Panthers Top 5 Training Camp Battles

by Jaxon on Jul 20, 2007 1:14 PM EDT in Panther News

DE – Stanley McClover vs. Charles Johnson
These guys are rivals going back to their SEC days when Auburn would battle with Georgia. McClover has made a believer out of many in the Panther organization and should have the edge to get in the rotation early. All this is predicated on Rucker returning to health and reclaiming his starting spot. These two might be battling with Rucker himself for the starters snaps. Playing opposite Peppers is a great position to be in because double teams will be very unlikely. I'm going with the guy who has the experience and the high motor.
Edge: McClover

WR – Dwayne Jarrett vs. Drew Carter
Both guys are tall but from there the similarities end. Carter is known for his speed and ability to "stretch the defense" as some people like to say. Yet he only averaged 12 yards/catch in 2006, suggesting he has a hard time getting open downfield. It’s hard to be a threat if you can’t get open or tend to drop the ball in key situations. Jarrett on the other hand was knocked prior to the draft for a lack of speed but he is lauded for his "soft" hands and ability to make the hard catch. Thirty + TD’s in college is impressive and he got lots of praise coming out of OTA’s. He may just be the second round steal of the draft. Given Steve Smith provides all the downfield threat the Panthers need, I think Jarrett’s ability to make the big catch on 3rd down will earn him the starting spot.
Edge: Jarrett

RG – Evan Mathis vs. Jeremy Bridges vs. Ryan Kalil
Mathis started at RG last season but rumors are he may move to tackle. The only way I can absorb this is with the new zone-blocking scheme he may just not fit at the RG spot. Bridges is rumored to be moving from tackle to RG and given his size he appears to be a good fit. Kalil is the wild card in this battle. He may just prove to be too good to sit the bench and the Panthers decide to let him compete here. Given Bridges is a cast off from Dallas and Kalil is a rookie, I’m going to go with experience.
Edge: Mathis

WLB – Na’il Diggs vs. Jon Beason
Diggs is the incumbent starter who isn’t going to give his spot up without a fight regardless of what round Beason was drafted. Yet Diggs has been through seven seasons of pounding and is probably on the down slope of his career. Beason on the other hand is the prototypical LB who has size, strength and speed. Besides, he gets high marks for leadership and attitude and they will be a plus on the field. Given the premium placed on speed at the weak side position I have to go with the 1st round draft pick.
Edge: Beason

QB – Jake Delhomme vs. David Carr
Though Fox has stated Jake is the starter you can bet neither of these guys is letting that influence anything. Jake knows he has to perform to keep his job and I think will respond positively to it in camp. Carr may be saying the right things but this guy is a former #1 overall pick and five year starter. He’s not going to be content sitting on the bench for long and I’m sure he’s going to try to gain the confidence of the organization as early as possible. Look for both guys to look good in camp but in the end Fox will stick with his guy.
Edge: Delhomme

Poll

Which Training camp battle are you most looking forward to?

DE - McClover vs. Johnson

5 votes

WR - Carter vs. Jarrett

22 votes

RG - Mathis vs. Bridges vs. Kalil

7 votes

WLB - Diggs vs. Beason

8 votes

QB- Delhomme vs. Carr

15 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Carter vs. Jarrett

I think you have to look at the WR battle.
The DE spot will probably be for the back-up spot.
RG is big, but I think that the whole o-line could be considered, considering the change in schemes and the injury problems from last year.
QB... Delhomme will be starting at the beginning of the year unless Carr comes out looking like Peyton Manning and Delhomme comes out looking like my neighbor's 2-year old daughter. And even then Delhomme might have the edge.
The LB battle would probably be second, followed by RG and then DE and finally QB.

WR is huge though. Smith is almost certain to be double-teamed often. Delhomme (or Carr, I guess) needs another target. The teams TE crew is still sub-par (I personally don't know much about Rosario though). Getting another target will help the team... any help Smith get open more often (or at least get Smith one-on-one coverage).

Just my $0.02.

http://winorgohome.wordpress.com Win Or Go Home

by UtesFan89 on Jul 20, 2007 10:51 PM EDT reply actions

the battles

First of all, I have two kids and know about 2-yr olds. Your neighbors two yr old daughter would probably have more heart and more desire to win than David Carr. The TE crew is going to be interesting. Rosario is a natural pass catching TE, but the same was said about Jeff King coming out of college. It looks like King has the edge despite catching just one pass last year. He knows the offense better, and the speed of the game. However, to get on the field, they have to be competitive with Gaines as a run blocker, and that's the real issue.

I think we should go with more two TE/1 RB sets or 3 WR sets. I like having Rosario and King on the field at the same time, and then bring in Carter and Jarrett the next play, trying to get a LB on Carter going up field or a small corner on Jarrett in the flat on 3rd down.

by usana_gaines on Jul 21, 2007 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions

camp battles

I have a couple comments. I like the camp battles. Last year it seemed we wanted to do enough to be in the game in the 4th and find a way to win. We've got a different mindset this year, and it already shows. I have to go with Johnson over McGlover. McGlover was a 7th rd pick who had a whole year to show he deserved a spot. The Panthers saw him last year and then decided to draft a DE in the 3rd rd. That tells you what they think of McGlover. Jarrett will win over Carter because you have to be precise on your routes with Jake so when he throws one of those wild balls, you're in position to make a play. That comes from body control, positioning and coordination, not speed. The starting tackles are going to be Wharton and Gross, and everyone else can battle for the guard spots, but I think it will be Wahle and Evans with Kalil at center. Beason and Diggs will both get a lot of playing time when Morgan gets hurt. Look for the LB rotation to be Davis, Anderson, Diggs and Beason. David Carr signed with a team he knew would NOT ask him to play right away. He has to find some heart before he finds some PT. I bet every time he got sacked, he looked at the backup QB with envy. Jake is competitive and wants and beleives he can lead this team to a SuperBowl win. Carr just wants to watch and run the second team during practice. They both get what they want this year.

by usana_gaines on Jul 21, 2007 8:21 AM EDT reply actions

TE battle was #6

I debated whether to include TE instead of QB but I think QB is obviously higher profile. You could alos make a case for safety, as I'm sure Deke Cooper will give Salley a run for his money.

by Jaxon on Jul 23, 2007 8:23 AM EDT reply actions