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!

     

Tonight's Game


Mills
 Share

Recommended Posts

18 minutes ago, Basbear said:

 

Its pres-season and all, just that was most of the panthers 1st teamers vs browns 2nd/3rd/rookies.

Browns look better even with 2s and 3s. That was a 3 win team and they just looked better prepared, faster, and stronger. I know there's no game-planning. I also know there's Dave&evero didn't call plays.

 

Brother its just been too long with the losing, that's the problem. Pres-season memes or not. 

Everyone, including Cleveland media, said the Panthers won the joint practice and it wasnt close.

That practice was starters vs starters, and we won. Does that mean nothing? This was a padded practice, 11 on 11. As close to game conditions as you're going to get in preseason, outside of the very limited reps you might get in a 1-on-1 situation.

As far as the gamr, our 3rd string RG (playing bc both Hunt & Zavala are out) gave up a sack the 1st series. That was against mostly 2s for the Cleveland defense.  However, the next series Bryce dotted them up all the way down the field.

Shedeur threw a beautiful ball (on a short field) against our 2s. Nothing against the ones in the 2 series they were out there.

Getting upset )or pumped for that matter) by what 3rd stringers are doing seems pointless to me.

There will be a few of these guys that will be on rosters, but most will be gone in 3 weeks.

Because of that, there's really not much to gather from a preseason game other then the very limited reps the 1 & 2s get. 

I am concerned about the playcalling/schem of Evero in general & the fact that Dalton suddenly looks like he's washed, bc it happened that fast with Derek Anderson.

But in general, I genuinely am very happy about what I saw from the guys we will depend on this year.

Our top rookies (T-Mac, Scourton, & Umanmielen) all looked good.

Corey Thornton was a hell of a find.

BY9 looked like did down the stretch last year.

Bobby Brown was collapsing pockets- can't watch him play with Derrick Brown.

They need to find a way for Jalen Coker to get on the field.

I understand the generalized pessism given the last 7 years- I really do.

And I dont blame anyone who wants to wait until we prove it on the field in the regular season, but I genuinely think this team is going to be much more like the offense to end last year, and I think the defense, especially the Dline, is significantly better.

I think out starting 11 on defense is formidable, although defensive depth is still a major question mark. And I dont know where we will legitimately be able to upgrade in any significant way- have to hope for good health there.

Anyway, I understand your take, I just don't agree with it. But I'll admit I've been wrong before. We'll see this season.

  • Pie 2
  • Beer 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

Everyone, including Cleveland media, said the Panthers won the joint practice and it wasnt close

Everyone said BY was playing like a 7 year vet at joint practices before he then had one the worst rookie seasons of all time. 

I think ever since year 2 of Matt Rhule…Carolina and everyone here has overstated and over played joint practices.  I feel it gets way more talk and emphasis now than back in the day.  

Because the talk of joint practice has never seemed to track beyond that the last several years.  I also think the reporting is different now about Carolina.  I think Carolina controls it more than in past eras. 

  • Pie 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, Seltzer said:

Everyone, including Cleveland media, said the Panthers won the joint practice and it wasnt close.

That practice was starters vs starters, and we won. Does that mean nothing? This was a padded practice, 11 on 11. As close to game conditions as you're going to get in preseason, outside of the very limited reps you might get in a 1-on-1 situation.

As far as the gamr, our 3rd string RG (playing bc both Hunt & Zavala are out) gave up a sack the 1st series. That was against mostly 2s for the Cleveland defense.  However, the next series Bryce dotted them up all the way down the field.

Shedeur threw a beautiful ball (on a short field) against our 2s. Nothing against the ones in the 2 series they were out there.

Getting upset )or pumped for that matter) by what 3rd stringers are doing seems pointless to me.

There will be a few of these guys that will be on rosters, but most will be gone in 3 weeks.

Because of that, there's really not much to gather from a preseason game other then the very limited reps the 1 & 2s get. 

I am concerned about the playcalling/schem of Evero in general & the fact that Dalton suddenly looks like he's washed, bc it happened that fast with Derek Anderson.

But in general, I genuinely am very happy about what I saw from the guys we will depend on this year.

Our top rookies (T-Mac, Scourton, & Umanmielen) all looked good.

Corey Thornton was a hell of a find.

BY9 looked like did down the stretch last year.

Bobby Brown was collapsing pockets- can't watch him play with Derrick Brown.

They need to find a way for Jalen Coker to get on the field.

I understand the generalized pessism given the last 7 years- I really do.

And I dont blame anyone who wants to wait until we prove it on the field in the regular season, but I genuinely think this team is going to be much more like the offense to end last year, and I think the defense, especially the Dline, is significantly better.

I think out starting 11 on defense is formidable, although defensive depth is still a major question mark. And I dont know where we will legitimately be able to upgrade in any significant way- have to hope for good health there.

Anyway, I understand your take, I just don't agree with it. But I'll admit I've been wrong before. We'll see this season.

 

Great post. 

  • Beer 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/10/2025 at 4:35 PM, LinvilleGorge said:

Okay. All I'm saying is that we consistently look incompetent on the field so don't be the least but surprised if that continues into the regular season. Maybe we break that trend this year but... I wouldn't bet a dime on it.

A big part of it for me is the improvement of Young. He's miles ahead of where he used to be.

Canales? I like him, but my judgment on how good a coach he can be is still pending.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

A big part of it for me is the improvement of Young. He's miles ahead of where he used to be.

I hope so. I still need to see more from him in games that actually matter. So far we've basically seen him look good in games that don't matter. Regular season games when we're out of contention and a preseason game. I'll start to become a true believer when I see him play well in regular season games that matter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I hope so. I still need to see more from him in games that actually matter. So far we've basically seen him look good in games that don't matter. Regular season games when we're out of contention and a preseason game. I'll start to become a true believer when I see him play well in regular season games that matter.

Agreed.  300 and 2 or 3 total in Jacksonville in a winning effort would sure be a nice start.

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 8/10/2025 at 6:26 PM, CRA said:

Everyone said BY was playing like a 7 year vet at joint practices before he then had one the worst rookie seasons of all time. 

I think ever since year 2 of Matt Rhule…Carolina and everyone here has overstated and over played joint practices.  I feel it gets way more talk and emphasis now than back in the day.  

Because the talk of joint practice has never seemed to track beyond that the last several years.  I also think the reporting is different now about Carolina.  I think Carolina controls it more than in past eras. 

I seem to remember we were told to not worry about the Jets dismantling us in preseason with Reich because we did so well at joint practice and that’s what really mattered and we were holding back since our first two games were division games. Until proven otherwise, I’m happy football’s back but I’ve go low expectations. Definitely feel better than last year but we have no margin for error.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I hope so. I still need to see more from him in games that actually matter. So far we've basically seen him look good in games that don't matter. Regular season games when we're out of contention and a preseason game. I'll start to become a true believer when I see him play well in regular season games that matter.

To be fair, the "games that matter" train has left our station pretty early for the last few years 😕

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

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


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I can't wait to go through this analysis 
    • 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? 
    • 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...