MHS831

I seriously think Corbett's return to RG and the possibility of Zavala's taking of the LG position will lead to a few OL releases around mid season, if not sooner. I can see the kid from NDSU (G) Jensen making the roster and becoming the backup LG. I see Mays becoming the backup C and RG. I see BC becoming the swing T, primarily the LT backup (if Cam stays on the roster). I see McCray and/or Erving being cut then (check out their contracts--McCray is about $1m and Cam's has not been released). In other words, I see the OL making some gradual upgrades as rookies gain experience and as Corbett heals. In my opinion, McCray will be released when Corbett becomes active. By no later than midseason, I see the OL looking like this: LT: Ekwonu, Christensen, Erving LG: Zavala, (Christensen), Jensen C : Bozeman, Mays RG: Corbett, (Mays, Jensen) RT: Moton, (Christensen, Erving)

I was going to post this--very animated and supportive and that was visible on the sidelines on TV. That matters. It is also something the Panthers would know and other teams might not. I am not a fan of the player as a general rule, nor does the rest of the league seem to be. Swing tackles are in demand, and he sat on the shelf for a while. Personally, I would not be surprised to see him let go if Zavala takes the LG position and BC becomes the swing T.

Career Statistics DeAngelo Williams: 1730 carries, 8096 Yards. 61 TDs. average: 4.7 yards per carry. 2106 yards receiving. Jonathan Stewart: 1705 carries, 7335 yards. 51 TDs. average: 4.3 yards per carry. 1295 yards receiving. note: DeAngelo played 25 games for the Steelers at the end of his career; Stewart played 3 games for the Giants at the end of his career.

Here is what I do not understand--when the season is over, after the 16th game of the season vs. Tampa Bay, why not empty your PS and bench for the final game of the season? Use it like a 2023 extra preseason game for evaluating talent and giving players an opportunity to gain experience. Instead, we won a meaningless game (that did not cost us draft position) for Steve Wilks' resume. Our starting RG tore his ACL. Our starting LG broke his foot. That impacted free agency, the draft, etc. Why not allow Deonte Brown an opportunity to play? Any player who was banged up for week 18 should have been placed on IR and a PS player should have been activated. WR Saunders, OG Brown, and maybe a LB are a few players I wanted to see. I would have benched Corbett and maybe Moton. I would have have played Christensen at T and brought Brown up from the PS to get some reps at RG. I would have played Mays at LG. Instead, we hoist the 7-10 trophy and sent our Guards to offseason surgery and rehab.

This guy was not good- or prepared-- My top 4 with the best chance to make the roster based on weaknesses in the roster: CB Wright, Oregon State: Wright has elite ability as a zone CB. I think he has the best chance of making the roster based on my low opinion of Taylor and Henderson. In fact, I think his chances are probably 50% or higher. Mark my words. Write that down. Remember what was stated here..... OG Nash Jensen, ND State: Corbett will be out, and I firmly believe that they want competition at LG--they have not found a swing T, so I think they prefer Brady Christensen in that role. I think it is possible that the McCray signing is depth until Corbett returns--so they have Zavala to groom at LG. I think BC could play LG for a while in 2023, but the plan is to move him beside Ekwonu and play BC as the swing T. That leaves Mays as the backup C, RG depth, future RG when Corbett leaves. It makes too much sense....If so Jensen could be added to the roster as G depth. Remember, they offered Jensen a pretty large free agent contract to get him here. I guesstimate his chances of making the roster are around 33%. DE Redmond, Okahoma: While the DE room looks crowded, Redmon has the ability to unseat a player or two. First, look at the NTs: Roy (NT) is hardly locked into a spot, and the other 2 NTs are hardly proven. I have Penisisi as the starter and McCall was undrafted last year. If either of these players (including Roy) falter, it could necessitate moving Tuttle and or Brown into the NT spot on passing downs. That could leave a DE depth spot open, and Redmond seems to be highly qualified for that position. Chance of making the roster? About 25-30% OLB Leota, Auburn: Currently, we have literally nothing proven at Strong OLB/Edge. YGM and rookie Johnson. While we need a strong OLB on early (running) downs, the Panthers are certain to carry 2 of these players. Johnson is raw but safe, and YGM is a question mark---could the Panthers shop him? Stay turned, but the like Leota--had him for a private visit and he was the fastest player (based on the lists being formed after the draft) to sign with the Panthers as an UDFA. Chance of making the roster? About 15%. Others with a legit shot: Peoples, RB (When healthy, pretty good. Going to the PS. Some say, "We need a big back though!" I say, We have backs that weight 220 and 210 on the roster-- Pool, LB (Special teamer and classic overachiever--probably going to PS, but if a player like Grugier-Hill faulters, Pool would be a nice fill in) Vann, WR/KR (Special teams could get him a job--gonna be a Cock fight for the #6 WR job--as 3 ex-Gamecocks go for 1 roster spot) Bolden (would have to beat out Franklin, but he could do it)

