TD alt

Oh, the high expectations after a draft. Keep your expectations low, people. Darin Gantt's latest "Ask The Old Guy" gives life to one of those lessons about pro football reality as a fan: "Rasheed Walker was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Packers, so Freeling is going to have to work. Hunter's got another big 'un in front of him in Bobby Brown III and a different kind of defensive tackle in Tershawn Wharton. Chris Brazzell II's got a lot of traffic at his position. Zakee Wheatley has to be better than the chronically underappreciated Nick Scott, and Sam Hecht is a fifth-round rookie at the hardest position on the line to play, who probably doesn't have immediate positional flexibility, and a solid free agent addition in Luke Fortner in front of him. "Fans generally love their draft class as soon as it arrives, because there is no evidence to the contrary yet. Once guys get on the field, the reality begins to creep in, and the seasoned among you remember that if you get three or four good players out of a draft, that was an amazing draft." https://www.panthers.com/news/ask-the-old-guy-things-looking-up-after-the-draft-monroe-freeling-luke-kuechly-bryce-young-derrick-brown Don't get crazy. Winning the draft (or the offseason BTW) on paper always leads to good feelings and great expectations, especially when you seemingly succeeded the season before, but let's remember that the Panthers are very much a work in progress. Team building takes time. If we get a couple of starters out of the draft, it's a good draft, but three or four would be an amazing draft, and anything more than that is actually sensational--even if entails a few multiple high end rotational players along with three starters. Moreover, kind of within that same vein, the coaches have to let the kids off the chain. Remember the coach-speak of past coaches about competition that is anything but because coaches have their notions about veteran experience? Not saying that they're necessarily wrong, but sometimes I think their reluctance to put the young guys out there is based somewhat in dogma or possibly fear because big stakes are on the line (e.g., their jobs). It can be frustrating to say the least, but the coaches are supposed to know best. Again, I say all of this so that we can remember to temper expectations and keep them within the realm of reality. It's like telling your mind to think of it as something akin to under-promising and over-delivering. Leave room to be pleasantly surprised for the best case scenario, but be cognizant that that rarely happens. I would think at this point, most of us should be able to recognize growth when we see it, and sometimes that growth doesn't manifest itself in the form of immediate supremacy, but a setting of the stage for long term dominance for years to come. It seems like we're on track for an emergence by 2028 or 2029. We still have huge questions, but by 2029, hopefully we will take our seat at the table of the perennial contenders in the NFL.

I should've referenced our current HC and, by extension, GM. I have been explicitly skeptical of Canales and his TE usage early during his first regular season in Charlotte. I will also note that Morgan wasn't really in Charlotte during Greg Olsen's career either.

TEs before day 3? We ain't 'bout dat life!

One thing about it, he's not thinking about retiring. I found it odd that some Huddlers were taking rumors and running with them, imagining a slow down and "up-playing" injuries. Moton feels great and is still in his prime according to him, and his game is still indicative of his thoughts. Sure, it may ultimately come down to economics, but I am sure that everyone involved is motivated to keep him in Charlotte.

He was also apparently.

I can agree with that. The likelihood of an actual legit weekly presence is low, but there's promise in Coker. He may be a Norwellian type gem to a degree, but Philly was JAG. Like you, I keep my expectations for anything beyond the 4th round, maybe 5th, pretty low.

I agree. What I'm saying is that Canales doesn't really seem to value using TEs at a level where a legit star is necessary anyway , unlike some coaches, and that his seeming refusal to appreciate and adapt to arguably a more efficient and modern offense may be a contributing factor to him getting canned. Drafting Sadiq was never a real thing in my mind (and that's why l never really spoke on it (if at all), because a move-TE doesn't seem necessary in the regular flow of the game to Canales.

If the next QB takes him down, then Morgan is going down with him.

And that, among other things, might be what gets his ass fired one day. Don't get me wrong, there's no way Sadiq was worth a first, but some TE is worth it (or a second or a third). It may just be a consequence of growing up on the Pete Carroll tree.

I think it's a sore spot with some here (and I'd like this thread to stay open), but put two and two together below...

As most of you should know by now, I am @top dawg. I haven't been able to use my old profile because I forgot my password, and for more than a year now, the site won't send a recovery email. In any event, I have been here circa 2003. That should tell you what I think about the place. It has been somewhat neglected since the Tepper Era began, but thankfully the basics still function because I would really miss interacting with some of you hardheads. There is no substitute, and, yes, I've looked, and this is the most active and enduring sports message board that I've come across. If you ever don't see me for months on end, I'm either demented or dead (probably the latter). There have been enough departed old heads from this place for whatever reasons, but you old ones and you youngins can count on me to bring the fire as long as this place is around...or until I am permabanned...(That's a tribute to our old friend in case you didn't know).

This is the year to or get off the pot. I've always liked Cherelus. I remember when I mentioned him last season, and some people scoffed. He is certainly the type of depth that you want. Wallace is simply a little bit more athletic, a little faster, and markedly more explosive. He just has to put it together this season. He's OK in coverage with OK insticts and less so against the run. For all his athletic gifts, it hasn't translated onto the field with consistency or completeness. He'll be depth as well if he doesn't watch out, albeit maybe a wrung above Cherelus.

That's a savage allegation. If true, Russini can hang up her mic.