MHS831

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.

THe thing I noticed is not about sacks--that is a stat to me that is highly unreliable because a good NT and good secondary coverage can send the QB right into your lap. I look for how well he gets off the LOS and how long it takes him to get to the point where the QB is supposed to be throwing the pass. I look at how well he holds the edge-- Evero values an edge rusher who can hold the point/edge while rushing the QB. At least that is what he told Johnson, who is expected to play the strong OLB. The strong OLB basically plays 2 gap on the edge while the weak OLB is rushing the QB with his ears bent back, not really worrying about holding the point. The reason? There is a nickel or S on that side to contain, along with a CB--which is why the 3-4 CBs are usually in zone and not man/bump and run etc. They have outside run responsibility. I am not sure how YGM will do as the Strong OLB, but I think Johnson and Leota have the skillset Evero covets. Obviously, I could be wrong, but this team had Leota in for a visit and I am sure that he signed with the Panthers with confidence that he has a chance to make this roster. I honestly can say, after watching a few videos of Leota, that he could be a rotational or backup strong Edge. Even if YGM plays the position this year, I doubt he is re-signed. I think they will shop him and try to trade him (YGM).

I know he was a stud--just don't know where to put him anymore--Woods, Chinn, Rowe (possibly), Robinson, Bell---I imagine the special teams coach would have something to say about cutting him. I went back and forth on that one--but there is room to keep 6 safeties in Evero's system, I think, if some are at nickel and LB at times. Still foggy on what this is going to look like.

I read an article that basically described Evero's 3-4 (and so much could be based on the personnel he had in Denver). Basically, the Safeties are the studs of the secondary, and the CBs on the outside play a zone. Maybe he thinks Henderson can handle that.

Great point--I had forgotten that.

I agree-on the strong side, where he can control 2 gaps from the 6 tech--he has a chance if his only job is to hold the edge--a running short yardage/first down Edge is very limited. He needs to be traded, imo, but he could surprise us.

Offense was tough concerning the offensive line....I think they want to replace or challenge Christensen at LG so that he can focus on swing T (while backing up LG) If they decided to do this immediately, which is probably unlikely considering Corbett's injury, I would say that Zavala will move into the LG spot at some point. At WR, I have a feeling that 5 spots are set and the remaining roster spot, should they go with 6, will be a cockfight between 3 former Gamecock WRs. Ricci is very interesting to me because he has a lot of potential as an Hback/receiving TE. Thomas is a very good blocking TE, and Tremble could be the odd man out. Too early to tell--I still think Tremble is safe--Sullivan is most likely gone. At RB, Brown is 220 lbs and Chuba and Sanders are both listed at 210. Brown can be the power back, if you ask me, at that size. After shopping Matt Corral, it seems only fair to move him to the PS--let any team who thinks they can use him take him for free. No since allowing him to have a roster spot. So understand that this is May 1 and how it looks from one perspective. I bet you disagree with some of the decisions I made--that is OK--does not mean I think you are wrong, it just means this is where I am right now. Enjoy.

Defense is going to be tough to gauge. Will Luvu stay at ILB? Where will Tuttle play (End or NT)? Will Rowe play CB? What to do with YGM? Will Robinson play nickel? Will Roy, Taylor, and Franklin make the team? Will either or all of the UDFAs Bumper Pool, Redmond, or Leota make the roster? I keep a depth chart to help me see the big picture--this is where I am. The color coding: Red text is a new free agent, blue shading is a new draft pick, Orange shading is a roster spot on the bubble, and gray shading represents an UDFA who could make the roster (does not mean he will or even probably will--it means that he has the skills to possibly challenge for position.) Obviously, there are MANY ways to create a depth chart at this point, but this is where my head is right now--focused on finding the starting 25 for the defense, this features all players who might have a shot--in my view--as of May 1, 2023.

By the way, Rhule was behind the Henderson/Darnold trade--he based his decision on the college film he watched on CJ and not the Jags film--by his own admission, if you recall. I am interested to see how they use Jammie, to switch gears. I doubt he was drafted to sit behind Chinn, Bell, and Woods.

CJ is likely to make the team, but that is far from a given. Giving him $11m to do what he does would have been wrong.

The NFL Network did a piece on Mingo/Young, and the premise for the segment was "Will Mingo get 1000 yards this season?" I am not as down on Johnson as others. They had him in for a private visit (I believe) and Evero seems to have been targeting him. While we would have loved to see him fall to 93, the cards were not suggesting that was a sure thing--(Found it interesting that Evero started coaching Johnson on the congrats phone call, "We gotta set the edge before we rush the QB..." Tells me a lot about the kind of player Evero wants there. Zavala might be the best value pick. I am going to predict that he wins the LG job very soon--maybe in camp.