September 24, 2025 • 10 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sports Radio ninety two seven wfn Z KB and smoke
back with you here on a Wednesday, having a good time.
Roman Harper coming up at five o'clock. We'll talk a
lot of SEC football with him, plenty of news on
that front. We'll get his thoughts on the Panthers as well,
which is what we do right now with the voice
of the Carolina Panthers good friend of the show. You
can hear him all over the Carolina Panthers Radio network.
(00:21):
A Niche Shroff is back with us for a Wednesday conversation.
A Niche, How are you, buddy? How good? How good
do things feel this week?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, things feel good. It's been a good week in
Panther Land. And you kind of look at the schedule
and you go, mile my, it's already week four and
you're basically at the quarter pole of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It is wild how fast that goes. Every year we
acknowledge it, but it always seems to sneak up on us.
Just big picture, obviously, home opener, big win. You thump
the Falcons thirty to nothing. There's nothing bad about that.
But what did you like the most? What was your
favorite part?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I just felt happy for the guys on defense. They've
heard it from us, from you, from me, from the
hands for the last year plus about just what this
defense couldn't do. And I think it's one thing to
speak it into existence, right when people around the team
are telling you that, hey, the defense is better and
(01:14):
they have upgraded. But then to actually put that evidence
on film and to go out and shut out a
team like Atlanta. You can make the case, Kyle, if
you're starting a team from scratch, and I say, go
pick any running back in the league when you think
of age, production contract, Jon Robinson's your first pick. And
to hold that Atlanta team with Robinson and London, Kyle
(01:38):
Pitts and emerging Michael Pennix Darnell Mooney was almost a
thousand yard receiver last year, to hold them without a point,
that's impressive and that's something the defense can build on.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
What did you think of the way they I mean,
you've just alluded to this, but the way they won
the game right thirty to nothings sounds good. It is good.
There's nothing but it wasn't a huge offensive performance. It
was defense. It was turnovers, it was running the ball,
it was managing and dictating the pace of the game.
Which team I mean, Oh yeah, I should have mentioned that,
of course, But like, you know the fact that they
were able to after an zero to two start, you know,
(02:09):
really clumsy at times, kind of sloppy, to come out
and dominate and dictate a game. What does that say
about who they can be?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Well, you hope it means that this is not an
aberration and this is something that is the start of
a movement here. But I thought Derek Brown really put
it into perspective. We talked to him probably fifteen minutes
after the game ended on our postgame show, and of
all the reactions that you would think that he might
(02:38):
give you a little bit of vengeance come up and
for the defense, there was none of that jubilation. There
was none of that. It was very matter of fact.
It was almost sobering. It was almost like, yeah, it's
one game, we still have to go out and do
it again. And talking to some of the guys kind
(02:58):
of off Mike training camp, there was very much an
admission from those guys, Yeah, we get the atmosphere, we
get the angst that fans may feel. We realize we
have to earn back the benefit of the doubt. If
we want to convince people that we are better. And
I did an event with Chuba Hubbard last night. I
(03:19):
did an event with Derek Brown a couple of weeks ago,
and that message has kind of always been there, like,
let us build this sample size out because they don't
want to get caught up in celebrating one game. And
then you know, we did this last year week three
as well, and then we saw what happened after that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Anie schrauw Voice of the Panthers here with us on WFNZ,
stay on the defense. Getting Derek back. Of course, we
talked about it a lot like an additional free agent
pickup or it's just great to get this guy back.
But of the actual newcomers free agency or even rookies,
multiple of those guys popped on Sunday. But who really
stood out to you and has stood out not just
in one game but the last couple of weeks on
that side of.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The football, Kyle, I think one of the most encouraging
things is this draft class. On the defensive side, Lathan
Ransom keeps making plays. I don't know how much stock
you put into PFF. I take it with a grain
of salt, but sometimes there's some substance there. He grated
out as the best defensive back against the run for
(04:21):
week three. You look at Nick s Gorton. I always
default to the Great Luke Keighley when he's up in
the booth with us and he talks about how s
Gorton sets the edge and the impact that he makes
even when it doesn't show up in the box score.
