SB Nation User Blog: Tater596

The Armanti Edwards Update... through sleet, snow, and freezing rain.

Tater596 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:18:51 -0000

Hello Panther fans and welcome to the latest Armanti Edwards update. Your source for news on the most dynamite player in FCS I-AA football. Appalachian State has moved into the "Final Four" in the NCAA Championship tournament on the wings of an incredible 4th quarter from AE and his mountaineer troops. App State had their work cut out for them in snowy conditions up in Richmond, VA making the field a slushy and muddy mess. Not exactly the kind of day where you are seeking to throw a laser accurate TD pass to win a football game.

Or IS it?

With 10 seconds remaining in the football game, and App losing 31-28 after a (controversial) fumble on a punt return was taken in for a touchdown, Armanti Edwards willed his team to victory on a 12 play, 70 yard drive, capped off with a PERFECT as in ZERO room for error PERFECT touchdown pass to Matt Cline. Following the ensuing kickoff, and the final play in which App sacked the Richmond QB, the score stood at 35-31 in favor of the Mountaineers.

THE THROW

via www.appfan.com

See the video of THE THROW and other game highlights here

Controversial "fumble" shown at around 1:40. He should have been ruled down by contact, because his forward progress had been stopped for some time. Richmond was literally holding him in the air and trying to rip the football away. No Matter... because it predicated...

The amazing throw at 2:00.

On this play, Richmond sent the ROLB on a blitz and made it into the backfield pretty quickly. AE recognized the blitz, threw to where the linebacker WAS, and hit WR Matt Cline low and to the outside with a bullet to win the game for App State. A half second later, or just a pinch to the right and that defender in the picture knocks the ball away... and would force Appalachian to kick a game tie-ing field goal. This throw was an NFL caliber throw, no doubt. Some qoutes from various sources:

"He put it right where it needed to be, low and inside," said Cline. Any other spot, and a Richmond defender next to Cline probably would have made the break-up.

Richmond coach Mike London after the game recognized Edwards as "the FCS's best player."

--The Richmond Times

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_football/article/URFB06_20091206-000004/309877/

12/05/2009 - Armanti Edwards threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Cline with 10 seconds to play, capping a wild last few minutes and giving Appalachian State a 35-31 victory against defending champion Richmond in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals. The Mountaineers (11-2), who had won three straight national championships before getting knocked out by the Spiders in last year's quarterfinals, exacted their revenge after Richmond had taken the lead on a remarkable strip and fumble return by Eric McBride with 3:26 left. On the play, the Spiders punted and Travaris Cadet fielded it inside his 10 for the Mountaineers. While he was trying to return it, McBride stripped the ball from his arms and took it 8 yards into the end zone, a stunning play that gave Richmond a 31-28 lead. But the Mountaineers had plenty of time, and used almost all of it in driving 70 yards before Edwards rifled the third-down pass to Cline, just out of a diving defender's reach. The drive capped a 21-point fourth quarter for Appalachian State, which hadn't led until Edwards' second scoring run, from 3 yards out with 4:27 remaining, gave it a 28-24 edge. - AP Sports, CBSsports.com

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1249482

On an interesting note, Mike London (Richmond's coach), is to be announced as the new head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers today.

Armanti was 21/33 for 216 yards and a touchdown on the day. He also carried 12 times for 51 yards and 2 touchdowns in extremely bad field and playing conditions. (His numbers might have been far more gaudy had it not been for numerous slips and stumbles while trying to make cuts)

Just another update on a potential late round selection that could really be an impact player for us, should we decide to take him.

An awesome Delhomme related exchange between me and a coworker this morning

Tater596 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:59:11 -0000

So here is the setup... my place of employment can be a very stuffy place. I am by far the youngest person working here, amongst a bunch of people about twice my age. However my boss, even though much older, is a very cool guy and enjoys Panther football. This morning, someone brought in a case of Bojangles biscuits open for office consumption. Here is the ad-lib conversation between us.

