Greg Bailey WCNC Sports Director

Also Online: See photos from training camp

Offensive line vs. defensive line

Both groups are trying to set a tone with intense and physical play. After they battle in one-on-one drills they get to crack each other again in group drills. This is supposed to be a half step slower than "full tackle" but that didn't last this morning.

Linebacker Adam Seward rocked ball carrier LaBrandon Toefield and the barking started. Damione Lewis was by far the most vocal defensive lineman, but the offense yelled right back when they made a nice play. Neither side wants to give and inch and everyone I asked - Stanley McClover, Jordan Gross, Jeff King - told me that day 3 is the day when you start to get tired of beating on the same people and everybody gets a little irritated. It's an interesting combination - tired enough to be irritated, but still fresh enough to fight if you have to.

Most intriguing coaching decision

The decision to push top draft pick Jonathan Stewart with multiple carries this morning. In the drill we described above, coaches called Stewart's number on 5 straight plays. It struck me as a little unusual, but I think the message is "let's see what you've got." Normally, running backs rotate in after a couple of plays, but Stewart was called back again and again. Her performed well by running hard. He also had to catch his breath after the last couple of carries. Message received - it's time to crank it up for NFL competition.

Best line of the day

Easy. In the group drills, Jake Delhomme rolled out to avoid the rush and threw a strike for a nice gain. Grabbing the defensive back (I thought it was Chris Harris) Jake smiled and said loudly, "First Down!"

Everybody laughed, but nobody more than Jake. He looked sharp in the morning workout before essentially taking the night practice off.

Biggest scare of the day

Easier. Steve Smith leaped high to try to grab a pass over the middle, only to land awkwardly on his knee. Smitty took his time getting up before trying to shake it off. He ended up talking with a trainer who came over to see what happened, but he shook it off and ran routes just a minute later.

A few more random thoughts:

It's fun to see Jason Carter get a bunch of attention from the media. Jason is a practice squad player trying to make the roster with a big camp. I talked with him almost every week during open locker room last year. We share a love for our alma mater, Texas A&M. Jason is a good receiver trying to overcome a lack of elite, NFL speed. He can make plays, but he already did that in the pre-season for Minnesota. It will be interesting to see if the Panthers look at Jason's production or his speed. You never know.

It was hot in Spartanburg. Really hot, but the Panthers power through. The players seem to eat less than the media at lunch. How is that possible when they're the ones doing all the work?

Photographer Doug Stacker locked me out of the live truck today. Doug edited all the stories from camp in an air-conditioned live truck while I sat outside in the heat. This will change next week when I return.

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