Month: April 2025

Panther Football, Sports

‘No excuses’ is NOT Attitude Evero’s defense will play with, Production Emphasis Draft Produces Two Edge Studs-Plus

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on ‘No excuses’ is NOT Attitude Evero’s defense will play with, Production Emphasis Draft Produces Two Edge Studs-Plus
A long time since being this good, defense rises in Charlotte
Classic Season One, 1995, Sam Mills v. Steve Young at Clemson.

Had the Panthers taken a dangerous step in keeping DC Ejiro Evero’s leadership of blown-up 2024 defense after losing LB corps from #4 rank year before?

In short, no. Given A-1 new pieces in exactly the most necessary places – edge rusher, nose, safety – doesn’t throw shade at anyone, pros like Clowney and Wooten understand accumulating better personnel is the nature of NFL business. Clowney feels like on a mission, same for Thielen (and his mini-me, #6 Horn, the other Colorado WR from Hunter).

HC Canales said on arrival that he liked full TE and RB rooms, call it accomplished. O-line and Chuba are a given, yes, Brooks is going to be a moot idea in 2025, Dowdle the leader in clubhouse for near future…Based on straight up Quality picks and deals made, with an A+ rating from Pro Football Focus, #MrTeppers$ might want to ease into some picture taking of ‘non-meddling billionaire owner, with GM Dan Morgan, April 26, 2025.’

YES! on Production

The most impressive numbers so far was free agent Rozeboom (‘FlowerPower’? nah) and his 135 tackles, and he didn’t start until mid-season. On a Panthers defense where ‘pressure’ wasn’t an often-enough accurate event, his projected run-stopping cred, and obvious plus-power of #2 Nic Scourton and #3 Princely Umanmielen https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/04/25/nfl-draft-expert-grades-panthers-tetairoa-mcmillan/83267508007/ represents how WAY high on the organizations radar it was regarded. To say Morgan has the respect of the room for making that double-dip, a bullseye clear checklist of Successful Hole Filling tour-de-force, yep.

Coming right back with a bookend, certified productive, mobile-agile-hostile from other side or interchangeable power rusher – along with good news from FA spending, esp. Moehrig at safety https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44194862/sources-trevon-moehrig-agrees-3-year-51m-deal-panthers was good. Getting Ohio St. safety Lathon Ransome was a bona fide cherry on top at #122, they don’t make ‘soft’ safeties at THE Ohio State University.

Jimmy Horn, Jr. (Colo.) in sixth round, one can’t blame Panthers for working productive offensive vein, this wasn’t a help-Bryce-Young-lots-more-or else draft like 2024 though. If Thielen passes legendary slot skills to Jimmy – a great expectation for Mr. T’s return as a glue guy who always gets open – is operating in his favor. Tough to get on the ground? Nope, *catching* him is toughest part. Return guy? Job’s available.

Not being an over-wiseguy to noteTrevor Etienne, Panthers draft (#114), was #4 pick for Mingo trade to Dallas (and ‘Boyz really needed a good RB). Any piece about Morgan getting fleeced is delusional. Not Pete Buttigieg handling a ‘gotcha!’ level question by a Fox host, I just doubt Morgan actually smiles when sliding into four pick shuffles. In on all the conversations? Yep, agree, accurate. Successful football operations guy? Aren’t you watching?

Canales and DC Evero are certainly happy about whats coming, all max effective for Panthers position needs on defense, and #1 on WR1 Tetairoa McMillan, an All-American with HUGE production at AZ.

Could someday be regarded as Mike Evans-like? The Bucs (and Brady’s) favorite target and future HOFer is worth emulating. HC Canales knows about Mike Evans, so does OC Brad Idzik, with Canales in Tampa Bay before Charlotte, and then Bryce Young, who pounded the table for McMillan. Everyone’s happy.

-GShork 4/27/25 Instant NFL credibility with huge target. Spare me if it affects Coker-Leggette’s fantasy value. Canales says couldn’t imagine sweeping top objectives, A+ rating. Next up – Expectations!

6.5 Wins and Beyond

Starting with a $20 bet on Panthers for NFC South (9-8) wouldn’t be the craziest place to begin thinking differently. Last year it was about +1500. Why isn’t anyone talking about Panthers O-line? Old saw is O-line gets talked about until its not a problem – and that Truth is a core confidence.

While cutting my sportswriter chops for ITS SPORTS! magazine in Tampa, the 1982-83 Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from worst to first in NFL, all the way to NFC title game. QB Doug Williams, Ricky Bell from USC at RB, a stout defense led by LeRoy Selmon and Huuuuugh! Green changed the whole Suckaneers idea. Is this season after 5-12 an NFL Belief moment for Charlotte fans?

Kinda, and whose not behind city-county part of $850 million upgrading of BOA stadium being green-lighted already? Just sayin’.

Give due credit for team improvements all around. Adding coachable depth pieces like 6’6″, 328 lbs. Cam Johnson (FL) at #140 to what became a toothless Panthers defense against the rush after star Derrick Brown went down for season in game one, is flat out smarter drafting for needs. This 2nd pick in 5th round came from the Brian Burns trade (NYGiants), and mid-picks are the meat of NFL GM picking. After, or because, the year Evero’s 3-4 defense had in 2024 was directly linked to personnel, keeping the DC and man-upping body counts/pressures was a great read, and Morgan delivered NFL-level newbies. Morgan already bought a FA nose tackle, check for getting another tough guy as stopper in trenches.

The first time McMillan goes fifty-plus long-striding yards on an NFL catch-run, or he and Leggette score in same game, Morgan becomes ‘That Guy Who.’ For me, ‘Trust Year 2 picks will be of a Quality’ is operationally on the money.

Mitchell Evans at #163 is another Notre Dame TE to fill HC Dave Canales running back/TE groups, with continued eye to a run-heavy attack. Tommy Tremble is a 3rd year guy in NFL from ND, and Panthers just put $$$ into his new contract, but Panthers aren’t keeping three TEs just cuz. They must be targets and run blockers to stick, its Canales Seahawks-Pete Carroll DNA. Ja’Tavion Sanders will get more targets, perhaps the legend of a Ninja Olsen production comes around. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4431588/jatavion-sanders

NFC South – Legitimate Expectations?

Truth be told, everyone has heard about QB and cap situations in ATL and N’awlins, right? On PAPER they don’t look like much, but its too early on this path for Panthers fans to disdain the competitiveness of anyone in the NFL.

Production based picking vs. faux ceilings or question marks was overarching hallmark of Carolina Panthers draft. If these picks indeed perform well enough to be part of NFL 53-man rosters or taxi-squad personnel after August, right now they’ve passed an elementary sniff test. Mentioning a highly-rated QB prospect that fell in dramatic fashion, those divisional foes didn’t help their situations anywhere near as well as the Carolina Panthers.

Hopes restored in a major way though, yeah. People have Ifs and Buts about ‘Before,’ and while its not Steve Rogers-to-muscled-up-Cap’n America transformation, Panthers today have more documented good players than in a while. NFL Attaboys! aside about ‘draft larceny’ are taken modestly; that four draft pick switcheroo deal doesn’t happen all the time though. How many open mouths watched Panthers #1 get used on a WR1, or dared say, ‘I knew that was coming’?

How many open mouths watched Panthers #1 get used on a WR1, or dared say, ‘I knew that was coming’?

Will the offensive line require any tinkering, like contract year extensions for the exceptionally steady Taylor Moton? Its okay to have questions about what’s Next for Panthers, or accept best practices filled every acknowledged hole on defense, at least addressed in FA spending and NFL draft is legit. Its not staking out 9-8 as ultimate goal, and defense getting essential personnel, its easy-legitimate to expect matters drop from being a quarter-mile worse than anyone in 2024 (179.8 ypg/game level) back to Normal.

Just reasonable Next, over .500 bet. Ten wins – who said dat?

Panther Football, Sports

Trusting Morgan Yr. 2 Starts Way Different with Elite WR1, McMillan

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Trusting Morgan Yr. 2 Starts Way Different with Elite WR1, McMillan

After a constant drumbeat of drafting defensive help as absolute necessity, super-productive AZ wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as Panthers #1 pick was kind of astounding, and worthy of an ‘A’ no matter who you talk to. (Cowboys wanted at #12, too bad.) Morgan has a *bunch* more picks to continue improving DC Ejiro Evero’s defense in Year 3.

What’s not to like?

Morgan-Canales made it clear since free agency success that productivity at collegiate level and elsewhere would be given primary consideration, and Tet-Mc, legit? put up numbers at Arizona, https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/04/25/nfl-draft-expert-grades-panthers-tetairoa-mcmillan/83267508007/ especially in 2024 – 84 rec. for 1,319 yds./8 TDs. Whatever you might hear about his running style, at 6’4″, 219, he is going to become a problem as the best of size-speed improvements Panthers have brought together in receivers room any time recently.

TE Sanders and https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/ja-tavion-sanders/ Leggette have size and https://www.nfl.com/players/xavier-legette/ are burners, Coker is no slouch. McMillan declined to do a 40 yd. timing at combine, but Sanders has very similar catch radius, ‘near elite speed’ and 10″ hands as McMillan.

50/50 balls on ‘up’ routes will be in the Canales-Young red zone reads. – GShork 4/25/25

Its not jinxing anyone about Ghost of Olsen (just wouldn’t it be nice…), nor Steve Smith liking any new Panthers WRs, Canales says he likes full RB and TE rooms, and McMillan is certifiably best wide receiver in Panthers group since, well, Spartanburg ’18, watching DJ Moore and McCaffrey. (I predicted 100+ for C-MC, wound up 104 catches and that incredible 1000-1000 season.)

Is this a Homer talking about a designated Number One? No, its going to be a prevailing thought, and its definite, an accomplished, WR1 person has arrived. Most expectations are Leggette rides his Dollar Bill regularly as he’s rewarded for practices, extra coaching. Its not comparison shopping results or pre-judging any Cali Connection, but Year Two results are supposed to increase – coaches and players are graded on it.

The $$$ Panthers put into supporting offensive line for Young and NFL run game identity, its been done with a definite plan. So has McMillan, and yes, the free agent signings featured enough well-regarded NFL defensive support at specific points to allow for a stud receiver selection in Round 1. The focus on Walker as smoke? Meh. Its a deep defensive draft.

GM Morgan has eight more picks, six on defense okay? I suggested ‘Trust’ the other day, today I’m Justifiably Impressed with #1, not just drinking the Koolaid. How many more good guys can Panthers accumulate for 2025? Stay on path of best practices, Dan!

Panther Football

Don’t waffle on trust for Panther GM Morgan, Walker or trade down, Year 2 picks will be of a Quality

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Don’t waffle on trust for Panther GM Morgan, Walker or trade down, Year 2 picks will be of a Quality

After a relatively less newsworthy gap in football for fans, loaded with crackpot trade ideas online, the 24th draws nigh for Reality of Carolina Panther football operations.

At least nobody is suggesting they need to find a franchise QB in a draft with only two, and defense getting max attention is already a fact.

Spartanburg is in the rear view mirror for Panthers, Draft Day figures to boost DC Ejiro Evero’s defense considerably.

Nobody wants to Fail at Draft Picks

For any singular ‘expert’ who is naysaying the possible selection of Jalon Walker as a ‘tweener vs. the stud linebacker-edge rusher from Georgia HC Dave Canales and Morgan have both praised, did that young man do everything he was asked the last two years or not?

