Silver Linings: Unheralded Player Shoutouts

[MHS831]

4 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

Bozeman especially.

Bozeman and Christensen played very well....

 

[Carolina Cajun]

3 hours ago, mav1234 said:

Great "shout-outs" there. Luvu has been amazing.  Easily the brightest one of Rhule's misfits (well, at least those still on the team).

Tremble, I wanted and expect more. But he hasn't been bad, and he's had a couple of nice catches.  But I think we need a real receiving threat at TE. Maybe he can help develop along those lines, but he's not there quite yet.

All of the OL took a step up. Yes, Icky hit a rookie wall, but that's OK.  He is our franchise LT for a long time.  

And I'll go with another one... dunno if I'd put unheralded, but I do think it's a bit controversial:

Sam Darnold.  9 TDs, 1 int, 1100 yards, 8.8 y/a, 105 QB rating on the year so far.  I've been cautious about him, I think.  But I decided to see how this five game compares to starters on other teams. I was shocked, actually. It really shows how much he has been an active part of this offense, not just along for the ride.

His TD% of 5.6 puts him in the top 10 this season, currently at 6th between Josh Allen (6%) and Geno Smith (5.4%).  His 0.8% INT% is phenomenal and is the best in the NFL among multi-game starters - nobody else has less than 1%. He's using every level of the field, and his adjusted air yards per attempt (9.6) is above Tua (9.4), Jalen Hurts (8.7), and Patrick Mahomes (8.4). PFF has his ESPN QBR at 57.5, which puts him at 12th between Lamarr Jackson (59.7) and Justin Herbert (56.8). His bad throw percentage is also down to 9.7%, from ~18% in previous seasons.

And perhaps most importantly, he's gotten the ball to our main playmaker. DJ Moore has 376 yards, 4 TDs, and ~19 y/r over the last five games, and is averaging almost 40 yards more per game with Sam. Over a 17 game stretch, that's ~1300 yards receiving and 14 TDs.  

Sam resurrected his career and has a shot at being a good backup / bridge QB for us, or if he continues to play well, perhaps someone's gamble as their long term starter (despite all these numbers - I do not want him as that for us...).  He was also the only reason we were at all in the TB game, but also just wasn't able to push us over the top. This is the best 5 game stretch of his career and whether with us or someone else, he's played himself into a shot at a starting role on a team next year.

Edit: And before the Darnold bit gets trolled, I do not want him as our long term starter and I don't believe that he'll necessarily maintain level of play like that. But I think we can acknowledge what a huge step up it has been for him to be able to even have a stretch like that...

I completely agree with Sam, literally he was not just having a good game management game yesterday, he was literally playing lights out, and frankly it reminded me of pittsburgh where he played well while everything else failed around him.  Im not sure that hes long term, but he's earned a shot to come back (words I literally never thought I would say).  I think he very well could be a Jimmy G kind of player for us, draft a couple of guys, see if any stick (maybe even corral), but if not, someone we can win with and develop players around the org.

[Basbear]

These are my favorite type of threads, but they never get replies. 

@Bear Hands knew that OL was getting love for most of the year. still have to bring up=

Christ-  never played LG and was next to a rookie.....I thought he killed it. 

McCail- forced the panthers to wavie Nixon twice and hoskins as well. For a UDFA had good start(just making53) and ended with less of impact.

Pinerio- minus one game, I would say he had a strong case for team MVP

Hekker- I dont care about ST, but here I am fluffen two members.... Should have made the pro-bowl and led the league at pinning inside the 20. 

Edited January 2, 2023 by Basbear

[KatsAzz]

3 hours ago, mav1234 said:

Great "shout-outs" there. Luvu has been amazing.  Easily the brightest one of Rhule's misfits (well, at least those still on the team).

Tremble, I wanted and expect more. But he hasn't been bad, and he's had a couple of nice catches.  But I think we need a real receiving threat at TE. Maybe he can help develop along those lines, but he's not there quite yet.

All of the OL took a step up. Yes, Icky hit a rookie wall, but that's OK.  He is our franchise LT for a long time.  

And I'll go with another one... dunno if I'd put unheralded, but I do think it's a bit controversial:

Sam Darnold.  9 TDs, 1 int, 1100 yards, 8.8 y/a, 105 QB rating on the year so far.  I've been cautious about him, I think.  But I decided to see how this five game compares to starters on other teams. I was shocked, actually. It really shows how much he has been an active part of this offense, not just along for the ride.

His TD% of 5.6 puts him in the top 10 this season, currently at 6th between Josh Allen (6%) and Geno Smith (5.4%).  His 0.8% INT% is phenomenal and is the best in the NFL among multi-game starters - nobody else has less than 1%. He's using every level of the field, and his adjusted air yards per attempt (9.6) is above Tua (9.4), Jalen Hurts (8.7), and Patrick Mahomes (8.4). PFF has his ESPN QBR at 57.5, which puts him at 12th between Lamarr Jackson (59.7) and Justin Herbert (56.8). His bad throw percentage is also down to 9.7%, from ~18% in previous seasons.