I take that as gospel when it comes from fifty nine,
and Luke loves Nick Gorton, So everybody listening keep that
(04:42):
in mind. He sees him as a three down guy,
a guy who can play the run, affect the pass rush,
a guy who's already commanding double teams as a rookie.
Three weeks into his career. Uman Miellen only has one sack.
The Panthers only have one sack as a team, but
the ability to impact the pass rusher you mentioned, you
(05:03):
know Derek Brown A. Shawn has been solid. They did
this without Wharton, without Pat Jones, and then you see
a guy like Shaw Smith Wade, second year guy step
up make a big play. Mike Jack and j. C.
Horn have been really good the first few weeks. So
you saw what the Falcons did early. They picked on
twenty six, they picked on Shawn Smith Wade, and then
(05:23):
he stepped up. And if you go back to that
play where he had to pick six, here's what was
really impressive. His assignment is to play that flat bubble
five yard from the line of scrimmage. He takes that
away and then his instincts take over and he sees
the screen pass coming and he jumps the route. Just
to really sound fundamental and then instinctive play. And I
(05:47):
thought that was such a great tipping point in the
game because at that point it was ten to nothing.
The Panthers got the ball to begin the third quarter,
they didn't score, they punted away, and in the back
of your mind, you're going, okay, are they inviting the
Falcons back into this game? If Atlanta scores on that drive,
totally different game. And he makes the play, which all
of a sudden felt like, hey, this may turn into
(06:09):
a potential blowout. And again, I think just for the
guys in that locker room to see domination, which is
something we haven't seen a whole lot of in the
last few years, that means a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
So I saw the real that went viral of you
and Jake and Luke in the booth. It's the Tenero
McMillan play where it looks like he's hanging in the
air Jordan asked for multiple sex stick unbelievable, right, And
I love the reaction all of it. But right now
he's on pace for I believe, around eleven hundred yards.
And the best part is it hasn't been cleaned, and
that's not a good thing. But you know, he's been
this good already and there's lots to clean up. How
(06:41):
impressed have you been? And I guess right now, how
smart does the organization look in taking this guy? Given
the way it all went down and the lead up to.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
It, he looks like he's got a chance, not just
to be a bona fide number one, but he's got
a chance to be in that special tier of number
one receivers. And I don't want to get too far
ahead because he's only three games into his career, but
you see a lot of what makes the guys that
we talk about quite often, the jamar chases, the Justin
(07:11):
Jefferson's what you saw with Neighbors last year, and there's
other guys around the league. He kind of has that
the game seems to come so easy to him. That's
the one thing that jumps out. Everything is so smooth.
It's almost like he flows like a river. There's nothing
hard I think of. You know, there's a great Hemingway
line when he's talking about a bullfighter and he says,
(07:31):
I've never seen him do an awkward thing. He won't
until he gets scared. He never gets scared, and that's
kind of Tetoa McMillan. There's a smoothness and a confidence
to his game. He makes the catch, he turns, everything
is in one motion. It's fluid. I really think he's
got a chance to be a special, special player who
can be your number one receiver for a long time.
(07:53):
Here in the Carolinas, I'm.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
With you a couple quick things. We'll let you go
a Nie Shroft, the Voice of the Panthers with us
here on a Wednesday after noon. So death in the Afternoon,
by the way, was the Hemingway book, right, I believe
that was the one Death in the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
The afternoon was actually believe it with sun also rises.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
H okay, look at us dropping hemmingweight knowledge on a Wednesday.
Thoughts on New England Obviously they listen to you and
I both know New England. We know the expectations, we
know the history, we know the fans, we know the media.
They're no doubt looking at Carolina like a get right game.
