LinvilleGorge

The past is generally the best predictor of the future. Most busts don't bounce back elsewhere. Most subpar players continue to be subpar. Teddy improved last year. He just didn't improve enough. We're probably going to experience a repeat of that this season. Hopefully Darnold will prove to be an exception to those norms but norms are norms for a reason. You don't get moral superiority as a fan for pie in the sky thinking.

You always think statements are definitive. I'm simply talking about what is most likely. Not everything is black and white, as desperately as you try to project that on others while always trying to take up residence in the gray yourself.

We're Panthers fans. Talking draft before Halloween has kinda been a way of life for a good chunk of our history.

I'm not assuming that he can't. I'm just not assuming that he necessarily will. And let's be honest, we're not talking about a slight or even moderate improvement leading to him being a good QB. We're talking about him needing to make a giant leap. It's just unlikely. I hope it happens, but I fully expect us to be discussing 2022 1st round QB prospects pretty early into next season

It was absolutely a horrible pick to draft another DT in the 1st when we had Star and KK with our other glaring needs. That pick needed to be an absolute home run to be justified, instead it was an absolute dud.

While it would be infuriating, at least it wouldn't be boring. I'd rather lose failing spectacularly than lose being too scared to give ourselves a chance.

Oh lawd, it's last off-season all over again. Any suggestion that our new QB who has historically been bad may not necessarily dramatically improve in the nirvana that is the Carolina Panthers under world leading guru Joe Brady is utter nonsense. I see that last year's results in that arena didn't sway any convictions. A.k.a some people are delusional.

Dat "3-4 defense" doe... That looked exactly like his previous 4-3 just with 3-4 OLBs playing DE. It held up about as well as one would've expected in the run game too.

Yep. The word "intangibles" gets thrown around a lot, but it's accurate. A lot of what goes into being a successful NFL player can't be measured. Does a guy have "it"? I don't know what "it" is but if you don't have it you ain't gonna make it.

I guess it's sorta refreshing to at least have Rivera come out and openly admit that Cam was the entire offense.

If Fields wins ROTY playing for Nagy you might as well go ahead and get his bust ready for Canton.

Even Darnold's most hopeful supporters don't expect him to be an MVP candidate.

I absolutely wanted Fields but sure, I'll give Darnold a fair shot. Honestly, it doesn't matter what the fans want. The staff and front office are all in on Darnold. He's going to get more than a fair shot here.

QB is the one spot that's really hard to scheme around, especially when you're short your #1 offensive weapon. I'm not saying Brady was perfect, but I think he probably did about as much as he could with the obvious limitation at QB.

I seriously doubt he's a cap casualty, I just expect us to let him walk and take the comp pick.

I think drafting Marshall in the 2nd is the writing on the wall for Anderson. There's only so much salary cap to go around.

This is where I'm at. If Darnold puts up those stats, Joe Brady is probably the hottest name on the head coaching interview circuit next year.

Bingo. I WANT Darnold to be successful, I just don't THINK that he will be.

Yep. If he does that I'm on the bandwagon.

He was one of those guys who was a decently hot name early on because pundits see stats. But the more feedback the pundits got from actual scouts, the further he fell down draft boards. Actual NFL talent evaluators were just never high on the guy.

Rhule and company thought that about Teddy last year too. Just saying. I think trading for Darnold was a mistake. He's probably just a bust. I would've absolutely drafted Justin Fields. I hope I'm wrong. I hope Darnold becomes a perennial All-Pro, I just sincerely doubt that happens. St the end of the day, I just want him to boom or bust. Don't be "just good enough". Clearly be the answer or clearly don't be the answer so that we can resume our search for the answer. Thanks.

There won't be any ghosts on the field in practice. We won't know if he's shell shocked until the real bullets start flying.

I don't care what he does in OTAs. Or camp. Or preseason. I want to see what he does when the games start for real.

I'm gonna try to stay away from known commodities here... High: Gross-Matos. He showed some nice flashes as a rookie. I think he'll evolve into a very good DE opposite Burns and their respective strengths complement each other well. Unsure: Chinn. Now wait a minute, I'm not unsure of the player. I'm unsure of how we're gonna use him. Is he a full-time safety now? Will we be tempted to shift him more toward LB again out of necessity either due to injury or subpar play from our LBs? Personally, I'd like to see us stay the course with him. Wherever we feel he's best suited, play him there. Don't let his versatility mean we hamper his development trying to put a band-aid on elsewhere. Phil Snow thinks that safety is where he best fits. Low: Darnold. Until he proves otherwise, he's just a bust. History isn't kind to busts resurrecting their careers elsewhere. Sure, it happens but it's the exception and not the rule. Here's to hoping Darnold proves to be an exception but I'll believe it when I see it.

Damn.