MHS831

canales is not even trying to score--based on his lack of confidence in bryce?

so we spend 40 seconds in a 2 minute drill between handoffs.

Most Huddlers have contacted me via Twitter, Zoom conference, PM, email, and in one case, a telegram delivered by the Pony Express (Mr. Scot) and asked me, "MHS, what are we going to do about the OL? We already have the highest payroll and we are about to either pay Ekwonu for a fifth year or a lucrative, long-term contract. Is this sustainable?" "Nope." So I done some thinking, I did. I looked at contracts (OTC) and performance (PFF--the best available rating system, albeit flawed--let's move on) and age of the players. A source called "AI" (yes, TheSpecialJuan, the same people who make the steak sauce) says this: Peak performance by position Tackles: Peak performance can last longer for tackles, with top-tier players often peaking around age 34. Centers and Guards: Peak performance for centers and guards generally occurs earlier, with peak years often ending between 29 and 32 years old. So with that in mind, I offer you something called "Research" (literally, it means "to look for it again.") Enjoy GUARD Robert Hunt. He is 29 right now and under contract for another 3 seasons. However, paying a G in his 30s $24m per season is crazy. Something has to give. We get no cap help by cutting him after this season unless he is a Post June 1 cut, then we throw $15m on the dead cap and save $9m. Not worth it. However, after the 2026 season, the post-June 1 savings go up to $19m. It is $13m if he is cut pre-June 1. Hunt will be 31 (not that old for a G), but we would be smart to use that $$ elsewhere. I think we need to plan on having Hunt on this team through 2026, unless he restructures, something I do not think serves the best long-term interests of the Panthers. Damien Lewis. (28) Less money, but nearly the same situation. If he becomes a post-June 1 cut after the 2026 season, we would save $19m. One could argue that both Lewis and Hunt could be on the roster through 2027, and a lot depends on the QB situation. Still, if I am GM, I take a look at the current situation at Guard. Lewis has 3-4 good years left and has been very solid. With only half his contract guaranteed, it makes sense to extend Lewis and cut Hunt. Jake Curhan…If you have been paying attention, he has been solid. In the long-term plans, this could be a lot more significant than it seems right now. Over the past few weeks, T Jake Curhan has been solid at RG. He is 27. I lock him down with a 4-year deal in the $8m-10m per range and make him my backup in 2026 (at 28) and starter in 2027 (at 29). Guard Prognosis: Sign Curhan to a long-term deal, based on his performance at RG. Extend Lewis for 2 years, keeping him as the RG through 2029. Trade Hunt now or release him after the 2026 season. Zavala is under contract through 2026 on a very team-friendly deal. He was better in 2024, fwiw, but those 2025 numbers are terrible. Not sure we need a G in 2026 draft, unless we trade Hunt. (good luck with that). CENTER Cade Mays. (26) Mays is entering his prime as an OL and he has played several interior OL positions, making his contributions valuable. He is probably average to slightly below average as a center, but he needs a contract. An ideal IOL backup, he still has upside and is not a liability at center. He needs to improve on his run blocking, but for a center, that has a lot to do with his abilities to recognize stunts and call blocking assignments–understandable. Pass blocking is good, fwiw. He needs a 4-year deal to keep him on the roster, and signing him now might be wise. Nick Samac (24). It is noteworthy that the Panthers pulled up center Nick Samac (24) from the Ravens’ practice squad, who the Ravens were fairly high on, so maybe center is not as big a need as we think. I still think we should draft or sign a C at some point with the mindset of moving Cade Mays to a reserve IOL. Austin Corbett (30) meanwhile, the oft-injured G converted to center, is making $10m this season and 2026 is a voidable year. He is probably gone. He is having a better year than Mays in spot duty, but last season, Mays actually outperformed Corbett using the PFF data. Center Prognosis: Sign Mays to a long-term, reasonable contract (backup rate with starting incentives), allow Samac to compete for the job/backup job (I have no idea how good he is). Draft a center in 2026. Say “bye-bye” to IR Corbett. TACKLE Icky Ekwonu (25) will see his salary double to about $17m in 2026, but I expect him to be re-signed to a long-term deal through the 2030 season. If I am Morgan and I am not extending Young, I make that deal front-loaded Taylor Moton (31) has been solid, and his salary for 2026 ($21m) means that he will be our RT next season. He is likely to be in Carolina through 2027, when he turns 33, but the salary will be $28m, with half guaranteed. He has a low, voidable year in 2028 (age 34) at a reasonable $6m. Brady Christensen (29). Listed as a G, he is (to me) the epitome of a swing OT with the ability to backup OG, lowering the need to draft a G. He needs a deal, however, and if I am the Panthers, I give him a 3-year deal because his depth is valuable and he is playing well. Yosh Nijman (29). Nope. A pass pro grade of 46.7 gets your QB blue tented. His contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. We need to draft Moton’s future replacement and possible backup. Let BC play behind Icky and provide G depth. Time to groom the next RT. Tackle Prognosis: Give Ickey the deal he deserves (ouch) and lock him down. Count on Moton being your RT for 2026 and probably 2027. Re-sign BC and let him play swing T and provide G depth. Draft a RT in the 2026 draft. OVERALL: The OL needs to manage the cap to sustain future growth, so the priority needs to be re-signing Curhan and planning for the Hunt departure. Re-sign Brady Christensen and Cade Mays to contracts of 3 years or so. Extend Lewis. Lock Ickey down. Draft or sign a RT and C. Let Corbett and Nijman walk. Lewis needs to restructure and Hunt needs to be gone before 2027. We lose the $10m Corbett salary and Nijman’s $3m, but Ickey’s salary goes up about $10m (5th year–unless he is signed to a long-term deal that absorbs some of that cost). Lewis should be extended to save some cap room in 2026, but that $$ would go to the BC and Mays contracts. Curhan needs a deal because we need a proven commodity to replace Hunt down the road. So the cap might increase for the OL in 2026 a bit, facilitating the Hunt release in 2027, which saves nearly $20m. Of course, locking down Ickey now could make the 2026 cap more manageable. With liabilities Corbett and Nijman gone (and the $13m they were paid), we can re-sign BC and Mays. Lewis’ restructure could cover the first year of the Ickey deal and maybe Curhan will not be too expensive to re-sign. If we could do this, our OL depth would be better and our future would be cheaper and brighter. Urgency for 2026: Tackle: Low if we re-sign BC and draft a RT to develop behind Moton. Guard: Low if we still have Hunt, Lewis, Curhan, and Zavala for 2026. Center: Medium urgency in that Mays has been decent and is entering his prime. What do we have behind him? Competition and depth needed. (NOTE: I think the depth positions need to be filled in the draft because we can't afford free agents in 2026.)

