Johnathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer: Impressions after Day 3

[top dawg]

Hope this isn't a double post, but I didn't see it. Not much, but here it is:

 

 

1. Corners made plays: Veteran corner Drayton Florence made a nice over-the-shoulder interception on a heave from Cam Newton to Brandon LaFell. It wasn't really a live-action play since most everyone had already stopped before Newton chucked it, but it was still a nice grab.

Later, on a pass intended for Ted Ginn Jr. down the sideline, second-year CB Josh Norman made a spectacular diving interception, hitting the ground hard without pads and getting the wind knocked out of him.

2. Beason participated: I figured LB Jon Beason would stretch and then be on the sideline for most of the time. Instead, the Pro Bowl linebacker participated in individual workouts before being replaced at strongside by newcomer Chase Blackburn. After practice, Beason ran 20 50-yard wind sprints.

3. 89 still competitive: Ron Rivera said WR Steve Smith has looked like he's 25 again during OTAs. Rivera said the veteran wideout has been diving for balls -- something the coaching staff isn't wild about. And even though we're more than three months from Week One, he still shows his frustration when the ball doesn't come his way.

4. Stewart very limited: Coming off ankle surgery this offseason, RB Jonathan Stewart was "very limited," per Rivera. He stretched, but then went to the other field and worked out on the bike alongside WR Lamont Bryant and CB Captain Munnerlyn, who was suffering from an abdominal strain.

5. Chandler switches sides: Last year, Nate Chandler came up from the practice squad late in the year to help on the defensive line. On Thursday, he was wearing a blue jersey, which is reserved for offense. With the additions to the defensive line, specifically the interior of the line, Chandler had to move to the other side of the ball. Rivera likes him, and Chandler was actually the team's emergency's offensive lineman last season after having played the position for a spell at UCLA.

 

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/23/4060350/analysis-five-impressions-from.html#storylink=cpy

 

Some of the impressions may have been alluded to in other threads (e.g., the corners looked good, but it wasn't like Cam and company were going all out; or, Chandler's role), but it's still worth seeing a complete list from someone who was actually there.

 

[Cam's New Arm]

Oh, yeah. Most of these were mentioned throughout the day in various threads.. most notable, the thread with all the tweeting.

 

Pie anyway, though.

[beastson]

I dont know if I'm happy hearing these norman plays... didn't this happen last offseason and didn't exactly translate

[nickzz]

and lets be real... 89 didn't look like he was 25 again.

 

at 25 smith had explosiveness that i've never seen matched.

[beastson]

I misread nvm

[Taro ∆]

Double post

[Monday Night Shyamalan]

Hope this isn't a double post, but I didn't see it. Not much, but here it is:

 

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/23/4060350/analysis-five-impressions-from.html#storylink=cpy

 

Some of the impressions may have been alluded to in other threads (e.g., the corners looked good, but it wasn't like Cam and company were going all out; or, Chandler's role), but it's still worth seeing a complete list from someone who was actually there.

 

#4 On a side note: I hope Lamont Bryant's name being brought up (especially by Rivera) alongside Stew and Cap could mean something. A lot of good vibes circling around this guy ..... 

[Frizzy350]

and lets be real... 89 didn't look like he was 25 again.

 

at 25 smith had explosiveness that i've never seen matched.

 

calvin johnson right now couldn't match a 25 year old smith.  dude absolutely owned this league with a very limited quarterback in a 1 dimensional offense.

[Frizzy350]

I dont know if I'm happy hearing these norman plays... didn't this happen last offseason and didn't exactly translate

 

if i recall he was "showing up steve smith" in OTAs.

 

smith said in response to a local news reporter "lets see how he is with the pads on".

 

pads came on and uhhh.... well smith was right...

 

 

even so its good to see him catching peoples eyes and at least working his butt off for a spot on this team.  need as much of that as possible from everyone.

[LinvilleGorge]

calvin johnson right now couldn't match a 25 year old smith.  dude absolutely owned this league with a very limited quarterback in a 1 dimensional offense.

You mean the most accomplished NFL QB we've ever had in a run first offense?  Yeah...

 

No need to trash Delhomme to praise Smitty.  It's okay to love 'em both.

 

And in all fairness, CJ shits on a 25 year old Smitty.  I love Smitty to death.  He's probably the best offensive player in Panthers' history, but CJ very well may go down as the greatest WR of all time.  He has a legitimate shot at eclipsing Jerry Rice.  He really does.  He's just that damn talented and that damn good.  You can't teach elite WR speed with elite TE size.

[top dawg]

You mean the most accomplished NFL QB we've ever had in a run first offense?  Yeah...

