December 30, 2025 • 16 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
We talk some ball, we talk some Panthers with a
former Panther and pregame, halftime, postgame. He does it all
Queen Citynewspanthers dot Com and he's my press box buddy.
I get to sit next to Al Wallace for every
Panthers home game in the press box. It's one of
the great joys of my Sunday. And Al Wallace is
back with us here on a Tuesday afternoon. Al, what's
going on, brother?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Happy New Year, Happy New Year. Man, appreciate you having
me on again. Yeah, doing good down in Florida. Wintertime here,
so a chilly sixty five.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
All right then? So all right, so wait, you're in Florida.
I'm guessing though, you're probably not going to head over
to Tampa for the game on Sunday or or Saturday, or.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Are you no. I'm going to be back in Charlotte
on Saturday. I'll be in studio for a Black and
Blue kickoff live, So doing the show live from the
studio Queen City News and the crew here. We will
have a crew on site at the game.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
All right, Well, let's just start with what happens Sunday.
There's a lot we got to talk about, including last
night and all these other things. But there was an
opportunity again on Sunday to close this thing out with
the Miami Dolphins doing what Carolina needed them to do,
and that was beat Tampa. But Carolina couldn't get the
job done. Back to back turnovers in the third quarter
really seemed to swing things. We had the JC Horn
(01:16):
third down disaster, we had Dave Canalis kneeling on the
football with two minutes left to go. There's a lot
to talk about, but what was how frustrating was that
for you? I saw your reaction live, but you know
now that we're out of the press box, like, are
you still really frustrated by the way they played or
what's you're feeling about that game?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It's frustrated because this team doesn't seem to be capable
of capitalizing on a few opportunities they've had now to
win the division. And when you see this game in
your building in front of the fans, the last maybe
the last game if things don't work out here to
go out and do that. Man, just so many great
(01:54):
former players, past players, great legends that I was with
there to watch this team take on the Seattle Seahawks,
another top tier team in the NFC, and they gave
you opportunity after opportunity to get it done. You knew
Sam Donald was going to make mistakes. He starts seeing
those proverbial ghosts that he's known for, and you just
(02:14):
get it done. You lay an egg. And it is
incredibly disappointing because they had been on this roller coaster
ride and they didn't stop it from rolling. They went
back downhill this week?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Did you what are we calling it? The L formation?
The non victory formation there at the end, Al I
had some people really pissed off about that on the
text line yesterday. I didn't like it either, but I
understood it. How did you feel about it?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah? I think from an optic standpoint that that type
of surrender is what it is, is how I saw it.
When you take a knee and a loss, you did
victory formation for a reason is because that's how you
want to run out the remainder of the clock. But
this team conceded, and you never want to be in
that position on your field in front of your fans
(02:58):
after a holiday, just hey throwing in you're waving the
white flag. So optically it wasn't the best, but I
understand it, especially when you saw Dave Canalis go to
the podium. Colin kind of explained the situation. You want
to just not You want to avoid any mishaps where
a guy tweaks something or gets hurt on a final
play of the game, and it happens more often than
(03:19):
we pay attention to, so I understand it. I would
have tried to find some other way, even if you
put a few backup guys in there to run a
final play, but not not surrender, not take a knee
on your field.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I didn't like it, but somebody did point out yesterday, Hey,
these backups have been standing there cold on the sideline
for three and a half quarters. You put somebody in cold,
they might get hurt too. So a lot of things
that could have happened. It just thinks that that could
be could be the last thing that fansye inside that building,
depending upon how things go this upcoming weekend. Al I mean,
the offense was just stale, stagnant. A lot of things
(03:52):
went wrong, wasn't much time to throw receivers, didn't get
a lot of separation, Bryce made some mistakes. They couldn't
get the running game going. I mean, here, we've done
this so many times. You and I have had this conversation.
What went wrong? Why didn't they look like they did
the week prior? But like, I don't know, al why
how do you go from what we saw the week
prior to fifty four yards of passing offense?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yeah? I think it's a bit a common theme. When
this team isn't able to play with ballance on offense,
when they're not able to throw the ball and run
the ball, sometimes you forget about the passing game. When
Cuba's running well, when Rico's dominating earlier in the season.
