November 3, 2025 • 46 mins
In the show's opening hour, Kyle reacts to the Panthers massive win on the road in Green Bay, as Kyle believes that "Playoffs" could actually be in play for the first time in a while.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You were listening to the Kyle Bailey Show powered by
Victory Chevy Charlotte. Want to drive a sweet Silverado Trail
Boss like KB go to Victory Chevy Charlotte dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The Carolina Panthers just walked into lambeau Field, that frozen
cathedral where legends are made, and they didn't just survive.
They silenced seventy eight thousand cheeseheads, punched a playoff contender
in the mouth when it mattered most, and they walked
out with a sixteen to thirteen win that has the
entire NFL doing a double take. That's right, Your Carolina
(00:52):
Panthers are five and four say it again, five and
four above five hundred for the first time since twenty
nineteen at this stage. And they didn't do it at home.
They did it in the Tundra as two touchdown underdogs
with a rookie kicker, a patchwork offensive line, and a
quarterback that threw for barely one hundred yards. Yet somehow, somehow,
(01:13):
Dave Canalison Company found a way. This was not supposed
to happen. This was supposed to be year two of
a three year process or something along those lines, a
moral victory. Season of sorts according to who you ask
a find your identity type of season. And while some
of that is absolutely still true, yesterday change things. When
(01:33):
Ryan Fitzgerald's forty nine yard field goal cut through that
thirty mile an hour wind, Lambeau and Lambeau Field, you
could feel it. You could feel that something changed yesterday.
Maybe the moment that Carolina stopped rebuilding and started believing
in who they are and we got to give the
kid his flowers. Ryan Fitzgerald, the undrafted rookie out of
(01:53):
Florida State who has now hit two game winners in
four weeks. Ice water in his veins, wind in his face,
silence in Green Bay. And if that doesn't get your
blood pumping in Charlotte this afternoon, well you need to
check your pulse. And how about ric o'dowdell. Yeah, ric
o'dowdele running like he was late for a flight to Canton, Ohio.
(02:15):
One hundred and thirty yards, two touchdowns, lowering his shoulder,
running behind his pads like he's auditioning for a Power
Rangers reboot called Doubtle Smash. I mean, three games this
season with twenty plus carries and the Panthers have won
all three. That's not a coincidence, that is an identity.
And then we talk about coaching Dave Canalis not just
you know, holding this team together with duck tape and
(02:36):
dream dust. He's out thinking and out smarting guys like
Matt Lafleur, a head coach who has often talked about
in national circles as being a genius, one of the
great play callers in all of football. Dave Canalis leaned
into his strengths, his team's strengths, trusted his defense, and
made sure that when the wins turned, they'd be at
Carolina's back. Quite literally, that's chess, not checkers. And as
(03:00):
zero Vero's defense bent but didn't break, Jordan Love had
two hundred and seventy three yards and not much else
to show for it. The Packers made five trips inside
the red zone and walked away with one touchdown. That's
how you steal a win on the road. And listen,
the math nerds at places like the Athletic for instance,
still give Carolina only a seventeen percent chance to make
(03:22):
the playoffs. But that number is going up faster than
Ryan fitzgerald stock. It's going up faster than my heart
rate during the top of the ninth inning of Game
seven of the World Series on Saturday night. Because these
next eight games all NFC four against division leaders. A
home date next week with the lowly New Orleans Saints,
who look about as dangerous as a foam sword, and
then the big boys San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa. If you
(03:46):
want to make believers out of people, that's the road
to do it, and some are already on that road.
Panthers fans, it's been a while since November football in
Charlotte meant something, but this afternoon it does. The rebuild
appears to potentially be ahead of schedule. The locker room
is damn sure believing in what Dave Canalis is selling
right now. The coach is cooking the rook rookie kicker.
(04:07):
You know, he's walking into these big situations like he
owns them. So, Panthers fans, I would tell you this,
just like Dave Canalis told his players after the game yesterday,
dream a little, because the Carolina Panthers might not be
rebuilding anymore. They might be arriving right now, and it's
certainly looked that way in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yesterday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
This is Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ emanating
live from the Chandler Vaulta Studios, the Carolina's personal injury lawyers.
One call, that's all go to Cvinjurylaw dot com. The
Panthers are in the hunt. Let's talk about it. Seven
oh four five, seven ninety six ten. Hit us up
on the text line, same number if you want to
give us a call. Take in your phone calls all day.
(04:46):
Steve Smith SENI, you're back in thirty nine minutes. We'll
also talk with Eric McLain of the ACC Network and
talk all about a wild weekend in college football coming
up at four twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yesterday was awesome.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
It was It was stressful, It was infuriating at times.
But I gotta tell you this, this weekend ranks up
there for me, smoke, just on a personal level, as
one of, if not the greatest sports weekends of my life.
Like it was absolutely fantastic. Now again, you know a
little bit different for everybody. I get that, but you know,
(05:21):
I got to take the kids to their first game
at the alma mater. I got to wave like an
idiot like Forrest Gump at my Buddy Wes Bryant on
the sidelines in Lane Stadium on Saturday. The Panthers won
in Lambeau yesterday Saturday night. I got to watch my
favorite baseball team win what I think is the truly
greatest World Series that I've ever seen in my lifetime. Yes,
I am biased, there's no question about it. But twenty
(05:43):
six million people tuned in to watch Game seven of what,
at the very least is one of the two or
three greatest World Series of all time. Nineteen ninety one
comes to mind, too, but I think this one takes
the cake. The Hornets won last night's Charlotte FC one
to force, you know, a pivotal Game three. Just an incredible,
absolutely incredible weekend of sports for yours truly and many
(06:06):
around the Queen City in the state of North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How are you feeling today, Buddy? What's going on?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I'm doing good. By the way, you didn't mention Kyle Larson.
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Kyle Larson won his second championship. That means a Ludwig
is a champion. Eric Ludwig, the Jackman of Kyle Larson,
wins its first Cup Series title and his second NASCAR
title as he was on Chase Elliott's pit crew back
in twenty fourteen, indeed then nationwide series. So just wanted
to throte out out there too, shout out Eric, who's
probably still having a little bit of fun.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
But yeah, it's a big weekend.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
I mean, Duke won North Carolina one first acc win
for Bill Belichick n C State with a massive upset
and in exacting a little bit revenge over Georgia Tech
for what happened in two thousand and two when Chan
Gaily upset Chuck Amato into boys in Carter Finley, we
were only a wake force went away from pretty much
(06:57):
everyone in the state of North Carolina winning East you
gotta win over Tim. Charlotte had a bye week, which
feels like a win. Unfortunately, with the year they've had
in all the injuries, Western Carolina got to win, so
big win and now they set up a massive showdown
against Mercer for the SoCon Championship essentially this weekend in E. G.
Whitmeyer Stadium in Kullawe. The biggest game since nineteen eighty
(07:19):
three for Western Carolina at Western Carolina. So yeah, pretty
massive weekend here in the old North State. Won't really
talk as much about the pal Meadow because that was
not a.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Good weekend, not a good weekend.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
But here in the north state, the right Carolina, it
was a massive one.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It was a very good weekend for a lot of
fans here in North Carolina. And again hit us up
seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety six to ten.
Would love to know how you're feeling about that game.
Yesterday we finished up pregame here in studio in Uptown.
I busted it back to the house. I was listening
to the game broadcast, just praying that this wouldn't be
one of those instances where Mack and I leave wherever
(07:56):
our pregame location is for road games, and by the
time we get home, Carolina is already down by fourteen
seventeen points. And of course that was not the case yesterday.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It was.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It was a game that I got, to be honest, like,
I picked him to lose it thirty one to twenty four.
I didn't think that the last ranked past you know,
pass rush defense in the league was going to be
able to impact or affect Jordan Love enough to keep
that passing attack from you know, putting serious points up
on the board. But of course, between the conditions and
mostly the Panthers defense.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
That's what happened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I mean, the defense that we saw last week against
Buffalo get gashed for two hundred and sixteen yards on
the ground by James Cook. I think it's fair to
say Josh Allen wasn't incredible last week, but he was
certainly good enough. You know, a defense that had been
playing well leading into that biggest test of the year
more or less failed that test, and then to go
on the road at Green Bay and iconic venue where,
(08:53):
let's be honest about it. I mean, these guys were
clearly not intimidated by the hallowed grounds of you know,
lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But a lot of
players are and have been. It's an incredible and amazing
home field advantage historically. For a reason, the Panthers didn't flinch.
They were not impressed or overwhelmed in any way, shape
or form by that environment. And I thought they might
(09:13):
be after the initial penalty to start the game, but
then from that point forward, that offensive line. I got
to throw a huge shout out to Jake Kerhan and
to the offensive line as a total. I mean Ikiyakuanu
for putting the handcuffs on Micah Parsons throughout the course
of four quarters yesterday. I mean, my god, ikey Aquanu,
can we just get like a round of applause if
(09:33):
you're on the outer state, maybe just you know, do
it mentally. Don't take your hands off the wheel if
you're going eighty miles an hour. But Ikiakwanu, I haven't
seen the final grades from yesterday yet, but I think
Micah Parsons, officially with one pressure on the day, no sacks,
ik Yakwanu doing his thing yesterday in a way that
I still think a lot of Panthers fans did not
(09:54):
believe that he could do against a caliber pass rusher
arguably the best in the NFL in michah Park. But
that offensive line patchwork again. You know, they started Josh
Niman on the right side, who turned out to be
fantastic in yesterday's game. I thought that again, Jake Kerhan
stepping in with an injury, a guy who came over
from the Arizona practice squad with a lot of history
(10:14):
with Dave Canalis, who knew the offense. I mean, think
about the fact that they started their seventh offensive line
combination of the season yesterday in nine games, and they
were clearly I thought Dave Canallis was clearly play calling
with that in mind, between that and the windy conditions
inside the stadium, but those guys opened up holes. Rico Dowdle,
I tweeted yesterday, every carry is like he's running for
(10:37):
his last meal on Earth. You know, don't You don't
just tackle Rico Dowdle. You survive ric o'dowdele. And he
came out yesterday with the you know, the clear confidence
of being the lead back in this offense. They fed
him accordingly, and against one of the best run defenses
in the NFL, he ran for a buck thirty two
touchdowns and helped lead the way offensively. It was an
(10:59):
absolutely incredible effort by that team.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I mean, Rika runs like he's the third elephant heading
to Noah's Ark and there's only two spots for an elephant.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
That's what he does.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
He's trying to get to that final spot and he
just runs like a bullet I mean it's like a
bullet train. Just watching him sometimes hit the hole and
just get the extra yardage like that. It was absolutely
incredibly Yosh Nigemen, as you mentioned again made up big
time for that performance he had in Week one against Jacksonville,
another great performance. I think him being at right tackle
strictly is a huge benefit to him. Austin Corbett, I think,
(11:30):
outside of the fall start which was on him, Yeah,
played his best game of the year, which was good
to see because we're gonna have to see It's not
like Austin Corbett goes back to the bench now. Most
likely he's likely kicking out the guard even though Jake
Kerhan did a tremendous job all things considered, being called
into duty multiple times. Damian Lewis gutted through another tough performance.
