Former Panther OL Michael Wahle on Ikey

[BY9Franchise]

On 11/3/2023 at 6:07 PM, stratocatter said:

I am ready to see Ekwanu go to guard and worry about sealing that inside for a QB to step into. 

After a couple more years maybe he can learn enough to do better at LT. 

A couple of years to get his feet wet in the pros at G may have been the best thing anyway. 

With a QB of BYs stature G play is more important.

[PantherKyle]

On 11/2/2023 at 5:37 PM, LinvilleGorge said:

We knew Ickey was a physical specimen that needed refinement, especially in pass protection.

But the Panthers drafting players and them not developing a bit is becoming quite a thing. TMJ was better as a rookie than he is now. Ickey was better as a rookie than he is now. Chinn should've been the DROY and we could barely find a way to get him on the field this year. Burns is still a talented pass rusher who is a liability against the run. The list goes on and on. Our rookies tend to be at their best on draft day. That's concerning to say the least.

I agree with everything except Burns. Still underrated by this fanbase. He's not Bosa, but he's not Burns of 2019. He's a premier player in this league.

[LinvilleGorge]

10 minutes ago, PantherKyle said:

I agree with everything except Burns. Still underrated by this fanbase. He's not Bosa, but he's not Burns of 2019. He's a premier player in this league.

What is he significantly better at? He made a jump from a nonexistent run defender as a rookie to a bad run defender in his second year and has been the same guy ever since.

[PantherKyle]

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

What is he significantly better at? He made a jump from a nonexistent run defender as a rookie to a bad run defender in his second year and has been the same guy ever since.

Rushing the passer.

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, PantherKyle said:

Rushing the passer.

Find it in the stats. Last year's 12.5 sacks kinda looks like an anomaly when his QB hits has remained static.

Honestly, he's been the same guy. The defensive scheme shift that was supposed to allow him to shine has produced the same guy. He is what he is. He's a one trick pony and he's only borderline elite at that one trick.

[Hogan]

On 11/2/2023 at 7:09 PM, Mr. Scot said:

Honestly, it could just be one of those transitional things.

Going from a college player that's used to having summers off to a professional who's basically working year round isn't an easy thing for some people. Failure to do so is a big reason why some guys bust out of the NFL.

Perhaps in the second pro offseason, he'll take a better approach.

Some have a fire in their belly to be the best. Others don't. Where does the fire come from? No one knows.

[stratocatter]

On 11/4/2023 at 12:50 PM, RJK said:

It’s football not rocket science. The fact they had a whole offseason and half a regular season and the starting RB and WRS and OL still don’t know what to do on any given play is 100% coaching

I have a hard time arguing against that.

I know I was flabbergasted seeing this offensive dream team’s ‘new’ offense for the first time, you know, after the gloves of preseason came off. Impressive feat.