UnluckyforSome

2 hours ago, Davidson Deac II said:

Given how far off ESPN analytics were last year, I think I won't waste my money on ESPN analytics.   I mean they were horrifically bad.  

I agree. That was a free story. I think they gave up trying to charge a la carte prices when they recognized they didn't know any more than us stupid fans.

22 hours ago, strato said:

Are we serious? He wins two straight division titles and there are actually still people who don’t want to re-sign him?

They need to check-in at Panthers Reddit Re-education Camp.

2 hours ago, Davidson Deac II said:

Do many people think Ty Simpson is the Rams qb of the future?  Have to admit I only watched him play a couple of games last year, but he was not impressive at all.  

I think many people believe he will have about as good of an environment to grow into a being a good qb, while sitting behind Stafford for a year or 2 or 3 and being coached in the McVay system. 

1 hour ago, The Third Reich said:

I realize it about the expectations, but on paper, we drafted players who would have a chance to compete at positions where any could realistically step in and take the job---Freeling?  Yup.  Hunter?  Yup.  Brazzell?  Yup.  It is likely that all three see the field early and often.  Day 3:  Lee?  I see him as the #3 CB and the job is his when they are ready for him--and it is his to lose.  Hecht?  I loved him in mock research and called him the best C in the draft.  He might play a year behind Fortson or he could take the job--regardless, he is the obvious front runner for the 2027 season.  Wheatley?  I see Ransom and Moehrig as basically the same "in the box" type S.  If Wheatley can learn for a season behind Scott, he has the tools to be a serviceable FS, something this team needs.  Finally, Kuwatch seemed to be a PS pick, and he could be--but to win the 4th ILB job, he needs to beat out Bam Morris-Scott and with a 46.5 vertical (I can't do that on the triple jump) and a superior RAS rating, he looks like a special teamer and depth piece.....I forgot about Morgan's comment about giving up the 5th--probably to get ahead of Detroit.  Freeling has the athleticism and the tools to be the best OT in this draft.  The others lacked arm length or something like that--Freeling simply lacks a ton of experience. 

No, no, no I don't want to give the impression that I am being critical of this draft.

I will counter that by saying we all suffer from what I call the Preseason Swoon, when we see players that we think are going to be contributors, and they "flash" potential, and tantalize with these dreams of what they could be. Then they get in a real game and promptly disappear, or worse, get roundly abused.

The only pick I am skeptical about, to put it nicely, is Brazzell. Not a great track record coming out of that program, and I don't think we have the necessary personnel, or person, to take advantage of the skill set he may have.

55 minutes ago, The Third Reich said:

I have not read the entire thread, and I realize this is fluff to a degree, but it was recorded in real time.  Here are 10 things that stood out to me:

1. Morgan wrote down (before day 3) the first three day 3 picks.  (Lee, Hecht, and Wheatley).  I was never fond of the Morgan hiring as GM.  I thought he was a lazy selection and I questioned his ability to match wits with some of the best GMs in the NFL.  Not any more. Morgan OWNED this draft.  He knew which players were good fits and when they would be bargains, and he got bargains.  I am thoroughly excited about every player.

2. Canales said (about Hecht, a 5th rounder):  "He has a real chance to start."   Morgan said the same thing about Freeling. While I do not expect either to start day 1, it looks to me like we drafted 40% of our starting OL in 2026.  I think we will sign Ickey to a deal and play him at RG, allowing us to escape the Robert Hunt contract in 2027.  Of course that is conditional, and Ickey could replace Moton instead, but if he fully recovers, we are looking at a better RG/RT than he was a LT--which was average. 

3. When Morgan said to second-round DT Hunter, "Ready to play beside Derrick Brown?"  Based on personalities, one calm and soft spoken (for the Most part, Brown is) and the other talkative and openly enthusiastic, it reminded me of Brentson Buckner and Kris Jenkins.  

4.  Perhaps the steal of the draft was Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II.  Clearly the Panthers felt that they passed on him when they took Hunter in round 2.  They mentioned his skill set (able to attack on "all three levels.")  This sent me back to watching film. He has speed, hands, and he produced without a great QB. I think he could be great in the NFL.  When 

5. Tepper was a bit more involved than I would like, but he seems to be very confident in Morgan.  If I were the owner, I would be doing the same thing.  Canales was also somewhat of a background character--everyone understood his role and stayed in his lane.  

