Tag: Deonte Brown

Panthers Preseason: Starting lineup vs. Colts heavy on rookies

Standout rookies Terrace Marshall Jr. and Chuba Hubbard will be two of the 22 Panthers set to hit the field first this afternoon.

When Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule noted that his starters would not be a ‘go’ for the team’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, the question became, “Then who is?”

Here’s the answer.

The Panthers released their starting lineup for the exhibition tilt about an hour ahead of kickoff. And, as promised, no usual starters. There are though, plenty of young, noteworthy names on the slate.

Offense:

QB P.J. Walker
RB Chuba Hubbard
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
WR Brandon Zylstra
TE Tommy Tremble
TE Colin Thompson
LT Trent Scott
LG Matt Kaskey
C Sam Tecklenburg
RG Deonte Brown
RT Brady Christensen

Defense:

DE Marquis Haynes
DE Yetur Gross-Matos
DT Daviyon Nixon
DT Bravvion Roy
WLB Jonathan Celestin
MLB Josh Bynes
SLB Frankie Luvu
CB Rashaan Melvin
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
SS Sean Chandler
FS Sam Franklin

Six of the 22 starters listed are rookies. That group includes Hubbard, Marshall Jr., Tremble, Brown, Christensen and Nixon.

The preseason is, perhaps above all else, a time for young players to learn and leave a lasting impression. There’s no doubt these first-year cubs, along with the veterans lining up beside them, will have their chances to do so this afternoon.

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Analysis: Taylor Moton deal provides Panthers with much-needed stability

Taylor Moton’s price tag is hefty, but it’s worth it as the Panthers look for their keepers during this rebuild.

Other than pure skill and talent, continuity is the key factor in building a successful offensive line. And for what has seemed like decades up to this point, the Carolina Panthers haven’t had any of that . . . until today.

On Thursday afternoon, the team announced a four-year, $72 million extension with right tackle Taylor Moton. The deal was not only timely on  this particular day, as the agreement narrowly beat the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline for contract talks with franchise-tagged players, but timely in the organization’s search for stability amidst a fluid rebuilding process.

Although their offensive front is far from a finished product, the Panthers have identified and now locked in an undeniably valuable piece of the unit. Moton, who turns 27 years old in a little over a month, has consistently proven to be their most reliable blocker as well as one of the game’s best players at the position over his four NFL seasons.

From the jump in 2017, the 6-foot-5, 325-pounder has displayed a well-rounded skill set that helped bring him to this payday. Moton’s versatile technique, noticeable foot quickness and ability to dissect his assignments—just to name a few of his strengths—has made him a trusted presence in the passing game and, even more so, as a road grader.

For Moton, the extension makes him one the richest offensive linemen in the sport today. His annual take of $18 million ties him with Philadelphia’s Lane Johnson and Las Vegas’ Kolton Miller for the sixth-highest yearly earnings amongst all tackles. That amount also puts him second only to New Orleans’ Ryan Ramczyk in yearly contract earnings for the right tackle position.

For Carolina, this step towards some semblance of security was necessary, even at that hefty price tag. There may be one, maybe two, long-term players currently down the rest of that line.

Left tackle will be a Sophie’s choice between 2019 second-round bust Greg Little and the inefficient veteran in Cameron Erving, who will now be on his fourth team in seven pro seasons. The left guard battle could prove Dennis Daley is a solid depth piece for the future in his third season, because it’s likely the newly-signed Pat Elflein won’t be.

Matt Paradis, at 31 years old, has been up and down since joining the team and will be a free agent in 2022. And we may see 2021 third-rounder Brady Christensen have to break through early at right guard with John Miller, David Moore and Deonte Brown making up for an unproven crop there as well.

So, use whatever metaphor you’d like to describe the historically volatile state of the Panthers’ offensive line—may it be a wide set of revolving doors or a row of turnstiles. But use them while you can, because Thursday’s investment in Moton may ignite the long-awaited overhaul of one of the league’s most unstable position groups in recent memory.

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Alabama football countdown: 65 days until kickoff

We are only 65 days away from ALABAMA FOOTBALL!!

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The return of college football is quickly approaching, folks. After yet another national championship winning season, Nick Saban and company will be looking for a repeat performance in 2021.

