Bear Hands

It's pretty annoying we kept him around from a fan's perspective--stemming not only from the lack of production, but his off the field issue and that 2022 contract as well (now restructured, but still..) Sure, he became a better blocker and has always sounded like a good practice dude per reports, but his raw athleticism never translated to Sundays. You have to show something, at some point. Who knows ha, I have no expectations for him.

Funny note -- Hurst & Ian came out of the same draft class. One we treat as this established vet that we brought in and another we're somehow still thinking may bloom any day now. This will be Ian's 6th year and is on his second contract. He's honestly lucky to be here at this point. I'd personally prefer to see what strides Tremble makes. He's super young (the age of a lot of rookies this year). Critical year developmentally for him. TEs are known to take time (2-3 years), but not 6... Probably the last year here for Thomas unless he somehow has some completely out of nowhere breakout.

Haynes is the one good piece we have after Burns rotationally. Problem is that he doesn't compliment Burns to be on the field at the same time with him, Shaq & Luvu. He's backup/rotation, down dependent. This tells me YGM isn't showing enough as an edge setter and DJJ hasn't shown much either. It's mildly annoying but we've all seen this hole from a long ways away. Good to have a dude like Houston. He comes in, and helps to get a decent cream rising from YGM, DJJ, & Leota developmentally. We'll see. Plenty of ways to go until week 1.

Given that’s what Boze had to do for 99% of the the time for our previous QBs, it’s probably a breath of fresh air. Pre-snap ability is huge. Bryce and Haener were the only two coming out that really had the readability seem second nature to them. Everything I see and hear makes me very confident we found a legit QB.

2 weeks to training camp and some legit updates begin.

We've got some very specific question marks (outside CB depth, edge setter, & unproven WRs), but it's a really well rounded squad. Defense could pop. Offensively, there's a lot of unknowns but you've got the line talent, good enough receivers, and a fresh #1 overall pick behind center. There's just so much new, it's difficult for anyone to project. I'm all for proving people wrong.

This was awesome. Shows you they never felt like they were reaching. For DJ—they went to get a very specific need in our scheme & our board metrics had the 93->80 trade as a +22 These guys had specific targets they really felt that conviction with. Just loved seeing the Zavala and Jammie bits as well. RB and an outside sized CB would’ve been nice but we filled needs and got legit talent with each pick. Good stuff

Might as well ping NO as: Derek Carr Kendre Miller Chris Olave Rashid Shaheed Foster Moreau *Thomas & Kamara are certified tossups/likely to be MIA more than available.

I agree w/Hubbard, I'm indifferent to Chubba. He had nice moments last year but he's not a cemented asset moving forward. Brady may end up working out best as our new Hang'man instead of a long term LG. Lots of misses these past 4 years. Patriots are experiencing the same thing right now. Bill B hasn't been drafting well and they haven't managed to build a good enough team post-Brady. Starting to really slip.

With Pride & Nixon already gone, YGM, Taylor, STO, Deonte not panning out, the Rhule 2020-21 drafts are looking downright bad. 2022 had more Scott involvement--Smith, Barno, & Mays need to step up but have a bit more leash. 2020 is going to be just Chinn & Brown as hits if YGM doesn't make something happen. The 2021 class is the one that's bubble-types are hitting a make or break season. TMJ, Tremble, Hubbard, Taylor, Deonte, Shi. Time to show us what they've got. 11 picks in that draft, I'd like to think we found more than just Jaycee, Brady C & Hubbard (maybe). Just a huge year coming up for Tremble & Marshall. It's funny, in addition to the draft class, we also have #9 overall (Henderson), #42 (Shenault) from 2020. We've got 2 first and 3 second rounders from the 2020 draft on this team.

Here was the TB touchdown that I had remembered; had some nice moments to close the season. Earlier in the year--

For the most part, it's make or break time, but luckily they're still young. Younger than most rookies.

That's the Fray, not Ed Sheeran

Panthers minicamp thread about...the Titans and Will Levis. Nice.