And perhaps most importantly, he's gotten the ball to our main playmaker. DJ Moore has 376 yards, 4 TDs, and ~19 y/r over the last five games, and is averaging almost 40 yards more per game with Sam. Over a 17 game stretch, that's ~1300 yards receiving and 14 TDs.  

Sam resurrected his career and has a shot at being a good backup / bridge QB for us, or if he continues to play well, perhaps someone's gamble as their long term starter (despite all these numbers - I do not want him as that for us...).  He was also the only reason we were at all in the TB game, but also just wasn't able to push us over the top. This is the best 5 game stretch of his career and whether with us or someone else, he's played himself into a shot at a starting role on a team next year.

Edit: And before the Darnold bit gets trolled, I do not want him as our long term starter and I don't believe that he'll necessarily maintain level of play like that. But I think we can acknowledge what a huge step up it has been for him to be able to even have a stretch like that...

I fully agree that Sam Darnold  seems to have resurrected his career and has a shot at being a good backup / bridge QB for us, or if he continues to play well, perhaps someone's gamble as their long term starter. 

I would like to see Sam stay this coming season to help Corral and any new QB that the Panthers might add.

[1of10Charnatives]

Just wanted to come in and give this thread a bump. I know our team has had more ups than downs in recent years, and it's easy for that to translate to a negative mindset on the board, Lord knows I've dipped my own toes in those waters from time to time, but props to @Bear Hands for starting a thread with a positive upbeat tone at a moment it was sorely needed and recognizing some guys who deserve it, even though the season didn't turn out the way everyone wanted.

Well done sir.

[Khyber53]

On 1/2/2023 at 6:47 PM, Basbear said:

 

Pinerio- minus one game, I would say he had a strong case for team MVP

Hekker- I dont care about ST, but here I am fluffen two members.... Should have made the pro-bowl and led the league at pinning inside the 20. 

Yeah, those two guys were standouts and about the only thing we had going in the pre-Wilks portion of the season. Both were great finds in times of dire need.

[ECHornet]

Luvu’s production didn’t surprise me bc, nearly every time he was put on the field last year, he flashed with explosive plays. Those types of talents are easy to spot since they’re always making plays. 
 

One guy not mentioned yet that seems to make similar splash plays when given the opportunity:

Laviska Shenault

Edited January 4, 2023 by ECHornet

[ECHornet]

Adding to above, I would love to see Shenault get a bigger role at RB if Foreman wants too much or too long a contract this offseason. He has the size for it and seems to have the instincts with the ball in his hands. This may be unpopular, but I think he could replace or exceed Foreman's production next year. 

Looking at his stats:

Of the top 50 NFL leaders in YAC (Yards After Catch), Shenault is #1 in YAC per reception. He's followed up by Derrick Henry and Travis Etienne. I think we should give him a shot at RB.

Top 11 of those 50 YAC leaders:

• Laviska Shenault
• Derrick Henry
• Travis Etienne
• Jerick McKinnon
• D'Andre Swift
• Tony Pollard
• Dalvin Cook
• Deebo Samuels
• Semaje Perine
• James Conner
• Alvin Kamara

Edited January 4, 2023 by ECHornet

[TheSpecialJuan]

J. J. Jansens 

[shaqattaq]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:12 PM, firstdayfan said:

It's a flat out crime that no one from the offensive line made this list.

Shame.

They have been really good. Really really good. But they're not exactly "unheralded", they've gotten a lot of attention (for Carolina).The only one that may be unheralded would be Christensen, and he's done a hellova job at LG.

[shaqattaq]

On 1/2/2023 at 6:47 PM, Basbear said:

Christ-  never played LG and was next to a rookie.....I thought he killed it.

I agree though. Christensen overachieved at a new position.

Edited January 4, 2023 by shaqattaq

[Mr. Scot]

 

[Day1PanthersFan]

On 1/2/2023 at 1:38 PM, kungfoodude said:

Hekker, Pineiro, Woods deserve a shout out too. All look like keepers.

Fug Pinerio , If he could make an extra point we would still be in playoff contention 

[micnificent28]

On 1/4/2023 at 4:02 PM, ECHornet said:

Adding to above, I would love to see Shenault get a bigger role at RB if Foreman wants too much or too long a contract this offseason. He has the size for it and seems to have the instincts with the ball in his hands. This may be unpopular, but I think he could replace or exceed Foreman's production next year. 

Looking at his stats:

Of the top 50 NFL leaders in YAC (Yards After Catch), Shenault is #1 in YAC per reception. He's followed up by Derrick Henry and Travis Etienne. I think we should give him a shot at RB.

Top 11 of those 50 YAC leaders:

• Laviska Shenault
• Derrick Henry
• Travis Etienne
• Jerick McKinnon
• D'Andre Swift
• Tony Pollard
• Dalvin Cook
• Deebo Samuels
• Semaje Perine
• James Conner
• Alvin Kamara

Not going to get into the RB speculation, but his name is worthy of praise and added to this thread. He seems to me to have done nothing bur deliver when called apon. Even tho the sample size is small he has been worth the price of admission. At worst hes wr 3-4 on this team i would love to see him get more opportunities.