Despite key losses, the Crimson Tide is well positioned to do just that.

The opening week matchup is against the Miami Hurricanes in Atlanta, Ga. set for Sept. 4. And with it now being July 1, we are now only 65 days away from the start of the season!

RELATED: Alabama football countdown: 66 days until kickoff

True freshman offensive tackle JC Latham, a five-star out of IMG Academy in Florida, now wears the No. 65 for Alabama. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Latham is a much different build than some of the other hogs who wore the number before him.

Deonte Brown, 6-4, 350 pound interior offensive lineman, wore it for the five previous seasons dating back to 2016. Before him, it was former first-round NFL draft pick Chance Warmack, who wore it from 2009-12.

Both of those guys wound up playing on the NFL, and many expect Latham to carry the torch and follow in their footsteps. In fact, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him have a better NFL career than either of those other two.

TUSCALOOSA, AL – SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive linesman Chance Warmack #65 of the Alabama Crimson Tide lines up against the North Texas Mean Green on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

RELATED: Alabama football countdown: 67 days until kickoff

2021 Alabama football schedule

  • Sept. 2 vs. Miami Hurricanes (Atlanta, Ga.)
  • Sept. 11 vs. Mercer Bears (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Sept. 18 at Florida Gators (Gainesville, Fla.)
  • Sept. 25 vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 2 vs. Ole Miss Rebels (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 9 at Texas A&M Aggies (College Station, Tex.)
  • Oct. 16 at Mississippi State Bulldogs (Starkville, Miss.)
  • Oct. 23 vs. Tennessee Volunteers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 6 vs. LSU Tigers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 13 vs. New Mexico State Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 20 vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 27 at Auburn Tigers (Auburn, Ala.)

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

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Measurables and percentiles for the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 draft class

So, with a little help from the prospect testing at their respective pro days, here are the measurables and percentiles for the Panthers’ 2021 draft class.

No NFL combine for the 2021 draft? No problem. The good folks over at MockDraftable.com were still able to piece together their yearly spider graphs of the incoming rookie crop.

So, with a little help from the prospect testing at their respective pro days, here are the measurables and percentiles for the Panthers’ 2021 draft class.

CB Jaycee Horn

In case you couldn’t tell, that’s a pretty freakish web. Horn will be able to cover plenty of rare air with his height, wingspan and jumps.

And if you still couldn’t tell how special of an athlete Horn is, check out his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) as well, where his 9.99 mark ranked second among all cornerbacks tested since 1987.

WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

Marshall’s got the hops too, which is even crazier considering he measures in at slightly over 6-foot-2. Like Horn, his above average athleticism is one of a few reasons general manager Scott Fitterer jumped on him in the second round.

OT Brady Christensen

While he doesn’t measure up favorably, Christensen is one hell of an athlete. (See a theme here yet?) Each of his athletic test results landed him in at least the 85th percentile.

TE Tommy Tremble

Tremble, noted primarily for his blocking at Notre Dame, will look to tap more into that high-end testing as a pass catcher at the next level.

RB Chuba Hubbard

Hubbard’s web isn’t as encompassing as the four teammates ahead of him, but it’s still quite solid. He’s a longer-bodied back with relatively good agility that’ll look to compete for the open reps behind Christian McCaffrey.

DT Daviyon Nixon

A defensive tackle with that type of length hitting a 4.9-second 40-yard dash with a 1.7-second 10-yard split? Woof.

CB Keith Taylor

Taylor fits right into that Seattle way of thinking Fitterer has brought over. They love them those tall defensive backs.

OG Deonte Brown

The 6-foot-3, 344-pound Brown was not brought on to be an athlete, and you don’t have to be when you’re a mountain of a man like this.

WR Shi Smith

Smith is pretty jumpy, with his broad and verticals hitting on the 66th and 57th percentiles, respectively. He’s fast as well, having clocked in his 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds.

LS Thomas Fletcher

Long snappers are people too, but not worthy enough for spider graphs.

DT Phil Hoskins

Hoskins boasts some crazy quick splits for a defensive tackle at 6-foot-4 and 313 pounds. His tremendous 83-inch wingspan will also come in handy at the position when he attempts to bat down passes at the line scrimmage.

