Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Cade Mays as a starter?

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

 Share

Recommended Posts

ladypanther Grand Master

ladypanther

Posted
Posted

Mays hadn’t played a live rep on the offensive line since the preseason, and he had only worked 17 snaps as a part-time fullback to that point. Despite the inexperience, Mays thrived as the Panthers pushed past the Saints. With Corbett and Christensen set for lengthy rehab stints, Mays — a sixth-round pick in last year’s draft — could be destined for a temporary starting role in training camp and beyond, based on the potential he showed in the finale.

 

“I hate it for those guys — wish them the best in their process,” May said Monday. “I got that opportunity and made the most of it. For next year, it gives me a great jump start into next season of having that confidence, going out and just playing hard. I think everybody got some confidence in me, seeing that it was actually my first time going out there and doing it. It was awesome.” Mays, a Tennessee alum, doubled his reps for the season during his fill-in duty. While he spent his first rep as a fullback, his other 33 plays were in the trenches, and the rookie impressed his bosses with his ability to come into the game and work at any spot necessary. “To put a big guy like that in the backfield, just shows the type of athlete he is,” GM Scott Fitterer said. “It’s so hard for a 315-pound guy to adjust on the run like he does. And then (Sunday) was sort of a blessing in disguise. You hate any injury, especially to Corbett, who is an awesome guy. But to see what Cade did when he came in, the movement he got at the line of scrimmage, the physicality that he played with, a guy that hasn’t taken a lot of reps with that group and the way he communicated with them. ... That’s a great sign.”

 

Veteran center Bradley Bozeman took Mays under his wing this season. Like Mays, Bozeman was once a sixth-round pick who had to battle his way onto the field by any means necessary.

 

Against the Saints, Bozeman and Mays played alongside each other, and the fifth-year veteran was impressed by the rookie to his right. “Cade showed what he can do in the second half,” Bozeman said. “He just — he’s a dog.” Mays will spend the offseason working out and reflecting on his rookie season. With Corbett potentially sidelined until the start of next season, Mays knows he has a big opportunity awaiting him in the summer during training camp. Mays won’t get too far ahead of himself. He knows he has areas of his game to improve and that every year brings new competition. For now, though, he is just grateful for the foundation he established in his first season in Carolina. “I just grew so much,” Mays said. “Just being consistent, being the same guy, showing up to work every day and just learning from the great guys I had in the room. The great leaders we had — watching how they went about their business, it was just awesome to have them to lean on and learn from.”

Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article270994737.html#storylink=cpy

  • Pie 7
  • Beer 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Captain Morgan Grand Master

Captain Morgan

Posted
Posted

I want Boze back.  We have a lot of guys on this team who are taking leader roles and mentoring other guys, and he's back.  Would be good for Cade to keep learning, getting stronger in our system, and providing solid depth next year.  

Our OL showed great growth and chemistry this year, and the left side is so young...keep as much consistency as possible, and draft another OL this year to keep a strength strong.

  • Pie 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SmokinwithWilly Grand Master

SmokinwithWilly

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

I want Boze back.  We have a lot of guys on this team who are taking leader roles and mentoring other guys, and he's back.  Would be good for Cade to keep learning, getting stronger in our system, and providing solid depth next year.  

Our OL showed great growth and chemistry this year, and the left side is so young...keep as much consistency as possible, and draft another OL this year to keep a strength strong.

If you look back at the Cowboys offensive line when they were turning out fantasy RB juggernauts every year, they were always investing in their OL. When they stopped making it a priority, it started faltering. OL is the position I think you have to constantly address every year. 5 starters, 4 backups are the usual roster makeup. You have to always keep investing if you want to keep the line strong. Injuries are going to happen, sometimes multiples. Young, talented depth growing behind experienced starters is a very good thing. 

  • Pie 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ColumbusCounty Experienced

ColumbusCounty

Posted
Posted

I would invest another draft pick in the line... undoubtedly 

Keep your strengths your strengths ...

I see we signed Deonte Brown back ... hopefully he gets his weight and mind right and becomes a factor. 

I like how we attacked the offensive line position this offseason. Moton, BC, Ickey, Corbett(after preseason), Cade, Boze (Top priority to extend). Why not throw a couple more names in there for insurance and competition. 

  • Pie 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ColumbusCounty Experienced

ColumbusCounty

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Captain Morgan said:

I want Boze back.  We have a lot of guys on this team who are taking leader roles and mentoring other guys, and he's back.  Would be good for Cade to keep learning, getting stronger in our system, and providing solid depth next year.  

