Taking a Look at the Panthers Blue Chip Players
by Jaxon on Aug 28, 2009 3:53 PM EDT
26 comments
Darin Gantt ran across a post by Michael Lombardi with National Football Post in which he identifies the blue chip players by team. Gantt lists the six (6) blue-chip Panther players and the two almost blue players from the post and then adds the following:
Only New England and Minnesota had as many as the Panthers, with Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, San Diego, Philadelphia and Green Bay with five each. What does it mean? Maybe not much. But for all the freaking out locally, it's still a talent-laden roster.
Though I could argue with some names on the list and not on the list I think it does put in perspective that the Panthers have as many top notch (blue chip) players as any other team in the league. The list follows after the jump...
From the original post here's the list of players:
BLUE: RB, D. Williams; WR, S. Smith; OT, Gross; DE, Peppers; ILB, Beason; CB, Gamble.
ALMOST BLUE: OT, Otah; DT, D. Lewis.
I'm with Gantt in the only name I question is Damionne Lewis but its nice someone else thinks he's almost blue. Give me 6 sacks this season Lewis and I might agree. Gantt also suggests G Travelle Wharton should be on the Almost Blue list. No argument there from me. Additional Almost Blue players could be RB Jonathan Stewart and LB Thomas Davis. Question: Would you put DT Maake Kemoeatu on either of the lists. Notice too that 7 of the 8 are Carolina draft picks with Lewis being the only FA acquisition.
I shoud also point out the list for our NFC bretheren:
Atlanta (5):
BLUE: RB, Turner; TE, Gonzalez; WR, R. White; DE, Abraham.
ALMOST BLUE: QB, Ryan.
That's a pretty short list for the team everyone is picking to win the NFC South. BTW, only 2 are Atlanta draft picks.
New Orleans (4):
BLUE: QB, Brees; ILB, Vilma.
ALMOST BLUE: WR, Colston; WR, Moore.
I might argue with WR Lance Moore (I keep wanting to say Kenny). He's good but I think we've seen the best he has to offer. Only one of these is a Saints draft pick.
Tampa Bay (5):
BLUE: WR, Bryant; ILB, Ruud.
ALMOST BLUE: TE, Winslow; OT, Penn; S, T. Jackson.
I'm sorry but Antonio Bryant has had one good season after being mediocre for years. Honestly Winslow and Ruud are the only two I would consider for either list. Penn and Jackson are servicable but blue-chippers? Jackson may have some upside but Penn? On the other side I'm surprised not to see RB Derrick Ward at least as Almost Blue.
So the lists may be subjective regarding certain players but emphasizes very well that the Panthers have the most talented roster in teh NFC South and one o fthe top talented rosters in the NFL as a whole. Nice job Mr. Lombardi. Anyone diagree?
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Blue chips for years to come, too...
It’s worth noting that — not only do we have MORE of these quality players than any other team in our division — but that they’re YOUNGER than most of their counterparts, too!
I note that New Orleans has 4 names on the list, with 2 young WR’s benefiting from the pass-happy Drew Brees, who’s 30 — what happens to them if Brees goes down? They’d have to depend on the only other QB on their roster, the 38 year-old Mark Brunell. How long would they be blue chippers with him trying to find them, while on his back?
The Falcons sport 2 of their 5 names whose careers would seem to be cresting — Abraham is 31 and Gonzo is 33.
Only the Bucs have the youth that the Panthers can benefit from — their 4 listed players are aged 24 – 28.
But now look at our team’s stars:
Williams is 26
Beason is 24
Gamble is 26
Otah is 23
Stewart is 22
Davis is 26
Wharton is 28
Gross and Peppers are 29
only Smith, at 30, and Lewis at 31, are probably as good as they’ll get (not a bad thing, by any means — just pointing out that all the younger members of our BlueChip Club have upside to their careers, and have achieved excellence at very young ages.
A lot’s being made in this pre-season about the injuries we’ve suffered, and the difficult schedule we face, etc, etc — but I take heart in the confidence that this team we root for is just starting its climb to dominance — for years to come.
As a retired stock broker, I know that blue chips are for the long run, and how to build a strong portfolio for the future.