In the running game, that offensive line is moving bodies,
they're opening up holes. You forget that the passing game
(04:35):
works too, and it's largely the play action pass and
things off of that run fag. But when it's out
of balance, right, you're not able to run the ball,
and now you're asking Bryce Young to sit in the
pocket and throw the ball down the field. This team
shows some weaknesses. They show some flaws in an offensive
line that's been patchwork together. Guys have really stepped up
(04:56):
and done a really good job. You have to take
your hat off to those groups. That group who lost
Robert Hunt. You know, guys have been in and out
over several weeks. Pass protection is still maybe a thing
they're trying to have come together. And Bryce, when he's rushed,
his panic, he's hurried, he's thrown on the run, he
makes bad decisions. And in those games we've seen this
(05:16):
offense really get stagnant, it's been because they haven't been
able to run the ball. They haven't committed to it
the way that you would like to see from Dave Canalis.
And I think that play sheet gets really tight for him,
it gets really small, and he plays really conservative or
calls the game really conservatively well.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And I think too, to add to that point, you've
also got a quarterback who he's been in the NFL
for three years now, but he also spent a lot
of time with Nick Saban, and turnovers were a sin
under Nick Saban. Like Bryce did not really put the
ball at risk. Nick Saban did not want that, and
I think that's stuck with Bryce too, and so it
all compounds, and you know, it made for a very
frustrating day. What did you make of I thought it
(05:55):
was interesting in the postgame press conference when Dave outright
admitted that Seattle playing as much man coverage as they
did really caught them off guard. Didn't feel like they
started to adjust to that al until they were down
seventeen to three late in the third quarter. There. I've
said this multiple times this week, but Seattle led the
league in zone usage coming in. But they saw something
(06:16):
and they flipped a man and it really bothered Carolina.
What did you think of Dave admitting that.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, I think that was not the best Because you
have a team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that's certainly
going to get this film. They're going to look at
this postgame presser. They're going to figure out if that's
something in this copycat league that can frustrate your quarterback. Right,
it's not clean reads, it's not open windows to throw
its body on body, and if you can get Jamel
(06:42):
Dean in some of those corners that secondary for the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with their rush, it's going to
create problems. Right. It forces Bryce to go to a
second read, maybe a third read sometimes and you can
see the frustration in his body language when he has
to check down. And that's what we saw Sunday over
and over again, Bryce going to his through his progression.
(07:05):
No one's open, dump it down to a tight end
to a running back flaring out of the backfield, and
immediately the body language the frustration because he knows, like
you said, guy, he's not gonna throw it at Hang's way.
He's not going to force it in a window. And
some of that gun slinger that we see in guys
like Baker Mayfield and other quarterbacks that tend to maybe
(07:25):
throw it away, you know, turn it over a lot.
You're not gonna get those big plays because Bryce is
not gonna risk it. He's just gonna check it down
and live to see the next play that hurts this team.
When he has to perform that way.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It feels like again lack of deep threat. You know,
played a factor again on Sunday for a lot of reasons,
I'm sure, but the one question that I'm getting a
lot this week from people is, you know, why not
use Jimmy Horn in a slightly expanded capacity in that way.
I mean, you drafted him because he was a speed guy,
and all we've really seen for the most part is
gadget plays jet sweeps. I mean, he's had a couple
(07:56):
of you know, fifteen twenty yard catches in some pivotal moments,
but there really hasn't been any attempt to get him
vertical down the field. Why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, because I think it's exactly people are saying the
right thing. Is exactly why they drafted him. They drafted
him as a speed guy. That is a translation for gadget.
They're not drafting a wide receiver with speed necessarily. So
a guy that has a skill set the route tree
can dominate win one on ones, can run after the
(08:26):
catch because of his strength of physicality, and then he
has the great speed. That's the order of things. But
if your order of things is speed, then develop those things.
