Panthers Happy with Mini-Camp

The Carolina Panthers believe this has been their “best mini-camp ever” according to a report on the Gaston Gazette.  The Panthers, who have lots of key players back after being injured, are also excited about their new offense, and just the energy they had during the summer camp.  The Panthers are very optimistic that the 2007 season will in now way be reminiscent of their last campaign, an 8-8 letdown during a season when the Panthers were picked to go all the way by some pundits.

The Panthers should hope they can maintain this intensity.  Last year’s season was an absolute embarrassment to the fans, the players, and the entire Panthers organization.  North Carolina has compiled far too much talent to be playing .500 football.  The Panthers will need a mental edge and toughness they lacked last year if they are to overcome last year’s demons and prove some of this year’s doubters wrong.

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Panther RB Hopes to Have More Impact

The Gaston Gazette is running a piece on running back Eric Shelton’s hopes that a new offensive scheme will bring him more carries in the 2007 season.  Shelton hopes that under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson will give him more chances to show his stuff than former coordinator Dan Henning.  Henning was very vocal about his dislike for Shelton, only putting the rock in his hands 8 times in the past two years.

Shelton, a second round draft choice, has a right to be upset at so far being labeled a bust.  His career has been given little to no chance, with Henning burying the Shelton nearly at the bottom of the depth chart.  However, with the abundance of talent on the Panthers’ roster at his position, Shelton will once again have his work cut out for him to even make the roster.  However, this new scheme may work well for him, and if he performs at a high level in training camp, he just may see a bit of playing time yet.

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Panther Still Not Medically Cleared to Play Football

The Charlotte Observer has run a short article about the predicament of defensive tackle Jordan Carstens today.  Carstens, who was last season diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung related to a rare kidney disease known as membranous nephropathy, is still waiting to be cleared by doctors to play football.  So far, Carstens has only been participating in voluntary workouts.  But with spring training on the horizon, Carstens’ future is uncertain.

Carstens, who is only 26 years old, is facing the premature end of his football career.  His disease is stopping his body  from properly processing protein, making him much more susceptible to blood clots. Though he remains optimistic that the doctors will find a medication that deals with his issue, factually speaking, that becomes less and less likely with every medication they try, as his options continue to dwindle.

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Carolina Panthers Sign Another QB

According to the Charlotte Observer, the Carolina Panthers recently signed Justin Zwick, undrafted quarterback out of Ohio State, as their fifth QB on the depth chart.  Though Zwick’s chances of making the team are definitely slim, he remains optimistic and hopes he can prove that he belongs in the NFL.  Zwick was a big time prospect out of high school, but injuries kept him off the field and his backup, Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, went on to lead Ohio State to a national title game.

Zwick never got a chance to really show his stuff in college, and his bad luck may lead him absolutely nowhere in the NFL this season.  However, supposedly the kid has good stuff, with solid arm strength and mechanics, and with the CFL and Arena League, there are certainly plenty of places he can go play football if he doesn’t make it this year in the NFL.  Hilariously, he may very well become a supporting character in furthering the legend of the Heisman Jinx.  Troy Smith, according to all the experts, is riddled with issues in the way he plays entering his rookie season in the NFL.  If Smith falters while Zwick continues to work hard with the potential to prosper in the NFL, the pundits will have yet another Heisman Jinx talking point.

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Pressure on the Panthers

USA Today is running an article about the Panthers feeling the collective pressure to succeed as a team that has underachieved the past couple of years. The article focuses on the off-season moves the Panthers have made this year and is quite comprehensive in terms of brining readers up to speed on the players and personnel of the Carolina Panthers.  The Panthers have definitely done themselves some good, drafting well, signing Steve Smith to a 3 year extension, and picking up QB David Carr as their new backup.

It’s definitely put up or shut up for the Panthers this year.  The team was decimated by injuries last year, but they should be much deeper this  year, all around.  If they can stay healthy enough, this team should definitely be better than the 8-8 record they put up last year.  Perhaps they folded under the pressure of being favored to go all the way to the Super Bowl by many pundits in the pre-season.  They certainly won’t have that problem this year.

