Great article.

INDIANAPOLIS —
On Thursday, Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning was refreshingly open and honest about the some of the team’s most important issues entering the next couple of months. Henning talked about the importance of re-signing quarterback Rodney Peete, his deep concerns over whether injured running back DeShaun Foster will ever play football again, and the future of Lamar Smith and Wesley Walls during a 45-minute interview with Gaston Gazette reporter Steve Reed at the NFL Scouting Combines in Indianapolis.

Here is what Henning had to say:

Q. What does this offense need personnel-wise to make a vast improvement over last season?

Henning: “We need an infusion. There’s no position that couldn’t use an infusion of ability and leadership and talent. We have a number of guys on offense that are good, hard-working contributors. But we need quarterback help, receiver help, tight end help. If DeShaun Foster came back, we would be fine at that position because we have some real steady players to go along with that. But if he doesn’t come back, we’ll need more help there. And we need two or three new offensive linemen. We need a left guard, a right guard and now with Chris Terry gone (to Seattle) we need a right tackle.”

Q. Do you feel it’s important to re-sign Rodney Peete?

Henning: “I think it’s important to have Rodney back and I think we want him back. In between Rodney and the Carolina Panthers are agents ... The job of the agent is to get the best deal for Rodney. But Rodney would like to come back and we’d like to have him back. And, [/B] my gut feeling is that it will work out ... I know that I would like to have him back and he would like to be back. [/B] I think this is the best place for him. I think he is the best guy for us right now to build around. And we need to try and get somebody better, too.”

Q. Would you prefer that “somebody better” to be a rookie or an experienced free agent quarterback?

Henning: “I prefer to have a good one, young or veteran. But in reality I’d like to have both. What’s best for the franchise right now? In my opinion, it would be to have Rodney and to have some veteran competition that may be younger than Rodney, but of a similar ilk — accurate and experienced. And then, if your fortunate enough and the right one fell to you in the draft, to have that guy be able to come in and be able to learn without having to go in the way Chris (Weinke) had to go in as a rookie. I think some of the most devastating things can happen to young players when they play as a rookie without much chance.”

Q. Do you feel like Chris Weinke will be back with the team this year?

Henning: “It’s a matter of what’s available. I would like to have somebody whose played and who’s had experience in our system. Now we don’t have Rodney signed, and right now the next guy is Chris. We still have (Randy) Fasani, but with the little work that he’s had, we don’t know about him yet. He’s all potential. The state of the union when it comes to the quarterback position is it’s really up in the air.”

Q. Do you like the free agent crop of quarterbacks that are expected to become available?

Henning: “This is my opinion, but our best chance at a free agent is the one who played for us last year — Rodney Peete. When I look at the list of free agents, Rodney is as good as anybody on there. That’s my first quest. Supposed Dallas signs Rodney, then you don’t know which way to go. So, (general manager) Marty Hurney is under the gun a little bit there (to get Peete signed before he becomes a free agent Feb. 28).

Q. What about tight end Wesley Walls? He’s been to five Pro Bowls but his production has slowly tapered off and he also has a large cap figure. Is there any way he returns?

Henning: “He finished the season injured, and he’s older, and his knees are a problem. He has to determine whether he wants to continue this business and then we have to determine whether he fits in with what John is trying to do. I don’t know what the time frame is there. Plus, you also have a monetary situation there; and you have to wonder how much is he able to contribute for the price that you’d be paying him ... John Fox’s number one concern at the tight end position is blocking. When you’re 37 years old and your knees are hurting, Wesley knows, and John knows and I know he’s not as good a blocker as he was. You’re not going to be as good a blocker as you were at 25. So if the emphasis is on running the ball, then our objective is to get the best blocking tight end and try to fit him into the passing game. And when you are in obvious passing situations, then you go with Wesley, or with a wide receiver at that spot. All of those factors enter into how much he would be factored in.”

Q. Are you comfortable with tight end Kris Mangum and his progression as a player?

Henning: “He could be a better blocker. I like his tenacity; I like his consistency, I like his dedication. What I preach all the time is be the same guy every day, and Kris Mangum is the same guy every day. Until you get a really good one, he’s the type you want. He’s a pro, he doesn’t make mistakes. He gets himself in position all the time. Sometimes he gets whipped, but it’s not because he’s not good enough. And it’s not because he hasn’t worked to get there.”

Q. Do you feel like you need another big-play wide receiver or are you content with Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith entering the 2003 season as your starting receivers again?

Henning: “There is no position on offense where we couldn’t be strengthened from the top. Muhsin’s not 25 anymore and he makes a lot of money. But he’s a really good competitor and you like to be around him. You know he’s going to go into a game and he’s going to compete. He’s going to make catches and he’s going to physically compete against the opponent. The other guy (Steve Smith) is an inexperienced, inconsistent performer with talent to burn. He’s capable of making plays like the best in the league. He’s also capable of not being where you want him to be, only through inexperience. Isaac Byrd was our third guy, and he was hurt on and off halfway through the season. So you’ve got to use Karl Hankton, who was really being overworked on special teams. We tried to use Anthony Bright but he really didn’t catch the ball under pressure. So, do we need another receiver? Darn right we do. Two would be nice. Two, and maybe one could be a returner and take a load off of Steve. And a good one. I’m not talking about a backup guy, but one that could maybe have a little speed on the outside and also go into the slot and win on third-and-five, those nifty downs, where you know you’ve got to win one-on-one because they’re playing man-to-man coverage.”

