TD alt

I have since dropped Legette, Sanders, and DB, but I'm still rolling. I had sense enough to draft Chuba's handcuff, but now my workhorse theory is in disarray. But, to keep it real, Canales has had it in disarray from the beginning. I don't know who to start, so I guess I'll go with "the hot hand." I'm at the top of the hill right now though. Dowdle has been a godsend. Bourne was simply a smart strategic pick-up. I traded for Rice weeks ago (for Dak), and his suspension is over, and Christian Watson should be coming off IR soon.

I'm starting him...but I'm in a 12-team league with two TE spots. The TE situation in fantasy is underwhelming. It's basically a wasteland.

I mean, a month ago I didn't want to admit it. Now people are getting their tighty-wighties in a wad because I dare say something decidedly negative about X (and/or Bryce). I am somewhat mystified. I want X to become a star. And I don't really give a fúck what they say, he's been disappointing. The difference between he and Ladd has been stark. If he could just be half of Ladd---hell, Laviska Shenault---it would be a great improvement. A glorified Mingo? Not so much.

If we're keeping it a buck, my original name is Top Dawg. I have been here since 2002 or 2003. Between this board getting hacked, and me forgetting and simply losing my password and the site not sending me a damned reset, I simply made an alternative account. @Zod himself, or any other person who has been on this board for 20+ years will tell you that I've been here a long time. Hell even some who may not have been here that long know I have pretty much been an institution on the board. I am an OG. As for "whining," you can characterize legitimate football discussion however you like, but suffice it to say, if I am "whining," it's due to years of sucking. I would suggest that you, or anyone else who's upset that I have become critical that Xavier Legette will never be worth what we paid for him just suck it up. I haven't even criticized him as much as I've become somewhat critical of him. The same goes for Bryce. If both or one can turn it around, especially when the stakes are at their highest and can be what we thought that we were getting, I will praise them. My like or dislike of a player on the football field doesn't have to be a static proposition. But, you better believe, that as a long term fan that has been with this team before 1995, I am going to criticize, or be critical of, any team member---player, coach, owner---good or bad, as I see fit. That's what the Carolina Huddle is here for.

And that's the kinda thing that bothers me. I realize that guys don't develop at the same rate, but damn. All the "He'll be just fine sentiment," is ringing kinda hollow at this point. He's an able blocker, I'll give him that, but I can't put my head in the sand anymore, Coker appears to be the better overall receiver.

With Garrett Wilson out, a victory is much more likely. Honestly we have zero excuses. 4-3 should be damned near a certainty. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-friday-oct-17

How about if you don't like my choice of content, then don't click on the thread? We're discussing the NFL, not Pee-wee football. Until we start having "great" games on a continuous basis, I'm going to continue to talk all facets of the team. Moreover, I haven't seen X have a "great" game yet. Just like I supported patience last season, I have become critical this season. If it hurts your feelings, it just hurts your feelings. I've been on this board longer than most of you, and I've been a fan of the Panthers since before they stepped on the field, so don't tell me how to fan.

Damn, A-Rod still has an arm.

What does this have to do with Cam?

I guess he didn't watch that game...

Yep, it's somewhat hypocritical of them, because they're doing the same thing as everyone else.

I mean, you're acting like we don't see the tippy-toe bunny hops, jump throws more than normal (with both feet dangling in the air every which a way), and off-platform but off-balance throws that arrive short or sail high. Could that be bad mechanics due to being short? Could a seeming propensity to bail the pocket towards the sidelines early as opposed to sitting in the pocket tall and strong, surveying his reads, be an attempt at trying to see an open throwing lane? I'm not saying that what you're saying isn't a contributing factor to what has been an underwhelming display of executing the QB position, but this is year three, and if the lightbulb hasn't switched on by now---if you haven't figured out that guys are faster, stronger and generally more athletic, then what's it going to take? It's hard to forget that "mental processing" was supposed to be Bryce Young's superpower. Are you telling me that he can't nail down such an easy concept as, "I can't get away with the things I did in college at the pro level," is that right? If he can't get past that, then that surely limits his ability to successfully execute all the other stuff. Look, I'm not trying to be flippant. I acknowledge that playing pro football is more complex than a lot of fans realize, but all we can do, as fans, is observe. One of my favorite things to do is just look at the greater picture and think what part human nature is playing in the many decisions that are being made or have to be made. You're absolutely correct that fans don't know exactly what's going on, but that is by design, and in many ways it's just the nature of the beast. Some things we can't know. That being said, the professionals screw the hell up all the time. The professionals disagree all the time. These disagreements can be within the same franchise or from franchise to franchise. And sometimes these decisions are all over the place, so excuse me if I ain't exactly buying the I-know-more-than-thee sentiment and that that means that professionals always make better decisions than fans would about certain players. Some of this stuff is simply luck or a crapshoot.

