Panthers advice film study of Evero’s coverage

[raleigh-panther]

quick summary 

before defense, talks briefly about Morgan’s comment about needing an explosive player  not sure with Canales  play calling and poor blocking particularly on screens it would matter 

First part of  Film review looks at issues with Evero’s defense issues with Panthers defenses.

Rams exposed every one   Second part of film next week film look deeper at Evero’s defense 

 Predictability of panthers defense in cover 3 and cover 6 

cover 3 look left Pua open  

Easy to expose and attack  panthers cover 3   So easy that Stafford knew immediately where to go 

nick scott, a safety,  left on an island with WRs   Player is an issue    2 high safety exposing cover 3 coverage in in seam 

cover 6 issues also

Stafford attacking Jaycee Horn one on one,  could easily have drawn flags on double moves  …safety over top not there for horn to be able to play a better technique 

conclusion   Safety is needed or Evero’s scheme for safety play is weak and teams know it 

 

 

 

[Candler Cat]

[TD alt]

We certainly don't look "close" to me. All that space. Bend don't break. Players letting receivers run right by them speaks to confusion. Stafford out there playing chess and Evero playing checkers.  Not playing to a player's strengths. We need new personnel in the middle of the field. If we're going to play this scheme, we need new pass rushers. 

My goodness. Why in the fvck did I put myself through this pain?

[MHS831]

OK, i am thinking from this perspective:  Evero is going to be here and we are going to run the same defense.  

I am also taking into consideration that it is likely that we have to draft an OT in round 1, an ILB, a S, and maybe an edge*, TE, and WR. etc. So focusing on the D, we need starting help at Edge and S.  Forget scheme. forget Evero for now (if you can).  

Here is where my brain is right now, Jan 17, 2026:  

Re-sign the core OL depth--they should be fairly cheap.  Mays, Nijman, and Christensen--and maybe even Curhan. With the OL a lot can be said about consistency and familiarity.  Bring in a LT through the draft.

That should leave a good bit of money for 2 free agents that would help this defense more than most moves, in my opinion--Edge and a S.

My favorite edge who might be in free agency:  Jaelen Phillips of the cap-strapped Eagles.  Pay the man.  He is 26, 6’5” and 260.  Holds the edge (30+ tackles) and gets pressure (5 sacks but was 9th in the NFL with 73 pressures).  I am guessing he will draw top dollar interest, but if Morgan wants to get better, this is where it will happen.  (I am guessing $85m over 3 years–the money we would have given a healthy Ickey, sadly.)  Frankly, I might offer him $110m for 4 years. With Phillips and Scourton starting with Jones II and Princely (developing) behind them--edge don't look so bad if you allow for youth development. (Remember, DEs not drafted here in the first rounds took a bit of time (Mike Rucker, Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy--they all needed one-three years).

 

I would like to see the Panthers sign S Justin Simmons.  He is 30 or so, but playing at a high level and will probably not be back in Atlanta.  He seems to fit a need and would allow us to draft a developmental FS type.  Ransom and Moehrig can play the other S spot, with Simmons filling in as needed.  I am guessing that he might sign a 2-year deal for $20m if most is guaranteed.  

 

If we could do that, we could focus on LT and ILB in the draft.  Just how I see it now.

*we drafted 2 in 2025.  they need time to develop.  We still have Jones.  A veteran stud is what we need, not another long-term project (any edge taken after round 1).  So hear me out.  Listen.  Are you listening?

Edited 3 hours ago by MHS831

[LinvilleGorge]

Safety (particularly in coverage) has been a weak spot for the Panthers throughout their history. The only plus pair of starters we've ever put on the field was Minter/Grant.

[kungfoodude]

4 hours ago, raleigh-panther said:

quick summary 

before defense, talks briefly about Morgan’s comment about needing an explosive player  not sure with Canales  play calling and poor blocking particularly on screens it would matter 

First part of  Film review looks at issues with Evero’s defense issues with Panthers defenses.

Rams exposed every one   Second part of film next week film look deeper at Evero’s defense 

 Predictability of panthers defense in cover 3 and cover 6 

cover 3 look left Pua open  

Easy to expose and attack  panthers cover 3   So easy that Stafford knew immediately where to go 

nick scott, a safety,  left on an island with WRs   Player is an issue    2 high safety exposing cover 3 coverage in in seam 

cover 6 issues also

Stafford attacking Jaycee Horn one on one,  could easily have drawn flags on double moves  …safety over top not there for horn to be able to play a better technique 

conclusion   Safety is needed or Evero’s scheme for safety play is weak and teams know it 

 

 

 

I agree with him on the "explosive player" focus. I am never going to say that I wouldn't want to add such a guy but I do think Canales offense is specifically tailored to limit explosive players from being effective.