Great performance by him, Kyle, you'll be shocked by this,
(11:53):
Inky KWANDU did not great out well on PFF.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Are you serious?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Fifty two point eight?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
What really?
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Okay, what am I supposed to do with that?
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I just like people say PFF it's a good tool
to use, but they are very suspect when they go
with offensive line grades. Remember this is the same website
that made people believe Darrel Williams was an elite right
tackle when he had Ed Dixon. It's attached at the
hip and I just want to mention I was right
they should have gone with Taylor Moten to begin with. Anyways, Yeah,
(12:24):
Taylor Moton's been far better than Darrek Williams. So I
just want to mention PFF and their offensive line grades
are very suspect. We had this conversation just a couple
of weeks ago with Chris Long Ikey Ikwan, who did
not play a fifty two point eight grade. If anythink
that should be a seventy two point eight with the
way he played, I'm going against Michael Parsons. Remind you
even last year when Ikey played better, MICHAELH. Parsons took
(12:44):
his lunch money last year here in Carolina when he
was a part of Dallas. What did Michael Parsons do yesterday?
Diddley Pooh nothing, nothing at all. He shut him down.
That game right there proved that the contract that Ikey's
about to get, whenever that deal drops, it's gonna be
worth it.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
That number blows my mind. But like, I don't even
think I want to focus on other numbers. I don't
even care about that right now. Panthers continued their streak
of not allowing an opposing offensive touchdown in the first
quarter in each of their nine games this season. Think
about that, like, how many of you knew that was
even a thing? And to go up there to Green
Bay and do that makes the entire thing even more impressive.
(13:23):
Christian Rosebom led all tacklers in the game with a
career high fifteen tackles, including one for loss and a
forced fumble. The force fumble was the first of his career.
How many of you had Christian rose Boom and Nick
Scott combining for a massive turnover early in the game
to swing momentum back to Carolina. I'm going to guess
not many of you had that on your Bengo cards.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I didn't even know that was a turnover.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
I was like, oh, I'm just surely going to overturn this,
No way, Oh my god, that actually was a turnover.
And that was a key play right there, because you
know they had a clear game plan hating into this game.
Kyle on defense, We're gonna bend but not break. We
don't maybe have the horses to really just shut them
down completely, but we're going to keep them ahead of us,
and then when it gets to nut cutting time in
the red zone, we're gonna make sure they kick field
(14:04):
goals or maybe get turnovers and get lucky.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
And that's what they did.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
I remember yesterday I was here with Willy and Fiddy
and they were losing their minds on something to fourth
down when he had seven yard cushions, and I was like,
there's a reason for that, because that's they're sticking to
their game plan.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
And guess what.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
It may not not be the prettiest, it may not
look like the most sexy way to play defense, but
it got the job done. That's the reason why they won.
They kept tutor game plan, stuck to it for all
sixteen minutes from the first kickoff to Fitzgerald's game winning kick.
That's why they won. They knew they were gonna win
this game. If they're gonna win this game on the
road with the win, they're gonna have to win by
(14:41):
keeping it on the ground, keeping it ugly, and making
sure that green Bay doesn't get that many explosive plays.
Guess what green Bay had? What one or two explosive plays? Yeah,
that you can think of over twenty yards. And then
they forced a bad Jordan Love interception. I know he
hasn't thrown as many interceptions this year, but Jordan Love
has a propensity to have Brett like turnovers. He had
a Brett fvarv like turnover yesterday when Trayvon Merrick, who
(15:04):
also had a massive game, got that interception out in
center field.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I like Jordan Love, but he had some terrible head
scratchers yesterday. And for those who are asking, of course,
we bring you the Green Bay edition of Loser Radio
coming up here in about eight minutes, So stick around
for that because the cheeseheads were very, very unhappy, as
you can imagine with that loss yesterday, So stick around
for that coming up in the next segment. But real quick,
(15:28):
back to the defense in Christian rose Boom fifteen tackles led,
you know the defense yesterday. He had twelve tackles last
week against the Bills. He's the first Panther linebacker since
Luke Keigley in twenty sixteen to post back to back
games of twelve plus tackles. Absolutely insane. And then you know,
staying with the defense too, Turk Wharton, I mean that
guy was all over the place there for a stretch.
(15:49):
Took down to Jordan Love in the second quarter for
the second sack of the season.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Game of his career. Here finished with.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
A career high seven total tackles, two solo, one tackle
for loss, two quarter hits and a sack. Trevin Wallace
a season high nine tackle, six of those solo almost
he did. He had one quarterback hit, one pass defended,
and Jordan Love was only sacked one time. But the
Panthers defense as a whole registered six quarterback hurries. Yesterday
(16:16):
you mentioned the Trayvon Merrick interception, his first as a
Panther of the season, seventh of his career.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
In the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Finished with five tackles, three solo, two for loss, one pick,
two passes defended. I mean, he was just fantastic, and
then we got to talk about the offense and more
on the other side. It was not a big day
for Bryce Young, but once again, when it gets down
to brass tacks and they need to win a game,
Bryce Young engineering that go or that field goal and
the game winning field goal, that drive his ninth game
(16:46):
winning drive of his career. Already seven oh four, five,
seven ninety six to ten. Hit us up on the
fan duel text line phone calls. When we returned, Panthers
are five and four. They did what almost no one
thought they would do. They win in Grit Bay. With
the Saints coming up this weekend, the Falcons on the
road after that, They've already matched last year's win total
(17:07):
with eight games left to go in the regular season.
Sports Radio ninety two to seven w F and Z.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
The rookie Ryan Fitzgerald, undrafted free agent the last six.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Years at Florida State and All American, trying to win
at Lambeau.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Turn this down.
Speaker 7 (17:28):
The kick is up, Hindyan fixer delivers and the Panthers
up too a touchdown hunderd Tonnon to Lambo and pull
off the upset.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Oh Adam amein with an incredible call. And it's the
second time we've been able to hear Adam Amine is
the soundtrack to a Ryan Fitzgerald walk off game win.
Or did so against the Cowboys, and of course did
it yesterday in Green Bay as the Panthers shock the
Packers sixteen to thirteen in a low scoring, defensive slug fest,
(18:11):
swirling wins inside that stadium that's known for that thirty
mile an hour win gusts yesterday. Shout out to special
teams coordinator Tracy Smith, who Dave Canalis said after the
game told him listen we might want to take the
ball first to guarantee that we have the win at
our backs late in the game if we have a
chance to win it. A lot of folks I think
we're surprised by the fact that the Panthers took the
(18:33):
ball yesterday. That turned out to be the reason why.
And it was a stroke of brilliance by Tracy Smith
and of course by extension head coach Dave Canalis for
taking the advice of his special teams coordinator KB and
smoke with you here on a victory Monday, Panthers at
five and four, and before we get to lose a radio,
I'm just going to say it right now, it's okay
to talk playoffs. It's more than okay to talk playoffs
(18:54):
here on a Monday.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It just is.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
When you're five and four past the midway point of
the season, you should be talking playoffs. When you go
on the road and upset the number one team in
the NFC, when you do so not by way of
a fluke, but because you've established an identity as a
team that you're playing defense much much better than last season.
And of course, as zero of Vero deserves a ton
of credit for that and we'll talk more about it.
(19:16):
I'm sure when you lean into what we all saw
was right and just and necessary, and that was making
Rico Dabble the lead running back on this team, and
when you trust your quarterback who I'll be honest with you.
Bryce did not have a great day at all yesterday,
but it was also and I'm talking about throwing the
football specifically and total yards and things like that. I
don't know if the interception got picked off by the
wind before McKenny got it. It might have, it might
(19:39):
not have. But they had a game planned yesterday and
Bryce was once again clutch on that final possession, as
we've seen so many times already in his young career.
When you do all those things, you win that game.
You improved a five and four. This fan base has
every right to talk about the playoffs going into Week ten,
and I would encourage you to do so, because this
team may or may not make it, but they're doing
(20:00):
what most of us ask them to do, and that
is to be in the hunt, be in the mix
going into November and hopefully December as well, and that's
where the Carolina Panthers are. It's been a long seven
years it's been a long seven years, yes, under new ownership,
But I also want to point out that, you know,
David Tepper's got one team in the playoffs right now
in Charlotte f C, and the Panthers seem to have
turned things around, and David Tepper should be getting at
(20:22):
least a little bit of credit for that today, a
guy who's more or less stayed in the shadows the
last several months, and it looks like that turned out
as many of us thought to be the best decision.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Yeah, and I also want to mention two straight playoff
years for Charlotte f C as well, and including a
play in appearance the year prior to that, so technically
three straight postseason appearances for Charlotte f CEE and now
Carolina's five and four. Look, it took him a while,
and you know we saw unfortunately, we have to go
through to warts of ownership growing up. And I'm not
saying David Tepper is still perfect to today. I don't know.
(20:54):
We're still seeing play things play out naturally. The next
year two or three will tell us a lot more
about David Tepper going into the next decade. But what
we're seeing the last fifteen eighteen months. I think is
a massive step in the right direction with the way
that this football team should be operated, and it's been
a lot. Look, do I want Bryce Young to perform
better each and every single week? Yes, I know that
(21:16):
we can't have performances like that week in and week
out as a football team or as a fan base.
But he got the job done when it mattered to
most that final drive. How many clutch FROs did he have?
He had about two or three FROs that really got
the job done. That fro off balance having to redirect
and get situated to throw a dart to Jalen Cocher
into the next play, perfect fro to teddor Roorr McMillan.
(21:37):
Only difference is I think Ted Roorer should have probably
rolled out of bounds. But you know, he's a rookie.
He's going to have to learn. He got a job
done on that final drive and he adjusted. Unfortunately, Rico
Dado gave up some State secrets with what they did
in that play for a nineteen yard run, which Stave
Canal's kind of laughed at there an espresso today, But hey,
Bryce Young got them in that situation to give the
(21:59):
ball off the Rico make sure that he knew what
the play was, because how many times have we seen
any Ford sort of football game the running back and
the quarterback are not in sync well, and.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
It's the nuances of the game, and we can get
back to it. But like that late Rico run that
put them in range for the field goal. Bryce didn't
check into that play. But Bryce did a very good
job of turning and pretending to set pass protection with
the running back to make the defense believe there was
a pass play coming. And then he turns and gives
it to Rico, and Rico does the rest. I thought
you know yesterday clearly the game plan was to limit possessions.
(22:31):
They only gave Green Bay only possessed the football three
times in the first half yesterday, and Carolina had to
play that way to go up there and steal a win.
And they did exactly what they went up there intending
to do. Seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety six
to ten. Hit us up on the FanDuel text line,
taking your phone calls here in just a couple of minutes,
a couple of phone lines open. If you want to
get in Panthers five and four. Do you believe how
(22:53):
jacked up are you after a win like that yesterday?
