SB Nation - Rhys Lloyd

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:55:38 -0000

While the Arizona Cardinals still have some players battling through some nagging injuries they are still in a much better situation than most teams in the league seven weeks into the season. The team had just three players who sat out of yesterday's practice, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was able to participate in the full practice. DRC, who estimated himself at about 85%, said that he was surprised at how well he felt after injuring his ankle against the Giants. The biggest name who missed practice was Antrel Rolle, who's dealing with a foot injury, but he is expected to play on Sunday. Kenny Iwebema (knee) also missed practice although it's not considered serious and Stephen Spach is still being held out as well. Steve Breaston (knee) and Anquan Boldin (ankle) were also limited and Reggie Wells is still listed on the injury report (broken thumb) but he participated fully.

Here's quick look at the Carolina Panthers report:

Landon Johnson (LB) - Shoulder - DNP
Jonathan Stewart (RB) - Achilles - DNP
Dante Rosario (TE) - Knee - DNP
Muhsin Muhammad (WR) - Knee - DNP
Charles Godfrey (S) - Ankle - DNP
Thomas Davis (LB) - Hamstring - LP
Rhys Lloyd (K) - Ankle - FP
Brad Hoover (FB) - Back - FP

Godfrey, Davis, Muhammad and Hoover are all starters and we all know that Jonathan Stewart is a big part of that offense as their backup running back. Godfrey, starting free safety, hurt his ankle last week and showed up at the team facilities on crutches and a cast although head coach Jon Fox said that there isn't anything broken. He would be a significant loss for this Panthers' defense is he can't go on Sunday. Muhammad is still a starting wide out but at 36 he's slowing down very quickly but he's one of only two wide receivers with over three receptions so far this season. Davis, an underrated linebacker who's leading the team in tackles, would be a significant loss but he's expected to play. Hoover has been dealing with back issues all season so his status could change at any time.

Ravens vs. Panthers: Final Thoughts

Jaxon — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:16:50 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

3 months ago: Carolina Panthers' Mike Goodson (33) runs past Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis (52) during a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Browse more photos »

With a short week this week I didn't complete a detailed review of the Ravens game but after watching it again last night I'd like to offer the following final thoughts.

Though the Panthers lost I'm confident that having RB DeAngelo Williams and WR Steve Smith the entire game the Panthers would have put more points on the board. I also think playing three premier 3-4 defenses in the preseason will pay dividends once the season starts.
WR Kenny Moore (3 for 40 yds) is playing with obvious confidence, a fact I hope leads to significant playing time in the regular season.
The education of RB Mike Goodson continues as he learned some new key lessons: (1) Better make those blocks on the blitzing LB's or your going to get Jake killed and (2) don't let a DB ride you out of bounds when running a route down the sideline. He still gets a ‘B' for his 11 carries for 52 yards against a tough Ravens run defense. And the beautiful grab and toe tap on the sideline was just icing on the cake. This guy is really looking like can be a complete player.

I've seen enough of WR Steve Smith to know he is obviously ready for the season. Sitting him for the Steelers game should be a no-brainer.
The kick coverage is starting to worry me. Both kick returns went for 28 yards and one punt return went for 25 yards. That's not going to help the defense at all during the regular season. Thank goodness KOS Rhys Lloyd kicks every other kick off out of the end zone.

LB James Anderson (8 tackles) is a starter quality LB who I hope will get more PT than he has received in prior seasons. I could see him starting on the weak-side down the road should the Panthers decide Thomas Davis is too expensive.
The Panthers run defense played better against a one the best running games in the league. It was obvious there was huge emphasis on stopping the run. Unfortunately the secondary in turn gave up big yardage through the air. I want to ignore it as just preseason vanilla schemes but too often the Panthers secondary is barely challenging the catches. Ravens QB Joe Flacco (23 for 28, 247 yds) might as well have been playing catch in his back yard. I'm crossing my fingers the Panther brass has some grand, intricate scheme they will unveil for the defense that leaves every offense wondering what happened after the game. Please?
Finally I thought Panther QB Jake Delhomme looked sharp in the passing game as did back-up Josh McCown. He hit both short and long passes and seems to be moving around in the pocket better than last season. Jake also seems to be throwing with less effort and is as accurate as ever. I'm not worried about any lasting effects from last seasons infamous ending at all.
CB Chris Gamble had a rough game that I would easily blow off if not for the high number of poor plays. I'm still confident he can turn it around by the season opener but I can't help this feeling of dread. Do we have any play makers in the starting secondary?

Any other final thoughts on that game? Did anyone else have a notable game?

Projected Panthers 2009 Depth Chart: Kickers

LittleKing — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:04:41 -0000

Now that we had a first look at our possible 53 man roster, I figured the next logical step would be a position by position breakdown. So over the next few weeks we will have the chance to dive a bit deeper into each position and try to determine which players will be the best fit for team. I'm going to start with an easy and often unglamorous position, the kickers.

Since I really don't think the question is "are the Panthers going to keep both", because we know they are, but rather do WE, the fans, think H&F (Hurney & Fox) should look for alternative options to free the extra roster spot. Starting field position can play a big role in the outcome of the game. However, saying that early in the season Jeff King was the next on the depth chart to be placed in as an offensive lineman, having an extra body on the sideline for kicking duties can be a negative.

