July 30, 2025 • 9 mins
Joey Ellis from Queen City News & Carolina Sports Live joins the show to talk about the start of Panthers training camp, what he makes of the competition at WR, if it's okay to talk about the team making a run at the postseason & more
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's keep the Panther talk going. Our next guest.
He's been busy, man, he was. He's been out there
at Panther camp and he's going to talk to us
about what he's been seeing. But also I know he's
been covering the Niners a little bit as well. He
is a part of that very deep roster bone. It's
not like the Panthers linebacking court fifty. They have great
(00:21):
depth at CSL and Joey ellis over there Queen City
News is a part of it, and he joins us
here on the Mac and Bone Show talk about what
he's been seeing at Panther camp.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Joey, thank you for coming on.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
How you doing that?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Too shabby? Guy? I'm actually calling you from Detroit, Michigan. Well,
chasing up the scenery for the next couple of days.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Okay, So I see you're scowling the NFC teams for
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
There you go, that's where you're from, right, I'm.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Programming rapid on the west side of the state with
my part in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Now, all right, cool, all right doing it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I like that he's scouting the Lions for the NFC
title game matchup with the Panthers. Oh sweet sweet, all right,
So when you've been out there at camp, all right,
so the wide receivers have been the stars of camp?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Is there? How much? When you watch this?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Are there one or two in particular that have really,
you know, caught your eye and are the most exciting
developments in camp that look the best? Or is it
just as a group, man, they have been been the stars?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I think as a group? I mean, there's gonna be
a lot of depth there, and it's gonna be a
position battle that's going to go right down through preseason,
I think, and they're gonna have to make some tough
decisions because there's a lot of different skill sets in
that room. But Renfro just with the journey that he's
been on and you know, missing all of last year
(01:46):
not even playing football. He said he didn't even know
if he was going to play again, and now he's
kind of I mean, I know, it's camp, so you
can kind of only take it with what you're seeing,
but he's looking more like that twenty twenty one Pro
Bowl caliber player, and he just has such a good
fee for the game and it's so obvious, and I
mean it looks immediately like he could be that security
blanket for Bryce Young, which you know every quarterback in
(02:08):
the Nationville Football League need. So he's really impressed. Jimmy
Horn Junior is really a enticing and impressive rookie. I
mean he is. He's not big, I mean he's barely
five to ten, but he is shifty as heck, and
he just he finds ways to get open and he
just makes tough catches. He made a really tough catch
yesterday in seven on seven. Nick Scott get him pretty
(02:31):
high and he just went up, played through traffic, caught
it and still kept running. I mean it just he
just kind of bounced right off of him. So he's
pretty fearless out there. And he's He's gotten a lot
of run in the return games as well, So he's
just a dynamic player. And I think they really got
really good value getting a Horn when they did, because
he is he made plays all the time at Colorado.
(02:52):
He was overshadowed by the two other studs there. But
I think he is has a chance to be a
very productive rookie this year.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
How much of a fan freight a fan favorite do
you think he can be? I know, the fans can't
see him, Yeah, but when they get their eyes on him,
with his ability, he's got that little he's got some
Dante Hall to his game where he's electrifying. How much
are the fans gonna love watching him?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Oh? They love him. I mean he's just he looks
like he's twelve years old too, so I think people would.
I mean, he's just he's young, and I mean you
put any clip of his on social media, and Panthers
fans are just rapidly eating enough they'll take any content
of Jimmy Horne that they can get, So, I mean
he's I think he's gonna be a fan favorite. I think,
especially early on when he's producing, we'll make him even
(03:37):
a bigger fan within the Panthers fan base there. He's
just a really good player. I've been really impressed with
him so far.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
We're talking to Joey Ellis from Queen City, New CSL.
He's been out of camp covering Panthers camp all right
on the defensive side of the ball, because there's so
much on offense that I feel good about, But the
defensive side, I just have to see how improved they are, right,
I know they're gonna bet but how much better when
you watch this defensing camp so far, and I know
(04:04):
they've only been in pads one time, though today will
be the second time. Is there have you seen reason
to believe, Hey, I think this is gonna be better.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's gonna be better?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Or is it just too too early for you to
to say that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I think it's too early. I mean it's just you
don't exactly know. I mean I could tell you looking
at that kind of revamped defensive line with you know,
Derrek Brown obviously back and adding Bobby Brown, bringing in
you know, wart in over I mean, ask now on
that defensive line, and you still got guys like Shy
Tuttle Ashawn Robinson, who's maybe the biggest human unplanneted earth.
