d-dave

Does the patch matter? I think it does/doesn't matter. Rather it only matters when it matters. The guys in the locker room know who the leaders are. They don't need a patch. Honestly, when Canales benched Bryce, it was a major shake up to the locker room. No excuses, no BS. Play good football or even the #1 pick will get benched. You can color it however you want to, but the reality is that the team has a sense of urgency now. I wasn't sure Canales would be a good coach year one. We're still too early to make that determination, but Dave has certainly done the job better than anyone since Steve Wilkes. The team knows they have a good coach, and they play for him. He wants to help them WIN, not just develop Bryce. Heck of a motivational tool, that's for sure.

I've heard some folks say this isn't a strong QB draft. Is it because no one has the traits the TV scouts like? Look, I don't watch a lot of college football, I just see the highlights sometimes. I also have zero faith in my ability to judge a football player... Seems like there are lot f interesting players though.

I don't know. I wouldn't trade him yet. Heck, I wouldn't trade anyone until the trade deadline. Our offensive players are only going to get more valuable as performance improves. If Diante balls out the next few weeks before the deadline, and since he's an expiring contract AND we have a lot of money tied up elsewhere... Then I can absolutely see us trading him and recouping some other value for him.

I think with Canales, his short comings are going to be minimized as much as possible. He doesn't have overwhelming physicality like a Cam. He's not an elite athlete like a Lamar or Allen. He's got a good enough arm with enough zip on the intermediate passes. He's not the playmaker that Mahomes is. What's helping Andy right now is that Canales' offense has created so many answers for him. Bryce didn't have answers, yet Andy does. Andy has the experience to run a NFL offense. He's hungry AF because he didn't think he'd have a chance to be a start again, which is helping him play lose. So at the end of the day, Andy is a good, steady QB. He's still going to need the support of a strong running game and help on the defensive side. In some arbitrary rankings, I can see him in the top half of starters in the league.

I just finished the 3rd episode, and wanted to see if any of y'all checked it out yet? Kathryn Hahn is still delightful as Agatha from WandaVision. I just like the show. It has a pretty narrow focus and sticks to these characters that the show presents as real characters. Very cool. I love the visual stylings of the production. Just a cool show.

Yeah, I started digging in that hole. Man, I have been ruined by the algorithm! Made me lazier! Time to fix that!

I'm not a QB guru. What I saw of him in one Miami game (against Florida) was pretty nice. I have no idea if he'll be a good NFL QB, but we'll just have to see what happens when whoever drafts him. He's got a LOT of experience. Is he maxed out? Or will he be better? We'll just have to wait and see. There's my nice and vague answer.

As far as Mingo, dude is developing into an excellent blocker. He set up several good plays Sunday with good blocks. There's always a roster spot for a guy like that in the NFL. The next four weeks are going to be big for Mingo and XL's development as they get more opportunities to make plays in the big games. Teams are going to add more coverage against Johnson, which will open things up for the other guys. Make some plays young men!

Honestly, we need a back up QB. Who knows how Andy's health will hold up. This is probably a very contentious take, but that's what it is. Bryce will have much more value in the off season as teams try to get ahead of the draft. Let him "grow and develop" so that he's "ready to roll" for the next team.

It depends, which team is going to call me late at night from inside me house??? Oh, you mean in football! Oh...well... It depends on who shows up. We just had a first has perspective of what happens when guys get juiced up. It's completely possible that we win another unsuspecting game. It's also possible someone else bends us over a barrel and makes us squeal like a pig. Football is a very emotional game, and those will affect our performance for sure. So who can beat us? Everyone on that list. Who can we beat? Everyone on that list! It just depends on who's really up for the game that day.

It's funny how everyone talked about how Lawrence was a generational talent. Can't miss! Compared to Josh Allen who was picked 7th. Mahommes was 10th famously. The reality is that only a few QBs really workout to be superstars. Remember who was drafted in front of Allen? Baker and Sam! Its just so crazy random if the guy you pick works out or not.

The downer for me is the lack of Panthers/sports stuff. So I still keep my twitter for that.

