45catfan

The first 3 stats, I agree. INTs need to be 10 or less and passer rating hovering around 100. Combined stats, that would make him a top 10 QB. That is what Bryce HAS TO BE to get an extension for me. Why would we extend a QB that's not a top 10 QB? That screams 'we embrace mediocrity' by the front office if Bryce shakes out by season's end with a stat line to be, say, QB 16 League-wide and they hand him a nice shiny new deal.

The NFL is about parity. There are few teams in the upper tier and a few bottom dwelling teams every season, every other team is in the middle. This version of the Panthers can be a fringe playoff team if, BIG IF, things goes their way. First off health. This goes for every team. It takes a special club to overcome a rash of injuries and still get into the playoffs. Secondly, timing. The Panthers have to catch a good team on a short week, with key injuries or some disruption to their team dynamic--like a dome team in the rain, for example. Lastly, luck. In order for the Panthers to get over the hump, things have to go their way in 2-3 games. Things like a controversial call in our favor, a DC going into prevent defense most of the 4th quarter, a fortunate (for us) turnover by the opposition while trying to seal a win etc... This will be the difference in a 6 win Panthers team and 9 win squad this season. I can't see us lower than 6 wins (short of the wheels completely falling off) because they roster has been getting better or higher than 9 wins simply due to Bryce's ceiling.

I'm barely clinging to Panthers right now, to be honest. I knew Bryce would get the 5th year option because he is a former #1 overall pick and hasn't been a complete bust. It was clear to me management was going to give him more time. However, unless he turns into some amazing QB this season, it will be time to move on. With few exceptions, a NFL team cannot be a perennial contender with a JAG QB. All this to say next April if they aren't drafting his replacement in the first round, short of a breakout season, I might check out on being a Panthers fan for good (at least until Young finally moves on). This owner may be a savant in hedge fund management, but is a moron when it comes to building a competitive NFL franchise. Even if we miss the playoffs this year, Tepper may not allow Dan and Dave to move off of Bryce with that year left on his deal. That will be the braking point for me. This is a make or break year for Bryce and my fandom.

We got the Falcons and Browns early, that may swing a couple more wins our way. The Steelers and Vikings are later on, so they may have their QBs settled in by then. I'm going with 7-8 wins. L's: Lions, Eagles, Packers, Broncos, Ravens. Bengals, Seahawks, Saints (A), Bucs (A) 50/50: Bears, Vikings, Steelers W's: Falcons (x2), Bucs (H), Saints (H), Browns

I might start reading the Panthers' page on ESPN again.

Njoku to the Charges. This is Bryce's out if things don't go great; the TE position didn't get upgraded. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48739754/sources-chargers-te-david-njoku-agree-one-year-deal

I will absolutely lose my sh!t if this happens. Arch and Moore go in the top 5. Mestemaker goes #8. In this mock we have a chance at QB4 in what some are calling a generational QB draft and they have us taking a freaking DT at #10. Sayin, Carr, Mensah and Sellers are ALL still available.

I mean, literally our division are the most winnable games. Lions-L Bears-L If Burrow and Jackson are healthy-L's Seattle-L Denver-L Vikings-W (if we catch them early in the schedule) Packers-L (depends which Love shows up) Pittsburgh-Rogers-L, other QB,-W Cleveland-Depends on QB play-L (again depends on when we play them) Philly-L Even if we go 4-2 in the division, this is looking rough.

Our schedule is brutal. I think that alone costs us like 3 wins versus a more balanced schedule. I'll reserve my W-L prediction until training camp, but I doubt I have the team with the amount of wins as I had last year despite an improved roster. So I get why people are not super optimistic about our upcoming season.

My snap reaction right after the draft was a B+ and I'm sticking with it. I can't argue with the positions, but what player and the rounds some of the position drafted is my reasoning for not getting a higher grade. The Brazzell pick is the most baffling to me. That pick alone kept it from being an 'A'.

I want to sign him so the excuse can be removed if (when) our offense looks mediocre again. Supposedly TE is the lone weak spot in our offense.

The very reason Tepper had to get rid of him ASAP. First year head coaches struggle, especially with a rookie QB, but Dave was super quick on the trigger getting rid of Reich. Frank coached QBs, WAS a QB himself and saw that Young was not going to be that guy for the Panthers. He was not going to keep propping up the illusion of the front office that Bryce was some all-world QB, so Tepper fired him.

Yes, but we moved up for Young and gave up a legit starting WR in Moore. The reason we drafted Mingo was to replace him. So Mingo is kinda on Tepper too. We also lost our fist rounder the next year. While the entire draft sucked, Bryce was the first domino to set things in motion.

Franchise QBs feast when things are rolling and the tide that raises boats when things are going sideways. Bryce isn't that. He's a complimentary player, that's it. When the defense and STs are on point, he plays loose and it shows. When we are in a dog fight and things haven't gone our way, he struggles. It's that simple. He's not a horrible QB, but he's not top tier either. So the question begs, is this worthy of a second contract? The answer should be no. It definitely is my answer. Bryce will never be a QB that can produce wins largely on his arm. That's a FRANCHISE QB, any other QB is simply a placeholder at the starter's position until that guy can be found. At some point the excuses of lack of weapons will be a straw man. Heck, it's nearly there now. I mean if he doesn't look even better than last year will we blame it on the TE position? 'Well if Bryce only had a player like Kelce, Kittle or Gronk on this team...' Are we really going to do that?