53

My overall feeling is just sick. Sam and cancer. The minute I saw him in the booth, something looked wrong. Boo. In addition to the sadness and worry over my hero, this will be another big hit for the LBs. Even if he finishes the season, there is no way he should be working long hours, even if he somehow can. Chris says “right now, if I'm cancer, I'm afraid of Sam Mills.” Thanks. However:

QB 3

I feel much better. Weinke got his chance. I don't know whether Fox intended that all along, or if it was for us fans. He is sensitive to those kinds of things. It wouldn't be good for the fans to boo Peete right away. Anyway, Peete looked better, and Weinke had the exact same results as Peete when facing the same D. There is no question Weinke is more talented, and the escape from the sack to throw it away was beautiful, but the O did not take off like a rocket once he entered the field. OK. My father thinks Peete should start. He hasn't seen anything, but feels like a team that has hopes of doing something should not judge a reasonably performing veteran on preseason, esp at QB.
Peete - Looked better. He is throwing those intermediate passes accurately and crisply. The deep ones no, of course. We will see.
Delhomme - His best game by far. Of course, it was against the 2nd teamers, but the passes were where the WRs like to get them, unlike last week. Played with alot of energy. And finally threw a TD pass.
Weinke - Poor timing on his part to have Delhomme look better. The games are not considered equally. I'm not talking about hsi series with the 1st team. He threw a couple of passes late. Just a brief reminder of the old Weinke, and not nearly as bad, but it scared me a little. I won't feel bad if Delhomme holds him off for the #2 job.

RB 5
Davis - Looked pretty good against a quality D.
Foster - Well , he didn’t break. They did ice the knee, so I doubt its well. Hopefully that was just a precaution.
Brown - I think he’s pretty decent for a #3 RB.
Smart - The guy just plays so hard. I can’t cut him.
Bates - I thought he might not make the cut, but he still has most of that magic. He should have fielded that short KO, but other than that, no complaints. He and Smart are the guys that get the STs spots. Cooper and them should be enough.

FB - 2
Hoover - I like what I’ve seen of him.
Goings - Good enough to beat an injured player.

WR - 5
Moose - Didn’t see a lot of him.
Smith - Him either, but I liked what I did see.
Proehl - He will really help.
Young - He’s improved every game. He looked like he was playing physically this time. Maybe he will do more of that as he gets more comfortable, and learns that its necessary in the NFL.
Baker - I hope he wins the starting punt returner job. He gets upfield quickly. He has been less visible as a WR lately. The papers don’t think he will make it. Maybe not. Hankton will be around to resign later if STs suffer.

TE - 3
Mangum - His blocking isn’t all that good, but Seidman is not ready yet.
Seidman - He will eventually be the starter.
Wiggins - Still just off and on. But have to have 3.


OL - 8
Gross
Donelley
Mitchell
James - I’m not sure he’s the long term answer, but he certainly is this year.
Steussie
Nelson
Willig - Keep your backup LT.
Fletcher - he looked OK to me.
The whole 2nd string line is better than most 2nd string lines. So they could do anything except cut Nelson. I was thinking Reyes was the best of the rest until he had 2 holding calls. That’s a sure ticket out. Fletcher over Brezinski is a toss up to me. We may have more need at G next year. Maybe this year if Donnelly may be more injury prone because of his age. But Fletcher was a G. Maybe they think Brezinski could become the player they thought they were getting when they gave him a $750,000 signing bonus, or whatever it was.

DL - 8
Peppers
Jenkins
Buckner
Rucker - the top 4 looked great.
Williams
Pitman - These guys looked good.
Burton - need to keep him as a proven run guy
Moorehead - I'm trusting he will recover from that nasty spider bite and show well.

I hate to cut Rassmusen and Brown. They are both high motor guys, but we need the numbers elsewhere. I bet Brown doesn’t get claimed and we can get him on PS.

LB - 6
Morgan
Witherspoon
Favors - It looked like those long runs all came to the strong side where Fields would have been. Favors and Allen are getting sucked into the wrong spot.
Allen
Towns - He’s looked pretty good to me.
Brown - This is #47's name, right. I’m not so sure we replace him with a pickup. He is covering passes very well. Of course, we need someone who can stop that outside run.

CB- 5
Cousins
Howard
Wesley - except for the interferences, he’s doing very well.
Manning - this guy is going to be good
Hampton - The papers and the TV act like they will only keep 4. Since they play 4 in the game, I have a hard time believing that. He is good.

S - 5
Minter
Grant
J. Cooper
Richardson (assuming no major injury)
Branch - Well he made a play on the blitz. He keeps showing up on the screen, so he must not be completely lost. If they weren’t going to keep him before, Richardson’s injury probably seals the deal. If Chris is right that they can’t just swap FS and SS, he’s the only backup FS left. Even if they could, I didn’t see D. Cooper make any plays except the interceptions. Those are great, but S’s need to be making tackles and breaking up passes. At least Branch might learn to do that.
If Richardson goes to IR, D. Cooper makes it. They may have to keep only 4 here to keep another OL or Hankton.