What does it do to you to change your perception
of this team but also to change their outlook after
nine weeks and with eight games left to go again,
all of that still to come, Steve Smith in about
fourteen minutes. But you all ask for it, and we've
been able and blessed to be able to bring it
to you each and every Monday, anytime the Panthers knocked
(23:14):
down an opponent get a win. The next day, we
bring to you lose a radio.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
And a very pleasant good afternoon? Or is it sixteen
thirteen the final from Lambeaufield? The Green Bay Packers with
a pathetic performance this afternoon and lose the game that
they have no business losing.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
They seem to get beat up by teams that are
more physical just playing awesome. That should be very.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Concerning Jordan Love and Lafleur.
Speaker 9 (23:46):
I mean, they look pretty for.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Pictures and for cel come and that kind of stuff,
But man, they need a little rough and tough football
brought back here at coach a makin a touch.
Speaker 10 (23:56):
I mean, Jordan Love is regressing again right before our eyes.
Speaker 11 (23:59):
Some of the ball up in the coverage multiple times today.
Speaker 9 (24:02):
Whoever is the person that go for it on fourth
and eighth should be immediately fired. It was absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
I thought I was watching flag football.
Speaker 12 (24:12):
I have figured out the Green Bay Packers' identity. Okay,
there are a box of chocolates, like from Forrest Gump.
They are a box of chocolates. You don't know what
you're gonna get week after week, Like like, you can
beat Detroit, but you can't be Cleveland. You can beat Pittsburgh,
but you can't beat Carolina.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
Today, I'm tired of everybody anointing Matt Lafleur some sort
of offensive genius. You know, Oh, he's one of the
greatest play callers in the NFL. Well, how so, because
if he was such a great play caller, wouldn't they
just be stomping teams that they should be stomping. Buffalo
went into Carolina last week and stomped.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
The snot out of them.
Speaker 11 (24:51):
The Packers are only to go as far as they
are right now with Lafloor.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
You've seen it.
Speaker 11 (24:55):
This team underperforms. They played down to their teams play
callings bad.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
They need a change. Bring someone in who's gonna grab
the bowl by.
Speaker 11 (25:04):
The horns and lead this team. Now, some players might
say we love la floor, get over it.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Wayne Lairvie had the greatest description of this game. Wayne said,
this game is like going to the dentist to get
teeth bowled without Novacan.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
And I'm like, I hear you, brother, if you.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Gotta pair between your legs, jose them. You are one
of the.
Speaker 11 (25:26):
Worst coaches I received.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I would love to come on that sideline and smack
that smug baby look off your face.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
This is our team.
Speaker 11 (25:33):
We're the owners.
Speaker 12 (25:34):
Listen up, head office, get rid of this bum and.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Bring someone in who's gonna take charge.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Unacceptable to ever lose to the Carolina Panthers. When it happens,
everyone must go. Coaches must be fired, Quarterbacks must be benched.
Listen to the owners. Your dad's an owner, Your dad's
a Green Bay Packers owner. Does he want Matt Leafleur
fired today? Smoke, well done, by the way, good job.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
No, No, he does not want to fire because he's
also which and he realizes how ridiculous sat statement is
that a guy that has over a sixty percent winning
percentage that you're going to fire him over this game.
If you fire him, you probably eventually fire him because
he never wins into postseason. They still haven't excitended his contract.
But yeah, they're five two and one. Yeah, yeah, that
still feels word to say. And it's ironic that Caroline
(26:19):
has beating both teams that tied this year. They beat
the Cowboys and now they beat Green Bay. So I
found out very ironic. But no, come on, no, that's fantastic. Well,
they'll they'll win this game on Monday against the Eagles.
Now that's what they think. I guarantee it. That's that's
what they're anticipating up there. But I don't really care
about them anymore. Carolina did what they needed to do.
I want to hear from you seven oh four, five,
(26:41):
seven ninety six to ten. Let's take some phone calls.
Baron is up first here on a victory Monday. Baron,
what's going on?
Speaker 10 (26:48):
Feeling great? The last time I was this excited in
November was back when they played the Steelers and Camps
Newton shoulder got destroyed. That was I feel like the
end of the little dynasty or relevance that we had
as a team. So I definitely feel like we're back
two points unsung heroes Nick Scott and Rose Boom because
(27:10):
Nick Scott doesn't make that play unless he just drives
through that wide receiver block. I thought, that's what's set
up that whole play, so big shout out to him
and Rose Boom, who's been put down this year a
little bit by everybody. And then I caught a few
weeks ago and got on Dave and Everro, so I
got a e crow. Dave has got these players inspired.
The thing I didn't like about him was for a
(27:32):
young coach first time, he seemed like he could never
be told what was wrong or what he was doing wrong.
And with the whole Rico thing, he really you know,
looked at himself and said, okay, I got a change.
And there was plenty of times in that game where
Rico coch came out due to fatigue or that growing,
but Dave stuck with him and kept running them. So
(27:54):
I'm seeing a coach who's learning. And with that being said,
you know, I've I'm kind of getting more on board
with them. So I'm super excited we've got the same twice.
We got Atlanta coming in. I mean, by all means
we should be going for the playoffs this year at
least thinking we can do. It's all about it.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
No that Like, I couldn't agree more with your last davement.
Thank you for the phone call, buddy. You're right whatever
Dave Canalis is selling inside that building and we have
a pretty good idea those guys are clearly buying. And
if you haven't seen the locker room speech yesterday, Dave
Canalis said, Hey, just dream with me a little bit.
You know, Dave's all about the process and he's continuing
to drill and you know, harp on the process. This
is who we are, this is what we do. Buy
(28:34):
in details, you know, our process will get us there.
And like, we laugh at that stuff sometimes because a
lot of coaches say it. Not all of them live it,
embody it or can execute it. But so far, I
think we have to look at Dave Canalis and say,
that's exactly what he's doing. They're buying what he's selling. Wait,
a coach in a football coach in North Carolina talking
about dreams. Where have I heard this before? Want to
(28:54):
chuck him on?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I'm strong with one.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Back to the phone lines. Kevin and Charlotte is up next. Kevin,
what's going on?
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Man? Uh oh, I'm here.
Speaker 11 (29:05):
I was on mute Big Talk seven. Hey, I am
so glad to now is figured it.
Speaker 9 (29:11):
Out that he needs to run Rico into the ground.
And I don't understand why our fans are saying dumb
stuff like it's a problem having two running backs. Uh,
it's a win win situation from a Panther or management standpoint.
You run Rico into the ground because he's on a
cheap contract.
Speaker 11 (29:30):
If he goes to a fifteen hundred yard season, great
for you, great for him. And if he goes in
free agency, the passage can get up to a third
round draft choice if he's running himself into a contract,
and then you save the wear and tear on on Tuba.
I don't understand what the big problem is. No, you
don't trade Tube at the deadline. That is one of
(29:51):
the most injury prone positions in football. I see it
as a win win situation. Run Tuba into the ground.
You have a fresh running back. Net I mean, run
Reso into the ground. You have a fresh running back
in Truba next year.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Go Panthers.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Appreciate you, Kevin.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Listen, there are parts of what you said that I
agree with I'm not sure that the overall big picture
solution is necessarily what I'm looking at right now. But
you know again what you said there about this not
being a real problem. Couldn't agree more. We'll come back
to that. Mikey is up next. Mikey. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Man?
Speaker 13 (30:23):
So, yeah, I did get what I wanted. So Rico
did good with over one hundred and thirty yards. I
do feel bad for Tucking Craft. He's in it ending
injury towards apl but it didn't help us in the end.
(30:47):
Sorry tuker Craft for that. Thanks Jerald with a forty
nine yard field goal. With that those crazy wins for
the win.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Strong stuff. Mikey, you're the man. Great phone call, great energy, buddy.
I appreciate you. My man's fired up.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Sorry Tucker Craft about your ratio, which does, Yeah, it does,
Thanks for it.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Done day. I wait for Caro a lot of this.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Great phone call, Mike, you appreciate you. Let's keep him rolling.
We'll take phone calls throughout the show. Steve Smith coming
up in six minutes. Right now, we go to smoke
on the headlines.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Who is smoke? Where is smoke? Where there's smoke? There's fire,
let's go all right, smoking what you got?
Speaker 9 (31:23):
All right?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'm not playcating to you, but it was the biggest
sporting event that happened this weekend.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Game seven of the World Series.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
It lived up to the hype, went into extra innings,
and thanks to a solo shot from Will Smith getting
jiggy with it, the Dodgers for the first time since
the Yankees went back to back to back in ninety
eight ninety nine, two thousand have won back to back
World Series, and the MVP was Yoshinobu Yamamoto's right arm,
(31:55):
pitching what two and two thirds innings against the Blue Jays,
a day after pitching six great innings against the Blue
Jays and a couple of days after having a complete
game win in Game.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Two of the World Series, Kyle I fault.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
No one would top Mad Bums pitching performance into twenty
fourteen World Series, but Yamamoto said, hold by beer.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
In the final twenty minutes of that game, I had
three strokes, two heart attacks, a dislocated shoulder, and I
peed a little.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Like it was I would.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
I think I FaceTime my dad in between every inning,
every half inning. I was absolutely losing my mind. On
Saturday night, twenty six million people tuned in to the
finale of what I believe is the greatest World Series
of my lifetime. We can debate that it also has
to rank up there. I think top three all time
is the most gutting loss for a fan base that
I've ever seen. I mean to watch that happen. First
(32:47):
of all, did Joe The Dodgers haven't closed out of
World Series at home since nineteen sixty three. Yeah, that
makes sense, so Toronto fans had to endure that on
their home field. But I mean between Yamamoto and the
Miggie home run and the Miggie play and ikf not
getting a secondary lead.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
And the hot Traghty of Game six, and then.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Max Munsey handled their at third base, and I mean
just absolutely insane. In fact, this will partially come up
next Steve Smith seen your Panthers legend, noted LA Dodgers
fan mostly Panthers and Packers, but will get his thoughts
on an insane World Series as well. Age in eighty
nine back Next Sports Radio ninety two to seven w
F and Z.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Over fifteen thousand total yards the way sixteen NFL seasons.
Have you see that's nice, not La School, five Pro
Bowls and countless memories.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
When a dog gets an X ray, they've got that
Steve Smith inside their rib game.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Steve Smith is on wfn Z I suf song.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Well he is back, and our producer Evan Smoke Ludwig
truly is a consummate professional and one of the friendliest
guys you'll ever meet. I mean that, And every week
when he calls Steve Smith, he says, Hey, Steve, how
you doing this week? And then he proceeds to ask
if he's ready to go on the air. And I
hear Smoke asking him that a minute ago, and I
think you don't need to ask him that this week.
I know exactly how the hell Steve Smith's doing this week.
