Carolina Panthers Ongoing thread ...

[JohnShadows]

... try to keep stuff in here.

 

[JohnShadows]

Panthers restructure Kalil's contract

2.2 million more freed up. Team was 12 over the cap to end the season.

 

[JohnShadows]

Panthers renegotiated Jonathan Stewart?s contract | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports Canada

Stewart was scheduled to earn $1 million in fully guaranteed base salary in 2013. Under the renegotiation, Stewart's base salary was lowered to $715,000 – and became fully guaranteed a few days after Super Bowl XLVII – and the 2008 first-round pick out of Oregon received a $2.5 million signing bonus, which was comprised of a portion of Stewart's original 2013 base salary ($285,000) and the remaining $2.215 million was taken from a $9 million option bonus that is due in 2014.

Stewart's 2014 option bonus is now worth $6.875 million.

In terms of cash, Stewart will still earn $1 million in 2013 as $2.215 million of his signing bonus was deferred until April 1, 2014. Stewart's cap number, however, has increased from $2.8 million to $3.015 million this season, but since the value of the 2014 option bonus has been reduced, his cap numbers from 2014-17 have decreased by a little more than $50,000 per season.

 

[JohnShadows]

Panthers also signed James Shaw (WR) yesterday, UDFA out of Jacksonville St - another Gamecock in the organization.

 

[JohnShadows]

Panthers sign DT Colin Cole, an 8-year NFL veteran out of league since 2010 after ankle injury

 

[JohnShadows]

Carolina Panthers offseason guide: GM Dave Gettleman must deal with tough salary-cap spot | CharlotteObserver.com

League sources expect Gettleman’s first major move to be the release of veteran cornerback Chris Gamble, which would free up $7.9 million in cap space. After that the decisions get trickier, such as whether to keep both high-priced running backs or part ways with franchise rushing leader DeAngelo Williams?

I think Gamble is gone - only played 4 games last year. Josh Norman would really have to step up and play better next year, I have to say.

 

[JohnShadows]

Let's get this going again.

DB Coach Steve Wilks:

"I think we've got a pretty good group, I really do."

In addition to the acquisitions of Lester and White after the draft, the Panthers signed cornerbacks Drayton Florence and D.J. Moore and safety Mike Mitchell before the draft. They also re-signed cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.

While Charles Godfrey appears to have locked down the free safety spot, top candidates at strong safety include Lester, Mitchell and D.J. Campbell, who started the last four games of 2012 when Godfrey moved to free safety following Haruki Nakamura's season-ending groin injury.

Both cornerback spots appear to be wide-open. Here is Wilks' take on some of the contenders.

Seems optimistic, with the new pickups. And so far, so good for the prospect of Nakamura exiting the rotation.

 

[JohnShadows]

NFL Network ‏@nflnetwork 3h
At No. 79, Panthers LB Luke Kuechly is the youngest player on the #Top100 list this year.

Cool.

 

[JohnShadows]

Good news. DWill restructured, saves an ass-ton in current and future cap space.

Panthers save $3.2 million in cap space by restructuring the contract of DeAngelo Williams

 

[JohnShadows]

Cam Newton poised for breakout year - NFC South Blog - ESPN

Pretty good article.

 

[JohnShadows]

This is a pretty good article, overall.

There are no gold stars or trophies given out at the end of the Carolina Panthers’ minicamp, but if Ron Rivera had a most improved receiver award, it’d go to Armanti Edwards.

The former Appalachian State quarterback and third-round draft pick from 2010 made an impression on his coaches during spring workouts as he tries to position himself to make the final 53-man roster come late August.

“Probably the guy who’s really improved the most during these OTAs and minicamp has been Armanti,” Rivera said Thursday after the final session of mandatory minicamp. “He made a couple really nice plays, I know you guys saw today he made a couple big catches. His development has been really key for us as well.”

Edwards made at least one “really nice play” in each of three days during minicamp. On Thursday, he plucked a Cam Newton pass out of the air, in traffic, going across the middle of the field.

They're keeping 6 WRs, so he better show it. Also has some updates on the DB situation, and on what Star needs to get better at.

 

[JohnShadows]

Key members of Carolina Panthers' secondary

Pretty good (if spare) breakdown.

Josh Norman

Strengths: Natural coverage instincts and good size; confidence not an issue.

Weakness: Freelanced too much as a rookie rather than playing assignments; like Thomas, needs to improve zone coverage techniques.

Stat: His seven pass breakups last season were tied with Thomas for third on the team.
...
Captain Munnerlyn

Strengths: Despite small stature, physical player who doesn't miss many tackles. Play-maker who returned two INTs for TDs in 2012, tying a team record.

Weakness: Often overmatched by bigger receivers in space.

Stat: According to Pro Football Focus, gave up a completion percentage of 53 percent in 2012 after allowing a 67 percent completion rate in 2011.

This one was good from the same source: Carolina Panthers' defensive line built to solidify corners

Nor was Wilks displeased.

“Just understanding Gettleman’s background and seeing the success they had. They won two Super Bowls, and it all started up front,” Wilks said. “He came in building a philosophy as far as wanting to establish the offensive and defensive lines. And I agree. Because I believe if you have a great pass rush, it’s going to help your secondary out.”

The Panthers had a good pass rush last season when defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy combined for 23.5 sacks, the second-best total by a tandem in team history and third-highest by a pass-rushing duo in the league in 2012.

But after re-signing Dwan Edwards and drafting Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short in the first two rounds, the Panthers hope they can improve their interior rush and, in turn, their pass coverage.

Pretty much what I figured - Gettleman is a 'line-first' thinking GM, and I'm cool with that. And getting consistent pressure from the interior would transform the dynamics of the defense, giving Johnson and Hardy more of a free hand, for one thing.

 

[JohnShadows]

Panthers taking the words out of Cam Newton?s mouth | ProFootballTalk

With Rob Chudzinski gone to Cleveland, new coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey have kept many of the principles of the system, but tried to adapt the way Newton’s calling plays to make him more comfortable.

“Twins Right, Key Left, 631 Smash M sounds completely different than Twins Right Tampa,” Newton said, via Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer, comparing play calls from last year and this year. “It comes out your mouth faster. You get in the huddle, it’s the same exact play. Everyone knows that.

“It’s not tricking ourselves. We don’t want to trick ourselves, we want to trick the defense. It’s not saying a whole novel, it’s not saying a riddle either. It’s calling a play, executing it and performing.”

 

[JohnShadows]

5 surprises from Camp

To sum up:
(1) Armanti Edwards ain't cut yet, and had a good showing.
(2) Josh Norman, a key player who needs to step up, was practicing with the 1st unit.
(3) Star Lotulelei showed up in shape, and improved in the department where he needs to - shedding blockers with his hands.
(4) Robert Lester - the UDFA from Bama looks to have a good shot at cracking the rotation.
(5) Ben Hartsock – The veteran tight end showed he could catch the ball. Who knew?

 

[JohnShadows]

Gaydosh warms to American football

 

[JohnShadows]

Captain Munnerlyn: We Should Be One Of The Best Defenses In The NFL « CBS Charlotte

 

[HammerDown]

 

[Balljim55]

At the right price this could be a very good thing

 

[JohnShadows]

Nike yanks geographically incorrect 'NC' Panthers shirt - CBSSports.com

 

[ONEPANTHERSFAN]

Another possible FA

We've talked with Travelle Warton also. If Kugbila continues to have hamstring problems bringing him in could be a smart move.