Tag: #NFCSouth

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

Lakers do Doncic-Davis dance, LaMelo-Young in Charlotte is different

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Lakers do Doncic-Davis dance, LaMelo-Young in Charlotte is different

East will never meet West on the scale of what Lakers have ALWAYS done about getting players they want-need compared to Charlotte Hornets, who continue to wander the backstreets of mediocrity. Hornets were willing to trade a center (Williams) who has been constantly out of lineup with injuries for a decent shooter (Knecht), because they (hopefully) can’t get down to Bullets level of badness for top picks.

Hornets picked #3 last year in draft and selected a 19-year old Frenchman, not a superstar 25-year old with a recent NBA Finals on his resume. ‘Nuff said?

The NFL season is officially over, and while the Eagles 40-22 triumph over Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t a complete surprise – or really that close – the Carolina Panthers had a very real chance to upset Philly earlier in the season, the difference being a non-catch by Xavier Leggette. Losses to Chiefs, Eagles, Tampa Bay were maybe less-dark spots on record, but starting his 2025 year, GM Dan Morgan made a first, minor change to the roster by signing kicker Matt Wright (15-16 FG for three teams in 2024), meaning Eddie Pinero, now a free agent but statistically the most accurate kicker (89.38%) in NFL history after three years here, may be gone.

More-Better Personnel, especially DEEE-FENSE! for Panthers, Hornets…?

Its easy to see the difference between how almighty Lakers swing a deal and how Morgan (and Hornets GM Peterson) work things in Charlotte. Lakers traded C Anthony Davis to Mavericks for an accomplished, younger (25 vs. 31) Doncic, after a Finals appearance (playoff avg. 28.9 ppg/9.5 reb/8.1 asst) that would usually make it unthinkable. Following up with a trade for good-numbers-when-not (but often) on-injured-list Hornet center Mark Williams, while sending sweet shooter Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first round pick and a 2030 pick swap east, was huge NBA news.

After Williams didn’t pass his physical (back) with Lakers, the trade being rescinded didn’t help the Hornets at all. Williams (and Ball) not having played perhaps one-third of games for several years due to injuries, is an undeniable fact of Hornets limping along with a familiar feeling 13-39 record. If Lakers saved Mavs from a $345MM+ max contract this summer with Doncic, coach J.J. Reddick is going to earn his paycheck relying on small ball, James, and better than average shooting until Davis’ defensive presence and 24.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks a game averages is somehow mitigated.

Whether that situation could change this year, or next, or (insert criteria and date) for Bugs is debatable, but Carolina Panthers are a team that visibly improved in second half of season, when previous regular target of dissing, QB Bryce Young returned to the controls, so lets talk about Next for them. #MrTeppers$ has *still* not bloviated regarding anything that smacks of ‘meddling owner’ in 2025.

‘The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores’

It’s a memorable line by former Marquette basketball coach Al McGuire that brings a quantity of hope, that Carolina Panthers and HC Dave Canales 5-12 squad will indeed become a more competitive NFC South team in Year Two. 10-7 took the division for Tampa Bay, a much easier task than NFC North, where long-suffering but now proud and proficient Detroit Lions (15-2), the reborn Sam Darnold, waiting on a big contract somewhere after a career year (14-3) with Minnesota Vikings, and the Packers (10-4) will determine whether new head coach Ben Johnson in Chicago means as much to QB Caleb Williams as Bears fans hope he will.

BETTER IN YEAR TWO is the attitude, and everyone – especially Young – will be judged against HC Canales’ second year Success. WR Jalen Coker was a real UFA pickup, Xavier Leggette (4 TDs receiving) a fine first round prize going forward, TEs Ja’Tavian Sanders and Tommy Tremble contributed three TDs. The early free agent guard tandem of Lewis and Hunt, LT Ikem Ekwonu (again, after lousy 2023) and RT Taylor Moton (still da Man), and ace slot receiver Adam Thielen’s decision to return constitute progress. Chuba Hubbard (250 carries/1195 yds/10 TDs) holding up the running game HC Canales said was going to happen. That makes continuing Panthers reboot of offense more than just a pipe dream, even though RB Jonathan Brooks (#2 pick from TX) barely saw the field before reinjuring an ACL, and #3 RB Rahim Blackshear didn’t see much action.