Jimmy Horn is doing exactly what the Carolina Panthers drafted
him for. He's gonna be a gadget. He's the eye candy.
He's the guy that's going to freeze coverages, that's gonna
(08:46):
take linebackers out of the box. And that's why you
see him on the orbit motions, the jet motions. They're
trying to disrupt the eyes and the reads and the
responsibilities of the defensive backs and linebackers. And right now
he's been relegated to that, So you know, I think
he's still cooking. I think he's still loading. He certainly
makes plays when they ask him to, when he has
the opportunity. I just don't know that he can have
(09:09):
a bigger role or you're going to use him the
way you would a speed wide receiver like Jackson Smith
and Jigm You saw on the other side of the field,
a guy that can just maybe blow you away. But
as I think, more well rounded and developed receiver coming
out of college.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
We got Al Wallace hanging out here with us on
the hotline. Panthers and Bucks coming up on Saturday, Week eighteen,
a de facto playoff game, four thirty ESPN. Chris Vaaller,
Dan Orlovski, Lewis Riddeck going to be on the call
for this one. I don't know, Al. I mean, your
mindset going into this game on Saturday, is what I mean.
And I'll just say one more thing here. I mean,
(09:45):
you know, Carolina's coming off a frustrating loss to a
very good team, but Tampa is spiraling right now.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Al.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
They've lost seven of eight and Baker Mayfield was limited
in practice today. Apparently both of his shoulders are now
injured and he's got a knee problem like that, and
Tristan Wurst didn't practice today either. I mean, anything can
happen in the NFL. But like if you're Carolina, I
mean you got to be a little bit confident going
into this thing, right.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Yeah, I like Carolina in this spot. I absolutely feel
good about this matchup. And one thing I've learned and
we've all learned throughout this year that Bryce young this team,
they've canalist to running, attack the defense. They really lean
into the fact and that feeling of wanting to get
that loss out of the pit of their stomach. I
(10:29):
think they bounce back the way they've done all season,
and they go to Tampa being very familiar with this
football team. All the adversity and the injuries that the
Tempa Bay Buccaneers are going through, blanked, completely blanked in
the month of December and only one win against the Saints,
I believe in November and trying to figure it out.
It's a desperate team and that's a good spot to
(10:50):
catch a team because guys are going to try to
be extra, They're going to try to do things that
are outside the scheme of things. And I think you
catch them in the perfect spot of press and the
perfect guy for the job is Bryce s Young. He's
going to go into a calm. He's gonna forget about
fifty four yards and everything that he did last week.
And I think he has a big day. I think
the Panthers have a big day. They have two opportunities
(11:13):
to get into the playoffs. I don't want to lean
on Atlanta. Didn't think they would have the game they
had against the Rams, but I think the Panthers get
it done. I think they take care of business on
the rude.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
But since you mentioned it, what did you think of
that last night? I was at the Hornets game, you know,
watching it with no sound on, but I was just Slackjohn.
I couldn't believe. I thought. I didn't bank on the
Rams just not showing up, and the Falcons did try
to give it away. But like last night was monumental.
Now the Panthers are looking at like a seventy eight
percent chance to make the playoffs this weekend because of that.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yeah, I think that Atlanta Falcons are the most confusing
team in the NFL going into this season. I think
that roster was one of the more talented certainly with
Jon Robinson at the running back spot, if not for
Christian McCaffrey told me, who's the most dangerous weapon in
the NFL. That kid is absolutely incredible and what he
can do on the ground in the passing game. So
(12:05):
I think the roster is talented and they just have
underwhelmed in so many areas. Now top rated offense with
the Rams, but go just look at statistically where the
Atlanta Falcons are ranked. They're one of the top passing
defenses with pressures, interceptions, turning the ball over. And I
think it was a perfect matchup for them. And just
(12:26):
like we saw here with Matthew Stafford, he will turn
the ball over. He has turned the ball all over.
