Panthers Roster Bubble Watch & Early Predictions

by Jaxon on Aug 8, 2008 3:46 PM EDT Comment 7 comments

Is it too early to put up roster predictions? Before I go too far lets get our arms around the players we know will make the roster and see what’s left. We can then guess who might make the cut and who will get a call from the dreaded Turk.

Guaranteed Roster Spots – Offense (22):

QB: Delhomme, Moore, Basanez

RB: Williams, Stewart, Toefield, Goings, Hoover

WR: Smith, Muhammad, Hackett, Jarrett

TE: King, Rosario, Barnidge

OL: Gross, Otah, Wharton, Kalil, Vincent, Fonoti, Hangartner, Bridges

Guaranteed Roster Spots – Defense (20)

DE – Peppers, Brayton, Johnson, McClover

DL – Kemo, Lewis, Walker, Scott, Hayden

LB – Beason, Johnson, Davis, Diggs, Conner, Seward

DB – Gamble, Lucas, Marshall, Harris, Godfrey

Special Teams (5)

K – Kasay, Lloyd, Baker

KR – Robinson, Colclough

That’s 47 slots taken leaving 6 spots to fill. I think it’s safe to say the Panthers will carry 5 WR’s (not counting Robinson) and at least 6 DB’s. From there I’m also guessing at one more OL, a pass rushing specialist and the rest special team role players.

So my final six at this point in no particular order:

DB – Dante Wesley, Nate Salley – Both will need to perform on special teams

OL – Geoff Schwartz – Panthers thin at tackle behind starters

DL – Hilee Taylor – Will get a chance to show his speed rush

WR – Jason Carter – Training camp star

Of course injuries could wreck this prediction pretty easy. If Robinson is not recovered in time than Jason Carter’s chances go way up.

Notable Absences:

LB Tim Shaw – Replaced by former PSU teammate Conner

OL Evan Mathis – Lost the Panthers confidence after 2006 season

S Terrence Holt – Salley beats out the vet Holt. Looks like brother Torry won't be coming to Carolina after all

LB – James Anderson – Panthers too deep at LB for Anderson to hang on

OL Milford Brown – Does not provide flexibility of playing guard & tackle like Jeremy Bridges

So what does everybody think? Where am I missing the mark?

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Comments

just to tell ya you have bridges twice.

so for that extra spot i would place terrence holt. i think he will make the team. also tim shaw is a good special teams guy i think he will might make the team just hard at the linebacker position.

by JStew28 on Aug 8, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah i agree with ya

Holt will find some way to make the team

by A'sfaninNC on Aug 11, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HOOV!?!?!

just sayin…

by the bomb dot com on Aug 8, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not sure how I missed Hoover

But since I did have Bridges twice it works out.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Aug 9, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not much

I disagree about a whole lot of this. I’d say that, among the locks you list, Basanez, Toefield, Jarrett, Hayden, Lloyd and Colclough are all bubble players, none of them locks, whose spots on the team are dependent on numbers at other positions, and the talent level at their own position.

There’s no way we carry five DTs into next season, and there’s no way we only carry 6 DBs. We have a long history of carrying 8 DL into the season, starter/backup at each spot, with 7 active on gameday (it’s a personal point of frustration for me, the lack of DL rotation). I’m guessing we carry 8 DBs: 4 CBs, 4 Safeties. A lot of those guys will play special teams, but I don’t think you can have only one backup for 2 Safety spots.

And really, not a single FB on your team? Not even Hoooooov?

And, just as a point of interest, Schwartz was beaten like a rented step child every time I saw him in the two practices I attended.

by r3 on Aug 9, 2008 12:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Update

It’s obvious I didn’t double check this very well. Hoover is in there now (I knew I was forgetting somebody) You make a good point on the safeties. I had Q-Teal in there early on but removed him and forgot about a 4th safety. So if you put Holt back in there I’m not sure who you take out. Are you saying 8 DB’s not counting Colclough? Of course he could get cut if J-Stew is going to return kicks.
I think Fox will like having a kicker that can put it out of the end zone regularly so Lloyd sticks.
I’m pretty sure they will keep 3 QB’s with Basanez beating out Ricard.
I feel good about Toefield, Jarrett & Hayden but agree Schwartz could get beat out by Omiyale. That’s the first I’ve heard of him getting beaten regularly. Hilee Taylor could easily get cut as well.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Aug 9, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

From what i have seen from Hayden

I think one of Walker or Scott may be let go. With the idea being keeping them until the Panthers are sure on Hayden and also not letting any other team get either of the above guys unit the last possible moment. Also i think Holt will replace Wesley on the roster. Mathis may go or PUP list or IR if the Panthers dont want to lose him.

All in all though it wil be a tough call on some of the guys that are cut. I feel though it is a better potisition to be in though than not having enough talent to fill the roster. Plus those cut will more than likely catch on somewhere else.

On a side note does anyone know the rules for putting a player on the practice squad?

by A'sfaninNC on Aug 11, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs