Icege

On the defense, I was very happy with what we saw out of Brandon Smith and Amare Barno. Both got plenty of playing time and flashed multiple times. Xavier Woods was another nice surprise, especially since QBs have had triple-digit QBR when targeting him for the last two seasons. There was also some good stuff from a few guys on the roster bubble: Tae Hayes especially flashed with a great pass deflection + solid tackling while Marquan McCall was one of the few linemen consistently getting a push (and he flashed on back-to-back plays with a QB sack followed by a solid run stop after getting pushed back initially and recovering). Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn look reliable as ever, but I am concerned with the team's pass rush. I didn't see a lot of push from the DL, and when they did get an initial push they just couldn't seem to get to the QB. Chris Westry and Isaiah Graham-Mobley looked especially bad (when both flashed, it was because of something bad). Offense, we were all disappointed with Matt Corral + OL depth I think. I was also a little disappointed in the TEs, though that group is dealing with injuries. Ricci did well in a limited role and should make the roster again as a utility H-back. Derek Wright has flashed in camp and got an opportunity to bring down a big completion during the game, which might end up resulting in a spot on the PS. Shi Smith looks solid stil and should still be able to make the roster over Andre Roberts. Icky had his fair share of struggles early on, but he looked MUCH more comfortable and confident once he got into rhythm (especially when compared to the rookie campaigns from Greg Little and Brady Christensen). Speaking of Brady Christensen... his technique looked refined from last season and at times you could argue that he was the best OL on the field (even with Moton!). He looked great at LT + LG, which is going to just help the team even more. In addition to those two, Cade Mays and Deonte Brown looked like the clearly better players on the bottom of the depth chart compared to the rest of the players. They had them line up at LG + RG for a drive, and then kicked Mays inside from RG to C. The tackles were getting obliterated, but the middle held up well.

Not sure what we expected Corral to do knowing that a majority of the snaps were going towards Mayfield/Darnold in camp for the QB1 competition. I understand wanting to bring a 3rd rounder along slowly, especially at the most important position on the field, but they left that young man incredibly unprepared. Rivera was blitzing and trying to win a preseason game vs. the 4th string rookie QB that's been getting "mental reps." Hopefully they'll start giving him actual reps so that he doesn't get any more of his receivers hurt.

They're personalized... so...

Icky has struggled. Might end up having to kick him inside to LG after all if it keeps up THAT MAN JJ

Is it can it be Matt Corral time nao pls

Oh hai Joey

Chris Westry not having himself a good game. Got tripped up on a play and baptized on another.

Brandon Smith and Amare Barno getting in on the action already is exactly what we wanna see!

Let's go Sam (Franklin)!!

Looks like the current roster for the OL is Ekwonu, Christensen, Bozeman, Corbett, Moton, Jordan, Elflein, Erving, and at least one other player (Mays?), maybe two?

Ekwonu/Christensen/Bozeman/Jordan/Erving? Matt Rhule thinks he's cute splitting the starting OL up like that...

Oh poo! We got Ekwonu/Christensen in on the left side!!

Xavier Woods getting plenty of action in these first couple of drives for the defense. Very hopeful for YGM to hold down the LE position. His motor is always going. Ayyy the rookies are getting in the mix too! Brandon Smith had a nice ST tackle to start the game and Amare Barno is there for the fumble recovery.

I wonder if Darnold is going to be behind the same OL or if they're going to walk Ekwonu/Daley/Bozeman/Horton/Erving out there (according to the current depth chart on Panthers.com). Pls let this be the last game we have to watch Pat Elflein start at center for Carolina. I hope that Bozeman decleats somebody.

Would have preferred 6 on that drive, but I'd also prefer to get these mistakes out of the way in the preseason (fumbled snap, QB-WR not on the same page)

Smitty just said that if Baker marches the Panthers down the field after being here for just a cup of coffee, stick a fork in Darnold. He's exactly right. I'm still blown away that he ended up in Carolina with everything going on.

wrong thread T_T

They have looked so bad and we're only a few snaps into the preseason

Offense: Tommy Tremble, Terrace Marshall Jr, Brady Christensen, Ikem Ekwonu Defense: Yetur Gross-Matos, Jaycee Horn, Daviyon Nixon, Brandon Smith

Bob Jones Universal Studios making it real hard for me to have any faith in the upstate.

This explains your unprovoked Tinderbox post in the football thread. Tannehill is gutter trash.

The team now has an actual starting caliber, NFL offensive line CMC will be back with a capable Chuba backing him up as well as a bruising D'onta Foreman to punish defenders on runs between the tackles DJ Moore. Enough said. Terrace Marshall Jr, Tommy Tremble, and other young weapons are looking like they can be on the cusp of breaking out Yetur Gross-Matos looks like he might be ready to be an integral part of the starting defensive line while Matt Ioanidis is going to provide a better push to prevent QBs from stepping up to avoid Brian Burns. Jaycee Horn. Like DJ, enough said. The division is now without Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Sean Peyton, and Bruce Arians. Games against the Browns, Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Bengals, Ravens, and Broncos give us a look at how the team would hold up in a postseason game should they string together enough Ws to build hope. And on the flip side, should the team be ass again, then web traffic will be decent still since ppl will be flocking to the boards to rage out.

Please bby jsus, find a way to keep any available QB that isn't JimmyG away from this team and only should Jimmy be okay with mentoring Corral.

Had high hopes for TMJ last season, and still do this season. Really like the pick up and hope that he gets more opportunities to show his value as a redzone target.