Newton to take part in player-organized workouts

[rayzor]

it was basically doubting whether a bunch of guys getting together with no medical supervision or coaching instruction with a new offense was productive.

What's the depth chart? What about training? What about drills? What if someone gets hurt?

Yeah building camaraderie is cool but you can do that by playing paintball or something.

i'm under the assumption that there will be people there coaching. not necessarily panthers coaching staff, but people like weinke who are independent.

from the sound of it, they have been planning this for several weeks which makes me think that they will have gone the same route as the raiders when they went to atlanta to work out.

little excerpt from an article about what was/is going on there to give an idea of what i'm thinking it will be like.

A total of 34 players took part in the first practice of a week-long minicamp organized by Seymour and Campbell and run by Chip Smith of Competitive Edge Sports of Duluth. Here’s some video from our buddy Steve Wyche and NFL Network. Click here.

“We are thrilled that they have come and entrusted their week to us,” Smith said. “We have been talking for about a month now. We came up with a day-by-day plan. We sent that to Richard and Jason based on some things they wanted to get done as team.”

Smith, one of the top performance trainers of NFL talent in the nation, then crafted the schedule together and included some position specific drills.

“A lot of these OTAs and seven- on-seven drills led by players are nothing more than coming out and playing touch football,” Smith said.

Seymour wanted the workouts to be organized and intense.

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2011/05/24/raider-nation-invades-georgia-for-minicamp/

i'm sure the workout will be heavily supervised and organized. they'll have trainers nearby. these aren't all just a bunch of dumb guys going out there and just running around doing something dumb and unproductive but physically risky like playing paintball. these are professional athletes with staffs and private trainers and advisors. they know what they are doing.

[SPANKY]

I agree with rayzor , it's not really a big deal. If anything it will give the team something to build on if/when we have a camp or season. Like I said before in this thread, they are doing what they need to do.

[jtnc]

If Smith doesn't show up I'm gonna be disappointed and pissed, cause he's still the leader of this Offense no matter what, and he's still under contract. He should have been the one setting up these damn workouts in the first place.

[SPANKY]

I hope he's there too jt, I'am still on edge about the chance he might be traded. I know some people are ok with Smitty getting traded, but I really can't stand to think he might finish his career with another team.

[pantherfan81]

Weinke was on WFNZ "The Drive" today talking more Cam: http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/audio-on-demand/the-drive-with-taylor-zarzour-marc-james/#

[jayflip]

Since these aren't NFL sanctioned practices, is it technically ok that Billicheat and the Pats will be filming all of these sessions???

[rayzor]

Weinke was on WFNZ "The Drive" today talking more Cam: http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/audio-on-demand/the-drive-with-taylor-zarzour-marc-james/#

fantastic interview.

thanks.

[CRA]

If Smith doesn't show up I'm gonna be disappointed and pissed, cause he's still the leader of this Offense no matter what, and he's still under contract. He should have been the one setting up these damn workouts in the first place.

I think the fans view Smitty has a bigger leader than he legitimately has been in Carolina. I don't think the players look at him like that (enough came out after the Lucas punching incident imo to support that).

[DaveThePanther2008]

Those of you that think nothing good can come out of this need to open your eyes.

Throwing a football is an art. I am not talking about getting in the backyard, lofting a pass 30 yds that take 4 or 5 seconds to get to your target that you miss by 15 feet.

I am talking about rifling a bullet 30 yds, on a rope, that you can hear whistle as it goes by your head. Hitting your target right between the numbers.

BIG DIFFERENCE

Now add a receiver with World Class Speed.

I can throw a pass like that (well 20 yds now that I am over 50)

Trust me, if that is all Cam does is throw to Gettis, Smith, LaFell this camp will be worth it. Timing is critical with receivers and QB.

Everyone whined and cried about Newton not being able to learn the plays, know the formations and take snaps in a pro style setting. Now I have read that Wienke says Newton has 50% of the playbook memorized. Formations and setting. What better way to engrain the plays in his brain then to actually see the players line up in those EXACT positions and run (walk through) a play or two or three or four or five or six.

If you don't think that will be beneficial? Flip the page on your sports page and read about the Braves because you are clearly not paying attention to what is going on.

[jramsey4]

This forum can be extremely disappointing. Cam is trying to build up a rapport with his teammates and still there are people that will try to find anything whatsoever negative about it. Every analyst and fan that doubted his work ethic and desire to be the best is having to eat crow right now and they don't like the way it tastes.

[carolinarolls]

I am impressed with what I hear and I personally trust Chris Weinke's opinion quite a bit. People here have make good arguments that possibly stem from concern (quite possibly not) that this is dangerous and the cons outweigh the pros. Others have suggested that the danger level in these practices will by all intelligent theory be minimal and likely consist of upright timing drills if anything more than conditioning.

I agree with the strictly conditioning theory. It makes sense. However the concern I still have is that we have what is going to be a high profile battle at the top spot on the team and these practices could amp up if this battle surfaces right away.

I hope they can all get together and conduct themselves as humble and hungry teammates because if they can, this could prove nothing but helpful down the road.

[rayzor]

I am impressed with what I hear and I personally trust Chris Weinke's opinion quite a bit. People here have make good arguments that possibly stem from concern (quite possibly not) that this is dangerous and the cons outweigh the pros. Others have suggested that the danger level in these practices will by all intelligent theory be minimal and likely consist of upright timing drills if anything more than conditioning.

I agree with the strictly conditioning theory. It makes sense. However the concern I still have is that we have what is going to be a high profile battle at the top spot on the team and these practices could amp up if this battle surfaces right away.

I hope they can all get together and conduct themselves as humble and hungry teammates because if they can, this could prove nothing but helpful down the road.

neither newton nor clausen seem to be the type to get pissy in competition. i doubt you'll see anything more than a sickening amount of respect shown to each other. i don't think this is what you meant, but i could see it being in the minds of others concerned about a position battle. a leader will naturally rise between the two of them and it will be picked by the players in who they respond to. both those guys (and moore, if he's there) will try and do everything they can to show they have a mastery over the playbook and can act maturely and professionally.

i do expect both of them to impress, though. i will say that while clausen has had the playbook longer (by a few months) i expect newton to know it better. clausen hasn't exactly been able to focus on it like newton has since he was trying to finish his degree. i don't know if he's had anyone coaching him through it or just working with him on it either.

[carolinarolls]

neither newton nor clausen seem to be the type to get pissy in competition. i doubt you'll see anything more than a sickening amount of respect shown to each other. i don't think this is what you meant, but i could see it being in the minds of others concerned about a position battle. a leader will naturally rise between the two of them and it will be picked by the players in who they respond to. both those guys (and moore, if he's there) will try and do everything they can to show they have a mastery over the playbook and can act maturely and professionally.

i do expect both of them to impress, though. i will say that while clausen has had the playbook longer (by a few months) i expect newton to know it better. clausen hasn't exactly been able to focus on it like newton has since he was trying to finish his degree. i don't know if he's had anyone coaching him through it or just working with him on it either.

I agree that neither seem to be that type of player. I also truly hope they will focus on showing maturity and leadership rather than one-upping each other because you are right,they should both look pretty good along with Matt (if he is there) in this type of setting.

I guess I am not really worried about it too much. But it is the only thing I could come up with negative about the situation even though the possibility of an ugly rivalry coming out this early are very remote.

[SOJA]

I wonder if our wide-receivers got a copy of the new playbook- are Gettis, LaFell, and Armanti attending? I think their development is in danger as many recievers make big strides in their first couple years