The Panthers won in Green Bay, the Dodgers are World
(34:13):
Series champions, and his Utah Utes beat the snot out
of Cincinnati on Saturday with college game Day in town.
So I'd imagine Aged eighty nine is in a pretty
good mood here on a Monday afternoon. What's going on, Smitty?
How are you feeling, man?
Speaker 6 (34:30):
I'm just finishing my workout, bro, I'm filling great. I'm
over here trying to get eighty boys got me trying
to get my play await right now?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Oh god, what a great way. I've had such a
great sports weekend. It's unbelievable how good this sports weekend was.
I'm smiling ear to ear now. I will say real quick,
I said before the break the last thirty minutes of
Game seven Saturday night, I had three strokes, two heart attacks,
and I think I peed my pants a little bit,
and then I threw out my shoulder fist pumping when
Mickey hit that home run in the top of the
(34:58):
ninth inning, congrat that's to our Dodger Smidty to me,
greatest World Series of my lifetime.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
It was amazing.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Man, it was unbelievable. It's unfortunate with the effort that
there were Toronto Blue Jays got they got to you know,
they got the l the loss for that. But man,
you look at you watch the game and it was
literally like a soap oper. Yeah right. It was a thriller.
It's suspense. It kept and it kept you holding on
(35:29):
trying to figure out. I mean, I could have I
stayed up late watching it and I could have like
I didn't go to bed untill like two or three o'clock,
just because I had so much adrenaline, so, you know,
so much invested in it emotionally. But at Shoe man,
it was it was great. Now obviously my Utah used
(35:49):
that's the first time since we have been on college
game day or when one of these big shows come
to Utah that we actually won a game, right, and
we were on the other side of rowdy and someone
versus getting robin when I was down there a couple
of years ago for Oregon we got ran through. Yeah,
(36:12):
Texas Tech got ran through right. Yeah. Well man, it
was just it was fantastic, man. And I know, you
know those guys up there, U saw they're working hard.
You know, with the nil and all that stuff. Man,
it's it's it's a grind, but they you know, they're
doing it and hopefully they can keep it up well again.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
An amazing sports weekend capped off by a big win
yesterday in Green Bay. Last time Panthers won there, you
were part of it. You had a big catch back
in eight late.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
D Angelo people, Pelo Williams.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yeah, for the folks that don't remember, late d' angelo
Williams touchdown secured the win. It was a shootout, thirty
five thirty one, hell of a game, and so yesterday
they finally go back up there and get a win.
We used the phrase statement win sometimes in sports, Steve,
and sometimes it means something, sometimes it doesn't. I'm going
to argue that yesterday was the epitomy of a statement
win for this organization.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
What what do you say.
Speaker 6 (37:06):
I think it's a great win, and I believe that
what they accomplish and how they accomplish it right. Defense,
you know, defense has been an achilles heel for us
at times. But basically, if it's week the week, you
gotta look at the Achilles hill for the buff in
the Buffalo Bills game, and then it come out and
I keep saying it, you know, the the PC answer is,
(37:29):
you know, hey, we got two we got two guys.
I'm not I'm not necessarily sure you got two feature backs.
I think you have a feature back of Rico, and
I think you have a guy who could fill in,
but he just doesn't have He doesn't run the ball
with the same amount of juice. Rico is a tone center,
(37:49):
and I think that's that's it's being showing. You know.
I think I saw him, you know, a lot of
guys are kind of what's the world I'm moving for?
It just kind of get and gimpy because I think
it was the first game they played in the cold
with the weather changes, so you know, you kind of
underestimate how much layers you need to wear, how thorough
(38:11):
you need to warm up. Speaking of that, because in
that game, I think it was the first five plays
Jonathan Stewart breaks out in that game in eight and
he comes up gimping because he didn't properly warm up
and had this big run. And I remember talking to
(38:31):
him in the hudder, I'm like, how did you not
warm up? He said it was too cold to come outside, right,
So you know those little things in football. A lot
of times when I'm sitting here talking on the radio, man,
a lot of the things that I'm saying, I know
I could say them differently, but it is what it is, right.
(38:52):
I know some of the things because of experience of
other players, experiences that I know that I went through right,
the negative and the positive. And I really tried to
put myself in in a position when I say, hey,
when a receiver isn't catching a ball with his hands,
that's because he's not comfortable or confident. Man, That's just
(39:14):
something that I did when I was a player. So
either you don't, you're saying that what I'm saying is
incorrect when that's and that could be possible, But then
that draws a conclusion your ass can't catch. Then if
you gotta catch with your with your chest then so
of course, and then that tells me without you admitting it,
(39:34):
you don't have confidence in your hands. So you know,
that's just kind of how it goes. And but it
was a it was a great win. Defense played well.
I did watch something that was very interesting. Dereck Brown
was getting double teams literally almost every play and sometimes
triple team like they have to guard. He was lined
(39:55):
up over the center or lined up over the guard.
They did a you know, I had the floor in
that offen. They do a lot of movement shifting so
that that shifts the defensive front to the strength or
to the weakness. And a lot of times it doesn't matter.
Derek Brown is the strength. So they had a guard
center and then they had a true a freaking tidy
in coming down if the other guard was pulling. They
(40:17):
just had a lot of different things and how to
attack them, and luckily they were guys uh stepping up
a Sean Robinson was bawling. He did an outstanding job.
Doesn't get a lot of credit, but man was it
was a really good football game to watch twice for
me to be able to pick out some things that
(40:38):
were good and then obviously some things are bad. You
know they're gonna coach that. They've already coached that up,
and you know they meet it to one o'clock, team
meeting two o'clock, So they've already coached it up and
they're moving on getting prepared for next week.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
It's a week to week league. You and I know it.
We've talked about it quite a bit. Buffalo was ugly,
this one was a lot of fun. We don't know
what the future holds, and so it's been a real
roller host to ride so far this year. But one
constant for the most part has been offensive line plays.
So far in nine weeks, they've started seven different combinations
along the offensive line. Yesterday, Jake Kurhan, a guy they
picked up off the Cardinals practice squad a couple of
(41:13):
weeks ago, came in and was huge for them.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Again.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
I know that we crowned some guys one week and
want to fire them the next. I mean, that's the
nature of the business sometimes. But Joe Gilbert offensive line coach,
I don't know if it's him, it's Dave Canalis's scheme,
you can tell me. But like, who deserves the most
credit for those guys week in week out, you know,
regardless of who's out there more or let's getting the job.
Speaker 6 (41:31):
Done, Well, let's let's give it where it deserves first,
which is the actual players who play right. Obviously, the
old line coach, he does a great job. He's very
detailed with those guys within. You got to give coach.
Give kudos to coach Canalis for calling the right place,
calling plays that benefit. This offensive line has had a
(41:53):
lot of different rotate rotation in it, and that's just
part of the business. Injuries are part of the business.
You don't really realize that if it hits your team right.
But I also have been on teams where it's been eighteen, nineteen,
twenty ten, twelve guys on IR. And this is back
(42:15):
in the day when you couldn't designate guys to come
back from IR. When you are IR, you are Dunzoe
for the year. So it's been great to watch the
Carolina Panthers play well, and it's also been nice to
see the fans supporting them. Right. I was on a flight,
I think I was heading after Sunday. I had to
(42:38):
head somewhere after the game. And man, I was on
the flight and there were some people on the flight.
There was a woman she said something to the guy
that was sitting two rows behind me. He had the
Panthers had a sweatshirt on it, and this is what
she said, and I just thought it was interesting. She said,
(43:00):
I'm surprised you even are wearing a shirt like that
based off how they played. And I was like, and
she was, and she was a Panthers fan, and I said, boy,
oh boy, that speaks a lot to some of these folks.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
Passing game real quick.
Speaker 6 (43:23):
But well, here's the reason I'm stating that. I'm stating
because people. There have been people that walked up to
me and said, Steve Hey, what you said? I agree,
or Steve Hey, I disagree, whether you agree to disagree.
I'm not pulling this out of there there. I'm not
grabbing stuff and making it up. I'm just I've been
in this city for a very long time. Still in
(43:44):
this city. Pull up if you want to, if you
want to go see the Lord, so pull up. But
if I see it in the city a lot of times, man,
it's various things that have happened that I just wish
that it didn't or wouldn't come across that way. So,
I mean, you know, it is what it is. But
passing game, you know, uh, they they got a little choppy.
(44:07):
Wasn't effect. It was consistent effective, but it wasn't jaw dropping.
And again a pass rush, hesitating feet looking down at
their looking down at the rush instead of looking at
the receivers. Man, it just got to be a little
bit better. And it's starting to happen more and more often.
(44:29):
And every year every football player has a new habit
to break, because you're going to get people who are
gonna cause you to do things that you don't want
to do. They're not gonna line up and say, hey,
I'm running to the right, They're gonna line up on
the left. Look sake right, go left. So you got
to be able to control the bad habits and not
(44:52):
allow those things to stall. Drives.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
Yeah, I hear you. Last thing, I'll let you go.
Speaker 4 (44:58):
You know.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
I brought up the playoff word early today and I
had some people saying.
Speaker 6 (45:01):
Oh, okay, don't ask me.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
No, I know, I know, I get it, But I
also I'll ask you from this angle, right. You know,
you're a competitive guy. I'm a competitive guy, and so
to me, you know, unless you're clearly blowing things up
and it's a clear rebuild, you're trying to make the
playoffs every single year when you're five and four at
the past the midway point, to me, you should be
thinking playoffs, right, Yeah, you should.
Speaker 6 (45:23):
Be thinking playoffs. And and I get it, but it's
also one of those where I don't know, going to
the playoffs the way this team or just in the past,
going to the playoffs barely squeaking in or knowing that
you have some clear deficiencies that that is going to
get you in trouble in the playoffs. Yeah, it's like
(45:44):
saying we're gonna go to Disney World. We get in
the car, we all packed up, and it ain't no
gas man, you just you just let down some folks.
I just I don't know if I'm comfortable really enjoying.
I know the players would, but really does that set
it up for an opportunity for people to complain and
(46:08):
and say, you know, I hate this team and all
that stuff. So that's that's kind of where I'm you know,
let's just stay into the victory Monday today, before we start,
before we start doing the Rose Parade down down in Pasadena.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
It's all about perspective, my man. It's all about perspective.
I appreciate you as always, hope you enjoyed the week.
Speaker 9 (46:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (46:27):
We'll talk to you next Monday.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Next Monday, I will be on the flight back from Berlin.
So I got good service, but my service ain't that good.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
That's true. All right, We'll see you in two Mondays.
Steve Smith, Senior Panthers legend agent eighty nine, with us
every Monday our two Next Sports Radio ninety two seven
WF and Z
You were listening to the Kyle Bailey Show powered by
Victory Chevy Charlotte. Want to drive a sweet Silverado Trail
Boss like KB go to Victory Chevy Charlotte dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The Carolina Panthers just walked into lambeau Field, that frozen
cathedral where legends are made, and they didn't just survive.
They silenced seventy eight thousand cheeseheads, punched a playoff contender
in the mouth when it mattered most, and they walked
out with a sixteen to thirteen win that has the
entire NFL doing a double take. That's right, Your Carolina
(00:52):
Panthers are five and four say it again, five and
four above five hundred for the first time since twenty
nineteen at this stage. And they didn't do it at home.
They did it in the Tundra as two touchdown underdogs
with a rookie kicker, a patchwork offensive line, and a
quarterback that threw for barely one hundred yards. Yet somehow, somehow,
(01:13):
Dave Canalison Company found a way. This was not supposed
to happen. This was supposed to be year two of
a three year process or something along those lines, a
moral victory. Season of sorts according to who you ask
a find your identity type of season. And while some
of that is absolutely still true, yesterday change things. When
(01:33):
Ryan Fitzgerald's forty nine yard field goal cut through that
thirty mile an hour wind, Lambeau and Lambeau Field, you
could feel it. You could feel that something changed yesterday.
Maybe the moment that Carolina stopped rebuilding and started believing
in who they are and we got to give the
kid his flowers. Ryan Fitzgerald, the undrafted rookie out of
(01:53):
Florida State who has now hit two game winners in
four weeks. Ice water in his veins, wind in his face,
silence in Green Bay. And if that doesn't get your
blood pumping in Charlotte this afternoon, well you need to
check your pulse. And how about ric o'dowdell. Yeah, ric
o'dowdele running like he was late for a flight to Canton, Ohio.
(02:15):
One hundred and thirty yards, two touchdowns, lowering his shoulder,
running behind his pads like he's auditioning for a Power
Rangers reboot called Doubtle Smash. I mean, three games this
season with twenty plus carries and the Panthers have won
all three. That's not a coincidence, that is an identity.
And then we talk about coaching Dave Canalis not just
you know, holding this team together with duck tape and
(02:36):
dream dust. He's out thinking and out smarting guys like
Matt Lafleur, a head coach who has often talked about
in national circles as being a genius, one of the
great play callers in all of football. Dave Canalis leaned
into his strengths, his team's strengths, trusted his defense, and
made sure that when the wins turned, they'd be at
Carolina's back. Quite literally, that's chess, not checkers. And as
(03:00):
zero Vero's defense bent but didn't break, Jordan Love had
two hundred and seventy three yards and not much else
to show for it. The Packers made five trips inside
the red zone and walked away with one touchdown. That's
how you steal a win on the road. And listen,
the math nerds at places like the Athletic for instance,
still give Carolina only a seventeen percent chance to make
(03:22):
the playoffs. But that number is going up faster than
Ryan fitzgerald stock. It's going up faster than my heart
rate during the top of the ninth inning of Game
seven of the World Series on Saturday night. Because these
next eight games all NFC four against division leaders. A
home date next week with the lowly New Orleans Saints,
who look about as dangerous as a foam sword, and
then the big boys San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa. If you
(03:46):
want to make believers out of people, that's the road
to do it, and some are already on that road.
Panthers fans, it's been a while since November football in
Charlotte meant something, but this afternoon it does. The rebuild
appears to potentially be ahead of schedule. The locker room
is damn sure believing in what Dave Canalis is selling
right now. The coach is cooking the rook rookie kicker.
(04:07):
You know, he's walking into these big situations like he
owns them. So, Panthers fans, I would tell you this,
just like Dave Canalis told his players after the game yesterday,
dream a little, because the Carolina Panthers might not be
rebuilding anymore. They might be arriving right now, and it's
certainly looked that way in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yesterday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
This is Sports Radio ninety two to seven WFNZ emanating
live from the Chandler Vaulta Studios, the Carolina's personal injury lawyers.
One call, that's all go to Cvinjurylaw dot com. The
Panthers are in the hunt. Let's talk about it. Seven
oh four five, seven ninety six ten. Hit us up
on the text line, same number if you want to
give us a call. Take in your phone calls all day.
(04:46):
Steve Smith SENI, you're back in thirty nine minutes. We'll
also talk with Eric McLain of the ACC Network and
talk all about a wild weekend in college football coming
up at four twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yesterday was awesome.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
It was It was stressful, It was infuriating at times.
But I gotta tell you this, this weekend ranks up
there for me, smoke, just on a personal level, as
one of, if not the greatest sports weekends of my life.
Like it was absolutely fantastic. Now again, you know a
little bit different for everybody. I get that, but you know,
(05:21):
I got to take the kids to their first game
at the alma mater. I got to wave like an
idiot like Forrest Gump at my Buddy Wes Bryant on
the sidelines in Lane Stadium on Saturday. The Panthers won
in Lambeau yesterday Saturday night. I got to watch my
favorite baseball team win what I think is the truly
greatest World Series that I've ever seen in my lifetime. Yes,
I am biased, there's no question about it. But twenty
(05:43):
six million people tuned in to watch Game seven of what,
at the very least is one of the two or
three greatest World Series of all time. Nineteen ninety one
comes to mind, too, but I think this one takes
the cake. The Hornets won last night's Charlotte FC one
to force, you know, a pivotal Game three. Just an incredible,
absolutely incredible weekend of sports for yours truly and many
(06:06):
around the Queen City in the state of North Carolina.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How are you feeling today, Buddy? What's going on?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
I'm doing good. By the way, you didn't mention Kyle Larson.
I didn't.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Kyle Larson won his second championship. That means a Ludwig
is a champion. Eric Ludwig, the Jackman of Kyle Larson,
wins its first Cup Series title and his second NASCAR
title as he was on Chase Elliott's pit crew back
in twenty fourteen, indeed then nationwide series. So just wanted
to throte out out there too, shout out Eric, who's
probably still having a little bit of fun.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
But yeah, it's a big weekend.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
I mean, Duke won North Carolina one first acc win
for Bill Belichick n C State with a massive upset
and in exacting a little bit revenge over Georgia Tech
for what happened in two thousand and two when Chan
Gaily upset Chuck Amato into boys in Carter Finley, we
were only a wake force went away from pretty much
(06:57):
everyone in the state of North Carolina winning East you
gotta win over Tim. Charlotte had a bye week, which
feels like a win. Unfortunately, with the year they've had
in all the injuries, Western Carolina got to win, so
big win and now they set up a massive showdown
against Mercer for the SoCon Championship essentially this weekend in E. G.
Whitmeyer Stadium in Kullawe. The biggest game since nineteen eighty
(07:19):
three for Western Carolina at Western Carolina. So yeah, pretty
massive weekend here in the old North State. Won't really
talk as much about the pal Meadow because that was
not a.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Good weekend, not a good weekend.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
But here in the north state, the right Carolina, it
was a massive one.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
It was a very good weekend for a lot of
fans here in North Carolina. And again hit us up
seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety six to ten.
Would love to know how you're feeling about that game.
Yesterday we finished up pregame here in studio in Uptown.
I busted it back to the house. I was listening
to the game broadcast, just praying that this wouldn't be
one of those instances where Mack and I leave wherever
(07:56):
our pregame location is for road games, and by the
time we get home, Carolina is already down by fourteen
seventeen points. And of course that was not the case yesterday.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It was.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
It was a game that I got, to be honest, like,
I picked him to lose it thirty one to twenty four.
I didn't think that the last ranked past you know,
pass rush defense in the league was going to be
able to impact or affect Jordan Love enough to keep
that passing attack from you know, putting serious points up
on the board. But of course, between the conditions and
mostly the Panthers defense.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
That's what happened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I mean, the defense that we saw last week against
Buffalo get gashed for two hundred and sixteen yards on
the ground by James Cook. I think it's fair to
say Josh Allen wasn't incredible last week, but he was
certainly good enough. You know, a defense that had been
playing well leading into that biggest test of the year
more or less failed that test, and then to go
on the road at Green Bay and iconic venue where,
(08:53):
let's be honest about it. I mean, these guys were
clearly not intimidated by the hallowed grounds of you know,
lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But a lot of
players are and have been. It's an incredible and amazing
home field advantage historically. For a reason, the Panthers didn't flinch.
They were not impressed or overwhelmed in any way, shape
or form by that environment. And I thought they might
(09:13):
be after the initial penalty to start the game, but
then from that point forward, that offensive line. I got
to throw a huge shout out to Jake Kerhan and
to the offensive line as a total. I mean Ikiyakuanu
for putting the handcuffs on Micah Parsons throughout the course
of four quarters yesterday. I mean, my god, ikey Aquanu,
can we just get like a round of applause if
(09:33):
you're on the outer state, maybe just you know, do
it mentally. Don't take your hands off the wheel if
you're going eighty miles an hour. But Ikiakwanu, I haven't
seen the final grades from yesterday yet, but I think
Micah Parsons, officially with one pressure on the day, no sacks,
ik Yakwanu doing his thing yesterday in a way that
I still think a lot of Panthers fans did not
(09:54):
believe that he could do against a caliber pass rusher
arguably the best in the NFL in michah Park. But
that offensive line patchwork again. You know, they started Josh
Niman on the right side, who turned out to be
fantastic in yesterday's game. I thought that again, Jake Kerhan
stepping in with an injury, a guy who came over
from the Arizona practice squad with a lot of history
(10:14):
with Dave Canalis, who knew the offense. I mean, think
about the fact that they started their seventh offensive line
combination of the season yesterday in nine games, and they
were clearly I thought Dave Canallis was clearly play calling
with that in mind, between that and the windy conditions
inside the stadium, but those guys opened up holes. Rico Dowdle,
I tweeted yesterday, every carry is like he's running for
(10:37):
his last meal on Earth. You know, don't You don't
just tackle Rico Dowdle. You survive ric o'dowdele. And he
came out yesterday with the you know, the clear confidence
of being the lead back in this offense. They fed
him accordingly, and against one of the best run defenses
in the NFL, he ran for a buck thirty two
touchdowns and helped lead the way offensively. It was an
(10:59):
absolutely incredible effort by that team.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
I mean, Rika runs like he's the third elephant heading
to Noah's Ark and there's only two spots for an elephant.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
That's what he does.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
He's trying to get to that final spot and he
just runs like a bullet I mean it's like a
bullet train. Just watching him sometimes hit the hole and
just get the extra yardage like that. It was absolutely
incredibly Yosh Nigemen, as you mentioned again made up big
time for that performance he had in Week one against Jacksonville,
another great performance. I think him being at right tackle
strictly is a huge benefit to him. Austin Corbett, I think,
(11:30):
outside of the fall start which was on him, Yeah,
played his best game of the year, which was good
to see because we're gonna have to see It's not
like Austin Corbett goes back to the bench now. Most
likely he's likely kicking out the guard even though Jake
Kerhan did a tremendous job all things considered, being called
into duty multiple times. Damian Lewis gutted through another tough performance.
Great performance by him, Kyle, you'll be shocked by this,
(11:53):
Inky KWANDU did not great out well on PFF.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Are you serious?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Fifty two point eight?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
What really?
