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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Anthony Rizzuti

Panthers training camp tracker: Observations and takeaways from Day 7

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After a fun-filled Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday night, the Carolina Panthers were back in Spartanburg for practice this morning.

Here are the top observations and takeaways from their return to Wofford College fields on Friday:

OLB competition is moving along swimmingly

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero talked about the team’s need for a pass rusher alongside Pro Bowler Brian Burns. While he did acknowledge that someone has to break through, he said he’s also content with the work from the position thus far:

“Yeah, there’s a lot of great competition there. Yetur’s [Gross-Matos] doing a great job, getting better. DJ’s [Johnson] coming along. [Amaré] Barno’s coming along. Kobe’s [Jones] is doing a great job. So as we get into camp, as we get more padded practices, as we get into the preseason games—I think it’ll tell more of the story.

“But really love the progression of those guys. But we need somebody to step up—that’s a fact. And we gotta continue to push those guys towards it.”

Panthers have a 'good idea' about how to use Jeremy Chinn

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Evero also spoke on the versatility and value of safety Jeremy Chinn, who will likely be used in a number of ways this season. He didn’t lay it out precisely, but Evero said he and his staff have to put Chinn in positions where he can affect the game:

“I think we got a good idea about where he is. When you go through the whole offseason and you go through this first part of training camp—and Jeremy’s so good about communicating with the coaches and talking to the coaches, asking questions, gettin’ up and doing extra time. So I feel like we’ve developed a really good rapport with him and I think we got a good feeling of where he’s at.”

Defensive line is building up chemistry (and jokes)

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Shy Tuttle gave us a small inside look at how the team’s new-look defensive front is coming along:

“One word?!? We can’t be described off one word. Funny, maybe? Yeah, let’s say funny.”

He was then asked who the group’s biggest jokester is:

“Derrick Brown is probably the biggest [expletive] talker amongst the D-line. I wasn’t allowed to say that word?

“I can’t come in the meeting room without him talking about me. Like, it’s crazy. And you guys, ‘Derrick is so quiet.’ I’m like, ‘No, he’s not.’”

Notable observations

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