This week I learned on the Huddle (Preseason week 3 edition)

[TheMostInterestingMan]

A little late getting to it this week. So much I learned, so much I had to reflect on. I just needed time to take it all in and process it. 

This week on the Huddle I learned that people incorporate the word 'coddle' in their vocabulary way more than I ever realized. The National Institute of Words and Grammar recorded a 1.3% nationwide increase in the words use with relation to Sam Darnold. Speaking of Darnold...

This week I learned he is being coddled and I learned exactly why. Many here had been wondering why he wasn't taking many reps in preseason. Indeed some suggested that the coaching staff had no idea what they were doing and were in for a shock. I suspect many of those likely speak from coaching experience, helping their local U13 leagues for many years now. Perhaps it's time they send an email to Rhule and Co. cause boy do they need it. Darnold finally got to play a full half... and he looked BAD!

Darnold went 19/25 for 162 and 2 TDs. That sounds decent on the surface. Thats a completion percentage of 76%. Granted he did that against backups, but still decent numbers. But it wasn't the positives anyone should be focusing on when it comes to Darnold. When it comes to Darnold, its much better to focus on the positives of Justin Fields and the negatives of Sam Darnold. 

The important to do when evaluating Darnolds performance is to go back and watch his eyes. You may have to adjust your TV screen to really get a good look at where Darnold is looking, but if you do you will find he locked on to his receivers and stared them down. Every. Single. Time. You will also notice he looked a bit uncomfortable when under pressure from the opposing defense. While this may be okay for a Division II school QB, a NFL QB needs to put that pressure behind him. And perhaps the biggest scare of all, some here have suggested Darnold still sees ghosts and was even seeing them as recently as last Saturday. This is the Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis. This is the NFL. Darnold needs to keep that "I see dead people" bullsh*t in his house because that isn't going to cut it in this league. 

We also learned this is the greatest draft class in Panthers history. Obviously its still early, but the writing is on the wall. We drafted at least 5, possibly 6 all pros in last years draft. Many were skeptics at the time. Screaming on the Huddle that trading back was stupid. "I want studs, not jags!" they said. "A dime is better than two nickels!" other proclaimed. Some even said "I would trade ALL the picks for a decade for Zach Wilson!"

Others were more calm about the draft strategy and simply said "$&#*@%! JUSTIN FIELDS!!!!@!!" But it turns out while there are many more suitable NFL caliber Head Coaches on this board, there may not be as many NFL caliber GMs. Trading back seems to have landed us a perfect draft class. Just three games into the preseason its pretty clear that we have never done better. Horn and Marshall are essentially locks to the NFL HOF. Marshall has already been awarded the PFF Medal of Honor and Outstanding Achievement Award. And rumor has it Jaycee Horn has already been offered a 5 year $25 million dollar endorsement deal with Smart Locks Home Security for his outstanding preseason play. 

Others, while less likely to go to Canton, but still locks as future all pros include Tommy Tremble, Brady Christensen, Shi Smith and of course the immovable object, Deonte Brown. 

It still feels early to claim this as a best draft class ever though I hope and pray its true. I think... of course drafting that many all pros could be the very last thing we need. How will we ever get a talented QB if we constantly keep drafting such talented players after all? But maybe Fitt does know a thing or two about trading back and finding talent while adding assets. Still, one has to wonder if it was all a fluke. Regardless of the talent he identified, he passed on Fields. And that is the most interesting point to bring up. Was this our best draft class ever? Or was it our worst ever? I would say "time will tell" but I feel rather confident the Huddle will tell me long before time does. We still have a week and a half before week 1. Maybe I'll learn the answer to that question before then.

We are almost there everyone. Football is in the air. We are almost fugging there. 

/s

Edited August 30, 2021 by TheMostInterestingMan

[Basbear]

[beo]

Quote

Others, while less likely to go to Canton, but still locks as future all pros include Tommy Tremble, Brady Christensen, Shi Smith and of course the immovable object, Deonte Brown. 

You left out Thomas Fletcher.

[TheMostInterestingMan]

4 minutes ago, beo said:

You left out Thomas Fletcher.

This week I learned that I'm an idiot! 

[ClawOn]

It gets even more grim... reports are surfacing that Darnold stares down Robby while he sleeps. Literally all night. Just gazing into his soul. 

[Moo Daeng]

Santoso stares down Darnold. Every. Single. Time.

 

[TheMostInterestingMan]

14 minutes ago, ClawOn said:

It gets even more grim... reports are surfacing that Darnold stares down Robby while he sleeps. Literally all night. Just gazing into his soul. 

I hadn't heard. Source?

[Panthera onca]

I laughed.

[EgoDogg]

I would love a "This week on the Huddle" featurette. All the ridiculousness in one place to add some enjoyment to the it. Thank you @TheMostInterestingMan 

[mc52beast]

Learned this week that our o-line can get pushed around by back-ups… not very promising.

[ClawOn]

1 hour ago, TheMostInterestingMan said:

I hadn't heard. Source?

I know guys that played high school football. 

[NAS]

@Zod this post is Facebook worthy 

[L-TownCat]

[cookinwithgas]

3 hours ago, TheMostInterestingMan said:

We are almost fugging there.

You've captured the Huddle vibe and I didn't even know it had one. Thanks!