ESPN position group rankings

[CRA]

I don't get people's over fixation on the two 1k runners.  There are probably 50 RBs in the NFL that can hit 1k easily if they stay healthy and a team just gives them featured ish reps.  It's just 50 yards a game.  Carolina and Dallas didn't really have folks that could give the rock too.   Most teams aren't looking for that.  Hubbard probably isn't a 1k RB if Brooks stayed healthy. 

We got 2 solid RBs.  Both on the backside of 20.  As a team, we were bottom half of the league in rushing last year.   It's not like the run game was one of those nuts ones where it could carry an offense.  It's really just a complimentary level backfield.  It's solid.  But it's not special. 

[Seltzer]

46 minutes ago, CRA said:

I don't get people's over fixation on the two 1k runners.  There are probably 50 RBs in the NFL that can hit 1k easily if they stay healthy and a team just gives them featured ish reps.  It's just 50 yards a game.  Carolina and Dallas didn't really have folks that could give the rock too.   Most teams aren't looking for that.  Hubbard probably isn't a 1k RB if Brooks stayed healthy. 

We got 2 solid RBs.  Both on the backside of 20.  As a team, we were bottom half of the league in rushing last year.   It's not like the run game was one of those nuts ones where it could carry an offense.  It's really just a complimentary level backfield.  It's solid.  But it's not special. 

It sure as fug isn't 28th.

And, all the advanced metrics show Hubbard & Dowdle were pretty special last year.

Other than D-Will & J-Stew or prime CMC, by historical standards this is a solid duo.

Go back and watch the film from last year. I guarantee you the goober who ranked us 28th didnt watch a single game last year.

PFF ranked us much higher. Not that PFF is perfect, but there's an actual methodology there and not just some national "expert" who is rightfully going to be replaced with AI over the next few years.

If we are not a top 10 rushing team, I will be disappointed. 

We were like 11th last year. 

On one hand I don't give a single poo what ESPN has to say (they will be irrelevant in 10 years too), but this is lazy nonsense.

[Seltzer]

Also, only 12 RBs even crossed 1000 yards last season. Its a still a big deal, especially as the bell-cow RB is becoming more rare.

I agree with your point about opportunities to a certain extent, but the reason both these guys got those opportunities was bc they were good and both excelled at yards after contact. So, it kind of a chicken or the egg argument.

Still, there ain't 50 guys guys thay could do that. Maybe 20-25. The math dont math.

Anyway, im excited about Hubbard & Dowdle and think we are going to have a good running game again this year.

[Bear Hands]

You won't get respect if you're forgetful and suck for this long.  

Time for the team to change the narrative this year.  

[L-TownCat]

4 hours ago, kungfoodude said:

12 and 14 are a bit out to lunch if you ask me. Taking a rookie that high??? Yowzer. Risky.

I’d guess the rookie’s success last year is bleeding into this year’s projections. 

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, L-TownCat said:

I’d guess the rookie’s success last year is bleeding into this year’s projections. 

Well TMac is in a very suspect offense and technically Egbuka is potentially a #3 WR in that offense.

That is way more gamble than I would take being ranked like that in fantasy football.

[Butterflyj30]

The only good thing I could see is that the Jaguars OL is the worst in the league according to them

Our Interior Defensive Line ranks 14 that's pretty good

Cornerback ranks 16

Edited Friday at 10:41 PM by Butterflyj30

[WUnderhill]

2 hours ago, Bear Hands said:

You won't get respect if you're forgetful and suck for this long.  

Time for the team to change the narrative this year.  

This is a popular take around here, but truth is we didn’t get much respect when we were a good team either.

[CRA]

3 hours ago, Seltzer said:

It sure as fug isn't 28th.

And, all the advanced metrics show Hubbard & Dowdle were pretty special last year.

Other than D-Will & J-Stew or prime CMC, by historical standards this is a solid duo.

Go back and watch the film from last year. I guarantee you the goober who ranked us 28th didnt watch a single game last year.

PFF ranked us much higher. Not that PFF is perfect, but there's an actual methodology there and not just some national "expert" who is rightfully going to be replaced with AI over the next few years.

If we are not a top 10 rushing team, I will be disappointed. 

We were like 11th last year. 

On one hand I don't give a single poo what ESPN has to say (they will be irrelevant in 10 years too), but this is lazy nonsense.

We were what the 19th ranked rushing team last year?  

With no real home run ability.  Season long was 38 yards.  Only 5 teams posted a shorter long.  Dallas was one and dead last at 27. 

I agree it’s not 28th.  But it’s probably more middle of the road than there general Panther fan consensus.   Just a solid complimentary attack.  

[PNW_PantherMan]

1 hour ago, WUnderhill said:

This is a popular take around here, but truth is we didn’t get much respect when we were a good team either.

No back to back winning seasons.  We are always a flash in the pan.

[frankw]

I don't know why anyone expected much different from these lists. They are largely based on name recognition and what each team did the year before. Few people in the sports media realm are going to give this team the time of day until the Panthers flip the narrative on it's head. Just how it is.

[OneBadCat]

5 hours ago, CRA said:

I don't get people's over fixation on the two 1k runners.  There are probably 50 RBs in the NFL that can hit 1k easily if they stay healthy and a team just gives them featured ish reps.  It's just 50 yards a game.  Carolina and Dallas didn't really have folks that could give the rock too.   Most teams aren't looking for that.  Hubbard probably isn't a 1k RB if Brooks stayed healthy. 

We got 2 solid RBs.  Both on the backside of 20.  As a team, we were bottom half of the league in rushing last year.   It's not like the run game was one of those nuts ones where it could carry an offense.  It's really just a complimentary level backfield.  It's solid.  But it's not special. 

Hubbard has earned his respect. Doesn’t have the premier speed and physical skills but his vision is elite and the dude stays healthy. 

[frankw]

8 hours ago, Icege said:

This is why I respect your takes even if I disagree with some.

Even when low on the team and questioning stuff that might oversell them, you give the same energy to the stuff that might be underselling them.

It's a great example that other Huddlers could certainly benefit from adopting as well.

You're such a fraud.

[kungfoodude]

3 hours ago, WUnderhill said:

This is a popular take around here, but truth is we didn’t get much respect when we were a good team either.

Somewhat true but somewhat not true. Remember the cover of Sports Illustrated and the infamous declaration of us being SB champs.

During Fox and Rivera we were largely a respected team. We had household names periodically during those times. We had national respect as a tough team more often than not. 

Hell, we had DMVP's, All Pros and even a league MVP. We did have all that stuff.

But we never got over the hump. And now, yeah, that is all gone. There is no reason at all to respect us. The sad truth is, if we hadn't traded up to take Bryce Young, we wouldn't even have anything at the national level worth even paying attention to.

The franchise has worked very hard and long to descend to the level we are at now. You can thank all the hard work that David Tepper did completely deconstructing everything the franchise built for more than two decades before he arrived. 

So, any Panthers fan talking respect at this point. Good luck. There will be none until it is earned on the field. That's just how it is.