Also, same poo a lot of us have been saying for a while about Evero. His scheme has limitations when it lacks elite or at least near elite players. It doesn't disguise or attempt to get the best out of what you have on the roster, it's just going out and running his defense and hoping that some of these misfits work out more often than not. Hence why it is so easy to pick on the LB Corps and Nick Scott so frequently.

Evero and Canales need more talent to work with, I think we all know that. They also will be a limiting factor when that talent is there. That's the bigger issue.

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, TD alt said:

We certainly don't look "close" to me. All that space. Bend don't break. Players letting receivers run right by them speaks to confusion. Stafford out there playing chess and Evero playing checkers.  Not playing to a player's strengths. We need new personnel in the middle of the field. If we're going to play this scheme, we need new pass rushers. 

My goodness. Why in the fvck did I put myself through this pain?

Edited 3 hours ago by MHS831

[kungfoodude]

10 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

OK, i am thinking from this perspective:  Evero is going to be here and we are going to run the same defense.  

I am also taking into consideration that it is likely that we have to draft an OT in round 1, an ILB, a S, and maybe an edge*, TE, and WR. etc. So focusing on the D, we need starting help at Edge and S.  Forget scheme. forget Evero for now (if you can).  

Here is where my brain is right now, Jan 17, 2026:  

Re-sign the core OL depth--they should be fairly cheap.  Mays, Nijman, and Christensen--and maybe even Curhan. With the OL a lot can be said about consistency and familiarity.  Bring in a LT through the draft.

That should leave a good bit of money for 2 free agents that would help this defense more than most moves, in my opinion--Edge and a S.

My favorite edge who might be in free agency:  Jaelen Phillips of the cap-strapped Eagles.  Pay the man.  He is 26, 6’5” and 260.  Holds the edge (30+ tackles) and gets pressure (5 sacks but was 9th in the NFL with 73 pressures).  I am guessing he will draw top dollar interest, but if Morgan wants to get better, this is where it will happen.  (I am guessing $85m over 3 years–the money we would have given a healthy Ickey, sadly.)  Frankly, I might offer him $110m for 4 years. With Phillips and Scourton starting with Jones II and Princely (developing) behind them--edge don't look so bad if you allow for youth development. (Remember, DEs not drafted here in the first rounds took a bit of time (Mike Rucker, Charles Johnson, Greg Hardy--they all needed one-three years).

 

I would like to see the Panthers sign S Justin Simmons.  He is 30 or so, but playing at a high level and will probably not be back in Atlanta.  He seems to fit a need and would allow us to draft a developmental FS type.  Ransom and Moehrig can play the other S spot, with Simmons filling in as needed.  I am guessing that he might sign a 2-year deal for $20m if most is guaranteed.  

 

If we could do that, we could focus on LT and ILB in the draft.  Just how I see it now.

*we drafted 2 in 2025.  they need time to develop.  We still have Jones.  A veteran stud is what we need, not another long-term project (any edge taken after round 1).  So hear me out.  Listen.  Are you listening?

I would caution that it is highly unlikely BC will play in 2026 after that torn Achilles. If he does, he will miss a significant portion of the season. So we do need to attempt to replace him in some way.

10 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Safety (particularly in coverage) has been a weak spot for the Panthers throughout their history. The only plus pair of starters we've ever put on the field was Minter/Grant.

For some reason we just refuse to address critical positions for years on end. It's a franchise trait. 

[MHS831]

6 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I would caution that it is highly unlikely BC will play in 2026 after that torn Achilles. If he does, he will miss a significant portion of the season. So we do need to attempt to replace him in some way.

For some reason we just refuse to address critical positions for years on end. It's a franchise trait. 

So if the average recovery time (and we both know the reality of the ACL--varies and the longer-term objective is to return to form more than to recover) in the NFL is 8-12 months with many player returning after 9 months. That would put him back as early as camp, but if it takes 12, October.  I am not sure I would say "highly unlikely" but it is problematic to consider him depth for 2026 at this time.  This probably bodes well for Curhan who has G/T abilities.  

