Get to know your Panthers: RB Andre Brown

by James Dator on Nov 10, 2010 9:31 AM EST

With the spate of players hitting IR yesterday came two signings at the RB position; Josh Vaughan who was with the Carolina Panthers for the 2010 preseason and Andre Brown, second year RB out of North Carolina State and former 4th round draft pick.

The 6'0", 224 lbs Brown was a standout for the Wolfpack finishing his college career with 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns while amassing 767 yards and 7 TDs his senior year.

So why would a promising rookie and a guy who was drafted just one pick after Tony Fiametta be available off waivers? Let's look more into Brown... after the jump

Andre Brown was selected with the 129th pick of the 2009 NFL draft by the New York Giants. Unfortunately, during training camp and just 11 days after the attached photo was taken he ruptured his Achilles tendon and was placed on injured reserve before the regular season ever began.

It would take another year for Brown to truly resurface as he was waived by the Giants who decided to go in a different direction with their running backs deciding to rely more heavily on 4th year veteran Danny Ware as the #3 RB behind Bradshaw and Jacobs; Andre Brown was expendable and subsequently waived.

Prior to being waved, however, Brown had a fairly successful pre-season with the Giants in limited time. Despite facing stout Jets, Ravens, and Steelers defenses he ran the ball 21 times for 95 yards (a 4.2 ypc average) and scored one touchdown. Ultimately the aforementioned Ware had a similar pre-season making the cut easier.

On September 5th, 2010 he was signed off waivers by the Denver Broncos where he suited up for only one game against Baltimore where he carried the ball twice for -1 yard, he was waived by the Broncos less than a week later.

On October 18th, 2010 Brown was claimed off waivers again, this time by the Indianapolis Colts who moved him to their active roster just a week ago. Due to roster pressures and more pressing needs Brown was again waived by the Colts and finally arrived in Carolina.

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So, what do we make of Andre Brown? Merely a PS/roster spot, or could he be something more? Judging by a fairly impressive pre-season with New York against stout defenses it's tough to imagine that he has been greatly slowed by his rookie injury, nor is it fair in hindsight to judge his ability based on Denver's evaluation- after all, this is the team who traded Peyton Hillis and a 6th round pick for Brady Quinn.

In my assessment Brown is every bit the talent that warranted a 4th round pick in 2009. He's a strong, big, North South runner who was put behind the eight ball early and has been struggling to get out from behind it. With the very real possibility of DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Tyrell Sutton being out this week vs. Tampa Bay perhaps Brown will finally get a shot to show if he can play in this league.

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Comments

My only worry

As with all our young players, I think our team is in such bad shape now that we can’t get a good evaluation on anyone. If Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams can’t be productive at the moment, I’m not sure that spells good things for anyone else.

The flip side is that maybe we can catch some defenses sleeping if they know they aren’t facing two of our biggest weapons. We’ll see.

by aceofsween on Nov 10, 2010 9:35 AM EST reply actions

You never know...

He could come in and light it up for us the rest of the year and make re-signing D-Will a lower priority in the offseason.

I know I’m going to get destroyed for that, but you never know…

"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." ~ David Foster Wallace

My Panthers Blog | My Twitter Page

by BW Smith on Nov 10, 2010 9:36 AM EST reply actions

Oh, it's definitely a possibility

I’m not saying it won’t happen, but don’t forget… He’ll be a free agent this offseason too.

by aceofsween on Nov 10, 2010 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

If Brown does light it up

perhaps we should sign Williams and trade Stewart. Or even better, we should sign Brown and trade him.

by pieterzen on Nov 10, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

Are you serious!!!

“and make re-signing D-Will a lower priority in the offseason.”

I have to get this off of my chest… Deangelo Williams is the best Running Back on the team period end that conversation, but I’ll continue. I keep hearing people say to trade him for high draft picks or that Steward is better (he has more power) or that Goodson catches better out of the back feild(a crock)… All wrong. Deangelo Williams is improperly utilized in this “offensive” offense. If play calling wasn’t so predicatable he would have an even better season.

The same plays ran out of the same formations last year… won’t work this year Fox. This is what training camp is intended for to implement the new niche for the up coming season. Not just to practice executing the same play better!!! Switch it up!!!

There is plenty of talent on this team to easily have a 10 win season… but everyone is being utilized improperly. I’m tire of listening to the same old pressers… “Well… we got to get better” you’re right about that Fox. “I’m not sure what’s wrong and when we find it we’ll fix it” really. You’re the coach!!! you should know what’s going on with your team???

The reason everyone here is soooo mad is because there is talent and its being wasted. Take a good look:

Clausen, Pike, Edwards, Stewart, Williams, Fiametta, Sutton, Lafell, Gettis, Smitty, King, Barnige, Rosario, Goodson, Gross, Otah, Wharton, Kalil, Hardy, Johnson, Brown, Beason, Connor, Anderson, Williams, Davis, Gamble, Marshall, Godfrey, Munnerlyn, Martin, Pugh, Kasay, Baker.

These are some good players and if a coach can’t get these guys ready for a NFL game he should be fired!!! Immediately!!!