STs (only) 3
K - Graham. The kicking battle was about even. I’m a little worried about Kasay’s health, and his misses missed by more. I don’t think he’s the same kicker he was before he had to lay off so much time. Plus age gets to kickers like everyone else.
P - Saeurbrun - a 39 yarder with no return because it was nice and high. I love it.
Kyle - someone will have to snap almost perfectly to unseat him. We've gotten in trouble trying to get a player who plays a position to double as LS.

PS
Moore
Brown
a LB from another team
an OL from another team (none of those good ones we cut will be eligible)
Cuircui

I think it says a lot that our 2nd team seemed to be better than other team’s 2nd team. The scouting department found us some good guys.

 

Yes, I do worry about Sam working hard enough, on either front. He's the kind to sacrifice himself, to get his LBs prepared. I'm gonna write some on this in an article, so I won't go into it, but I think the staff can mold around Sam. It's awfully sad to see him up in the booth, forlorn, because he's a sideline master. But we have to adjust.

QB: yes, it does kinda look like Fox did it for the fans. Peete in for one series, looked as if it was safe, scripted passes.
Weinke kinda struggled his first series. That tells me a little bit - of course, that Peete looked "good" means they didn't test him. And did test Weinke. I don't know if they tested Delhomme or not, but if they didn't they need to see how he handles other things. He passed every possible test last night, including handling pressure. Yeah, Weinke did have two plays in a row where he looked bad to the left. I'd noted some great ones before that...maybe one can hope that the one-hoppers are throw aways. Peete was described as doing that intentionally once, in practice.

Yeah, they can play Foster up all day, icing a knee even precautionarily, coupled with being away from playing two weeks longer than he should have (and after cutting another back who could've contributed) is a concern. He looked good out of the hole - he's got moves, burst - but in the hole he wasn't kicking it. Granted, neither did Brown in a similar period, when I noted poor blocking.

Moose was pretty electric when he was in. But it was short.
And he was featured. 3 of Peete's 4 completions were to him. They do have a connection, and I think that was something to consider before. Especially if you have a player who couldn't throw left, but your best receiver's lining up left.

>>Cooper and them should be enough.

Yep. Richardson assumed gone means you keep Branch, whether he deserves it or not, and then you don't activate him often. Branch actually isn't supposed to be a bad ST player (not as good as Terrance Holt, and yes, I'm gonna be sore about it), but we need the others active. Return men aren't any good in plain clothes.

I think Wiggins showed why he's a #2. Much better receiver than Mangum right now, just more consistent, more able. Bigger. Not great, but better. Seidman looks like he grasps everything going on, which is all I need this year.

I like Brown on PS. Rasmussen's been there before, only worth ST play on Sunday and made mistakes at it.

>>Brown - This is #47's name, right.

Marquis Smith, I think. Former safety. Active, and OK against the pass. He might stick for a week or two while we search for another vet.
Towns does look better. Still shows more ability in the hole than in pursuit, but getting better. But he'll always be a better fit for the other defensive style, behind two gappers, having a lot of inside responsibility and using his force rather than his speed.

>>If Chris is right that they can’t just swap FS and SS, he’s the only backup FS left.

They can, and could before this. Of course, the only times you really "can't", is when you like to keep one player in the box as a base defense. You still have a lot different responsibilities, and that's why Cooper just isn't a great FS fit. Oddly enough, Branch is probably a better SS fit, too. Hits hard, tough run support, but he's not the ultimate in responsibility and staying at home like he was touted. Was a little bit miffed that he fell on the one blitz. It didn't look like he recognized screen, as much as he fell into the right place. Literally.

Hampton may make it - and probably stay inactive. With Branch. They really just can't have a use for 10 DB, especially with the offensive ST output.

 

I can't really disagree with anything there. Good job, LDE.

 

Is Hankton staying or going?

I know he is strong on special teams, but can we keep him if he doesn't contribute at WR?

 

Not if we end up keeping Bates, Smart, and 10 DBs.

He could also go if we go with 9 OL, instead of 8.

Of if Goings stays.

It's hard for me to see him pass all those tests.

And i do see Smart staying. AS much as they have used him, in so many areas, I do not think there is any way he goes. And Bates will stay as a KR.

 

1.R.Peete QB
2.J.Delhomme QB
3.C.Weinke QB

4.S.Davis RB
5.D.Foster RB
6.R.Smart RB/ST

7.B.Hoover FB
8.N.Goings FB/ST

9.K.Mangum TE
10.M.Seidman TE
11.J.Wiggins TE

12.M.MuhammadWR
13.S.Smith WR/PR
14.R.Proehl WR
15.W.Young WR
16.E.Baker WR/PR

17.T.Stuessie T
18.J.James G
19.J.Mitchell C
20.K.Donnalley G
21.J.Gross T
22.B.Nelson C/G
23.M.Willig T

24.J.Peppers DE
25.B.Buckner DT
26.K.Jenkins DT
27.M.Rucker DE
28.A.Wallace DE
29.S.Burton DT
30.K.Moorehead DT
31.K.Pittman DE

32.W.Witherspoon OLB
33.D.Morgan MLB
34.G.Favors OLB
35.B.Allen OLB
36.L.Towns MLB

