BeenPounding

Man.... you all have been ruined by Rhule and Fitt. Take a moment to look back at areas where we improved and try to grasp on a glimmer of hope and optimism.... Week 1: Sept. 8 at New Orleans (L) 0-1 I think, all things being equal, we split our divisional opponents. The Saints are not scary, are not coached well, and are going to get old all at once. However, being in the Superdome for the first game of the year I lean in to homefield advantage causing us to have a few careless mistakes at the wrong time. Close game, 27-24 Saints Week 2: Sept 15 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (W) 1-1 The Chargers have lots of work to do. This game comes down to one main factor; can we stop the run. I think our defense, at least at the beginning of the season will be firing on all cylinders. Close game again, but this time we get the W 24 - 18 Panthers Week 3: Sept 22 at Las Vegas (W) 2-1 I am a HUGE Gardner Minshew fan, but I don't believe the Raiders are much better than we are. So long as we don't get beat up by their tight ends all game, I think we should be the better team if we pound the rock. W - 24-21 Panthers Week 4: Sept. 29 vs. Cincinnati (L) 2-2 This is going to be a reality check. We feel good being over .500 for the first time since I can remember. They are just better. L - 31-21 Bengals Week 5: Oct. 6 at Chicago (W) 3-2 This is a PRIDE game. We want it more. W - 24 - 15 Panthers Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. Atlanta (W) 4- 2 This is our turn to get a home W in our division. Flacons are either going to be pretty good, or a huge bust. Either way I think they will be susceptible for an upset here and there. We weren't too far off from beating them last year. W 27 - 24 Panthers Week 7: Oct. 20 at Washington (W) 5 - 2 Their defense is good, Offense is a work in progress.... Sound familiar? This will be bowling shoe ugly but I think we run it better than they do. W 17 - 12 Panthers Week 8: Oct. 27 at Denver (L) 5-3 If this was at home I would choose us, but I don't see us winning at Mile High. I will stick with the copy and past analysis on this one. LSS - we cannot escape our cure of Sean Peyton. L 24 - 18 Broncos Week 9: Nov. 3 vs. New Orleans (W) 6 - 3 Home game, bad team, we win. W - 27 - 24 Panthers Week 10: Nov. 10 vs. N.Y. Giants (Munich, Germany) (W) 7 - 3 The Giants have an improved pass rush and a rookie WR. That is their strength. I think we will be better prepared. W - Panthers 27 - 21 Week 11: Nov. 17 BYE Week 12: Nov. 24 vs. Kansas City (L) 7 - 4 We'll get crushed, and hit the downward trajectory of our season starting now.... L Chiefs - 34 - 21 Week 13: Dec. 1 vs. Tampa Bay (L) 7 - 5 We are licking our wounds from the KC game and it shows up in the box score. L - Bucs 24 - 15 Week 14: Dec 8 at Philadelphia (L) 7- 6 I think we give them a game, but come up short in the end. L - Eagles 32 - 24 Week 15: Dec: 15 vs. Dallas (L) 7 - 7 I want to pick an upset here. No Dan Quinn, Lots of pressure for Dallas, they have been really healthy for a long time. But common sense prevails, they are better. L - Cowboys 24 - 21 Week 16: Dec. 22 vs. Arizona (W) 8 - 7 Get right game, but a tough one. We need this one to calm the huddle down. W - Panthers 28 - 24 Week 17: Dec. 29 at Tampa Bay (W) 9 - 7 TB is right where we are. This is our 50/50 spilt W - 22 - 25 Week 18: Jan. 4 or 5 at Atlanta (L) 9 - 8 Falcons win the division. We show improvement from much better coaching and offensive line play. The Huddle is calms down, but like always is not happy. Full League Prediction: Prepare the poop emojis!!!!!

3 years of dog poo drafting. I was just looking back at everything under the Rhule/Fitterer regime and it is gawd awful. I know we are aware, but reading it hits like a hammer. https://www.panthers.com/history/draft

If I am the panthers there are three players I am locked in on right now..... Rice is a luxury... I want Cedric Johnson, Gabe Murphy (both EDGE) or Christain Mohoganey / Beaux Limmer (G/C) prospects

The way it looks I'm all about Rice, Brennen Jackson, Cedric Johnson, DJ James, or Carson

RB is weird... Yes, they went a little ahead, but if he was clearly heads and tails above the rest I would rather draft the best prospect available from position groups in place of chasing other teams for the same position. Sanders is going to be an inactive more often than not if Brooks is fully healthy. We don't need him getting hurt before we cut or trade him. The only thing that makes the LB selection in the third round is that Morgan identified the traits and the kid is only 21. He can be coached up while he continues to physically develop. I would have rolled the dice on Wilson or Cedric Grey, but I'm also not a former Pro=Bowl ILB.

