• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

CB/WR Chris Gamble (All B1G, All-American, National Champion)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Gamble at WR?

With Steve Smith going down with a broken leg could the Panthers be giving any thought to Gamble playing some WR?
The Broncos are using Bailey on offense, why not give Gamble a play or two or three over there.
At least he would draw a lot of attention.
 
Upvote 0
Unfortunately the Panthers need him just as bad at DB as they do at WR. They need a deep threat, but an injury to Hawkins forced Gamble in at starting corner. Starting two ways in the Pro game is MUCH more difficult to do in the pros than it is in college. As a rookie, I don't think Gamble can handle the pressure physically or mentally. They need him rested and I think that, barring huge strides in his play, the Panthers will only be able to play him one way. I'd love to see it though!

They could use a player like him at the receiver spot, however.
 
Upvote 0
It looks like Colbert will replace Smith at WR but Gamble will assume his kick off return duties.

Gamble

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Steve Smith had surgery Tuesday on his broken left leg, leaving the Carolina Panthers searching for replacements for their top receiver and punt returner.

Both candidates _ Keary Colbert at receiver and Chris Gamble at returning kicks _ are rookies.

"Obviously that's a blow to lose a guy like Steve Smith," coach John Fox said. "Obviously he's a big-play guy for us both offensively and in the kicking game. But as is football, there's injuries."

Smith, who signed a $27.5 million contract extension in the offseason, led the Panthers last season with career-highs in receptions (88), yards receiving (1,110) and touchdowns (7). He also averaged 28.1 yards per kickoff return.

He broke his leg late in the fourth quarter of Carolina's 24-14 Monday night loss to Green Bay when he rolled his ankle as he was being tackled after a catch.

Smith made his way through the lockerroom on a pair of steel crutches after the game, needing help from a Panthers staff member to put his sock and shoe on his good foot.

One by one, the rest of the Panthers made their way to his locker to check on him.

"Steve Smith is very special out there for us, he's our home run hitter," safety Mike Minter said. "We are definitely going to miss him."

Fox said he was unsure how long Smith will be out, but broken fibulas typically take at least eight weeks to heal.

So the Panthers will turn to Colbert, their second-round pick out of Southern California.

Colbert was inactive against the Packers, but is expected to make his first start Sunday at Kansas City. In limited preseason action, Colbert caught eight passes and averaged 34.6 yards per catch.

"We feel good about Keary Colbert," Fox said. "Steve Smith was a big-play guy and really everything Keary Colbert's showed us, he's a big-play guy. He's going to get his opportunity."

Gamble returned kicks last season at Ohio State, totaling 92 yards on 20 punt returns and 115 yards on six kickoff returns. In the preseason, he returned one punt for two yards for Carolina.

Carolina will also try Eugene Baker at returning kicks in practice this week, but he likely won't see any game action because he's a receiver and the Panthers already have four who are active each week.

So the job will probably fall to Gamble by default, at a time when the first-round pick is already adjusting to starting in the secondary.

"Chris Gamble is going to be a very good football player in this league, sooner rather than later," Fox said.

The Panthers hope it is very soon, after falling flat in their season-opener.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
I think that Carolina could pick up a receiver of Gamble quality off of waivers. They only REALLY need a receiver until Smith comes back and WR is one of the most difficult positions for a rookie to pick up. Obviously he's got freak athletic skill, but it takes precision, brains, experience and refined ability to do it at the NFL level. He could go out and prove me wrong. Gamble hasn't learned the offense because they were so concerned with how raw he was at corner. I think even a journyman veteren receiver would be better than Gamble as a rookie. Had remained only a receiver in college, I'm not sure he would be drafted in the first 7 rounds.

I agree with Mili, once the weather cools off, he could maybe handle the load...but would they risk retarding his CB growth to give him offensive reps in practice, only to be a mediocre receiver?
 
