Unpopular opinion

[ForJimmy]

32 minutes ago, CRA said:

We were a smash mouth running offense last year.  They looked good doing that.  Vs teams that weren’t good defending it. 

you ask them to be different it isn’t just about learning plays. 

Icky is a prime example.  He fit a Wilks O.  He flat out doesn’t fit what you would build for Bryce Young.  

And that’s our front office being bad showing itself and the impacts down the road.  Rhule last season was pointless.  Meant we drafted Icky for a Young offense which you probably wouldn’t do 

He was drafted to be a franchise LT. His pass blocking grade was a 67.5 which put him towards the top of the rookies in pass blocking only despite struggling early in the season. He should be solid in most offenses. I’ve seen nothing outside of random huddlers suggesting our promising rookie LT can’t play well in a shotgun Bryce Young offense. That’s simply people overreacting to Icky missing some assignments (nothing to do with physical ability) in a couple preseason games. 

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/15/panthers-lt-ikem-ekwonu-rookie-rankings-nfl/

Allowing only 3 sacks over the final 15 games is pretty impressive. Does running the ball help set the tone for the OL? Of course and I’m sure our staff with Brown (former running coordinator) and Staley are going to incorporate that into our offense. 

[Htarnation4.0]

2 hours ago, toldozer said:

I don't understand how icky looks like a complete turd. Is he having issues with a new playbook?

Sophomore slumps are real

[CRA]

2 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

He was drafted to be a franchise LT. His pass blocking grade was a 67.5 which put him towards the top of the rookies in pass blocking only despite struggling early in the season. He should be solid in most offenses. I’ve seen nothing outside of random huddlers suggesting our promising rookie LT can’t play well in a shotgun Bryce Young offense. That’s simply people overreacting to Icky missing some assignments (nothing to do with physical ability) in a couple preseason games. 

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/15/panthers-lt-ikem-ekwonu-rookie-rankings-nfl/

Allowing only 3 sacks over the final 15 games is pretty impressive. Does running the ball help set the tone for the OL? Of course and I’m sure our staff with Brown (former running coordinator) and Staley are going to incorporate that into our offense. 

We did.  That doesn’t mean he didn’t lean toward being a run blocker. 

and the NFL is all about scheme and fit.  It makes or breaks tons of careers.  Everyone got talent.  They get their edge often being in the right offense or defense. 

I think Icky can be solid anywhere.  But if you had Bryce Young first, he wouldn’t be the LT I’d prefer. 

Im sure we are going to run.  But running out of the shotgun like Frank loves and Bryce probably needs isn’t the most ideal for a young Icky to strive IMO.  

Bigger fish to fry than Icky. It’s just a small example of the little things adding up IMO about our front office.  That is and has been having to change up the vision so much much in a small window.  But it’s not outlandish to point out Icky wasn’t drafted for what we want to do with Bryce because he wasn’t. 

[NAS]

2 hours ago, Move the Panthers to Raleigh said:

But, I thought you said "playoffs or bust"?

I did but if you’re going to suck at least protect your investment. The offensive line is an embarrassment 

[ForJimmy]

2 minutes ago, CRA said:

We did.  That doesn’t mean he didn’t lean toward being a run blocker. 

and the NFL is all about scheme and fit.  It makes or breaks tons of careers.  Everyone got talent.  They get their edge often being in the right offense or defense. 

I think Icky can be solid anywhere.  But if you had Bryce Young first, he wouldn’t be the LT I’d prefer. 

Im sure we are going to run.  But running out of the shotgun like Frank loves and Bryce probably needs isn’t the most ideal for a young Icky to strive IMO.  

Bigger fish to fry than Icky. It’s just a small example of the little things adding up IMO about our front office.  That is and has been having to change up the vision so much much in a small window.  But it’s not outlandish to point out Icky wasn’t drafted for what we want to do with Bryce because he wasn’t. 

It’s not ideal for a young raw (at pass blocking) LT to have to learn a new system again. I agree with that 100%. I don’t think there was a better option in his draft, but yeah in an ideal world we sign an elite, nimble, dancing bear type vet LT to protect Young’s blindside. Those just aren’t available so we have to develop our own. The good news is Icky has shown he can be great and belongs in the NFL already. He should grow and continue to develop with Young. 

[d-dave]

While I am getting more concerned with each preseason game, I know the Panthers aren't game planning and they are trying to play vanilla.  While it would be great to have a full steam ahead team - they just aren't there.

New coaching staff, new schemes, and limited contact during training camp.  I think for guys like Icky, they are thinking too much.  That is going to happen.  I think there could be a high possibility of us having a really rough first half of the season while everyone figures out how to play and we settle this play calling issue.

Regardless of players - the team has done better with Brown calling the plays.  More points, first downs, and yards in the 2nd half.  So if I'm Frank, I have to be humble and give it Thomas.  Frank should be part of the game planning, but I think it's Thomas Brown's offense moving forward.

The good news is it's still preseason!  We still have a good amount of time before the season.  We'll see what happens!

