panthers55

Smith will make the 53 but right now I would start DJ and RA both experienced vets. I might put Shi in the slot if I had CMC in the backfield. Otherwise McCaffrey is our best receiver and Higgin is great in the redzone and on third down. My question is how many reps will be left. I don't see him replacing Robbie unless he has another down year and I don't think that happens with Baker.

Since you didn't catch the obvious reference to our situation being somewhat unique let's be clear. What is happening this year is unique to us and our situation alone so comparing Corral to other rookies on other teams or debating about whether this was fair or usual is irrelevant and a waste of time and words. We had plans to develop Corral and in fact picked him as insurance if we didn't get Baker. But when we got Baker so late as we did, plans changed and developing Baker became a priority. We also had to make sure Darnold was ready to play in the event it took Baker more time to learn the obvious complex playbook. The whole competition thing was overblown and coach talk. So the only complaint was why play PJ so much and my thoughts are that when they saw that Corral knew virtually nothing about a pro offense including taking snaps from center, having different drops, calling protections etc. they already planned to stash and develop him. They put him out in games for his own edification not in the likelihood that he would see the field this year. Redshirting will be the best thing for him. I do wish he could get snaps with the practice squad and by going on IR I don't think he can practice. But the notion you need to.invest tons of snaps in a third or 4th qb is crazy when you are teaching your complex brand new system to the starter and backup and you have weeks not months.

Both Darnold and Baker were starters last year until they got hurt.

Can you point to another team that had 2 starters fighting out for the starting position like we did learning a new system from a new OC. I'll wait.....

They did do what any team would do if they didn't know who they would start. Have a competition to see who is best. Most teams have established starters so the rookies and younger guys get more reps. In our case the reps needed to go to Darnold and Baker. There wasn't a plan to get Corral ready to start. If he had started it was already going to be a disaster. Comparing his performance to other rookies is irrelevant given they play in different offenses and each team has their priorities for what they want to accomplish from practice. But no there was no reason to give lots of reps to Corral who was always going to sit the bench this year.

I think that we will be much improved and competitive all year. As an result I think Baker will be signed long term and Rhule will be coach next year.

Corral is a rookie getting limited reps in an offense that is reportedly very complex. He had to learn everything from scratch. Frankly he is fine and will come back next year ready to go. The best thing he can do is watch everything and really learn the offense. Anyone who thought he could pick everything and start is rather unrealistic. He didn't play in a prostyle offense and didn't even take snaps at center and throw 3 or 5 step drop back timing throws. He may turn out the best of the bunch. People just need to chill..

All of the above.

Teams call other teams about players who may be cut and they know they won't clear waivers and want to get them to develop or hope they get healthy and produce. The problem is whether he will pass his physical.

I have been saying Rhule has changed and is staying in his lane and was retained under the provision that he get competent folks in here and let's them do their job. And with his new found confidence in his staff he won't be micromanaging everything like he did last year. As for Baker he is the real deal. Who thought we could trade for a number 1 draft pick for a future 5th that will be a 4th and 5 million in cash. That is crazy that in Cleveland he went from the savior to almost worthless over playing through an injury that really hurt his production. His ego was tamed and he now has a chip on his shoulder. He is 2 years removed from taking Clevand to the playoffs for the first time in almost 30 years. He felt disrespected for all he has done and now knows it is a business. I see Baker helping us put up big numbers and really helping the defense this year. I just hope we don't overwork CMC or constantly run him up the middle. When he is open in the flat or screaming across the middle on a slant he is money and amazing after the catch.

Reiterated just what I said about mocromanaging last year and now feeling comfortable with McAdoo. So we will.let his folks do their job. Will we go on a deep run? Hard to predict that unless everything fell just right. But at 500 to 1 odds a 20 dollar bet isn't a lot for a long shot reward. I personally like the over on 6.5 wins.

And replace him with who? McAdoo or Wilkes? Neither has had a great run as a head coach either. You don't get rid of someone midseason unless you replace them with someone better. Otherwise you fire them at the end of the season unless you are auditioning an assistant for a headcoach gig.

You don't fire a coach midseason let alone before games start. So we promote an assistant like Wilkes or McAdoo who weren't better than Rhule as a head coach? Not sure that is a good bet. The mistakes he has made aren't deal breakers except for hiring incompetent staff who had no clue. And hopefully he has fixed that. The reason he isn't micromanaging everything imight be because he doesnt have to. He actually has a competent staff on paper so far. If he stays the pep boy and let's the football guys do their job then if we do well he gets the credit. If we struggle he gets the boot. But if we believe the narrative that he ended up micromanaging the last 2 years to make up for a poor staff and we see him taking a more relaxed approach this year, it makes sense to believe he thinks he now has a good staff and will let them do their job. At least that is my hope.

If he goes on IR before the season start he can't come back where if he goes on IR once the 53 is set he is eligible to return at some point. I think that is right.

That is the way I heard it. He will be waived and thrymight try to stash him on the practice squad or he gets picked by someone else.

Rhule said that this injury may decide if they keep 3 qbs. They may only keep 2 now that Corral is on IR. They still may not keep PJ is they need that spot unless it is on the practice squad. We will see.

This may be a year where several of the guys we waive will be picked up by other teams. That speaks to good depth and drafting.

Actually many still do. Look at GB or San Fran as 2 examples. Guys like Mahomes sat a year also. It used to be the norm not the exception. Rookies starting are almost always a recipe for disaster.

Seems our depth is pretty good based on last night. Excluding those missing due to injury which has made some positions like TE thin.

You are right. I though the 2nd and 3rd string defense did great. New England's top 3 qbs all had significant starter experience. Jones had to play 3 series before he had a decent drive and by them we have a mix or second and third stringers on defense. Our rookies got a lot of work. Likewise their defensive starters played into the second quarter while we had our second and third string WRs out there and 2nd string line. Truth is except for mistakes our scrubs gave NE all they could handle

I wouldn't give him who starts or not. Coordinators determine rotation and who plays. Matt just announces it. He is a rah rah guy who won't calls plays and does control timeouts and challenges and whether we go on fourth down or not. He has input but if he is smart he will defer to the football guys in the room. And if he doesn't he may be sent to the office to speak with Fitterer or Tepper.

I don't think the pass rush has to take a step back. With a better secondary I expect more coverage sacks.

This is exactly what I have been saying. Now that we have a good OC who knows what he is doing, Rhule won't be micromanaging him and will stay in his lane. That is why I have been saying that things are going to be different and the whole we can't win with Rhule might be overblown.

I might be making this up but I suspect he must-have done something reallybwrong to get fired so close to the season starting.

I met his wife at Superbowl 50. She was just coming out of the players area where she was visiting her son who was coaching for us. She saw me in my Mills jersey and came up and told me she was his wife. We talked a moment and I let her know that there were a lot of us who remembered him even 10 years later and we would surely keep pounding. I got a picture of her and I on my wife's phone somewhere.