That's kind of plagued him since he's been a Los
Angeles Ram. So I thought it all came together for
the Falcons. Man. I was hopeful last night that they
would be able to get it done. And again Panther's
two opportunities. But you cannot wait for a team or
(12:46):
you don't want to risk having it depending on the
Falcons after you put play on Saturday, that they'll get
it done the next day.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, that sounds miserable, all right, two quick things. I'll
get you out of here. JC Horn made the Pro Bowl,
but Derek Brown did not. What'd you think of that?
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, you know what? I think it's I think it's
a snub personally because I like Quinn Williams. I look
at some of the guys who made it, Leonard Williams,
who he saw just this past week, and you know,
those are two really good guys. They're not more dominant,
They're not better than Derek Brown. I think it becomes
a beauty contest. And what Derek Brown does is not beautiful.
(13:24):
It is not something if you're not in the trenches.
You don't understand that hand to hand combat that guys
go through. You're looking for sacks and pass rush and
and things that are more visible to the casual fan.
And I think that even goes for the players that
vote right, they're voting for the game that is the sexiest.
And I've said this a number of times and I
(13:46):
get killed about it all time. I'm not an Kola fan.
It's not beautiful to watch. It is a beautiful game,
but I'm not entertained. I think that's Derek Brown. His
game doesn't entertain you. It's just dominant. He just does
what he's supposed to do, and he is a beast
in the middle. And I personally think it's a snub.
If I'm out of this market, if I'm not a panther,
what I think the same? Probably I would think like
(14:07):
everybody else, but I kind of understand it. But it's
it's I feel bad for him.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
He should be a pro bowling, all right, Well, because
you are a panther. I'll end on this. The Pro
Football Hall of Fame finalist list for the class of
twenty twenty six was released. Luke Keigley is a finalist
with at least I think a pretty decent chance to
get in this year. Steve Smith, though, not a finalist
this year, and he'll have to wait even longer. Larry Fitzgerald, obviously,
(14:33):
I think, is the headlining wide receiver in this class.
In some ways we kind of expected it, but I
don't know. I mean, I'm I'm bothered by the fact
that Steve is not in yet given some of the
wide receivers that are in. I also think again that
you know, Luke stands a very good chance to get
in this year. What were your thoughts on what we
learned about the Hall of Fame class.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, let's just start with Luke. And I was with
Luke and a lot of the guys, and everybody kind
of feels the same sentiment and we're all you know,
you say it without saying it. Don't want to jinx
it in that type of feel and atmosphere. But anyone
who deserves to be a first ballot Hall of Famer,
this guy's knowledge and understanding of the games. You understand
(15:12):
his career and how it was cut short. I mean,
this guy was the greatest. And I've said this, He's
the greatest Carolina Panther of all time. Nobody at any
position in this franchise's history has been better at their
job than Luke Kickley. And I'll go to my grave
believing that I played with some incredible players, including a
(15:33):
Hall of Famer in Julius Pepper's and Steve Smith, who
is a Hall of Famer. There are so many other
factors I believe in Steve's personal journey that are preventing
him from getting a NOD. It's tough for wide receivers.
We've seen wide receivers go through it and not get in.
For feels like an eternity. Steve's on that same path
(15:54):
because we feel a certain way about Steve, but maybe
he is not a house whole name like a Larry
Fitzgerald who has a bigger national player than age of
eighty nine. Look, my dog is elite. He was the best,
the most ferocious competitor of all time. The stats say
he's a Hall of Famer. It's a matter of time,
(16:15):
and I hate it. I feel it. I feel the
paint every time I see him. I feel the paint
every year this time that his name is not called
a doesn't make it to the finals, that he's not
up on that stage with the gold jacket.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
All right, buddy, listen, I appreciate you as always, and
hopefully you and I can can share a press box
together at least one more time before the season's up.
Where can they watch you this weekend?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, I'll be on Queen City News Black and Blue
Kickoff Live. That'll be ten am on Saturday morning. We'll
get everybody set up and ready for the big game
in Tampa at four point thirty. I've already told you
my prediction. You'll hear it at the end of the show.
I think the Panthers get it done, but check out
everybody else. See what everybody else thinks about this upcoming
weekends matchup.