Our OL showed great growth and chemistry this year, and the left side is so young...keep as much consistency as possible, and draft another OL this year to keep a strength strong.

I'm thinking they'll draft a center regardless in the 2nd or 3rd. A guy for Boze to mentor and groom like he did with Mays. 

Iirc, Boze only missed a handful of games his entire career so if he stays I think we target an interchangeable OG/OC like Steve Avila out of Oregon. I would definitely be ok with taking a flyer on that guy if he's still on the board in the 3rd. 

  • Beer 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • TheSpecialJuan
      Explicating the Panthers' Defensiveness

      By TheSpecialJuan · Posted

      I can't wait to go through this analysis 
    • SmokinwithWilly
      Panthers Sign QB Will Grier

      By SmokinwithWilly · Posted

      What's more likely? An entire competant NFL front office (as many here suggest Morgan runs) has watched Bryce struggle week in and week out to perform at the bare minimum of NFL QBs for 3 years and has decided that's the future of this organization, OR our owner who has proven repeatedly he can't keep his nose out of team decision making has declared Bryce is our QB until he decides otherwise, especially given he's the one that drafted him in the first place? 
    • MHS831
      Explicating the Panthers' Defensiveness

      By MHS831 · Posted

      It is time to take a look at the defense.  Without further ado do.... Edge (OLB):  I think we overpaid for Jaelan Phillips, but he is constant pressure with 73 pressures in 2025, ranking 9th in the NFL.  In all, he was the 20th (of 111) rated pass rushing edge in 2025 according to PFF, putting him in the top 20% in the nfl.  With a pair of solid ILBs beside him and if we can get Wharton going, I think the sum of the parts will make him better than he was in Philly.  Furthermore, with second-year pro Princely Umanmielen behind him, I expect him to grow with the tutoring and competition. On the other side, the duo of Nick Scourton and Patrick Jones II is strong, in my view.  Scourton generated 34 total pressures as a pass rusher. That total included 8 sacks, 23 hurries, 3 hits. Against the run, he recorded 28 solo tackles. For a rookie, second round, edge, that is great.  He also forced 1 fumble on the season. Jones was decent in 2025 in just 131 snaps, but he is solid veteran depth.   We seem to lack the elite pass rusher, but this rotational unit will be a big upgrade over last season.  Expect Scourton and Princely to show improvement. While it is unlikely that we add more to edge this draft, you can never have too many pass rushers (well, you can--two sophomores and two veterans is a good mix). Would the Panthers take an edge if one was sitting there? Absolutely. Defensive End:  Derrick Brown is a stud.  I did not notice how dominant he became as a pass rusher.  His PFF pass-rush grade of 72.0 ranked 23rd among 134 qualified interior defensive linemans. His run-defense grade of 66.3 ranked 22nd at the position. He generated 35 total pressures as a pass rusher. That total included 6 sacks, 23 hurries, 6 hits. On the other side:  What the hell?  Tershawn Wharton earned a 40.8 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 127th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemans. His PFF pass-rush grade of 57.0 ranked 95th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen. His run-defense grade of 34.8 ranked 125th at the position. However, Wharton needs to be situational and we really need a few DEs who can plug and pressure.  LaBryan Ray is an interior defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers who earned a 45.7 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season.  You cannot tell me that we are not going to add a DE.  In my view, this is a HUGE need that we have not adequately addressed.  There were only 3 DEs in the NFL who played more snaps that Derrick Brown.  We have to give him more blows during the game.  So After Brown, we have 2 other players who need to improve a lot to reach mediocre. Nose Tackle:  Of course, a NT might move out some to help stuff the run at DE opposite Brown, and stats do not always reflect on a NT's actual value.  Bobby Brown III earned a 54.1 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 80th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen.  His PFF pass-rush grade of 51.1 ranked 126th among 134 qualified interior defensive linemans. His run-defense grade of 57.8 ranked 51st at the position.   Behind him, Cam'Ron Jackson is an  earned a 45.5 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season.   The defensive line is weak, based on 2025 performance rankings in PFF.  After DBrown, they pretty much suck.  These are the guys our ILBs will be counting on. Inside Linebacker:  Devin Lloyd earned a 89.1 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 3rd among 88 qualified linebackers. His PFF coverage grade of 81.1 ranked 3rd among 88 qualified linebackers. His run-defense grade of 83.2 ranked 11th at the position. His pass-rush grade of 82.2 ranked 5th among qualified linebackers.  