Navy_football

You beat me to it. He all of a sudden started running horizontally down the 50 yard line instead of getting depth upfield like he was the entire route. Like he was prepping to just jump and catch it, but misread how far it was. Just not on the same page. First play, I would have loved if Bryce targetted XL early. Man to man with a CB on his hip - just give him a chance like you did in practice - and there was safety help! Don't start getting conservative on us now. TMac and XL need to get that ball whenever they're facing man without safety help over the top. No QB in the NFL was gonna make that throw when he finally let it go though. It wasn't possible. Maybe just hoping for a PI. And he definitely saw the flag and knew why it was thrown. 2nd play. Yeah Chuba gave up on the play too early and went rogue. No worries. We know how he runs during the season. JT has to catch the third pass. Nothing else to say. Next series, first play. Bryce was looking to throw to XL, who ran a horrible route. Looked like it was supposed to be a deep out - maybe a choice. I don't know what he ran, particularly with no sideline equity. Bryce could have fired it into TMac early on the crosser, but was too late after he came off of XL - yes it was a 2 man route and a bad playcall against the coverage. Second play. I don't blame that one on Ickey as much as Hunt. He was supposed to come off the double and get the LB - who was in there in a hurry, maybe he was run blitzing. Chuba was looking for the cut back, but that LB prevented it. You could see Hunt tapping his helmet as if to say "my bad" Third play. Again, would have loved to see Bryce put it up to XL on that one. But I get it. Houston is just a really good defense. They get after you and force mistakes. Somebody said Herbert could have made that throw on the first play of the game. You mean the same Herbert that threw 4 INTs to Houston in the playoffs last season? Surely you didn't mean him. And if he didn't have Ladd in that game, it would have been much much worse. My verdict. Not as bad as I first thought. Just clean up a few plays/assignments. Not enough time to get in a groove. And... Bryce needs to stay friggin aggressive! He's much more exciting reading deep to shallow. I don't like dink and dunk Bryce nearly as much. XL, TMac and JT are downfield guys anyway. And at the end of the day - chicks dig the long ball.

Yeah... some are going too far. With mostly young and unproven receivers/TEs. Bryce should show that he's more consistent this season, but next season is when we should expect a huge step. Mostly dependent on his supporting cast. 2027 is when the decision should be made. Need to have realistic expectations. It's too hard to find a franchise QB to let a possible one go because of feelings.

Xavier Legette has stepped up to the challenge! Hopefully that confidence doesn't falter. Because he's looking good! More like 2023 XL at SC.

Huh?! You seriously have to watch more than Carolina games. QBs throw the ball to a spot where the WR can make a play and the DB can't. That's really it. Fitting a 40 yards throw into a 1 yard box is not as easy as they make it look - sometimes.

Carolina is a running team. I'm thinking Horn isn't the greatest blocking receiver.

Clipping

That's what I thought too. Then he drafted a RB currently healing from an ACL tear with the next pick, so...

Yep. Draft WRs to play WR. He'll never be a DeVante or JJ. That's just not in the cards. But he could carve out a role like Tedd Ginn or Deebo and make very real contributions for the team. Most games come down to a play or two that could win or lose it for you. If he can pull out a play or two a game, that would be huge. He isn't ready to be a 10 catch a game, full route tree WR right now. Maybe never. But that doesn't mean he can't be useful.

Yeah, but what's a classic Canales offense? We can't go by the one year as a playcaller in Tampa, as the way he develops an offense. I recall him saying he mostly creates an offense to fit his players. I think he saw XL as a player he could use as a chess piece. Unfortunately injuries and Diontae crashing out last year changed that. XL is best at crossers (deep or shallow) that allow him to run away from defenders and catch the ball in stride. Timing routes that require goods hands and reaction is not his forte.

Agree with alot here. But I think they can use XL differently than he's being used now. Canales is smart. He isn't the type to keep banging his head into that brick wall. Your head will give way long before that wall. He'll figure out howXL fits into this offense. Even if he has to create plays just for him. I feel like that's what Shanahan did with Deebo, who I think is a better comp than Evans or DK.

I think BY exposes ALL of XL's flaws. Not necessarily a BETTER QB, but a different playing style, and a different offensive scheme/playcalling/role. Maybe a young Cam type QB? Fires the ball in there when you're open. BY throws to a spot you're supposed to be, when you're supposed to be there. I just don't think that's XL's game.

You really could be right. XL definitely showed an ability to hand catch contested passes at SC - for one season. May just need time to get comfortable in the NFL - hopefully.

Who would be a better fit for XL? Spencer Rattler? FTR, I agree their skillsets don't really match - so far. Ladd was definitely the best fit for Bryce at that pick.

Yeah, I like XL. If for no other reason than he's from Mullins, SC. But they have to stop over drafting raw athletes at skill positions. It's a SKILL position for a reason. Some people do it without effort or thought, but most athletes can't effectively track and hand catch a football while running full speed with defenders all around them. Natural receivers can. I think it's a skill that can be improved, but it's one of those "either you have it or you don't" things. He can get better but he'll probably never be great at it. Adjust expectations and roles or move on. Stop asking him to do stuff he can't just because you over drafted him. And you have better options like Coker. IMHO, XL would be better as a gadget player right now. A la Deebo.

Coker would have caught that pass against Philly last year. Just saying

I saw Wharton creating pressure, just not finishing the play. I think better Edge play would prevent escape routes for QBs like Shedeur to get away. DJ Johnson is the opposite of good Edge play.

Etienne is elusive. Probably the most elusive RB on the team right now. Want to see him in screens out wide. But overall, he's the screen guy. He'll be the best on the team in space. His jukes are effortless. Kind of like Bryce. I get why they drafted him over a safety now. We need safety help. It ain't on the roster. Need a vet that won't get constantly duped by play actions and fakes. It's ridiculous at this point.

Really the only bad throw from Young was the one to Thielen on the defensive offsides play. And to be fair, he was gitting hit low as he was releasing the ball. Calm in the pocket and does a good job manipulating it. Takes his shots when he gets match ups. Very impressed with his first outing. Still needs to show it consistently. DJ Johnson - he just isn't the guy and should probably look to be replaced. Loses contain all the time. It isn't a physical thing for him as much as mental. Shy Tuttle still getting stone walled at the LOS. He is not good depth. And I was not impressed with Rico stutter stepping instead of hitting the hole a couple of times. One thing about Chuba, he hits the hole at 100mph.

watch out for the Jaun. He'll be all over this one.

I mean the defense could score a TD or safety

I really, really, really agree with this.

Yeah. But they did try to sign him. He just chose DC over Carolina. In hindsight, it was a GREAT decision by him.

Yeah, that's pretty crippling. You need to have a Seattle LOB with Russell on a rookie contract situation for that move to remotely make sense. Still can't believe Panthers passed up 2 firsts and a 2nd/3rd for Burns. A friggin one dimensional pass rusher that had problems finishing sacks, and so bad at setting the edge that teams actually targetted him in the run game. Crazy!

He uses his hands well in uncovered drills. I think he just lacks confidence right now. He has good hands, but he doesn't believe he does. Has to be forced to practice only catching with his hands in practice - with a DB covering him.

Absolutely nothing.