That's what your response is. Sorry (not sorry) that some of y'all's feelings seem to be so hurt. It's ironic that some considered me a Bryce supporter at one time, and an X supporter at one time (yes, it's X, not "XL" as anyone who has done their homework knows), but now that I just keep calling it as I see it, and am not looking for X to be the guy across from Nalo, some of y'all have got a problem with that. The win was enjoyed on Sunday and Monday, but the so-called win streak is not really fitting for a rousing celebration. When we start being your normal team with legitimately higher expectations perhaps we'll be happy to patiently wait for first round picks to at least live up to a mediocre standard after more than year even though other fan bases see their picks consistently flash in year one.

It's called reading between the lines...

So you say... Funny how you say "you guys..." This entire thread is arguably based on sensitivity...

I mean, sometimes you just want a true franchise guy who lifts the team on his shoulders and wills the team to win with his play, especially when it matters. That's apparently too much to ask for after 34 games if I listen to some Huddlers. I don't know how Bryce will end up, no more so than anyone else, but I'm tired of being on 9's struggle bus after so many games.

Spiral? I haven't seen any spiral, just some pushback on another Bryce-is-really-good-if-he-had-a-team thread.

Ha ha. I didn't even see your comment before I made my last. RAS is a motherfúcker to a Panther fan.

Kneel before the god RAS!

I've seen enough of Bryce, but if he somehow does a 180 on a consistent basis, I'll be ecstatic. Not holding my breath though. And I think you're spot-on about the perspectives on his existing play to date, especially this season. I've only seen him play one good game this season. I suspect that our previous wins before last Sunday is something Andy Dalton could have achieved (and I don't see that as a particularly hot take).

I would say sometimes you have to due to the nature and dynamics of the NFL system. Particularly at QB, sometimes you have to take a swing. By most accounts, people considered Cam, Pat, Josh and Lamar projects to some degree. You don't come by the Drake Mayes, Bo Nixes, Justin Herberts or Jayden Danielses that often. Give them a little refinement and experience in a system, and their off and running. Perhaps it's just a QB thing, but I wouldn't swear to it.

I mean, are you saying that on the offensive side of the ball that the rest of the team is sh¡t? It's nice that Bryce finally didn't dig us into a hole that we had to get out of, or simply die in on a Sunday. As someone who has watched the game in earnest for damned near 50 years, I may not know what it takes to spot a QB that's going to succeed--and, yes, success is relative--but I know when I see one that's not good enough without Herculean efforts by others.

Yeah, I could jump right into the unbelievable Bryce debate now that some people are trying to flip the script because Bryce Young has, at most, a handful of decent games as a pro, but that's going to work itself out. Suffice it to say that I've seen better QBs (with an s) in a Panthers uniform, and I've certainly seen better QBs be drafted while we're playing around with Bryce, one of them who beat the crap out of us already this season... Let's forget about Bryce (and his markedly underwhelming play since he's been here); I think that most sane fans will agree that drafting him was an error, but it happens. Sure, it doesn't happen to the tune of King's ransom---including your main receiver---but it happens. You bet, you lose. Speaking of receivers...and betting and losing... Oh, man, we drafted Xavier Legette. Yes, just like with Bryce, I've entered "the dark side." Some Huddlers were telling us from the beginning, and they were right. But, I'm not apologizing for waiting to see what a guy's got before making my decision on him. X was a one-year wonder at South Carolina who parlayed some really nice production that season, a great personality and thick country accent, into becoming a first round pick (but only in Carolina). For Dan Morgan and company, He was a big swing that has turned into a big whiff (and I can still feel the ill breeze from that one). Sh¡t happens, right? Well, not so fast. Ladd McConkey was the decidedly more polished receiver who was literally ready to hit the ground running as soon as stepping onto the field as a pro. Ladd was never the biggest guy (though not the smallest), but he was the guy that could run routes, always seemed to get open---no question---and had the same speed as X, but with legit quickness and nuanced shake and bake. But Dan chose the project. He chose the guy where the game speed looks more like a tractor trailer than a 5.0 mustang. Look, I've supported X (just like Bryce) many many a day, but no more. Now I'm not saying that I won't root for the guy. Just like with Bryce, he seems like a great kid. But as far as giving excuses for the kid, and, perhaps more importantly, waiting for some miraculous breakout, I'm done with that. I've seen enough. You don't draft a project for a project. And yes, Bryce had proven to be a project after his first season. In my mind, drafting a supposedly number one receiver that needs lots of development for a starting quarterback that needs immediate help to try and further his development is not going to lead to good things. Pick the surest guy. Or at least pick the one who appears to be the surest guy, because picking can be tricky... especially when you're too busy tricking yourself.

Winning ain't gonna make my eyes lie to me. Context matters, and it will always matter in the game of football.

I'm open to it. Depends on the compensation. If someone offers a three, are you really going to turn it down? Keep in mind Etienne and, if we're lucky, JB. We'd need more depth though. And, no, Dowdle would not get Chuba money from me. We overpaid. Especially in light of the fact that we keep adding RBs . But we'd have to sign Dowdle to a reasonable contract. Sometimes I don't know what the point of paying Chuba all that money was, and I have full square been arguably Chuba's biggest supporter on this board. I always knew that he could produce good results with a line because he was producing OK results without one.