My Boss: Hey Erik, did you see that someone brought in biscuits for everyone this morning?

Me: No, I didn't that's awesome tho.

My Boss: No one ever does this, I wonder who did it and what the occasion is?

Me: *shrug* Maybe Jake Delhomme paid us a visit.

My Boss: No. if that were the case... we would only eat half the biscuits, and the rest would be on the floor or our competitors would be eating them.

LOL.

The Big Cat gets #3 ranking in 2009 NFL owner rankings

Tater596 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:00:44 -0000

In an article published by Yahoo sports and written by Michael Silver, Jerry "The Big Cat" Richardson has been given credit as the 3rd best team owner in the NFL. Also in the article, Silver reports on some sources surrounding the resignations of Jerry's two sons. More after the jump...

via cache.daylife.com

Here is the full text of the blurb, posted for those who don't want to read the whole thing:

3. Carolina Panthers – Jerry Richardson: Until a couple of days ago, this was going to be a feel-good tribute to a small-market owner who survived a serious health scare and resumed his place among the NFL’s elite owners. Then came Tuesday’s shocking announcement that Richardson’s two sons, Mark and Jon, had resigned from their high-level posts, and now comes the story behind it: According to a source familiar with the situation, team president Mark Richardson, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, and older brother Jon, who headed up Bank America Stadium, had clashed in recent years – partly over business-related issues, and partly over Jon’s resentment that his younger sibling had a higher-profile position. As their father’s health declined last year, ultimately resulting in Jerry Richardson’s heart-transplant operation last Super Sunday, Mark and Jon escalated their battle for control. When Jerry recovered and reclaimed his role as the franchise’s prime mover and shaker, he saw that some of the team’s minority owners were uncomfortable with the situation and warned his sons to start getting along, or else. Richardson backed up his threat Tuesday; rather than choosing one son over the other, he got rid of both of them, announcing Mark’s replacement as team president (Danny Morrison) the following day. Gulp. This will make for a reasonably awkward Thanksgiving dinner, don’t you think? Beyond that, it will cause the league’s other owners to feel far less secure about the Panthers’ succession plan. Whereas Mark was a highly regarded heir apparent, no one in league circles knows anything about Morrison, who had been serving as TCU’s athletic director, or what might happen after Jerry is no longer running the team (both sons retain ownership interest). My first reaction after all of this drama was to drop Richardson in the rankings, but the more I thought about the situation, the more I could see his perspective. Richardson, while the controlling partner, is part of an ownership group. Though I’m sure he didn’t relish the thought of firing his sons, doing so sent a message to his partners that he’s putting the business ahead of his personal interests. It’s all very Tony Soprano, and a part of me absolutely digs it. If Morrison turns out to be an unsuitable replacement, Jerry will get dinged in next year’s rankings, but for now I’m leaving him in the No. 3 slot. As the chair of the NFL’s Management Council Executive Committee, he’ll play a pivotal role in the crucial labor showdown that will play out over the next 18 months (or, quite possibly, into a lockout-interrupted 2011 season). I don’t know how the NFLPA will react to his presence across the table, but after what just went down in Charlotte, I have to admit I’m kind of scared of the guy.

--Michael Silver, Yahoo Sports, Full Article

So if what I am getting out of this is correct, his two sons were waging a power war within the organization in an effort to one-up the other in a succession vote. This was making other executives and owners uncomfortable, so Jerry stepped in and said "Shape up or Ship out" then made good on his threat when they didn't change their ways. Take it for what it's worth, but this is the best insight I've seen into why the sons would leave and we would have a new team president the following day.

Fantasy Football: Juggernaut #8, The Carolina Panthers

Tater596 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:53:56 -0000

Finally a little respect! One of my favorite fantasy football writers, Andy Behrens from Yahoo Sports, has ranked the Carolina Panthers as the #8 most useful fantasy offense. A ranking that puts us ahead of other offensive phenoms like Dallas, Green Bay, and Arizona. He absolutely loves DeAngelo Williams and explains how our own D-Will single handedly decided fantasy football championships last year.