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Okay, what am I supposed to do with that?
Speaker 5 (12:02):
I just like people say PFF it's a good tool
to use, but they are very suspect when they go
with offensive line grades. Remember this is the same website
that made people believe Darrel Williams was an elite right
tackle when he had Ed Dixon. It's attached at the
hip and I just want to mention I was right
they should have gone with Taylor Moten to begin with. Anyways, Yeah,
(12:24):
Taylor Moton's been far better than Darrek Williams. So I
just want to mention PFF and their offensive line grades
are very suspect. We had this conversation just a couple
of weeks ago with Chris Long Ikey Ikwan, who did
not play a fifty two point eight grade. If anythink
that should be a seventy two point eight with the
way he played, I'm going against Michael Parsons. Remind you
even last year when Ikey played better, MICHAELH. Parsons took
(12:44):
his lunch money last year here in Carolina when he
was a part of Dallas. What did Michael Parsons do yesterday?
Diddley Pooh nothing, nothing at all. He shut him down.
That game right there proved that the contract that Ikey's
about to get, whenever that deal drops, it's gonna be
worth it.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
That number blows my mind. But like, I don't even
think I want to focus on other numbers. I don't
even care about that right now. Panthers continued their streak
of not allowing an opposing offensive touchdown in the first
quarter in each of their nine games this season. Think
about that, like, how many of you knew that was
even a thing? And to go up there to Green
Bay and do that makes the entire thing even more impressive.
(13:23):
Christian Rosebom led all tacklers in the game with a
career high fifteen tackles, including one for loss and a
forced fumble. The force fumble was the first of his career.
How many of you had Christian rose Boom and Nick
Scott combining for a massive turnover early in the game
to swing momentum back to Carolina. I'm going to guess
not many of you had that on your Bengo cards.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I didn't even know that was a turnover.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
I was like, oh, I'm just surely going to overturn this,
No way, Oh my god, that actually was a turnover.
And that was a key play right there, because you
know they had a clear game plan hating into this game.
Kyle on defense, We're gonna bend but not break. We
don't maybe have the horses to really just shut them
down completely, but we're going to keep them ahead of us,
and then when it gets to nut cutting time in
the red zone, we're gonna make sure they kick field
(14:04):
goals or maybe get turnovers and get lucky.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
And that's what they did.
Speaker 5 (14:08):
I remember yesterday I was here with Willy and Fiddy
and they were losing their minds on something to fourth
down when he had seven yard cushions, and I was like,
there's a reason for that, because that's they're sticking to
their game plan.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
And guess what.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
It may not not be the prettiest, it may not
look like the most sexy way to play defense, but
it got the job done. That's the reason why they won.
They kept tutor game plan, stuck to it for all
sixteen minutes from the first kickoff to Fitzgerald's game winning kick.
That's why they won. They knew they were gonna win
this game. If they're gonna win this game on the
road with the win, they're gonna have to win by
(14:41):
keeping it on the ground, keeping it ugly, and making
sure that green Bay doesn't get that many explosive plays.
Guess what green Bay had? What one or two explosive plays? Yeah,
that you can think of over twenty yards. And then
they forced a bad Jordan Love interception. I know he
hasn't thrown as many interceptions this year, but Jordan Love
has a propensity to have Brett like turnovers. He had
a Brett fvarv like turnover yesterday when Trayvon Merrick, who
(15:04):
also had a massive game, got that interception out in
center field.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I like Jordan Love, but he had some terrible head
scratchers yesterday. And for those who are asking, of course,
we bring you the Green Bay edition of Loser Radio
coming up here in about eight minutes, So stick around
for that because the cheeseheads were very, very unhappy, as
you can imagine with that loss yesterday, So stick around
for that coming up in the next segment. But real quick,
(15:28):
back to the defense in Christian rose Boom fifteen tackles led,
you know the defense yesterday. He had twelve tackles last
week against the Bills. He's the first Panther linebacker since
Luke Keigley in twenty sixteen to post back to back
games of twelve plus tackles. Absolutely insane. And then you know,
staying with the defense too, Turk Wharton, I mean that
guy was all over the place there for a stretch.
(15:49):
Took down to Jordan Love in the second quarter for
the second sack of the season.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Game of his career. Here finished with.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
A career high seven total tackles, two solo, one tackle
for loss, two quarter hits and a sack. Trevin Wallace
a season high nine tackle, six of those solo almost
he did. He had one quarterback hit, one pass defended,
and Jordan Love was only sacked one time. But the
Panthers defense as a whole registered six quarterback hurries. Yesterday
(16:16):
you mentioned the Trayvon Merrick interception, his first as a
Panther of the season, seventh of his career.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
In the third quarter.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Finished with five tackles, three solo, two for loss, one pick,
two passes defended. I mean, he was just fantastic, and
then we got to talk about the offense and more
on the other side. It was not a big day
for Bryce Young, but once again, when it gets down
to brass tacks and they need to win a game,
Bryce Young engineering that go or that field goal and
the game winning field goal, that drive his ninth game
(16:46):
winning drive of his career. Already seven oh four, five,
seven ninety six to ten. Hit us up on the
fan duel text line phone calls. When we returned, Panthers
are five and four. They did what almost no one
thought they would do. They win in Grit Bay. With
the Saints coming up this weekend, the Falcons on the
road after that, They've already matched last year's win total
(17:07):
with eight games left to go in the regular season.
Sports Radio ninety two to seven w F and Z.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
The rookie Ryan Fitzgerald, undrafted free agent the last six.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Years at Florida State and All American, trying to win
at Lambeau.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Turn this down.
Speaker 7 (17:28):
The kick is up, Hindyan fixer delivers and the Panthers
up too a touchdown hunderd Tonnon to Lambo and pull
off the upset.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Oh Adam amein with an incredible call. And it's the
second time we've been able to hear Adam Amine is
the soundtrack to a Ryan Fitzgerald walk off game win.
Or did so against the Cowboys, and of course did
it yesterday in Green Bay as the Panthers shock the
Packers sixteen to thirteen in a low scoring, defensive slug fest,
(18:11):
swirling wins inside that stadium that's known for that thirty
mile an hour win gusts yesterday. Shout out to special
teams coordinator Tracy Smith, who Dave Canalis said after the
game told him listen we might want to take the
ball first to guarantee that we have the win at
our backs late in the game if we have a
chance to win it. A lot of folks I think
we're surprised by the fact that the Panthers took the
(18:33):
ball yesterday. That turned out to be the reason why.
And it was a stroke of brilliance by Tracy Smith
and of course by extension head coach Dave Canalis for
taking the advice of his special teams coordinator KB and
smoke with you here on a victory Monday, Panthers at
five and four, and before we get to lose a radio,
I'm just going to say it right now, it's okay
to talk playoffs. It's more than okay to talk playoffs
(18:54):
here on a Monday.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It just is.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
When you're five and four past the midway point of
the season, you should be talking playoffs. When you go
on the road and upset the number one team in
the NFC, when you do so not by way of
a fluke, but because you've established an identity as a
team that you're playing defense much much better than last season.
And of course, as zero of Vero deserves a ton
of credit for that and we'll talk more about it.
(19:16):
I'm sure when you lean into what we all saw
was right and just and necessary, and that was making
Rico Dabble the lead running back on this team, and
when you trust your quarterback who I'll be honest with you.
Bryce did not have a great day at all yesterday,
but it was also and I'm talking about throwing the
football specifically and total yards and things like that. I
don't know if the interception got picked off by the
wind before McKenny got it. It might have, it might
(19:39):
not have. But they had a game planned yesterday and
Bryce was once again clutch on that final possession, as
we've seen so many times already in his young career.
When you do all those things, you win that game.
You improved a five and four. This fan base has
every right to talk about the playoffs going into Week ten,
and I would encourage you to do so, because this
team may or may not make it, but they're doing
(20:00):
what most of us ask them to do, and that
is to be in the hunt, be in the mix
going into November and hopefully December as well, and that's
where the Carolina Panthers are. It's been a long seven
years it's been a long seven years, yes, under new ownership,
But I also want to point out that, you know,
David Tepper's got one team in the playoffs right now
in Charlotte f C, and the Panthers seem to have
turned things around, and David Tepper should be getting at
(20:22):
least a little bit of credit for that today, a
guy who's more or less stayed in the shadows the
last several months, and it looks like that turned out
as many of us thought to be the best decision.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Yeah, and I also want to mention two straight playoff
years for Charlotte f C as well, and including a
play in appearance the year prior to that, so technically
three straight postseason appearances for Charlotte f CEE and now
Carolina's five and four. Look, it took him a while,
and you know we saw unfortunately, we have to go
through to warts of ownership growing up. And I'm not
saying David Tepper is still perfect to today. I don't know.
(20:54):
We're still seeing play things play out naturally. The next
year two or three will tell us a lot more
about David Tepper going into the next decade. But what
we're seeing the last fifteen eighteen months. I think is
a massive step in the right direction with the way
that this football team should be operated, and it's been
a lot. Look, do I want Bryce Young to perform
better each and every single week? Yes, I know that
(21:16):
we can't have performances like that week in and week
out as a football team or as a fan base.
But he got the job done when it mattered to
most that final drive. How many clutch FROs did he have?
He had about two or three FROs that really got
the job done. That fro off balance having to redirect
and get situated to throw a dart to Jalen Cocher
into the next play, perfect fro to teddor Roorr McMillan.
(21:37):
Only difference is I think Ted Roorer should have probably
rolled out of bounds. But you know, he's a rookie.
He's going to have to learn. He got a job
done on that final drive and he adjusted. Unfortunately, Rico
Dado gave up some State secrets with what they did
in that play for a nineteen yard run, which Stave
Canal's kind of laughed at there an espresso today, But hey,
Bryce Young got them in that situation to give the
(21:59):
ball off the Rico make sure that he knew what
the play was, because how many times have we seen
any Ford sort of football game the running back and
the quarterback are not in sync well, and.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
It's the nuances of the game, and we can get
back to it. But like that late Rico run that
put them in range for the field goal. Bryce didn't
check into that play. But Bryce did a very good
job of turning and pretending to set pass protection with
the running back to make the defense believe there was
a pass play coming. And then he turns and gives
it to Rico, and Rico does the rest. I thought
you know yesterday clearly the game plan was to limit possessions.
(22:31):
They only gave Green Bay only possessed the football three
times in the first half yesterday, and Carolina had to
play that way to go up there and steal a win.
And they did exactly what they went up there intending
to do. Seven oh four, five, seven oh ninety six
to ten. Hit us up on the FanDuel text line,
taking your phone calls here in just a couple of minutes,
a couple of phone lines open. If you want to
get in Panthers five and four. Do you believe how
(22:53):
jacked up are you after a win like that yesterday?
