First look at minicamp notes

Let's hope not, bubbs.

Connor took some reps later in the day with the ones, but when they took their first snaps in team drills, Seward was the first MLB, out there with Thomas Davis and Landon Johnson. Seward also took some snaps at SLB with the reserves.

Vincent was with the ones at RG, Brown with the twos at LG.

Diggs never played MLB that I remember.

Thanks for the heads up.

Interesting notes on the depth chart:
*It seems Salley is out of the mix at FS, which makes me think they're going Godfrey or bust, because Holt just doesn't have the coverage skills to make it there. He's bombed in chances to play the position in Arizona and Detroit.
*I'm one of the people that thinks Otah was in no way worth trading up for, but when you look at our OT depth behind Bridges, things get pretty scary. I don't want Omiyale or Riley (who actually might be a long shot to stick because he can play all five spots on the line) in during the regular season.
*With McClover backing up Peppers on the right, I'd guess that means he's not in serious consideration to start on either side.
*Dante Rosario with the ones? Did he look like he'd bulked up since last year?

With Rosario running with the first stringers, it, at first glance, wouldn't seem to fit the Panthers offensive stategy--a pass-catching tightend who is grossly undersized to fit in a power scheme--but on the other hand it would seem to present an advantageous mismatch in the passing game.

Or maybe the coaches were just toying with something new.

It might have been a little test for him in the unfortunate event that King were to go down. He's solid, consistent, and they know what they're gonna get, but the idea of Rosario having to be an every-down TE is something he'll have to prove.

teams don't do that "just in case". They're not going to waste time and change a lineup for no reason. They're going to do it to put the better player on the field.

they made sure Jon Beason scheduled his surgery around minicamp. They wouldn't want to give somebody else reps if he's the better player, right?

what surgery is King having? Are there any other excuses to get out?

He was on the field but was demoted. of course, maybe in your world Beason and King are on the same level. In mine, King's a guy so "great" he just got replaced on the field and we just drafted another TE.

They were so happy with him they figured he could rest by taking fewer snaps as a backup, right?

That's why they're rushing back Delhomme. Also must be why they kept Otah off the field. Everybody knows how important those minicamps are.

no, seriously, what injury does King have? Why do you keep comparing him to guys that are off the field for rehab?

The guy got demoted. Fox isn't just being nice and giving other people a shot.

Rosario did sort of explode on the scene the last three games. No shame in being the 2nd TE for King, the last three games last year were like "whoa, what's THIS guy (Rosario) doing!" Plus, it was only Jeff Davidson's 1st year where the TE would be more involved. Now it's year two. Rosario, the next Wesley Walls? A little too early, but nice thought.

But Rosario gives up size to Walls, and a LOT of size to King. Can't see why we'd go to a relatively weak blocker if the plan is to establish the run game. I do find it interesting, though, that Rosario's now listed at 6-4, 250 instead of 6-3, 240 (King stayed at 6-3, 260.) He's got a lot of potential as a pass-catcher...blocking (and King's very solid performance in his first shot on the field) was my only reservation about him as the starter. I also think A catch-and-run like Rosario pulled off against Seattle is something I haven't seen from our TEs in a while.

Also, unless we're going to let King walk after this year (he's an RFA at the end of the season), one of our three guys will probably need to change positions to get the most out of their ability, and Rosario's experience as an FB makes me lean towards him moving.

Oh, and finally, Magnus...I wasn't the only one who didn't see Rosario as the clear-cut #1 just because of how they were running in camp:
"By drafting Gary Barnidge out of Louisville and "demoting" King, the coaching staff may be trying to motivate their incumbent starter."
--Rotoworld.com (http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Nfl&id=3731)

wow. Nothing says confidence like demoting him for motivation. But even that guy gets that he's actually being demoted and isn't just making excuses.

Walls was 250. If King could block like he was 260, he wouldn't be sitting.

Big for a Panthers TE - he's not Tony Gonzalez. Rosario only came in the last 3 games, so who knows. Either way, it's a far (positive) cry from Dan Henning, who treated the TE as an extra tackle. We get all these pass-catchers out there with coverage, Williams and Stewart should have a much easier time of running the rock.

And King's numbers weren't just good for the Panthers...he was legitimately a top 20 TE last year in spite of our offense's woes (or maybe partly because of them?), which neither Mangum nor Gaines ever were.