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I haven't seen one person anoint him a star. Now I have seen people say that his performance was not surprising, and I have seen people say that his performance was an affirmation that QB needy teams shouldn't have let him drop, and I'd say they are absolutely right. And, as I've said, the 2nd and 3rd string thing goes both ways, because that's all of what he's been playing with (even fourth stringers), and we all know that that's a big disadvantage. He deserves a better shot than he's been given, and, I dare say, he looked like a viable NFL QB. It would seem that people are simply hating on him unnecessarily for whatever reasons.

"Oddly?" Lance was super young with relatively little playing time when he was drafted. An actual good situation combined with smart coaches can make a difference. It's still early for the rookie, but from what I heard, Shough isn't looking like the next second round gem. If he hasn't distanced himself from Rattler, the Saints FO is probably already thinking about next draft.

Not a bad dart throw for a project.

“I even told him today coming off the sideline, I’m like, ‘Man, I like what you’re doing out there. Just keep doing it—we’re gonna connect, “I told him, ‘Don’t worry -- I’m gonna try and make your job easier.’” -Tetairoa McMillan to Bryce Young https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/what-panthers-wr-tetairoa-mcmillan-said-about-bryce-young-after-first-game-together-01k2abf7esfk

FWIW, he wasn't calling plays Friday.

It's better than Cat Crave whose main writer seems more interested in shocking headlines, manufactured stories and and clickbait. Sometimes an inferior site and other sites follow that same modus operandi depending upon the writers. I'm getting to the point where I see one and say, "Oh that was written by Dean Jones," and I don't even click on it. There has been a decided lack of quality Panthers articles this year. All I can think is that Tepper and the FO must be affecting indepent news sources behind the scenes very negatively.

I get what you're saying. I do. But at the same time, I think that you're saying that you just don't really believe that Bryce has taken a step forward from bad Bryce to good Bryce. I don't think that you've really recognized the difference between Bryce of the last 10 games last season, and even much less the last three games of last season, and even lesser still the last game of last season, and Bryce before he was benched. You're not recognizing what appears to be an upward trajectory. Now I am not saying that it will continue, because I don't know, but on its face there was improvement and progress based upon the path of last season. So, in my opinion, you're discounting what was undeniable. I will say that being where the state of the franchise was coming from and in, there were growing pains from top to bottom during the beginning of a major transition. I'm sure that all the instability that comes in the aftermath of a train wreck didn't help with the offense's ceiling. With all that was going on, of course we had a so-called "low ceiling offense." But, again, the offense showed the last three weeks that maybe the ceiling wasn't as low as it appears. Now, you add in the continuity for Bryce, the O-line and a receiver who many thought was the best pure receiver in the draft (as well as possibly a veteran route technician in the slot and/or maybe an underappreciated spark plug that was playing in the giant shadow of a Heisman trophy winner), then the ceiling appears to be even higher. I don't know that we need to "add new stuff" to the offense (I don't know, maybe), but I do think that if we execute the offense efficiently, it will go a long ways towards giving headaches to the defensive opposition. Like I said before, if Bryce can just continue his ascension, I think we'll be OK. Bama Bryce, the one that has a command of the offense and give defenses fits off-schedule, gives the team a great opportunity to make legitimate noise in the league.

I never believed he was some genius. I know that that was a media narrative, but I was never convinced. I think Ejiro is way past the hot seat, and I just can't say that he even knows what he's doing.

The "few starters playing," perhaps any, goes both ways, LinvilleGorge. He played well with "camp bodies who won't be on a roster in a couple of weeks." He's been playing with them since the beginning too. But, If Mary K Cabot is correct, then Browns execs are "keeping it in perspective:" "The truth is, while the start was exciting and promising, Sanders is likely still a longshot to beat out Joe Flacco and win the starting job out of the gate," Cabot said. "Granted, he brought the juice and gave the Browns a much-needed spark, but he still has a long way to go before he can go head-to-head with Burrow in the opener and then venture into M&T Bank Stadium against the Ravens' vaunted defense and play as fast as he'd need to." The Newsweek writer, Evan Massey, gave clarification on Cabot's remark: "Basically, Sanders had a good game but that was as far as it went. He's still not viewed as a legitimate starting caliber quarterback in Cleveland." Massey feels like many people do though: "Since falling in the 2025 NFL Draft to the fifth round, Sanders has been discounted by the media. He was projected to be a first or second round pick for a reason. The talent is there for him to be a very special player in the NFL." https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/browns-insider-reveals-bad-news-shedeur-sanders-2111426

