We're 48 hours away from preseason football with the Carolina Panthers meeting the Baltimore Ravens. I am excited to see football, of course, but with a rookie filled secondary on the Panthers' defense we should get a good glimpse of some future starters. Throughout training camp, these young and unproven players have been hitting their stride and making plays already.
Shaq Thompson is going into his second year and was a starter last season as a rookie. This year should give us a really good look at what Shaq can do. Now, with all these rookie cornerbacks, I have to say I am probably over-optimistic just because of what Shaq Thompson was able to do last year. But, maybe not.
I have followed training camp closely and these young, inexperienced corners are looking good! They have awareness that is uncanny and good vision of the ball. Kurt Coleman seems to be leading that secondary which is also exciting considering his Pro-Bowl caliber performance last season (although he was snubbed) coming in 2nd in the league in interceptions. Some of the Kelvin Benjamin pictures that have floated around of him catching the ball over some poor defender is because it is, after all, Kelvin Benjamin: a 6-5', 250lb. monster with great hands. I'm not fooled. Those catches are going to happen to our opponents all season long. With that said, there is a lot to feel good about when you see these young corners play. I can't wait to see these rookies perform in a game situation.
Now, I have to talk offense. Kelvin Benjamin, the Panthers' star receiver, spent last season injured when he tore his ACL during a routine drill in training camp. Because we had a makeshift offensive line and our receiving core was headed by 11 year veteran Jericho Cotchery, who is a #3 reciever at best, we were hardly a "sexy" offense to watch in the beginning. But that changed by the season's end. With last year's offense and Cam Newton's MVP season, we made it to the Super Bowl.
Now we have a healthy Kelvin Benjamin as our #1 receiver which can only improve Cam's performance. We have an offensive line that has spent one full season and two training camps together. We also have a 2nd year, 6-4' receiver named Devin Funchess alongside K.B to help the passing attack. Jonathan Stewart is a bowling ball type of running back and our starter. But Cameron Artis-Payne is also going into his 2nd season and should be improved. Fozzy Whittaker is a 3rd option for us and a scat-back type of runner who can be paired effectively with the brute force style of Stewart's. Basically, this potent offense that people were unsure about going into the 2015 season is back and better than ever.
As a whole, The Carolina Panthers are a better team this year. Coach Ron Rivera has been consistently telling the team that things won't be like last year and that this group of guys has to earn every win. I subscribe to the theory "In Gettleman We Trust" so I am ready to see these guys go to work under Rivera's leadership.
I know that preseason games don't count toward the regular season. For true fans, however, they give us a glimpse of what kind of depth we have. They also give us a glimpse of the future. Lest we forget that Josh Norman was playing in the 4th quarter in 2014 and didn't start until 2015 in his 4th season. That is why I watch. I knew Norman would start and make a difference eventually and look what happened. For me, Thursday can't come soon enough.
BLACK AND BLUE!!!
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