What does it do to you to change your perception
of this team but also to change their outlook after
nine weeks and with eight games left to go again,
all of that still to come, Steve Smith in about
fourteen minutes. But you all ask for it, and we've
been able and blessed to be able to bring it
to you each and every Monday, anytime the Panthers knocked
(23:14):
down an opponent get a win. The next day, we
bring to you lose a radio.
Speaker 8 (23:24):
And a very pleasant good afternoon? Or is it sixteen
thirteen the final from Lambeaufield? The Green Bay Packers with
a pathetic performance this afternoon and lose the game that
they have no business losing.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
They seem to get beat up by teams that are
more physical just playing awesome. That should be very.
Speaker 6 (23:43):
Concerning Jordan Love and Lafleur.
Speaker 9 (23:46):
I mean, they look pretty for.
Speaker 8 (23:47):
Pictures and for cel come and that kind of stuff,
But man, they need a little rough and tough football
brought back here at coach a makin a touch.
Speaker 10 (23:56):
I mean, Jordan Love is regressing again right before our eyes.
Speaker 11 (23:59):
Some of the ball up in the coverage multiple times today.
Speaker 9 (24:02):
Whoever is the person that go for it on fourth
and eighth should be immediately fired. It was absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 10 (24:10):
I thought I was watching flag football.
Speaker 12 (24:12):
I have figured out the Green Bay Packers' identity. Okay,
there are a box of chocolates, like from Forrest Gump.
They are a box of chocolates. You don't know what
you're gonna get week after week, Like like, you can
beat Detroit, but you can't be Cleveland. You can beat Pittsburgh,
but you can't beat Carolina.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
Today, I'm tired of everybody anointing Matt Lafleur some sort
of offensive genius. You know, Oh, he's one of the
greatest play callers in the NFL. Well, how so, because
if he was such a great play caller, wouldn't they
just be stomping teams that they should be stomping. Buffalo
went into Carolina last week and stomped.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
The snot out of them.
Speaker 11 (24:51):
The Packers are only to go as far as they
are right now with Lafloor.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
You've seen it.
Speaker 11 (24:55):
This team underperforms. They played down to their teams play
callings bad.
Speaker 6 (25:01):
They need a change. Bring someone in who's gonna grab
the bowl by.
Speaker 11 (25:04):
The horns and lead this team. Now, some players might
say we love la floor, get over it.
Speaker 8 (25:10):
Wayne Lairvie had the greatest description of this game. Wayne said,
this game is like going to the dentist to get
teeth bowled without Novacan.
Speaker 4 (25:20):
And I'm like, I hear you, brother, if you.
Speaker 6 (25:22):
Gotta pair between your legs, jose them. You are one
of the.
Speaker 11 (25:26):
Worst coaches I received.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I would love to come on that sideline and smack
that smug baby look off your face.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
This is our team.
Speaker 11 (25:33):
We're the owners.
Speaker 12 (25:34):
Listen up, head office, get rid of this bum and.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Bring someone in who's gonna take charge.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Unacceptable to ever lose to the Carolina Panthers. When it happens,
everyone must go. Coaches must be fired, Quarterbacks must be benched.
Listen to the owners. Your dad's an owner, Your dad's
a Green Bay Packers owner. Does he want Matt Leafleur
fired today? Smoke, well done, by the way, good job.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
No, No, he does not want to fire because he's
also which and he realizes how ridiculous sat statement is
that a guy that has over a sixty percent winning
percentage that you're going to fire him over this game.
If you fire him, you probably eventually fire him because
he never wins into postseason. They still haven't excitended his contract.
But yeah, they're five two and one. Yeah, yeah, that
still feels word to say. And it's ironic that Caroline
(26:19):
has beating both teams that tied this year. They beat
the Cowboys and now they beat Green Bay. So I
found out very ironic. But no, come on, no, that's fantastic. Well,
they'll they'll win this game on Monday against the Eagles.
Now that's what they think. I guarantee it. That's that's
what they're anticipating up there. But I don't really care
about them anymore. Carolina did what they needed to do.
I want to hear from you seven oh four, five,
(26:41):
seven ninety six to ten. Let's take some phone calls.
Baron is up first here on a victory Monday. Baron,
what's going on?
Speaker 10 (26:48):
Feeling great? The last time I was this excited in
November was back when they played the Steelers and Camps
Newton shoulder got destroyed. That was I feel like the
end of the little dynasty or relevance that we had
as a team. So I definitely feel like we're back
two points unsung heroes Nick Scott and Rose Boom because
(27:10):
Nick Scott doesn't make that play unless he just drives
through that wide receiver block. I thought, that's what's set
up that whole play, so big shout out to him
and Rose Boom, who's been put down this year a
little bit by everybody. And then I caught a few
weeks ago and got on Dave and Everro, so I
got a e crow. Dave has got these players inspired.
The thing I didn't like about him was for a
(27:32):
young coach first time, he seemed like he could never
be told what was wrong or what he was doing wrong.
And with the whole Rico thing, he really you know,
looked at himself and said, okay, I got a change.
And there was plenty of times in that game where
Rico coch came out due to fatigue or that growing,
but Dave stuck with him and kept running them. So
(27:54):
I'm seeing a coach who's learning. And with that being said,
you know, I've I'm kind of getting more on board
with them. So I'm super excited we've got the same twice.
We got Atlanta coming in. I mean, by all means
we should be going for the playoffs this year at
least thinking we can do. It's all about it.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
No that Like, I couldn't agree more with your last davement.
Thank you for the phone call, buddy. You're right whatever
Dave Canalis is selling inside that building and we have
a pretty good idea those guys are clearly buying. And
if you haven't seen the locker room speech yesterday, Dave
Canalis said, Hey, just dream with me a little bit.
You know, Dave's all about the process and he's continuing
to drill and you know, harp on the process. This
is who we are, this is what we do. Buy
(28:34):
in details, you know, our process will get us there.
And like, we laugh at that stuff sometimes because a
lot of coaches say it. Not all of them live it,
embody it or can execute it. But so far, I
think we have to look at Dave Canalis and say,
that's exactly what he's doing. They're buying what he's selling. Wait,
a coach in a football coach in North Carolina talking
about dreams. Where have I heard this before? Want to
(28:54):
chuck him on?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I'm strong with one.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Back to the phone lines. Kevin and Charlotte is up next. Kevin,
what's going on?
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Man? Uh oh, I'm here.
Speaker 11 (29:05):
I was on mute Big Talk seven. Hey, I am
so glad to now is figured it.
Speaker 9 (29:11):
Out that he needs to run Rico into the ground.
And I don't understand why our fans are saying dumb
stuff like it's a problem having two running backs. Uh,
it's a win win situation from a Panther or management standpoint.
You run Rico into the ground because he's on a
cheap contract.
Speaker 11 (29:30):
If he goes to a fifteen hundred yard season, great
for you, great for him. And if he goes in
free agency, the passage can get up to a third
round draft choice if he's running himself into a contract,
and then you save the wear and tear on on Tuba.
I don't understand what the big problem is. No, you
don't trade Tube at the deadline. That is one of
(29:51):
the most injury prone positions in football. I see it
as a win win situation. Run Tuba into the ground.
You have a fresh running back. Net I mean, run
Reso into the ground. You have a fresh running back
in Truba next year.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
Go Panthers.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Appreciate you, Kevin.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
Listen, there are parts of what you said that I
agree with I'm not sure that the overall big picture
solution is necessarily what I'm looking at right now. But
you know again what you said there about this not
being a real problem. Couldn't agree more. We'll come back
to that. Mikey is up next. Mikey. What's going on?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Man?
Speaker 13 (30:23):
So, yeah, I did get what I wanted. So Rico
did good with over one hundred and thirty yards. I
do feel bad for Tucking Craft. He's in it ending
injury towards apl but it didn't help us in the end.
(30:47):
Sorry tuker Craft for that. Thanks Jerald with a forty
nine yard field goal. With that those crazy wins for
the win.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Strong stuff. Mikey, you're the man. Great phone call, great energy, buddy.
I appreciate you. My man's fired up.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Sorry Tucker Craft about your ratio, which does, Yeah, it does,
Thanks for it.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Done day. I wait for Caro a lot of this.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Great phone call, Mike, you appreciate you. Let's keep him rolling.
We'll take phone calls throughout the show. Steve Smith coming
up in six minutes. Right now, we go to smoke
on the headlines.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Who is smoke? Where is smoke? Where there's smoke? There's fire,
let's go all right, smoking what you got?
Speaker 9 (31:23):
All right?
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'm not playcating to you, but it was the biggest
sporting event that happened this weekend.
Speaker 4 (31:28):
Game seven of the World Series.
Speaker 5 (31:31):
It lived up to the hype, went into extra innings,
and thanks to a solo shot from Will Smith getting
jiggy with it, the Dodgers for the first time since
the Yankees went back to back to back in ninety
eight ninety nine, two thousand have won back to back
World Series, and the MVP was Yoshinobu Yamamoto's right arm,
(31:55):
pitching what two and two thirds innings against the Blue Jays,
a day after pitching six great innings against the Blue
Jays and a couple of days after having a complete
game win in Game.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Two of the World Series, Kyle I fault.
Speaker 5 (32:11):
No one would top Mad Bums pitching performance into twenty
fourteen World Series, but Yamamoto said, hold by beer.
Speaker 3 (32:17):
In the final twenty minutes of that game, I had
three strokes, two heart attacks, a dislocated shoulder, and I
peed a little.
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Like it was I would.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
I think I FaceTime my dad in between every inning,
every half inning. I was absolutely losing my mind. On
Saturday night, twenty six million people tuned in to the
finale of what I believe is the greatest World Series
of my lifetime. We can debate that it also has
to rank up there. I think top three all time
is the most gutting loss for a fan base that
I've ever seen. I mean to watch that happen. First
(32:47):
of all, did Joe The Dodgers haven't closed out of
World Series at home since nineteen sixty three. Yeah, that
makes sense, so Toronto fans had to endure that on
their home field. But I mean between Yamamoto and the
Miggie home run and the Miggie play and ikf not
getting a secondary lead.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
And the hot Traghty of Game six, and then.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
Max Munsey handled their at third base, and I mean
just absolutely insane. In fact, this will partially come up
next Steve Smith seen your Panthers legend, noted LA Dodgers
fan mostly Panthers and Packers, but will get his thoughts
on an insane World Series as well. Age in eighty
nine back Next Sports Radio ninety two to seven w
F and Z.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
Over fifteen thousand total yards the way sixteen NFL seasons.
Have you see that's nice, not La School, five Pro
Bowls and countless memories.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
When a dog gets an X ray, they've got that
Steve Smith inside their rib game.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
Steve Smith is on wfn Z I suf song.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Well he is back, and our producer Evan Smoke Ludwig
truly is a consummate professional and one of the friendliest
guys you'll ever meet. I mean that, And every week
when he calls Steve Smith, he says, Hey, Steve, how
you doing this week? And then he proceeds to ask
if he's ready to go on the air. And I
hear Smoke asking him that a minute ago, and I
think you don't need to ask him that this week.