(04:38):
So I mean literally there is a lot of beef
up front there, and they kind of addressed that in
the offseason. They knew they were the worst run defense
in football a year ago, so it's gonna be a
little bit tougher to probably, you hope, run on those guys.
So I think at least from that standpoint, it looks better.
There's guys in the back end who you know, Shamar
bartholowing you there's not much depth in the cornerback room,
(04:59):
and really good day yesterday and eleven. On eleven he
picked off Bryce Young, had a couple of pass breakups
as well, sowing a rather unproven room outside of J. C.
Horn Mike Jackson, who both had vet days on Tuesday.
I mean, he's looked impressive. Trevon Merrick has looked good.
The safety they brought over from Vegas. I mean, they're
paying him a lot of money as well, and there's
(05:20):
been talks that they've already been pleased with the way
he's been vocally in that room and you know, leading
those safeties and whatnot. And he's going to be a
tackling machine. He's going to play a lot in the box,
which I think is exactly what they want to run
in that defensive scheme. So the new additions have looked impressive.
I'm just now very curious at this point just to
see how it all meshes when you're actually you know,
(05:41):
live bullets are flying and they're actually playing against teams
you know they're different.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Jersey Joey, how much of the success of this team
offensively will depend on Dave Canalis's ability to actually commit
to this run game that we think can be so good.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I mean, it's it's who they say they are. Is
there a run and we saw that last year. And
you know when you go out and you add another
thousand yard rusher in ric o'dowdell and you bring back
the same offensive line, I think that's just massive. And
I mean, who's to say that against Chuba Hubbard is
not going to have another really good year. He looks
a little bit leaner, which I think will help his case,
(06:17):
and him and Dowdell just their shifty, different kind of backs.
And then you get in the guy like Etn the rookie,
who also looks like not a rookie. I mean, he's impressive,
physically impressive. So they've got some options there. I've seen
a lot of early like pre SAT motion stuff that
I think you didn't see quite as much last year
because I just don't think they had the players to
do that. Where you're now getting in Renfro in motion,
(06:38):
you're getting in Jimmy Horn. You can pull down a
lot of the backfield and motion him. So I think
if the run game's going, it really is going to
bleed over. It's the playbook, which is that we still
have not seen the full depth of what Canallis can
dial up offensively. So if they're hitting on all their strides,
get in the run game going first, I'm really interested
to see just what this full offense can look like
(07:00):
in total.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
All right, Joey, last thing, there is a debate among
Panther fans. Are they I think I think everybody believes
they're heading the right direction. They're improved, they're getting better, right,
We're excited about Bryce. But the debate is do you
think it's time to break through to the playoffs or
do you think.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Maybe they're a year away. Where do you fall on that?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I don't think. I mean, I don't see why you
couldn't make a push at the playoffs this year. I mean, again,
it's probably going to be Tampa's division to lose until
somebody actually goes out there and takes it. But then
you look at the rest of the division and I mean,
you still don't really know what Atlanta has with I mean,
their quarterback situation. We haven't seen enough of it long
term to know that they're going to have something there
(07:44):
with Penix that has to worry you, and in New
Orleans is kind of a mess right now with what's
happening in their offseason and even a year ago. So
I mean, who's the state Carolina. Can't you know, bump
the wind to four games and that could get you
nine and wins And in that division a lot of
times I ended up winning that division. So I don't
think it's too far off from them playing for a
(08:05):
playoffs spot. If Bryce Young takes the jump that people
are hoping he can take. I mean, there's no reason
that this offense could be significantly better in the defense
if they can just be middle of the pack and
stay healthy. I think they've had a lot more playmakers
on that side of the ball that can certainly impact games.
And I don't know, I think the schedule is favorable
as well, especially early on it.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Last time I want to take advantage at early schedule.
Personal not here.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Last time I was in Detroit, I was at a
sports bar I think it was called I think it
was called Harry's if I'm not mistaken, and the waitress
got a little bit flirty with me at that stays.
So if you could stop by there and see if
she's still there. Now, keep in mind, this was in
two thousand and nine, so things may have changed here.
But if you could just stop right there for me
and see if he's still there. I think your name was.
(08:48):
Her name was Angela.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Okay, I'm actually I'm going to the Tigers game at
one ten here, so I'll maybe i'll stop there before then.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
It's also sad that I remember a waitress's name from
sixteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
At a bar. I'm sure she members you too, though,
you know you.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
All right, Joe, you have fun on your trip up there, man,
And uh, all right, and thanks for joining us. Keep
up a good word, right you guys. All right, there
you go, Joey Ellis Queens, never forgetting your news. Charlotte
Sports Live
All right, let's keep the Panther talk going. Our next guest.