6.  I am also very interested in the quantitative analytics aspect of the draft room.  (something like, "He has a 94% chance of being there at pick 55, and a 38% chance of being there at 87). I would like to know their formula, because it seemed to be spot on.

7.  BPA?  Not really.  They had a shopping list and seemed to be targeting the players they selected. I realize other players were edited out, but I was impressed how they knew, by round, who they wanted and if there were multiple options sitting there, they traded back.

8.  Evero (I think) called Lee a candidate that would serve as the "#3 CB."  Morgan describes his size as a plus (Long). Strong praise for a 4th rounder.  If so, we have Thornton coming off injury who played well as an UDFA rookie and they will battle it out to become Jackson's replacement after the 2026 season, assuming the Panthers do not extend him (he turns 30 in 7 months.O

9.  I think we could realistically see every one of these draft picks play this season, and I believe most could start by next year--Realistically, Freeling, Hunter, Hecht, and Brazzell could all be starting or key rotational pieces this year.  I see Lee and Wheatley getting special teams reps and both could be used this season more than expected.  

10.  Kuwatch seemed to be predetermined with the final pick, probably because he can add something special to special teams.   He and Bam Martin Scott will fight it out for the 4th ILB position, so it will probably come down to special teams--and Kuwatch stands out there.  Imagine an ILB with a 46.5 vertical (not a typo) on the FG block team.  Kuwatch has an 8.85 RAS score vs. Martin-Scott's 7.5.  

Pretty good summation, although I would caution just a bit that there might be a little of over-enhanced expectations.

I do agree with the assessment on BPA. It was exceedingly clear they had a specific shopping list. Early on when there was some discussion about the tackles available, Morgan was asked if he was willing to give up a 5th to get Freeling, if it came to that. I think the only way it wasn't a left tackle with that 1st pick is if none that were valued as a 1st were still available.

9 minutes ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

I can imagine it. Now can you imagine people complaining how we get no respect from the media after back to back division titles. 

Better do it now. The price is only going to go up.

20 minutes ago, PadresPanthersFan said:

I know these are fluff pieces but i dont care. I will eat these up every time.  I always enjoy peeking behind the curtain and im glad they continue to put these out

They are off-season, propaganda, fluffy, hype videos for sure.

I found this to be much more interesting, and revealing though than the 1 made after we drafted Young and it opened with Fitterer declaring how the plan was always to get the team assembled AND then drop the superstar rookie qb in and be immediately taking the league by storm.

30 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

You think its unfounded and a lack respect or what?

It's something. Playoff team from the previous season. Defending division champ. 26 out of 32 teams.

We all know the reason why.

4 hours ago, WUnderhill said:

Well if they say so then I guess we should just wallow in misery and give up before the season even starts. See you all next year!

Well, it's Superbowl odds, and while no one in their right mind was really expecting a Superbowl run, I am more bothered by giving better chances to our division rivals, and ranking us once again, among the dregs and bottom feeders of the NFL.

2 hours ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

Icky has never really had the lateral quickness to be an consistently efficient pass blocking LT. I see him being able to slide inside to guard and thrive there where power is relied on more than side to side movement. It's not like pro bowl level guards make chump change and he has/had the power and short range lateral movement to be a dominant guard. 

I think he could transition to guard and be very effective. He is middle of the pack at best in pass protection, and what is asked and expected of a left tackle.

While no salary in the NFL would be considered peanuts, guard is not 1 of the premium positions. Because left tackle is a premium position, he might very well test the market. As stated, his health and mobility will be a big determiner as to what he might get offered, if anything.

Personally, I have thought that he would/could/should move to right tackle after Moton is retired, and not to be blunt, but that should happen very, very soon. 

58 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

I dont want to read into this too much but I think this might confirm that we are done with Icky. 

If you are targeting a LT and not just surprised that one fell to you, then you have to be looking at that long term. 

From a team POV its not bad. They got a long term LT. Let Icky walk and likely get a 3rd round pick back and a better cap situation. 

I don't think we are done with him. I do think we are done with him as a left tackle though. 

Guards and right tackles are easier to find, so I think there might be the offer presented to stay on at 1 of those positions, with the appropriate contract numbers, or to hit the market.

Superbowl chances are pretty low, near the bottom of the league. They do state upfront that offense is more consistent year over year, and is more impactful in this model.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48845972/2026-nfl-season-football-power-index-projections-super-bowl-chances-simulations

This was a very good and worthwhile watch. A mild spoiler..the pick was always going to be a LT. Even if it meant some wheeling and dealing.

