Full Pads

Fulll pads right off the bat huh? Is this wise? I mean, we're really healthy going into camp considering past seasons, and I'm not sure what kind of shape they are in when they get to camp. I thought you got into playing condition, then put on pads. I guess we'll see who's ready, and who ain't. Meanwhile, I'll just sit with clutched fists and grind my teeth while waiting to hear about the first torn ACL.

I guess this will benefit Foster the most. The sooner they start hitting, the sooner he'll move up the depth chart. Peppers needs to see some pads too.

 

Fox did say the practices would be more physical than in the past. These guys need to be in better shape anyway. How many 4th quarter losses were because we simply ran out of gas last year. Hopefully they'll learn to tackle better also.

 

In a way, I like it, but there will be guys out there going full speed "tackling" our new draft pick, while trying to make an impression on the coaching staff. That kinda scares me a little bit.

 

Here's what Dan Morgan had to say about it (from a Gaston Gazette article)

"It will be more physical and I think that is what we want," linebacker Dan Morgan said. "We didn’t do a lot of hitting last year during two-a-days. In fact, going into our first game, that is when I made my first tackle. Personally, I think you have to hit a little during camp to get used to hitting. I think I’m going to like that part."
Maybe that’s why Fox likes Morgan so much — he’s his type of player.
It’s too bad he didn’t have about a dozen more Morgans.
Fox and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio have placed an emphasis on tackling, something the Panthers failed to do much of last season. Carolina finished last in the league in overall defense in 2001, giving up an average of 371.4 yards per game. They blew one fourth-quarter lead after another and collapsed at the most inopportune moments. In some cases, their tackling skills looked more like something you’d see at a Pop Warner game.
"I think that will come with practice," Morgan said. "I don’t think you can go through a camp and not hit anybody or tackle anybody and then go into a game and expect to make a lot of tackles. I think the emphasis on tackling will pay off."
"We’re just looking to erase any memories of last season," Morgan said. "We definitely don’t want to go through a season like last year, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to not go through another year like that."

This got me thinking......I wonder if at the Fan Day practice at the stadium if there will be actual hitting and tackling? We haven't seen it there in years.