Tag: Panthers GM Dan Morgan

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Thursday of ‘Legal Tampering Week,’ GM Morgan is Smokin’ on Defense

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Thursday of ‘Legal Tampering Week,’ GM Morgan is Smokin’ on Defense
I really do like the hat, here at Travers in Saratoga. GM Dan Morgan and I both have jaws, his FA signings in ’25 are looking about as good as me.

Thinking Panthers GM Dan Morgan has set DC Ejiro Evero’s defense up right already, with an honest to God nose tackle and hitting machine of a linebacker (135 tackles, 11 starts in 2024) named Rozeboom, and there’s still $$$ in the checkbook, so…

Whew! barely covers the first handful of Free Agent signees, and Morgan still plucked a jewel of a second running back from Dallas’ eye by adding Rico Dowdle https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4038815/rico-dowdle to improve Bryce Young’s potential targets. $16MM for two years of Tommy Tremble’s future is part of fuller tight end-running back rooms that HC Canales stated was run-first in Year One. Mission accomplished by Hubbard, who was everything Panthers wanted from leadership, and well worth rewarding contract-wise.

Good blockers who catch footballs? Fannies have been waiting (for anything close to Ghost of Greg Olsen), would Canales et al dare take that TE from Penn State? $16MM for Tremble and J’Tav Sanders already here says maybe not, three’s a crowd.

Rozeboom from Rams is a bona fide stud, up through the ranks quickly – Noo-buddy! gets to question Morgan’s ability to judge prime football talent AND get it back to the cave. And then there’s Tilis.

3/13/25 GShork on Panthers GM early success shoring up Defense and keeping their own FAs.

The literally biggest, at 6’4″, 332 lbs. of the FAs is Bobby Brown III, who signed on for 3 yrs/$21MM; DL Tershawn Wharton (3 yrs. /$45MM) and Patrick Jones II (3 yrs/$20MM), plus Safety Tre’von Nehrig (3 yrs/$51MM) who is a genuine thumper in the back line. Is that working or not? JC Horn’s 4 yr./$100MM is possibly an out-sized contract extension after first healthy year of lock-down reputation. I recall Horn getting three PIs against Chiefs and it was considered excellent, but $100MM, its #MrTeppers$.

Panthers defense was particularly woeful in the line without Derrick Brown, and giving up over 3,000 yards was legitimate burn, sorry Shy. Let’s just clarify the Worst part though – It was ONE POINT more at 534 than previous record, which was in a 16 game season (Colts, 533). Leave WORST at the door (32.5), life wasn’t good at all. Putting big bodies in with Mr. Brown in Ejiro Evero’s 3-4, that is the difference maker that WILL change absolutely everything.

Yes, expectations! of becoming a much better unit front to back started with a whoosh this week.

It’s Thursday, Dan is always in the discussion

A’Shawn Robinson had a bunch of sacks, then wore out with constant use against run, Rozeboom is a bona fide stud, up through NFL ranks quickly https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/03/13/nfl-free-agency-panthers-christian-rozeboom-nickname/82384733007/ – but Noo-buddy! gets to question Morgan’s ability to judge prime football talent & get at least his fair share back to the cave. Will Trevon Wallace benefit from watching some (a ton) of film with Kuechly? NO DOUBT. Leggette with Stevie SuperStar? Again, have to believe that would be a goodness, even if he couldn’t turn Mingo into a route runner AND catcher.

Are the Panthers actually paying a premium, or has #MrTeppers$ become a non-factor? By all accounts, certain players are coming for Evero, previous experience positives https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/a-shawn-robinson/ Morgan showed he wasn’t actually a newbie last year just sitting in the big chair, getting an A-1 prospect in 1st round (Leggette) AND regaining a #2 pick for this year for openers. Verdict: Very much like Commanders rising from ashes, and Detroit as proof of scaling tough history, Success takes time and coordination. It is very definitely the Panthers defense’s time.

The old saw is that offensive lines get talked about until there ISN’T a concern-problem, and by all accounts, Christensen is a bargain-plus, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44210919/brady-christensen-agrees-deal-panthers, Mayes, Corbett (back from another injury year) are considered as a unit to be super-solid. Ensuring Bryce Young’s pocket safety (29 sacks, didn’t play 5 games) was a primary improvement of last free agency, and he scored six TDs, none of the Cam reaching the football over the goal line from HERE variety.

