As the Panthers move towards training camp, the roster is beginning to take shape, both in terms of the starters and the surrounding depth, and while there is still a lot that can and likely will change between now and the end of training camp, it’s time to take a look at each part of the Panthers’ roster, position by position. While there is always the possibility of a dark horse surprise, there is also a lot than can be said with some degree of certainty. With that in mind, over the next couple of weeks we will explore both where each position group stands and where it might go. Check out our previous iterations below:
The next position group in our series of training camp previews are the quarterbacks, and while there are absolutely no questions about who the starting quarterback will be, the battle for the spots behind him and the implementation of a new offensive scheme, plus the focus on the quarterback position in general will have lots of eyes focused on this position group throughout training camp. So what can fans expect to see from the quarterbacks this training camp?
Franchise Centerpiece
A year ago, Cam Newton was coming off offseason shoulder surgery and didn’t participate in a number of practices, being limited in those he did partake in and this seeped into the early season, with Newton struggling for timing and arm strength early on, causing the defense to keep the team in games they should have won with ease. This season, Newton has no such issues, and this should allow for a more representative view of the Panthers’ offense this training camp compared to a year ago. In terms of Cam’s ability to throw the ball to all three levels of the field there should be very few questions – he has shown in this regard he is up there with with very best in the NFL. For Newton this offseason, the focus will be on his ability to master the new offensive scheme and to build chemistry with his many new receiving options.
It is still far from clear exactly what the offense under Norv Turner will look like, but two things that have been mentioned repeatedly are a greater focus on both getting the ball out more quickly and more deep passes. Newton has shown he can be extremely effective in an offense of this type during his first two seasons with Rob Chudzinski as his offensive coordinator, and having only got better since then, the Panthers should hope that this might allow for a return to the ranks of the NFL’s offensive elite. It would be very surprising to see Newton actively struggle in this new offense, but fans should be watchful of whether he simply slots back into the higher paced offense Norv wants to run, or whether some bad habits formed in the Shula offense might take some time to shed. If nothing else, expect a few more deep bombs from Cam this year.
The Battle For Second Place
Derek Anderson has been the assumed #2 for the past seven years, despite a more heated competition last offseason than in previous years. While Anderson had been one of the best backups around the league over that period, the past two or three seasons have seen a marked regression and it comes as little surprise that the Panthers have decided to finally move on. What is slightly more surprising is that they have done so without a clear replacement, as while they brought in Taylor Heinicke off waivers from Houston they didn’t bring in anybody in free agency or the draft. Because of that, there is a wide-open battle between Heinicke, last year’s #3 Garrett Gilbert and undrafted rookie Kyle Allen.
Gilbert enters training camp as the favorite, with a year’s experience on the roster and some good performances during last year’s preseason. What is more, he has enough ability as a runner to make a natural replacement for Newton, without changes to the offense having to be made – with that said, don’t forget the Panthers were willing to release Gilbert to make room for Brad Kaaya early on last season, so he is far from his secure in that position. Heinicke is more of a pure passer, and impressed during the preseason with Minnesota last season, showing an ability to work the short and intermediate areas from a moving pocket. From what Rivera has said so far this offseason, it is clear that he will get a fair shake of the stick.
Allen is by far the least likely to win the backup spot and is probably facing an uphill battle to make the roster at all. While he did show a decent arm at Houston, he has never played in anything resembling an NFL offense and there is always going to be a significant increase in difficulty from what he faced in college to what he will face in the NFL. He will likely be in the conversation for a practice squad spot, especially if he flashes during the preseason but Hurney has already showed a willingness to play fast-and-loose with the quarterback spots outside the top two, and if somebody is released around the league that he likes the look of then Allen could well find himself released, as Gilbert did briefly a year ago.
Way-Too-Early Roster Prediction
Starter: Cam Newton
Backup: Garrett Gilbert
Provisional #3: Taylor Heinicke
Practice Squad: Kyle Allen
