The Panthers had to be ecstatic to see Williams sitting there for them in the first round.  Williams has been a very productive back in his college career and he plays hurt unlike another back we know (Foster).  Williams is built low to the ground and has surprising power for a player that is so short (5’8″, 208).  Williams will probably push DeShaun Foster to the side at some point of the season, maybe even as early as the pre-season.

Williams set an NCAA all-time record by rushing for over 100 yards in a game 34 times for his career.  Williams put up some outstanding numbers at Memphis State and even led them to a bowl win this season.  Williams played in 44 games for Memphis State (35 starts) and rushed for 6,026 yards and 55 touchdowns.  He was not much of a threat as a receiver in college catching 70 passes for 723 yards and 5 TD receptions.

Buy your DeAngelo Williams jersey now, because he is the future at running back for the Panthers and that future is now.

 

Yes, arguably the Panther’s best players on defense and offense left the field with injuries on only the first day of camp, but let’s talk upside….The Panthers number one pick DeAngelo Williams made even some veteran players look really bad during 7 on 7 drills. The back looked outstanding on his first day. A few other highlights included some great looking work by a couple of Hokies. Jeff King made some terrific catches against some really good defensive backs and James Anderson looked fit, quick, and surpisingly comfortable as he went through a tough morning linebacker session. It didn’t seem that any of the QB’s had their best stuff, but the competition between the recievers and defensive backs was friendly but fierce. There was also an outstanding turnout for the Panthers first two sessions. Let’s face it,barring a total tear, a tweaked hammy on day one for the elusive Smith isn’t the end of the world. If Smith had to pull up hurt, first day is the best way to go. Those of us that watched him work today, could see he is is as sharp as ever and should rehab until opening day if it takes it…

Steve Smith injured his hamstring today running a deep pattern.  Smith grabbed the back of his left leg and fell to the ground in pain.  After a couple of minutes, he stood up and threw his gloves in anger.  He then sat on the back of the meat wagon and was taken off the field.

Smith is the one player the Panthers couldn’t replace.  Smith is an excellent return man and pretty much willed the Panthers to the playoffs last season.  Smith caught 103 passes last season for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Panthers first round pick DeAngelo Williams agreed to terms Thursday night. This locks up the last of Carolina’s 2006 picks and guarentees no rookie hold outs for the season. We will have to wait and see if the Panthers release of former Colt’s starting lineman Adam Meadows earlier this week, was a poor move or not, the Panthers have certainly done their job at the negotiating table with the newest cats and their agents. Williams, the former Memphis Tiger running back and rushing champ, will pocket about 7.6 million over the next five years, and will hopefully give the team the quality running back depth and some return game spark they badly needed in late ’05.

According to sources the Panthers have a deal in hand with fourth-round pick Nate Salley. Salley out of Ohio State University will be competing for the safety spot for Carolina, and may have a shot at some real playing time. Sources also tell pantherslocker.com that talks with Carolina’s first-round pick DeAngelo Williams are underway tonight. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that the Foster-Williams one-two punch is a done deal by Friday’s training camp arrival date.

The Panthers signed former Fresno State star corner, Richard Marshall to a four-year contract valued at a reported $2.86 million dollars. The newest Panther’s deal included a signing bonus of $1.25 million. The signing leaves two of the Panthers 2006 draft class members unsigned. The Panther’s are still trying to lock down the 2006 NCAA Div-1 rushing leader, DeAngelo Williams and their fourth-round pick former Buckeye safety, Nate Salley. Panther camp is set to open July 28th at the Wofford College facilities in Spartanburg, SC.

When signing a back-up QB from another team and making him your starter you take a huge risk as these moves are very hit-and-miss. Jake Delhomme was a huge hit and was signed away from a division opponent to boot. In Delhomme’s first five years with the Saints he only appeared in six games (2 starts) and threw for 634 yards with three TD passes and five interceptions. The Panthers scouts and front office looked right past these numbers and took a chance on Jake, and boy has it paid off. Delhomme has been with the Panthers 3 years now and has started 47 of the 48 games played those years. Even though the perception is that John Fox’s team is a running team, Delhomme’s numbers paint a different picture. Delhomme has completed 59.1% of his passes as a Panther for 10,526 yards with 72 TD passes and 47 pick-offs. Delhomme is a great leader who owns a 84.5 career QB rating. Delhomme is the one player on the Panthers that if he were lost to injury would ruin their season.

Chris Weinke is the back-up QB. After one year of watching him start (it was as a rookie) the Panthers knew that had to find a starter. The Panthers were a poor team that season, but CW had a lot to do with that. So in his five year career he has appeared in 24 games (16 starts, but only one in the last four years) and completed only 53.6% of his passes for 3,175 yards. Weinke has only thrown 12 TD passes and a whopping 22 interceptions in his career for a horrible 60.4 career QB rating.

Stefan LeFors out of Louisville is the third-string QB for now, but if something were to happen to Delhomme who knows? LeFors was a good college QB, but he hasn’t appeared in an NFL game yet. The one knock on him coming out of college was his arm strength, but no one can knock him as a leader. He’s the only one in his family that can hear, so he is excellent at giving signs pre-snap to players because he’s been talking with his hands his whole life. You can’t help but to root for this guy if he’s given a chance to play.