Cam and most of the starters will play 1st quarter vs. Texans

[CatMan72]

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he expects quarterback Cam Newton to play the first quarter in Saturday's exhibition opener against Houston before turning it over to backups Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen.

Rivera said Newton and most of the starters would be in for the first quarter before the reserves take over.

Read more: http://blogs.charlot...-vs-texans.html

[Guest Bwood]

Nice I was hoping they would play him for more than a couple series.

[Mage]

He says that now. Newton takes one big hit or the offensive line is struggling and he's out of there.

[CatMan72]

Rivera confirmed Beason and TD are out and Josh Norman will play.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Jason Phillips starting in Beason's place?

[rayzor]

don't like it but whatever.

[Guest Bwood]

Hurney spoke highly of Phillips recently. I'm surprised Kuechly didn't get a shot at starting in the middle though.

[Floppin]

Hurney spoke highly of Phillips recently. I'm surprised Kuechly didn't get a shot at starting in the middle though.

Why would they start him in the center? He's going to be playing on the outside so long as Beason plays this year, and at this point there is no reason to think that he won't. Playing him in the middle would be unnecessarily robbing him of reps at the position that he's going to be playing.

[CatMan72]

Will be interesting to see if Houston wants to play most of it's starters for the 1st quarter...

[rayzor]

yeah, kuechly is the guy they are planning on keeping at WLB at least this season. no sense in moving him to another just for a practice game or two.

[CatMan72]

Rivera said Phillips is starting at MLB and Kuechly is staying at WLB.

[Guest Bwood]

Why would they start him in the center? He's going to be playing on the outside so long as Beason plays this year, and at this point there is no reason to think that he won't. Playing him in the middle would be unnecessarily robbing him of reps at the position that he's going to be playing.

Because Kuechly was a MLB in college and has the ability to run the defense in the middle. But now I realize Davis is out as well which would make that pointless.

If just Beason was out, Anderson at ROLB, Davis at LOLB and Kuechly in the middle makes sense in a game day situation.

[Jackofalltrades]

I imagine it'll depend on execution, if they march down the field and score twice before the bell strikes they'd probably come out. Conversely, if they suck they'll stay the whole quarter.

[Floppin]

Because Kuechly was a MLB in college and has the ability to run the defense in the middle. But now I realize Davis is out as well which would make that pointless.

If just Beason was out, Anderson at ROLB, Davis at LOLB and Kuechly in the middle makes sense in a game day situation.

Even if TD was playing it's not something that they would likely do in a preseason game. Preseason is about getting comfortable at your position at game speed, even if that means sending out reserves to keep people in their proper places. They wouldn't play Luke at MLB during the preseason if they weren't planning on using him there during the regular season.

If Beason were to go down during the regular season then you can expect Luke to be the slated reserve, but not during the preseason.