As difficult as it may seem to believe, many times a good player is drafted into the wrong system and gets discouraged. Ironically, the later you are drafted, the less time you are given to make your mark. These are basically kids. Players develop differently, and they catch on at different times. We seem to be good at developing talent on the OL, CB, and maybe RB. We seem to struggle at WR, S, QB, LB and Edge. I actually think (moving forward) that our CB room is pretty solid and a mild surprise. I have been pleased with the development of Smith-Wade, Thornton, and Jackson. Throw in Horn, and that is a solid room, based on my observations.

I see your point, but if it is nothing but a marketing ploy, then it is not an Alpha. It is a natural ability to lead and the desire to have the opportunity to make the plays when needed. That ain't marketing. That is instinctive. The lead wolf does not bullshit the pack--he earns it because it is in his blood.

Speaking of---I wanted David Shaw, who is now the "passing game coordinator" in Detroit. I met him in Palo Alto when CMC was there--a class act.

I keep saying it--if he ain't an Alpha, he ain't a franchise QB. Discuss. When I think of Alphas, I think of Allen, Mahommes, Rogers, Hurts, Baker, Burrow, and Jackson. They make everyone around them better-not all are the best QB in terms of talent or skill set, but the voice in the huddle 10 seconds before the snap is important. It gives the team confidence and hope.

He had some maturity issues early and would pout. He outgrew them. A frachise QB is a franchise QB at all times---so those criticisms were justified. It is not to equate that to wanting Bryce tarred and feathered, however. It is OK to criticize when you see a flaw or fault, but on the other hand, you better praise the good. My concern about Cam was Rivera. He sacrificed Cam, in my view, by having him run a lot. Cam kept RR employed. Cam could have been frustrated with his situation and nothing more. But having met Cam, I can say there are few if any people like him. He is/was genuine. He cared about the people who cared for him.

the problem? We SHOULD have been developing a qb as the backup every year until we had our guy. Bryce is an entitled puss who has never been more than a game manager--always surrounded by talent that dwarfs most of his opponents.

How do you sell it to the PSL holders? You can't. I a tired of seeing the other color jerseys in the stadium and watching our QB slapping his knee in the red zone because he goofed again.

I agree. I hate to keep repeating it, but an Alpha makes everyone better. Not Nice bryce slapping hands at the locker room gate after giving the opposition points.

