Month: October 2026

Sports, Panther Football

Panthers fans luvin’ 25-14 Philly victory- Long drive silences crowd, DEFENSE puts down a marker

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Panthers fans luvin’ 25-14 Philly victory- Long drive silences crowd, DEFENSE puts down a marker

Mark the quiet of Philadelphia Eagles fans, impressed by 3rd quarter drive that showed Panthers O-line, Bryce, Idzik’s offense can grind with anyone. Yeah, Eagles with 35 yards rushing (222 total), no Jalen Hurts and 3 sacks of Tanner McKee, wasn’t much to cheer.

Lions, Eagles, Packers, Rams are perennial playoff teams Panthers will need to beat regularly with a division winner schedule, so its been an effective 3-2 so far. Panthers TE Tommy Tremble caught *TWO* TD passes in Philly, so NFL is on notice- HC Canales and OC Idzik are definitely not gonna be like any version of Carolina in a while.

Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 defense has done an outstanding job on three top NFL running backs, but the good tackling in secondary you can *see* might impress too. Thanks again to GM Dan Morgan for getting Devin Lloyd late.

Bryce Young has clearly arrived- Agreed?

Give credit to HC Canales for handing OC duties to Idzik, “Nobody knows what’s under the hat of a wizard.” Young is sound trigger man, Panther offense is in another gear now, #2 in NFL, 404.4 ypg

Watching another good pass-rushing team be evaded as often as Young (20/39/281 yds./2TDs) got loose Sunday was instructive- on TV, he literally disappears at times. All those other jerseys seem to swarm around, then Bryce pops! out of pack- mobile and always looking downfield for playmakers.

Defenses must respect his weaving out of traffic, and account for his willingness to take off for yardage as more than ‘a little guy trying to steal a few.’ The ball is getting to receivers fine by game metrics- ask Tommy Tremble.

I noticed he actually checks his rear-view situation when coming to a defender on a scramble- from behind tacklers don’t get big hits on him, he understands getting down.

Some will continue to laud the QBs play as making him extra-worthy of a large-large new contract upgrade for Year 5. The Panthers standard as best business practice has always been to pay those who produce, and GM Dan Morgan doesn’t figure to stiff Bryce while keeping contract negotiations ($40M? $46M? Prescott $$?) waiting a little.

He’s still too short (sez ‘them’), and gets a lot of passes blocked at line. How many? He’s almost same size as Drew Brees = Not 6 ft., and every color commentator (ie- HOF defensive end, JJ Watt) says, you can’t get there, get your hands up is the deal. So that means defense isn’t getting to QB, right? Investment in developing a tight, run-based offensive line AND protect Young’s pocket is tracking well in 2026.

Panthers welcomed Moton’s return to action, and were willing to pound the rock with Chuba Hubbard (28/120 yd/TD). And, as noted by a color commentator, Young has a better fastball than in past. The offensive line was together for all 79 snaps. THAT’S a Unit.

Post-Heisman expectations for Young were impossible to fulfill until lots more talent arrived too. He’s at 60 percent completion rate now, averaging >270 yards/2 TDs a game. MVP talk is premature, but in Charlotte, yep, he’s That Guy. Gshork 10/19/26

About those quiet Philly fans- The Carolina Panthers 14 play-91 yard, 7:43 off the clock march, from their nine yard line to a final 1-yard shot by Hubbard (#6 of year), included two outstanding plays from Coker and Hubbard. Coker (6 catches/97 yds.) snagged-ran for 32 yards out of the slot on third down-eight play, Hubbard broke a 19-yd. run on fourth-less than a yard. T-Mac had 6 catch/86 yd. day.

DEEEEEFENSE! Definitely best outing

After Jared Goff stress-tested the Panthers secondary for 412 yards/TD without Horn and Jackson (out indefinitely), the front seven has come together on pressuring QBs and new people are covering and tackling (check DeVanta Adams stripped of sideline catch on last play of game). McKee gets credit for 26/45, 215 yds./TD line, and now becomes the Eagles regular starter, as clotting problems for Hurts legs will probably shut him down.

Because of 59 points and 299 yards rushing given up to Bears in opener (and Goff’s 412), Panthers defense is at #18 in NFL rankings at 354 ypg. Princely Umanmielan, Lloyd, Brown, Wharton, Bobby Obereke, and several others have opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Nothing lucky about production on both sides of the ball, and by all accounts, jamming it the length of the field for 19-7 lead is exactly the ticket to take out usual over-loud Iggles crowd. Just sayin’.

It was fourth loss in a row for Philadelphia. Tampa Bay is coming in, Panthers are -3 favorites at home, O/U of 44.5 indicates there’s not great anticipation of Bucs putting up big points. Just three sounds like a gift (I’ll accept!), especially if current broken thumb keeps Tampa Bay’s QB1 Baker Mayfield out of the game.

Playoffs?! (Jim Mora voice) The Panthers are -140 now, a huge affirmation compared to Opening Day.

microeconomy, Panther Football, Sports

Lions-Panthers in Prime Time is Early Gut-Check Game- LBs must slow Gibbs, Idzik’s Offense is solid

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Lions-Panthers in Prime Time is Early Gut-Check Game- LBs must slow Gibbs, Idzik’s Offense is solid

When Browns scored for late lead, it seemed like a long time ‘lose one they shouldn’t’ flaw in Panthers history, and those usually sting beyond ‘disappointing.’