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Panthers have signed 6 of their 11 draft picks to rookie deals

According to Darin Gantt at the team website, the Panthers have signed six of their 11 picks from the 2021 NFL draft. 

The schedule is out. Now it’s time to get to work, beginning with rookie minicamp this weekend. The Carolina Panthers are in the building and signing their new players to their first contracts.

According to Darin Gantt at the team website, the Panthers have signed six of their 11 picks from the 2021 NFL draft.

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard and Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon had already agreed to terms. Now, South Carolina wide receiver Shi Smith, Washington cornerback Keith Taylor, Alabama offensive lineman Deonte Brown and long snapper Thomas Fletcher have also signed.

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Panthers have signed 6 of their 11 draft picks to rookie deals

According to Darin Gantt at the team website, the Panthers have signed six of their 11 picks from the 2021 NFL draft. 

The schedule is out. Now it’s time to get to work, beginning with rookie minicamp this weekend. The Carolina Panthers are in the building and signing their new players to their first contracts.

According to Darin Gantt at the team website, the Panthers have signed six of their 11 picks from the 2021 NFL draft.

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard and Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon had already agreed to terms. Now, South Carolina wide receiver Shi Smith, Washington cornerback Keith Taylor, Alabama offensive lineman Deonte Brown and long snapper Thomas Fletcher have also signed.

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Did the Panthers get the best value with their picks in the 2021 NFL draft?

Some analysts have even said that they did the best work of any team in the league.

Nobody knows how any college prospect is going to work out in the NFL. For every Peyton Manning there’s a Ryan Leaf and there’s no telling which is which until they actually get onto the field.

So, time will tell whether or not the Panthers got a good haul in this year’s draft. For what it’s worth, the early reviews for their picks are splendid. Some analysts have even said that they did the best work of any team in the league. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranked his top 150 prospects with a simple point-value and Carolina came out on top.

UCLA’s Director of Player Personnel also has them ranked No. 1.

Former Cowboys executive Gil Brandt says the Panthers got two of the top value picks in the draft in sixth-round selections Deonte Brown and Daviyon Nixon.

In ESPN’s post-draft podcast, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay also raved about what the Panthers did.

Like we said at the top, this is all speculative at this point. Everything we know about the draft though indicates that this current front office knows what they’re doing.

These individual prospects might not pan out, but as long as Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule are committed to a philosophy of trading down for more picks and using them on the best athletes available it will bode well for this team’s future.

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Carolina Panthers: Relative Athletic Scores for 2021 NFL draft picks

Let’s take a look at the Relative Athletic Scores for each Panthers draft pick this year.

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer went into the 2021 NFL draft with a clear plan. Trade down for more picks, target positions of need and fill them with the best athletes available. We can question some of the individual decisions (especially passing on a QB at the top), but overall fans should be pleased with the results.

Most of all, the instinct to select high-quality athletes should pay off for this franchise in the long run. Let’s take a look at the Relative Athletic Scores for each Panthers draft pick this year.

CB Jaycee Horn: 9.99

Forget Justin Fields for a minute and just enjoy Horn’s remarkable profile. Horn posted excellent scores across the board, including size, speed and explosiveness. That will help a lot as he has to cover superstar receivers like Julio Jones and Chris Godwin around the NFC South.

WR Terrace Marshall Jr.: 9.77

Marshall also has great RAS numbers, especially a 39-inch vertical. The Panthers haven’t had those kind of hops in a package this size in a long time.

OT Brady Christensen: 9.84

Perhaps the most critical pick of the draft class, Carolina traded up a few spots in the third round to get Christensen. While there are some concerns about his size – especially his arm length – he’s a top-notch athlete for his position, including elite speed, agility and strength.

TE Tommy Tremble: 8.91

Tremble also fits the mold for having poor size but a good overall profile.

RB Chuba Hubbard: 8.44

Hubbard’s agility scores aren’t what you’d expect for a running back. However, they don’t seem to slow him down when it comes to adding yards after contact and everything else lines up.

DT Daviyon Nixon: 8.38

Nixon is another quality athlete for his position. His leaping ability and shuttle time aren’t likely to matter a whole lot.

CB Keith Taylor: 6.54

There’s a big dropoff from Nixon to the rest of the draft class, but that’s mostly to be expected in the later rounds of the draft. On paper, Taylor isn’t fast or agile, but he is very tall at least.

