MHS831

The Special Juan has a purpose on occasion. I personally like his posts and attitude when he gets attacked by the Huddle haters. I am a supporter.

didn't they say Marshall Jr had the wind knocked out of him---it takes a day to get over that?

They make rookies earn it. After preseason it will be adjusted, but who knows what they are feeling?

I spent some time yesterday looking over the roster. We are thin at some spots and not deep at many positions. I looked at the depth and their NFL experience or draft data--yikes. We are thin at LB. We are thin at CB. We are thin at OLB. We are thin at QB. Possibly thin at C. If injuries continue at the current pace, we are in huge trouble.

I have a story. I was at a preseason game with some knowledgeable Panther fans--4 dudes, each outspoken and eager to share his wisdom to impress the others. The Panthers were playing a team with an established, 4-time Pro Bowl (over his career) QB who played the first quarter and was pulled. A rookie sixth round backup QB came in to play the second quarter. I said, "Guys? That QB, #12, is pretty good. I think he is better than Bledsoe." My friends laughed at me--hard. The kind of laughing that sends projectiles out of your nostrils. For the rest of the night they looked at me and laughed. The ride home (an hour) was a bitch. It became something they joked about so much, I hated when two of them would come together in my presence. I quietly doubted my observations and secretly wished I had not said something so dumb. You know the rest of the story. As Brady took the reins and played well, their memory of my comment faded away. They could not recall giving me a hard time or remember my prophetic words at the stadium that night. To this day, I remind them of it. They remember--and I am determined that they grow old knowing that when they "professed themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:20). That's right--it became Biblical. Point: You never know. While I doubt Plummer ever plays a meaningful NFL snap, he or someone like him will become a star one day.

Yeah, I know.

The problem is if we start losing. He has been inconsistent over his career. In four of his 10 seasons, he has 37 sacks. In six of his ten seasons, he has a combined total of 15.5 sacks. I realize that sacks are but one measure, and since there is often someone who pressures the qb first, allowing for the second person to get the sack, I do not really think sacks is a fair statistic. I have seen people get sacks when two or three teammates force the QB right into the player. Pressures is a better statistic--On our defense, we will need another force to step up on the other side--encouraged about the early news concerning Johnson. Barno has been hurt, and he was showing signs. Wonnum, however, is the starter. Wonnum has been in the league 4 years and is averaging about 6 sacks per season-half his seasons featured 8 sacks, respectively. If we can get that out of him, Clowney should see more 1 on 1 match ups.

I am a graduate professor in Education Leadership--I have taught undergraduate (secondary education) and masters and doctorate classes for future principals and superintendents. I am guessing that is what you are asking? Before that, I taught High School English and was a school administrator. The MHS stands for Monroe High School. 831 was a typo-I meant to type 8031--I was 80 in football and 31 in baseball and basketball--just did not fix it because it didn't really matter.

More than I am one of them.

I come here where I can say what I want and do not have to be so proper and formal. I am a former college football player, so getting along with the nerds is not my forte. I'd rather talk football with you guys and leave the professor stuff at the door. But it is what I do and who I am--been doing it for 17 years now--so the Huddle is a much needed outlet.

Way to early to be judging the OL--wait until after the second preseason game at least. New staff, new system, new players--you all might be right, but man it is tough to bring 5 people together--no other position group has that many different pieces. I am concerned--don't get me wrong--but I am not too worried yet. I am interested in the following players at the moment that seem to have flashed: OLB Chaisson WRs Mingo and Marshall Jr. (ANY WORD ON XL's INJURY?)

He has the tools and when he puts it all together, get out of his way.

I used to work at Gardner-Webb as a professor and we had to attend all the graduation ceremonies. One year (around 2016 or 2017) he attended to watch a nursing student he was serious about graduate--not sure if they ever got married or not, but he caused a pretty big stir--entered late and sat in the back and left early--not sure if he is in play or not, but if he is, I agree. Got me to thinking so I looked it up--Girlfriend from his hometown Cincinnati and she graduated with a degree in physical therapy from GW in 2017. They are married now.

IMO, you should have 4 QBs in camp for this reason---your starter, your backup (to make the 53), a PS QB on a rookie contract, and one that you cut or put on IR.

It will be interesting to watch the QBs develop in college this season. Sanders and Beck are above the pack, but there are about 4 who could shoot up boards if they have a good season--and they have the tools. I really like Smith, Houston's size---and he could be the dark horse. Ewers has been able to keep Arch Manning on the pine-that is pressure and shows he's a dog (competitor). The Penn State QB (Allar) like Smith is a big guy who could move into round 1 if he looks good against OhioSt, USC, etc. We have seen it before--some unknown going into the season. Milroe at Bama is also poised to get some love. Sanders is disciplined and seems to read the D well--does not have a great team around him---I would rank them Sanders/Beck (tie) and Ewers. After that, we have to see if someone steps up--and I think they will. Watch Smith--he is my long shot favorite.

