Icege

The vaccines are primarily to prevent hospitalizations and deaths, which they've been incredibly successful with accomplishing seeing the recent statistics regarding hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 over the last couple of months. J&J's vaccine was killed over its efficacy, but they tested it against the mutating strands in Brazil + South Africa. Deaths and hospitalizations were still dramatically reduced. I haven't read up as much on the Pfizer and Moderna trials but I don't believe they were as proactive in checking against variants (though I could be wrong, but I know that was a major reason behind the J&J stuff). I was partial to J&Js already since I had a family member that was the CIO for their Pharmaceutical Research & Development department and I interned there a cpl of times myself (though I was with their Networking & Computer Services division).

Franchising Moton for a second year in a row will run the team $16.5M If he's looking for a 5yr/$85M+ type deal I can see the team taking him this season and next on the tag and looking for contingency options to cover themselves in case he gets hurt or wants out of Carolina. Rly hoping he signs long term but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes longer than expected

Watching the Jets-Rams game from last year and... Sam is for sure rough around the edges. He had his moments, but his play just seems so... sloppy? However, the dude can make things happen when the play breaks down. I wonder how much better his development would've been had he had actual protection and WRs that could hold on to the ball (he had an awesome play where he scrambled around, launched it deep, and his WR dropped it -_-). Pat Elflein stood out as bad tho... he was regularly bull rushed into the backfield and seemed to struggle in pass pro. Running plays where he was allowed to leak to the second level he looked better, but I need that man to protect Sam better than he did last year (at least during this game). Frank Luvu was unremarkable, though he did get TATTOO'D by the RB in pass pro while trying to blitz on one play. I've only gotten through the first half, so maybe he starts to look better later in the game. Morgan Fox looks like he could be a quietly solid acquisition. Good feet and change of direction for a guy lining up inside.

Count down until somebody complains about Shaq's contract and claims he's "just decent" or "bad in coverage" in 5... 4... 3...

Tremble, Deonte Brown, Chinn, Reddick, David Moore, and Paddy Fisher pls Also Christian Miller and how much the year off has affected him pls

tb100 that's a big reason why I just put folks on ignore and keep it moving now after throwing up a wall of (researched) text. The people that can see the stats and still try to force a false narrative aren't worth the time because the only thing that's going to matter to them is what they believe rather than what they know. Screaming into the void that is the Huddlers Of Emotion (aka HOEs ) just isn't worth it.

Shaq is more than a decent LB. He's a very good LB that doesn't have to be downplayed to criticize a contract given by a GM with a history of overpaying. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oh look, another thread where folks start chirping that Shaq isn't good before trying to pretend that they're only criticizing his contract.

TD in his first 6yrs had 3 INTs, 22 PDs, 8 FFs, 11 sacks, 392 tackles, 0 TDs. Shaq has 1 INT, 17 PDs, 4 FFs, 9.5 sacks, 470 tackles, 1 TD. TDSr was SPECIAL special. There's a reason he's a Ring of Honor lock. Shaq has been more than solid, but people will ALWAYS hate their favourite players' replacements.

Just put the rage addicted trolls on ignore. They'll eventually type themselves out or into a corner. Back to CMC being CMC

Whenever LB play comes up, folks disparage Shaq's play. Some will try to slide in that "He's not worth his contract," line but will also follow that up with claiming that he's just a guy rather than a solid starter (or encourage a false narrative such as his alleged lacking in coverage). He could not be worth top 5 LB money but still be a really solid player. Spending time trying to discuss why he shouldn't have gotten paid so much from one of the worst GMs in the league when it came to contracts ignores who the real issue is there: the guy that offered him the contract. it's right up there with folks that claimed CMC was at best a slot WR so he shouldn't have been drafted where he was. I've said what I've said in regards to Shaq tho, and I don't want that to distract any more than it already has from how much Jermaine Carter has improved. The dude played in only 7 games compared to Whitehead's 9 but Carter Jr put up just 5 tackles less while also matching stats in pass deflections, fumble recoveries, AND had two TFLs compared to Tahir's 0. The man outplayed another with 6yrs more pro experience.

