Ron Rivera's Training Camp MVP: Armanti Edwards

[CPcavedweller]

FWIW I am not from the Carolinas and until we drafted him I had no clue who Armanti Edwards was as I watch very little college ball, especially outside the PAC-12. So I've always thought a D2 QB-to-WR project was an EXTREME reach for what was given up and for where he was picked. I've also been skeptical about any breakout season because when I've heard good things, he's eventually poo the bed. But this year feels different because everyone...Smitty, Olsen, Rivera, everyone has said nothing but great things. So I'm guardedly optimistic and hopeful. So from someone completely unbiased from a local college standpoint, I hope he can tear poo up.

D-1AA app has three division 1 national championships, two of which were led by Edwards. One game he had 7 total TDs 313 yards rushing on 31 carries and 14-16 passing for 182 with 3 TDs against a Richmond D that put a few players in the league. Johnnie Manziel couldn't touch those stats against Sam Houston last year, who is FCS d-1aa as well.

And no there is a difference between division 2 and FCS namely scholarships, facilities, and athletes. As an example after the Michigan win App played D2 lenoir rhyne college and was up 38-0 with 12 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. That's the difference. He didn't come from a scrub school and that's not the reason it's taken him so long. Personally, I thought he'd be cut by now based on his body of work but I guess the coaches have other plans.

Armanti actually had an offer from NMSU and was going to be offered by Clemson as a DB, he told them no thank you and went to App to play QB.

TC MVP , to preseason week 1 MVP. Jeff Saturday might even talk about it, Jk. Panthers, we talking about panthers? Like the Florida extinct kind? No Jeff.

[Gabeking]

Screw you guys for not appreciating my homemade Armanti hope poster. That took my dumb ass 12 minutes to do. I could have been watching pron.

Bastards.

It took me almost 20 minutes to make this and put it in a thread once.

And all I got for it was ONE LOUSY fuging PIE!!!

[YourManInAmsterdam]

[Panthro]

Maybe he will find the end zone in his fourth year. .. for the first time

[redbuddha]

If Brandon Williams doesn't make the squad he can replace this out of shape Old Spice guy!

[redbuddha]

You left out the fact that Armanti Edwards was a quarterback at a D1-AA school with no experience at wide receiver.

He literally had to learn an entire new position against high quality players. It's one thing to learn a new position in high school where not every kid is All-State and SEC bound, but to do it at the NFL is almost impossible; especially if you are a college quarterback. It's not like he was a cornerback and just switching to the offensive side of the ball. AE had to forget everything he had done at App State and pretend he was a high school kid learning a new position again.

It was obviously going to take time for him to adjust. On top of that, multiple wide receivers have said Coach Proehl gives every player their reps; which is something that they said hasn't been done in the past.

So not only is AE trying to learn a new position, but he's trying to do so with limited reps; another near impossible task.

You never really know what you have in a player, until you actually give that player a chance (something Rivera does but Fox did not).

Finally a lot of fault goes on the fans for expecting too much based on where he was drafted. Most people expected him to come in and succeed right away because he was a top pick.

The fact is AE has finally learned the wide receiver position, been given a chance, taken advantage of that chance, and now it's time for him to show what he's got in actual games.

As far as Brandon Williams goes, he actually has an easier route in my opinion. Yes, it took him longer to get to the NFL and yes his story is more unique; but remember this guy was going to be playing college ball at Oregon and physically he is off the charts. Williams doesn't have to learn a position and he doesn't have much competition for reps.

In essence, Williams just has to get up to speed on the NFL game and he should be good to go; something that might only take two years.

Julian Edelman destroys that argument.

[dksmith17]

Also from Sorenson's interview with Rivera

 

"Players who impress him: fullback-tight end Richie Brockel, defensive ends Louis Nzegwu and Craig Roh and defensive tackle Casey Walker."

 

 

^^ All guys who will likely have minimal impact on the season.

[dxpanther]

anyone ever notice steve runs that same exact play armanti did with his long pass and still gets caught? 

 

steve:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/0ap2000000063096/QB-Newton-to-WR-Smith-66-yd-pass

 

armanti:

 

[Panthro]

Steve Smith, to his credit, has at least scored a touchdown in the past

[MadHatter]

I am being cautiously optimistic about Armanti this season. 

 

He DOES have to show it in the games.....but, he has taken things to a much higher level in camp this season.

 

Watching his play is one of the primary things I am most interested in seeing during the Pre Season.

[dxpanther]

Steve Smith, to his credit, has at least scored a touchdown in the past

 

true story, just wanted to point out that it's not as if any other wide receiver would've scored on that play, like everybody assumed 8 months ago. 

[panfan32]

To be honest, I was on AE side when we drafted him. I thought he could possibly be SS replacement in a few years. But after 3 years of nothing my faith in him died. Now its time for him to prove it. I'm originally from Missouri so AE has to Show Me! And that mean not getting caught from behind on a long pass or punt return!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Julian Edelman destroys that argument.

He certainly does not, in 4 years he has less than 730 receiving yards in 52 games. While that's more than Edwards, Edleman has also been given the opportunity to start 15 times(typically in the slot).

If you're wondering how many times Edwards has started, that would be once in 35 games played.

[CPcavedweller]

Liberty, the school I work for.

I'm not a fan of you guys because you always get a high ranking in the FCS standings because of your name.

You guys were ranked 6th in the country with a 8-4 record, that's ridiculous.

Mad about not getting a SBC invite are you? I personally thought it should've been Liberty or JMU. Maybe both considering Idaho and NMSU bring nothing in football.

If App scheduled Liberty I think you would see the difference between the schools.