They're really frustrated about their performance against Pittsburgh. As you've
done your early prep for this iteration of the Patriots,
what stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Well, they're in disarray right now. Are They're a team
that's been heavily penalized. They've struggled with turnovers. Local product
Drake May's actually played pretty well, but has not had
a whole lot of help around him. The Patriot receivers
are near the bottom of the league in terms of
yards accounted for. They go to their tight ends quite
(08:52):
a bit. That's something to be concerned about because the
Panthers have been burned by tight ends early in the season.
Their top running back Ramandre Stevenson has a bad case
of fumble ititis, which goes back to last year. He
fumbled eight times since the start of last season. Fumbled
twice this past Sunday against Pittsburgh. Antonio Gibson also fumbled.
(09:14):
Both of them had fumbles inside the ten yard line.
I think you'll see a heavier dose of Treveon Henderson,
the young man who led Ohio State to a national
championship this past year. I think he's going to see
a lot of him, the rookie out of Ohio State. Defensively,
they have a lockdown corner in Christian Gonzales. But guess what,
(09:36):
he had a hamstring in July. He has not played
this year. The expectation seems to be that he's gonna
miss this week as well, and there's reports that there
was no setback, and you know this might be about
something more than just the injury, whether it's a contract.
So that's your top corner, a guy who's proven that
when he's on the field he can be a lockdown guy.
Can they get after the quarterback? Y out? They can
(09:58):
get after the quarterback? Landry is back with Mike Rabel,
but Kyle, this is an opportunity for the Panthers, not
just this week, but the next four weeks. New England, Miami, Dallas,
and the Jets. These are four teams in various strict
stages of distress, and it's an opportunity for Carolina to
take advantage of some of those teams. The way teams
(10:18):
have taken advantage of Carolina when they've been in that
position the last few years.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Anee Schroff, Voice of the Panthers, with us on the
hotline here on a Wednesday. Safe travels, enjoy Foxborough and
we'll talk to you real soon.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
All Right, Kyle, you got a buddy,
Sports Radio ninety two seven wfn Z KB and smoke
back with you here on a Wednesday, having a good time.
Roman Harper coming up at five o'clock. We'll talk a
lot of SEC football with him, plenty of news on
that front. We'll get his thoughts on the Panthers as well,
which is what we do right now with the voice
of the Carolina Panthers good friend of the show. You
can hear him all over the Carolina Panthers Radio network.
(00:21):
A Niche Shroff is back with us for a Wednesday conversation.
A Niche, How are you, buddy? How good? How good
do things feel this week?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, things feel good. It's been a good week in
Panther Land. And you kind of look at the schedule
and you go, mile my, it's already week four and
you're basically at the quarter pole of the season.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It is wild how fast that goes. Every year we
acknowledge it, but it always seems to sneak up on us.
Just big picture, obviously, home opener, big win. You thump
the Falcons thirty to nothing. There's nothing bad about that.
But what did you like the most? What was your
favorite part?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I just felt happy for the guys on defense. They've
heard it from us, from you, from me, from the
hands for the last year plus about just what this
defense couldn't do. And I think it's one thing to
speak it into existence, right when people around the team
are telling you that, hey, the defense is better and
(01:14):
they have upgraded. But then to actually put that evidence
on film and to go out and shut out a
team like Atlanta. You can make the case, Kyle, if
you're starting a team from scratch, and I say, go
pick any running back in the league when you think
of age, production contract, Jon Robinson's your first pick. And
to hold that Atlanta team with Robinson and London, Kyle
(01:38):
Pitts and emerging Michael Pennix Darnell Mooney was almost a
thousand yard receiver last year, to hold them without a point,
that's impressive and that's something the defense can build on.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
What did you think of the way they I mean,
you've just alluded to this, but the way they won
the game right thirty to nothings sounds good. It is good.
There's nothing but it wasn't a huge offensive performance. It
was defense. It was turnovers, it was running the ball,
it was managing and dictating the pace of the game.