Right now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
We talk some ball, we talk some Panthers with a
former Panther and pregame, halftime, postgame. He does it all
Queen Citynewspanthers dot Com and he's my press box buddy.
I get to sit next to Al Wallace for every
Panthers home game in the press box. It's one of
the great joys of my Sunday. And Al Wallace is
back with us here on a Tuesday afternoon. Al, what's
going on, brother?
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Happy New Year, Happy New Year. Man, appreciate you having
me on again. Yeah, doing good down in Florida. Wintertime here,
so a chilly sixty five.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
All right then? So all right, so wait, you're in Florida.
I'm guessing though, you're probably not going to head over
to Tampa for the game on Sunday or or Saturday, or.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Are you no. I'm going to be back in Charlotte
on Saturday. I'll be in studio for a Black and
Blue kickoff live, So doing the show live from the
studio Queen City News and the crew here. We will
have a crew on site at the game.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
All right, Well, let's just start with what happens Sunday.
There's a lot we got to talk about, including last
night and all these other things. But there was an
opportunity again on Sunday to close this thing out with
the Miami Dolphins doing what Carolina needed them to do,
and that was beat Tampa. But Carolina couldn't get the
job done. Back to back turnovers in the third quarter
really seemed to swing things. We had the JC Horn
(01:16):
third down disaster, we had Dave Canalis kneeling on the
football with two minutes left to go. There's a lot
to talk about, but what was how frustrating was that
for you? I saw your reaction live, but you know
now that we're out of the press box, like, are
you still really frustrated by the way they played or
what's you're feeling about that game?
Speaker 1 (01:34):
It's frustrated because this team doesn't seem to be capable
of capitalizing on a few opportunities they've had now to
win the division. And when you see this game in
your building in front of the fans, the last maybe
the last game if things don't work out here to
go out and do that. Man, just so many great
(01:54):
former players, past players, great legends that I was with
there to watch this team take on the Seattle Seahawks,
another top tier team in the NFC, and they gave
you opportunity after opportunity to get it done. You knew
Sam Donald was going to make mistakes. He starts seeing
those proverbial ghosts that he's known for, and you just
(02:14):
get it done. You lay an egg. And it is
incredibly disappointing because they had been on this roller coaster
ride and they didn't stop it from rolling. They went
back downhill this week?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Did you what are we calling it? The L formation?
The non victory formation there at the end, Al I
had some people really pissed off about that on the
text line yesterday. I didn't like it either, but I
understood it. How did you feel about it?
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah? I think from an optic standpoint that that type
of surrender is what it is, is how I saw it.
When you take a knee and a loss, you did
victory formation for a reason is because that's how you
want to run out the remainder of the clock. But
this team conceded, and you never want to be in
that position on your field in front of your fans
(02:58):
after a holiday, just hey throwing in you're waving the
white flag. So optically it wasn't the best, but I
understand it, especially when you saw Dave Canalis go to
the podium. Colin kind of explained the situation. You want
to just not You want to avoid any mishaps where
a guy tweaks something or gets hurt on a final
play of the game, and it happens more often than
(03:19):
we pay attention to, so I understand it. I would
have tried to find some other way, even if you
put a few backup guys in there to run a
final play, but not not surrender, not take a knee
on your field.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I didn't like it, but somebody did point out yesterday, Hey,
these backups have been standing there cold on the sideline
for three and a half quarters. You put somebody in cold,
they might get hurt too. So a lot of things
that could have happened. It just thinks that that could
be could be the last thing that fansye inside that building,
depending upon how things go this upcoming weekend. Al I mean,
the offense was just stale, stagnant. A lot of things
(03:52):
went wrong, wasn't much time to throw receivers, didn't get
a lot of separation, Bryce made some mistakes. They couldn't
get the running game going. I mean, here, we've done
this so many times. You and I have had this conversation.
What went wrong? Why didn't they look like they did
the week prior? But like, I don't know, al why
how do you go from what we saw the week
prior to fifty four yards of passing offense?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yeah? I think it's a bit a common theme. When
this team isn't able to play with ballance on offense,
when they're not able to throw the ball and run
the ball, sometimes you forget about the passing game. When
Cuba's running well, when Rico's dominating earlier in the season.
