kungfoodude

The SEC fared pretty well OOC during bowl season. I don't know if they were the strongest conference but they did go 3-0 versus the ACC. I would imagine that the traditional ACC vs. SEC seasonal matchups would likely have been similarly tilted. The ACC just wasn't good last year versus a couple of seasons ago when we were very clearly the best conference.

I'm saying those rankings were pretty laughable since most of the conferences played in conference only(or pretty close). If you want proof of that, reference the 0-6 ACC bowl record. So, we basically finished the same way that Conference USA did. 0-6. Frankly, even Clemson was probably a little bit of a paper tiger.

Fair point. Only one team, in that case.

The "better than everyone else" dart could be lobbed at just about everyone but Wilson. Lawrence, Fields, Jones and Lance all had star studded teams.

That's not a high mark to hit. The ACC only fielded one P5 caliber program last year and that was Clemson. Most of the league would have struggled against Coastal Carolina or App St. Edit: Maybe Miami.

Lance would have to be a big bust to not perform better than Jones, IMO. Fields, hard to say. But if Fields is a big success, we will also look like idiots.

I think Lance seems to have the drive more than Fields does. Everything you read about Lance is how he has a chip on his shoulder and works hard to get better and prove his doubters wrong. I haven't really seen the same kind of stories about Fields. Lance just seems to be in the mold of the strong team leader type player. Plus, physically he is the most gifted guy in that draft. Does he have the most work to do of the top 4 guys? Absolutely. I just personally think he will get there because he is self motivated(something I don't see with a guy like Darnold).

I would be curious to know if this was a genuine smokescreen or just the media types overreacting to Shanahan's public comments about Jones. I tend to think that the mock draft media tends to whip themselves and everyone into a frenzy with their speculation just to get more content to put out. I just can't wrap my head around why anyone would want to draft Mac Jones in the first round. Even with our QB problems, I wouldn't have wanted to take a flier on him until probably the third round. I think he'll end up being a decent 2nd string QB but there is almost nothing about him that says franchise or even consistent starting caliber QB. Lance just seems to be such an obvious choice for the 49ers with an existing above average caliber NFL starting QB on a contract. Let him develop and start the process of building for the future. That seems like the better option for sustained success beyond Jimmy G's time there.

I think Rhule's threshold for getting hell is gonna be a lot lower than that. We haven't had a winning season in almost four years, so that needs to get remedied first. I don't think even the most ardent Panthers fan genuinely sees a Super Bowl in the near future. We are quite a few years from being in that discussion again.

Every coach or coordinator eventually gets hell from the fans. It's just the way it is when you aren't winning Super Bowls all the time.

Yeah, I don't want this to stretch, especially with how Nashville is starting to lean goon on us.

I hope after Rod called out the officiating that we are fired up Sunday. I don't want to give then any momentum.

Pedestal? We are discussing sinking and floating turds. Yeah, I have heard plenty about how bad the Jets were. You gonna say that if he flames out with us next season? Is it because we are a dumpster fire franchise like the Jets?

Now that I can agree with. At least Darnold is going to try and sling his way out of problems and not dink and dunk his way out of them. The results might end up worse but when those gun slingers are on point, it's fun to watch.

The Jets article was depressing. So many guys we willingly passed on that supposedly fit our scheme very well. I hope all that trading down is gonna work out.

Or not had the Rams scoop us in the Stafford deal.

You are out of your mind if you think any of those guys are going to beat out Paradis without injuries being involved.

I am not sure I would describe the anticipation of watching Sam Darnold play as "fun." Watching Teddy play last year was frustrating enough. Sam Darnold has never been as good as Teddy was last year. I can't wait to see the 2021 Panthers....but I am not at all looking forward to seeing Darnold play. More like an impending sense of doom.

I mean, if I don't get that prediction right, I will assume the apocalypse has happened.

Contract signing imminent?

0-17 wins??

I agree with this. If we have a rash of TC injuries, that could change based on need but I don't think they are looking to add any 30+ year old guys unless they have no other choice.

I am going to withhold predictions until after Training Camp. I think given the turnover rate on the OL and at QB and on the defense, I want to see how those look early.

Well a three of the guys you are listing are from last year's class. I would say our 2021 draft class is really the first true "Rhule" class because the shadow of Hurney over everything prior to this offseason. We just will never know what portion he gets blame nor credit for. And I don't so much mean accolades in college as actual accomplishments. For instance, Tremble who was essentially a rotational player but his athletic marks are off the charts. They definitely seemed to lean high athletic ability and they have been vocal about that. My counter being, you have to be careful how far down that road you go. Everyone here remembers the persistent joke about how Oakland was going to over rank all the combine warriors. Winning the underwear Olympics means you have great raw ability but that doesn't mean you are going to be a great NFL player. Remember, most guys that reach this point are already amazing athletes.