Official Week 3: Panthers vs. Falcons Gameday Thread

[Loyalty4Life]

6 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Brother, I think it is intentionally obtuse to think this offense isn’t inherently limited in scheme because of Bryce’s limitations.  The All 22 isn’t going to show us what plays are off the table before the game even begins, and that’s the problem.  To think a team is going to win like this every week in the year of our Lord 2025, is asinine.  Look at a team like Philly.  They are physical, run heavy, and also control the clock via the LOS and run game, but Hurts is a weapon defenses have to respect.  He is capable of consistently making plays on his own and utilizing his supporting cast to the fullest.  Bryce is incapable of that.  If a team stops our run game, we are losing 9 out of 10 times.  To pretend that win is a credit to Bryce is disingenuous.  It just further cements that we have to win ugly with Bryce because we can’t win pretty with Bryce.  And we can say Tet should’ve had a TD on that deep throw because it hit his hands, name any of the Top 15 QBs or so in the league, maybe even Top 20, and they throw that same pass, Tet is catching it.  We have to dissect ball placement, the definition of a drop vs a bad pass, “hidden yards,” and whose fault was a drop way more than any other time in our history as a franchise, and it’s not coincidence.  Prime Cam out there today?  Hell, Cam post-2017 out there today would’ve gave us an additional 17 points minimum.  Saying we didn’t have to pass is also facetious…  plenty of teams pass in these type of games.  We don’t pass because our coaches want to limit his mistakes, because he is so prone to make them.  If he was an efficient passer, it would be used as a weapon and another prong in our attack.  Instead, it is obvious through play calls and approach, they don’t trust Bryce and that requires your defense, run game, and special teams to be damn near flawless.

Also, imagine being a guy like Renfrow or Tet.  We weren’t up 30+ points all game.  It was still 10-0 at halftime.  There were plenty of passes to be made, and we didn’t want to chance it.  A mark of a franchise QB is that they make everyone around them better.  They elevate the play around them.  Is Tet’s play elevated?  Look at what he does with the ball in his hands.  Problem is, we have trouble getting the ball in his hands.  Same for Renfrow.  I’ve maintained Tremble is a playmaker.  We can’t get the ball in his hands.  Same for JT.  XL’s struggles are in large part due to limitations in the scheme.  Can’t take the top off a defense if you don’t have opportunities to do so.  
 

It all comes down to we don’t win because of Bryce, we win in spite of Bryce.  
 

JStew literally just got on the postgame show and said something along the lines of we didn’t win with/because of Bryce.  Then the other guy gets on and starts trying to hype the game manager angle for Bryce.  This guy is a #1 overall pick.  The defenses of his limitations is tiresome and old.  Even in a win, it is packed full of reminders of how perfect everyone has to play to win with him at QB.  Again, I ask, if the defense is having a bad day or the running game is shut down early, then what?  We’ve seen what happens, and so yes, I enjoy the win, but nothing has changed.  Bryce hasn’t done anything to disprove the idea that if we have to trust him to win, we will lose.  This game was an aberration, not the norm.  So again, what happens next week?  And the week after?

 

I agree we won't win a ton of games if our offense isn't a bigger part of the plan.  We didn't have to or try to do that today.  As Bryce continues to grow and get better we'll get more games from him and the offense carrying the load.  Yes, he, Canales and the rest of the offense has to be much more consistent in producing points on offense.  No question.  As you say, we've seen that in spurts.   

Should a number 1 overall pick come out carrying a team?  No, despite what fans think.  It's rare for any young player to be born into the league fully formed.  

What I saw today was mistakes being corrected.  I'm not going to try to gaslight you saying Bryce hasn't had his share of games we'd all like to forget but since his benching last year he has continued to get better and better.  No, it hasn't been in a straight line but that's just not reality for anyone.  

Last year he had 9 picks in 14 games and 3 lost fumbles.
This year through 3 games he has 3 picks and 2 lost fumbles.  

The amount of pass attempts show me a staff and a team who are not afraid to pass.  They are not protecting Bryce more than any other team would protect their QB.  The rate at which we threw downfield last year shows me the same thing.  The number of potential game winning drives also point to the fact that we aren't limiting our passing attack.  We routinely put the ball in Bryce's hands to get a crucial 3rd downs and 4th downs.  The results are not always what we want but I don't see any lack of trust or faith in him.

Tetairoa is tops or leading rookies in yards and catches.  Unless he's throwing it to himself, I'd say we are getting him the ball without too much trouble.  It would be even better if Tetairoa would put two hands on the ball when trying to catch those deep endzone shots. 

Bryce hasn't earned an extension yet and he might not but he and the team had a great game today.  I'm going to enjoy watching all of them continue to grow together and hope those spurts start to get ironed out and this roller coaster has a few less dips.

Keep pounding.