In the running game, that offensive line is moving bodies,
they're opening up holes. You forget that the passing game
(04:35):
works too, and it's largely the play action pass and
things off of that run fag. But when it's out
of balance, right, you're not able to run the ball,
and now you're asking Bryce Young to sit in the
pocket and throw the ball down the field. This team
shows some weaknesses. They show some flaws in an offensive
line that's been patchwork together. Guys have really stepped up
(04:56):
and done a really good job. You have to take
your hat off to those groups. That group who lost
Robert Hunt. You know, guys have been in and out
over several weeks. Pass protection is still maybe a thing
they're trying to have come together. And Bryce, when he's rushed,
his panic, he's hurried, he's thrown on the run, he
makes bad decisions. And in those games we've seen this
(05:16):
offense really get stagnant, it's been because they haven't been
able to run the ball. They haven't committed to it
the way that you would like to see from Dave Canalis.
And I think that play sheet gets really tight for him,
it gets really small, and he plays really conservative or
calls the game really conservatively well.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And I think too, to add to that point, you've
also got a quarterback who he's been in the NFL
for three years now, but he also spent a lot
of time with Nick Saban, and turnovers were a sin
under Nick Saban. Like Bryce did not really put the
ball at risk. Nick Saban did not want that, and
I think that's stuck with Bryce too, and so it
all compounds, and you know, it made for a very
frustrating day. What did you make of I thought it
(05:55):
was interesting in the postgame press conference when Dave outright
admitted that Seattle playing as much man coverage as they
did really caught them off guard. Didn't feel like they
started to adjust to that al until they were down
seventeen to three late in the third quarter. There. I've
said this multiple times this week, but Seattle led the
league in zone usage coming in. But they saw something
(06:16):
and they flipped a man and it really bothered Carolina.
What did you think of Dave admitting that.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, I think that was not the best Because you
have a team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that's certainly
going to get this film. They're going to look at
this postgame presser. They're going to figure out if that's
something in this copycat league that can frustrate your quarterback. Right,
it's not clean reads, it's not open windows to throw
its body on body, and if you can get Jamel
(06:42):
Dean in some of those corners that secondary for the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with their rush, it's going to
create problems. Right. It forces Bryce to go to a
second read, maybe a third read sometimes and you can
see the frustration in his body language when he has
to check down. And that's what we saw Sunday over
and over again, Bryce going to his through his progression.
(07:05):
No one's open, dump it down to a tight end
to a running back flaring out of the backfield, and
immediately the body language the frustration because he knows, like
you said, guy, he's not gonna throw it at Hang's way.
He's not going to force it in a window. And
some of that gun slinger that we see in guys
like Baker Mayfield and other quarterbacks that tend to maybe
(07:25):
throw it away, you know, turn it over a lot.
You're not gonna get those big plays because Bryce is
not gonna risk it. He's just gonna check it down
and live to see the next play that hurts this team.
When he has to perform that way.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It feels like again lack of deep threat. You know,
played a factor again on Sunday for a lot of reasons,
I'm sure, but the one question that I'm getting a
lot this week from people is, you know, why not
use Jimmy Horn in a slightly expanded capacity in that way.
I mean, you drafted him because he was a speed guy,
and all we've really seen for the most part is
gadget plays jet sweeps. I mean, he's had a couple
(07:56):
of you know, fifteen twenty yard catches in some pivotal moments,
but there really hasn't been any attempt to get him
vertical down the field. Why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, because I think it's exactly people are saying the
right thing. Is exactly why they drafted him. They drafted
him as a speed guy. That is a translation for gadget.
They're not drafting a wide receiver with speed necessarily. So
a guy that has a skill set the route tree
can dominate win one on ones, can run after the
(08:26):
catch because of his strength of physicality, and then he
has the great speed. That's the order of things. But
if your order of things is speed, then develop those things.
