1. If there was any doubt left, Armanti Edwards is going to make this team – again – as a backup receiver. Coach Ron Rivera has said repeatedly the real test will be whether Edwards can make catches in traffic, and he had a couple of good ones Friday.
2. Both rookie defensive tackles looked good for Carolina, with No.1 draft choice Star Lotulelei sturdily holding the point of attack.
3. On the downside, the Panthers’ offense netted out zero points in Cam Newton’s three first-quarter possessions. It’s a fake game, yes, but that’s cause for a bit of real worry.
On Newton’s final pass of the night – returned 51 yards for a touchdown by Chicago – the quarterback locked in on tight end Greg Olsen on a third-and-2 and forced a throw he never should have made. "Got to get the cobwebs out," Newton said.
Newton is prone to looking first at Steve Smith (who wasn’t in the game at the time) and Olsen, which is natural. But he’s got to get his other receivers more involved more often. To be fair, his three-yard TD pass went to Brandon LaFell, who really needs to have a big year.
4. Tight end Brandon Williams is such a raw talent. He needs to stick around, at least on the practice squad. On a Hail Mary, he would be a serious threat.
5. The first-team Panthers’ defense looked better overall in limited work than did the Panther offense. Josh Norman had his first interception to set up the first Carolina TD then, while Luke Kuechly once made tackles on three straight plays and Charles Johnson had a nice sack from the left side. Norman later scored on a 60-yard pick-six that was the biggest play in the Panthers’ 24-17 win.
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I'm confused about #3. Are you saying Cam didn't throw a TD pass to Lafell?
3. On the downside, the Panthers’ offense netted out zero points in Cam Newton’s three first-quarter possessions. It’s a fake game, yes, but that’s cause for a bit of real worry."
You really should start watching the games. TD scored on second drive.
zzzzzzz...
Guys, "netted" means the plus and minus added together - yes Cam had a TD pass to LaFell but he also threw one to the Bears - so he netted zero points (7 minus 7)... Scott
Your first point is going to make some heads explode around the Charlotte area! LOL... where ARE all those A.E. haters that usually show up around here?
(By the way: the captcha you folks are using is about the worst on the planet.)
It's always going to be a little difficult to judge the Oanthers offense in preseason, due to the fact that Newton won't run. On the interception, for example, he could easily have scrambled for the two yards, but that won't happen in a meaningless exhibition. Considering Cam's legs are 30-40% of the offense, it's just not going to be at its best in the preseason, ever.
You are a patient man, Scott.
So much controversy over a readership that lacks basic math skills. As a test, I just asked my 13 y/old about the first teams performance last night. He said "overall Cam had a 0 night. Sure he scored a TD, but he gave up a pick six. maybe they will do better Thursday."
My son goes to a Charter school that spends less per student that the public schools.
Despite the haters out there, Armanti Edwards is not only going to make the team, he looks to be a possible strong contributor. As will Hixon and Ginn. WR is not a weakness and apparently the secondary isn't either. I know this is one preseason game, but the potential is obvious in two primary areas the critcs...er, um pretend fans want to constantly point to as our downfall. If we get 5-7 sacks a game and consistent pressure otherwise, the secondary will be fine. Looks promising so far.
This article is just a re-tread of your "random thoughts" Charlotte Observer article. This is lame. Do get paid by the number of articles regardless of quality or differentiation? C'mon! -Purr Durham
Tim made a good point about Newt. And I'd like to see data on starting QBs throwing INTs in the first series of their first preseason game. I bet we'd be surprised. I'm interested to see, but not quite interested enough to look it up... :-)
Scott, flush your meds, they're causing you to have memory loss.
ginn did not look promising as a receiver to me. has great speed and can get open but seems to be out of place and unaware A LOT.
7 targets, 1 catch. on the flip side, edwards was targeted twice, 2 catches. even gettis looks like a better receiver than ginn. and he's a shell of what he COULD have been had he not gotten hurt.
only reason fans want ginn is because he has a name. pilares is better at receiver too.
i hope we get to see what hixon brings to the table, but I'd put way more stock into the same guys from last year being improved and working harder because of more competition than I would put stock into ginn and hixon being superior.
it's going to be interesting to say the least.
blown away you guys don't understand what "net" means.
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