There are initial depth chart designations worth noting, and there are others that don’t mean a lot.
We’re not reading too much into the fact that Jimmy Clausen is listed as Carolina’s starting quarterback on the team’s first depth chart released on Tuesday.
It’s a sign Clausen will start the preseason opener, but that’s not a shock. Coach Ron Rivera has already said he won’t name a starter before Week One. Newton has been impressive in camp by all accounts, throwing two touchdown strikes over 65 yards.
“He’s on his back foot throwing 50-yard passes. I mean, c’mon,” Steve Smith said last week. “I’m not going to sit here every week and say how good Cam is. He didn’t win the Heisman Trophy because there was bad counting on the ballot.”
Some other notes from the depth chart:
1. Wideout Legedu Naanee is listed on the third team, which shows the depth chart may not mean much. He’s been running with the starters lately and could be the No. 2 wideout before it’s over.
2. 2009 second round pick Everette Brown has been demoted out of the starting lineup in favor of 2010 fourth-rounder Eric Norwood. The Panthers gave up a first round pick to nab Brown. That’s how you go 2-14.
3. Your Panthers starting defensive tackles: rookie Sione Fua and rarely used Corvey Irvin. Yeah, teams may want to run against Carolina.