Read the article's full text here

via a323.yahoofs.com

Here are some of the things he had to say about our beloved players. First up, DeAngelo Williams:

Last year, many of us went into the Week 16 Sunday night game loaded with confidence. We held commanding leads in championship matchups – in highly incentivized leagues – against opponents whose hopes rested with DeAngelo Williams (notes).

If there was a fantasy version of the prevent defense, we would have fallen into it. The setup for Williams wasn't great. He faced the Giants' D in the Meadowlands in a game that seriously mattered. Cigars were lit. Concession calls were made. We felt good.

And then Williams absolutely crushed us. He carried 24 times for 108 yards and four TDs against a terrific defense, on the road, when you knew exactly what the Panthers wanted to do. (Four touchdowns. [Expletive]. Some of us could have survived three).

Williams was unquestionably the fantasy MVP last season. Anyone who disagrees simply wasn't paying attention over the final weeks. He broke the plane 11 times between Weeks 13 and 16. For the year, he rushed for a total of 1515 yards and 20 TDs. His offensive line, anchored by tackles Jordan Gross (notes) and Jeff Otah (notes), was a dominant run-blocking unit. Williams finished as the top-scoring fantasy running back in '08, and by a comfortable margin.

Now you see why I was thrilled to land D-Will at #5 overall in the CSR fantasy football draft. (I'm going to crush you all) Now a word about Steve Smith:

The Carolina receiving corps is led by Smith, a top-tier talent who's proven that he can maintain his fantasy relevance through lean times. He suffered a shoulder injury in early-August, but he made his preseason debut last Saturday against the Ravens, catching two passes for 37 yards. He's fine. Take him in Round 2 as needed; he's a gift in Round 3.

And finally, the Behrens perspective on Jake Delhomme (Jake haters rejoice):

Quarterback Jake Delhomme (notes) is...well...if I were a Panthers fan, he would be dead to me. That six-turnover playoff game against the Cardinals would be an unforgivable offense. When something like that happens – particularly at home, against a team you know you can beat – it's honestly tough to feel anything for the player again. Negative plays have always been part of the fantasy story with Delhomme, but he also has a pair of 20-plus TD seasons on the second page of the resume ('04 and '05). Entering 2009, he's just the guy who hands off to Williams and lobs the occasional pass to Steve Smith. The Panthers were dead-last in the NFL in pass attempts last year (25.9 per game). Delhomme offers little fantasy upside, which explains his position in the composite QB rankings (No. 22).

Ouch! Add one more soldier in the hate camp. Behrens also mentions Stewie and Mike "The Goods" Goodson, saying that Stewie is a key cog to the offense but is afraid of that lingering achilles injury, and that Goodson has had a remarkable preseason. He also declines to give any fantasy relevance to any of our TEs, which is probably 100% right. Also one last little blurb that made me laugh...

… As great as he was last year, DeAngelo still trails DeShaun Foster (notes) on the Panthers' career rushing list. He finally passed Biakabutuka, though.

Finally... we have plenty of nicknames for D-Will and Stewie, but I think it is time we drop one on Mike Goodson. Here are my suggestions:

Poll

What should we nickname Mike Goodson?

"Slash" (forming Smash, Dash, and Slash)

3 votes

"The Goods"

10 votes

"Mike-ro Machine"

0 votes

Something else (please comment)

0 votes

He has not earned any nicknames yet!

7 votes

20 votes | Poll has closed

A big ole' dose of Jake hate!

Tater596 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:32:17 -0000

The Great Jake Debate continues. This time we have an article written by someone who is clearly a Jake hater. So for those who hate, have a read and relish in how bitter this guy is. For those who love, read it and defend him!

A little hate, on the Jake

Usually I provide some analysis of the article, but it's just another team preview. Pretty run of the mill other than all the Jake trashing. I'll spare you my (hate) opinion, because I've said my piece many times on the issue.

