8/2 Training Camp, Twitter Thread

[Captain Obvious]

What do you use to grade? Coaches tape, tivo or you tube?

Mostly made up poo in his head according to his past posts. Of course thats an epidemic here on the huddle by everyone, me included. But I do agree that the best guy should get the job.

[CRA]

Mostly made up poo in his head according to his past posts. Of course thats an epidemic here on the huddle by everyone, me included. But I do agree that the best guy should get the job.

So per you, Bell was not awful in pass protection based on what is good considered good for a starting RT?

[2jakefansinva]

Joe Person ‏@josephperson

Reminder to anyone coming to Spartanburg for Friday practice: It's been changed. Start time is 3:30 p.m.

What a tool lol

is this for real????

I really need too know.

[carolinarolls]

I am absolutely giddy with excitement for this coming season. Trying to keep my expectations to a 9-7 season with being a contender for a playoff spot is getting to be very difficult...

When I look at the entire team, I see very few weak points. WR has a lot of competition and will no doubt there will be a receiving corps than the last three seasons. The backfield is already ridiculous and the oline is only going to be better with even stronger depth. Cam is amazing. TE isn't going to be as strong as it was last season and that does concern me, but I believe in Olsen and Tolbert lining up there on occasion. I'm hoping Barnidge plays his ass off. Oh, and Medlock > Mare please!

The defense... The DL and DB will all be better with even more competition and strong depth. The LBs have been replenished. Both sides of the ball are getting a full offseason, and with a team full of so many young players this is crucial. I'm anxiously awaiting to see how Luke Kuechly looks covering the NFCS TEs and my fingers are crossed to see whomever the #2 CB is be reliable (I trust Gamble). Ron Edwards, regardless of being average, will make the defensive line better along with the two 3rd rounders getting that year of experience.

I am a bundle of excitement D:

QFT!

[Panthro]

is this for real????

I really need too know.

I saw Reed tweet the same thing

[2jakefansinva]

thanks.....

F's up my day...............I'm 41/2 hrs from camp.

got to go!

[CheeseCP]

Was anyone upset with the way the offense performed last year? Did you notice a big dropoff after Bell came in at RT? He's not even an average RT at this point but he hasn't come close to his ceiling yet. I think it would be very hard to argue that Bell is not going to be considerably better this year after getting game experience and an offseason with the coaches. Would I be upset if Campbell came in and beat him out? Not even a little bit. Would I be upset if Bell started all season? Not even a little bit.

The offensive improvement of the team this year is not what's going to make or break our season. It's all on the defense. If our offense comes out and has a repeat of last year, they won't keep us out of the playoffs. If the defense comes out and has a repeat of last year, they will keep us out of the playoffs. No matter what the offense does; no matter what Bell/Campbell does.

[Udogg]

Don't need coaches tape for basic observations.

Does someone need coaches tape to recognize the major flaws in Clausen as a rookie or Cam's strengths?

Don't need coaches tape to recognize Bell was awful in pass protection

If you are going to call someone awful in pass protection in comparison to every other tackle in the league, I would assume you have watched the play of every tackle in the league as that comparison. The way you make it sound is that Bell has no reason even being on the field. You also make it seem like anyone else could have played better than him. Top that off with the fact that you feel that he showed no improvement throughout the year. Which is contrary to what the coaching staff is saying.

That was the reason I asked you what were you using to "grade" the player. I am not saying you, but a lot of people on this site see a player make some mistakes and place them in the "you suck" box. No matter how much a player improves or how the circumstances behind the mistake they can never see improvement. It takes an announcer on TV or some website to change their minds. Clausen was consistently horrible as a QB. Bell was not consistently horrible as a tackle. Did he make some mistakes? Yes, some poorly timed holding and false starts. However he did play much better toward the end of the year. I think if he was graded against the other rookie RT's that he would "grade" much higher.

[CRA]

If you are going to call someone awful in pass protection in comparison to every other tackle in the league, I would assume you have watched the play of every tackle in the league as that comparison. The way you make it sound is that Bell has no reason even being on the field. You also make it seem like anyone else could have played better than him. Top that off with the fact that you feel that he showed no improvement throughout the year. Which is contrary to what the coaching staff is saying.

That was the reason I asked you what were you using to "grade" the player. I am not saying you, but a lot of people on this site see a player make some mistakes and place them in the "you suck" box. No matter how much a player improves or how the circumstances behind the mistake they can never see improvement. It takes an announcer on TV or some website to change their minds. Clausen was consistently horrible as a QB. Bell was not consistently horrible as a tackle. Did he make some mistakes? Yes, some poorly timed holding and false starts. However he did play much better toward the end of the year. I think if he was graded against the other rookie RT's that he would "grade" much higher.

I watch tons of football....any avid fan knows what awful is. Now, that line gets blurry for some when it comes to their team.

I don't care where he grades against other rookies or UDFA rookies. Not about that. I am not judging Cam Newton based on Gabbert. That talk is good for future projections and big picture. I am fine with Bell being here and acknowledge he did okay based on his scenario......but this is a Panther issue for me.....and with our future riding on Newton we don't need someone awful at pass protection learning on the fly as a starter (not when you can control it).