Just sayin,’ he’s nothing akin to the Shy Tuttle situation, where being a large individual was NOT the answer to being a nose tackle who could stop Panthers defense from giving up an unholy amount of yardage in 2024 season. (FYI – Bobby Brown III very possibly is)

With a solid belief in Morgan’s ability to judge talent and bring it home, the Panthers GM isn’t picking for the Cleveland Browns, whose success in digging out of a massive cap hit hole relative to QB DeSean Watson includes 40-year old Joe Flacco in the mix and *brutal*/astronomical numbers in next couple years. If they select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at #2 on Thursday, more bets would be on losing TWO positional starters to a freak accident than fixing offensive-defensive-economic situations.

Shedeur Sanders  (4,134 yds. 37 TD/ 10 INT, 75.5 QBR) to Cleveland, or Giants? Didn’t his Dad say NO! to option of Brownies already? Whatever he supposedly lacks, Colorado went from a ONE-win team to 9-3 and playing in Valero Alamo Bowl in two years. Sanders was an underwhelming 16/23 for 208 yds, 2 TDs/2 INTs, 3 sacks in that 36-14 whipping by BYU. Would he fit in the Giants QB room? Like a glove.

Panthers already have nine picks in a 7-round draft, and Morgan continues to let it be known he’ll answer the phone and trade down if someone wants to talk about Panthers #8 position and more picks. Having done an outstanding job on accumulating several high quality defensive players during free agency, Panthers will not be taking flyers on 19 year olds like Charlotte Hornets did with their 2024 #6, Tidjane Salaun.

For those who haven’t noticed, ‘meddling’ Panthers owner David Tepper *still* hasn’t uttered a single negative about the process that Morgan, Canales, and VP/cap expert Brandt Tilis have taken in putting his team back on (fairly) solid footing. Pick for Mingo to Dallas is going to be well spent. https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/jonathan-mingo/

‘Realistic Optimism’ says better than 6.5 Wins

Most prognosticators were correct about Panthers not doing better than 5.5 wins in 2024 season, but tapping them as only one game better in 2025 sounds like zero respect for how Panthers played in second half of season. A fumble while driving for a score in OT (Tampa Bay), and games to the wire against eventual Super Bowl teams Philadelphia – a 22-16 loss to Eagles in Philly, with Barkley gaining 124 yds. and Leggette failing to hold onto a late pass for a first down – and Kansas City (last second FG for 30-27 win) meant they were real damn close to eight wins.

Yes, Adam Thielen will be 35 before season starts, and after missing seven games with a hamstring injury, he’s still caught 151 passes (1,629 yds, 9 TDs) the last two years on a team lacking in quality-experienced receivers, especially Young’s rookie season (2023) when QB was under constant siege. He’s a slot receiver vs. a primary, which is still a position that bears upgrading.

6’5″ free agent Jalen Coker (Colgate, 32 catches/478 yds./2 TDs), didn’t get on the field until a 3 catch-41 yd. OT win over the Giants in Munich (11/10), and Xavier Leggette https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/xavier-legette/ of South Carolina, who has blazing speed, had solid rookie years. With extra coaching and focus, its expected (fingers crossed?) Leggette becomes a full-fledged terror for NFL secondaries in 2025. Panthers signing thousand yard rusher Rico Dowdle https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4038815/rico-dowdle from Dallas as a free agent was an understated but A-1 steal, adding a proven target (5 career rec. TDs) for Bryce Young in HC Canales’ offensive scheming as well.

Morgan might’ve reached a bit in drafting RB Jonathan Brooks (Texas) at #2, as he reinjured his surgically repaired ACL on a non-contact play during a late season ‘lets see’ appearance. The Panthers never rushed his progress, and while he might become another story like Panthers legend Thomas Davis, who had three consecutive ACL surgeries (2009-2011) and returned to play at an All Pro level, nobody can tell.

Dowdle has wheels, and should team easily with highly productive RB Chuba Hubbard https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard in Panthers backfield plans. Rico is on a make-good contract, and Hubbard is an icon for exactly such economic dealings.

