KSpan

These are all the same points that I made about the play and I never knocked not throwing to Johnson either. No disagreement. The concept itself, however, is used to open up the deep cross as much as the underneath, and the read is the safety as much as either of the receivers. That's the whole point - the decision is likely made based on the safety and coverage, and if the pre-snap coverage shows to be advantageous to the cross then there are QBs that will lean that way over the shorter ball if it unfolds and that doing so is the type of capability that wins games. Again, as far as Bryce goes, IMO the question isn't so much of he can be an NFL QB of any caliber. It's if he can be the elite QB his price tag and draft status aligns with, the type that teams need to win Super Bowls in today's NFL. Those QBs are the guys that turn this type of play into a TD. Interesting to see this unfold and only time will tell.

Y'all are sadly mistaken if you think winning football teams don't take that end zone shot when it presents itself in the right situation, as it was arguably doing here. Against top competition converting those opportunities can be the difference between a win and a loss. That's the biggest question by far with Bryce and it has nothing to do with the BS mad-bomber nonsense that your post insinuates. You'd think Carolina fans would understand that after if was made crystal clear by PJ Walker of all QBs vs the Falcons 2 years ago, how the ability to execute far downfield changes games, but I guess not. For the millionth time now though, time is the only thing that will tell the story. Regular season is 2 weeks away.

Who says Thielen is the primary? You don't know and neither do I. I'm sure the pre-snap read factors into it and yeah, they will look for the deep shot of the safety moves such. Buffalo was in 1-high coverage and that's exactly what you want for a deep cross like that to DT, can he cross the safety's face? In this case the safety came up but not enough for Bryce to take it, either by choice or by scheme.

The throw would have been toward the back/corner of the end zone rather than anywhere near where Johnson is in that image but yeah, overall I'm sure the coaching/progression has him taking Thielen when the safety is back like he is here. I think a competent QB can/should be able to throw Johnson open though if they make that choice. Will be interesting to see what happens when the season starts.

This is a straw-man since no one will be concerned about covering deep for an entire game until Bryce and the offense consistently make them pay, much like last season and 2020 (Teddy) before that. If/when it happens though, then the offense opens up, the defense stretches, and a number of valid questions are answered. As to why this is a straw-man right now, it's a dream hypothetical at best until entire games are being won underneath because defenses are treating Carolina's offense like it's led by Mahomes and it shows up consistently on film that way. Won't happen until Bryce and the offense make it a reality on the field. Will be an interesting first couple weeks of the season for sure.

And in a completely different era of the NFL where hitting 1000 years was a big deal and offenses did not pass nearly as much.

Jesus Christ... Ignoring that it was one drive in one game (Green Bay, anyone?), being McDaniel lite would mean just missing the playoffs instead of being bounced in the WC every year, right?

Eww. I don't think Bryce is an answer long-term but no, no thank you.

Hilarious overall. However, if the starters look bad that's not a definitive sign IMO - not ideal for sure, but every team has kinks to work out and we can hope that Canales actually analyzes the failures and adjusts. Might've perhaps been nice to see where the kinks are when there were still weeks of camp left but hey, what do I know?

Ooh, such hate! Skepticism is just pure hating on the team.

Yup. Plenty of dumbassery in recent years but this looks like a W in any outcome.

Someone seeing that currently-available data/precedent indicates one thing but hopes it turns out differently is 'hypocritical' (which isn't even the right term but we'll roll with it anyway)? Not in the slightest. Also, this whole scenario has been set up with the straw-man of someone having the belief that Bryce can't be an NFL QB. He clearly can. The real position that is most common is a belief that he will not be able to play to the level necessary to win Super Bowls, a threshold that many QBs with tools better than Bryce's don't achieve. As with everything time will tell. Regular season is where the rubber meets the road and it's only 2 weeks away.

'Hater' is a word that immediately discredits the user IMO. It has no meaning anymore. Just lazy. Many a post of "Get on board or GTFO" when any concern was expressed. It was maddening. Not even hedging, just being honest. Hedging implies a desire to be 'right' and it really has nothing to do with that. It would be an amazing event if Bryce were to develop into a top-tier QB but I (and many others) just don't think it will happen.

Yeah, he played for a bunch of teams and Dallas was one of them. True journeyman.

Couple of suggestions. RB: Anthony Johnson (gotta include him if you have Goings) T: Chris Terry (all rookie team his first year) S: Chris Harris, Kurt Coleman

Dave found the playbook in the hidden safe. There will be no stopping them.

Considering that the post that I responded to was before yours, I hadn't made it to yours, so no need to act like you were ignored. And note that I also said "some/all of their guys to varying degrees", meaning that different teams have different approaches all across the spectrum. Frankly, Carolina IS a losing team and until proven otherwise any approach that keeps the starters off the field is ripe for questioning given all of the turnover at the key positions. Yes, San Diego has had a lot of turnover as well, but Jim Harbaugh gets more credit for knowing what he's doing as an HC and how to evaluate a team than Dave Canales. Just the reality.

No one is suggesting that first-teamers play entire preseason games. However, there is little doubt that a team with a new coach, new schemes, and new players at key positions would likely benefit from getting a few drives under their belts during the preseason in true game situations. I get that a lot of the league is moving toward this model but when the best in the league do something, such as the Chiefs, 49ers, etc still playing some/all of their guys to varying degrees, it's fair to think that it adds value. Like everything in recent years though, the rubber will meet the road here in 2 weeks and time will tell how Canales' strategy works out this season.

That throw was 70 yards through the air and is exactly the reason why arm strength matters. It's not because teams should just go verticals all the time - that would just be stupid - but because teams that can capitalize/work some magic from long range win games because of it. Not every game and not every time of course, but better to be able to do it than not.

Nor can Bryce for that matter.

Carolina is still currently the worst team in the league. Just sayin'. Will be for at least 2 more weeks when the regular season starts.

Clausen was awful but also a consummate professional during his time here.