Wednesday morning began with some unfortunate news on the injury front for the Panthers and coach Pat Narduzzi, who announced that running back Rachid Ibrahim is likely gone for the year after hurting his Achilles, but was much cheerier later after something of a refreshing practice.
Tuesday, the team held its first and only preseason practice at Heinz Field (it was closed to the media, and there will likely be a walk-through there Friday, but this was full pads), and while Narduzzi thought the players’ focus could’ve been better, he was happy for a more game day-like atmosphere.
“Obviously we had our opportunity yesterday to go to Heinz Field and get some work done, which obviously was a great experience for me being my first time at Heinz,” Narduzzi said. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful place, great venue to play football games, really enjoyed the experience over there. It was good for our guys to get in there because it’s our home field, and we’ve got to take that home-field advantage and use it to our advantage.”
Perhaps the Panthers were looking ahead to the annual fan fest at the stadium later in the day (their head coach said they did a great job there signing autographs, etc., for what it’s worth), but the “attention to detail” was lacking -- especially for such a significant occasion.
“We’ve got to do a better job practicing there in our house. It should be the best practice of the year, in my opinion, and it wasn’t what I wanted when we go there,” Narduzzi said. “We get limited opportunities, and when we get there, we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
From the players’ point of view, Narduzzi had a point. But there was plenty of good to come out of it, as well.
“There was a lack of focus, especially in the beginning of the practice. we came out really sluggish,” agreed receiver Dontez Ford, “but we picked it up, and I think today we came out even better, so that’s the most important part is that we bounced back and learned from it.”
Ford didn’t want to speak for all of his teammates, but at least one of them said the excitement of practicing at “our house,” as Narduzzi put it, may have been somewhat distracting.
“I think it was just a little bit of jitters being at Heinz Field for the first time,” said Ford’s fellow receiver Elijah Zeise. “I think honestly that’s probably really all it was.”
Taking Ford’s comment about Wednesday’s practice at face value, perhaps that enthusiasm from Tuesday’s practice -- and maybe even the chance to mingle with fans -- really did carry over and serve as a benefit as training camp winds down.
Then again, after the news of the day on Ibrahim, perhaps any practice from here on out can be considered a good one as long everyone stays healthy.
Depth chart
Obviously the post from Chris after Monday’s practice was pretty comprehensive in regard to the roster, position battles, etc., so I’ll just hit a couple things quickly here that stem from Wednesday’s open viewing window:
When the defense went through it’s walk-through at the start of practice, Shakir Soto and Ejuan Price lined up at defensive end while Tyrique Jarrett and Mark Scarpinato stepped in at defensive tackle.
Darryl Render continues to be limited, so perhaps the coaches just wanted Scarpinato to get some work with the first team on this particular day, but K.K. Mosley-Smith was with the second team at that point next to Jeremiah Taleni. The second team ends looked to be Zach Poker and Allen Edwards.
At linebacker, Nicholas Grigsby -- who also has been limited -- was held out, so Bam Bradley and Mike Caprara were the outside backers alongside Matt Galambos (no surprises there).
In the secondary, as everyone keeps an eye on the battle at boundary safety, it appeared that Pat Amara and Jordan Whitehead were working with the first team in tandem, with Jevonte Pitts running second team.
Running back depth
While losing Ibrahim is a blow, it should be on the offense can rather easily sustain. Sure, not having his pass-catching ability out of the backfield is a loss, but the running back spot might be the Panthers’ greatest source of depth starting with superstar James Conner, then Chris James and Qadree Ollison, and apparently on down to promising true freshman Darrin Hall.
“It’s a big opportunity for all those guys. Really and truly, those guys have probably exceeded expectations,” said running backs coach Andre Powell. “We knew Darrin was talented, but he’s smart, he’s tough. Chris James had a great summer and he’s certainly improved. Ollison had a little setback, he broke a finger preseason, so he’s been practicing three weeks out of surgery but he’s doing good, so I’ve been very pleased with those guys.”
O’Neill coming along
Redshirt freshman Brian O’Neill has drawn rave reviews from coaches so far as he transitions from tight end to the offensive line, and already finds himself working with the starters while Artie Rowell is held out of practice.
O’Neill has slid in at right tackle, thus kicking Alex Bookser inside to right guard and Alex Officer over to center, and seems to be taking well to the new responsibility.
“It hasn’t been too rough. I feel like it’s been pretty good actually. I don’t necessarily consider them big monsters when I’m just as big as them,” O’Neill said, referring to opposing linemen and the phrasing of the question. “I enjoy it a lot. I like getting in there and hitting people.”
Nonetheless, is there still a part of him clinging to those tight end dreams of being a dangerous red-zone target and going up for jump balls in the end zone?
“Nah, that’s not hard to give up when I have all these great teammates and I see them busting their butt for me every single day,” said the 6-foot-6 O’Neill, who’s now up to at least 290 pounds.
As he continues to get bigger, stronger and up to speed on the field, he’s also developing the confidence needed for any player to fully buy into a position change.
“I would say probably midway through the second week of camp I really felt like I belonged, in terms of going against some of our better defensive ends, some of our top guys,” O’Neill said. “There was one day in the middle of the week when I just felt things really started to click and I might belong here.”