 

No need to trash Delhomme to praise Smitty.  It's okay to love 'em both.

 

And in all fairness, CJ shits on a 25 year old Smitty.  I love Smitty to death.  He's probably the best offensive player in Panthers' history, but CJ very well may go down as the greatest WR of all time.  He has a legitimate shot at eclipsing Jerry Rice.  He really does.  He's just that damn talented and that damn good.  You can't teach elite WR speed with elite TE size.

 

Come on, man. I don't think Frizzy was trashing Delhomme by calling him a "limited" QB. That's exactly what he was. I learned to respect Jake over time, but Delhomme was never a great QB---never Hall material. Ever. Now I will give him this, he was aggressive, had a great attitude, and was perhaps the greatest game manager that you'll ever see. On many teams today---and even back then---Delhomme of 8 years ago is a back-up, straight up!  His play did not rise to the level of Matthew Stafford's, Daunte Culpepper's, and arguably Jon Kitna's. Even Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton and Shaun Hill could best Delhomme's play on any given Sunday, That's just how I see it.  That being said, Delhomme was a blue-collar QB from Cajun country that many Carolina fans fell in love with.  I get it.

 

But, don't let your love for Jake blind you to the fact that Smitty made Jake in a sense. It wasn't the other way around. Smitty was making the acrobatic catches and earning YAC in historic proportions.  Smitty is a legitimate prospect for a bust in Canton, notwithstanding having to fight his way (no pun intended) off the bench into the starting rotation. Megatron never had to do this. Don't get me wrong, Megatron is perhaps the greatest we'll ever see when it's all said and done, but neither he nor Jerry Rice would refer to Steve Smith and poo, or any derivative thereof, within the same sentence. Give 25-year-old Smitty or any-age Smitty a QB that consistently slings the rock around 4000 to 5000 yards a season, and particularly one that's accurate, and Smith is a lock HOFER.

[raleigh-panther]

Statements on Stewart are concerning....understanding that camp is 8 weeks away and the seson 12-14 weeks...at some point, the man has to be healthy or it's chronic.

 

Of course, he had an issue before being drafted  in the first round with his foot and was 'cleared' by Panthers doctors.

 

I really like Jonathan; but at some point, chronic becomes a problem even if he manages to get in the game.

[rayzor]

Statements on Stewart are concerning....understanding that camp is 8 weeks away and the seson 12-14 weeks...at some point, the man has to be healthy or it's chronic.

 

Of course, he had an issue before being drafted  in the first round with his foot and was 'cleared' by Panthers doctors.

 

I really like Jonathan; but at some point, chronic becomes a problem even if he manages to get in the game.

meh...not really concerned. he's only actually participated in one, maybe two OTAs ever? he still manages to do good.

[CRA]

Come on, man. I don't think Frizzy was trashing Delhomme by calling him a "limited" QB. That's exactly what he was. I learned to respect Jake over time, but Delhomme was never a great QB---never Hall material. Ever. Now I will give him this, he was aggressive, had a great attitude, and was perhaps the greatest game manager that you'll ever see. On many teams today---and even back then---Delhomme of 8 years ago is a back-up, straight up! His play did not rise to the level of Matthew Stafford's, Daunte Culpepper's, and arguably Jon Kitna's. Even Dan Orlovsky, Drew Stanton and Shaun Hill could best Delhomme's play on any given Sunday, That's just how I see it. That being said, Delhomme was a blue-collar QB from Cajun country that many Carolina fans fell in love with. I get it.

But, don't let your love for Jake blind you to the fact that Smitty made Jake in a sense. It wasn't the other way around. Smitty was making the acrobatic catches and earning YAC in historic proportions. Smitty is a legitimate prospect for a bust in Canton, notwithstanding having to fight his way (no pun intended) off the bench into the starting rotation. Megatron never had to do this. Don't get me wrong, Megatron is perhaps the greatest we'll ever see when it's all said and done, but neither he nor Jerry Rice would refer to Steve Smith and poo, or any derivative thereof, within the same sentence. Give 25-year-old Smitty or any-age Smitty a QB that consistently slings the rock around 4000 to 5000 yards a season, and particularly one that's accurate, and Smith is a lock HOFER.

You aren't giving Jake the respect he earned early on....go back and read the list of guys you just named as better. That is comical.

Jake's best individual in the NFL....Smitty didn't play. I don't buy Smith made Jake. Did he help? Sure he did. What people never acknowledge is Jake's style of play also aided Smith. Jake was an aggressive feed the stud type QB. Saw it in 2004....even without Smith. Moose never had a year like that in his long career.

Jake was a damn good QB prior to Tommy John. He wasn't a Peyton Manning...he played the game the way Favre did.