He's good.  At the moment, beside him is Trevin Wallace  who earned a 55.9 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 57th among 88 qualified linebackers. His PFF coverage grade of 64.5 ranked 25th among 88 qualified linebackers. His run-defense grade of 42.3 ranked 85th at the position. His pass-rush grade of 64.2 ranked 45th among qualified linebackers.  Wallace was best as a coverage LB, and based on my memory, I am not sure he was in the top third, but if PFF says so...however, he was nearly last vs. the run.  We need better to play beside Lloyd.  Bam Morris-Scott earned a 37.6 overall PFF defensive grade. To put that in perspective, I was rated by PFF at 32.3 on my couch.   Cherilus Claudin is the third best ILB on the roster right now. He earned a 59.2 overall PFF defensive grade in just over 200 snaps.  Having lost Rozeboom, the Panthers are very thin behind Lloyd.  Look for a starting-caliber ILB in the draft.  Wallace is not the guy, but he is decent depth. Nickel CB:  Chau Smith-Wade  earned a 57.0 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 79th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His PFF coverage grade of 57.2 ranked 79th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His run-defense grade of 55.4 ranked 77th at the position.  For a nickel, he played a lot--garnering over 600 snaps.  Corey Thornton was a pleasant surprise, until he was injured.  However, in just 127 snaps, he was very good, earning a 68.5 overall PFF defensive grade.  I think he can play outside in a pinch, but nickel might be his gig.  I am not sold that Nickel is in good hands, but Thornton is promising.  Smith-Wade is average, and with the experience he has accumulated, we are probably not prioritizing Nickel, but there are some good nickels in the draft. Cornerback:  Michael Jackson should have been in the pro bowl.  He earned a 79.1 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 4th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His PFF coverage grade of 80.9 ranked 3rd among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His run-defense grade of 67.2 ranked 36th at the position. He recorded 4 interceptions on the season. Jackson broke up 9 passes in coverage. He allowed a 72.9 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks --SOLID!!  Our second-best CB, Jaycee Horn, was in the pro bowl.  He earned a 57.8 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 76th among 114 qualified corner.backs. His PFF coverage grade of 61.6 ranked 61st among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His run-defense grade of 50.5 ranked 87th at the position.  He recorded 5 interceptions on the season.  Our CBs had NINE interceptions in 2025.  It is doubtful they duplicate that figure, but Jackson was our best CB.   We are thin at CB, but the two we put out there are solid.  Nickel, at this time, is "meh," but both are developing and should improve.  A great draft for Nickel.  The Panthers will add a CB somehow. Safety:  For now, Trevon Moehrig is as advertised--above average vs. the run, below average in coverage, making him average. He earned a 64.3 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 50th among 98 qualified safeties. His PFF coverage grade of 55.3 ranked 64th among 98 qualified safeties. His run-defense grade of 73.5 ranked 37th at the position.  Lathan Ransom got some valuable experience in 2025, getting in on 330 plays or so.  He earned a 62.9 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 56th among 98 qualified safeties.  (Average, not bad for a day 3 rookie) His PFF coverage grade of 55.8 ranked 63rd among 98 qualified safeties. His run-defense grade of 85.1 ranked 4th at the position.  A pure strong safety, if you ask me.  Nick Scott  earned a 67.8 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 36th among 98 qualified safeties. His PFF coverage grade of 67.3 ranked 31st among 98 qualified safeties. His run-defense grade of 69.3 ranked 56th at the position.  Expect a draft pick at FS.  Demani Richardson is a safety for the Carolina Panthers who earned a 71.5 overall PFF defensive grade n 29 plays.  Nothing to see here.  Isaiah Simmons is probably more special teams than defensive player.   Overall:  We are thin on defense.  No real depth at CB, S, and DE/NT.  However, we have 5 starters who are pro bowl level players (D. Brown, Lloyd, Jackson, Horn, and Phillips--and I might throw Scourton in on that pile for the sixth potential pro bowler).  We are weak at NT, and if Wharton does not step up, DE.  Funny, I see Edge as our strength (and we really don't have a sack artist) and I love our starting CBs.  Moehrig is making too much to be average.   Expect:  In the draft, I think we have to draft a DT.  Having done this, I am not sure that we go after a S when we have such glaring needs at other positions.  We could upgrade at nickel and give the CB room more depth.  OLB?  Wallace is decent depth, and he could start in a pinch.   DE is our biggest need.  The answer could be on the roster?            
×
×
  • Create New...