d-dave

Yeah, you can't turn a 180 degree. But instead of saying "C'mon guys, you're pros!" Dave has to find a different messaging style that demonstrates urgency.

I'm not good enough at Xs and Os to be honest. But I say that Dave isn't serving Bryce because we saw what happened last year after the benching. They had an entire offseason to put their heads together to create, modify, improve everything that worked last year. When things aren't working in games, they should be fixing them during the week. Again, I'm not a how football plays work kind of person. But I have to strategize, solve problems, deal with high pressure parents, kids, and overbearing administrators while delivering high quality results. No, I'm not a pro athlete, nor coach a sports team, nor am I as handsome as I want to be. But looking at this from a problem solving situation, I'm at a loss.

The entire offense is fugged up. It doesn't help we have a sieve for a defense that can barely stop teams that aren't from Atlanta. Bryce came out with physical limitations. The play calling and design isn't helping him. Dave wants an offense that doesn't work for Bryce. In another thread, I said Bryce could probably do well in a Shanahan style WCO with a lot of movement and horizontal routes. We were all sold the bill of good that Bryce was the outlier and he would play bigger and better. We didn't see that his rookie year. We didn't see it until he was benched. Now we're back to an uncomfortable QB who is indecisive and can't play with anticipation. Not a great combo. I'm still in the camp of let Bryce suck, keep the team rolling to a top 10 pick and take another shot at the dart board of QB picks. I'm OK (for now) letting Dave Canales pick his own QB and see what he can do. If we have another 20 games of the poo, then we just start over again.

Here's what I would say: he's trying to solve a lot of problems and he's not sleeping a lot. The NFL head coaching gig is HARD on people. Dave is trying to be too nice, make everyone happy, and keep the vibes and smiles going. I get it. But leadership is hard. You have to be a hard person. In the NFL, you have to crush dreams daily. Sure, you can lift guys up, but you also have to cut, demote, and fire people. Whether it's his religiosity or his personality, Dave is going to have to learn to be ruthless. We haven't seen that too much. Stop blowing smoke, kissing butt, and just be honest. Certainly be respectful, but you have to be 100% honest.

Yep, that's what will happen. I could see a Shanahan style offense that's more horizontal and less vertical do better for him. I could see him going to Miami as an insurance policy behind Tua. Canales has not built a system that suited Bryce. He did after the benching, but since then, he's trying to make Bryce do things that he can't do. Draft pedigree will cause people to over pay on depreciating assets. Like Darnold, with all his bad tape in NY.

Both can be true We can be poop, and a lot of the NFL can be in a similar boat!

I'm back and forth on starting over again. On one hand, what has Dave showed you? The offense isn't anything special. He's not putting his players in position to win. He may have done that when Bryce came back last year, but he's not this year. That's unacceptable coaching. On the other, what is Dave holding back? While we can talk about effort and fight, the players aren't turning on each other (yet). They are fiesty and giving effort. Dave also has Bryce forced upon him, and he's tried. At the same time, Bryce has not been as billed. Would things work better with a more aggressive minded QB? Everything sucks on this team - time to pour baby out with the bathwater and try again. How much more time is this going cost? Is there a redeeming quality about this team that a new coach could come in and build up next year? Who will want to come to the most temperamental owner in the NFL? I can't wait to hear about the meeting of the Daves. I think Canales needs to get this team playing well. No more BS with fundamentals. Get them executing plays on the field. Show me a team that makes plays instead of giving them up. I don't expect 12 wins the rest of the year, but show me some life.

So what is the solution here? I was thinking about it, but how do we get better? I just think it's the Tepper curse. We've been absolute garbage since Tepper came in and fugged it all up. So who would be our next coach then? I'm all on the bring back steve wilks. But would he want to come back?

That's why paper teams never win. It's not about the names, it's about the play. Remember the Eagles dream team like 15 years ago?

Don't you dare pour cold water on hot takes! Now we can't see anything for the steam!? Expecting logic from the Huddle! Ha!

I've noticed that too. It seems like a lot of QBs are having issues getting the ball down the field and have to check it down. As far as the Panthers, I'm not surprised. I've watched it: we're not completing many passes over 20 yards, they all have been coming from Tmac it seems (not looking at the stats). We're not having a lot of explosive runs. It's a Bryce/Canales/Team issue. It's up to them to fix it and make some plays.

So in order for a win to count, Bryce has to throw for 250+ yards and 3 TDs with over 10 YPA? I mean, maybe I'm just happy for a win, and I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. Bryce wasn't great, but he did make some tough throws with rushers in his face. He missed some throws. He also had a lot of throws to Tmac where there was really good coverage. Now there's a LONG season to go. We're not making draft needs in week 3. At the end of the day, the job is up to Bryce. If he produces, wins and plays well; keep him. If not, ship him off. Here's one thing I will say about Bryce: despite his size, the game doesn't look to big for him. Sure, he doesn't have a laser cannon of an arm, but this Bryce is a lot better than the Bryce who started last year. I'm not seeing the deer in headlights when I watch the game. How many more physically gifted QBs are we watching week in and week out panic, make poor decisions and look lost? So that's one SMALL advantage I'll give Bryce. But he has to win. He has to lead the team. He's got to make plays. We'll see what happens.