Hey! This is the Huddle! We represent that remark! =P With the volume of hot takes, bad takes, and meh takes; we're like a clock: we're right every now and then.

#InbeforeRyanLeaf! ha ha! I was thinking about what does it take to get a good QB? Luck goes into it. It also takes a good supporting cast and coaching. Some players can transcend a bad environment, but those are few and far between.

This is a very interesting question that should bee keeping Morgan up at night. Bryce - his career is on life support. Will the Panthers keep him because they don't have a real back up QB plan? Andy is 37 years old (or not quite yet?). He can give us a good run this year, but he's gotten hurt from time to time. If Andy get's hurt, that's going to be Bryce's best chance to generate some buzz for himself. Andy - as I said, he's older. Father time is undefeated. Let's see what happens over the next 3-4 weeks before we crown anyone. I'm super happy with his two starts over the past two years, but that doesn't get you a statue on Mint Street. I think Andy will be solid, but he's not the long term answer. I don't think our 2025 Qb is on the roster. Either via draft, FA or trade. Who will it be? No one knows for sure, but this is something that Morgan and Co. need to get right.

As a human, I'm happy for Sanders that he got paid. Good for him considering what the NFL does to a body. I won't miss him when he's gone. A swing and a miss.

This is where I am. Look, I'm pretty dang thrilled with the W today. Man, this is just such a turn around from what we've been subjected to the past several years! BUT! Is this the real deal, or is this just the backup bump? What happens in the next couple of weeks will be the big determiner of the value of Bryce Young. Does Dalton crash back down to earth? Or does he go back to the mean? Again, I'm stoked for the W! I love what this offense looks like when it can operate. I'm going to enjoy the day (and the rest of the week).

Man, there is some major back up energy BUMP! I love it! I'm just glad to enjoy the afternoon frankly I'll take it! I'm curious to see how things go after this week.

Honestly, this is just a popular narrative. Tepper is a reviled owner in the NFL. He's a giant douchebag of a human being. Everyone should take their shots at him. He can wipes his tears with his billions. Here's what I have learned from the last few days of sports media hot takes. 1. Bryce is a really nice, likeable kid who is a hard worker. 2. Bryce is extremely religious, which must play well with Canales and Idzik. 3. Bryce has played like putrid poo this season. Last season there were more problems that weren't Bryce problems. This season, we don't know enough yet. 4. Tepper has made the Carolina Panthers into a complete shitshow of an organization. The buck has to stop at the owner. So where does that leave us? We still have to play Sunday. Bryce could have to go back in if something happens to Andy. That's just the way it is. I was listening to Dominique Foxworth's podcast (while waiting in line) and he said something very important (he's a smart guy, I liked his show) about beating the Cover 2 defense: Grab your nuts and make a play. That's what Bryce needs to do. If he can't, then he doesn't belong. That's just how it goes. Personally, I hope that Bryce is able to take some time, put his big ole brain to good use, and get right. I want us to have a good QB. I want Bryce to make plays. But if he just can't, it's time to move on. Though I'd like to see the Panthers slow the F down and let a bridge QB (Dalton or whoever) start for a year and give the rookie a chance to learn how the NFL works instead of trotting them out unprepared for live NFL games against grown men.

I agree. I'm no football expert, but the OL has looked MILES better than in years past in both passing and the run game. Hopefully the change to Dalton will force teams to play us differently, and allow us to see more of what Dave is trying to do. As far as QBs avoiding the Panthers, I can see it for a couple, but the reality is that most of these dudes are extremely self-assured. You have to be a successful NFL QB. Look at Rodgers, Brady, etc. Most of these young, cocky guys think they can come in and make it work. Imagine the ego trip if they do manage to turn around a crap team? So some QBs, maybe. NIL has complicated it, but I think the desire to play/compete and get closer to the BIG money contract will prevent some players from holding out of a draft.