Triple crown receiver Tee Higgins of Bengals (124 rec./1,708 yds./17 TDs) deciding to relocate to Charlotte because Cincy couldn’t come up with the $$MM to keep him paired with Joe Burrow, that would be a pipe dream.

Defense was brutally, historically bad – Next must change that in BIG way

Without stretching out the numbers, Panthers were dead last in yardage surrendered (404.5 ypg/31.4 pts.) while allowing 61 TDs; #23 against the pass (224.7 ypg/35 TDs), and yeah, they punched an awful lot of running back tickets while surrendering 180 ypg. Ravens were not surprisingly #1 against run (80 ypg), while Saints (#31, were at 141), and for perspective, the Jets (#17/121 ypg) and the Browns (#21/130 ypg), so the NFL put up *big* stats on the Panthers.

The Super Bowl Champion Eagles were #1 against the pass (174.2 ypg/22 TDs) and #10 (105.7 ypg) against the rush, and considering the beat down they put on Chiefs for three quarters, an ‘almost win’ in Philly still meant same thing – a loss – as 40-7 thumping by Commanders or 47-10 to start the season. There will be a lot of unfamiliar names leaving on defense, and a LOT of new names before final roster in August, don’t sweat who, what, why until then is legitimate.

Spending on guards Lewis and Hunt produced essentially the kind of offensive line safety Young needed, and even with the injury to C Austin Corbett after moving from guard to center and then Cade Mayes taking his role, the Panther O-line was their best unit overall. Chuba Hubbard proved his worth to Panthers, earning a new four year/$33MM contract.

Free agent defensive personnel seldom came through after the loss of stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown in Game One. Jadeveon Clowney had 5.5 sacks but didn’t hold the edge as hoped; D.J. Woonum (4 sacks, only played in 8 games), A’Shawn Robinson (320 lbs., 5.5 sacks) and Josey Jewell (3.5 sacks, 51 solo tackles) were useful when available. Shy Tuttle was never close to the answer as an NFL nose tackle, and MLB Trevin Wallace (8 starts, 64 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 fumbles forced) played in 13 games before a shoulder injury ended his season, will benefit long-term from getting the injured Shaq Thompson’s reps in the middle this year.

In his first year here, Morgan accepted the charge that he’d short-changed the defense while focusing addition of players that would improve Young’s offensive efforts. That Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 defensive strategy was constantly bull-whipped, after a 2023 season where they finished ranked #4 (293.7 ypg) – and before the meat of Panthers linebacking corps (Burns, Luvu, Grosse-Matos) left in free agency – is the singular reason Evero is still in Charlotte. Teams can understand a string of injuries will drag a team down, but none of the seven new head coaches would demand the guy who – relatively speaking – directed the Titanic, come work with them.

Even if ’81 Colts (33.3 ppg) surrendered ONE point less that Panthers new record, but in a 16-game season.

Business, Sports

Working Their Process Delivered Right Guy for Panthers – Expectations Start Early for #1

by gshorkeyblt21 Comment on Working Their Process Delivered Right Guy for Panthers – Expectations Start Early for #1

Charlotte didn’t believe 2015 Panthers could actually make Super Bowl until they whipped Dallas on Thanksgiving to go 10-0 is my standard. Belief in Young will take at least 4-5 Ws.

Beat writers may want to straddle just how well so many expect Bryce Young to play, and gushing like a homer all day-every day isn’t my style. OTAs start shortly in the still sweaty cauldron that is Spartanburg, but even if there are question marks, its the NFC South.

When 2010 draft brought Cam Newton here, I let alllll the stuff about his Dad offering Cam to high bidder go, he was ours – just root for Success. Drew Brees was a 5’10” over-achiever you could appreciate, but other than size, what’s not to like about Bryce?

— Me, and 5 million other guys who made him +1250 DraftKing favorite.
‘Everyone on the Brain Trust agreed,’ huh?
Want to fully experience the Panthers at work? Get to Spartanburg early, shade is at a premium.