Huddle gunna Huddle, bup bup bup.

Personally, I've been sitting here going "ok, when does the good feeling go away?" Bryce has missed some throws, but his WRs have had some drops, especially Tmac. But this D has really played well today. That's super impressive!

There was a LOT of green in front of Dowdle.

I'll take it! That's all I'll say!

With all the drama stirred up by Steve Smith's comments, and Cam's response; there's been a lot of chatter about being a fan of the Carolina Panthers. So what should fans do? Just be fans. It's not our job to play or make team decisions. We're fans, and if you're still paying attention: you're still a fan. If it's making you angry or upset, maybe take some time away from the Panthers and the NFL. It's all good, please take care of yourselves.

Ummm.....what??? Tua has had some good years, but whatever is happening in Miami...no thanks. We have our own burning dumpster to keep. No need to add a second one!

Oh yeah, the draft has been a poo show. You are 100% right there. I was thinking about Darnold and Baker. Two guys we traded assets for (would have missed on those picks I bet), sucked while here, and then went on to revive their careers. Since 2018: DJ Moore has had continued and greater (???) success in Chicago. Brian Burns got paid, and seems to be a big deal in NY? Go back a bit: CMC - duh, incredible part time player sadly Curtis Samuel - same ish? James Bradbury - Got paid and played well for several years after Carolina So I don't think we drafted anyone who left and lit the world on fire. More like FA mis-fires.

I remember the days when it would take WRs a few years to figure it out in the NFL... What a time that was! Getting to the point of guys finding success else where after flopping here: patience and a vision. Thanks to Tepper, we haven't been able to develop a vision. Without patience, everything is a reaction. That's not to say sometimes you can tell when a fit it bad and people need to move on. In XLs case, it's not going to hurt us to be patient. Sure, fans see how Tmac is doing and are like "XL who??" I get it, but I also think reacting for the sake of reacting isn't the best thing to do. Should XL get off social media for a bit and focus on the game? Yes. As Cam screamed "Lock in bro!" I know being patient is hard when you see guys get off to fast starts in their careers. Tepper can't really afford to be reactive right now. He's got to let Dan and Dave have the time to build their team. Most of us are Panther fans. We're the idiots here, year after year, hoping things have changed. Most of us will continue to do so, and hope things turn around. While some of us will balk at the salary cap, contracts and wasted years; it doesn't affect us personally since we're just fan. Now for those folks on the teams...yeah...they need to get it together before they lose their jobs and have to move!

Let's enjoy the fun of the season Hopefully we can have a week break from the normal drudgery!

I can't imagine going now. I love my team, and I watch them as I can. But going downtown, paying for parking, food, snacks, drinks, etc inside and outside of the stadium...No thanks!

I don't blame fans. We've had a poo product on the field for a LONG time. The Panthers have been saturating the market with a LOT of hopium this offseason. It doesn't help that the NFL media machine has tagged us as an up and coming team. Why spend your hard earned money on a Panthers game where they are going to look like crap? They need to get better before they'll have some fan by in. What do we hang our hat on? For years, it was Defense, and it was a heck of a D. We don't have that identity right now. It doesn't help having a former Youth Pastor (the way he talks) head coach and a QB who is a physical outlier. Fans are going to fan their own way. But Tepper needs to figure out his own owning style.

Great point! The quotes from O'Connell about teams failing rookie Qbs and the one about how you coach them after 3 picks and a loss were really interesting. To me, an idiot with a keyboard, it means NFL teams need to be patience if they are going to have quality QB play. So bringing me to Bryce, is there some benefit to being patient. I know it's not a particularly popular opinion around here, and even I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it. Most QBs, when benched lose their confidence. It takes a LONG time to get it back. Bryce on the other hand was benched, and came back a different player. I feel like that's worth a lot more than the physical talents of a guys like AR15... I think Bryce has the mental make up to be a good NFL QB. His problem will always be his tools. Now it's on coaching to work around that. Bryce is more physically gifted than late years Drew Brees (low bar, I know). While I'm content to see what happens this season, there's a small part of me that says...maybe we should see what grows? (let me duck and hide from the well earned vitriol the Panthers have earned). Then again, I agree that some guys get it while others just don't. I'm still hoping for the Panthers and Bryce to find success this season. But if not, I won't be too surprised if the plug is pulled and there is a restart.

No. Sorry to burst everyone's bubble. If Hooker is out taking snaps, then THERE IS A MASSIVE issue beyond how poor we've played. Why not? I'm a reactive person! Make changes for the sake of changes! I get it. But why? Because of Bryce and off season trades. First round QBs usually have value, even if they suck. Bryce is the same way. Bryce does have talent, and I could absolutely see some teams in the off season kicking the tires on Bryce. Benching him for a practice squad QB after two weeks will tank his value. May as well release him then. The rest of the team will not be happy, and I don't think anyone wants to deal with that. No one wants to waste a year of time. The guys want to win. It's very possible we do move on from Bryce this off season, but we don't have another option which will help us win. Bryce almost lead an extremely improbable last minute drive. He didn't get it, but the play calling did him no favors. So just drop him and plug in someone who they see in practice who doesn't have the skills to step in? No.