Is water wet? Bryce has been a big deal his entire football life. He's got plenty of pride in what he does. But he's not leading the offensive effectively. Part of the Bryce Young evaluation was that his brain was the great separator. He was a physical outlier, but we were all sold that his MIND could make up the difference. Aside from a few moments last year, we haven't seen it. He had a great camp. Lots of the blogosphere who saw him at camp saw a different player, like he was finally turning the corner. Then he goes out and lays down two utterly terrible games. His confidence is shot. Canales saved him from himself frankly. Andy is an older player who hasn't really stayed healthy when in the line up lately. Get mad, get fired up, get better. That's what Bryce needs to do. Watch Andy, how he prepares, how he plays, how he runs the offense. Get better. When Bryce gets a shot (he will, later) don't miss this time.

That's always the interesting aspect of sports. The Media loves to kick a team while they are down. Bad team makes a big move - kick'em harder! Such is the way it goes. It's also a compelling storyline - team desperate for THE GUY drafts who they thought was the guy, now decides he's not the GUY and benches him... Lots of fun fodder. To be honest, it's been pretty funny watching the NFL and media cover us over this issue. Thanks Tepper? Now I'm just waiting to hear that Tepper bought the Dillworth Grill and is planning to bulldoze it.

I've been gorging myself on the Bryce Young benching in the ole Youtubez, and a couple very common complaints emerge from the talking heads/ex players/people with opinions: 1. Organizational chaos. Well, they aren't wrong there. We're kind of a dumpster fire until we're not. 2. Lack of Supporting Cast. For sure, last year we were absolute garbage. This year...less garbage, maybe in a few days depending on spoilage... We're better than we were on offense than last year. 3. Lack of Time. I know, 18 games is not enough time. Especially given all the other circumstances last off season. But the tape don't lie. I've seen a few really good plays by Bryce that made me go "Oh yeah! That's why he was number 1" last season. I haven't this year. They had to bench Bryce. After the last game, him as the presser was just sad. He looked like someone who just got rescued from being kidnapped. Maybe that's the case...? Bryce needs to get his confidence back. How does that happen? No clue. I wouldn't be surprised if Bryce gets traded, but I kind of hope he doesn't. I am rooting for the underdog story. I'd love the made for TV moment of Bryce coming back in a few weeks to lead the team to victory, having come through adversity... Look, less me have my hopes and dreams! =P End of the day is that Canales has an old roster that needs to win, or at least have a chance to win. Andy can give us the best chance at that.

I forget who I was listening to last night as I did the dishes, but I think it was Tim Donnaly on 99.9 the Fan. He made a good point about how replacing Bryce was a way to evaluate the roster issues. Sure, Bryce played like poo, but is it the fault of the OL? WRs? RBs? The system itself? Was Bryce so bad, he pulled it all down? Well, if we can get an average QB (16-20 league ranked) play from Dalton, then we'll have a much better idea of where the team is, offensively. As far at the criticism of the management, that's completely fair. We haven't been good for a long time. Get it together guys. If they don't, then they will get fired. That's just how the NFL works. I'm hopeful for Dan and Dave. But they need time. Knee jerk firings are going to be quite bad from Tepper. The franchise is already a giant joke. Time to figure it out and get things fixed.

Welp, I didn't think it would happen so quickly in August... But after two games, I don't blame Canales. I was very firmly in give Bryce a chance camp. I saw some plays last season that looked special. He was also surrounded by a LOT of chaos. He was also sacked 62 times. It's completely possible that Bryce has the yips from that. Can he come back from that? I don't know. That would explain why he looked so great during the summer, but when the games were real, he folded like a card table. Bryce's strengths were he play-making awareness, savant like knowledge of what's happening on the field allowing him to play with great anticipation and accuracy. Sure, he lacked the size, but he made up for that with the brains and movement skills. But after getting hammered for 18 games by opponents, fans, critics, and himself...he's shell shocked. Looking at him after this past game at the presser...you couldn't trot him out there. He's confidence is shot. Canales had to bench him. The big question, what does this mean for the locker room? We'll find out on Sunday. I think the vets are all going to rally around Andy. What choice do they have? Many are playing for jobs beyond the season. They need to come back together. Andy is very likable. Bryce is a really nice kid, hard worker, accountable. He wasn't a good NFL QB and did not show enough to be a good NFL QB. That's the business. Players can be upset, which is fine. Play better. Control what you can control. They know this, they are adults.