This is the part of the draft where you have to take a good hard look at which players fit your scheme and culture. Outside of the 4th round there isn't really a huge difference in who gets drafted vs quality undrafted free-agents. We are more than likely going to trade 101 if we can pick up another 5th or 6th. That would be a spot where we can draft for need/BPA. If I were Dan Morgan, I'd be focusing on TE or Edge rusher. If they really think Franklin is truly a late 2nd or 3rd round talent, that would be a solid move. I really like Cade Stover, but not at 101. If I were to identify him as a target I'd trade back a few spots. Looking at the talent available for the 4th round I don't think he'll be picked until at least mid round. We also need to look at free agent value vs draft value here too. If we are not in love with any of these Center prospects, how do they compare to current free agents: C Connor Williams Mason Cole Brian Allen Lucas Patrick Connor McGovern Scott Quessenberry Nick Gates Edge Emmanuel Ogbah Yannick Ngakoue Carl Lawson Jerry Hughes Charles Harris Dawuane Smoot Bud Dupree Tyus Bowser Marquis Haynes Rasheem Green Markus Golden Shaq Lawson LB: Deion Jones Zach Cunningham CB Xavien Howard Adoree’ Jackson Stephon Gilmore Steven Nelson Patrick Peterson J.C. Jackson Ahkello Witherspoon Keion Crossen Tre Herndon Eli Apple Chandon Sullivan Fabian Moreau Jerry Jacobs WR (fits our needs) Hunter Renfrow Michael Gallup Scotty Miller I would look to bring Gilmore, Deion Jones, and Haynes back. Looking at the center market, we could get experienced depth out of that group via free agency. I wouldn't force a prospect unless we know he fits the scheme. Additionally, if we are looking to start Corbet, does that mean we can't rule out a guard or tackle that we could convert to a center over the course of the season? Most linemen are trained, at some level, to play all 5 positions. We have three picks over the next 100 selections. If we don't value the BPA at 101 over everyone else from the list below, I would take just about any three or more of these 25 guys listed below. Top Targets day 3: Franklin WR Tampa CB Booker Edge Javon Baker WR Carson CB Erick All TE Dolrus Edge Brenden Rice WR Cam Hart CB Jackson CB Stover TE MacLachlan TE Brenner Jackson Edge Wilely TE Cedric Johnson Edge Mohamed Kamara Edge Hunter Nourzad C AJ Barner TE Christian Mahogany G/C Gabriel Murphy Edge Jordan Jefferson DT/NT Javontae Jean-Batiste EDGE Tommy Eichenberg LB Eric Watts DE/DT Braiden McGregor EDGE

I think the haters need to take a page from Taylor Kelse and "Calm Down". XL is going to be alright because our HC and OC truly have a vision for him. Last year's coaching staff had no formidable plan on offense, and honestly, I don't feel that Reich was prepared to coach up rookies. Canalas is a natural teacher. XL will be like Debo in the NFL. He will have an effect on the game, just not in a "traditional" way. If you are exceptionally worried about his "one year" stats consider this..... 2021 USC QB STATS 2022 USC QB Stats His first two years at USC he hardly had elite QB play. Rattler's first year was nothing to write home about either. Good pick if you can develop players. XL has all the potential in the world. I was really hoping that "Sticky" Ricky would be around in the 3rd for us, but SF knows how good he is. John Lynch has a little experience evaluating WR's

I had to control + V rather than use the mouse to copy and paste.... not sure why, but it worked

I honestly think he may call it quits after this contract. No need to put a hurting on the body if he has been smart with his money. Keeping BC and signing Nijman may be moves for the future. I could see BC playing RT after this season at a high level for a discounted price. Honestly, adding the extra game has made offensive line depth even more of a premium.

Get mini-Tua. That way our back up QB could be less than 6 foot tall and we won't have to adjust our game plans

Isn't the drop hip tackle how they have been teaching kids to tackle using the "heads up" approach? This seems a little counter intuitive IMO. I have thought kids to shoot in like a wrestler, drop or roll.

Outside of the last Ram's Super Bowl win, when was the last time a team that went "all in" on free agents actually win the Super Bowl? Winning teams are built by developing players drafted there. KC has drafted all of their talent. NE won their big games with their guys, not loading up on free agents. Draft the team. Build the team. Grow with the team. He's talented, but his overall lack of true availability would be more detrimental to our team than it would help.

Trade back and acquire more mid rounders. Good GM's can recognize talent in the mid rounds. If we have a good GM we can do this. Here is how I would play it. Worked out almost perfectly. I was targeting Fraizer out of West Virginia, but I was happy with my results.....