Jaxon has been kind enough to highlight the passage i was referring to:

Update by Jaxon: Tater must be referring to this passage:

Jake Delhomme looks like one of the Brothers Followill, talks like Forrest Gump, and throws like one of the Jonas Brothers. And yet he has signed a contract to do his job, which requires, at least, a non-Jonas performance with his arm, for eight digits of income over the next six years of his life. He’s never thrown fewer than 12 interceptions in a full season in his career, and never committed fewer than 15 combined turnovers when playing in at least 13 games. And his playoff implosion against the Cardinals was downright Favreian.

Jaxon: "That's pretty damn insulting but I admit I know not what 'Brothers Followill" refers to."

Also, I'd like to highlight this passage, which sounds to much like the grumblings of a disgruntled Panther fan to be considered in any way non-biased writing:

The last NFL QB older than 30 to start and win a Super Bowl was Brad Johnson in 2002; Peyton Manning was 30 when he won Super Bowl XLI.

Is Delhomme really the horse a team should be betting on to buck that trend?

AND....

And with their ground game and defense still both reminiscent of threshers, they have as much chance to survive the playoffs as any NFC team.

Of course, this assumes that Jake Delhomme will only throw one interception a game.

And heck.. i'll toss in an infuriating image for no reason at all.

via www.stilettosetsports.com

More High Praise for Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett

Tater596 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:38:20 -0000

Finally some good news about our receiving core. Charles Robinson, a writer for yahoo sports, just wrote an article after observing Dwayne Jarrett in training camp and talking to some coaches. The full text can be read here...

Jarrett Finally Grasping Panthers Tough Love

via l.yimg.com

"He’s better – the players see it and I see it," Panthers head coach John Fox said. "We haven’t played a game in six months, but he’s way further ahead right now than he was this time last year."

There is some pretty high praise from Fox, and now we can look forward to him getting more work and PT with the 1st team while Smitty is out resting his shoulder.

"Without a doubt, I think Dwayne is [ready to step up]," Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (notes) said. "What he’s done this camp is a big jump. Certainly from year one to two, two to three, I think Dwayne’s the one [who could have an impact]."

Maybe that means that Jake might actually look through his progressions and find Jarrett once in awhile.

"For a young guy to come in, and you see that guy’s not working as hard as you work in practice, it’s like a smack in the face or like you’re not respecting the game," Jarrett said. "I completely understand now where Steve was coming from."

He’s also seeing the difference that comes with preparation. After managing only 10 catches in his second season, teammates say Jarrett has looked far more comfortable in practice, his weight is where it needs to be and he has begun to seize on his natural talent. Delhomme no longer has to worry whether he’s lined up in the right place, and Fox rarely has to jump on him for floating on plays.

Muhammad said the difference has been Jarrett realizing that the NFL is a league in the middle – with the majority of players having similar skill and talent levels. Nuance and hard work are the difference between being great, average or falling out of the league altogether.

Well, he is saying all the right things. I can't wait to see if it turns into meaningful play on the field. What do you think? Will Jarrett hit that magical 3rd season and prosper? Or will he burn out like other USC wide receivers before him like Mike Williams?

Poll

What kind of impact will Jarrett have in his 3rd NFL season?

Minimal. This guy will never be an effective NFL player.

16 votes

Positive impact. His maturation will be evidenced in a 600 yard season.

224 votes

Breakout year. Jarrett will burst onto the scene this year and put up 1,000 yards.

71 votes

311 votes | Poll has closed

ESPN's Camp Confidential: The Panthers

Tater596 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:04:23 -0000

via a.espncdn.com

Former Charlotte Observer writer Pat Yasinkas posted this article on espn.com...

