Panthers signed CB Brian Witherspoon

[MaineManPanther]

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

In the span of a season, touchdowns arent nearly as huge as consistenly getting good return yards. Id much rather have a retuner who averages 27 return yards and no touchdowns. Your judging one game on the basis we should get him. Look at the whole season, he wasnt anything special.

[MaineManPanther]

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.

Special teams was a big problem last year. If we imporve it with these guys, whats the problem?

[Urrymonster]

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.

Meh, if you honestly expected anything else, then you clearly have not followed the team for long. Couple our tendency for looking for diamonds in the rough with a youth movement at it made it even more unlikely we were going to go out and splash the cash.

No one is pretending these guys are world beaters, or even starters, hell even back ups. What they are good at though is filling a specific hole, which we have had for several years now and our special teams have paid dearly.

How many premier players were actually in free agency? How many premier players could we have obtained with our lack of draft picks?

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

I am not taking away his TDs, but you need to look beyond the 3 highlight plays he has made, because other than that he has been mediocre at best.

His returns have been good, however in the punt and first kick return, he only made one person miss, the rest was down to his straight line speed and decent holes.

His second kick return was more impressive because he actually showed elusiveness, however these three returns are literally all he has. His ratio of 20+ returns on punt returns is very similar to what we have had already and his 40+ on returns is also very similar to what we have experienced.

Here are the plays:

http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/ted-ginn-jr-nfl-punt-return-td/PmPlPWQIA_WBKUBfchUKOQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpI1wElYoCs

Here is the full breakdown:

Punt Returns

2007

24 Returns

9.6 average

Two 20+

One 40+

TD - 1

Fumbles - 3

2008

7 Returns

7.7 average

Zero 20+

Zero 40+

TD - 0

Fumbles - 2

2009

5 Returns

5.6 average

Zero 20+

Zero 40+

TD - 0

Fumbles - 1

Kick Returns

2007

63 Returns

22.7 average

Thirty Nine 20+

Two 40+

TD - 0

Fumbles - 0

2008

32 Returns

20.5 average

Nineteen 20+

One 40+

TD - 0

Fumbles - 0

2009

52 Returns

24.9 average

Thirty Four 20+

Four 40+

TD - 2

Fumbles - 1

[Nu Guns]

Special teams was a big problem last year. If we imporve it with these guys, whats the problem?

Hmm...how about...say....I dont know.....WR ??

Just a thought

[MaineManPanther]

Hmm...how about...say....I dont know.....WR ??

Just a thought

Reviever is a issue, but why does that make it a problem to sign these special team guys?

[Nu Guns]

Reviever is a issue, but why does that make it a problem to sign these special team guys?

We have a new special teams coach.

With all these additions hopefully hes putting together a nice hand picked squad. Taht being said...thats all we have done!

[rayzor]

We have a new special teams coach.

With all these additions hopefully hes putting together a nice hand picked squad. Taht being said...thats all we have done!

how much time is left in the offseason? the season starting after the draft?

[MadHatter]

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

Ginn is a one trick pony.....decent returner, but sucks as a WR. However, he is being paid Top 10 money.

Cost-benefit is way out of line for what you get with him.

[Future of the Funchise]

Wheeler needs to add more strength and maturity

Who the hell is Wheeler? I thought this thread was about Brian Witherspoon...

[PantherDude]

If those "skilled" players were so good, why were they cut? Wasn't for money, they're all league minimum guys.

Nothing wrong with getting some players from Detroit. Most of them suck playing for the team because.....well, the franchise suck & been like that since forever. Brayton look bad with the Raiders, 'cause they suck too & we treated him better. That why he is playing good here than with them. I hope the same will work for the new 'Spoon here. :thumbsup:

Who the hell is Wheeler?

[chbright]

6 fumbles with 5 lost, um thats kind of a big deal when it comes to flipping field position and momentum. if thats not an issue, someone get fumbles foster on speed dial.

[CRA]

6 fumbles with 5 lost, um thats kind of a big deal when it comes to flipping field position and momentum. if thats not an issue, someone get fumbles foster on speed dial.

people don't care about that.....they prefer to call him a legit return man........ignoring his fumble habit, his inability to score in his career, his lack of big play returns in general, the inconsistant and medicore play that has caused him to bounce around the league in a fairly short career.....

[AceMan]

6 fumbles with 5 lost, um thats kind of a big deal when it comes to flipping field position and momentum. if thats not an issue, someone get fumbles foster on speed dial.

people don't care about that.....they prefer to call him a legit return man........ignoring his fumble habit, his inability to score in his career, his lack of big play returns in general, the inconsistant and medicore play that has caused him to bounce around the league in a fairly short career.....

That 98 speed nice though!

[chbright]

people don't care about that.....they prefer to call him a legit return man........ignoring his fumble habit, his inability to score in his career, his lack of big play returns in general, the inconsistant and medicore play that has caused him to bounce around the league in a fairly short career.....

and he is a quick athlete. look idk if he will work out, but at this point bringing in a host of STers to compete is better than the normal reliance on the same ol panther STers. also he is extremely fast and as a returner thats worth something. if he doesnt work out, he is a TC cut, big deal. i say bring 10 more like him in for TC and cut the worst 9. its an uncapped year, take the small $$$ hit to sign and cut these 1 year contracts this year searching for a guy that can be an average or hopefully above average returner.

the one good thing about this uncapped year is the freedom to bring in a host of cast offs, pay them for tc while you look for 1 or 2 diamonds in the rough with no cap implications (i believe cut guys count against the cap normally). hell bring back justin gattling for another go at wr/returner and see if he can be worth a damn (bucs tried it and he sucked as a wr).

bringing in all these potential-rich athletes is a nice strategic move that in other years would be cap suicide. a non productive player thats cut counts against the cap and give you nothing on the field. 20 guys that you give league minimum adds up eventually towards a cap, cut or on the team. if the guys busts, who cares, it doesnt hurt they are gone from the team with no penalties on signing other players in a $$$$$ crunch.