Gotta say, I really liked what I heard in DJJ's interview today. Both him and Mingo seem like really hard-nosed/tough but smart & students of the game type guys. Maybe he's got some goods to provide. https://www.panthers.com/video/dj-johnson-i-m-here-to-keep-improving

I’m somewhat going out on a limb but I just think Tremble has made an impact nearly every time we ask him to grab the ball. Even if he’s not TE1 in a big capacity for the offense, I think he’s a perfect guy to have here and could very well grow into an all-around type. Especially being a TE, they notoriously take time to develop. He’s basically a rookie with experience. A mid-3rd rounder at that. He’s a guy I’m willing to back even though it seems many are lukewarm on him. He had a fantastic route and TD against TB near the close of the year. He just seems to make stuff happen.

Well, agree to disagree. I know what I'm trying to say but to each their own if your don't share optimism about either. All good. He will remain at most TE2. And in that capacity, likely top out at a Trey Burton type level. But I think he can elevate a bit more past a Burton type.

I'm really not. I'm also not saying he's going to have some superstar year either. There's simply some nice reasons to be optimistic about him. He's still going to have a high percentage plays with blocking assignments. I'm also specifically explaining how he's more of a blocking TE role that has the capacity to become a strong receiving threat. Never once extrapolated for a full season or said TE1s don't block. I'm simply stretching out his two seasons in context for modest hype, not saying he's coming up on some 800/7TD year.

One thing is for sure, I really hope Bryce start off hot and we take care of NO week 2 on national TV. Dalton knows that defense and can no doubt get him primed for that game.

Let's also not forget Tremble's first 3 touches as a Panther: -30 yard reception to set up a TD -A Goal Line Trickery Rushing TD -A Receiving TD He makes plus+ plays when he's given the ball.

Thanks. I just think these are two Rhule-era picks in particular that cannot be written off. Others can, see: Yetur. Tremble was a high selection for a TE and they take time unless they're an aberration. Add in that he can block & catch just fine, and is now seasoned, I think he has a HUGE opportunity with us not drafting one from this class. Fitterer even called him out specifically in a post-draft presser that they were fine not drafting a TE due to the confidence they have in Tremble. I like to hear that, especially considering we have a new coaching staff in house and that determination no doubt came through their assessment as well as Scott's.