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcsouth/0-13-36/Camp-Confidential--Panthers-eye-next-step.html

It is up to date as of this afternoon at 1pm, and talks about Carolina's depth issues, particularly now with Kemo out for the season on IR. It also mentions how the Panthers have never had back to back winning seasons, and how the coaching staff and management plan to change that fact in 2009.

Some highlights for those to lazy to read it:

Can Delhomme recover from his horrible performance in the playoff loss to Arizona?

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

Jake Delhomme needs to forget about his performance in last season's playoff loss to Arizona.

That game was the ugliest of Delhomme's career. He threw five interceptions and lost a fumble. But that game was totally out of character with everything else Delhomme has done for this franchise.

That's why Fox and Hurney decided to stick with their quarterback even when fans were screaming for a change. For whatever reason, the Panthers got thrown off their basic philosophy in the Arizona game and Delhomme suddenly was asked to win a game by himself. That's not what Delhomme does and it's not Fox's style.

The Panthers simply need to let Delhomme get back to what he does best; that's going out and managing a game. With an excellent running game around him, Delhomme's at his best when he simply is asked not to lose games.

More perspective from people refusing to take sides in the great Jake debate. Take it or leave it.

How devastating was the loss of Kemoeatu?

More than you might think. Kemoeatu is a very average defensive tackle with no pass-rush skills and should be replaceable. But the problem is the Panthers had absolutely no depth behind him.

Tell us about it. I hope Meeks can apply some of that small lineman knowledge to the Panthers. He goes on further to discuss our losses on depth to the Offensive Line.

Market watch

Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett has been one of the most talked about players this offseason. He was disappointing his first two seasons, but there have been signs of hope throughout offseason workouts and early in camp. Jarrett seems to have finally picked up the offense and many say he appears more dedicated this year. Although Muhsin Muhammad is still going strong at 36, the Panthers need Jarrett to start taking on a bigger role.

It is good to hear as many words of encouragement as we can get regarding Dwayne Jarrett. If he can step up and become a good possession receiver, then we may be just as deadly through the air as we are on the ground.

The Panthers took running back Mike Goodson in the fourth round. They have a very good tandem with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but you're going to see a fair amount of Goodson. He has excellent speed and some skills as a receiver. Carolina's going to install a few new offensive wrinkles to try to get him the ball in space and he could be a big factor in the return game.

Good to hear that Slash is making news along with Smash and Dash. I was fired up about our running game last season, but I am very excited to see what new dynamics that Goodson will bring coming out of the backfield and out on the wing.

The battle for the starting fullback job might be more competitive than you think. Veteran Brad Hoover has been a very dependable player and an underrated part of this offense for a very long time. But Hoover has taken a pounding through the years and it's starting to catch up to his body. Rookie Anthony Fiammetta is a younger version of Hoover and he's picking up the system very quickly. At the very least, Fiammetta is going to get significant playing time.

Time to warm up your voices to yell Toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooony instead of Hooooooooooooooooooover. Is it possible that Brad is out of a job?

NFP's camp countdown: NFC South

Tater596 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:42:07 -0000

Matt Bowen, a former NFL player, has been writing a series of articles for the National Football Post (NFP) regarding the #1 issue each team faces heading into training camp and the upcoming season. He has finally gotten around to the NFC South, and shows enormous respect for our division as a whole. What was his #1 issue for the Panthers? What Else?

Carolina Panthers: Delhomme’s consistency
The Panthers put an end to questions about QB Jake Delhomme (notes) when they signed him to a contract extension after the season – while some thought they would start preparing for the future with a young arm at the position. Ultimately though, people need to understand Delhomme has a role in Carolina. Even more, that role must be played correctly in ’09.