Consider reasons to be jazzed up

  • Even if you felt Steve Wilks deserved to get the Head Coach role, Frank Reich brought the best kind of people with him, including Duce Staley, who he teamed with offensively during Eagles 2017 Super Bowl season.
  • Christian McCaffrey, that 1000-1000 young man some thought broke too easy, was gone mid-season and almost won a Super Bowl already, but the kid from ‘Bama has that Heisman and leadership props himself. Okay, he didn’t save a guys life (yet) or get engaged to Miss Universe like McCaffrey, but he ain’t just ANY rookie.
  • Let’s admit that #MrTeppers$ will make a difference, with quality, certifiably good coordinators and assistants to coach up Panthers everywhere.
  • When the organizations biggest Gotta Fix has been a lackluster offense requiring specific, productive leadership at the helm, should even casual fans recognize they’ve gotten better?
  • The practice facility and stadium situations are still out there, but you haven’t heard the words, ‘up against the cap’ in a long time. #GM Scott Fitterer gets credit for putting deals together, VP of Football Administration Samir Suleiman is the ‘cap guy’. Most people thought Shaq Thompson, after his best year (135 tackles, 8 for loss) was a goner with a $24.46MM cap hit, but Panthers managing to keep him on a reworked two year deal is good for everyone.
  • With a proven offensive line, bringing in Miles Sanders stats to Charlotte https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4045163/miles-sanders and his history with Coach Staley in Philadelphia, on a 4 year/$25.4M contract ($5.9MM signing bonus, $13M guaranteed, according to sportrac.com), and an opportunity for frequent carries by hard-running Chuba Hubbard (95 rush/466 yrds./2 TD, 171 yds. receiving), the ground game is solid.
  • Hayden Hurst (TE, 3 yr./$21.75M, $6.17M signing bonus, $13M guaranteed) fixes another significant hole in the Panther offense, one that’s existed since Greg Olsen left for the Seahawks and then announcers booth.
  • When Cam Newton came to town, the Panthers invested in two All Pro TEs, Jeremy Shockey (past) and Greg Olsen (legendary) to give Newton a check down receiver. Hurst brings credibility to the position earned as a key target for Joe Burrow during two AFC championship runs by Bengals. If 52 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns isn’t world-beating, it beats what’s been the norm.
  • Panthers wouldn’t listen to anyone about trading Brian Burns, there’s another run stuffing big-body free agent to put with Mr. Brown on the line, and Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero is going to make S Jeremy Chinn an All Pro, someone other teams will have to account for.

‘We got Joe’ – Guys you don’t bet against

There’s a huge influx of young guns in the NFL, with Mahomes the current lightening rod for a force you don’t want to bet against. The Buffalo Bills will never forget how a few seconds makes all the difference with a QB you WOULD want to bet against, like Herbert, Jones of NY, and Josh.

The word on Young is a WISE HEAD with props comparing him with Peyton Manning for knowing what to do in specific situation. Caveats on his size at this point, fingers crossed about O-line.

— #gshorkonsharonroadseam 5/8/23 I admit hating Manning’s constant ‘OMAHA’ checking, but he KNEW.

Joe Burrow at LSU was/is All That, and got Joe Brady, his OC at LSU , the Broyles award anda good job in NFL with Rhule’s Panthers, but they obviously out-personneled everyone with pass catchers. Joe kept his part going with Bengals, Brady’s system didn’t impress at pro level.

Aaron Rodgers, iffy a character as he sometimes seems, *still* isn’t someone you blow off until final whistle. Will NY get the full benefit of his expertise, if he can’t be bothered with some good will at OTAs? Greatest fear about Rodgers is he gets injured and its back to Zack.

It’s the NFC South folks

Is Young worth three games? because 10-7 would win the division most years. Tampa took it with 8-9 record last year, a year after Brady led them to a 13-4 record, and everyone else tied at 7-10.

ATL has two names for QB room – Logan Woodside and Desmond Ridder- and maybe Taylor Heineke (2 yrs./$20MM?); Tampa has maybe Jacoby Brissett, who was steady with Browns, and Saints Derek Carr (4 yrs./$150M) rode the wave of QB uncertainty best by signing in early March.

Despite 1-6 start in 2022, Panthers were a helmet-off penalty on Moore causing a missed PAT, and a lousy quarter defending Mike Evans (10 catches/207 yds./3TDs) as Brady went 34-45/432 yds/3 TDs to officially eliminate the Panthers. Tom is officially (at this time) still retired, so nobody in division has a better documented QB than Panthers, period.