Which team I mean, Oh yeah, I should have mentioned that,
of course, But like, you know the fact that they
were able to after an zero to two start, you know,
(02:09):
really clumsy at times, kind of sloppy, to come out
and dominate and dictate a game. What does that say
about who they can be?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Well, you hope it means that this is not an
aberration and this is something that is the start of
a movement here. But I thought Derek Brown really put
it into perspective. We talked to him probably fifteen minutes
after the game ended on our postgame show, and of
all the reactions that you would think that he might
(02:38):
give you a little bit of vengeance come up and
for the defense, there was none of that jubilation. There
was none of that. It was very matter of fact.
It was almost sobering. It was almost like, yeah, it's
one game, we still have to go out and do
it again. And talking to some of the guys kind
(02:58):
of off Mike training camp, there was very much an
admission from those guys, Yeah, we get the atmosphere, we
get the angst that fans may feel. We realize we
have to earn back the benefit of the doubt. If
we want to convince people that we are better. And
I did an event with Chuba Hubbard last night. I
(03:19):
did an event with Derek Brown a couple of weeks ago,
and that message has kind of always been there, like,
let us build this sample size out because they don't
want to get caught up in celebrating one game. And
then you know, we did this last year week three
as well, and then we saw what happened after that.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Anie schrauw Voice of the Panthers here with us on WFNZ,
stay on the defense. Getting Derek back. Of course, we
talked about it a lot like an additional free agent
pickup or it's just great to get this guy back.
But of the actual newcomers free agency or even rookies,
multiple of those guys popped on Sunday. But who really
stood out to you and has stood out not just
in one game but the last couple of weeks on
that side of.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The football, Kyle, I think one of the most encouraging
things is this draft class. On the defensive side, Lathan
Ransom keeps making plays. I don't know how much stock
you put into PFF. I take it with a grain
of salt, but sometimes there's some substance there. He grated
out as the best defensive back against the run for
(04:21):
week three. You look at Nick s Gorton. I always
default to the Great Luke Keighley when he's up in
the booth with us and he talks about how s
Gorton sets the edge and the impact that he makes
even when it doesn't show up in the box score.
I take that as gospel when it comes from fifty nine,
and Luke loves Nick Gorton, So everybody listening keep that
(04:42):
in mind. He sees him as a three down guy,
a guy who can play the run, affect the pass rush,
a guy who's already commanding double teams as a rookie.
Three weeks into his career. Uman Miellen only has one sack.
The Panthers only have one sack as a team, but
the ability to impact the pass rusher you mentioned, you
(05:03):
know Derek Brown A. Shawn has been solid. They did
this without Wharton, without Pat Jones, and then you see
a guy like Shaw Smith Wade, second year guy step
up make a big play. Mike Jack and j. C.
Horn have been really good the first few weeks. So
you saw what the Falcons did early. They picked on
twenty six, they picked on Shawn Smith Wade, and then
(05:23):
he stepped up. And if you go back to that
play where he had to pick six, here's what was
really impressive. His assignment is to play that flat bubble
five yard from the line of scrimmage. He takes that
away and then his instincts take over and he sees
the screen pass coming and he jumps the route. Just
to really sound fundamental and then instinctive play. And I
(05:47):
thought that was such a great tipping point in the
game because at that point it was ten to nothing.
The Panthers got the ball to begin the third quarter,
they didn't score, they punted away, and in the back
of your mind, you're going, okay, are they inviting the
Falcons back into this game? If Atlanta scores on that drive,
totally different game. And he makes the play, which all
of a sudden felt like, hey, this may turn into
(06:09):
a potential blowout. And again, I think just for the
guys in that locker room to see domination, which is
something we haven't seen a whole lot of in the
last few years, that means a whole lot.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
So I saw the real that went viral of you
and Jake and Luke in the booth. It's the Tenero
McMillan play where it looks like he's hanging in the
air Jordan asked for multiple sex stick unbelievable, right, And
I love the reaction all of it. But right now
he's on pace for I believe, around eleven hundred yards.
