Gapanthersfan

Just imaging how many 3rd down conversions a stone hands WR1 will cost a team in a season. 2 missed conversions in a tight game is the difference between winning and losing.

This team has long had an allergy to the obvious pick. They take an XL and think they can coach him up to be the next megaton or DK. Brooks to be the next Peterson. Burns to be the next LT. They pick dudes and play them outside of their natural position. They draft for need, get desperate, pick the flawed guy, and the results speak for themselves. They go to the store jonesing for a ribeye, the store is sold out except for the ‘manager’s special’ … and end up with a toilet of puke later that night… whereas the filet that was sitting right next to it got some other dude laid. The obvious pick with no need of coaching up has done them pretty well. Moose. Peppers. Kuechly. Davis. Gross. Jenkins, etc. Sometimes obvious is just obvious. Consistently missing on first and second rounders gets them exactly where they are. Loser teams, devoid of talent and a revolving door at head coach. WR: Pick the guy who can catch the damn ball. DE: pick the guy who can play the run well. Pass rush is nice, but playing the run is better. center: smart big guy who doesn’t miss assignments. tackle: good pass protector first. Run blocker second. If you have a really good QB and receivers that can catch, the running game will open itself up by default. It’s not THAT hard, right? Diamonds in the rough are usually only quartz. Stop picking up dudes whose flaw is THE primary skill required for their position, thinking that you’ve got some sort of magical staff. Go BPA with the healthy guy who just flat out gets it done better than anyone else still available…. Except for a RB or special teamer. Yes BPA is boring, but it stacks the team with legit talent and men who can do their damn job. That’s what I’m going to call their reaches from now on. The f-in manager’s special. Break out the cast iron griddle, Montreal steak seasoning, and some avocado oil, boys.

I can agree, but they spit the hook before it was too late.

There is always more that goes unreported than what actually is. I’m just glad that the Panthers as desperate as they were never took the bait.

I can agree with that.

A 3-4 runs completely fine…. as long as you have 2 or more defensive all pros picking up the slack.

Oh he would absolutely flourish. It’s the panthers way. It’s no different with coaches. Sometimes they reach their expiration date, go somewhere else, and find new success. Similarly to Burns, how long to wait for the light to finally turn on? Market forces will demand a salary that the panthers can not responsibly match. Sliding him to guard will fit his skill set better, but he has played LT for 3 years. He will receive offers from other teams wanting to pay him LT money. At guard, he won’t start with what they have paid Hunt and Lewis. Center then?? Dunno. Maybe? He will become a backup by default once they draft their stud LT. I doubt Dan just stands pat. That’s not his MO. So where does this put him? Can you match what other teams will offer for a backup LT/guard? Do you dish out franchise LT $ on a guy who still needs significant improvement in pass protection. This team will be DOA in the playoffs with the very first team who has a formidable speed rusher. What if he has hit his ceiling in pass protection already and they sign him long term? It’s a big gamble either way.

What does the team do if/when he says he wants $84m x 5 years?

1000% Classical panthers move. Draft a guy in the early first round who has a significant flaw that they feel they can coach up. They are never able to and then find themselves at the crossroads of overpay or let em walk for nothing.

He was growing as a player under Wilks, Arguably the best coach he had played for to date. Tepper decided to light the dynamite on it all and here we are. No DJ, no 1st rounders for Burns, and a promising in some ways but still limited starting QB. The resources that could have been more wisely spent would have had us the favorite to win the South this year.

I’m not trying to be argumentative for arguments sake so please don’t take it as such. Come contract time, if Ickey wants a 5 year guaranteed deal for $94 million or he’ll walk, should the panthers pay that?

Horn is the best player on this roster and it’s not even close. Morgan if you’re reading, please pay the man.

Had this team just put him in at guard from the beginning, we’d of ended up with a franchise guard and at least given Brady an honest shake at tackle. Now, they have a crossroads approaching on a guy who is well liked and talented, but lacking a skill that is crucial for the position he plays. They need to draft a true run blocking franchise LT and see what they can get for Ickey.

I’m glad some people understand the point I’m trying to make. You sum it up perfectly. if he was that dude, then you back the brinks truck up in his driveway. But he’s not… And regardless of where you shift him on the line to better suit his ability, he has played LT for 3 years, and will rightfully want franchise LT money. There will be a team that will offer LT money that the Panthers just can’t responsibly match.

If he still needs significant help in his pass blocking midway through next season, do the panthers risk paying him LT market value, hoping he continues to improve? Laying starting LT money on a player who is in the ‘still improving’ category is a big gamble. If the panthers don’t throw a really juicy contract at him, another desperate GM will take a flier on him and he’ll be gone. I’m not big on a 5th year option and I’m really not big on franchise tag. In a way, it’s a similar situation to how it went down with burns. Measurables are there in a guy you’ve waited on for 4 years. Now all of a sudden, they’ve waited too long and are playing a lose lose hand. As with Burns, there’s always someone willing to over pay. Panthers turned down 2 firsts, Burns then dogs it bad, and they have to take what could get from the Giants… and surprise, Burns is who he is. So what do they do with this dude? Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, but unless they have an absolute stud at LT, Bryce will never flourish. Will Ickey turn in to the pass protecting stud this team and Bryce desperately need?