From thirty-four out means people are watching out for you. Trust is earned, there is a Leader, several of them in fact. Sunshine and joy in Charlotte? NC sunshine seldom leaves, and organizationally-speaking, Good is still the enemy of Great, but its still too early for philosophy. https://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/good-to-great.html

Salty lines love drive blocking, Chuba Hubbard and ANOTHER 1,000 yard guy who catches passes, yes, Panthers have a better batch of players coming to town, three year contract guys, not just ‘prove its.’ They did that elsewhere to everyone’s satisfaction in football brain trust here, go with it.

Morgan has talked early about excising emotion from In/Out decisions, and Shaq Thompson’s injuries finally put him over the bubble, even after buyer friendly terms last year. There was a single too-early rush about getting a certain nose defender who decided to take a bunch of Patriots money instead, and okay, as best practices Dan was in on that, and not long after, things worked out better on budget overall, thank you Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. By the time this blog-information gets read, you shouldn’t bet against more goodness happening.

The personnel is clearly better

Will Charlotte-Carolina people get crazy-hyped about Panthers resurrection of pride? No rush to judgement, but first batch of Year Two from Morgan has plenty of A-1 heft to it. Between today and first practice to see who’s who of additions to those bloodied and beaten through combat in the ring last year, there will be plenty of names forgotten as unnecessary.

Whatever I’ve said about Cam never throwing a receiver open, or putting a rainbow out there for Leggette or whomever to run underneath, its a part of the offense now. Stopping people from doing whatever they had in mind (almost certainly RUNNING the ball) is already a solid defensive proposal. Thanks Dan!

As a potential reporter on events of Season 2 of Canales, Morgan, Tilis (no #MrTeppers$), I’m okay with not having to visit training camp in the literal cauldron that Spartanburg was. The two times I journeyed to the Wofford campus, once to specifically see DJ Moore and C-MC, yow! This is what a best practices, successful rebuild should-does look like.

I was in Tampa ’81-’82 when the Selmon brothers, specifically LeRoy, who was All-Pro dominator-level defensive end in the day, Huuuugh! Green at other D-end (so fast, relentless), definite icon QB Doug Williams, and former USC star running back Anthony Davis, went all the way to NFC championship game, worst to first. My cousin Frank Ball was a drummer in Bucs band, for $5 I didn’t even use press credentials with ITS SPORTS! to get into Rowdies soccer games.

There’s that bitty little buzz in Charlotte, and just sayin’ – its NOT the Hornets https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/cha/charlotte-hornets– but believing fans will be packing the Panthers practice site downtown this summer, when the new people are viewed as absolute positives (not like Diontae…), they’re mostly back and already happier.

Panther Football

Young drilled, Chuba TD thrilled, a Christmas Wish  ‘W’ for Charlotte

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Young drilled, Chuba TD thrilled, a Christmas Wish  ‘W’ for Charlotte
This is the most legitimate time to put one of those forever memorable pictures on display. I’ll probably put a Christmas ‘display’ vs. just a tree next time.

Assuming fellow Panthers game watchers saw the same plays, with QB Bryce Young getting whacked *twice* as he got off successful passes to Tommy Tremble and a drop in the bucket TD to David Moore, I was smiling myself when he peeled himself off the turf, and pretty much laughed about it to one of his linemen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZgXMwYy5fE 

When you make a mistake on throws, like Arizona Cardinal QB Kyler Murray did on an interception (after being past the line of scrimmage), you hang your head on the bench. When you’ve done enough good work that smiling a lot after a heavy lick comes naturally again, that is Bryce now, not a colossal failure some painted him when the 2021 Heisman winner joined a team with very little talent, taking 62 sacks along the way to 2-15 record. 

That said, the best thing beside Chuba Hubbard going for 25/152 yards and a pair of TDs (one the OT winner) was Cardinal RB James Conner being injured in 3rd period and not continuing his rampage, which ended after 15/117 yds/TD, plus 4 catches for 49 yds.  

I said exactly that (technically, just ‘whew!’ as he stood on sidelines) when Cards scored last 10 pts. of regulation to tie things up. Conner is a beast, and it seems *everyone* they play is capable of carrying a couple Panthers tacklers for 6-12 more yards after contact.  

