Best: We See You, Rook!
Every season fans and media alike get excited to see the rookie class battle it out in training camp and while this season was no different from a hype standpoint, it seemed different in the way the rookies performed on the field. Second-round pick Donte Jackson has gotten regular work with the first team starting opposite James Bradberry and has looked good doing it, matching up effectively with both Devin Funchess in practice and Kelvin Benjamin in Week 1 of the preseason – it’s clear that Jackson’s 5-10, 180-pound stature doesn’t bother the coaching staff. He’s shown both the speed and skillset to at least be in the conversation for starting in Week 1 – and he might just be at the beginning of that conversation after Ron Rivera said that the addition of Jackson has him feeling the most comfortable he’s felt in two years with the secondary.
Ian Thomas has looked like a smooth route runner and a surprisingly physical blocker thus far in camp as he is trying to take advantage of the huge opportunity he’s been given as Chris Manhertz missed all of training camp with a Jones Fracture. Jermaine Carter has flashed at linebacker, especially at Buffalo as he recorded his first sack in the NFL – Luke Kuechly specifically said that Carter and Jackson to contribute on defense this year, not something you expect to hear about a second and fifth round pick – both Jackson and Carter have gotten run with the first team, Carter at Shaq Thompson’s ‘buffalo nickel’ spot. Also getting time with the ones has been Rashaan Gaulden as he transitions from playing nickel cornerback in college to safety in the NFL – he may not be ready to start Week 1, but he will add valuable depth and could contribute as the season goes on.
“I think his transition is going to be a lot better than mine was,” Thomas Davis said about Gaulden. “A physical player, tough, smart; he’s doing everything that’s being asked of him right now and that’s all you can ask for from a rookie.”
Marquis Haynes has also begun to show the speed and power that the Panthers drafted him for as he learns how to be an NFL defensive end – he’s also been dropping back into coverage in the ‘Joker’ alignment that Rivera referenced when they drafted him. He’s competing with Daeshon Hall for that fourth defensive end spot – it will be interesting to see how each does as we move forward through the preseason.
Oh, and that first round pick who picks up all the YAC. You may have seen him – he’s good.
Best: Sweat Running All Over My Chest
Free agent signee CJ Anderson promised that he would wear full sweats in the Spartanburg jungle and he held true to his word – but after not getting playing time with the first team in the first preseason game, a lot of fans are wondering what kind of role CJ Anderson will have – Ron Rivera and the rest of the coaching staff want to ensure they get the best look at all of their rushers, from old faces like Cameron Artis-Payne to rookie Reggie Bonnafon. CJ Anderson will get his reps this preseason, don’t you worry – and he’ll be wearing less when he does it, too.
Worst: Sophomore Slumps?
After missing their rookie seasons with knee injuries, Corn Elder and Daeshon Hall were considered to be added bonuses to the 2018 rookie class as they returned fully healthy to camp; however, neither have shined particularly brightly and Elder had multiple instances in which he received dressing downs from coaches for missing assignments. Hall has played well in one-on-ones, but he is going to need to play at a higher level to secure the fourth defensive end spot that is wide open at this point in the preseason; Ron Rivera said this weekend that there were still ten roster spots up in the air, and it’s safe to assume that Elder and Hall are fighting for two of them.
Best: I’m The Captain Now
Have a day, Captain Munnerlyn
If not for Shaq Thompson and Luke Kuechly, Captain Munnerlyn would likely be the defensive MVP of Panthers training camp. Munnerlyn has played extremely well at inside corner, and when Saturday’s practice only had three cornerbacks available, the Captain pushed to the outside and was still able to perform at a high level at a position he’s not used to playing. Perhaps Ron Rivera can explain it best: “He’s playing nickel about as good as I’ve seen him, even back four or five years ago when he was here with us to begin with. Captain is firmly entrenched right now as the nickel. He’s doing a great job.” That’s a far cry from last season, when Munnerlyn played less than 40% of the Panthers’ snaps – he said after the Buffalo game that he’s extremely happy with his reps. Keep playing like he has this month, and that trend will continue.
Worst: On The Shelf
As he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers didn’t practice in Spartanburg. Not even once. Ron Rivera said that the team is going to work him back very slowly, but expects him to be ready for Week 1 against Dallas. The same – although slightly different – can be said for Ryan Kalil, who has taken limited reps in practice and didn’t suit up in Week 1 of the preseason to protect the neck injury that caused him to miss most of the 2017 season. While it’s great to keep the vets healthy, they need to work to get ready for the season as well, so it will be interesting to see if either gets any playing time the rest of the preseason.
Best/Worst: Old Recognizables
LUUUUKE with the interception on August 12th.
Sometimes we can forget to mention the players that play well day-in and day-out – it can get tiring to begin every recap with how well Greg Olsen looked in practice, but it really can’t be overstated, so I’ll put it in all caps. GREG OLSEN WAS THE BEST PLAYER AT PANTHERS TRAINING CAMP THIS YEAR. Olsen caught every ball that came his way, sliding, leaping and diving to pull in catch after catch, day after day. If training camp is any indication, Olsen is ready for another 1,000-yard season. The other players that don’t get mentioned: Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Christian McCaffrey – all looked like their old selves as well.
Best: Fun, Fun, Fun
Training camp is supposed to be fun, for the fans and players alike, while work is done on a daily basis. This year was no different, whether it was a competition to see which linemen could catch a punt to Donte Jackson returning an interception 100 yards to the opposite end zone and pretending he was a waiter serving the ball up on a silver platter to Cam Newton kicking out a Falcons fan or begging the DJ to play some new music. Training camp is always a good time.
If you’d like to read more in-depth details about each practice, including some great photos – there’s a lot we didn’t mention here, from new owner David Tepper to the backup quarterback competition to the new offensive and defensive coordinators – check out our full recaps and photo galleries by clicking the pylon below:
Welcome To The 2018 Season