I don’t believe we can judge Delhomme’s 2008 season based off one playoff performance (17-of-34 passing, 205 yards, 1 TD, 5 INTs) because he helped get the Panthers into the postseason and secure a first-round bye. But if this team wants to repeat as NFC South champs, he has to be more consistent and he has to continue to play his role. That means handing the ball off to running backs DeAngelo Williams (notes) and Jonathan Stewart (notes) and getting the ball down the field to wide receiver Steve Smith. It’s easy to look at Delhomme’s numbers and call him average (3,288 yards, 15 TDs, 12 INTs), but all you have to do when talking about this team is look at Smith’s impact (78 receptions, 1, 421 yards, 6 TDs) to see Delhomme’s value. He’s never going to put up numbers like a Brees or a Manning because that’s not they way this team plays football on offense. It’s a run-first team that uses Smith in the vertical passing game in game-changing plays.

Delhomme is still the leader of this offense, but he has to cut down on the mistakes and he has to avoid games when he comes apart at the seams. He knows his role, the team knows his role, and this is why he heads into camp with a new contract.

Now, everyone, forgive me for starting another Jake Delhomme conversation, because without fail the comments section will blow up into the usual Jake vs. The Hate debate. But I, for one, am known as a Jake hater on this blog, and I think this is the most fair assesment of Delhomme I have ever read. It isn't hammering him unjustly for his occasional inconsistency, but it is putting it into perspective what needs to happen for Carolina to make a Superbowl run. This is why I like to read articles and hear commentary from ex-players instead of self-proclaimed "experts" that have never played at the NFL level. (granted not all ex-players make the best commentary, but i feel they have a higher percentage and a better ability to translate what they are seeing to field situations) Many would argue that this isn't the single issue that will affect our season most, that honor probably belongs to the improvement of the Defense, but the team does tend to rise and fall on the arm of Jake.

Actually, the way the article reads, it is almost as if the author has been reading page after page of our comments section here on Cat Scratch Reader doesn't it?

The Future of Carolina Wide Receivers

Tater596 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:58:06 -0000

via www.nflgoddess.com

One of the big stories this year for Panthers fans is going to be the development of our young wide receivers. As much as we would like to keep Steve Smith and Moose 27 forever, the reality is that Smitty is now 30 and Moose is 36. What of our youngest receivers? Will they be able to fill the shoes of their predecessors now and in the future? Let's take a look at those most likely to be making an impact on the Panthers for years to come after the jump...

The Candidates

Dwayne Jarrett - #80 - Age: 22 - Experience: 3yrs.

via www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Everything hinges on Jarrett, and how he matures in his Junior year in the league.

Jarrett is a monster of a target @ 6'4" 220lbs. Which makes him suited for the possesion receiver role flanking Smitty. He is NOT a slot receiver, and we did not draft him to be. We drafted him as a replacement for Keyshawn Johnson. Where we screwed up was getting an itchy trigger finger and releasing Johnson right away. He could have been a great athletic mentor for the kid (definately not advocating a moral mentor here) because like him or not, he had sticky hands, he could make the tough catch over the middle, and we could have had his services for another year. Remember, it is not often a rookie WR sees hardly any time his rookie year.

We got wise in his 2nd year, brought back a familiar target in Moose, and in the process gained a VERY valuable mentor for Dwayne. A character mentor, an athletic mentor, and better yet... someone who can teach him to use that big body to BLOCK. However, as we all know, Moose is in his twilight and we need to find out this year if Jarrett can be the guy to replace him. We won't be able to judge that by his receiving numbers. We need to watch the kid on playaction, and see how he does. If I'm the Panthers, running a run-oriented offense out of a 2 or 3 WR set, I watch and see if Jarrett gets that initial block at the line of scrimmage to shake up his man, then can release properly, find a seam, and give Jake a nice open target just behind the linebackers to hit. Once he has proven that, I say you give him a rep or two at flanker, and let him block on normal run plays. If he can do that, and make the catches necessary, we don't need to seek someone else next year. If he proves ineffective yet again next year, it is time to declare him either a bust or a very long term project. At which time, depending on Moose's health we will need to either retain him, or bring in another veteran Possession/Blocking WR to replace him. Hines Ward perhaps? Hey, we can dream right?

