TD alt

I didn't want to jinx it, but I'm just looking forward to being Top Dawg again. There is no real alternate.

And perhaps to a lesser degree, Coker, Umanmielen, Ransom, & Smith-Wade.

I'm OK with it. I think it's a little high considering his injury history and weight issues, but Coker seems to be a solid kid that has an understanding of what it takes to be a pro, and I believe that they believe that he did enough last season to show that he's ready to be a consistent force within the offense. Let's go, Coker, be all that everyone, including yourself, knows that you can be!

https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/onsi/xavier-legette-s-offseason-focus-could-help-unlock-panthers-wr I am going to be totally honest here: If I had to bet Xavier Legette would pass or fail--well, maybe catch on or drop (pun obviously intended), my money--err, pie in Zod's coming Huddle wagering system), I would pick the latter based upon what I've seen the last couple of years. But, like the writer, Preston Palm, says, I'm going to be optimistic. Why not? It's the time of year for it, and I've told y'all before that through my fully grown skepticism, I haven't completely given up on X. I'm rooting for the kid. X knows he can't have another year like the last, he said it himself: "My main thing is just to have a better year. I can't have another year like last year, I can't do that." He knows what's on the line. He's not dumb, however much some of you want to equate being country, or, more specifically, "talking country," with being dumb (which is kind of dumb in itself, but I digress...). X knows what's on the line, very clearly. As such, he has made some changes according to Palm , "Legette has looked noticeably thinner at minicamp this year and has reportedly dropped 7-9 pounds, which should alleviate some pressure on his hamstrings and not force as much impact on them every route he runs." You see, part of X's problem the last couple of seasons were his hamstrings, and now, he's focused on "bulletproofing" his hammies. But of course X's journey hasn't just been about physical misfortunes and injuries, he knows that he hasn't displayed the best football, so he's embracing the pressure to perform, and likens it to what he did at USC (the southern version *sarcasm present*) during his time there. He exploded on the scene during his senior year, so hopefully he'll do something similar in year three of the NFL. Though we've recently seen some receivers breakout sooner, many receiver still don't break out until their third season due to the complexity of NFL route trees and such. I've never been an X hater, but I'm a realist. Still, I'm looking for X to make the jump. That would be the best for all involved.

Just...meh. I don't believe Moore is going to make the squad due to our youth movement, and I was never enthused by another seeming Huddle legend in diminutive Horn. Tremayne? Whatever. Not for him or against him. I do remember that Metchie and Bryce had plenty of chemistry, and that Metchie was a second round pick. I am still kinda thinking that his illness was the major reason he hasn't caught on, but he's an upgrade over Horn at the very least, and probably Tremayne and Moore also but strictly as a receiver. Metchie doesn't offer anything on special teams. We'll see how it shakes out, but I won't lose sleep over any of them. I don't think any of them will be in line to get much playing time except for maybe Tremayne on special teams.

Well I don't remember ever posting in the Tinderbox proper. Of course some threads ended up there. I'm just not into people who don't desire to have honest conversation, and I abhor hypocrisy, so, like you say in other words, "Good riddance!"

Sorry for your losses, especially within a relatively short period.

And honestly, for me (while keeping it all in perspective within this context of course), a fun Sunday is when the Panthers win, a not-so-fun Sunday is when they lose.

Yeah, I thought the whole purpose was based upon reputation, not betting. Pie actually serves a purpose, and now it seems like it's being watered down to meaningless. Some other form of "rep" for being able to guess and bet if that's your cup of tea alongside our traditional pie would have been better in my opinion.

Two things: 1. Dr. Eric Eager is central to the draft process 2. I know that it was edited, but we didn't hear "Thieneman" one time, not even before the Vikings pick.

A backup left tackle?

Well, that's the thing. Drafting players only for their physical measurables as you are suggesting only really happened during 2024, and X unfortunately has become the poster child for that. To be clear, it's not necessarily about drafting RAS over skill, but RAS over NFL-readiness and/or a solid body of work. Lots of players show skill in college, but those skills don't necessarily translate to the NFL for a multitude of reasons. But, getting back to the main point, to be clear, I believe that our FO is still enamored with physical gifts (who wouldn't be?), but now they're letting Dr. Eric Eager's proprietary system--his "secret sauce" prioritize the players that the Panthers draft, and it seems like it weighs not only a solid body of work, relative to a college career of course, but consistent gradual improvement as evidenced by production pretty highly.

Coddling and making moves that make sense are not the same thing. Having your finger on the pulse of your team, as opposed to just drafting people for measurables, is a good thing.