After "humbling" second season, Ikem Ekwonu ready to take advantage of a new offense

[ForJimmy]

18 minutes ago, jayboogieman said:

Taking a RB before the 4th round is a waste of a pick. Ignoring the hole at Center when they could have drafted one of the top ones in the draft was something that should have gotten them fired.

I think they valued a feature back with hands pretty high in trying to salvage/help their young QB. Brooks was RB1 on several boards and they got him in the middle of the 2nd plus a future 2nd in the process.
I’m with you on center being a concern, and just waiting to see how it all unfolds. I’m not sure if they are not wanting any rookies on the OL or what, but I hope they know what they are doing with Corbet and BC holding it down. Maybe they sign one on waivers as assurance? If they roll out with Corbett and BC at center and they struggle then it’s definitely a strike against this staff. We shall see…

[mrcompletely11]

6 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I think they valued a feature back with hands pretty high in trying to salvage/help their young QB. Brooks was RB1 on several boards and they got him in the middle of the 2nd plus a future 2nd in the process.
I’m with you on center being a concern, and just waiting to see how it all unfolds. I’m not sure if they are not wanting any rookies on the OL or what, but I hope they know what they are doing with Corbet and BC holding it down. Maybe they sign one on waivers as assurance? If they roll out with Corbett and BC at center and they struggle then it’s definitely a strike against this staff. We shall see…

Running backs as a whole past the first round are on 4 year deals.  And God knows if there is a franchise that's has been burned on rb contracts it's us.  So picking one in the 2nd in a down year where he will not be 100% is fuging nuts especially over one of the top center prospects 

[jayboogieman]

13 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I think they valued a feature back with hands pretty high in trying to salvage/help their young QB. Brooks was RB1 on several boards and they got him in the middle of the 2nd plus a future 2nd in the process.
I’m with you on center being a concern, and just waiting to see how it all unfolds. I’m not sure if they are not wanting any rookies on the OL or what, but I hope they know what they are doing with Corbet and BC holding it down. Maybe they sign one on waivers as assurance? If they roll out with Corbett and BC at center and they struggle then it’s definitely a strike against this staff. We shall see…

But it remains to be seen if Brooks can be a featured back in the NFL, especially since he's coming off an injury. I also disagree with them that RB was a need. But as you said, we'll see how it plays out.

As for center, I'm not holding my breath. It seems the Panthers always take two steps back for every step they take forward.

[ForJimmy]

10 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Running backs as a whole past the first round are on 4 year deals.  And God knows if there is a franchise that's has been burned on rb contracts it's us.  So picking one in the 2nd in a down year where he will not be 100% is fuging nuts especially over one of the top center prospects 

I don’t really agree with it either but we appear the really want to be able to run the ball and have a RB that can become out feature back. I’m just not sure this staff was wanting to roll out a rookie center. CB or Edge would have been other preferred options as well. We are still pretty weak there…

[jayboogieman]

6 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I don’t really agree with it either but we appear the really want to be able to run the ball and have a RB that can become out feature back. I’m just not sure this staff was wanting to roll out a rookie center. CB or Edge would have been other preferred options as well. We are still pretty weak there…

Eh, if they've been promised two years and a chance of a do-over if Young still sucks, then they could have drafted a center even if Corbett would start. Having a high caliber center is a must. Maybe the Panthers will get that eventually.

[strato]

10 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I don’t really agree with it either but we appear the really want to be able to run the ball and have a RB that can become out feature back. I’m just not sure this staff was wanting to roll out a rookie center. CB or Edge would have been other preferred options as well. We are still pretty weak there…

Yeah. Very good point. The rookie thing with the rookie center calling out protections, with this QB being where he is, that is probably the biggest single factor in not taking a ready to start college guy. 

Edited May 31 by strato

[CRA]

2 hours ago, ForJimmy said:

You went a long way without answering the question. Again I’m indifferent about Young and Stroud is one of my favorites. I just think a lot seems to be getting assumed here. 
For example Young got on social with his WRs last year and it was just PR. Stroud does a throwing session for a Madden streamer and he is putting in the work. I try to keep comparisons straightforward and fair, and Stroud has plenty to hold over Young’s head without trying to assume too much. 

Yeah, I don’t recall the folks actually coming for Bryce Young last offseason for being with his teammates.  I think that’s a little revisionist.   

and the Texans are the ones who have talked about Stroud working and throwing with his teammates and being with them.  He clearly didn’t unplug from football.  He was all over everything this offseason doing nothing but talking football and sports.   He definitely wasn’t unplugged and embracing being a loner.  You want to take stance all he has actually done this offseason football related was a Sketch social media video but otherwise had nothing to do with football?   Well, I guess I’ll accept that challenge.  

[ForJimmy]

49 minutes ago, CRA said:

Yeah, I don’t recall the folks actually coming for Bryce Young last offseason for being with his teammates.  I think that’s a little revisionist.   

and the Texans are the ones who have talked about Stroud working and throwing with his teammates and being with them.  He clearly didn’t unplug from football.  He was all over everything this offseason doing nothing but talking football and sports.   He definitely wasn’t unplugged and embracing being a loner.  You want to take stance all he has actually done this offseason football related was a Sketch social media video but otherwise had nothing to do with football?   Well, I guess I’ll accept that challenge.  

I can find quotes of certain posters on here referring Young’s as a PR stunt if you are doubting it. I mean it probably was to a degree. Anyone posting workouts on social is doing some form of PR. The trainer posted it on social to show the top pick “training” at his facilities. 
I’m just saying that one video was a Madden streamer promo. Twitch or something was the guy’s name. He is like a top Madden player. I just haven’t been aware of other ones. I believe Stroud was even catching passes from Diggs for fun during it. I was genuinely asking where the other ones were because you aren’t the only one mentioning them and I haven’t been following that closely. It’s something to take note of, if he is doing this and the other young QBs aren’t. 