If I miss spelled something… get over it because I’m soooo freeggg’n upset right now!!!

by Caro2daheart on Nov 10, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

With that said

There seems to be an overall lack of belief among the offensive players. It looks like they almost quit…like how it looked during Jake’s last few games last sesaon. The line is just going through the motions. If you don’t have an offensive line that is playing well and giving effort, you don’t have an offense. Its like trying to open a can with a toothpick.

In 2005, Steve Smith became the first player since Washington Redskins' receiver Art Monk in 1984 to lead the NFL in receptions for a team that ran more often than it passed. In Steve Smith we trust.

by ERL on Nov 10, 2010 12:04 PM EST up reply actions

You left off the first part of my sentence...

“He could come in…”

For all we know, the guy is better than D-Will. We won’t know until he plays.

I’m not saying he is, I’m just saying be open to the possibility that he might be better than D-Will and make D-Will a lower priority, which would open up the salary they would give him to improve the team in another area.

"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." ~ David Foster Wallace

My Panthers Blog | My Twitter Page

by BW Smith on Nov 10, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

I would sub the word "Fox" with "Jeff Davidson"

This is not to defend the name of Fox, but then I guess it is. Haha! These are the few things I am aware of with this Panther team:

1. Jeff Davidson is currently one of the worst playcallers in the league. I’m sick of watching games knowing he is at the offensive helm. Seriously, ABC’s Sunday figure skating has become a nice break from the reiteration of retardation that happens on offense.

2. We’re young, we’re fresh, we’re cheap and inexperienced as hell. Thanks JR and Hurney. Most of the young “talent” has yet to be confirmed. And NO, I don’t care what they did at Blah Blah State in 2009 against Dooty Doo University. Yay youth movement… (notice how excited I am with that.)

3. Fox was given players he did not want and the one’s he wanted were sent packing. Think about it… Being given squared pegs when all you have is round holes. It’s new, it’s an adjustment, it’s STILL a job to make them fit. And it WILL be a bitch either way. Has Fox screwed up here and there? Yep. Seriously, how would one handle fourty-some 20 year olds? (a slight exaggeration). I kinda wish last season was his last on contract. The ship would’ve sank without him this year. This is undeniable.

4. This entire season was a gamble, and a move to save money in 2011. I like how the “Youth Movement” label was used for justification. To make the “suck” more understandable. It looks like a youth movement, it smells like one, but I’m not really buying it. Sad to say, but EVERYTHING including football revolves around revenue vs. expense. Bam! There’s the “youth movement.” Haha!

Where I’m shifting the blame?

1. Jeff and JR/Hurney (Not sure about Hurney. When the boss says jump, you just do it.)
2. The “plug n’ play” OL. “We totally blocked them 49er guys! Yeah!”
3. The inexperience at key positions. “Was you throwin’ at me?? Where was I suppose to run?!”
4. Clouds and puppies. “So soft, so cute. Damn them!”
5. John Fox “Man, this ain’t the s**t I wanted! Where muh’ boys at?! What? Too old?”

Yay! Yeah, I’m one sided as hell. And I just had to bitch. Sorry in advance for any confusion or odd feelings I may cause. :) I’m totally SICK of this season. I now sleep in until halftime.

by SwankTheTank on Nov 10, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

"the reiteration of retardation..."

I LOVE that line!

We should make that the official team slogan.

“Your 2010 Carolina Panthers: the reiteration of retardation.”

"The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you." ~ David Foster Wallace

My Panthers Blog | My Twitter Page

by BW Smith on Nov 10, 2010 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

It has a ring!

It came from the heart. Hahaha!

by SwankTheTank on Nov 10, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

I hope he enjoys running into brick walls

We can certainly provide an opportunity for him to do that.

Unofficial Agent for Armanti Edwards, WR #10, Carolina Panthers

by Tater596 on Nov 10, 2010 10:35 AM EST reply actions

yeah...agree w/ Tater596

Doesn’t matter WHO is brought in or in the backfield…..Barry Sanders in his prime…..doesn’t matter! Brick walls!!
This season is over. Let’s hope for some good decisions on new Head Coach and O-Corrdinator, a good draft, keeping the talent that we have, disgarding the rest and start working on next year and the future!

by Vinnie 16 on Nov 10, 2010 10:44 AM EST reply actions

Add to the predictability...

With a new player to the organization like Brown in the backfield, the d will know we are not going to pass as he will not have the pass blocking scheme down yet, and he will have a hard time finding any space. If we do try to pass with Brown as the RB, AE better get warmed up because there’s a good chance there will be an emergency with the two guys in front of him.

by wideright11 on Nov 10, 2010 10:44 AM EST reply actions

Well, it shows the Panthers are trying to do something… but, if our 2 best running backs can’t make yardage, how are the new guys going to do it?

There’s always hope I know… that’s pretty much all we have left; that, and alcohol.

Could they break out and have awesome games? Sure. Could the Panthers go on to tear off 8 wins in a row? Sure. Will I win the lottery tonight? Sure, there’s a chance. there’s always a chance… Slim to none, and Slim was on the first train out of town last week.

by scorpion12 on Nov 10, 2010 11:02 AM EST reply actions