Last year we carried both a kickoff specialist and place kicker with Rhys Lloyd and John Kasay respectively. Nobody can argue against improvements in the kickoff game. Just look at the stats from 2008 compared to 2007.

Kickoff Stats
Stat	2008 / Rank	2007 / Rank
Kickoffs	90 / T-7th	66 / T-27th
Total Yds	6008 / 6th	4042 / 28th
Average	66.8 / 2th*	61.2 / 25th
Touchbacks	30 / 1st	4 / 29th
Touchback %	59% / 1st	6.1% / 28th
Out of bounds	1 / T-12nd **	6 / 32nd

In 2007 we didn't finish above 27th in any category, while in 2008 we finished no lower than 7th, a major improvement to say the least. I should also point out that Lloyd only had 88 of our kickoff attempts leaving Kasay with the other two. Of those two one was an onside kick vs Atlanta in week 12, the other was in then our last game of the season against the Saints and it only went 30 yards OUT OF BOUNDS at the end of the game, bringing back oh so lovely memories of Superbowl XXXVIII.

Kasay's 2008 Field Goal Stats
1-19		20-29		30-39		40-49		50+
A-M	Pct	A-M	Pct	A-M	Pct	A-M	Pct	A-M	Pct
0-0	0	7-7	100	9-9	100	12-11	92	3-1	33

Field Goal Totals
FGM	FGA	Pct / Rank	Blk	Lng / Rank
28	31	90 / 6th^	0	50 / T-24th

You can't fault a kicker for making "only" 90% of their field goals, only 5^ other field goal kickers completed more percentage wise. Kasay definitely fulfilled his role.

Kasay signed a new contact last year through 2012, so he can finish he career as a Panther. He's the last player from the Panthers first season in 1995, which is quite amazing. His 2009 salary is $1.5 million. On the other hand Lloyd's salary is $460,000 and will be a free agent after 2009.

In 2008 there were only nine kickers and punter that had a salary higher than two million dollars. So is it worth having nearly $2 million tied up in the kicker positions? What do you think the Panthers should do regarding the kicker position?

* With more than one kickoff
** First twelve teams had zero, next thirteen teams had one out of bounds
^Excluding the two kickers that attempted and made only one field goal

Poll

What should the Panther do with the kickers position for 2009?

Keep only John Kasey

11 votes

Keep only Rhys Lloyd

27 votes

Keep both John Kasey and Rhys Lloyd

407 votes

Find a kicker to do both

26 votes

471 votes | Poll has closed

How the Panthers 2010 Free Agents will be affected without the CBA

LittleKing — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:09:14 -0000

I previously posted a general look at how the Panthers organization would fair beyond the 2010 season without a salary cap. In continuing to think about his topic I realized that we have a slew of players in their last contract year. Trying to negotiate a new contract with no cap next year and uncertain future will be extremely complicated.

With the new provision of having to acquire six accrued seasons of NFL experience to become a UFA instead of the current four I was wondering how many would fall into this category.

Here's a list of all the players in their last contract year for the 2009 season.

Player (Pos)	Years Pro After 2009 Season
Under six accrued seasons
Nick Hayden (DT)	2
Kevin McMahan (WR)	2
Lorenzo Williams (DT)	2
Kenneth Moore (WR)	3
Nate Salley (S)	3
James Anderson (LB)	4
Jason Carter (WR)	4
Rhys Lloyd (K)	4
Matt Moore (QB)	4
Quinton Teal (S)	4
C.J. Wilson (CB)	4
Jeff King (TE)	5
Richard Marshall (CB)	5
Six and over accrued season
Thomas Davis (LB)	6
Tyler Brayton (DE)	8
Josh McCown (QB)	9
Julius Peppers (DE)	9
Keydrick Vencent (G)	10
Jake Delhomme (QB)	12
Muhsin Muhammad (WR)	15

Here is how the numbers breakdown: 20 total players subject to become FA, 13 that will be under the six year rule and 7 players over. Of the first 13, those with 2 & 3 years are unaffected by the new rule (since they would still be RFA under the current rules), its those with 4 & 5 accrued season it will affect.

The two biggest names of out this group are TE Jeff King and CB Richard Marshall. King was tendered this year and this means, if he doesn't sign a new contract this year, we can use the tender on him again next year. Marshall is in the last year of his contract. If he makes good use of this year and proves he is starter quality, we can use the a tender on him as well if he doesn't want to sign long term.

It will be interesting to see how we handle the rest in this group. CB C.J. Wilson has been a project Fox may like to continue to see develop. With the safety positions locked in with Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey, S Quinton Teal definitely would continue as a backup. Since he wasn't drafted he would get a low tender.

QB Matt Moore and K Rhys Lloyd would be a difficult decision. Moore is in a tough spot, fans want him to play, but bringing in McCown last year didn't show a lot of confidence. Although since Fox likes to have a veteran backup, maybe you can't read a lot into it. But if they think Moore is the future it sure is hard to tell. Fox and his QB will always be a mystory. Lloyd was definately a benefit last year but every year we have to ask, is the roster spot worth it? Most will probably say yes.

WR Jason Carter wasn't drafted but if he continues this year the way his 2008 preseaseon was going be in for a tender next year if not a full long term contract. His recently signed contract was probably a one year deal. And that leave LB James Anderson. He was given a tender this year and because he knows the system could be give a tender next year.