You're like a tough crowd for a stand-up comic, but I understand the sentiment. But still...The first team offense didn't play that much. Even though they didn't, McMillan still had 43 yards (which would've been about 50 yards and a TD if the rookie had gotten his head around). I think that's more than just "meh." I mean you say X didn't do much, but he was only in for 6 snaps, two or three of which were run plays. I mean, he was blocking when he got thrown out. And I haven't seen the TEs legitimately be used in the regular flow of the offense since Greg Olsen left, so of course it's easy to say "meh," but were they blocking well? But again, it's not like they were in for a whole lot. Just looking at the box score, there weren't that many opportunities to shine for some of these guys, Bryce only had 6 attempts. On an off note, because it was so little, that's why I'll never understand why people think it's of paramount importance to get those snaps in. Training camp and preseason practices are much more important, particularly for starters.

If Bryce is good, then we'll be good. We ostensibly have enough firepower to be good. Between receivers, TEs and RBs, there are presumably enough legitimate receivers to move an offense effectively. We still have to base things off the regular season though because that's when we'll supposedly be putting forward our best and facing other teams' best. It's more difficult to judge the first team if they're playing against the second team. But looking at the end of last season and the acquisition of T-Mac and presumably Renfrow this season, we should be able to move the ball. "Success" is largely going to depend on Bryce.

I don't know if you missed this when I posted it, but I feel compelled to post it again. It may help give you some food for thought as to what leads to successful QB play, as well as WR play in the league. I think that you may be unduly critical of Bryce and Tetairoa due to perceived limitations. Both can actually be successful, notwithstanding perceived or even real limitations. The go-route isn't necessarily the best route in terms of efficiency, and the average go route as far as air yards is only a little over 20+ yards. Moreover, receivers get markedly more separation on the post and corner routes, and routes in general that break inwards as opposed to outbreaking routes. The go-route may be good in that it keeps defenses honest, and is great when the target is hit, but in terms of efficiency, it's arguably the least effective and gives the QB a lower probability of hitting the target, and generally limits a receivers ability to separate. But, peruse the article because I believe it may give you some insight. https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-intro-to-new-route-recognition-model#:~:text=Targeted%20pass%20catchers%20on%20posts,)%20and%20slant%20(%2B0.26) When NFL analysts say that deep throws are throws more than 20 yards, they have a reason for doing it based on averages, and Bryce was pretty good at throwing deep passes later last season. Tetairoa was not only effective in college due to making some nice deep catches, but some analysts contend that he was even better on crossers or in the slot where he could find the soft part in a defense and then follow it up with YAC. And, to top it off he was the second-ranked WR in the nation last season at breaking tackles. I think we'll be just fine with Bryce and Tetairoa, as long as Bryce continues his trajectory that he began last year.

I understand your thoughts process, but as players and prospects, the two are really different as night and day. Shedeur looked the part of a legit NFL QB whose ceiling was starter and floor was a backup, and Richardson was always a project, projection, or a product of imagination.

For those interested, Shedeur received a grade of 79.8. That's solid.

It's a super small sample size...Don't jinx us.

Claudin Cherelus does better than that...

@Seltzer, even if I concede that it was an "elite" drive, it's not like it was against an elite defense. It wasn't even against starters. Look, I'm not trying to take away from a good drive, but just try and keep things in perspective. I'm not ready to cape for anyone on the Panthers just yet. Consistency and being able to be halfway competitive are this season's goal, but the ultimate goal (just as important as winning a "chip" to me) is to be consistently competitive and consistently elite most if not every season.

