It's a preseason game, but...losing is not an option.

[BIGH2001]

We looked ok from what I saw of players who will actually be on the field this year. 

[AggieLean]

lol oops. 

[PantherChris]

On 8/5/2025 at 6:54 AM, TD alt said:

OK, I know that it's wrong---I know that it's wrong---to put undue importance on a preseason game, but If we can't beat the hapless Browns with their trainwreck of a QB situation (and a  still unsigned rookie RB), then who the hell are we going to beat? 

You can't lose to the damned Browns. Not this Friday.

Like fine wine this one aged it did!

[Tomcatn]

losing is always an option for panthers. has been for quite a while

[TD alt]

3 hours ago, BIGH2001 said:

We looked ok from what I saw of players who will actually be on the field this year. 

 

1 hour ago, PantherChris said:

Like fine wine this one aged it did!

Honestly we should probably be looking better than "OK." Is anyone feeling all giddy with excitement after that performance? Our ones faced their twos (and threes) essentially. We faced the Browns fourth string rookie QB, no Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku or Cedric Tillman (presumably their top three receiving options), they didn't have an RB anyone can name, and still we kind of struggled. I know that we had DB and Jaycee on ice as well, and X got ejected (but some suggest he's not good anyway), but it's not like we were facing their ones. 

I'm thinking that we'll win less this morning, not more, but "it was a preseason game" and this time of year I guess that hope springs eternal. If anyone wants to clown---last time I heard, Vegas had the Panthers at 6.5 wins, over-under---by all means take the over. 

Edited Saturday at 03:52 PM by TD alt

[Waldo]

Im not taking this team seriously until they prove they should be taken seriously. 6 wins sound about right so Vagas knows what's up.

[Tbe]

11 minutes ago, TD alt said:

 

Honestly we should probably be looking better than "OK." Is anyone feeling all giddy with excitement after that performance? Our ones faced their twos (and threes) essentially. We faced the Browns fourth string rookie QB, no Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku or Cedric Tillman (presumably their top three receiving options), they didn't have an RB anyone can name, and still we kind of struggled. I know that we had DB and Jaycee on ice as well, and X got ejected (but some suggest he's not good anyway), but it's not like we were facing their ones. 

I'm thinking that we'll win less this morning, not more, but "it was a preseason game" and this time of year I guess that hope springs eternal. If anyone wants to clown---last time I heard, Vegas had the Panthers at 6.5 wins, over-under---by all means take the over. 

Our defensive depth is still trash.

I think we might win 7-8 games max.

Its going to take years to pull ourselves out of this mess.

 

[TD alt]

23 minutes ago, Tbe said:

Its going to take years to pull ourselves out of this mess.

I hope that you're wrong, but @kungfoodude told us that he doesn't expect a winning season until 2030. 

I'll just say this: I'm an old-head and still only reserve the "trash" label for actual trash, or for only the worst human beings that humanity has to offer. That being said, I was really disappointed with the defense's performance last night, but I've heard that some of last year's starters are now this year's depth, so I guess that we shouldn't be surprised.

Edited Saturday at 04:25 PM by TD alt

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

Yeah, we're not a very good team and we don't have a lot of depth, particularly on defense.  That's what happens when you attempt a rebuild, it fails, and then you have to start over again.  We're entering year 2 of the current rebuilding process with the Morgan/Canales regime.  The team we played last night has been rebuilding basically since they came back into the league, so there's that.

There are a couple of position groups that have the potential to be above average if everything breaks the right way, but that's on offense which the FO has sunk a ton of draft capital and FA cash into.  The 2025 defense will probably be in the bottom half of the league again, but hopefully not historically bad like last season.  If we see a couple of splash plays and some growth out of the likes of Umanmielen, Scourton, and some of the other rookies and developmental players, then that's something to build on.  Anything more than that is a bonus.

Edited Saturday at 04:42 PM by The NFL Shield At Midfield

[MechaZain]

My takeway is pray Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn stay healthy

[Tbe]

3 hours ago, TD alt said:

I hope that you're wrong, but @kungfoodude told us that he doesn't expect a winning season until 2030. 

I'll just say this: I'm an old-head and still only reserve the "trash" label for actual trash, or for only the worst human beings that humanity has to offer. That being said, I was really disappointed with the defense's performance last night, but I've heard that some of last year's starters are now this year's depth, so I guess that we shouldn't be surprised.

It’s telling when the only guys on D making big plays are rookies.

I think the starting D line-up is slightly below average, but the depth is very bad. 
 

I think we’re in for bottom 10 year defensively. 

To do better we have to get a lot out of our rookies.