Jimmy Horn is doing exactly what the Carolina Panthers drafted
him for. He's gonna be a gadget. He's the eye candy.
He's the guy that's going to freeze coverages, that's gonna
(08:46):
take linebackers out of the box. And that's why you
see him on the orbit motions, the jet motions. They're
trying to disrupt the eyes and the reads and the
responsibilities of the defensive backs and linebackers. And right now
he's been relegated to that, So you know, I think
he's still cooking. I think he's still loading. He certainly
makes plays when they ask him to, when he has
the opportunity. I just don't know that he can have
(09:09):
a bigger role or you're going to use him the
way you would a speed wide receiver like Jackson Smith
and Jigm You saw on the other side of the field,
a guy that can just maybe blow you away. But
as I think, more well rounded and developed receiver coming
out of college.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
We got Al Wallace hanging out here with us on
the hotline. Panthers and Bucks coming up on Saturday, Week eighteen,
a de facto playoff game, four thirty ESPN. Chris Vaaller,
Dan Orlovski, Lewis Riddeck going to be on the call
for this one. I don't know, Al. I mean, your
mindset going into this game on Saturday, is what I mean.
And I'll just say one more thing here. I mean,
(09:45):
you know, Carolina's coming off a frustrating loss to a
very good team, but Tampa is spiraling right now.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Al.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
They've lost seven of eight and Baker Mayfield was limited
in practice today. Apparently both of his shoulders are now
injured and he's got a knee problem like that, and
Tristan Wurst didn't practice today either. I mean, anything can
happen in the NFL. But like if you're Carolina, I
mean you got to be a little bit confident going
into this thing, right.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Yeah, I like Carolina in this spot. I absolutely feel
good about this matchup. And one thing I've learned and
we've all learned throughout this year that Bryce young this team,
they've canalist to running, attack the defense. They really lean
into the fact and that feeling of wanting to get
that loss out of the pit of their stomach. I
(10:29):
think they bounce back the way they've done all season,
and they go to Tampa being very familiar with this
football team. All the adversity and the injuries that the
Tempa Bay Buccaneers are going through, blanked, completely blanked in
the month of December and only one win against the Saints,
I believe in November and trying to figure it out.
It's a desperate team and that's a good spot to
(10:50):
catch a team because guys are going to try to
be extra, They're going to try to do things that
are outside the scheme of things. And I think you
catch them in the perfect spot of press and the
perfect guy for the job is Bryce s Young. He's
going to go into a calm. He's gonna forget about
fifty four yards and everything that he did last week.
And I think he has a big day. I think
the Panthers have a big day. They have two opportunities
(11:13):
to get into the playoffs. I don't want to lean
on Atlanta. Didn't think they would have the game they
had against the Rams, but I think the Panthers get
it done. I think they take care of business on
the rude.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
But since you mentioned it, what did you think of
that last night? I was at the Hornets game, you know,
watching it with no sound on, but I was just Slackjohn.
I couldn't believe. I thought. I didn't bank on the
Rams just not showing up, and the Falcons did try
to give it away. But like last night was monumental.
Now the Panthers are looking at like a seventy eight
percent chance to make the playoffs this weekend because of that.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yeah, I think that Atlanta Falcons are the most confusing
team in the NFL going into this season. I think
that roster was one of the more talented certainly with
Jon Robinson at the running back spot, if not for
Christian McCaffrey told me, who's the most dangerous weapon in
the NFL. That kid is absolutely incredible and what he
can do on the ground in the passing game. So
(12:05):
I think the roster is talented and they just have
underwhelmed in so many areas. Now top rated offense with
the Rams, but go just look at statistically where the
Atlanta Falcons are ranked. They're one of the top passing
defenses with pressures, interceptions, turning the ball over. And I
think it was a perfect matchup for them. And just
(12:26):
like we saw here with Matthew Stafford, he will turn
the ball over. He has turned the ball all over.