37.T.Cousin CB
38.R.Howard CB
39.D.Wesley CB
40.R.Manning CB/NICKEL

41.M.Minter S
42.D.Grant S

43.T.Sauerbrun P

44.J.Kyle LS

45.M.Bates KR
46.D.Brown RB/KR

47.D.Brzezinski G
48.W. Hampton CB
49.D. Cooper S
50.J.Cooper S/ST
51.K-either Kasay or Graham
52.OLB-need experienced guy there
53.TE or S

I like Coop's intensity as well as any one else, but the bonehead shit has got to stop before it costs him his spot. The PF on the fair catch and nearly getting flagged for taunting may cost him. Favors has looked shaky at times, so we need an experienced backup with Fields down for the year. Brzezinski hasn't shown me jack. Out of position, missing blocks, and just plain not getting there. Fletcher would give us more flexibility (G/T), but I just don't see the move being made. Kicker we know what are options are, one stays one goes, it's not like we are still looking over the waiver wire at this point. At 53, I'd have a hard time penciling in Branch at this point. he looked lost most of the time he's been out there. Still young, not like Richardson who's been here for ages and shown no progress towards claiming a starting spot. We may need another TE to cover us on our two TE sets.

 

Not defending Coop in any way, as I haven't seen the game yet, but I just wanted to make people aware of the things he does away from the playing field to be part of this Panther team.

This was emailed to me and the person who emailed it to me will remain nameless unless he/she wants to identify him/herself:

"We waited until about 12:15 outside the stadium last night, and it seemed that all the players had left and most of the crowd was gone. I couldn't imagine HOW we had missed Coop. Then there he was, riding in the front seat of a golf cart full of players. I didn't recognize the others right away, but I was originally a little po'd because he wouldn't stop when we yelled to him.

Well, he shouted out that he had to help Damian Richardson get into his car. I don't know if you knew, but "the Professor" went down with a serious knee injury early in the game. Anyway, the guys in the cart were Coop, Rod Smart, Damian, and a bunch of other ST guys. These guys are SO COOL: they waited for Damian to get ready to leave then they all helped him.

I figured he'd come back for us (of course I was wearing my white #40). It took a long time and the three people with me figured he was long gone but I was sure I hadn't seen him drive out of the parking lot and I was sure he would have stopped anyway. Well I was right; after a few cars went by one pulled over to us honking its horn and Coop jumped out of the passenger seat to talk to us (Rod Smart was driving). There was NOBODY left except us; a policewoman even walked up and asked Rod if we were bothering them!

I asked him how Damian's knee was and Coop said he'd probably be OK (I hope so!). He signed the pic for you, and we talked a little bit about his playing. He had gotten a TOTALLY bogus penalty for hitting the punt returner after he supposedly signalled fair catch, and Coop asked us if we had seen a fair catch signal which WE HAD NOT. As usual, NFL officials like to pick on Coop. I hope he doesn't get fined.

Well anyway I just wanted to give you another example of just how righteous Coop is, what with helping out his fellow ST guy then still taking the time to stop and talk to us for so long. "He Hate Me" even gave the couple we were with a ride to their car! I was jealous of THAT, but they asked first so the guy I was with and I walked to ours."

Sometimes we don't always realize how players are away from the field.

 

<<Marquis Smith, I think. Former safety. Active, and OK against the pass.>>

That explains why he has no trouble covering backs and TEs. OK. I honestly can't remember if he can play the run. I think someone mentioned we probably don't want to sign a vested player (4 years or more) before the 1st game, because that guarantees their salary for the year. I would keep Smith for the Jags. If they want to cut him and try someone else, fine. But if the other guy does't catch right on, I think i'd like to keep Smith. He just has that feel of a player to me. (Not a great player, but someone you'd like to have on your team.)

 

>>I like Coop's intensity as well as any one else, but the bonehead shit has got to stop before it costs him his spot. The PF on the fair catch and nearly getting flagged for taunting may cost him.

It won't lose him a position on a football team, but believe that it'll make a difference whenever it comes down to signing contracts and getting in starting positions. Undisciplined players, no matter how hard they go every down, have serious negatives.


>>Sometimes we don't always realize how players are away from the field.

That doesn't make personal fouls acceptable. If he gets suspended for hits, which isn't completely unreasonable given his fines, he's not useful for that time he's out, and is a distraction for the team.




>>That explains why he has no trouble covering backs and TEs. OK. I honestly can't remember if he can play the run.

Yep, and I don't remember either. I never really watched him that much in game flow, as much as I was watching his teammates. If he sticks, he did so for obvious reasons, but at least it justifies us taking the chance. He can play some football, and that's a nice minimal situation.


Plus, if Morgan's gonna be hurt, you've got one coverage LB. And that's assuming Witherspoon's gotten better there, which I've not concluded upon.

 

And did you notice at any time that I defended him against the PF?? I actually remember saying at the beginning of my post that I wasn't defending Coop. (I'll wait til my game tape arrives and I see the play to make my own conclusion.) I just wanted to point out the side of Cooper that most people don't realize is there.