Putting bad faith posters on ignore is the money move

What a FILTHY route omg

Shaq most often lines up at the WLB position which is often responsible for the slot. The SLB is who usually covers TEs. He was selected to be the heir to TD's role, and spent a lot of time as the Buffalo nickel tasked with covering slot WRs during his rookie season. He only allowed 1 TD last season on 76 targets with an average depth of target being under 4yds. The team played a LOT of zone coverage in order to protect their weak DBs and pass rush, which leaves a LOT on the LBs (even more when we consider how much of a non-factor Whitehead was). Some quick stats to show this: When we look at the data, we can see why avg DOT vs. Shaq was under 4yds as the team was often having him drop back into zone coverage, meaning receivers settling in the soft spot beneath the zone. However, Shaq was also only 3 tackles behind Jeremy Chinn (114 vs. 117) but with substantially less missed tackles (8 (6.6%) vs. 15 (%11.4)). They weren't getting passed him too often. The 90.7 passer rating when targeting him was 5th best on the team last year behind Donte, Roy, Haynes, and Hartsfield. To put that into further perspective, those 5 players combined were targeted only 8 more times than Shaq was. Considering that the two back-up DL and Hartsfield combined for less total defensive snaps than Shaq (849 vs. 1031), those numbers start to look even more impressive. Add in the variables such as a brand new defense + staff, youth movement, having to get guys in position, etc shows that Shaq is an asset regardless of how some folks might feel about his contract numbers (which they try to defend by downplaying Shaq rather than the dude responsible for awful contracts: Hurney). While he failed to get a pick last year, that's more due to the play calling (heavy zone usage) than it is Shaq lacking especially since only 5 defenders last year got an INT with only Donte having more than 1. Shaq's 5 PDs tied with Chinn for 3rd best on the team behind Donte + Rasul. Shaq and Chinn also tied for 2nd in forced fumbles behind Burns (bah gawd Jeremy Chinn is friggin amazing). Personally, I cannot WAIT for the revamped secondary and pass rush to get out there with an even deeper LB group. Burns, Chinn, Shaq, Horn, Brown, Abouye, and Donte? Sprinkle in Carter, Perryman, YGM, and DaQuan? That defense is going to get off the damn field on 3rd down in 2021!

Glad to see Carter developing well. He'll be an important contributor if Perryman can't stay healthy. Sad to still see Shaq slander, but people also thought that WW84 was a good movie so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Zylstra was one of the better special teams contributors last season. Really wanna see Hartsfield & STO3 stick. Greg Little & Will Grier just aren't NFL-calibre players.

It's literally the best.

So... about that...

I know some of y'all ain't coming in here lying about wanting Montez Sweat when in actuality you were bitching non-stop about not being able to draft an impactful pass rusher at #16

Despite it being the franchise tag, $13.75M for Taylor Moton is great value. He could easily be making the same if not more than Lane Johnson (~$17.85M). AJ Abouye and Denzel Perryman's contracts are INSANE value. $2.2M this season for AJ and $4.7M next? Ok. $1.99M this season for Denzel Perryman and $4M for next year? Yes pls. Both of them have low cost outs? DONGERS UP Reddick, Arnold, and DaQuan's are honourable mentions. If Elflein shows out and can be the center of the future, him as well

I was looking to make a Chinn pun somehow and absolutely hate that I missed this most obvious of options. Thank you for helping me keep my Chinn up.

@ZodAny particular player(s) that caught your eye from how much they've improved? Out of Pride Jr, STO3, Taylor, Melvin, and Hartsfield who all do you think has the best chance to snag a spot on the roster behind Jaycee, Donte, and Abouye? How did Sam Franklin look, if he caught your eye at all? After reading up on him when the team initially signed him last year, I expected somebody that they'd try to develop into Chinn-lite while contributing on ST. He played DB at Temple for his first two years, started at the nickel his Jr season, and started at LB his senior season (which was where he was listed during his rookie stint last year). The roster on the Panthers' site has him listed as a safety currently.

I will never understand why the Huddle refuses to acknowledge that Shaq Thompson is a solid LB. It's like they still want him to be Luke or TD instead of appreciating what he does for the team (like not missing tackles: only YGM + Corn Elder had a lower missed tackle %). Hopefully Perryman can stay healthy. I think that'll be the biggest factor for the starters.

Shaq Thompson threads are the best threads to see who doesn't know poo about football.