That's kind of plagued him since he's been a Los
Angeles Ram. So I thought it all came together for
the Falcons. Man. I was hopeful last night that they
would be able to get it done. And again Panther's
two opportunities. But you cannot wait for a team or
(12:46):
you don't want to risk having it depending on the
Falcons after you put play on Saturday, that they'll get
it done the next day.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yeah, that sounds miserable, all right, two quick things. I'll
get you out of here. JC Horn made the Pro Bowl,
but Derek Brown did not. What'd you think of that?
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, you know what? I think it's I think it's
a snub personally because I like Quinn Williams. I look
at some of the guys who made it, Leonard Williams,
who he saw just this past week, and you know,
those are two really good guys. They're not more dominant,
They're not better than Derek Brown. I think it becomes
a beauty contest. And what Derek Brown does is not beautiful.
(13:24):
It is not something if you're not in the trenches.
You don't understand that hand to hand combat that guys
go through. You're looking for sacks and pass rush and
and things that are more visible to the casual fan.
And I think that even goes for the players that
vote right, they're voting for the game that is the sexiest.
And I've said this a number of times and I
(13:46):
get killed about it all time. I'm not an Kola fan.
It's not beautiful to watch. It is a beautiful game,
but I'm not entertained. I think that's Derek Brown. His
game doesn't entertain you. It's just dominant. He just does
what he's supposed to do, and he is a beast
in the middle. And I personally think it's a snub.
If I'm out of this market, if I'm not a panther,
what I think the same? Probably I would think like
(14:07):
everybody else, but I kind of understand it. But it's
it's I feel bad for him.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
He should be a pro bowling, all right, Well, because
you are a panther. I'll end on this. The Pro
Football Hall of Fame finalist list for the class of
twenty twenty six was released. Luke Keigley is a finalist
with at least I think a pretty decent chance to
get in this year. Steve Smith, though, not a finalist
this year, and he'll have to wait even longer. Larry Fitzgerald, obviously,
(14:33):
I think, is the headlining wide receiver in this class.
In some ways we kind of expected it, but I
don't know. I mean, I'm I'm bothered by the fact
that Steve is not in yet given some of the
wide receivers that are in. I also think again that
you know, Luke stands a very good chance to get
in this year. What were your thoughts on what we
learned about the Hall of Fame class.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, let's just start with Luke. And I was with
Luke and a lot of the guys, and everybody kind
of feels the same sentiment and we're all you know,
you say it without saying it. Don't want to jinx
it in that type of feel and atmosphere. But anyone
who deserves to be a first ballot Hall of Famer,
this guy's knowledge and understanding of the games. You understand
(15:12):
his career and how it was cut short. I mean,
this guy was the greatest. And I've said this, He's
the greatest Carolina Panther of all time. Nobody at any
position in this franchise's history has been better at their
job than Luke Kickley. And I'll go to my grave
believing that I played with some incredible players, including a
(15:33):
Hall of Famer in Julius Pepper's and Steve Smith, who
is a Hall of Famer. There are so many other
factors I believe in Steve's personal journey that are preventing
him from getting a NOD. It's tough for wide receivers.
We've seen wide receivers go through it and not get in.
For feels like an eternity. Steve's on that same path
(15:54):
because we feel a certain way about Steve, but maybe
he is not a house whole name like a Larry
Fitzgerald who has a bigger national player than age of
eighty nine. Look, my dog is elite. He was the best,
the most ferocious competitor of all time. The stats say
he's a Hall of Famer. It's a matter of time,
(16:15):
and I hate it. I feel it. I feel the
paint every time I see him. I feel the paint
every year this time that his name is not called
a doesn't make it to the finals, that he's not
up on that stage with the gold jacket.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
All right, buddy, listen, I appreciate you as always, and
hopefully you and I can can share a press box
together at least one more time before the season's up.
Where can they watch you this weekend?
Speaker 1 (16:36):
Yeah, I'll be on Queen City News Black and Blue
Kickoff Live. That'll be ten am on Saturday morning. We'll
get everybody set up and ready for the big game
in Tampa at four point thirty. I've already told you
my prediction. You'll hear it at the end of the show.
I think the Panthers get it done, but check out
everybody else. See what everybody else thinks about this upcoming
weekends matchup.
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