Upvote 0
OilerBuck said:
WR is one of the most difficult positions for a rookie to pick up. Obviously he's got freak athletic skill, but it takes precision, brains, experience and refined ability to do it at the NFL level.
Click to expand...
Ah, c'mon.....Champ Bailey hasn't played offense in a long time and they put him in the backfield and split him out.
I think WR is one of the easier positions to play in football. Especially compared to QB or a RB. (or even a "O" lineman with all of the various blocking formations) A Rb has to read defenses, have blocking assignments, pick up blitzes, etc.
A WR still only has to run a route. Being precise with it is an art. But as far as WR being one of the most difficult postions to play.....well, that just isn't the way it is. You see the ball, catch the ball.
Gamble still spent most of his time in colleger as a WR. It's natural to him.
 
Upvote 0
sears3820 said:
But that's just it, Gamble wasn't much of a WR in college. His route-running and hands were less than stellar.
Click to expand...
That I cannot argue with. He may have been drafted as a WR. But certainly not very high at all.
But still, how far is he behind Carolina's other option, KC?
He's way ahead of that ex Trojan in athleticism, and not that far behind him as a WR.
I sure like Gamble's 6"1" frame vs. Colbert's 5'10" frame.
 
Upvote 0
Jeezopete said:
But still, how far is he behind Carolina's other option, KC?
Click to expand...
I think that he;s not far behind him on Fox's list of WR's but I dont think KC is the receiver he'd ideally like to have either. I think Fox is looking for a deep threat. Muhammed is a tough blocker, Proehl is a possession receiver but now they lack a home run threat and I dont think either CG or KC fit the bill. This loss is going to KILL Carolina because now they can't spread the field for their run game. I wouldn't expect a knee jerk reaction from the team, but they need to get a big play guy from somewhere.
 
Upvote 0
Gamble vs Jenkins......

http://newsobserver.com/sports/story/1689739p-7935140c.html
Click to expand...

Gamble, Jenkins ready to play
Former Buckeyes face off Sunday

By DARIN GANTT, The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald

CHARLOTTE -- The past two years, Carolina Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble had a chance to hone his skills daily in practice against one of the best.


So did Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins.

The former Ohio State football stars went from friendly competition in practice each day with the Buckeyes to a twice-yearly real competition, which will begin Sunday when the Falcons play at Bank of America Stadium.

"It's going to feel kind of awkward at first," Jenkins said. "We were getting after it every day in practice for so long, and now we have to play against each other two times a year." <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=193 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The fact that both NFL teams are counting heavily on their young Buckeyes will make their matchups even more intense.

The Panthers, long in need of a true shutdown cornerback, traded up in the first round to get Gamble with the 28th overall pick this spring.

The Falcons also traded up, moving to the very next spot to grab Jenkins in hopes of finding a complement to speedy Peerless Price to stretch the field for quarterback Michael Vick.

Looking to Ohio State for talent is no new phenomenon. The Buckeyes had 36 players on opening-day rosters, fifth-most in the NFL.

And the level of talent there feeds itself because daily competition makes the players better.

"He was always good," Gamble said of Jenkins, who left Ohio State as the school's all-time leader in receiving yards. "It helped me learning to play my position by going against him all the time."

"He'll turn into a [very] good cornerback, there's no doubt about that," Jenkins said of Gamble, who started his Ohio State career as a receiver before making the switch his sophomore year. "He's just a true athlete. I mean, he came as a receiver, switched positions, and turned into a good corner. That kind of ability is unique."

Gamble already has shown signs of that: He grabbed the first interception of his NFL career during the fourth quarter of the Panthers' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I felt the route coming, I read it, read the quarterback," Gamble said. "I just feel more and more comfortable every day out there."

Making an interception this week against Jenkins would be even bigger, though there will be plenty of chances in the future.

Gamble is under contract through 2008 and Jenkins through 2009, meaning there's the potential for at least 10 more showdowns like the ones on their college practice fields. "It's going to be a good matchup for a while," Gamble said. "We'll just get after it and see who comes out on top."
Click to expand...

s6787.jpg
VS
s6788.jpg
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top