Associated Press
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ó The last thing Armanti Edwards was worried about as a rookie was throwing passes for the Carolina Panthers. His sole focus, he was told last season, was learning to play wide receiver and return punts, no easy task considering he played quarterback at Appalachian State.
Now thatís changed to some degree.
ěItís ironic, now I have to get used to playing quarterback again,î Edwards said.
He isnít competing for a starting quarterback spot with Cam Newton or Jimmy Clausen, but based on what the team has done in practice offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski plans to use him occasionally in the Wildcat formation ó with Newton split out wide.
Although the Panthers are installing an entirely new offensive scheme and are pressed for time in this NFL lockout-shortened offseason, they devoted more than 30 minutes of practice Tuesday morning to Edwards taking snaps out of the shotgun, which goes to show how serious they are about using him.
He ran. He handed off. And, of course, he threw the ball.
There was some good and some bad. He showed great quickness and completed a 65-yard touchdown pass to David Clowney that got a rise out of his teammates. He also under threw a wide open Steve Smith on another deep route and intercepted.
ěIím a little rusty,î Edwards admitted with a laugh.
Still, his comfort level in the pocket was reminiscent of what Edwards did at Appalachian State, where he was the only two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award given to the nationís NCAA FCS Player of the Year.
ěThe one thing you donít want to do is line up where everybody knows where youíre going,î Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. ěYou donít want to always be throwing it to the same guy or handing it to the same guy. You also want to create different looks and stress your opponent a little bit.î
Rivera said he likes Edwardsí elusiveness, his athletic ability and his arm strength.
But more than anything he likes the element of surprise.
ěIf you can put some doubt in peopleís mind as to what heís going to do, itís going to help you offensively,î Rivera said. ěArmanti can be a kind of guy that when he comes on the field itís not always in a Wildcat situation.
ěNow you donít know how to prepare for it. One minute the quarterback is under center with Armanti (at receiver) and the next minute Armanti is there and itís, ëHey is he going to run it or throw it?í It can add to what we do offensively.î
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, ěToo much. It really does. For a team to only go one or two or three times (a game) itís a huge distraction.î
Edwards said the Panthers have already installed five different plays specifically designed for him with more to come.
ěItís very exciting to see they have a lot of plays they want to put in down the road depending on what team we play,î Edwards said. ěThis offense is going to be very exciting this year.î
The Panthers experimented with Edwards in the shotgun some last year, but only ran two plays all season. He was never a big favorite of former coach John Fox, who had a reputation for playing veteran players over rookies.
Edwards is currently fifth on the depth chart at wide receiver and second at punt returner.
Heís not listed at quarterback.
But heíll be out there from time to time, thatís for sure.
ěWe had been talking about this before the lockout and after the lockout,î Edwards said. ěI knew it was coming. I just didnít know we were going to install some already during camp … They said once we get good at this weíll do even more.î
SMITHíS FINGER
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith injured his finger during Tuesday’s padded practice, but coach Ron Rivera confirmed it’s not broken and isn’t anything that will keep him out of any regular season games.
Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, sustained a cut near the base of his left middle finger that required stitches, but x-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith injured the finger while attempting to catch a pass in Tuesday morning’s practice.
“There was no dislocation,” Rivera said. “The ball went right in between (his fingers).”
Smith, the team’s No. 1 receiver, left Tuesday’s practice early on a golf cart to have his finger checked out by the medical staff. He did not participate in the night practice. He’s expected to miss about a week or so. Smith was spotted in the team’s dining room a few hours after the injury with the middle finger on his left hand heavily wrapped.