[frankw]

Just now, Paa Langfart said:

JFC just came in the house from outside- too nice of a day in the sun  to waste it on the Panthers and the local stations arent even broadcasting the Panthers today.  Is the game is supposed to be on CBS ?  If so they got some redneck rodeo show on instead.  If on Fox its the Cowboys playing someone.

You're going to have to get the highlights sir. But those are going to consist of the Panthers defense embarrassing Penix Jr and our run game putting in work.

 

[RJK]

I guess if the D is gonna pitch shutouts it doesn’t matter if your QB only throws for 120. That’s not sustainable but good division win boys 

[mav1234]

2 minutes ago, CRA said:

Falcons averaged 5+ a carry.   

Stats out of context imo.

[RJK]

Just now, frankw said:

You're going to have to get the highlights sir. But those are going to consist of the Panthers defense embarrassing Penix Jr and our run game putting in work.

 

30 carries for 110 and a 3.7 avg is hardly putting in work but I get your point 

[frankw]

1 minute ago, RJK said:

30 carries for 110 and a 3.7 avg is hardly putting in work but I get your point 

Yeah 11 yards from matching the passing yardage lol

[fanpanther]

5 minutes ago, Loyalty4Life said:

 

I agree we won't win a ton of games if our offense isn't a bigger part of the plan.  We didn't have to or try to do that today.  As Bryce continues to grow and get better we'll get more games from him and the offense carrying the load.  Yes, he, Canales and the rest of the offense has to be much more consistent in producing points on offense.  No question.  As you say, we've seen that in spurts.   

Should a number 1 overall pick come out carrying a team?  No, despite what fans think.  It's rare for any young player to be born into the league fully formed.  

What I saw today was mistakes being corrected.  I'm not going to try to gaslight you saying Bryce hasn't had his share of games we'd all like to forget but since his benching last year he has continued to get better and better.  No, it hasn't been in a straight line but that's just not reality for anyone.  

Last year he had 9 picks in 14 games and 3 lost fumbles.
This year through 3 games he has 3 picks and 2 lost fumbles.  

The amount of pass attempts show me a staff and a team who are not afraid to pass.  They are not protecting Bryce more than any other team would protect their QB.  The rate at which we threw downfield last year shows me the same thing.  The number of potential game winning drives also point to the fact that we aren't limiting our passing attack.  We routinely put the ball in Bryce's hands to get a crucial 3rd downs and 4th downs.  The results are not always what we want but I don't see any lack of trust or faith in him.

Tetairoa is tops or leading rookies in yards and catches.  Unless he's throwing it to himself, I'd say we are getting him the ball without too much trouble.  It would be even better if Tetairoa would put two hands on the ball when trying to catch those deep endzone shots. 

Bryce hasn't earned an extension yet and he might not but he and the team had a great game today.  I'm going to enjoy watching all of them continue to grow together and hope those spurts start to get ironed out and this roller coaster has a few less dips.

Keep pounding.

i am not sure bryce is growing

[CRA]

Just now, mav1234 said:

Stats out of context imo.

Falcons averaged 5.5.  Bijan averaged 5.7.  

Penix just imploded the game and it was heavy Penix from the jump.  

I would wager a run run pass didn’t exist for the Falcons today 

[ProcessBlue2]

The rushing stats were skewed. The defense is better but it’s still worse than what we have had in the past. It’s probably at 2021/2022 level. It has just been historically bad in recent memory so seeing this progress is very refreshing. 
 

Honestly, if our defense played at just below average level, we probably would have won 2-3 more games last season.

[Loyalty4Life]

2 minutes ago, fanpanther said:

i am not sure bryce is growing

I see what you did there.  Made me laugh.  Good one.

[mav1234]

3 minutes ago, CRA said:

Falcons averaged 5.5.  Bijan averaged 5.7.  

Penix just imploded the game and it was heavy Penix from the jump.  

I would wager a run run pass didn’t exist for the Falcons today 

Again, stats out of context. In the first half, the Falcons had 19 yards on 2 rushes and only 25 on 8 others. 

Edit: missed Penixs scramble so I think it's actually 28 yards on 9 other carries.

47 total in the half.

Edited 1 hour ago by mav1234

[grimesgoat]

1 hour ago, dep said:

Damn what will the Huddle do all week with barely anything to complain about

 

They will complain we won a game and messed up our draft position. 

[CRA]

1 minute ago, mav1234 said:

Again, stats out of context. In the first half, the Falcons had 19 yards on 2 rushes and only 25 on 8 others. 

Bijan looked like the best player on the field first half IMO.  When he occasionally got the ball though.   I just didn’t see it as some great rush D effort.  Seemed it was just Penix and a horrific gameplan more than anything 

[Jon Snow]

10 minutes ago, CRA said:

Falcons averaged 5+ a carry.   

I was expecting 10 per so that is a win for this bunch. Take the small victories as they come. Any improvement is a step in the right direction.