Sorry, I made a slight error
The Saints also have Joey Harrington as a 30 year-old backup QB — he of the 79/85 TD/INT career ratio. My point would still stand about the blue-chip receivers struggling to maintain, should Brees go down.
for some ungodly reason though
joey harrington has owned us when he started againts us
by carolinabrave89 on Aug 28, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why is Gamble on there?
Drop him to almost. I don’t see Lewis on either list.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
by southtunnel on Aug 28, 2009 5:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Gamble is the best cornerback in the South. Not much of a return man, but outstanding in coverage.
by Cyberjag on Aug 28, 2009 7:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
outstanding?
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
Well...
…considering the money he would have demanded on the open market…and that we ultimately gave him to re-sign him, yeah…Gamble must be pretty outstanding. He really played well last season in run support, coming up to stick tackles better than anyone. And, in general, he was our better CB in coverage, too. Now that doesn’t mean his man didn’t get open sometimes and catch balls for big gains. Every CB in the league has that happen on them from time to time. When it happens over and over again is when you start to question their ability. And so far, I don’t see Gamble getting burned consistently. I’d like to see him work on his interceptions and break on the ball a bit more. But sometimes it’s better if you don’t try and live up to your last name…
But that’s just my two-cents,
—Neil
I think you jinxed him
We were playing that soft zone again, they were catching the ball in front of us and breaking tackles!!!!!!!!!
by Flowing Willow on Aug 30, 2009 4:37 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL...
Maybe so.
Another part of the “jinx” probably involved Derrick Mason, Pro-Bowl WR for the Ravens. And Joe Flacco, a QB with a pretty good arm. Those two guys had some pretty good timing down. In fact, the Ravens looked to be in regular season form. Us? Not so much. Particularly on defense. But, better to find that out now, right? While we still have time to work on it…
No more jinxes (except against the opposition!),
—Neil
Yeah, but it will only get worse playing tandems like Ryan/White
Romo/Williams, Edwards/Owens/Evans, etc. When does a soft, non-aggressive zone ever work?!?!?!!
by Flowing Willow on Aug 31, 2009 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions
It doesn't for me!
Very frustrating scheme to watch, if you’re a fan.
Might work if the opposing QB’s got a scatter-gun for an arm, but accuracy defeats it every time.
Seems like this “rush to the ball” concept implies letting it be caught 8-15 yds downfield before starting to rush to it.
panthers have drafted well
I have always thought of Panthers as a team that does a nice job at drafting. If I’m right, none of their first round picks have been busts (ever since Fox & Hurney took over) . Even if we consider the fact that the above mentioned players are high draft picks (all are 1st round picks except smith) and they are expected to play well and contribute, I still think it is cerditworthy.
Error screen.
Eric Shelton was a running back drafted in the 2nd round, not the first. As a matter of fact, he was a large factor in the drafting of DeAngelo Williams in 2006.
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Shelton was a product of the previous scouts…
by Cyberjag on Aug 28, 2009 7:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That's true
But second round picks are valuable and that one was a complete bust.
I know. And that's true.
Just clarifying that it wasn’t a first round pick. Though in the end he helped us draft Deangelo Williams, so I’m very happy :D
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
i remember us drafing deangelo williams with the 27th pick and i remember saying
“wow this guys gonna be a beast” and he hasnt dissapointed yet
by carolinabrave89 on Aug 28, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
It won't be long many teams will wonder...
why they passed on him. He will be an unquestioned top 5 player in the NFL by the end of this season.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Bold predictions!
I think he has the potential, but that’s a heavy load.
on behalf of tha dirty south: soul food, carolina blue, southern hospitality, and tha queen city
I'd disagree with Lewis
and put in Wharton, Davis, Kalil, and Harris if he plays well this season. Those are a lot of ifs though.
Blue Chippers
I agree with the list of Blue Chippers. It’s unfortunate that we also have more than our share of “Cow Chippers.” Like the backups at reciever and D-line. Go Panthers
Antonio Bryant...`
Blue? The only thing blue about him in Tampa Bay is the way fans feel about him being their #1 WR. Get another productive year under your belt and we will talk.
Lance Moore, also, a one hit wonder and not nearly as productive as Bryant. Questionable picks there.
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