As we start to get excited about this rookie class and recent acquisitions, I wanted to shed a light on these two. Why? Well it's because they've essentially been redshirting (for lack of better term) as early-entry juniors & in a position where they needed time to ease in. Not to mention, the coaching & QBs sucked. And what is wild: Being early-entries (that are already young for their class) they are both only 22 years old; younger than the average draft age in both 2022 (24.11) and 2023. I'll get to TMJ, who has had some healthy discussion already this offseason. But First off let's talk Tommy Tremble (3rd Rounder) #83 Overall 2021 If he came out this year, he would've been: 6th fastest, 3rd best vert, 6th best broad, 2nd best 10 yard split (crazy burst for a "blocking" TE). Tests VERY similarly to Brenton Strange who was just drafted Round 2, 61 overall. Now, our "awful" TE group the last few years has made people either dismiss or just kind of push aside Tremble. When in reality, he's honestly done rather well when thrown the ball & brought in to block. Being so young, his grades as a TE won't be perfect, but they are on the plus side, he's proving to be a willing and tough blocker, athletic and has got great quickness to get open early for a TE. A little history to not forget: Tremble played alongside both Michael Mayer & Cole Kmet for ND at different parts of his career. That program knows TEs and he never had the chance to really be a major target. At 22, he's 2 years younger than Kmet and only 11 months older than Michael Mayer. The dude is 6'4 250, the Kittle H-Back mold (they're similarly sized/framed, with Tremble a tad more athletic-type), has consistently graded favorably in pass protection when called upon. Not to mention, has managed to make plays in a TE2 role with 3 TDs & 5+ 20 yard receptions on 31 targets last season. So, athletic, a gritty/willing blocker, has proven solid receiving skills and capable of making splash plays. And is going into his 3rd year--which is really the big one for TEs. They are notorious for not coming out of the gates swinging. They take time. Now, I'm not expecting some monster year, Hurst is our starter, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still excited about Tremble. Not looking for some superstar, but I think what he's capable of really making strides this year and is being far overlooked. For context: A single season snaps average for a starting TE is around 950-1,000 snaps. Tremble has just over 1,000 in his career, only 550 non-blocking. His majority snaps have come in 2 TE sets as an extra run blocker. So! in that roughly half-season's worth of snaps, he has 39 rec, 354 yards and 5 total TDs. And that was from 60 overall targets (from our awful QB room), & 19 of those receptions were 1st downs. I know Ian Thomas is this sore, and we've had guys like Manhertz hogging snaps that we can't look past, but I'd caution in lumping Tremble into this perceived awful TE room we've had. He's had time to adjust to the NFL in one of the positions that's known to have the toughest adjustment curves. I'm still very optimistic about him and honestly, I think he'd have gone between Strange and Kraft in this draft. Terrace Marshall Jr Our QB play, coaching and offensive schemes did him no help. 6'3 200, Averaged 104 ypg for LSU in 2020, with Burrow, JJ, or Chase no longer in house. And with them, was able to take in 13 TDs in the most decorated offense in NCAA history. In comp to this years draft: 4.38 40 (t-4th fastest), 39.5 vert (T-5th), 19 bench (5th) This past year, the QB rating when targeting TMJ?: 102.3 In 1,069 career snaps, has only had 635 on passing downs, at best as a WR2 (mainly WR3 behind Robbie in 21'), in 3+ WR sets. He's managed 45 rec, 628 yards, 1 TD coming from PJ Walker, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Jacob Eason, & Cam Newton's corpse. Honestly, he just hasn't been given the environment to prove the type of player he can be. He was ranked a fringe 1st/high 2nd by many for a reason, and just like Tremble, I'm staying optimistic. Don't look past these two. 2023 could prove to be big for them. We're getting all hopeful about other young guys, who will have a curve to adjust to. These 2 are now caught up to the speed of the NFL, with little tread, and the same age as Mingo. Let's go

Yeeeppp, between the length/catch radius these guys have and speed, Bryce has a really awesome platoon. I can see how people on the outside looking in may look at it as a JAG type group, but it is set up really well for Bryce. Not to mention, Mingo, TMJ and Thielen can all flex between the outside and slot. Chark strictly outside. Thielen knows how to get open even at his age. He's not outrunning guys anymore/isn't his 20s self, but he's a perfect vet to have. The rest, it's all super promising with some caveats: Chark-Injury Bug: He could play his way into a multi-year contract if he gets over the injuries. And it's not impossible, there's a lot of examples of guys who had early career bugs they shook out into 7+ year careers. Not to mention he's already a proven top-30 WR in the league when healthy. TMJ-Playing Time/Young: TMJ is 2 years younger than a lot of guys that were just drafted. He was young for his school year and was a true-Junior declare. He's essentially redshirted 2 years and ready to show if he's the fringe 1st rounder TD machine he was sold as. Mingo-As Unproven Rookie: We just have to wait and see with him, but I have a really good feeling with him over so moany past prospect. Why I'm more sold on him than others is his stories about how much of a student of the game he is. That shows commitment to the profession and a guy that wants to win. Shenault-Gadget or true WR?: One thing is for sure, he can be a playmaker and play every spot at WR. Another fringe 1st type eval taken in the 2nd. We have 4 of these types from their respective draft classes. I think he's an asset to keep. He's perfect to get the ball quickly to and let him run w/it. Then you have Shi & Byrd to battle out for the shifty guy you quickly get open.

Don’t forget Chark and TMJ are both sub 4.4 guys. Faster than Shi.

Depth signing in May. Already have like 9 OL so it’s not like this means much.