Marshall anxious to start

[Kevin Greene]

CHARLOTTE – Bold, confident and ultra-competitive, cornerback Richard Marshall always assumed one day he’d be starting for the Carolina Panthers.

Now that that day has arrived, Marshall plans to make the most of it.

“Everybody wants to start,” Marshall said. “Now that I got my chance I just can’t let it slip away. I have to capitalize on the opportunity they have given to me.”

The team’s decision to release veteran cornerback Ken Lucas this off-season paved the way for Marshall, who spent three seasons as a nickel back behind Lucas and Chris Gamble, to snag the only vacancy among the 22 offensive and defensive starters.

The opportunity comes just in time.

Marshall is in his contract year, which means he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

It’s fairly simple: A good year equates to a big pay day, either here or somewhere else; a bad one and the Panthers could look beyond him on the depth chart to Sherrod Martin, a taller cornerback they drafted in the second round of April’s NFL draft.

So can Marshall handle the job?

He’s started 13 games in the past – some because of injuries to Lucas and Gamble and some because the Panthers opened the game in their nickel defense – and, to his credit, has played very well at times. But late last season he struggled in pass coverage, allowing way too many third-down pass completions.

Opposing quarterbacks seemed to be targeting him more as the season progressed.

Marshall finished with 61 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks and one interception. He also led the team in special teams tackles with 17.

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More:

http://www.carolinagrowl.com/Read.aspx?Story=1085

[Kurb]

Cuz he wants to get P A I D.

[Kyle82]

Cuz he wants to get P A I D.

Money is always a good motivator.

[Montie_0123]

Cuz he wants to get P A I D.

LOL yea hopefully he really does stepp his game up!

[megadeth078]

[rayzor]

i can't wait. he's going to be nasty.

[SorthNarolina]

I honestly don't see his role changing at all from what it was with us in his previous years, his skill set and size just seems to call for the slot.

Sherrod Martin is a bigger guy and I would feel more comfterable with him on the outside(assuming his play warrants it).

Marshall deserves his name on the starting roster but I don't think it will make a huge difference because he was on the field so much anyway.

[scpanther22]

With that in mind, Marshall has approached the off-season committed to make the most of his opportunity. He’s working on the new footwork and other new techniques installed by new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks while readying for more zone coverage.

noooooooooooooo more zone

[Snake]

Marshall is a good CB and always plays with fire. His attitude sometimes hurts us cause of stupid penalty's but he is always giving 100%.

[1789Cardiac Cats9020]

Unless we play cover 2 we're doomed with this kid

[bleys]

hah, get ready to eat crow...

I love how people "know" everything, but never step up when they are wrong.

We shall see though...

[dexterpyro]

Marshall will be a solid corner...He is not going to be a shutdown but probaly wont get beat terribly. If he can play better than Lucas did last year then we will be fine. Gamble will cover team no 1. In the nickel marshall could move and cover the slot but its all up to meeks and the best player for the position and situation.

[JeramiahCopperfield]

Other teams' receivers anxious for him to start too

[bigdog_10_2002]

I'm actually dreading the start of the Marshall starting era...He's out of place far too much for my liking