[ForJimmy]

29 minutes ago, BlackPanther22 said:

Yeaaaahh I don’t think this fair at all. Ickey came along in pass pro as the season progressed last year and the run/pass splits weren’t as lopsided for the team as you seem to suggest. The team attempted to pass 457 time and attempted to run 483, so it’s not like his growth in pass pro can be downplayed by “lack of a passing game” last season.

And again, we don’t know *what* this offense is yet to even make bold declarations that our second year LT doesn’t “fit”. The only thing we know about this offense from what the coaches have said is that they will run the ball a lot and use shifts and motions, that’s it. 
 

I understand he hasn’t been great the first two preseason games but my God some of y’all gotta chill lmao. 

Thank you! I’ve seen no analyst question our promising young LT’s “fit” in our system (which he haven’t even seen in full yet). He just needs to get more reps and learn his assignments. 

[panthers55]

21 minutes ago, hepcat said:

No, they just need to commit to running the ball and keep Reich’s fancy passing plays on the shelf until the team develops more 

Reich is known to run the ball a lot. The preseason is the time to work on the passing game and various other timing elements. The running game usually doesn't require the amount of work that the passing game does. Corral won't be playing this year and Bryce is really just getting his feet wet. Apparently you have seen the new playbook Thomas put together. How many fancy Reich passing plays were in it?? And why would he deviate his pattern of heavily relying on his run game over the years? Inquiring minds want to know.

[kungfoodude]

41 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

Until we start gameplanning against defenses you can't tell that much about our eventual success. What you can evaluate now is how guys are doing 1 on 1 in their matches. So far mixed results for sure. If we can solidify the right guard position I will not be terribly worried as long as Campen is around.

It's concerning to see them look so disjointed but I agree. The wailing and gnashing of teeth is ridiculous until these bullets are live. 

If we are still having this discussion 2-3 weeks into the season, that's the time to start getting really concerned.

[ForJimmy]

3 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

Reich is known to run the ball a lot. The preseason is the time to work on the passing game and various other timing elements. The running game usually doesn't require the amount of work that the passing game does. Corral won't be playing this year and Bryce is really just getting his feet wet. Apparently you have seen the new playbook Thomas put together. How many fancy Reich passing plays were in it?? And why would he deviate his pattern of heavily relying on his run game over the years? Inquiring minds want to know.

Yeah Reich’s offense had Jonathan Taylor putting up borderline MVP numbers. He will run the ball often, especially with a rookie QB.

[CRA]

6 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

Yeah Reich’s offense had Jonathan Taylor putting up borderline MVP numbers. He will run the ball often, especially with a rookie QB.

I don’t think anyone thinks Frank isn’t going to run.  Convo was just about Icky and his style. 

Frank essentially runs his run game from the shotgun.  Which is a different brand than what Wilks does for example.  

[panthers55]

31 minutes ago, CRA said:

I don’t think anyone thinks Frank isn’t going to run.  Convo was just about Icky and his style. 

Frank essentially runs his run game from the shotgun.  Which is a different brand than what Wilks does for example.  

What he does is run or pass out of the same formation. Since we will be passing out of the shotgun we are working in running out of it as well. Wilks just lined up and ran it smashmouth. Not much attempt to disguise it.

[CRA]

8 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

What he does is run or pass out of the same formation. Since we will be passing out of the shotgun we are working in running out of it as well. Wilks just lined up and ran it smashmouth. Not much attempt to disguise it.

Yeah, life was easier for Icky in Wilks world.   

and a “regression” if you want to call it that will make sense.   New scheme.  Emphasis on developing a passer not hiding one is overall harder job for him. 

[OceanPanther]

 

Bryce's scoring drive , 2nd qtr,  We're basicly first and 10 from from the 10 or 11 yrd line. 

O line 

END QUARTER 1

•  

• 1st & 10 at NYG 11

  (15:00 - 2nd) C.Hubbard up the middle to NYG 10 for 1 yard (B.Okereke; J.Riley).

• 2nd & 9 at NYG 10

  (14:20 - 2nd) (Shotgun) B.Young sacked at NYG 17 for -7 yards (K.Thibodeaux).  SACKED

• 3rd & 16 at NYG 17

  (14:20 - 2nd) (Shotgun) PENALTY on CAR, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at NYG 17 - No Play.   DELAY OF GAME 

• 3rd & 21 at NYG 22

  (13:04 - 2nd) (Shotgun) B.Young pass short right to H.Hurst pushed ob at NYG 7 for 15 yards (T.Hawkins) [K.Thibodeaux]. PENALTY on CAR-C.Zavala, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at NYG 22 - No Play.  OFFENSIVE HOLDING 

• 3rd & 31 at NYG 32

  (12:39 - 2nd) (Shotgun) B.Young pass short middle to D.Chark pushed ob at NYG 19 for 13 yards (B.Okereke).

• 4th & 18 at NYG 19

  (11:58 - 2nd) M.Wright 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Jansen, Holder-J.Hekker

These are things that can be fixed.   We have 22 more days till show time. 

We think that we'll be a run first team and if  Mile Sanders can carry the load,  that'll take some of the pressure off  having to pass 70% of the time. It'll give our O line more time to jell.  Many O lines don't jell by game 1.  But we need to be A LOT better at pass protecting.  

 O line STOP THE PENALTIES