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Panthers Try Team Bonding Exercise

The Carolina Panthers are trying to do more things as a team, in an effort to build team camaraderie.  Recently they spent a day at  Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, doing ride alongs in cars going nearly 200 miles per hour.  Spirits were high, according to the espn.com report.  This trip to the track comes on the heels of a trip by five of the team’s most high profile players taking a trip to the owner’s house and horsed around with the man who signs their paychecks.

The Panthers, a team that has folded under the pressure of being pre-season favorites the past two years, seem to be trying to lighten the mood before their 2007 campaign.  The focus seems to be on fun and team relationships.  Perhaps the Panthers brass has felt the past couple of years have been a bit too stuffy on the players.  Either way, the Panthers seem very loose and carefree so far.  Only time will tell if this translates to wins on the field.

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Panthers Taking it Slow with Rookie Linebacker

The Gaston Gazette is reporting that first round draft pick John Beason may be asked to play inside linebacker if Dan Morgan were to sustain another injury at any point.  The problem here is the difficulty many players have transitioning into the NFL their rookie season, especially when they are asked to play and produce from day one.  Throw in an attempt to teach them an extra position, and you are really playing with fire and running the risk of completely destroying their rookie year.

In an effort to not blow up Beason’s first season, the Panthers are doing all they can to bring him along slowly.  Beason is an amazing talent at inside linebacker, but learning new formations and your place within them can be overwhelming enough for a young man.  Add to that the new found pressure of the NFL, and you’ve got a full plate to worry about.  Though Beason is certainly capable of learning another position, the Panthers should certainly make sure he is ready, or they run the risk of overloading their top draft pick.

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Panthers Player Causing Problems

According the Gaston Gazette, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins is skipping organized training activities to deal with “family mattes” back home.  The prevailing idea of the column seems to be that Jenkins is holding out for more money and that this is somehow unprofessional and will not work.  I would tend to agree with that sentiment. In actuality, this may work to the Panthers’ advantage, as they can use this situation as an excuse to cut ties with Jenkins.

Jenkins hasn’t exactly been the best player.  As the column points out, he’s missed more games than he’s played in over the past of the last 3 seasons.  Beyond that, he doesn’t seem dedicated to excellence that the Panthers are going to need if they hope to make the leap to the next level as a team.  Frankly, the Panthers have been on the cusp the past two years, and yet they’ve been disappointing. Cutting out underachievers like Jenkins is part of the process of improvement.

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Steve Smith Mentoring New WRs

The Carolina Panthers homepage is running an article about Steve Smith providing leadership to lesser-known Panthers rookie Ryne Robinson.  Robinson, who hasn’t been mentioned much with all the hubbub about the Panthers picking up USC standout Dwayne Jarrett and then promptly releasing Keyshawn Johnson.  Robinson is much more a player in the ilk of a Steve Smith.

Steve Smith continues his greatness, both on and off the field.  He has proven that not only does he belong in the NFL, not only can he compete and excell at the highest level, but he can also be a team leader in the locker room.  Robinson will no doubt benefit from emulating Smith and taking to heart every word of advice and wisdom that Steve Smith has to offer.
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Panther’s Rucker Hopeful for Return

Espn.com is reporting the the rehab to the surgically repaired knee of Carolina Panthers defensive end Mike Rucker is going very well. Rucker has been rehabbing his knee since the day after his surgery and wishes to return to the field sooner than the projected date, which would be sometime in the middle of the season.  While there is no way of knowing exactly when Rucker will return to the field of play, one has to admire his commitment.

At age 32, it would be quite impressive for Rucker to come back and play professional football at all after tearing two ligaments in his knee.  For him to come back ahead of schedule only speaks to his work ethic and tenacity.  The Panthers have shown their faith in his ability to come back by not pursuing a replacement for Rucker during the off-season, a classy move by the organization.  Rucker will provide leadership and stability to a team that needs both in the coming season.

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