Neither Brooks selection, nor how Morgan handled the saga of Diontae Johnson, who Panthers got from the Steelers for about to be released cornerback Donte Jackson ($14.3M contract) in pre-season – and wore out his welcome here and with the Ravens with butthead attitude – was more best practices than a misjudgment of talent to be held against him.

Year 30 in Charlotte

That massive $$$ hole called the quarterback in Cleveland, where ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers winds up (if anywhere), or whether NFC South division rivals ATL and New Orleans get a grip on QB situations the Panthers-Bryce Young seem to have worked out, not our problem. – GShorkey Draft Week ’25

Having arrived in ‘The Buckle the Bible Belt’ in 1995 at same time as Panthers, and having seen considerable highs (two Super Bowl appearances) and earth-cratering lows that include current seven year stretch of uninspiring football, Charlotte still isn’t Cleveland. A non-winner since #MrTeppers$ purchased team from original owner Jerry Richardson, this years version could well make – if not the sort of ‘resurrection’ many believers here hold personally – a revival worth discussing.

How three days of drafting new talent from the 24th-26th works out on a roster that has jettisoned a number of unknowns (and yeah, Shaq Thompson) since last season works out, the smart $$$ will be on GM Dan Morgan getting the right people for HC Canales to coach, with Brandt Tilis paying appropriately. That massive $$$ hole called the quarterback in Cleveland, where ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers winds up (if anywhere), or whether NFC South division rivals ATL and New Orleans get a grip on QB situations the Panthers-Bryce Young seem to have worked out, not our problem.

Panther Football, Thought Leadership

A 15 Year old Time Capsule, Right on UConn win, A BIG Duke Win for Coach K and Schuyer, Zoubek Was The Man

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on A 15 Year old Time Capsule, Right on UConn win, A BIG Duke Win for Coach K and Schuyer, Zoubek Was The Man

I’d be tempted to throw in the link from 15 years ago yesterday, which credited UConn for its back-to-back titles, the obvious relationship for Duke coaches then and now, and the biggest Dookie, Brian Zoubek. Only time anyone recalls Coach K just pounding you with size, including two Plumlees.

While Kyle Singler and John Scheyer have been quality players for years, Duke wouldn’t have been in the NCAA Finals if Brian Zoubek hadn’t finally played a full, injury-free season. Duke changed from its usual defensive pressure to Playing Big, *really* big with the Plumlee brothers going 6’10” and jumping all over people, but this past month especially, Zoubek (that would be MISTER Zoubek to you Cal fans) showed exactly what being BIG and talented means. Rip down a rebound and everyone around you seems to be only armpit high, that is the epitome of Large. Singler was the MVP of the Final Four, but capping a college career the way he did was great for Zoo.

(Just how precisely the finale mirrored Duke’s loss this year shows how close winning-losing such events often is.)

No problem acknowledging how tough Butler played – even the great Duke champs of the past rarely played in-your-shirt, hand-to-hand-combat intense D better than the Bulldogs did Monday night.

Frankly, if that last half-court heave by Haywood banks in, all the air would’ve come out of Dookie Nation’s chest for well into the future. Nobody would be questioning whether Coach K was full of it by saying this was his greatest championship, though many consider it his best coaching job because the talent wasn’t as overwhelming as past teams…

The bottom line, 5th year useful guy Zoubek earned the ring so many expected freshman Flagg, and a superbly well assembled set of teammates, to emerge from a chalk walk of #1s to the Final Four March Madness in San Antonio with. One short-armed, fallaway J, one bummer of a foul call was the difference. No Mr. Big finale.

The air HAS gone out of Dookie Nation, how and when will anyone know whether Cooper comes back? Yeah, yeah about his NIL value at Duke, $4.8 mill you say? They hustled his incubation time to make him a stud professional NBA legend at 19, won’t another year put a beating on his Year 4 valuations…Blah, blah, blah. Love the commercial where he gets sweated up at bingo. Or did the first 999 times. NBA body and smarts, got it.