Remember when Brett Favre would hold out the entire training camp before signing. He laughed and said that he did that to avoid training camp. (Jets, Vikings).

To me, the kiss of death for a defensive player is a "hot and cold" or "questionable" motor. When I have heard that, they almost always bust. When I hear that a player has a "non-stop" motor, they often are overachievers. At DE/Edge, you better go hard on every play.

If Darnold cannot succeed in SF, he cannot succeed anywhere

Clowney has a reputation for having an "Inconsistent motor." In 2013, this was written about him in a Gamecock web page, summarizing what some were saying about him: "He's lazy. His posse is getting in his ear, exacting a negative influence on his decision-making. He's more motivated by the prospect of a big payday than a genuine commitment to honing his craft." Did Clowney ever work to be the best? Can you say that he is better now than when he was drafted? I get the same impression of him, and I am a Gamecock fan (born in Columbia when my father was playing tight end for the Gamecocks--so I am a legit fan). Frankly, "good is the enemy of great," and he has learned that he gets paid by being good. I was hoping for so much more from him--thought he'd be the GOAT at the position, if he could get his head right and get motivated. He reminds me of the person who plays football because he is good at it, but does not LOVE it. Just my outsider's point of view.

yep

IT was that or Rosario Dawson (remember the announcer called Dante Rosario that the entire game?)

pff gave him a 70---fwiw

I was high on him in that draft--mocked him here many times.

Fitt called the fifth rounder "JAMMIE" like the stuff that looks like jelly or preserves. JAM. I think in is pronounced Jamie--with a long A vowel sound. That is revealing. It means Fitt might have picked him because he was hungry--not the player--Fitterer. I need to know more!

Fair enough, but is that really a need with Barno and Haynes? Haynes had 5 sacks (and 20 solo tackles) on 41% of the defensive snap counts. Burns had 12.5 sacks while playing 87% of the snap counts. Mathematically, if Haynes played 87% of the snap counts he would have had 10.5 sacks. Barno had 2 sacks while playing in just 9% of the defensive snaps. Mathematically, he would have had over 18 sacks if given 87% of the snaps. While I realize this is math and not performance, it does suggest performance when given opportunity. Evero made a revealing comment when talking to Johnson. "Ready to rush the passer? You realize you gotta hold the edge first, right?" At Strong OLB, we have YGM, the raw and unproven Johnson, and the raw, unproven, and undrafted Leota. The strong OLB basically holds the edge with 2 gap run responsibility to the passer. The weak side OLB is the pure, "pin your ears back" pass rusher because he does not have edge responsibility like the strong. In a spread offense you could have 2 weak OLB rushing the passer--but with the strong set, you have to hold the edge because there is a TE. Personally, I think we are decent to potentially good at WOLB, totally unproven at SOLB. So the need is not for a situational pass rusher (although we can upgrade there as we can any position), the need is for strong OLB--those that hold the edge. That is how I understand it.

Carr, Mayfield, Ridder. I like our chances.