I know exactly how the hell Steve Smith's doing this week.
The Panthers won in Green Bay, the Dodgers are World
(34:13):
Series champions, and his Utah Utes beat the snot out
of Cincinnati on Saturday with college game Day in town.
So I'd imagine Aged eighty nine is in a pretty
good mood here on a Monday afternoon. What's going on, Smitty?
How are you feeling, man?
Speaker 6 (34:30):
I'm just finishing my workout, bro, I'm filling great. I'm
over here trying to get eighty boys got me trying
to get my play await right now?
Speaker 3 (34:38):
Oh god, what a great way. I've had such a
great sports weekend. It's unbelievable how good this sports weekend was.
I'm smiling ear to ear now. I will say real quick,
I said before the break the last thirty minutes of
Game seven Saturday night, I had three strokes, two heart attacks,
and I think I peed my pants a little bit,
and then I threw out my shoulder fist pumping when
Mickey hit that home run in the top of the
(34:58):
ninth inning, congrat that's to our Dodger Smidty to me,
greatest World Series of my lifetime.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
It was amazing.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Man, it was unbelievable. It's unfortunate with the effort that
there were Toronto Blue Jays got they got to you know,
they got the l the loss for that. But man,
you look at you watch the game and it was
literally like a soap oper. Yeah right. It was a thriller.
It's suspense. It kept and it kept you holding on
(35:29):
trying to figure out. I mean, I could have I
stayed up late watching it and I could have like
I didn't go to bed untill like two or three o'clock,
just because I had so much adrenaline, so, you know,
so much invested in it emotionally. But at Shoe man,
it was it was great. Now obviously my Utah used
(35:49):
that's the first time since we have been on college
game day or when one of these big shows come
to Utah that we actually won a game, right, and
we were on the other side of rowdy and someone
versus getting robin when I was down there a couple
of years ago for Oregon we got ran through. Yeah,
(36:12):
Texas Tech got ran through right. Yeah. Well man, it
was just it was fantastic, man. And I know, you
know those guys up there, U saw they're working hard.
You know, with the nil and all that stuff. Man,
it's it's it's a grind, but they you know, they're
doing it and hopefully they can keep it up well again.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
An amazing sports weekend capped off by a big win
yesterday in Green Bay. Last time Panthers won there, you
were part of it. You had a big catch back
in eight late.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
D Angelo people, Pelo Williams.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Yeah, for the folks that don't remember, late d' angelo
Williams touchdown secured the win. It was a shootout, thirty
five thirty one, hell of a game, and so yesterday
they finally go back up there and get a win.
We used the phrase statement win sometimes in sports, Steve,
and sometimes it means something, sometimes it doesn't. I'm going
to argue that yesterday was the epitomy of a statement
win for this organization.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
What what do you say.
Speaker 6 (37:06):
I think it's a great win, and I believe that
what they accomplish and how they accomplish it right. Defense,
you know, defense has been an achilles heel for us
at times. But basically, if it's week the week, you
gotta look at the Achilles hill for the buff in
the Buffalo Bills game, and then it come out and
I keep saying it, you know, the the PC answer is,
(37:29):
you know, hey, we got two we got two guys.
I'm not I'm not necessarily sure you got two feature backs.
I think you have a feature back of Rico, and
I think you have a guy who could fill in,
but he just doesn't have He doesn't run the ball
with the same amount of juice. Rico is a tone center,
(37:49):
and I think that's that's it's being showing. You know.
I think I saw him, you know, a lot of
guys are kind of what's the world I'm moving for?
It just kind of get and gimpy because I think
it was the first game they played in the cold
with the weather changes, so you know, you kind of
underestimate how much layers you need to wear, how thorough
(38:11):
you need to warm up. Speaking of that, because in
that game, I think it was the first five plays
Jonathan Stewart breaks out in that game in eight and
he comes up gimping because he didn't properly warm up
and had this big run. And I remember talking to
(38:31):
him in the hudder, I'm like, how did you not
warm up? He said it was too cold to come outside, right,
So you know those little things in football. A lot
of times when I'm sitting here talking on the radio, man,
a lot of the things that I'm saying, I know
I could say them differently, but it is what it is, right.
(38:52):
I know some of the things because of experience of
other players, experiences that I know that I went through right,
the negative and the positive. And I really tried to
put myself in in a position when I say, hey,
when a receiver isn't catching a ball with his hands,
that's because he's not comfortable or confident. Man, That's just
(39:14):
something that I did when I was a player. So
either you don't, you're saying that what I'm saying is
incorrect when that's and that could be possible, But then
that draws a conclusion your ass can't catch. Then if
you gotta catch with your with your chest then so
of course, and then that tells me without you admitting it,
(39:34):
you don't have confidence in your hands. So you know,
that's just kind of how it goes. And but it
was a it was a great win. Defense played well.
I did watch something that was very interesting. Dereck Brown
was getting double teams literally almost every play and sometimes
triple team like they have to guard. He was lined
(39:55):
up over the center or lined up over the guard.
They did a you know, I had the floor in
that offen. They do a lot of movement shifting so
that that shifts the defensive front to the strength or
to the weakness. And a lot of times it doesn't matter.
Derek Brown is the strength. So they had a guard
center and then they had a true a freaking tidy
in coming down if the other guard was pulling. They
(40:17):
just had a lot of different things and how to
attack them, and luckily they were guys uh stepping up
a Sean Robinson was bawling. He did an outstanding job.
Doesn't get a lot of credit, but man was it
was a really good football game to watch twice for
me to be able to pick out some things that
(40:38):
were good and then obviously some things are bad. You
know they're gonna coach that. They've already coached that up,
and you know they meet it to one o'clock, team
meeting two o'clock, So they've already coached it up and
they're moving on getting prepared for next week.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
It's a week to week league. You and I know it.
We've talked about it quite a bit. Buffalo was ugly,
this one was a lot of fun. We don't know
what the future holds, and so it's been a real
roller host to ride so far this year. But one
constant for the most part has been offensive line plays.
So far in nine weeks, they've started seven different combinations
along the offensive line. Yesterday, Jake Kurhan, a guy they
picked up off the Cardinals practice squad a couple of
(41:13):
weeks ago, came in and was huge for them.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Again.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
I know that we crowned some guys one week and
want to fire them the next. I mean, that's the
nature of the business sometimes. But Joe Gilbert offensive line coach,
I don't know if it's him, it's Dave Canalis's scheme,
you can tell me. But like, who deserves the most
credit for those guys week in week out, you know,
regardless of who's out there more or let's getting the job.
Speaker 6 (41:31):
Done, Well, let's let's give it where it deserves first,
which is the actual players who play right. Obviously, the
old line coach, he does a great job. He's very
detailed with those guys within. You got to give coach.
Give kudos to coach Canalis for calling the right place,
calling plays that benefit. This offensive line has had a
(41:53):
lot of different rotate rotation in it, and that's just
part of the business. Injuries are part of the business.
You don't really realize that if it hits your team right.
But I also have been on teams where it's been eighteen, nineteen,
twenty ten, twelve guys on IR. And this is back
(42:15):
in the day when you couldn't designate guys to come
back from IR. When you are IR, you are Dunzoe
for the year. So it's been great to watch the
Carolina Panthers play well, and it's also been nice to
see the fans supporting them. Right. I was on a flight,
I think I was heading after Sunday. I had to
(42:38):
head somewhere after the game. And man, I was on
the flight and there were some people on the flight.
There was a woman she said something to the guy
that was sitting two rows behind me. He had the
Panthers had a sweatshirt on it, and this is what
she said, and I just thought it was interesting. She said,
(43:00):
I'm surprised you even are wearing a shirt like that
based off how they played. And I was like, and
she was, and she was a Panthers fan, and I said, boy,
oh boy, that speaks a lot to some of these folks.
Speaker 2 (43:17):
Passing game real quick.
Speaker 6 (43:23):
But well, here's the reason I'm stating that. I'm stating
because people. There have been people that walked up to
me and said, Steve Hey, what you said? I agree,
or Steve Hey, I disagree, whether you agree to disagree.
I'm not pulling this out of there there. I'm not
grabbing stuff and making it up. I'm just I've been
in this city for a very long time. Still in
(43:44):
this city. Pull up if you want to, if you
want to go see the Lord, so pull up. But
if I see it in the city a lot of times, man,
it's various things that have happened that I just wish
that it didn't or wouldn't come across that way. So,
I mean, you know, it is what it is. But
passing game, you know, uh, they they got a little choppy.
(44:07):
Wasn't effect. It was consistent effective, but it wasn't jaw dropping.
And again a pass rush, hesitating feet looking down at
their looking down at the rush instead of looking at
the receivers. Man, it just got to be a little
bit better. And it's starting to happen more and more often.
(44:29):
And every year every football player has a new habit
to break, because you're going to get people who are
gonna cause you to do things that you don't want
to do. They're not gonna line up and say, hey,
I'm running to the right, They're gonna line up on
the left. Look sake right, go left. So you got
to be able to control the bad habits and not
(44:52):
allow those things to stall. Drives.
Speaker 2 (44:55):
Yeah, I hear you. Last thing, I'll let you go.
Speaker 4 (44:58):
You know.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
I brought up the playoff word early today and I
had some people saying.
Speaker 6 (45:01):
Oh, okay, don't ask me.
Speaker 3 (45:03):
No, I know, I know, I get it, But I
also I'll ask you from this angle, right. You know,
you're a competitive guy. I'm a competitive guy, and so
to me, you know, unless you're clearly blowing things up
and it's a clear rebuild, you're trying to make the
playoffs every single year when you're five and four at
the past the midway point, to me, you should be
thinking playoffs, right, Yeah, you should.
Speaker 6 (45:23):
Be thinking playoffs. And and I get it, but it's
also one of those where I don't know, going to
the playoffs the way this team or just in the past,
going to the playoffs barely squeaking in or knowing that
you have some clear deficiencies that that is going to
get you in trouble in the playoffs. Yeah, it's like
(45:44):
saying we're gonna go to Disney World. We get in
the car, we all packed up, and it ain't no
gas man, you just you just let down some folks.
I just I don't know if I'm comfortable really enjoying.
I know the players would, but really does that set
it up for an opportunity for people to complain and
(46:08):
and say, you know, I hate this team and all
that stuff. So that's that's kind of where I'm you know,
let's just stay into the victory Monday today, before we start,
before we start doing the Rose Parade down down in Pasadena.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
It's all about perspective, my man. It's all about perspective.
I appreciate you as always, hope you enjoyed the week.
Speaker 9 (46:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (46:27):
We'll talk to you next Monday.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Next Monday, I will be on the flight back from Berlin.
So I got good service, but my service ain't that good.
Speaker 3 (46:39):
That's true. All right, We'll see you in two Mondays.
Steve Smith, Senior Panthers legend agent eighty nine, with us
every Monday our two Next Sports Radio ninety two seven
WF and Z
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