[Seltzer]

The news on Kuechly has been extremely impressive- I think this will end up being on of Hurney's best draft picks. I think it was totally necessary also given the situation with Thomas Davis. I am excited about the prospect of having Kuechly, Beason, and Anderson starting with TD coming in on passing downs/ option to blitz. If healthy, the linebacking corp is very solid, especially considering the depth of other ST guys.

Still can't escape though that the DL and the secondary are still big question marks. I don't think Byron Bell is going to be the reason the Panthers miss the playoffs, but it's hard right now to definitively say the Panthers are going to make a quantum leap of defense.

It certainly is possible, and given Rivera's background, past success, and the fact he has said he will be more active in coaching the defense, I believe there should be some improvement. However, here are the lingering concerns:

1) We have 1 proven starting caliber DE in Charles Johnson. Greg Hardy has showns flashes, and he has the capability of being a starter at DE, but he will need to make another leap to be the long term solution as a starter at DE. Frank Alexander may develop to that level. Thomas Keiser, Antwan Applewhite, etc. are backups.

2) It appears if Ron Edwards stays healthy he will be a quality starter at DT, but beyond him, right now, objectively you would still have to place the Panthers in the bottom 10 in terms of proven talent at DT. Frank Kearse was a bright spot last year, but he's suspended the 1st 4 games. If McClain and Fua have made significant growth, I think it can be a good group. But again, it is an unknown.

The issues on the Defensive Line are directly related and reflected by the questions in the secondary. I certainly don't think the current secondary is anywhere close to the worst secondary the Panthers have ever had in terms of talent, but as of now it's not like the defensive line is getting the kind of constant pressure needed to mask question marks. Julius Peppers, Kris Jenkins, Brenson Buckner, and Mike Rucker made anybody in the secondary look a lot better. Ricky Manning Jr, anyone?

I think Rivera bringing in Nakamura and Reggie Smith is going to push Godfrey/ Martin and give them options. I may be the only one, but I think Godfrey is better than a lot of people give him credit for. A Pro-Bowler he's not, but he has been the scapegoat by a lot of fans for the fact the #2 CB position has been as bad as the #2 WR for several years. As for Sherrod Martin, he has all the physical ability be a very good safety, I just think the mental laspes have been unacceptable and Rivera has and is letting him know they would be tolerated if he wants to start.

But going back to the #2 CB postion, I think right now that is my biggest concern based on what I have read from TC and from the last couple of years. I'm not going to bash Captain Munnerlyn- he plays his butt off and has made a lot of contributions to the team over the last few years. That being said, everyone knows he's physically overmatched against the bigger receivers and shouldn't be put in that situation. He is a quality CB covering slot receivers. I hope his confidence has not been destroyed by being put in situations over the past couple of years he shouldn't have been. There is definitely a spot for him on the team, but not as the #2 CB. Case closed.

But that being said, who is the #2 CB. Rivera is obviously frustrated by it, and the fans are too. The Panthers desperately need Brandon Hogan or Josh Norman to step up and claim that spot, and they are out. On one hand, it is frustrating that the Panthers did not bring anyone in considering I think this could be the thing holding the Panthers back from the playoffs, but I don't know if there was really a better option out there beyond an expensive FA.

Objectively though, it's asking a lot to count on a 5th Round draft pick (even if he was a steal) or a 4th Rounder who can't seem to stay healthy. If you step back and think about it from an outsider's perspective, it is troubling.

Not trying to throw cold water, because these are issues that could work themselves out, but I can't think the team will finish anywhere beyond 9 wins until these issues are worked out.

[Floppin]

Frank Kearse is suspended for four games?

[JawnyBlaze]

Frank Kearse was a bright spot last year, but he's suspended the 1st 4 games.

Good write up, but are you confusing Kearse with Neblett? I hadn't heard about a Kearse suspension. My overall attitude toward the defense is pretty optimistic, and it's for one simple reason: he had the #1 defense in the league in San Diego with far less talent than he has here. They had Weddle...a decent lineman, and nobodies at LB and CB. If Kuechly lives up to the hype, we have the best LB corps in the NFL. Gamble is a top 5 CB, or at least top 10 if you're one of our resident pessimists/trolls. CJ is a top 10 4-3 DE. Edwards will be a solid starter, probably. If all Hardy does is improve his run defense, it'll be enough. He might not have had the sack numbers, but he led the league in pass deflections and had a very solid "QB pressures" total.

He already said he's going to be more actively involved in the defense this year. Last year was McDermott's (injury riddled) defense. This year, it's Rivera's and hopefully they'll stay healthy. In other words...

[Jaxel]

It's because CRA feels like every team has a franchise 1st round RT on their team. I mean, my gosh, why didn't we draft tyron smith 2 years ago, that guy... he's gonna be a HOF.... and we would have no offensive line issue's!! Clausen would have been great behind that line!! /sarcasm.

I think Bell will be fine, RT is not one of those positions you come in as a rookie and dominate... it takes time, and I think Bell will improve with time.

[La Pantera]

Frank Kearse is suspended for four games?

I stopped reading at that point.