30 minutes ago, PantherBoy95 said:

So what package would you all have been willing to put together for Garrett if he were offered to the Panthers? Because we'd have to let go of someone with J. Verse level talent.

Oh man Myles and DB with the rest of this line would have been nasty lol.

I'd give them Young. As it is the Panthers are not 1 player away from the Superbowl, and the Browns like collecting ineffective starting qbs.

Just now, Jackie Lee said:

Penix might not even beat out Tua this year. 

Not only that, but Penix might be damaged goods at this point and they just move on from him.

But wait! There's more!

Just now, Jackie Lee said:

If they're all in for their window why spend a first round pick on a project/probably bust qb? A guy that got benched in the college playoffs lol. 

There was a story making the rounds on draft night that earlier Sneed had told him he was going to be a 1st rounder. 

Maybe they had to make good on their prediction?

Seems like as good a reason as any other.

Rams should be the favorite heading into the season. Whaddaya know, the Superbowl is at their stadium this year too. Maybe the Chargers will make it from the AFC. Of course, that would require the Chargers to win in the playoffs instead of just choke it away.

Those are some very fine points, and the Panthers are very much guilty to some extent and should shoulder much of the blame. XL didn't draft himself, after all.

However, there comes a time for everyone when they have to grab the bull by the horns and take a controlling interest in their own life. This means not immediately squaring up to fight in a preseason game, making music videos, cultivating a social media presence, and caring more about being liked for portaying  a backwoods buffoon, especially when these actions are not benefiting your current career choice.

He's already allowed a UDFA to take his job. I dont have a lot of confidence in Tenneessee receivers at the NFL level, but who knows, maybe he is soon to lose his spot on the team and in the league to a rookie Tenneessee wr. 

He will have much more time for hillbilly antics then.

Skip ahead to the 47:00 mark for the Young segment. Young ranks 31st on the list.

2 hours ago, Udogg said:

It would depend on how we lost... If we lose a bunch of 17-13 . 20-7 type games where the defense plays well and offensively Bryce is sh***TING the bed...then he wouldn't get fired.  If we are losing 40-9, 38-14 type games..then yeah it's a possibility.  

Couple that with our tough schedule.. if we show well in lets say half those games.. win either Seattle or New England game, at least 1 win vs division oponents.. he's good. 

So imo.. to get fired he needs to :

Loose badly against the top tier teams ie Blown out

Show no progress offensively from last year.

Show an unwillingness to bench Bryce again if he is horrible over multiple games .. 

Get swept by the Saints again.

 

I do disagree, although not firing a coach that has not managed to have a winning season in 3 years because he had some close loses is sort of on-brand for Panthers fans in some ways. I guess it's good then that we don't make the decision.

Regard the Saints..what if we split, but, both Atlanta games go badly? What if it demonstrates that there is no secret sauce with Young versus Atlanta, there isn't a Young cheat code? In other words, does not maintaining a dominance of the Falcons matter then, as much or more than not being swept by the Saints again?

49 minutes ago, Udogg said:

Only way Canales is fired is if we are attrocious everywhere....  defense /special teams and offense.. 

There are enough "questions" on if BY9 is the guy that ownership wouldn't fire the coach for "just" mid qb play.  Especially with as talented a roster that has played "well enough" to win some tough football games and hang in there against the top tier of the NFL ...(mostly).  

Now total team suckage..yeah .. but I don't see that happening. 

 

I think he's gone, and rightfully so, if he turns in another losing record.

The "talented roster," regardless of how true or not, is a double-edged sword. If the roster is so much improved now from 202X then why are you still producing losing seasons?

On one hand, maybe that's what needs to happen. Have the GM hire the new coach, and then have the new coach pick his guy to run his system. That is typically how it works in the NFL. Not the forced inheritance deal we have had in place.

The loss of Luke and Cam, essentially at the same time, absolutely destroyed this franchise.

He argued over several posts 1 day about Young's imminent greatness. I had enough and blocked him. Didn't think anymore about it, but I can believe he went a little bit off about all things Bryce Young.

Like everyone, there is a little tingle about OTAs, and minicamps. I don't take much stock in what happens though. We would be in a real bad situation if they were fuging up in the very limited action of OTAs. But it is a good milestone on the season timeline. I appreciate those putting up the videos and etc.