Looking at team-individual stats, one that stood out all week was Young’s 26/48 passing, far below his usual accuracy, and Big Game Bryce looked under siege. But Chuba Hubbard had over 100 yds. offense, the Panthers D gave up less than 260. Couple guys injured (Horn), some previously out (Lloyd) return v. Detroit, subs (Lee) acquitted themselves well.

(Nahhh, this is from a bike accident 10 years ago. The Panthers just SEEM to be looking like an ER with their weekly Injury Report. Didn’t even get stitches- or did I? Oh right, six. For sure the concrete was hard.)

Got to peek at Browns game while working my microeconomy job in suit sales, caught end of 3rd-4th quarter at home. It was low scoring, as trap games often are, a Panther rally well within range, no strain, use Chuba, and no clue why Watson was still playing football.

Every stat I heard during broadcast seemed to give props for effective play calling by OC Brad Idzik. Eleven completions- Worrell had a handful- to the TE position was almost historic, certainly nothing Panther fans have seen in quite a while. I don’t recall thinking Young was getting jailbreak-like rushes, but *someone* was loose/threatening in middle every play.

Alas! there’s the rub as one now sees- Young didn’t protection of extra/any seconds to dial things in like previous games. Efforts by Cleveland tackles Mason Graham and Jared Verse et al is why Young had checkdown passes completed to TEs, but less than 100 from vaunted running game (Hubbard- 82 + 28 yds/TD rec.)

Its a very different Offensive Line

Panther fans know this isn’t the same solid group that allowed for Bryce Young’s turnaround as a leader the last season-and-half. Most of the faces are new, especially the tackles, where left tackle Walker (Free Agent) and rookie RT Monroe Fielding (GA) are in spots previously held by veterans Ikem Ekwonu (out for season, patella) and long-time Ironman RT Taylor Moton (blood clots) were core elements to offensive cohesiveness/pocket safety for Young. Center Luke Fortner was shoved around all day by Cleveland’s Graham/Verse, Freeling was put into concussion protocol Mon. after being on field for all 77 offensive snaps (expected to be cleared for practice), and rookie C Sam Hecht (Iowa) will probably get first NFL start against Lions.

No kidding, LOTS of names on Injury list. 17 games is a LONG season to keep people healthy (operational?). Having both Horn (torn quad) and S Mark Jackson out indefinitely will create a stiff task for secondary against Goff’s Lions WRs Sunday night.

Panthers defense should not be defined by first game blowout, but Jaymere Gibbs might have something to say about Sunday night. Ejiro Evero’s defense was stout in Cleveland, although Browns got 132 total from backfield. In previous article, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/games-panthers-regularly-mess-up-glenn-shorkey–ckdoe/ it has historically been the case of Charlotte fans expectations/belief being given grudgingly, especially in down cycles and I’ve often used Detroit (esp. Millen years, poor Stafford) as an example of mismanaged franchise- but that’s not true of either organization now.

Panthers GM Dan Morgan continues to get props for his selection of talent, the Lions are a team Panthers will have to beat to consider moving up to ‘competitive threats any time’ status.

Without impugning anyone’s actions, Panthers getting some key people back counts, and average (so far) regular 270 yds. and couple TDs from QB Young in OC Brad Idziks productive first season, the offensive line will still be the focus of action. Young was 26/48 passing, and yes, once examined in post-game, ‘someone’ was always right in his face on every snap. Chuba Hubbard has three receiving TDs already. Coker playing makes big difference with ‘best practices.’ Better thought: (would be hearing) Devin Lloyd is good to go. -GShorkknows 9/30

The chain of thought about losing in Cleveland was always that Lions win in Charlotte prime time game, and that becomes ‘a morbid 1-3 slide,’ and what are odds of such a team rising? Could any balm be taken from a potential loss maybe, like two seasons ago vs. Chiefs and Eagles? NO. Ws are still the currency of Now, 2026. There are more negatives with personnel available than ungood execution of offensive-defensive schemes, but support from those who thought Carolina Panthers would be on upswing with expected win vs. Browns, was effectively dunked on by QB DeShaun Watson.

I still point for break-even after Game #10 vs. Saints, dog fight to end for 9-8 division. Yes, they will need to sweep table vs. ATL and Saints to keep on track. They have a first place schedule, up against better teams, and AFC North is always a bruising division (Ravens, Steelers et al). Winning at home, in prime time Charlotte, well, go ahead and take the points, even if you want to believe Panthers won’t need it for Queen City Upset. (No, really, take any points you can.)

While you’re at it, take the Over- Lions are averaging 31 ppg. (fyi- Panthers 29.7) and wow! is the board agreeing on that- fifty! sounds like fireworks coming. Panthers put up 37 in first game, so still agreeable thumbs up for OC Idzik’s offense. If Hutchinson and Lions front puts extreme heat on Young again this week, guess we’ll find out if TE targets can develop into a best practices part of events- nobody doubts their ability to block. Chuba Hubbard is ready to keep contributing, that’s also about best practices.