Carolina Panthers Retrospective
SUNDAY WRAP: Tolbert believes Panthers have talent to fill No. 2 WR spot E-mail
Written by Steve Reed   
Sunday, 15 August 2010 17:43
Wallace

Wallace Wright is one of four guys competing for the No. 2 WR spot opposite Steve Smith. (AP Photo)

   Here's what happened at training camp on Sunday...

   HOT TOPIC: Carolina Panthers wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert still isn’t sure who’ll be the team’s No. 2 wideout this season, but he’s almost certain it will be someone already on the roster.
   “I’m very confident; very confident,” Tolbert said. “And whether it’s one guy or three guys, I have confidence in all of those guys to be able to take coaching and when their name is called go in there and produce.
   “They have all done a really good job. It’s up to us as time goes on to figure out who is going to be that next guy to step up and fit that role. And it may be by committee, you never know. But I’m pleased with those four guys competing for that spot and they’re all doing a good job.”


   Tolbert said not to read too much into the fact Brandon LaFell and Wallace Wright started in the preseason opener. He said Dwayne Jarrett and Kenny Moore will likely start Saturday night against the New York Jets and he’ll continue to rotate the twosomes as the preseason rolls on.
   “Wallace and LaFell started the last game because Kenny and D.J. started Fan Fest,” Tolbert said. “It’s not etched in stone, but I see Kenny and D.J. starting this week.”
   He praised the group’s overall versatility.
   “The thing about it is they’re all smart guys and versatile,” Tolbert said. “They all play multiple positions, so that’s a good thing.”

INSIDE THE GAME: Rookie Armanti Edwards isn’t in that list of potential starters because he still has a long way to go in his transition from college quarterback to NFL receiver.
   “It’s interesting because everything he’s doing he’s doing for the first time,” Tolbert said. “We did a cut-blocking drill and I was like, “Wow Armanti, is this you’re first time doing this?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ So everything he’s doing I have to keep reminding myself this is his first time.
   “But he’s getting better. It’s a process but he asks smart questions in the meeting. He doesn’t ask them just to ask them. He asks legitimate questions for him because he’s never done it before. And we’re pretty much teaching him what to do and how to do it and he grasps it pretty good. I’m pleased with his progress up until this point because of the fact he’s never played the position on this level.
   “I see athleticism and as a matter of fact I mentioned to him he played a lot faster yesterday morning. I think he’s getting more comfortable and not thinking anymore. He’s going out and playing like the guy we drafted.”

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: At the end of a long and steamy afternoon practice, the Panthers worked “live” goal line drills from the 3-yard line.
   The first-team offense dominated, getting into the end zone on the first two plays with RB Josh Vaughan beating LB Jon Beason to the outside and QB Matt Moore fooling the defense on a bootleg, punctuating that score by spiking the ball between his legs. It would have been 3-for-3 had TE Gary Barnidge not dropped an easy pass in the back of the end zone on the next play…
   During one-on-one pass blocking drills OG Duke Robinson got underneath the helmet of DT Corvey Irvin and popped it right off like a champagne cork. Irvin was a little shaken up, but did return a few minutes later… RB Dantrell Savage had a big-time run around left end late in practice drawing hoots from the guys on the offensive side of the field… Tolbert, by the way, was sporting a loud pair of purple and gold Crocs before practice. He played at LSU before getting into coaching.

WHO IMPRESSED: We haven’t written much about him lately, but QB Matt Moore continues to look good down here at Wofford College. He’s definitely in a comfort zone and seems to be really enjoying his new role as starter. On Sunday, Moore threw a perfect strike to Brandon LaFell in the corner of the end zone.

AND WHO DIDN’T: Recently added C Andrew Crummey was yanked from a drill after misfiring on a snap to QB Jimmy Clausen. He was immediately replaced by Mackenzy Bernadeau. Crummey later messed up again and after practice coaches sent him over to work on his snaps on the side with Clausen. All in all it was a Crummey day.

INJURY UPDATE: RB DeAngelo Williams was excused from practice because of personal matters which meant RB Tyrell Sutton ran with the first team.
   Jonathan Stewart did a little more in practice, but hasn’t been cleared to work in team drills. The Panthers want to ease him back into the mix slowly which is probably a smart move. There's no hurry at this point. He did do a little work in 7-on-7 drills.
   Otherwise, the injury list is dwindling a little. Unable to practice were WR Steve Smith, RB Mike Goodson, OT Jeff Otah, DE Tyler Brayton, LBs Thomas Davis, Jamar Williams and Quinton Culberson, and S Aaron Francisco. DT Louis Leonard left practice early because of heat-related issues.
   LB Jordan Senn and WR Trent Guy returned to work Sunday, while CB Chris Gamble practiced for the second straight day after returning Saturday night.

CAMP BATTLES: After an amazing NFL debut Thursday night, rookie DE Greg Hardy continues to get some reps with the first team with Brayton out. He's splitting time there with Everette Brown and working more at left end on obvious passing downs with Charles Johnson shifting inside to defensive tackle.
   It's obvious Hardy is going to make the 53-man roster and he may just wind up being a key contributor or even a starter before all is said and done. He’s looked that good in practice. The kid has the size and all of the skills. He just needs some playing time.

THEY SAID IT: “I just feel way more comfortable as far as the offense and not thinking out there. Just letting my athletic ability take over, which I'm doing. Making plays on the ball. The coaches are definitely noticing and they've definitely been complimenting me on my work ethic, so it's been a big difference.”
   --Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett on this his fourth season

WHAT’S NEXT: Monday is the team’s final two-a-day practice of the year with the Panthers going at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Panthers are finished with night practices.