Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

Rivera, 49, pulls out a leather chair for me, and, rather than sit behind his desk, takes an identical chair a few feet away. He is gracious and, perhaps, reserved, although Panthers receiver Armanti Edwards might disagree.

Edwards is the former Appalachian State quarterback for whom the Panthers traded their second-round pick in April's draft.

"Rod Chudzinski (Carolina's new offensive coordinator) was in Cleveland when they had (Joshua) Cribbs," says Rivera. "I'd like to see similar things with Armanti."

Cribbs dazzled opponents with kick and punt returns, receptions and crazed rushes out of the Wildcat formation.

Rivera met with Edwards.

"I thought we were going to have a conversation but apparently we had a speech because I did all the talking," says Rivera. "But what a nice young man. He (his ability) is dynamic, and we've got to find a way to get him involved."

Adds Rivera: "That's true for every player on the roster. We have to find roles for everybody. Nobody is a backup. They're part of what we do."

One week through training camp, Edwards has been hard to miss. He’s been a popular target in seven-on-seven passing drills. He fields punts between sets with the offense.

Edwards even got a special visit from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who stopped to shake hands with him during his Wednesday visit to Wofford College, one of just a few players Goodell spoke with directly.

LaFell is rooming with Edwards at Wofford and said when they aren’t on the field or in meetings, they’re usually talking with quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton about the new offense they’re installing.

“We just do it all day,” LaFell said.

In the intense learning process for new coach Ron Rivera and his staff, Edwards is a player who’s captured his attention and his praise, more than once.

There’s a decent battle brewing here at training camp between second-year wide receivers David Gettis, Brandon LaFell and Armanti Edwards, all of whom are in the mix to start opposite Steve Smith. The Panthers could still add some outside help if someone they like comes available, but there’s a growing feeling they go with that they have and look to develop their draft picks, which has been part of general manager Marty Hurney’s plan all along.

Coach Ron Rivera, who has developed an early reputation for being forthcoming and honest with his answers, considers Smith the team’s No. 1 receiver but said the No. 2 spot is “up in the air.”

“I think LaFell and Gettis have both shown spurts that they have that kind of ability (to be the No. 2 receiver) and it’s going to be which one takes the bull by the horns and steps up,” Rivera said. “And I think with what Armanti has done, he’s shown us that he deserves an opportunity, and we’ll find places to put him on the field. I’m real excited about (Edwards) and real intrigued about his abilities.”

CID1990 wrote:Some AZ fans are already talking a possible future Pro Bowl for Andre Roberts:

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2011/08/05/ ... e-roberts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Carolina Panthers seem intent on finding ways to get Armanti Edwards involved in the offense this year, even if that means using him at quarterback.

The Panthers spent a decent portion of Tuesday’s practice working Edwards at the Wildcat position (while splitting Cam Newton out wide at receiver), his first work at that position since the start of training camp on July 30. It’s something they experimented with briefly last season, but conservative coach John Fox never fully embraced Edwards as a player in the offense.

That’s about to change.

New coach Ron Rivera believes Edwards, who has been working hard to earn a roster spot at wide receiver, can bring another dimension to the offense when he steps on the field.

Rivera said he likes Edwards’ “elusiveness, his athletic ability and his ability to throw the football.”


And he also likes the element of surprise when he lines up in the shotgun.

“If you can put some doubt in people’s mind as to what he’s going to do it’s going to help you offensively,” Rivera said. “Armanti can be a kind of guy that when he comes on the field it’s not always in a Wildcat situation.

“Now you don’t know how to prepare for it. One minute the quarterback is under center with Armanti as a center and the next minute Armanti is there and it’s, ‘Hey is he going to run it or throw it?’ It can add to what we do offensively.”

Rivera should know.

As a former defensive coordinator Rivera was forced to prepare for similar offenses in the past.

When asked how much time it takes for a coordinator to prepare for such nuances, Rivera said, “Too much. It really does. For a team to only go one or two or three times (a game) it’s a huge distraction.”

For Edwards looked good working out of the shotgun, highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown pass to David Clowney. However, he was also picked by cornerback Cletis Gordon after underthrowing an open Steve Smith.

CID1990 wrote:Some AZ fans are already talking a possible future Pro Bowl for Andre Roberts:

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2011/08/05/ ... e-roberts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AZGrizFan wrote:

CID1990 wrote:Some AZ fans are already talking a possible future Pro Bowl for Andre Roberts:

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2011/08/05/ ... e-roberts/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He needs to step up big time with the departure of Boldin last year and Breaston this year.

citdog wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
He needs to step up big time with the departure of Boldin last year and Breaston this year.

That guy doesn't know how to fail. He is a winner....

Appaholic wrote:

citdog wrote:

That guy doesn't know how to fail. He is a winner....

....except in Boone. Your "team" was a comedy routine...

Edwards already making a difference

A year ago, Armanti Edwards had a dreadful debut as a punt returner in Bank of America Stadium.

It was a different scene Saturday night.

Edwards averaged 23 yards on two punt returns against the New York Giants, offering a glimpse of why coach Ron Rivera believes he can be a difference-maker for the Panthers.

"I was one defender away on two punts from going the distance," Edwards said.

During the offseason, Edwards worked extensively with former Panthers receiver Muhsin Muhammad and former NFL punt returner Gari Scott, refining both skills. Instead of fumbling punts as he did in the exhibition opener last year, Edwards attacked the returns.

"I had a hard time judging the ball last year," Edwards said. "This summer, I tried to focus on catching the ball. Once you catch, it's back to football and what everybody does with the ball - just run with it."

Edwards also caught one pass for 36 yards but dropped one when a Giants defender stripped it from him.

"I've got to catch the balls I get my hands on," Edwards said.

Rivera liked what he saw from the former Appalachian State All-American.

"He gave us some energy," Rivera said. "With his elusiveness and his vision, if we block and do the things we're supposed to do as a special teams unit, the young man's going to do that for us. It's going to fall on us as a special teams unit to give him opportunities."

Best catch of Carolina's practice Monday night was supplied by Armanti Edwards. Edwards broke open across the middle, and Cam Newton's pass appeared to be over his head. But Edwards reached high and plucked the ball out of the air.

Skjellyfetti wrote:AE named Player of the Game for Panthers first preseason game. I think this new coach knows how to use his talent.