The Mini Camp Thread....(updated Sunday)

[AKPantherFan]

CHARLOTTE -- It was only seconds after the first horn to start practice blasted that new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks bellowed a call to arms for Carolina's defense.

"Let's take the field like we own it!"

Meeks' first on-field instructions to Carolina's defenders didn't revolve around technique, position and execution. He simply wanted his defense to learn how to charge onto the field with heated intensity rather than cool dispassion.

"He wants guys that are reckless, flying around, competing every play," said linebacker Jon Beason. "If you're not that type of guy, you're not going to play on this defense. People got the message real fast."

The head coach was pleased with how his players responded to the new voice and tempo.

"Our guys are an energetic bunch anyways, and I think they’ve been very receptive," John Fox said.

Meeks' intensity only increased from his opening shot. He bounded in and out of defensive huddles, moved from one position group to another and at times seemed to be everywhere chasing his new charges around.

"You can see that he's in good shape, too, so he can keep up with us," Beason said.

While Meeks' style was something new to the holdovers, it was familiar to some rookies -- including defensive end Everette Brown. The Panthers' top 2009 draft pick admitted that Meeks' style helped make the transition similar, since it mirrored the practice-field demeanor of longtime Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

"It's pretty much the same," Brown said "Both guys are high-intensity, maximum effort guys. So it felt like I was back there at Florida State. It wasn't any different."

For Brown, it was more of the same. For the veterans, it was something new.

"Sometimes change is good," Fox said.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-1/kicking-up-the-intensity/f033f163-ccde-4f1c-a2fd-a7b7a6d18c0d

[frash.exe]

meeks may just be our best offseason acquisition.

thank you tony dungy for retiring.

[rayzor]

meeks may just be our best offseason acquisition.

thank you tony dungy for retiring.

i agree with this.

the best thing that happened to the panthers this offseason was the change in DC.

i'm hoping that the new QB coach has a huge effect on jake as well. it sound like he isn't impressed with the contract that jake just signed and that he will be treating him like someone who still has a long way to go in becoming a good QB. might be the best thing for jake.

[Proudiddy]

And lastly, looks like the sompetition for the gunner spots is just as wide open as the one for long snapper. Trying out they had…

- Kevin McMahan

- C J Wilson

- Marcus Monk

- Derrick Clark

- Kenny Moore

- Quinton Teal

- Sherrod Martin

That's all for now. Don't know if I'll be able to get out tomorrow or not (hope so).

No Jason Chery? Any Jamall Lee or Larry Beavers sightings?

[Mr. Scot]

No Jason Chery?

Looked back at my notes. Chery was in there. I think I lost him in the cut and paste.

Had some stuff about Larry Beavers in the morning post. Jamall Lee and Decori Birmingham got most of the RB work and even caught some passes across the middle. Decent all around.

[AKPantherFan]

i agree with this.

the best thing that happened to the panthers this offseason was the change in DC.

i'm hoping that the new QB coach has a huge effect on jake as well. it sound like he isn't impressed with the contract that jake just signed and that he will be treating him like someone who still has a long way to go in becoming a good QB. might be the best thing for jake.

now thats a big assumption...

[Mr. Scot]

now thats a big assumption...

From what I saw today, there's evidence.

[Squirrel]

Looked back at my notes. Chery was in there. I think I lost him in the cut and paste.

Had some stuff about Larry Beavers in the morning post. Jamall Lee and Decori Birmingham got most of the RB work and even caught some passes across the middle. Decent all around.

Hows Ivey looking? Saw you post on him the first practice see anything the second one?

[Proudiddy]

Thanks Mr.Scot, overall you weren't overly impressed with the speed of Lee or Beavers though? I'm about to go back and look at your first post about them, but I was just wondering?

[Mr. Scot]

Hows Ivey looking? Saw you post on him the first practice see anything the second one?

Didn't watch the LBs as much in the second one, though I do remember seeing him. Watched him catch a ball in the "run and catch" drills and saw him in coverage when they were running plays. Even saw him close to the play a time or two, but not close enough I could definitively credit him.

[Mr. Scot]

Thanks Mr.Scot, overall you weren't overly impressed with the speed of Lee or Beavers though? I'm about to go back and look at your first post about them, but I was just wondering?

They didn't really work returns today. That's when they'll have their chance to show something.

Beavers is definitely fast, but looks kind of slight in frame. I could see him as a practice squadder.

Lee looked decent, arguably close to Decori Birmingham in quality though it's tougher to judge RBs minus real hitting, in my opinion. Hard for me to expect much beyond practice squad given that Williams and Stewart are set (and hopefully remain healthy) and Goodson would be expected to latch on.

[Mr. Scot]

Couple of final thoughts:

Thanks for the compliments guys; but in fairness, had this stuff been written for a newspaper it's only about 50-50 how much would have made it to print. Editors worship at the altar of brevity, and these might likely have been deemed too long and pared down.

Meant to mention that as practice was closing, I saw someone (Charles Chandler, I think) chatting up DT Babatunde Oshinowo. Wonder if there's a feature coming up about him in the Observer.

Last, I know scheme and such has been discussed, but it will be hard to make those kind of judgments firmly until we see the players firing live bullets. For now though, I have positive feelings.

In the end, I hope they turn out to be justified

[SCpanther]

Thanks Mr. Scot. Your write ups are always appreciated.

[AKPantherFan]

From what I saw today, there's evidence.

i think the "evidence" is more the QB coach wanting to put his mark on Delhomme more than holding some sort of foolish grudge....