He's been busy, man, he was. He's been out there
at Panther camp and he's going to talk to us
about what he's been seeing. But also I know he's
been covering the Niners a little bit as well. He
is a part of that very deep roster bone. It's
not like the Panthers linebacking court fifty. They have great
(00:21):
depth at CSL and Joey ellis over there Queen City
News is a part of it, and he joins us
here on the Mac and Bone Show talk about what
he's been seeing at Panther camp.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Joey, thank you for coming on.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
How you doing that?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Too shabby? Guy? I'm actually calling you from Detroit, Michigan. Well,
chasing up the scenery for the next couple of days.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Okay, So I see you're scowling the NFC teams for
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
There you go, that's where you're from, right, I'm.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Programming rapid on the west side of the state with
my part in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Now, all right, cool, all right doing it.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I like that he's scouting the Lions for the NFC
title game matchup with the Panthers. Oh sweet sweet, all right,
So when you've been out there at camp, all right,
so the wide receivers have been the stars of camp?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Is there? How much? When you watch this?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Are there one or two in particular that have really,
you know, caught your eye and are the most exciting
developments in camp that look the best? Or is it
just as a group, man, they have been been the stars?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I think as a group? I mean, there's gonna be
a lot of depth there, and it's gonna be a
position battle that's going to go right down through preseason,
I think, and they're gonna have to make some tough
decisions because there's a lot of different skill sets in
that room. But Renfro just with the journey that he's
been on and you know, missing all of last year
(01:46):
not even playing football. He said he didn't even know
if he was going to play again, and now he's
kind of I mean, I know, it's camp, so you
can kind of only take it with what you're seeing,
but he's looking more like that twenty twenty one Pro
Bowl caliber player, and he just has such a good
fee for the game and it's so obvious, and I
mean it looks immediately like he could be that security
blanket for Bryce Young, which you know every quarterback in
(02:08):
the Nationville Football League need. So he's really impressed. Jimmy
Horn Junior is really a enticing and impressive rookie. I
mean he is. He's not big, I mean he's barely
five to ten, but he is shifty as heck, and
he just he finds ways to get open and he
just makes tough catches. He made a really tough catch
yesterday in seven on seven. Nick Scott get him pretty
(02:31):
high and he just went up, played through traffic, caught
it and still kept running. I mean it just he
just kind of bounced right off of him. So he's
pretty fearless out there. And he's He's gotten a lot
of run in the return games as well, So he's
just a dynamic player. And I think they really got
really good value getting a Horn when they did, because
he is he made plays all the time at Colorado.
(02:52):
He was overshadowed by the two other studs there. But
I think he is has a chance to be a
very productive rookie this year.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
How much of a fan freight a fan favorite do
you think he can be? I know, the fans can't
see him, Yeah, but when they get their eyes on him,
with his ability, he's got that little he's got some
Dante Hall to his game where he's electrifying. How much
are the fans gonna love watching him?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Oh? They love him. I mean he's just he looks
like he's twelve years old too, so I think people would.
I mean, he's just he's young, and I mean you
put any clip of his on social media, and Panthers
fans are just rapidly eating enough they'll take any content
of Jimmy Horne that they can get, So, I mean
he's I think he's gonna be a fan favorite. I think,
especially early on when he's producing, we'll make him even
(03:37):
a bigger fan within the Panthers fan base there. He's
just a really good player. I've been really impressed with
him so far.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
We're talking to Joey Ellis from Queen City, New CSL.
He's been out of camp covering Panthers camp all right
on the defensive side of the ball, because there's so
much on offense that I feel good about, But the
defensive side, I just have to see how improved they are, right,
I know they're gonna bet but how much better when
you watch this defensing camp so far, and I know
(04:04):
they've only been in pads one time, though today will
be the second time. Is there have you seen reason
to believe, Hey, I think this is gonna be better.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's gonna be better?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Or is it just too too early for you to
to say that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I think it's too early. I mean it's just you
don't exactly know. I mean I could tell you looking
at that kind of revamped defensive line with you know,
Derrek Brown obviously back and adding Bobby Brown, bringing in
you know, wart in over I mean, ask now on
that defensive line, and you still got guys like Shy
Tuttle Ashawn Robinson, who's maybe the biggest human unplanneted earth.