And the best part is it hasn't been cleaned, and
that's not a good thing. But you know, he's been
this good already and there's lots to clean up. How
(06:41):
impressed have you been? And I guess right now, how
smart does the organization look in taking this guy? Given
the way it all went down and the lead up to.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
It, he looks like he's got a chance, not just
to be a bona fide number one, but he's got
a chance to be in that special tier of number
one receivers. And I don't want to get too far
ahead because he's only three games into his career, but
you see a lot of what makes the guys that
we talk about quite often, the jamar chases, the Justin
(07:11):
Jefferson's what you saw with Neighbors last year, and there's
other guys around the league. He kind of has that
the game seems to come so easy to him. That's
the one thing that jumps out. Everything is so smooth.
It's almost like he flows like a river. There's nothing
hard I think of. You know, there's a great Hemingway
line when he's talking about a bullfighter and he says,
(07:31):
I've never seen him do an awkward thing. He won't
until he gets scared. He never gets scared, and that's
kind of Tetoa McMillan. There's a smoothness and a confidence
to his game. He makes the catch, he turns, everything
is in one motion. It's fluid. I really think he's
got a chance to be a special, special player who
can be your number one receiver for a long time.
(07:53):
Here in the Carolinas, I'm.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
With you a couple quick things. We'll let you go
a Nie Shroft, the Voice of the Panthers with us
here on a Wednesday after noon. So death in the Afternoon,
by the way, was the Hemingway book, right, I believe
that was the one Death in the afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
The afternoon was actually believe it with sun also rises.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
H okay, look at us dropping hemmingweight knowledge on a Wednesday.
Thoughts on New England Obviously they listen to you and
I both know New England. We know the expectations, we
know the history, we know the fans, we know the media.
They're no doubt looking at Carolina like a get right game.
They're really frustrated about their performance against Pittsburgh. As you've
done your early prep for this iteration of the Patriots,
what stands out to you.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Well, they're in disarray right now. Are They're a team
that's been heavily penalized. They've struggled with turnovers. Local product
Drake May's actually played pretty well, but has not had
a whole lot of help around him. The Patriot receivers
are near the bottom of the league in terms of
yards accounted for. They go to their tight ends quite
(08:52):
a bit. That's something to be concerned about because the
Panthers have been burned by tight ends early in the season.
Their top running back Ramandre Stevenson has a bad case
of fumble ititis, which goes back to last year. He
fumbled eight times since the start of last season. Fumbled
twice this past Sunday against Pittsburgh. Antonio Gibson also fumbled.
(09:14):
Both of them had fumbles inside the ten yard line.
I think you'll see a heavier dose of Treveon Henderson,
the young man who led Ohio State to a national
championship this past year. I think he's going to see
a lot of him, the rookie out of Ohio State. Defensively,
they have a lockdown corner in Christian Gonzales. But guess what,
(09:36):
he had a hamstring in July. He has not played
this year. The expectation seems to be that he's gonna
miss this week as well, and there's reports that there
was no setback, and you know this might be about
something more than just the injury, whether it's a contract.
So that's your top corner, a guy who's proven that
when he's on the field he can be a lockdown guy.
Can they get after the quarterback? Y out? They can
(09:58):
get after the quarterback? Landry is back with Mike Rabel,
but Kyle, this is an opportunity for the Panthers, not
just this week, but the next four weeks. New England, Miami, Dallas,
and the Jets. These are four teams in various strict
stages of distress, and it's an opportunity for Carolina to
take advantage of some of those teams. The way teams
(10:18):
have taken advantage of Carolina when they've been in that
position the last few years.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Anee Schroff, Voice of the Panthers, with us on the
hotline here on a Wednesday. Safe travels, enjoy Foxborough and
we'll talk to you real soon.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
All Right, Kyle, you got a buddy,
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