Edited May 31 by ForJimmy

[ForJimmy]

54 minutes ago, jayboogieman said:

Eh, if they've been promised two years and a chance of a do-over if Young still sucks, then they could have drafted a center even if Corbett would start. Having a high caliber center is a must. Maybe the Panthers will get that eventually.

Who knows what they been promised and who knows if Tepper will or won’t honor it. Rhule said it would take 7 years but Tepper got over it quick (and thankfully so). 

[ForJimmy]

54 minutes ago, strato said:

Yeah. Very good point. The rookie thing with the rookie center calling out protections, with this QB being where he is, that is probably the biggest single factor in not taking a ready to start college guy. 

That’s the only reason I can think of why they didn’t draft one. I still kind of wanted one later to develop behind Corbett. The only other thing I can imagine is they are strongly confident in these OGs making the change. 

[CRA]

Just now, ForJimmy said:

I’m just saying that one video was a Madden streamer promo. Twitch or something was the guy’s name. He is like a top Madden player. I just haven’t been aware of other ones. I believe Stroud was even catching passes from Diggs for fun during it. I was genuinely asking where the other ones were because you aren’t the only one mentioning them and I haven’t been following that closely. It’s something to take note of, if he is doing this and the other young QBs aren’t. 

I mean, the Madden kid showed up to do a spot.  Yes.   There is also footage of everyone working out inside the facility that day  then everyone going outside and doing a legit workout.   All that went down before Sketch came by at the end of the day to mess around.   Which is why his coaches talk about the workout sessions and not frame as the clip my kid cares about that got filmed at one point, 

and Stroud was everywhere this offseason.  Too much of him in all honesty online.   Interacting with his teammates.  Talking football with anyone he can.  Breaking down football.   Breaking down film.  That’s not being away from football. 

Bryce’s response on top of not wanting anything to do with the game…turned me off because of the isolation talk.  It’s why I refer to him as an Eli Manning type in terms of the leadership he likely is going to bring.  Which isn’t what I prefer from my QB 1.  It’s why I say he doesn’t check the textbook boxes.  But the Giants got 2 rings with it so there is that.  But Eli was also heavy criticized for that because it isn’t the norm at that spot. 

[ForJimmy]

3 minutes ago, CRA said:

I mean, the Madden kid showed up to do a spot.  Yes.   There is also footage of everyone working out inside the facility that day  then everyone going outside and doing a legit workout.   All that went down before Sketch came by at the end of the day to mess around.   Which is why his coaches talk about the workout sessions and not frame as the clip my kid cares about that got filmed at one point, 

and Stroud was everywhere this offseason.  Too much of him in all honesty online.   Interacting with his teammates.  Talking football with anyone he can.  Breaking down football.   Breaking down film.  That’s not being away from football. 

Bryce’s response on top of not wanting anything to do with the game…turned me off because of the isolation talk.  It’s why I refer to him as an Eli Manning type in terms of the leadership he likely is going to bring.  Which isn’t what I prefer from my QB 1.  It’s why I say he doesn’t check the textbook boxes.  But the Giants got 2 rings with it so there is that.  But Eli was also heavy criticized for that because it isn’t the norm at that spot. 

Yeah Stroud was the OROTY and one of the future faces on the NFL. He was on a lot of shows and events because he gets clicks/viewers and already has a strong fan base. I’d bet he was one of the top jerseys. He even played in the celebrity basketball game. I was just asking about him hosting these workouts with his WRs lol. I’m not sure what I’m getting every response possible but that one? I haven seen AR or Levis doing it either, but people keep mentioning Stroud specifically so I was just curious. We can move on now since I don’t think this is going anywhere… 

[CRA]

17 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I can find quotes of certain posters on here referring Young’s as a PR stunt if you are doubting it. I mean it probably was to a degree. Anyone posting workouts on social is doing some form of PR. The trainer posted it on social to show the top pick “training” at his facilities. 
I’m just saying that one video was a Madden streamer promo. Twitch or something was the guy’s name. He is like a top Madden player. I just haven’t been aware of other ones. I believe Stroud was even catching passes from Diggs for fun during it. I was genuinely asking where the other ones were because you aren’t the only one mentioning them and I haven’t been following that closely. It’s something to take note of, if he is doing this and the other young QBs aren’t. 

Well, there is PR to everything, but big picture  that’s what he was supposed to be doing.  And the Panther PR itself IMO is what largely is being attacked of late.  It rubs folks the wrong way at this point given what a joke the org is presently.  So I think with some there is bit of a distinction at times there.  When so much of what they have presented has consistently been bologna.  Was Bryce catching some of that? Maybe.  But he was doing what was expected this time last year. 

[CRA]

9 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

Yeah Stroud was the OROTY and one of the future faces on the NFL. He was on a lot of shows and events because he gets clicks/viewers and already has a strong fan base. I’d bet he was one of the top jerseys. He even played in the celebrity basketball game. I was just asking about him hosting these workouts with his WRs lol. I’m not sure what I’m getting every response possible but that one? I haven seen AR or Levis doing it either, but people keep mentioning Stroud specifically so I was just curious. We can move on now since I don’t think this is going anywhere… 

Well, because Bryce didn’t just say I didn’t throw with my WRs.  Bryce made the point of having nothing to do with football overall.   Then went in about being a loner and being alone. So it’s more than just not working out with his teammates.  It’s a lost offseason to build leadership and being the dude.  

CJ Stroud is checking multiple boxes with his actions.  Based on what Bryce said….its a 180 from what you generally would like to see and hear. 

.