Q. What about your offensive line?

Henning: “Kevin Donnalley’s a solid guy but he’s older and he’s physically on the slide. But he’s pretty steady. I think Melvin Tuten’s a steady guy but I’m not sure he’s a starter. He’s a steady backup. If I were to get my wish list, we’d get a free agent wide receiver, we’d get a rookie wide receiver. We’d get a free agent tight end, we’d get a rookie tight end. We’d get a couple of free agent offensive linemen and a college draftee. We’d get a free agent quarterback and we’d get a college quarterback. And DeShaun Foster would miraculously be healthy.”

Q. How worried are you about DeShaun Foster’s health and his ability to play again at the same level?

Henning: “I’m worried like hell about it. When we drafted DeShaun there were all sorts of questions about him — the fumbling, his pass-catching and everything. But none of that was a factor because when he came in and worked hard and didn’t fumble the ball in practice and made plays and caught the ball. And all of a sudden he gets hurt. It was a just a crushing blow. Just crushing. We felt like we had something special. We felt like we not only got Julius Peppers in the first round, but we probably got the best running back in the draft, too. We sweated all through the first day of the draft to get DeShaun. I’m disappointed for the guy because I really like him. Am I worried about him coming back? Yeah, because it’s an unusual injury. It’s not something that you can say, ‘With the right rehab it’s six weeks or eight weeks, two weeks or six months.’ Hey, it could be never — and that’s the worst part.”

Q. Lamar Smith got into some trouble off the field last season. What is your take on his future and the rest of your running back situation at the moment?

“Lamar … that decision will be made based on what is available. Lamar did a marvelous job for us. Him and Rodney were our leaders on offense. When we came in here, the biggest thing was for us to make an attitude adjustment. And Lamar had a great game against Minnesota. But then he had the turf toe and then he got the cramps in the Green Bay game and had to leave early. And then he ran into the mess (the DUI charge) that he had Thanksgiving week. But we found out after that thought that Dee Brown is not bad and Nick Goings is a good runner.”

Q. Fullback Brad Hoover is a restricted free agent. Do you like his chances of returning?

Henning: “I think Brad Hoover, we could do with Brad Hoover what Tampa Bay does down there with Mike Alstott. He has a good hands for a fullback and he can catch the ball downfield too as you saw last season. Brad Hoover is a steady guy. He’s here. He will be with us and should be with us. And I don’t care if someone comes in and takes his position, he’ll still be here because he can backup at fullback or running back or be a special teams player. Or he can start, too. So I like Brad Hoover. Would you like to have better? Sure you would as far as bigger and faster.”

 

It's stuff like this that endeared me to Henning last year during camp and preseason. He's a frank, no-nonsense guy.

And damned if he isn't discussing the same needs we are, which means he's gotta be on the right track.

 

This has been the best part about having Henning here.

 

I'd prefer a better offense, but this makes the bad medicine taste better.

Hopefully we improve.

 

Y'all missed the part in the observer where he talked about QBs and they led you to believe that he wouldn't pick a QB high if it's not Palmer. Which means our great infusion of talent very well could come from Brian St. Pierre. Which means we'll be looking at every QB that ever comes out from now until this guy retires.

The rest is somewhat interesting, but terribly common sense. That Mangum's the next step down from "Special", I don't know about that. I also don't think it's inexperience hindering Smith's ability to be consistent.

>> I would like to have somebody whose played and who’s had experience in our system.

Uh oh.
I'm not even going to say it.

 

That was my point. The offense sucks, but at least he says what you want to hear w/ the exception of rather having Peete than any of the other FA's.

 

I was just thinking, if we don't get a QB in the first round, then when will we grab one. It looks like RB is high on our priority list and the second round seems to be the round to grab one of those. What legit QB's will be around in the third that could help us out after only one year on the sidelines?

 

You're going to hate yourself for asking.
Ken Dorsey would be ready to play, Kingsbury could be ready,
Gesser, we could let Seneca Wallace or Brad Banks run around and pretend to be QBs.


I'm not comfortable with these. They scream mediocrity. Never ending, eternal mediocrity. So I guess we're in the mercy of free agency, and possibly, someone who's played for Henning before, since that's the mark of brilliance.

 

There's alot to do. Considering Henning mentioned 2 WR's, 2 TE's, 2 Guards, One Tackle, 2 QB's, and an RB - I'd guess we gotta go best available of that group at each pick. And there will be some defense drafted, too, so that leaves alot needed in FA.

I'm not terribly concerned that he doesn't want to trade up and get Lefty or Palmer - and I like it that he doesn't want to start a rookie.

There's alot to happen before the draft.

 

I'd rather there not be anyting we say "no, we're not going to do this." I'd rather we not be against a rookie QB - fuck winning in 2003. It won't matter in 2006, will it? The rook wouldn't start now anyway.
If we do FA, we do FA. I'm just not going to say that it's great because Dan Henning says it's great.