

hey what ya know...a special teams player !!