Panthers GM Dan Morgan can fix that in off-season, right?  Ahhhh, expectations!

HELL YES! on Bryce’s running (Chuba even more so) 

Anyone who questioned Chuba receiving a four year, $33MM contract a couple weeks ago, who wonders why a team with their won-lot record is rewarding anyone, they couldn’t have been watching many games. Hubbard had 250 carries for 920 yds/5 TDs during last year’s disaster, and now has 1195 yards and 10 touchdowns. That’s a humble producer you want to keep happy, and it sends a signal league-wide about doing and deserving.  Same with kicker Eddie Pinero, who missed a PAT in the game, but has also had a season (21/24) worth rewarding.

Panthers two early TDs were on 70-yard drives, and the ball control aspect of Hubbard’s running used up plenty of clock this year. 6’6”, 330-pound free agent guard Robert Hunt, and LG Damien Lewis proved to be $$$ well spent, as offensive line has been a strength when everyone else got injured.  

The joy of watching Young take off for an untouched 34-yard jaunt early, then take off again for  23 yards and a touchdown was wonderful after seeing him steadily being beaten on for two seasons. As color commentator Mark Schlereth noted, when everyone’s back is to you in 1-1 coverage, you can pick up a lot of yardage. Panthers kept Kyler Murray in check (8 carries/63 yards) by clogging the middle so he didn’t escape upfield like Bryce.

Yes, it’s good to see plays work as needed. There was a flag next to spot where Hubbard made a block to keep a defender off Young on TD run, but penalty turned out to be on defender, so un-standard Panthers luck. Young scored early in first period in a small front corner of end zone, exactly where Moore caught his touchdown in 4th period, barely a foot from the boundary, with a defender draped across his back.  

Those plays were an elemental difference from a LOT of Panthers experiences in 2024. (ie.- Thielen’s catch in end zone denied vs. Bucs, best defensive player Derrick Brown gone after first game, Diontae J.)

Yes, it would have been great to see what Brooks could’ve contributed, now he’s a project for 2025, good thoughts sent for another tough rehabilitation program on ACL that failed. 

Bucs, Atlanta on the road, end of 2024 

The Buccaneers played well against the Cowboys Sunday night in a 26-24 loss, leaving  Atlanta and Tampa Bay tied with 8-7 records for the NFC South leadership. Charlotte may enjoy a spoiler role in who makes the playoffs, because Panthers play Tampa Bay this week, Atlanta to end the season Jan. 5th. 

Michael Penix, Jr., the Washington Huskie QB Atlanta surprisingly selected at #8 in 2024 draft, has taken over for Kirk Cousins, and the lefty-slinger put up a solid 18/27, 202 yds/1 INT line that satisfied many, though fans had expected more from the $160 million ($100MM guaranteed) money Cousins got. Achilles surgery last year left him less capable of moving well on play action passes that were his bread and butter, but his career has been profitable and productive.

If Sam Darnold might be leaving Minnesota because he’ll want BIG $$$ (Mayfield got 3 yrs/$100MM after a season of Dave Canales ‘QB Whisperer’ in Tampa) after taking Vikings to 13-2 and tied with Detroit Lions for division lead, they’ll decide in last game of year. Cousins is not in that same space any more. 

Will Panthers make it a three-game win streak to end the season? That would give them 6 for the year, beating the experts 5.5 predictions. (FYI – +600 I’ve previously mentioned is based on $100 bet, I’m only betting $20, so better beer in my microeconomy, not champagne, would be the celebration v. 20 x 600 craziness) 

Let’s just say that Panthers are nowhere near the laughingstock-worst team in the NFL they were labelled most of last two seasons.

Panthers, Bears, Jets are 4-12 (Well, 4-11 Bears play Seahawks TH) What a disappointment *that* team was with Caleb Williams! Rookie QBs, who knew they aren’t all world-beaters? Maybe someone in Chicago should take a beating for shoveling Justin Fields onto the garbage heap (well, traded to Pittsburgh) because he didn’t make progress there as an NFL QB despite terrific physical skills. 

Patriots, Raiders, Browns, Jags, Titans are all 3-12, Giants are 2-13, so there are nine other (of 32) teams in same or worse shape than Panthers. How’s THAT for something to put a little kick in your holiday eggnog?