Who surprised you last night vs Carolina? (in a good way)

[Canuck]

For me it was Blount but not for his running which I thought was good but for his receiving.

 

[bbobbo]

I must be the only person who hasn't seen Foster play yet, but given the remaining choices to choose from, it looks to me that White is the most expendable.

I know be looked good last night, but is Blount still a lock?

Bolden's ST play and ability to be the big back sub, along with his receiving ability makes him a really tough cut for me.

he catches the ball away from his body, turns upfield pretty quickly. looks good to me:




makes a nice cut inside here after the outside gets taken away:

 

[bbobbo]

@MikeReiss
Playing-time note: Undrafted free-agent CB Cre'von LeBlanc played team-high 59 snaps. Coaches evaluating as he makes charge for roster spot.

The same treatment Butler got in 2014 vs. the Panthers in the third preseason game. He more than held his own vs. Funchess, Benjamin, and Ginn in the first half.

He covered 6'4/6'5 WRs on the outside and was step for step with Ted Ginn on a deep pass. He's made the team as CB5 imo.

Also, his 40 time of 4.67 seems as erroneous as Butler's 4.62. He's got game speed.

here, he gave up 10 yards and a first down to funchess. made sure there were no YAC:


he came back the very next play and broke up a pass to funchess:

 

[bbobbo]

Guys not mentioned yet:
Logan Ryan - of course got plenty of love in the game thread, but he definitely played great. Interesting how effective he has been particularly on bigger wideouts going back to last year. Listed at 5-11, 195 but he's got long arms and good awareness for the football which allow him to compete with the 6-3,6-4 guys when he's in good position, which was pretty much every play last night.

And I gotta throw some love Hightower's way. Not a bunch of highlight plays last night, but just impressed with him overall. He's always been a big dude with good straight line speed for his size, but I swear he has made big improvements in his lateral agility. There were a couple plays where I just watched him (in coverage or working around the line) and thought there is no way a 6'3+, 265+ guy should be able to move like that. I love how he's being used on the edge a bit more this year too, and, again I don't think he has registered any sacks but he's an even better rusher than I previously thought. Thought he was violent with his hands with good speed as mentioned before. I think this might go against the general consensus but I think he is the LB we will focus on locking up first over Collins, as DH is the rock you build around and what he does partially allows Collins to do his thing.

i like this one where he de-cleats bersin:

 

[p8ryts]

Yeah, though he still "is what he is" in relation to short yardage. He's an effective running back, but he absolutely must work on lowering his head and shoulders in short yardage. got notably stood up while not getting a first down he could have IMO.

He could be a star for whatever time he has left, if he corrects this problem. Still an effective part of a committee otherwise.

Yes, that 3rd and 1 was classic. He was turned toward the line should have had some momentum and was completely stopped and spun in his tracks by Kuechly. A big back should definitely have got that extra yard after contact. He's big but not a big back.

 

[PScottman]

I wouldn't be shocked if he took one to the house this season.

He seems a lot like Irving Fryar with his punt returns though - he will sometimes go too horizontal to try and make the big play vice taking the 8-10 yards that are there now. That and he's shown some issues with catching which as we saw last year can be the difference between home field and away late in the season.

 

[PatsFan37]

here, he gave up 10 yards and a first down to funchess. made sure there were no YAC. Hhe came back the very next play and broke up a pass to funchess.

Notably, on the first play he had no help over the top, so he played conservative to prevent a big play from a guy who can win the battle on a high pass. On the second play, he had Harmon behind him, so he played the ball and made a really well-timed leap. Very heady play, especially for a rookie, and against big starting NFL WRs on a top team. I know we say this every year about every binkie, but it's hard to imagine he'll make it through waivers.