TD alt

I've read analyses saying that Burden is more than a slot guy.

Yeah I noticed that after posting.

There are more than a few scouts that think he's the best receiver in the draft.

OK, 17th. I guess you could say that's high. He needs work on the jugs for sure. https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/stats?category=receiving&sort=rec_drops&season=2024&seasonType=reg&sortOrder=desc

One of the highest drop percentages?

i meant to quote @CamWhoaaCam

You already know who it is.

Overreaction much.

I ain't crying. Bryce actually looks like a real QB, and others are developing. That's progress fo' sho'. There appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. We should be more competitive next season.

Legette was open for a second, if Young times it right.

None now

I don't see him as a long term project. He should be ready to go some time next season. He's showing promise now.

Bryce and Legette need to work on their chemistry plain and simple. We need to try some max protect on the money downs a little more. Canales does some good things, but he needs to be even more creative and get Legette and Sanders more involved in the flow of the game.

Yeah, but dead last in what? And what is that based upon? And when was the ranking released? You see, I'm simply too cheap to pay for their (anyone's) premium stats. So I don't know the details. That being said, I will say this: PFF has some interesting metrics and stats, but I am skeptical that they base all of their rankings---especially the lists that they publish during the offseason---solely upon their metrics. I suspect that some subjectivity makes its way into their rankings. Moreover, they have various things they look at. For example one receiver may be the best against the press, or another may be best on curl routes, or slant routes, or jump balls, etc. One receiver might be a beast in the slot on a slant, and another might be a boss on fly routes. It's difficult to say that Ja'Marr Chase is better than Justin Jefferson if you get what I'm saying. All I'm saying is that people need to stop assuming that our receivers aren't getting open. This isn't last year's receiving corps.

LOL. I was just looking at that.

Fair enough. I will point out that some measure the exact thing, and some are a measure against press coverage (which of course are in the same family). I just pointed it out because it's been kinda in vogue for some Huddlers (not talking about you) to keep repeating the now-stale argument that nobody's getting open. NFL-open is much different than college open. Here is another metric put out by PFF. Look at the average receiver cushion and separation. Ja'Tavion Sanders and Xavier Legette are right in there with everyone else. https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/stats/receiving#average-separation Perhaps Bryce is just getting more comfortable and confident (which should be credible), and as such his willingness to throw the rock into small windows is increasing also.

It's just so easy to try and dump on the receivers...just saying. I kinda reject the notion that our receivers aren't getting open. This ain't college. I'd bet that once it's all said and done, our guys are above average getting "NFL open." Other people are seeing something different right now. Now I'm not saying that everyone uses the same metrics, but suffice it to say that we have guys who can get open. Bryce has just had a renaissance. He's playing more confidently. No need to do mental gymnastics to explain away his newfound aggressiveness. https://x.com/FPFO_Podcast/status/1864132386985791580?t=nbuD7J16BMnKN9aSKKybQg&s=19 https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-separation-against-press-coverage-week-5 And it pretty much goes without saying that Thielen gets open also. https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/nfl-wr-separation-leaders-2024 I'm too cheap to pay for PFF, and to lazy to try and find something on Coker and Sanders.

That must be really strange to some.

Are you going to second guess every pick? That is something every fan can do every year, and some just refuse to take situation into account. It's year one, and it takes time to adjust. He's no worse than many other rookies, and better than some. Could he have caught the pass somewhat thrown behind him yesterday? Maybe. But it was hardly a drop. Stop nitpicking and look forward to his gradual improvement over the next couple of seasons.

Like I've stated several times and argued here, the RB position has always been important: Teams are averaging 27.1 rush attempts per game through Week 12, the most since 2009. And they're running for 119.6 yards per game, the second most over the past 25 seasons. Backed by quality offensive lines and commitment from their teams to pound the rock, Barkley and Henry are leading the way for two of the most physical -- and successful -- teams in the league. "Teams are finding the value in running the ball to winning," Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "The run game never disappeared, really. ... More teams majoring in it now." https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42669481/baltimore-ravens-philadelphia-eagles-saquon-barkley-derrick-henry-week-13 Intelligent football fans, including Huddlers, need to stop misconstruing what it means to devalue RBs in reference to the NFL. What I have said is that you want dynamic talent at the position. And, in my opinion, the absolute best way to get it is to draft it, even if you have to with a high draft pick. That being said, depending upon where your team is on the curve toward success, or depending upon the status of your championship window, and especially if you can sign a top talent on a relative deal, you acquire the talent. RBs are not plug and play, there is a distinguishable difference between dynamic backs and average guys. Sure, you can get by a lot of times, but legit contenders generally have legit guys toting the rock. Now where RBs are being devalued rightly or wrongly (which is really a question and possible point of contention for the NFLPA), is when it's time for FOs to re-up them or let them walk. I have no problem with not being willing to pay top dollar for a position that is bruising and punishing as RB. It is here that execs must balance the opportunity costs either positively or negatively. Sometimes that might amount to an extension, sometimes not (as I previously alluded to depending upon the team's situation). It's also why it is arguably important to strike in the draft when the opportunity arises. It's also a reason why you need to keep a stable and always try to keep some talent in the pipeline. But to say that you can easily get by with JAG in the backfield, just doesn't cut the mustard and isn't really a reflection of history in my mind. Using the run to set up the pass and the pass to set up the run is the most efficient way to run an offense, and that truth will never be devalued when it comes to playing on Sundays.

I mean, Young has had some extremely low ratings... Yeah, everyone knew Pickles was bad about as soon as he stepped on the field, but I'm sure that many felt something similar after Bryce's first three starts. That being said, we had a whole lot more invested into Bryce, so of course he was destined to get a commensurate opportunity to show us what he's got. I'm still not sold on Young. Lightning will have to strike about five more times before I'm 75 percent in. I may not ever be fully in because of his size (and I haven't seen him "walk on water" yet). I figure we'll get Fields (as our situation won't be conducive to acquiring Sanders or Ward), and I'll be OK with that...for now.

I mean, you're talking about players who are playing for better teams in much better situations. What is your point? Our team is lower on the curve, and we likely won't know what we have until we upgrade our QB play and upgrade our talent in other certain key areas, not to mention developing chemistry on the field and on the sidelines.

Last Sunday my son kept saying, "Uh oh, I see Bama Bryce out there!" I mean, I'd still trade him to the highest bidder because my mind has been jaundiced by such terrible, uninspired play from the time he repeated almost identical picks to Jessie Bates during his professional introduction until last Sunday. And, no, I wasn't really moved by the Packers game and viewed it as an anomaly. Bama Bryce would have to bury any vestiges of Bum Bryce and show out for the remainder of the season to make me believe that he is anything more than a blip en route to mediocrity, if not all out misery, as long as he is the Panthers' starter. I'll believe it when I see it with consistency. And Like the Big Tuna said, "He better walk on water."