Blue-Chip Cats and Penny Stock Panthers

[LinvilleGorge]

23 minutes ago, jb2288 said:

Lmao give me a room full of JAGs if that is your definition. Shaq was a dog

Yeah, a dog that are up cap space to be a poodle. I joke, I'm not trying to poo on Shaq. My issue with Shaq is really just an issue with Panthers decision making because it's solely around the fact that we spent a 1st round pick on a tweener player we planned to play at our position of deepest depth and we then turned around and paid him like a Luke or TD successor when that's just not what he was. He was a check the box starter. A guy that if he's penciled in on the depth chart your not concerned about it but you shouldn't be building a defense around the guy and you definitely shouldn't be playing him like he's an All-Pro.

[jb2288]

14 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yeah, a dog that are up cap space to be a poodle. I joke, I'm not trying to poo on Shaq. My issue with Shaq is really just an issue with Panthers decision making because it's solely around the fact that we spent a 1st round pick on a tweener player we planned to play at our position of deepest depth and we then turned around and paid him like a Luke or TD successor when that's just not what he was. He was a check the box starter. A guy that if he's penciled in on the depth chart your not concerned about it but you shouldn't be building a defense around the guy and you definitely shouldn't be playing him like he's an All-Pro.

That’s fair but I can’t knock him for accepting the money our FO offered him. 

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, jb2288 said:

That’s fair but I can’t knock him for accepting the money our FO offered him. 

Me neither. That's why I said my entire issue with Shaq all along really wasn't about Shaq, it was about the outsized resources the Panthers chose to invest in him. 

[Khyber53]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

To be fair, Shaq was a JAG.

I gotta disagree with this. Shaq was a very good LB. He just stood in the shadows of two greats. 

And this team has felt his loss from the injuries and now his moving on. We were better against the run with him here. 

[shaqattaq]

4 hours ago, Icege said:

Chau Smith-Wade - Chau's been the team's slot nickel during the first two weeks and hasn't done too bad, though he did give up a TD in week two. He's logging significant snaps and has even lined up at FS for a couple of plays.

On that TD, he sure didn't get any help from Scott at FS!

While we're pointing out Blue Chips...Horn has proven to be a lock-down, (dare I say)elite CB and DB is one of the best at DT.

Which brings me to a topic that has unfortunately been much on my mind lately...2026. Our important (IMO) FAs are:

Rico Dowdle - As you pointed out, Etienne is developing nicely and Brooks is still untested potential, so not a big loss.

Cade Mays and Brady Christensen - I think we can keep both without breaking the bank. BC tested the market this year and it was all but non-existent. He's a solid backup, but backup linemen don't get paid. Mayes is our only starter on the line who's a FA and he's technically not a starter. Corbett is a FA, but good riddance as far as I'm concerned. He stays hurt and can't snap the damn ball when he is healthy.

Hunter Renfrow signed a 1 -year prove it deal, and will resign a team friendly deal again I think. He has repeatedly said that he only wants to play here and is Coker's backup anyway.

DJ Wonnum - Solid mid-tier guy that I would like back, but is easily replaceable. I will not cry if he walks.

Every other FA is bottom of the barrel roster fillers. As it stands now, we need (in order); QB, ILB, OL/DL depth, secondary depth.

If we resign Mays, OL is in tact again and still pretty darned good. Horne, Jackson, and Smith-Wade are solid starters as are T-mac and Coker. We have some promising young WRs in Tremayne and Horn. I see us trying to get a FA Chain mover and/or resign Renfrow. RB room looks really good.

TE is a conundrum, Tremble will never be a great pass catcher and Sanders will never be a great blocker. Evans is starting to show signs of life, but not enough to tell yet. This could be another spot we try to upgrade via free agency, having a proven TE could really help our rookie QB.

[shaqattaq]

Damn that was a longer post than I intended, Maybe I should have started a new thread.

[PadresPanthersFan]

At least the 2025 draft picks seem to have some promise

2024...

[Shotgun]

5 hours ago, CRA said:

Shaq was the new James Anderson.

whatever folks want to call that.  

A jag +  

[frankw]

Shaq was an okay LB and a good leader as the years went on. He just got drafted right when Gettleman had begun to dismantle a Super Bowl roster. He never really got the chance to experience a non rookie season with that core beyond 2018 and that was the season that slammed the door shut. After that we already know how the story goes and it isn't pretty.

[toldozer]

5 hours ago, Icege said:

I wasn't lying about the view btw!

Stinky, I can still smell Arizona in my nostrils 

[electro's horse]

4 hours ago, jb2288 said:

Lmao give me a room full of JAGs if that is your definition. Shaq was a dog

yeah, a corgi

because he was always injured

because of his bilateral hip dysplasia

(shaq was fine) 

[Bear Hands]

9 minutes ago, frankw said:

Shaq was an okay LB and a good leader as the years went on. He just got drafted right when Gettleman had begun to dismantle a Super Bowl roster. He never really got the chance to experience a non rookie season with that core beyond 2018 and that was the season that slammed the door shut. After that we already know how the story goes and it isn't pretty.

Yeah I always viewed him as a guy who would be a quality enough complimentary piece at LB.  Don't think he was some top-LB but was good enough to hold the defensive locker room together and serve his role well.  Funny enough, I think the young version of him in the league right now is the guy the Bills are hoping he helps develop in Dorian Williams who had a decent 2024.

A B who would have more A moments than C moments, but was never sub-C.    

 

[Bear Hands]

Somewhat OT -

This franchise forgot what it felt like to have an elite talent on defense that helped create the whole unit's je nes sais quoi.  

Moehrig hasn't shown it yet.   Horn doesn't give me that; he's a top 10-CB at his best, but I don't get the sense he's this guy who just elevates the unit.  Same goes with DB.  All seem like strong assets moving forward, but it shows with our defensive output being sh*t.   You need at least 2 of those tenacious vocal leaders and captains.  It is MIA entirely from defense (although I think Princely and Ransom are interesting)

I know you need the talent, but they just don't seem to elevate around them much.    

 

[Jmac]

5 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yeah, a dog that are up cap space to be a poodle. I joke, I'm not trying to poo on Shaq. My issue with Shaq is really just an issue with Panthers decision making because it's solely around the fact that we spent a 1st round pick on a tweener player we planned to play at our position of deepest depth and we then turned around and paid him like a Luke or TD successor when that's just not what he was. He was a check the box starter. A guy that if he's penciled in on the depth chart your not concerned about it but you shouldn't be building a defense around the guy and you definitely shouldn't be playing him like he's an All-Pro.

Poodle?........poodles are very smart and active dogs and don't deserve the insult.