I am under the impression that (one again) we have last year's guards playing. If we could get both Gs who have been successful, we can see what we have. There is no reason your LG should be a weakness, but we seem to have a history of sucking there. I am getting concerned that we are not going to protect Bryce and Bryce is not going to be good. My focus is on 2025 anyway, but there are a lot of questions I want to see answered this season. Icky, WR, QB (I think we probably know that answer), LB, CB,and C.

I may have BC focus on C for now. Easier to bring in a few Guards (after cuts, maybe) than a C. Personally, I think BC could be a solid C if given the reps. I should add that the snap placements should be a bit erratic at first for a career G to move to C--not ready to give up on Corbett on Aug 4.

DID NOT see him look off the S

The pass to 88 was late--88 seems to explode out of the break and then slows. The ball needed to be thrown sooner or more outside (He could have dragged feet--there is no reason in an uncovered rep to be late). Someone tell me that I am seeing things or nit picking.

If I were Miami, I would have kept OG Hunt and traded Tua--I do not see his play improving now that so much cap is going to pay him. Teams get stuck in mediocrity, and those who have been below mediocre feel that they are heading in the right direction when they reach it. However, I do not see Tua improving. Arizona should not have paid Murray bank, imo, but at least his supporting cast is not as good as Miami's was last season. I hope Bryce proves me wrong-I have no doubt he will improve this year--but will he improve enough?

I am hoping for more, expecting that his ceiling is that of Tua's in Miami. The irony there is one that we could face here in the best case scenario---On a rookie deal, we are able to put the pieces around Bryce to make him a good manager who plays within his arsenal of capabilities. Tua just got paid bank and lost a key OL in Robert Hunt in order to pay the QB. He has to YAC WRs that pad his stats--but without the stud Guard, they are going to step back. Now you have a short, limited QB getting paid market prices. It would almost have been better for the Dolphins if Tua continued to struggle and they did not make the playoffs--they are not locked in on mediocrity, imo. That might also be the best case scenario here. I see the Panthers losing their top 2 WRs (Johnson and Thielen) after this season and that leaves them with 2 or 3 WRs who are 6-1, 210. The same breed of hunting dog. It is possible we have to move on from one or two and they prosper elsewhere. Having said that, it seems we could be taking one step forward and two backward. Personally, I do not think you pay a QB top dollar (see Arizona, Miami) if his size and/or arm strength are limited. Can they attack the entire route tree? Just because your starting QB is playing out his contract does not mean he is worth the deal Mahommes or Josh Allen are getting. This is the season to make a hard decision on Bryce and if he is not good to great, we need to keep shopping. Personally, a lot of people are down on the QB market in 2025, but I think there are some sleepers that might step up this year. Aside from Beck and Sanders, I think Ewers is a top-end sleeper (managed to keep Arch Manning on the pine) and my dark horse is a poor-man's Cam-clone, Donavan Smith at Houston (6=5, 240). If there are five QBs worthy of a first round selection, that makes this draft as good as last seasons. Vision over.

Here is the patient and maybe practical view--since PUP players count against the active roster, we can wait until the first week of the season and put him on IR--that would give the Panthers a minimum of 4 weeks and a maximum of seven to ten weeks (estimated) to reinstate him. I think this is the way to go because it does not take a roster spot---I doubt he would play much the first month of the season regardless. The downside is that you have to get down to your 53-man active roster before doing so, but a PS designation to be called up is how you would hope to handle that.You still have Hubbard, Sanders (behind a better OL), and Blackshear until then. If Sanders or even Hubbard have good starts, they could maybe trade him for a pick next year when Brooks returns. I think this would give Brooks the time he needs to heal thoroughly while learning the offense.

Just some observations--the OL takes the longest to gel--we have new players at 3 positions--a new system, etc. The chemistry between the qb and WRs takes a while, but the OL in this situation is painfully understandable.

This was a draft wherein we needed 3 or 4 hits. I love the Brooks and Sanders picks, and when they start contributing, the offense will be better. When you are in that situation, you take the sure bets--take a guy who will make the team and be a good player over a guy who is boom or bust--Legette is the picture of Boom or Bust. Besides that, with Johnson and Thielen, we are talking about the Z (3) WR--and we have Mingo, TMJ there. How much better would we be if Legette is good? Four to six passes per game? I would not have minded a CB like Cooper or Kool Aid (assuming they did homework on him). Again, not giving up on Legette but he is raw, so we shouid not be surprised.