G Deonte Brown: 1.48

Brown’s RAS scores might look concerning, but Godzilla doesn’t crush your city with his athleticism, after all. It’s all about size and sheer destructive power – the same selling points for Brown. He will still be able to knock defenders off the line of scrimmage and open up lanes for Hubbard and Christian McCaffrey while keeping Sam Darnold clean from interior rushers. Ultimately, that’s what’s important.

WR Shi Smith: 6.79

Smith is a bit undersized for the NFL, but his quickness and explosiveness are important qualities to have for a slot receiver.

LS Thomas Fletcher: 6.74

Sure, why not?

DT Phil Hoskins: 6.67

Hoskins has an interesting blend of traits, here. For a seventh-round DT pick it’s hard to complain about a lack of agility.

Overall, this is an extremely athletic draft class, with the one notable exception. Hats off to Fitterer, head coach Matt Rhule and the rest of the scouting department for their work.

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Panthers pick Alabama G Deonte Brown at No. 193

The Panthers got themselves an incredible physical specimen with their first sixth-round pick of the 2021 NFL draft.

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The Panthers got themselves an incredible physical specimen with their first sixth-round pick of the 2021 NFL draft.

At the No. 193 overall spot, Carolina chose Alabama guard Deonte Brown, who checks in at a monstrous 6-foot-4 and 350 pounds. Brown’s claim to fame is not allowing a single sack in his college career.

Some analysts have Brown billed as the single most underrated OL in the draft.

This is another exceptional value pick for the Panthers. Brown might push John Miller to start at right guard Week 1.

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2021 NFL mock draft: Panthers double dip on offensive line prospects on Day 2

Panthers double dip on offensive line prospects on Day 2 in new three-round mock by Draft Wire.

“Get an offensive line! What are you guys even doing?!?!?!”

This is easily the most common comment we’ve received on our Panthers Wire Facebook page over the last several years. Sometimes they come attached to articles that have nothing remotely to do with the offensive line as in the case of free safety Tre Boston getting cut a couple days ago.

While not all of this team’s issues can be solved with an OL upgrade, it’s not hard to see why fans have become borderline-obsessed with this unit. While the interior of the line that 2015 season was superb, the failures of Mike Remmers at right tackle against Von Miller in the Super Bowl spoiled the Panthers’ only chance to win a ring since 2003.

Remmers has long-since been replaced by Taylor Moton, who’s developed into one of the game’s top right tackles. However, the rest of the line has become a revolving door in recent years. Nobody has been able to stick at any other spot with the exception of center Matt Paradis.

Heading into 2021, every starter except Paradis is about to become a free agent, including Moton. That means once again this team will need to invest serious resources into this group. Free agents worth considering include Trent Williams, Joe Thuney, Brandon Scherff and Kelechi Osemele. The draft will likely be where GM Scott Fitterer looks to build this line, though.

In that spirit, the Panthers are expected to use at least a couple of picks on offensive line prospects this year. In a new three-round mock by our friends at Draft Wire, Carolina double dipped on two OL prospects on Day 2.

No. 39 overall: Texas OT Sam Cosmi

Cosmi (6-foot-7, 309 pounds) is considered one of the top offensive tackles in this draft class. Pro Football Focus has him ranked No. 7 at the position. They included this clip from Brandon Thorn that shows Cosmi devouring an LSU edge rusher whole and then spitting him out onto the field.

Cosmi could be a first-round talent who drops into Carolina’s lap thanks to being in a deep OT class. Assuming the Panthers use their No. 8 overall pick on a QB or deal it in a trade for a veteran, it’s tough to imagine a better use of their second-round selection than this.

No. 73 overall: Alabama OL Deonte Brown

Brown (6-foot-4, 350 pounds) offers versatility, which is something Carolina should be looking for in its OL prospects. Both of the Panthers’ starting guards John Miller and Chris Reed are about to hit the market plus several of their interior backups. That makes it critical to pickup linemen like Brown who can fill more than one spot.

Here Brown neutralizes two defenders on the same play from left guard.

We’d rather see the Panthers target a cornerback at this spot or at No. 39, but we wouldn’t hate this pick at all.

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