Yes. A new era requires a different approach. The Packers have been very successful doing this--it is the most important position in sports--you should ALWAYS be developing a young QB or 2.

Here is my take on why I can't pick good QBs in the draft--it is all about the timing, supporting cast, and system. If we bring in "damaged goods" like Howell or Levis, for example, give him a running game. IMO, we are solid at RB (assuming Brooks and Entienne step up). Not sure about these guys, but Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Daniel Jones (I wanted us to go after him, fwiw), and Sam Darnold. If you think about it, that means that 15.6% of the starting QBs in the league are former "busts." We could find the right player and draft a player and we'd be better off than we are now. I think we need the following: a #2 WR. I think TMac is solid and Coker is a great slot. XL can be a situational WR creating a tough coverage matchup (S or nickel), and Horn does what he does. a playmaking, elite TE. Not only does it give the D another threat. We also need to break ties with at least one of our overpaid guards. Frankly, #74, Curhan (27), needs a contract for 2026, but a deal in the $4m range is a lot better than Hunt's $100m for 4 contract. He is 27 and has shown to be a solid RG. C Mays (26) needs a team-friendly, long-term deal at C, but he needs competition. He makes about $3m per season--I would say double it for 3 years--something in the $18-$21m range. The $$$ they were going to spend on young should go to our LT, Ickey. So this is a rough plan to improve the offense and locking down players at TE, WR, OL, and RB for the next few years. We need an Alpha. Remember the '85 Bears? McMahon was not that good--he had a good defense, great RB, good WRs, a stud OL....and he was an Alpha. Baker is an Alpha. We did not have the parts around him. He sucked and is not succeeding with better support. Canales knows this--saw it first hand.

We have the Rams, Seahawks, Bucs twice--I do not see Bryce shining through it. I think they would be crazy to offer him the fifth year option, but if they have no backup plan--which they don't--and they solidified that when they signed Dalton. I imagine that he will stay as a transitional backup to tutor the new QB-- I think there is some opportunity this year for a young QB. I personally like some of the players who have dropped a bit--but if they do nothing and sign this pussy for another year--and I wanted to like Bryce, but that "doggonit" hand spank when he threw the pic at the goal line--then the look to the sideline as if he was hungry and ready for the nipple--just pissed me off. The play calling? Bad. Why? The do not have confidence in their QB.

Here is what mrBdawg is not getting. The Niners get no pressure on the QB (like us). They walked the S up into the box, daring Bryce to beat them deep. By running play action, they should have had opportunities down field. Bryce hesitates because he is basically a pussy. Scared to fail. Aside from the TMac TD, we did nothing about it. The play calling (screens) vs a team that can't rush the passer is a head scratcher, but when your QB cannot throw a deep out, a dig, a post, or a slant with any accuracy, it leaves you with the safe passes with YAC your best option.

Last night, Bryce was missing horribly when there was no pressure. TMac seemed to show some frustration on the sideline. Bryce is showing no signs of going through progressions. The look off that went to TMac for 6 was always going to TMac....When they saw the safety crowding the box, it was the call. Why we did not do this more is a mystery--it does not necessarily reflect poor playcalling--it probably reflects a lack of confidence in your QB. Bryce has one good game against the Falcons and starts acting as if he has arrived. It was a good game sandwiched between two atrocious games. If we do not move on, this franchise is not determined to win.

Red Zone: I would like to know how many points he has scored vs the points he has given away. To me, the bottom line is this: He is not processing. He can't throw over the middle. He is not an Alpha....Do not pay this Man $200m. 4 years has been bad enough. He was the #1 QB taken and is in the bottom 20% of the league during his best season. If the Panthers were to trade him--what would they get? Personally, I like the depth of the QBs in this draft. Take 2. Let them compete. Send Bryce to summer camp without a bus ticket home.

The Bryce Factor--1 TD, 2 INTs in scoring position, One suck ass pass on a 2 pt conversion. His value? -5 net points.

so lets have our 5'8" qb throw over the middle with one yard to go.

No rushers, no linebackers, and safeties are rumored to exist. I can't figure this out.

We have the niners, Seahawks, and Rams left on our schedule, and Tampa twice. hard to imagine we will win the division.

Defensively, we lead the league in giving theTEs and WRs cushions. Third and 8, we protect the 15 yard mark.

The first man drafted and the last man drafted are having a contest to see who sucks the most. Bryce--you are up.

I am sick of Bryce giving away points--sorry. Still pissed.

You can't win consistently with Bryce Young. Full Stop. That was middle school stupid.