DJ Johnson, the end of the line

[TheSpecialJuan]

Did he play at all today? He wasn’t inactive. With Scourton out DJ should have played a ton of snaps.

[LinvilleGorge]

21 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Did he play at all today? He wasn’t inactive. With Scourton out DJ should have played a ton of snaps.

I think they know what they have (or don't have) in him so they wanted a better look at other guys. Based on what I saw in these two games if you can't make this roster you need to be working on your resume because professional football ain't for you.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

"0.5 career sacks"

[Icege]

Thomas Incoom got Nic Scourton's spot yesterday... I think that the writing might be on the wall for DJ Johnson.

He's been contributing on special teams, but his strength was his play strength and the ability to set the edge. That hasn't been showing up in preseason though... and his inability to log pressures even vs. back-ups. Incoom is the better pass rusher and better special teamer.

If DJ's pass rush had developed at all, I could see him hanging around. I can understand why Evero signed off on him due to EJ preferring guys that can maintain lane integrity and win on their second effort that the coverage provides them time for... but it's about time we start getting pass rushers that can win early.

[SmokinwithWilly]

One of the picks that cemented it for me that Scott Fitterer had no business being an NFL GM. Complete panic pick. 

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

One of the picks that cemented it for me that Scott Fitterer had no business being an NFL GM. Complete panic pick. 

Yep. Plenty of us said it at the time. Edges started flying off the board and we made a panic move to over-draft an older prospect who hadn't done much producing.

[Seltzer]

He was on the list of players not playing. Not sure why. He had a hip issue but I think he practiced on Thursday.

lol maybe he's already got his roster spot locked up since he's Evero's pet project.

Seriously though, we need all the pass rush help we can get.

DJ Johnson ain't it. Was a bad draft pick from day 1 for where we drafted him at. He was a 6th/7th rounder because he was a project in every sense of the word. 5th at best since he does have insane size & athleticism. 

Think about it, we basically drafted him in the same range as Princely Umanmielen, a guy who had double-digit sacks 3 consecutive years against SEC talent.

He mostly played TE at Oregon before converting to OLB. He had some highlight sack plays against inferior Pac 12 OTs and a great combine. I guess they thought they could mold him into something special.

He really has turned into a decent run stopper and special teamer, but we need some more pass rush juice on this team in the worst way.

I think Thomas Inccom has shown much more as a pass rusher and is also a good ST player.

I think he gets the 5th OLB spot. He flashed some here last season too.

I have no problem with bringing DJ Johnson back on the practice squad, but unless something unexpected happens, I think this is his last season here.

[ClawOn]

4 minutes ago, Icege said:

 

If DJ's pass rush had developed at all, I could see him hanging around. I can understand why Evero signed off on him due to EJ preferring guys that can maintain lane integrity and win on their second effort that the coverage provides them time for... but it's about time we start getting pass rushers that can win early.

A bit of an aside but do you have any hope for Evero?  

[Seltzer]

5 minutes ago, ClawOn said:

A bit of an aside but do you have any hope for Evero?  

I'm perplexed by the whole situation with Evero.

Dude came in here touted as the next big thing, future head coach, etc.

And in 2023, I think Evero was decent all things considered. He still had a lot of old "4-3 parts". I think he also got a lot of credit in 2023 from Tepper for at least holding his side of the ball together while the offense was a cluster fug mostly from beginning to end.

I'm surprised all that goodwill didnt get thrown out the window last year, though. It's true we didn't invest that much in the defense coming into the season and we had some devastating injuries, but he could never adjust the defense to even give us a chance.

A lot of other teams also had a lot of defensive injuries. We were the only one to be historically bad. It's just shocking Tepper didnt force Morgan to fire him after that bad of a performance, regardless of context. 

It's not like he hasn't been willing to burn bridges with franchise greats. 

Look at Cam Newton, the franchise's greatest QB. Still hasn't completely mended that fence.

Look at Frank Reich, the franchise's first QB. He went from having one of the greatest fan fares at his introduction to being unceremoniously fired after only 11 games.

Tepper has been heartless. 

It's why this with Evero remains a mystery.

[Shocker]

Why is DJ Johnson on the roster?  He hasn’t done anything since he came here.  

[Icege]

48 minutes ago, ClawOn said:

A bit of an aside but do you have any hope for Evero?  

I do. He's shown that he'll form scheme around talent and was asked to take a bitter pill last season as a vast majority of resources were committed to the offense.

This season, they're giving him help by trying to add pieces to the defense in the same manner. The defense is now in a place where practice squad guys aren't starting, but it's still got depth issues (esp at ILB).

Personnel-wise, the biggest question marks to me are Trevin Wallace, Lathan Ransom, and Nic Scourton. Those three stepping up would make a massive difference in the defense. Ransom would allow Scott to hit the bench and Scourton would be a blessing to the pass rush. The sooner Trevin Wallace is diagnosing plays and letting his athleticism take over, the better also.

[TheSpecialJuan]

https://x.com/panthers_nation/status/1956807843295936626?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

[kungfoodude]

I mean this was one that I and so many other Huddlers nailed. What a completely insane pick at the time and proved to be that in hindsight.

Once again, the Huddle knows better than our FO and coaching staff.

Ridiculous how often this is happening.

[BrianS]

8 hours ago, Icege said:

I do. He's shown that he'll form scheme around talent and was asked to take a bitter pill last season as a vast majority of resources were committed to the offense.

This season, they're giving him help by trying to add pieces to the defense in the same manner. The defense is now in a place where practice squad guys aren't starting, but it's still got depth issues (esp at ILB).

Personnel-wise, the biggest question marks to me are Trevin Wallace, Lathan Ransom, and Nic Scourton. Those three stepping up would make a massive difference in the defense. Ransom would allow Scott to hit the bench and Scourton would be a blessing to the pass rush. The sooner Trevin Wallace is diagnosing plays and letting his athleticism take over, the better also.

I'm super curious about where you get the idea that he'll match scheme to talent.  He's NEVER done that in his career.  Look at Jeremy Chinn.  Evero inherited him and Chinn hardly played.  Chinn leaves us, goes to Washington and matches a career high in tackles for a playoff team.  Yes, I get the limitations with Chinn but I also understand the potential there.  A creative and talented DC should be able to tailor a role for that dude.

In fact, in his career as a DC, Evero has *never* improved a defense.  NEVER.  At every stop as DC, he's taken over a defense that regressed under his leadership.  In 2021, the Broncos are the #3 scoring defense.  In 2022, Evero takes over . . . and they fall to 14th.  So OBVIOUSLY we hire him!  He takes over our 19th ranked scoring defense and we turn into the 29th ranked scoring defense and then the 32nd ranked scoring defense in consecutive years.

Frankly, anything short of a top 15 defense should be the end of Evero here.  He's had three years now to bed in his system.  I acknowledge the injuries, but it's time we also acknowledge that the guy seems utterly incapable of fitting a system to his players or even putting together an average defense.  I hope he proves me wrong.  But it needs to be more than "Oh, we went from 32nd to 25th - WE IMPROVED!"