frankw

Bryce Young has started each of his first three seasons in the league playing like one of the worst QB's in Panthers history. And even with his progress last season he managed to get swept by the Saints with a rookie QB. Can't really sugarcoat all that. We don't need to see middling. We need to see high end production.

Got the Timberwolves in Minnesota tonight and they're coming off tough losses to the Sixers and the Pistons. We better come out swinging.

To rub salt in the wound when you look back to what were considered some of the most underwhelming resulting seasons in Panthers history before the Tepper's came along we still managed a top 20 passing offense with journeyman Matt Moore and the ghost of Jake Delhomme in 2009. And Steve Smith was 44th in the league in YAC so it was not a chunk play pass offense. Obviously the run game was dominant with Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Wiliams but comparatively the run game in 2009 only amassed 500 more rushing yards than the 2025 Panthers in a down year for Chuba Hubbard. It shows just how comically desperate we have become to adjust standards that actually used to mean something.

Unfortunately this is more wishful thinking than anything. The problem is the bar is so low for what they consider success for Bryce Young. I mean we have yet to field even a top 25 passing offense with Bryce Young heading into his fourth season and it's basically considered a when not if we begin contract extension talks with him.

Only Panthers fans think you have to draft a WR in the first or it's a bust guaranteed. Zero expectations for our talent evaluators to actually find gems later in the draft. What do these people actually do here? What do we pay them for?

Sion James is the leading scorer at halftime with 13 points.

Blowout is already in effect. It's crazy the Pacers were just in the Finals a year ago.

We went from the 30th passing offense in 2024 to the 26th passing offense in 2025 and backed into the playoffs going 4-6. I like Canales but we're a hell of a long way from rockstar status.

head_coach_dave_canales_explains_why_he_doesnt-81yn0giwjf7g1.mp4 Imagine your head coach saying this in a league where the tush push exists and then carrying water for it like we're actually playing 4D chess by limiting ourselves.

Hornets came back and blew out the Suns and the Lakers got drubbed by 40+. I got to say it was a good day.

Hornets showing some fight at home. That's how you end a first half.

I would say as a general aside in terms of interest in draft prospects going forward that the Panthers would likely be better served to avoid chasing prospects because they have local ties. How about just focus on drafting good football players. I give zero fưcks about marketing. See: Xavier Legette.

My understanding of the consensus from Eagles fans is if we are expecting him to be used in key short yardage situations we might as well look elsewhere.

Losses for a young team are going to happen. I get disappointed in the moment but to be clear I am emphatically impressed with the progress these guys have made and LaMelo has stepped up in a big way as a leader. Embiid is just a monster and also gets the very cushy benefit of practically every call going his way against franchises such as ours. The Celtics actually could serve as a tale of hope for us. They lingered and lingered and flirted with playoff success but couldn't get over the hump to the point of people clowning them. But then suddenly everything clicked and they went on a run and won the finals. If this team gets serious about dedicating themselves to maximizing the whole floor and not just from behind the arc we could find ourselves in the midst of a Celtics or Thunder kind of postseason run sooner than later. But it won't happen without that offensive evolution. I just hope to see that come to fruition.

XL has really not done himself any favors from a multitude of angles. Just have to be honest about that. That being said. The inconsistency in standards for certain players on the roster is certainly impossible to ignore I agree. And even at times last year rookie TMac was a scapegoat by some Panthers fans for not being able to singlehandedly will us to victories with Bryce Young throwing him passes.

There are different variables that you would have to include and consider. McDermott coached a franchise that was well ran and made good decisions overall for a number of years. Who could say how McDermott would have done on his own with the musical chairs and mismanagement of the Panthers FO through those years? But you also have to acknowledge the fact that Rivera's best years were with McDermott on staff. Rivera in the win loss column without him just isn't a pretty picture. From a head to head standpoint it is McDermott and it isn't close.

Of all the concerns to highlight work ethic and passion for football is as lazy as it gets. All you have to do is watch an interview with him and his rookie highlights to see that is the farthest thing to be concerned about. Now getting him well placed throws on a consistent basis....that's another discussion.

You can only build around a passer that has the prerequisite physical talent to keep defenses honest at all levels. You can work around spotty accuracy you can work around spotty decision making. But you cannot work around lack of physical tools that results in the job of the defense being made easier by default on any given snap. We have not been able to do that and will not be able to do that no matter how many weapons we add. Furthermore regardless if the blueprint for the success of your fourth year #1 pick is to expect everyone else to do the lifting guess what? You need a QB.

I'd rather go OT at 19 if it's offense. Again. This regime led by Dan needs to find gems in the later rounds. If it's a deep WR class they should be able to do that. If they can't then we're cooked anyways.

52 points in the paint last night.

I mean that pot has long been stirred into oblivion. Dan has been effusively boosting up Bryce Young for years. To the point people basically insinuate he's been lying and secretly despises Bryce Young or something.

You guys realize that the Panthers in their earlier years didn't draft a first round WR for 16 years straight right? I'm just happy to have another legit young WR on the roster after trading away the only other good one that we drafted in the first round in the last 26 years before that.

I've long been expecting the possibility of TE or WR in round 1. It isn't illogical in itself by any means. The issue is this is year 4 and you have got to expect your quarterback who was outplayed by the Saints rookie second round pick last year to elevate those around him instead of it constantly needing to be the other way around just to occasionally reach the bar of serviceable starter. Making guys around you better is the mark of a #1 pick and always has been.

If the players are just making their own decisions without direction or any semblance of a plan then what is our head coach doing?

And ironically one of the league's best young players statistically in the paint we traded away for crumbs a few years ago. POVERTY!