(04:38):
So I mean literally there is a lot of beef
up front there, and they kind of addressed that in
the offseason. They knew they were the worst run defense
in football a year ago, so it's gonna be a
little bit tougher to probably, you hope, run on those guys.
So I think at least from that standpoint, it looks better.
There's guys in the back end who you know, Shamar
bartholowing you there's not much depth in the cornerback room,
(04:59):
and really good day yesterday and eleven. On eleven he
picked off Bryce Young, had a couple of pass breakups
as well, sowing a rather unproven room outside of J. C.
Horn Mike Jackson, who both had vet days on Tuesday.
I mean, he's looked impressive. Trevon Merrick has looked good.
The safety they brought over from Vegas. I mean, they're
paying him a lot of money as well, and there's
(05:20):
been talks that they've already been pleased with the way
he's been vocally in that room and you know, leading
those safeties and whatnot. And he's going to be a
tackling machine. He's going to play a lot in the box,
which I think is exactly what they want to run
in that defensive scheme. So the new additions have looked impressive.
I'm just now very curious at this point just to
see how it all meshes when you're actually you know,
(05:41):
live bullets are flying and they're actually playing against teams
you know they're different.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
Jersey Joey, how much of the success of this team
offensively will depend on Dave Canalis's ability to actually commit
to this run game that we think can be so good.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I mean, it's it's who they say they are. Is
there a run and we saw that last year. And
you know when you go out and you add another
thousand yard rusher in ric o'dowdell and you bring back
the same offensive line, I think that's just massive. And
I mean, who's to say that against Chuba Hubbard is
not going to have another really good year. He looks
a little bit leaner, which I think will help his case,
(06:17):
and him and Dowdell just their shifty, different kind of backs.
And then you get in the guy like Etn the rookie,
who also looks like not a rookie. I mean, he's impressive,
physically impressive. So they've got some options there. I've seen
a lot of early like pre SAT motion stuff that
I think you didn't see quite as much last year
because I just don't think they had the players to
do that. Where you're now getting in Renfro in motion,
(06:38):
you're getting in Jimmy Horn. You can pull down a
lot of the backfield and motion him. So I think
if the run game's going, it really is going to
bleed over. It's the playbook, which is that we still
have not seen the full depth of what Canallis can
dial up offensively. So if they're hitting on all their strides,
get in the run game going first, I'm really interested
to see just what this full offense can look like
(07:00):
in total.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
All right, Joey, last thing, there is a debate among
Panther fans. Are they I think I think everybody believes
they're heading the right direction. They're improved, they're getting better, right,
We're excited about Bryce. But the debate is do you
think it's time to break through to the playoffs or
do you think.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Maybe they're a year away. Where do you fall on that?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I don't think. I mean, I don't see why you
couldn't make a push at the playoffs this year. I mean, again,
it's probably going to be Tampa's division to lose until
somebody actually goes out there and takes it. But then
you look at the rest of the division and I mean,
you still don't really know what Atlanta has with I mean,
their quarterback situation. We haven't seen enough of it long
term to know that they're going to have something there
(07:44):
with Penix that has to worry you, and in New
Orleans is kind of a mess right now with what's
happening in their offseason and even a year ago. So
I mean, who's the state Carolina. Can't you know, bump
the wind to four games and that could get you
nine and wins And in that division a lot of
times I ended up winning that division. So I don't
think it's too far off from them playing for a
(08:05):
playoffs spot. If Bryce Young takes the jump that people
are hoping he can take. I mean, there's no reason
that this offense could be significantly better in the defense
if they can just be middle of the pack and
stay healthy. I think they've had a lot more playmakers
on that side of the ball that can certainly impact games.
And I don't know, I think the schedule is favorable
as well, especially early on it.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Last time I want to take advantage at early schedule.
Personal not here.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Last time I was in Detroit, I was at a
sports bar I think it was called I think it
was called Harry's if I'm not mistaken, and the waitress
got a little bit flirty with me at that stays.
So if you could stop by there and see if
she's still there. Now, keep in mind, this was in
two thousand and nine, so things may have changed here.
But if you could just stop right there for me
and see if he's still there. I think your name was.
(08:48):
Her name was Angela.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Okay, I'm actually I'm going to the Tigers game at
one ten here, so I'll maybe i'll stop there before then.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
It's also sad that I remember a waitress's name from
sixteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
At a bar. I'm sure she members you too, though,
you know you.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
All right, Joe, you have fun on your trip up there, man,
And uh, all right, and thanks for joining us. Keep
up a good word, right you guys. All right, there
you go, Joey Ellis Queens, never forgetting your news. Charlotte
Sports Live
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