This year the NFL expanded on their coverage by starting Back Together Saturday, which showed live training camp videos featuring all 32 teams.
The Carolina Panthers were showcased Saturday night at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The media and fans who were at the stadium had the opportunity to view what the team had been working on with some of their star players. Television viewers got to see several clips of the action on NFL network. Here are eight headlines observed by sources from the practice.
1. Panther fans support team – At the beginning of training camp, the fans did not come out to support the team and organization in big numbers. Saturday was a different story. Carolina fans showed up in droves for the event.
2. Jaycee Horn showed his talent – Horn, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft was very active in practice. He lined up at the line of scrimmage a number of times and was able to defend several plays. Horn had a highlight-worthy pass break up against wide receiver Marken Michel, which had the crowd in an uproar. Cornerback Donta Jackson also contributed with a couple of deflections on Robby Anderson and rookie Terrace Marshall.
3. Multiple Kick Returners – Carolina had three main kick off returners last evening, rookie running back Chuba Hubbard, wide receiver David Moore and RB/WR Trenton Cannon. Moore and Cannon got the majority of the reps at kick return, but all three players fielded every kick off without a fumble.
4. Sam Darnold likes the middle – Most of Darnold’s success was in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. They were quick, intermediate passes right down the middle to D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshall and Christian McCaffrey for first down catches. 2020 training camp stand-out Omar Bayless caught a slightly deeper ball over the middle.
5. Roby Anderson’s spectacular play – What could be considered the best play of the entire evening was made by wide receiver Roby Anderson. He made a spectacular one-handed grab over safety Sean Chandler on a perfect ball thrown by back-up quarterback Will Grier.
6. Chuba Hubbard makes plays – Although players are supposed to reframe from tackling, Hubbard displayed amazing agility and suddenness in team drills. Along with his explosiveness out of the backfield, he showed capability as a kick returner. This means that the team can use him in several different ways.
7. Coach Matt Rhule; team too aggressive – Rhule had to stop practice before the half-way point. He called the team together and he looked upset. After the practice was over, Rhule had a press conference with the media. He was upset about the over-aggressiveness, including some forbidden tackling.
8. Shaq Thompson left early – During practice, linebacker Shaq Thompson left the field with a trainer. Coach Rhule later stated that Thompson was suffering with some tightness in his lower extremities. Thompson did not return to practice and Denzel Perryman took the rest of his snaps.
Here’s a little extra – Some players put in extra work after practice. Tommy Tremble dropped a pass during team drills, so he worked with a trainer for half an hour after practice. Taylor Moton and Trent Scott stayed behind on the field with their loved ones taking advantage of the new league rules. Wide receiver C.J. Saunders and cornerback Keith Taylor stayed late working on their craft.