So.... what you are saying is that is it too cost prohibitive to bring in grass 9x a year, but you can do it once or twice per year for a soccer match. Say that out loud Tepper and then back it up with numbers in the grand scheme of things. One salary lost from a good player tearing up a knee or ankle would likely pay for an entire season.

Carry those 8 on the roster. After last season you can stash Jensen and Zalavia on the practice squad to develop and get called up at a moments notice. Heck if we did draft a rookie we could easily put Mays down on the PS as well and not really worry about losing him unless he wants to go somewhere else.

I see your point, but in an effort to build a complete roster I would do my best to stack prospects. Honestly, if Chop and Darius Robinson were available at 33/39 I'd grab them both and push WR to the 3rd/4th rounds. Could you imagine the damage a front 3 of DB, AR, and Darius Robinson would cause? Having that 1 player who is a stand out would be great. Turner is the only one that is that guy, in my opinion, in the 1st round. Honestly, I'm liking Chris Braswell more and more as well. When the scouting report reads "He plays with his pants on fire..." and the biggest knock is they don't think he has enough "ankle flexation" I'd take a gamble on that guy. The top 3 sack leaders from the 2023 draft were all drafted outside of the first round. All were mid to late 3rd rounders. Just saying, with good scouting (lately pretty rare on Mint St) we have options.

All three are completely different types of players. Numbers don't necessarily tell the story

You aren't trading two high second round picks to move up in the first. That would be the equivalent of the 15th pick according to Jimmy Johnson. Who in the middle of the first outside of Brock Bowers would help us, right now, more than two high second round picks. At this point we need more players than pedigree.

Depends on who is available. If Chop is there at 33, SPRINT to the podium. If one of their "top guys" aren't there at 33, trade back for more picks or future picks. We need more for next year to restock the roster.

Sings..."Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers..."

Merriman was better at creating a celebration dance than he was at sacking the QB. One of the most over-hyped players of all time. Burns accomplished more in 5 years than he did in 8. Actually, wondering if Burns gets a big(er) head living in NY if they may become near clones of each other.

Former Buckeye replacing another former Buckeye!!!! This is a good LONG TERM move if it happens. Bell was solid, but football isn't played or paid that much after 30.

The beginning of this off season needs to be taken with grace. What we are doing now should have been done when Rhule was hired. When Wilks turned this team around using the power run game we learned a few things about the roster. 1. It was not designed to win via the pass with either Baker or Sam D. There was no true offensive identity. 2. The power running game worked because Wilks committed to it. We tried to build off of the success of one coach by replacing him with another who had a completely different system and expecting to build upon that success by ... moving away from the offensive system that proved to be successful. With the mistake of creating an "all star" coaching staff, it was apparent that the team needs to be blown up. Burns showed last year that he may want to be called a dawg, he fights more like a cat. He showed up, but didn't fully show up (or out). Derek Brown on the other hand, for lack of a better term, kept pounding. Brown is the long term investment for this team at this time. By trading Burns you were able to add nearly 4 players to the roster for the 24 million cap hit that was assigned to him. You also get two draft picks. While we can argue the value of those picks is the fault of the front office, it is really on Burns. His insistence to use Sheena Quick as his own PR frim lowered his trade value here, and after 3 coaches and 5 losing seasons he wanted out. That is not the type of player you commit 30M a year to. We finally have a football guy doing football things behind the scenes and it is starting to show. Everyone gets all warm and fuzzy in the off season, but at least we see a plan in effect here. Build from the inside out. We just went from 2-4 deep on the O-line to being possibly 6 deep. Corbet's move to center is not all that big of a change. This happens all the time. Our biggest need is to draft at least average over the next three years. We have had 29 picks since the 2020 draft. 13 are still on the roster. That is all you need to know. Why did we trade 3 first round picks under 26 years old? We needed to repair 4 years of TERRIBLE drafting outside of the first round. I truly believe we will be on the upswing. I see us winning between 5-6 games, but being competitive in nearly all of them. Last year we weren't remotely competitive at all.

5 wins. But, this will be 5 wins that shows tremendous growth. We are paying for terrible drafting over a 3 year span. I don't like the subtractions on defense but...... Von Bell missed 3 games YTG missed 4 games Chinn missed 5 games Burns missed 1 game, checked out for many more Shaq missed 16 games Horn missed 12 games Woods missed 4 games Haynes Jr. Basically missed the season Evero could truly make his case for a HC if we can get to 6-7 wins.

If we do flip Burns, it has to be for the 2 second round picks this year. We do that, and I'm calling Bryce Huff's agent to see if we can up his offer and get him to back out of his contract.