MHS831

If we decide to keep the football while on offense this week, we should be able to win. I worry (as I did before the draft, during the summer, and throughout preseason) about our secondary. Let's hope Jackson can at least stay off IR until Horn returns. Too much to ask? Panthers 20 Saints 19

That bothers me too, but then I think, "Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield...." and I don't feel so bad. They will undoubtedly (the way Fields is playing so far) be moving up to get a top 2 QB

MEANWHILE, Patrick Surtain remains one of the dominant shut down CBs in the NFL. Curse of the black cat

ANy word on who is playing LG? I am busy and could not read every thread---

The think that bothered me is when he hesitated on a deep route-not his forte, I get that, but what is? Any WR knows that once you reveal your route to the DB, it is a sprint to gain separation. To me, that suggested he is not getting it mentally. Why hesitate on a deep route? He was not expecting the ball, maybe? Not the kind of thinking we need. Otherwise, he is very inconsistent. He flashes at times, but they all do. I would rather see the WR we just signed getting time, honestly.

How this could benefit the Panthers in the long run: (Thank me later for being the voice of constant optimism and hope) 1. Zavala moves to LG, his "natural position." He never looks back. BC had a PFF score of 56 or so last year--weakest link. 2. Panthers can put Mays at RG, giving him valuable experience over the next 3 games until Corbett returns. Note: By week 5, we have 2 starting guards and a backup. Perhaps Christensen returns and there is no place for him. GOOD! 3. BC has the athleticism to play OT, so you play him as the backup swing T-focusing on the right side. 4. In 2024, Moton's contract swells to $30m. Maybe you can trade him this season before the trade deadline (risky, I know) and move BC to starting RT. Note: You saved $30m, upgraded at RG, and you have not lost a lot at RT if BC reaches his potential. With the $30m in savings, you could probably sign a pretty good CB (Jackson is walking in 2024 as well) and WR. While I like Moton, I do not see the logic behind giving him $30m when a team on a playoff run is likely to overpay before the trade deadline.

I questioned the Sanders signing--any RB playing behind one of the best OLs in football....

I thought it was an acl so I will take it. A Hamstring can take from 1-6 weeks, and there are different assessments of the severity--so I wonder if this is some reporter needing clicks or if they know for sure?

In fairness, we have Henderson, a player who quietly leads the league in cushion allowed

If he is healthy--this would be nice.

Thanks. Funny how that was not newsworthy.

They went after him twice--when there is 10 yards to go for a first down and the WR catches the pass at 12 yards, then the CB takes 2 steps before making contact, his cushion is way too large. CJ was out of position on the PI call-lost and had no chance to make a play. I see your point about the call, but if he were not penalized, he was still lost.

Pay burns, build around him. Hats off the Zavala--not perfect, but a first game rookie vs some veteran talent.

My only concern is the Horn injury. Yes, we gave up 17 points off turnovers, but they torched Henderson--and a TE beat him deep. No excuse for that. I would not be surprised to see us bring in (or up) someone. If you need proof of his heart, watch him when he has a chance to make a tackle--especially in a crowd. Nobody is that un-athletic.

Yes--make Ridder beat you

Panthers 28 (how many million they will have to pay Burns) Falcons 19 (the number of people headed to court in Fulton County)

Pay no attention to it. However, pay attention to the fact that we will be "counting on" 3 rookies on the offensive side of the ball (I am guessing Zavala starts at RG, Young, and Mingo). On defense, there are a lot of new faces, but we did not see many of the difference makers. I think we are better than they think we are but not as good as we think we are.

Some of you may be familiar with the book by Jim Collins entitled Good to Great. While his conclusions are not always consistent (Cherry picked), he makes a point that underlies his primary theme: Good is the enemy of Great because most people are satisfied with being good. There is less motivation to take that next step because you reached a status of being good at your job. In the NFL, the line between good and great is blurry. So much depends on your scheme, quality of teammates, random opportunity, etc. The difference between 10 sacks and 15 sacks, if you think about it, is 5 plays over the course of about 450 passing opportunities for each player. Some are awarded sacks when the defensive backs cover up the QBs options and the clock runs out, forcing him into the grasp of an otherwise stonewalled edge rusher. Other times middle pressure forces the QB to hold the ball etc etc. The better gauge of an edge rusher's worth might be to see how his presence impacts the offense--do they keep a RB or TE in to chip him? How many pressures does he get? Etc. I dunno. So I understand why this is problematic. Burns averages 9.5 sacks for his 4-year career. However,over the last 3 seasons, he has averaged about 33 solo tackles and 21 QB hits. He has averaged about 9.5 tackles for loss over the same period. His DB play has been erratic at best--so how does that stack up vs. Bosa? The biggest difference (he was injured his second year, so I am looking at his top 3 seasons) is in the area of QB hits--Bosa averaged about 33 hits per season, 12 more than Burns. Bosa averaged 38 solo tackles per season, compared to Burns 33. And in Bosa's top 3 seasons (rookie, 3 and 4) he averaged 14.33 sacks per season, vs. Burns' 9.5. In my estimation, Burns is good, Bosa is great. We shall see how much difference their paychecks reflect

1. QB 2. LT 3. Edge Rushers The NFL Players association needs to get a grip on this. The extra monies from raising the cap have gone to the top three most important positions--That has caused positions like RB to be devalued--so the RBs are paying for the top 2-3 players on each team to earn much more than the average. You could argue that is fair, but if you consider the perspective of the union, I eventually see a position cap implemented to help share the wealth. You do not have to do in by position--you could do it by percentages of the cap--but if this keeps going, a good QB will be earning $100m per year--or 40% of the cap, for example. Interesting to see if and how they address this

I have not been able to keep up--but that is the same yearly figure I estimated. 2 million per sack if he has a good year. Yikes.

Emotion has no place in negotiations. When buying a car, a house, etc--you go in with emotions like, "This is the best house EVER!!!!" and you will certainly pay through the nose, only to later realize that you got the house you wanted, but now can't afford the car you want. Burns was probably waiting for the Bosa deal knowing it would increase his property value, but that does not mean he is worth Bosa money. I am guessing 4 years, $112m.

If Bosa got paid $34m I imagine Burns will counter that he is worth $27m, his asking price. No pass rusher is worth 2 million per sack.

I think it will be $25m with incentive bonuses to escalate the contract6 to $27m

Here is how I see it--I would rather have Crosby or Bosa than Burns. Give Burns a deal with incentives that put him on their level--if he wants Bosa and Crosby money, give him the ability to earn it by using their stats as benchmarks that kick in incentives.

Yes, but the only other suitor in free agency was cap strapped Atlanta. We overpaid about $5m per year, imo. Marty had an inferiority complex about Carolina and thought he had to overpay to keep players here. I remember he once said on WFNZ about his drafting ability--"Well, several of my draft picks are the highest paid players at their respective positions" (paraphrasing). I nearly put my car in the guardrail reaching for my damn phone to call in...Never got through.