Adam Theilen said he came back to play with Bryce, and he expects the Panthers to surprise some people

[Candler Cat]

2 hours ago, pantherclaw said:

In the years since AT has been here, our defense have been BAD. 

Yet he's the reason we're losing now? 

This is great readying guys!!

I feel like i was sufficiently ready for this post

[CRA]

13 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Where we tank in cap spending for the 2025 season by offensive skill position group:

QB - 25th

RB - 16th

WR - 21st

TE - 27th

Folks, there's PLENTY to bitch about with the Carolina Panthers but bitching about overpaying a veteran backup QB and a veteran WR when the entire rest of the roster in those positions groups are on rookie contracts... I mean... LOL

but...isn't that sort of highlighting WHY we are moaning about AT?  Right now our primary weapon (based on offensive reps, targets, etc) is an old slow WR who we overpay that doesn't really get open nor do anything with the ball in his hands. 

and we are at the bottom in spending in terms of pass catchers.  Maybe the front office shouldn't of arranged the roster so that it is only .....AT (debating retirement) and cast of unproven hopefuls youngsters.   

I mean, the AT complaint is really not about AT.  It's about the front office. 

[LinvilleGorge]

1 hour ago, CRA said:

but...isn't that sort of highlighting WHY we are moaning about AT?  Right now our primary weapon (based on offensive reps, targets, etc) is an old slow WR who we overpay that doesn't really get open nor do anything with the ball in his hands. 

and we are at the bottom in spending in terms of pass catchers.  Maybe the front office shouldn't of arranged the roster so that it is only .....AT (debating retirement) and cast of unproven hopefuls youngsters.   

I mean, the AT complaint is really not about AT.  It's about the front office. 

How is he catching 77% of his targets? How is it his fault that he's being asked to carry more of a burden than he should be at this point in his career. I already said it was a result of poor roster building. But for people to be mad about Adam Thielen for this is just misplaced. Don't be mad about an aging veteran signed to be a steady presence, mentor, and probably #3 option at WR on the field for not being a stellar #1.

[Icege]

2 hours ago, CRA said:

but...isn't that sort of highlighting WHY we are moaning about AT?  Right now our primary weapon (based on offensive reps, targets, etc) is an old slow WR who we overpay that doesn't really get open nor do anything with the ball in his hands. 

and we are at the bottom in spending in terms of pass catchers.  Maybe the front office shouldn't of arranged the roster so that it is only .....AT (debating retirement) and cast of unproven hopefuls youngsters.   

I mean, the AT complaint is really not about AT.  It's about the front office. 

That's a much fairer point worth exploring as opposed to seemingly blaming him for producing more than what a team would usually want from a 34yr old WR. It also allows us to look at who was available then as well:

The same season AT was brought in the team experimented with DJ Chark as the X. Would they have been better forgoing both players and signing Nuk for $13M/2yrs? Maybe... but I don't think that exactly changes anything about the final results at the end of the season. In fact, looking at who was signed (and for how much) makes the AT deal look even better in hindsight. $8.3M avg for a dependable, veteran slot... especially when also looking at this most recent free agency:

Yea, the previous front offices whiffed horribly on building the WR room. Marty Hurney and Scott Fitterer did horrible jobs there. However, this is a different GM, HC, OC, etc. The HC + OC are WR coaches. If there's a time for the team to go young and develop, it's now imo.

[Basbear]

 

 

 

 

Great off-season threads was back and forth Haymakers. 

Edited 23 hours ago by Basbear

[pantherclaw]

20 hours ago, Basbear said:

 

 

 

 

Great off-season threads was back and forth Haymakers. 

2 greats. All Bundy and Bubba Smith.  

 

[PantherChris]

On 7/15/2025 at 3:49 PM, mrcompletely11 said:

I am sure the 9 million he is making had little to no effect as well

Bryce Young could throw for 40 tds and 4500 yards this season and my gut instinct still says you would triple down on hating him.

[CRA]

On 7/17/2025 at 12:18 PM, Icege said:

That's a much fairer point worth exploring as opposed to seemingly blaming him for producing more than what a team would usually want from a 34yr old WR. It also allows us to look at who was available then as well:

The same season AT was brought in the team experimented with DJ Chark as the X. Would they have been better forgoing both players and signing Nuk for $13M/2yrs? Maybe... but I don't think that exactly changes anything about the final results at the end of the season. In fact, looking at who was signed (and for how much) makes the AT deal look even better in hindsight. $8.3M avg for a dependable, veteran slot... especially when also looking at this most recent free agency:

Yea, the previous front offices whiffed horribly on building the WR room. Marty Hurney and Scott Fitterer did horrible jobs there. However, this is a different GM, HC, OC, etc. The HC + OC are WR coaches. If there's a time for the team to go young and develop, it's now imo.

99% of my complaints generally are front office complaints.  It may not appear that way always but that's where I have been for some time.   It's also why I constantly talk about random parts the last several years.... 

to this day, if they were going to draft Bryce Young....I thought they needed to do specific things.   They have literally done the opposite.  

In a certain world, I would LOVE an AT.  A Bryce Young.  An XL.  All sorts of people.  How they have chosen to put it all together here? Meh. 

I still think if Bryce Young is your QB....the easiest and obvious play for a team....would be a dynamic slot WR, a rec RB, and solid rec TE.  Spread it out.  Let him be the point guard.  I still think this team is being built for a different type QB....one that a Jake Delhomme style QB would thrive more in.  Which is in fact the heart of what Canales has been around and done.  So I nitpick it all. 

If I had thought Bryce Young was going to rebound....I would have NEVER been all in on XL like I was.  I was all in XL because I thought the BY experiment was about to over quick.  Ladd would have made way more sense if you believed in BY IMO.   I don't think this team did.  I think Dave drafted XL because they were mentally ready to move on and did after 2 weeks. 

and I thought the Frank think was bologna from the jump.  I just have hate the pairings and plan every since Rhule year 1.   Rhule year 1 was the last time I really thought this team was in a good place to give it a go.  It went horribly.  But....the zoomed out plan was pretty logical all around.  Rhule just was not ready and a clown on top of that.  

I still think the Dave, BY, XL, Tmac build 3 round pegs and a square one at the end of the day.  Worst thing to happen to BY was to land in Carolina IMO.   Which is often how the NFL plays out.  Where you land and what the org does matters probably more than raw talent/ability often. 

I do not actually have a problem with Adam Thielen in a vacuum.  He is overperforming in a vacuum all things considered.  

[mrcompletely11]

30 minutes ago, PantherChris said:

Bryce Young could throw for 40 tds and 4500 yards this season and my gut instinct still says you would triple down on hating him.

He could have the same year as 2024 and you still would be making excuses for him.  So I guess we're even.