Recency bias, huh? If 7-10 years is recency bias, then we have a different definition... Secondly, I don't gloat when my negative predictions turn out right. It just goes against my constitution to celebrate negativity---it makes no sense. Third, I don't generally make predictions anyway, I just discuss players and coaches based upon current happenings (or reality, if you will), wait for things to play themselves out, address the situation at hand, and have more discussions (wash, rinse and repeat). Sure, I will chop it up about hypotheticals and trade proposals, but this is a Panthers message board and engaging in discussion, including hypotheticals, is interesting to me. Otherwise what's the point? But making grand proclamations that this player sucks or this player is JAG is not my thing. Now if T-mac turns out great, or the unicorn that is his upside (in my opinion), or if Legette gets it together and is outstanding, or Renfrow makes the team and does his thing, then I'm not averse to an "I told you so." Now there are times when I absolutely go out on a limb, and absolutely against the grain. Years ago, when Mike Shula became the OC, within the first month of play, I posted to the effect that he was out of his depth. I said in so many words that he was given the keys to a Ferrari but running it like a Yugo. A little more recently, during the preseason that we acquired Philly Brown, I told people that Philly was JAG. I took heat in both circumstances (some still think Philly was special), but I feel that history proved I was absolutely right about both situations. Never once did I say, "I told you so," because honestly I took no glee in it, and when you're right in those situations, you really don't have to say anything anyway. Lastly, I don't really get your core point, because all I'm saying (along with some others) is that we're tired of hearing the same old rationale---some might call "excuses," every single preseason (and regular season, to be quite frank). Until there is definitive change that we don't have to guess about whether it's real or imagined, and until we see some longstanding consistency, progress and improvement, all this other stuff is just noise. Recency bias? "I told you so."

Hell, I've said it myself. Maybe if we say it long enough, the season will come when it actually means, in practical terms, what Panthers fans want it to.

Dude, we hear this same old sh¡t every year.

Still a greenhorn no matter how you slice it.

Where are the CliffNotes---the link? I think Morgan has done a decent job on paper---in theory. It's still too early for me to say anything with conviction. We think we think we think...We'll find out. I'm just not sold...yet. Most of these players may make the team, but will they be impactful players or simply average guys that will wash out in four years? I'm not inclined at this point to be so optimistic. The only thing that I can say with surety is that Morgan has raised the floor to an unknown degree. Is it with legit starter level guys? Maybe. Like I said, "good on paper---in theory. I'll be patient. The only move that I can say that I didn't like in hindsight (but I raised an eyebrow over when it happened) was drafting Brooks in the second. We lost an opportunity to draft an impactful LB or DB, when we already had Chuba (which I thought of more highly than most and said so). I think that patience is in order. I realize some of you believe that Tepper's the same old impatient owner, but I don't see Morgan going anywhere for at least more seasons. By then, we'll have more clarity about the efficacy of his draftees. I appreciate his efforts.

I mean, maybe if it wasn't an ass whipping... It really may not have been a bad thing, but it really may not have been a good thing either... I guess it all depends upon perspective, which is fine...but I was expecting---maybe crazily in hindsight---something a little more definitive. From one vantage point, we're making progress, but from another vantage point, we're the same old Panthers. I think that everyone can agree that since we are negotiating the monkey bars of perception about the Panthers' performance last night, we are certainly not where we want to be.

I think some of you are way overdoing the fact that he was hitting a helmet. Helmets are smooth, hell as a kid I used to literally hit brick walls with my fists to toughen them up. I also played tackle football on pavement on occasion coming up. I also got in little disagreements with helmets on. I'd hate it when guys would grab my facemask. In my thinking, they were using it as a crutch---a sneaky weapon in order to leverage against me and subdue me by placing me in an awkward fighting stance. I hated it when guys would hit my helmet. I'd feel the force of the hit and hear the thuds. I'd prefer not to have a helmet on and really get it on. X didn't use good judgement for fighting, but in football tempers flare sometimes. It's a teaching moment. He said that it wouldn't happen again, and it didn't happen last season.

I hope that you're wrong, but @kungfoodude told us that he doesn't expect a winning season until 2030. I'll just say this: I'm an old-head and still only reserve the "trash" label for actual trash, or for only the worst human beings that humanity has to offer. That being said, I was really disappointed with the defense's performance last night, but I've heard that some of last year's starters are now this year's depth, so I guess that we shouldn't be surprised.