After a second practice Wednesday night, the team will be back at it Thursday morning, which is essentially the final day of training camp before Friday’s Heinz Field dress rehearsal, so to speak, and kickoff luncheon at the Convention Center.
Tuesday, the team held its first and only preseason practice at Heinz Field (it was closed to the media, and there will likely be a walk-through there Friday, but this was full pads), and while Narduzzi thought the players’ focus could’ve been better, he was happy for a more game day-like atmosphere.
“Obviously we had our opportunity yesterday to go to Heinz Field and get some work done, which obviously was a great experience for me being my first time at Heinz,” Narduzzi said. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful place, great venue to play football games, really enjoyed the experience over there. It was good for our guys to get in there because it’s our home field, and we’ve got to take that home-field advantage and use it to our advantage.”
Perhaps the Panthers were looking ahead to the annual fan fest at the stadium later in the day (their head coach said they did a great job there signing autographs, etc., for what it’s worth), but the “attention to detail” was lacking -- especially for such a significant occasion.
“We’ve got to do a better job practicing there in our house. It should be the best practice of the year, in my opinion, and it wasn’t what I wanted when we go there,” Narduzzi said. “We get limited opportunities, and when we get there, we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
From the players’ point of view, Narduzzi had a point. But there was plenty of good to come out of it, as well.
“There was a lack of focus, especially in the beginning of the practice. we came out really sluggish,” agreed receiver Dontez Ford, “but we picked it up, and I think today we came out even better, so that’s the most important part is that we bounced back and learned from it.”
Ford didn’t want to speak for all of his teammates, but at least one of them said the excitement of practicing at “our house,” as Narduzzi put it, may have been somewhat distracting.
“I think it was just a little bit of jitters being at Heinz Field for the first time,” said Ford’s fellow receiver Elijah Zeise. “I think honestly that’s probably really all it was.”
Taking Ford’s comment about Wednesday’s practice at face value, perhaps that enthusiasm from Tuesday’s practice -- and maybe even the chance to mingle with fans -- really did carry over and serve as a benefit as training camp winds down.
Then again, after the news of the day on Ibrahim, perhaps any practice from here on out can be considered a good one as long everyone stays healthy.
Depth chart
Obviously the post from Chris after Monday’s practice was pretty comprehensive in regard to the roster, position battles, etc., so I’ll just hit a couple things quickly here that stem from Wednesday’s open viewing window:
When the defense went through it’s walk-through at the start of practice, Shakir Soto and Ejuan Price lined up at defensive end while Tyrique Jarrett and Mark Scarpinato stepped in at defensive tackle.
Darryl Render continues to be limited, so perhaps the coaches just wanted Scarpinato to get some work with the first team on this particular day, but K.K. Mosley-Smith was with the second team at that point next to Jeremiah Taleni. The second team ends looked to be Zach Poker and Allen Edwards.
At linebacker, Nicholas Grigsby -- who also has been limited -- was held out, so Bam Bradley and Mike Caprara were the outside backers alongside Matt Galambos (no surprises there).
In the secondary, as everyone keeps an eye on the battle at boundary safety, it appeared that Pat Amara and Jordan Whitehead were working with the first team in tandem, with Jevonte Pitts running second team.
Running back depth
While losing Ibrahim is a blow, it should be on the offense can rather easily sustain. Sure, not having his pass-catching ability out of the backfield is a loss, but the running back spot might be the Panthers’ greatest source of depth starting with superstar James Conner, then Chris James and Qadree Ollison, and apparently on down to promising true freshman Darrin Hall.
“It’s a big opportunity for all those guys. Really and truly, those guys have probably exceeded expectations,” said running backs coach Andre Powell. “We knew Darrin was talented, but he’s smart, he’s tough. Chris James had a great summer and he’s certainly improved. Ollison had a little setback, he broke a finger preseason, so he’s been practicing three weeks out of surgery but he’s doing good, so I’ve been very pleased with those guys.”
O’Neill coming along
Redshirt freshman Brian O’Neill has drawn rave reviews from coaches so far as he transitions from tight end to the offensive line, and already finds himself working with the starters while Artie Rowell is held out of practice.
O’Neill has slid in at right tackle, thus kicking Alex Bookser inside to right guard and Alex Officer over to center, and seems to be taking well to the new responsibility.
“It hasn’t been too rough. I feel like it’s been pretty good actually. I don’t necessarily consider them big monsters when I’m just as big as them,” O’Neill said, referring to opposing linemen and the phrasing of the question. “I enjoy it a lot. I like getting in there and hitting people.”
Nonetheless, is there still a part of him clinging to those tight end dreams of being a dangerous red-zone target and going up for jump balls in the end zone?
“Nah, that’s not hard to give up when I have all these great teammates and I see them busting their butt for me every single day,” said the 6-foot-6 O’Neill, who’s now up to at least 290 pounds.
As he continues to get bigger, stronger and up to speed on the field, he’s also developing the confidence needed for any player to fully buy into a position change.
“I would say probably midway through the second week of camp I really felt like I belonged, in terms of going against some of our better defensive ends, some of our top guys,” O’Neill said. “There was one day in the middle of the week when I just felt things really started to click and I might belong here.”
After a second practice Wednesday night, the team will be back at it Thursday morning, which is essentially the final day of training camp before Friday’s Heinz Field dress rehearsal, so to speak, and kickoff luncheon at the Convention Center.