I think this draft is deep at developmental OTs and there are maybe 4 that can be expected to start right away--but that is based on what I have been reading--I have not been watching videos.  

[kungfoodude]

7 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

So if the average recovery time (and we both know the reality of the ACL--varies and the longer-term objective is to return to form more than to recover) in the NFL is 8-12 months with many player returning after 9 months. That would put him back as early as camp, but if it takes 12, October.  I am not sure I would say "highly unlikely" but it is problematic to consider him depth for 2026 at this time.  This probably bodes well for Curhan who has G/T abilities.  

I think this draft is deep at developmental OTs and there are maybe 4 that can be expected to start right away--but that is based on what I have been reading--I have not been watching videos.  

This is complicated by him being a UFA and being unable to pass a physical. Also, he isn't young to be having that sort of injury. 

As fantastic as he has been, the plan SHOULD be to get another quality utility OL in the draft and if BC becomes available, sign him off the couch when he is ready to go. He won't have many suitors(as he didn't last season) so I suspect this will be an option.

Curhan was fine...for a PS player. I do think we need to aim higher there, as well.

[TD alt]

5 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I would caution that it is highly unlikely BC will play in 2026 after that torn Achilles. If he does, he will miss a significant portion of the season. So we do need to attempt to replace him in some way.

For some reason we just refuse to address critical positions for years on end. It's a franchise trait. 

 

I will say that Dan came into a fvcked up situation (perhaps partly his making, but that's another discussion). We were devoid of talent, cash-strapped and draft-position-challenged. Plus, he had to have time to develop a plan and acquire the right staff. I think that he's made some inroads on the offense (though still a work in progress), now he has a little latitude to focus on improving the defense. If he doesn't address two of the three major needs on defense this year, there is really no excuse. The only fly in that ointment will possibly be the Ickey injury (and two a lesser extent BC).

We may have to prepare ourselves for a trade-back. I don't know how we're going to do everything without more picks. Morgan and Tillis have to work some magic, otherwise we may be thinking that the FO is wilfully ignoring critical positions again. We absolutely need an LT, a pass rusher, a middle 'backer, and a safety. How are we going to get viable talent at all these positions? It's going to be interesting to see what happens, but I'm thinking we have to acquire more picks.

[PleaseCutStewart]

Can't remember the last time we had a decent coverage safety. Maybe Kurt Coleman.

I think overall Nick Scott played pretty solid the back half of the season. But he definitely got exposed and picked on in the Rams game. Rams also knew that Cover 3 is weak against the seams and targeted that area a lot.

Evero needs to mix in some Cover 4 with his zone (especially when it's 3rd and long). That will help take away the seams and should only allow short routes to be open (if everybody is in their zone). Getting linebackers and safeties that can actually cover some would also help him to run some man defense (if he ever plans to).

[kungfoodude]

7 minutes ago, TD alt said:

 

I will say that Dan came into a fvcked up situation (perhaps partly his making, but that's another discussion). We were devoid of talent, cash-strapped and draft-position-challenged. Plus, he had to have time to develop a plan and acquire the right staff. I think that he's made some inroads on the offense (though still a work in progress), now he has a little latitude to focus on improving the defense. If he doesn't address two of the three major needs on defense this year, there is really no excuse. The only fly in that ointment will possibly be the Ickey injury (and two a lesser extent BC).

We may have to prepare ourselves for a trade-back. I don't know how we're going to do everything without more picks. Morgan and Tillis have to work some magic, otherwise we may be thinking that the FO is wilfully ignoring critical positions again. We absolutely need an LT, a pass rusher, a middle 'backer, and a safety. How are we going to get viable talent at all these positions? It's going to be interesting to see what happens, but I'm thinking we have to acquire more picks.

I think a trade back would be very unwise. This draft doesn't appear to have the crazy depth at multiple positions like the 2025 draft did. It all also is going to be next to impossible to remedy in one offseason. We are still multiple offseasons away from building a quality roster so we need consistent improvement on that front and we cannot afford more 2024 offseasons mixed in. 

It's going to be interesting to see what happens and the trend. I could see a possibility that we are offense heavy this draft or offseason. That's something to watch. If so, I think it is going to speak volumes about the general mindset of the organization.

[rodeo]

There was a large handful of very talented coverage safties in free agency last year, and we had the cap space for them. We just actively decided to ride with Nick Scott.