Don't forget Zavala --he is going to be in the mix this year--I guarantee it.

regardless, I have a profound and dramatic statement to make that many of you--nay, most of you, will initially rebuff. However, I implore you to refrain from all rebuffals until you have given this some thought--and it is based on potential, using players properly, and having a QB who can get the ball to the proper destination on time. Shark is here based on his injury history. If he can stay healthy--and some people are injury prone and some just have a run of bad luck--we have very good WR. Thielen at his age can still be productive. Cotchery and Prohel found a niche, and they prolonged many drives with key catches. I am looking forward to 2 seasons or so with him. TMJ, as I pointed out in another thread, showed signs last season, especially at the end when things became more stable with Darnold and Wilks. His second year performance was better that Moose Muhammad's second year, and in the last five games, TMJ caught 77% of the balls targeted to him--that is a good sign. I expect him to step up in year 3. Shenault was a stud at Colorado and was, in my opinion, horribly misused last season. He had 2 600+ yard seasons at Jacksonville. Last year here in Charlotte, he caught 84.4% of passes thrown to him (27 of 32). His rookie season he caught 73.4% of his targets and his second season he caught 63%--all respectable. He is nearly 230 lbs. and ran a 4.58 at the combine. Is he unable to get open? Who cares--throw him the ball--he catches somewhere between 63% and 84.4% of his targets. I expect him to improve in year 4--he is only 24, by the way. Mingo is another big-bodied WR who should expect to develop under Young and Reich. Stopping right there--and you have to think potential---when is the last time we have had 5 WRs with this much capability? Even after losing Moore, would you rather have last year's WR group over this? Not me. I think this group, if they are used properly, could be the best WR room we have had in Carolina--from top to bottom. Many will think of Moose in his prime, Smitty in his prime---but they each peaked at different times. We have a situation where TMJ is showing breakout promise, Shenault will be used properly, Chark could be really good and healthy, and a veteran former pro bowler with a bit left in the tank to offer. Then there is Mingo---potentially our #5 WR in 2023. Crazy, I say!

I too have a comparison or two--with the 2 greatest WRs in franchise history. But first, take a look at the train wreck we call the 2022 season: TMJ had 490 yards on 42 targets in 14 games in 2022, catching 60% of the targets. It is interesting to note that his catch to target percentage improved after Wilks took over and Darnold changed his approach. In TMJ's last 5 games, he caught 10 passes on 13 targets for 162 yards, for a catch percentage of 77%--and that is outstanding. Mushin Muhammad caught 51% of his targets his rookie season for 407 yards. The following season, his second season--just like TMJ---he was targeted 62 times--15 more targets that TMJ--and he caught 27 passes--1 fewer than TMJ. His catch ratio was 43.5% and he accumulated 317 yards for the season--173 yards fewer than TMJ in 2022. TMJ played 14 games in year 2 with multiple QBs, Moose played 13 his second season. FWIW, TMJ caught 60% of his targets during year 2, about 16% more than Moose did during his sophomore season. If you want to measure the worth of a WR, consider the percentage of catches vs. targets first. Did you think Moose was a bum after 2 seasons? By the way, in year 3, Moose had nearly 1000 yards receiving (941 yards) and caught 65% of his targets. Year 4? 1253 yards. Year 5? 1183 yards. Oh, and Steve Smith in his second season? He had double the targets (98 to 47) and caught 55% of them for 872 yards. While being targeted 41 more times than TMJ, Smith produced 382 more yards. Smith's rookie season produced a catch rate of 50% of targets for 154 yards. He is a hall of famer. I suppose comparing TMJ to Gettis is fair to you--a WR who suffered a torn ACL and never seemed to recover, but considering the turnover at QB and Rhule rule, TMJ has not done less than is reasonably expected if you consider all variables. Compared to Mushin Muhammad, he is actually ahead of schedule.

I thought you were going to say that they both were drafted in the third round and you weren't.

Yep. I guarantee you that 2 or more make the roster. You have my word.

5-6 UDFAs might push for a roster spot---Leota named. This is what we were saying earlier, when some of you were rude and insulting us for praising the UDFAs. Ha ha. We were right, you were wrong. Ha ha.

Fox Entertainment Stadium. If the Panthers lose, we can blame the scoreboard manufacturer. Too soon?

It has been '23 for a third of a year now, Joe.

the longer you do that job, the more enemies you gradually make. eventually, the enemies outnumber the allies. I am guessing that is where we are now. I have no problems with Goodell.