Tough to maintain focus in college fishbowl? NBA is eighty-two games, THEN the abuse of playoff *series,* not onesies. Doubters about being ready? Mostly no doubt. Bird-like? C’mon. Stay or go? Pull the ripcord my man, be a great student-athlete example. Hey, that twin of yours who didn’t push up a class, he got any game?

Plenty of time to What If –

Two weeks from NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers don’t have exactly the same falling off a cliff decision with #8 pick as Flagg to NBA. Still plenty of guessing about HOW MUCH defense is enough, enabling the drafting of other than necessary edge rushers and linebackers from a deep group.

The What If – Penn St. tight end Tyler Warren fell to #8 Panthers pick, would Morgan prioritize XYZ (Walker from GA) on defense ahead of selecting ANOTHER tight end who blocks and catches very, very well, and would continue filling RB and a tight end room just about like HC Canales has frequently stated? https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4431459/tyler-warren

While there’s still a quantity of #MrTeppers$ available, Morgan paid up for a LOT of talent in the most necessary places during ‘legal tampering period.’ The Panthers Football Operations people kept Ejiro Evero as Defensive Coordinator after a brutal statistical season – and a previous #4 rated one, before a solid linebacking corps went free agent. Morgan provided the ONE absolute that 3-4 defense required, a nose tackle who is great on holding up double teams with physical dimensions.

If you haven’t heard about a signee from Rams name of Rozeboom, he notched about as many tackles as Panthers D-line had last season (135), you will want to see how he operates.

Don’t sweat the Eagles DT (Williams) who blew Panthers off for $104MM of the Patriots money, *that* friends, is what over-paying looks like.

The Great American Family Experience, 9 am Saturday version

A little Control on the world, maybe

It never hurts to call a high strike to make sure the batter remembers we talked about getting swings vs. looks before the game. I love covering specific situations in pre-game talks, which become easy judgements when they happen (recently). I listen to what a manager wants to fix about something I also witnessed to develop possible explanations/resolutions.

I’ve been the plate umpire every time out because as old-ish veteran, I have the equipment the 15-year olds I’ve teamed with recently don’t. I’ve made a difference with many catchers, telling them to get bats out of the way, so they don’t interfere with a play. I tell the crowd how catchers move the location of pitches (very worthwhile talk). I picked up three games this week, and maintain LL is a healthy outing after WFH writing and blogging.

Pass on a Friday nite gig to play poker? Nahh, no guarantee I’d win big, and there’s those taxes, about two terrific hours of community involvement with the Great American Family Experience will help pay for.

$600 into Umpiring this Spring, I’ve gotten hit kind of regularly, a couple of the ‘particularly close’ genre. When pitcher barely had enough juice to bounce it off the edge of the plate – then right past the catchers ear, never even got a glove up – it doesn’t hurt, but the streak has ended. 4/5/25

The NHL playoffs begin April 19th. Possible latest ending date – June 23rd. I’m not a hockey bettor. Charlotte Hornets (19-61) fans will have open schedules shortly, but they weren’t really bettable either. There might be a reason to talk about LaMelo shortly. Just sayin,’ if Mavs can pull the pin with Luka a season after Finals, LaMelo is not untouchable as Face of Franchise.

I will tell any nice ladies in advance of the much hotter part of LL baseball season, yes, I will always accept a Gator or PowerAde, any flavor. Here’s to the Great American Family Experience.

Two weeks to Morgan Draft #2, not so bad waiting for actual progress vs. fantastical trades and must gets online verbiage. Grab yourself an Ultra (or Dr. Pepper) like Billy Bob in ‘Land Man,’ hang with a bad enough Good Woman you’re sure there’s not a snowballs chance of Happiness ever happening with, but rest assured, Panthers GM Dan Morgan is doing a *fine* job of investing #MrTeppers$, not yours.

If that includes getting a super chunk of ath-o-lete as a first rate, NFL ready offensive weapon for Bryce Young’s upcoming third year, I’ll be good with that.