Ryne Robinson #10 Age: 24 - Experience: 3yrs.

via media.charlotteobserver.com

Ryne Robinson appears to be the #2 speed WR option on the roster behind Smitty. Standing 5'9" 179lbs. he is the exact same size as Smitty. His 40 time is clocked at 4.47 according to his NFL combine results in 2007. Steve Smith runs a 4.38. While the comparisons here look very good as far as numbers go, it has yet to be determined if Ryne Robinson has the big play ability Steve Smith has. He hasn't got many reps at WR, so we don't have a good idea of his hands or his tenacity in going up to get the ball which we know Smitty does better than anyone in the league. We did get a look at his elusiveness as a return man, but, I don't remember seeing anything spectacular. Look for him only to see play time in 4WR formations for now. He will need to dearly impress the coaching staff this season to convince them not to spend a high pick on a true speed WR in next years draft to groom as "the next big thing" in Charlotte.

Jason Carter - #11 - Age: 26 - Experience: 3yrs.

via www.panthers.com

After blowing out a knee 10 months ago, Jason Carter is back on the field at OTA's and is showing little signs of regressing after the injury. He is apparently making cuts without hesitation, and working without a brace. That is good news for him, because to make the roster he will need to be very impressive throughout the summer. I bet the Panthers give him the longest look of any WR on the fence due to his potential, but it will still take a lot to grab a roster spot. Standing 6'0 205lbs. and turning in a 40 time pre-injury of 4.65 he does not clearly fit the speed or possession WR roles. The knock against him in college was poor hands, if his hands have not improved, combined with the knee surgery fallout this may be his last chance.

Mike Goodson - #33 - Age: 22 - Experience: Rookie

via www.panthers.com

Yes, I know that Goodson is listed as a RB. But what we have here folks is a true athelete. Standing 6'0 196lbs. with a combine 40 time of 4.54 he was a dual threat RB in college, and expected to be as such on the Panthers roster. Scouts rave about his hands and elusiveness, and the tape is there to prove it. He also possesses some of the best vision I have seen when it comes to his running, even in the open field. The Panthers have been giving him time at slot WR, and while that is expected to be Dwayne Jarrett's temporary role, it is not where he is suited long term. He is expected to make the roster for a number of reasons, mainly as another component to our powerhouse running game, but over time he will probably see looks in the passing game, as well as return duties. Considering the youth we have at RB, he may make a transition to officially being a WR. who knows?

Going Forward

This is a critical year for the Panthers at the WR spot. We have a selection of 3rd year guys who need to prove they can be the future, and they need to do it now. The Panthers have a sterling reputation of building through the draft, but if these younger guys do not pan out, we need to be prepared to sign a veteran as a stop gap depending on Moose by the end of the year.

My Predictions

Although we have heard it before, I truly believe that Dwayne Jarrett will come around this year after having had the tutelage of Moose and the motivation of a "put up or shut up" year incoming. All the tools are there, and we need to make sure he spends a lot of time on the field on Sundays. I do not think we will be drafting another possession WR anytime soon.

That said, we should spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on someone that we hope truly has a chance to replace Smitty someday. If not this year, then a first rounder the next. He is not getting any younger, and we need to start grooming someone as soon as possible. I do not think Ryne Robinson is the answer, and in fact, I dont know if his job is secure other than the fact we dont have much depth behind him. I'd really like to believe the successor to Steve Smith is on our roster right now, but I just don't see it.

Just for fun I will toss in a poll... those are always good for discussion.

Poll

When should the Panthers address the age of their Wide Receivers?

They don't need to, the answers are on the roster right now.

7 votes

They should attempt to find a young guy in free agency ASAP.

1 votes

They should draft someone next year

17 votes

They should draft someone in the next 3 years

15 votes

Let's inject Adamantium straight into the skeletal system of Smitty and make him invincible

21 votes

61 votes | Poll has closed


	AP Photo/Chuck Burton
	Jake Delhomme needs to forget about his performance in last season's playoff loss to Arizona.