September 26, 2025 • 44 mins
To start the show, Walker and Smoke filling in for Flounder, recap Sam Darnold's hot start in Seattle as they wonder if he is yet another guy the Panthers messed up with, and should we be mad that he's balling out elsewhere.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Only on Sports Radio ninety two point seven AFM, a UFNZ. Fine,
he's the West and Walker Show. Even a crowd nos,
what's coming there? It's a no rules Friday. It's a
freaky Friday. On Western Walker Sports Radio ninety two to
seven WFNZ. We appreciate you joining us as you do
(00:31):
hopefully every weekday in the midday from twelve to three
pm on ninety two seven FM. And it is the
Western Walker Show. But as you've come to know on
Fridays especially, it's not really the West and Walker Show.
It's the blank filling the gap and the Walker Show.
This time it's smoke, I believe. I don't think for
the first time, but god, I mean it has to
(00:55):
be few and far between the amount of times that
you have run the show, been the bus driver and
done it for the entirety of the three hour duration
of this program. Like, I don't know how many times
that you've been on weston Walker and been here all
three hours.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Before it's been a hot minute. It's been a while.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And the last time I remember doing a midday show
it was four years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So you still remember how to do this? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, it just I feel naked almost. Well, it was
very weird. We were in the fish bowl. Kyle walks
in like he usually does around that time, somewhere in
you know whatever. We're in the fishbowl. Kyle walks in
we chat. You usually are not in the fish bowl.
I don't see you until you come into the channel
the VAULTA Studios, CV Injurylaw dot Com. By the way,
ceebe Injury Law dot Com.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
One call.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
That's all the Carolina's personal injury lawyers. We don't see
you until you usually come in here around the two
o'clock hour or so. But it was very weird seeing
you in the fishbowl. Kyle said he didn't like it.
I'm excited to do a show with you, but it
was very weird. It's freaky Friday. People are changing roles
like Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, And I guess
that makes you who do you want to be Lindsay
(02:02):
Lohan Jamie Lee Curtis in this scenario? Uh, I don't
really know that was a really you really thought that
went out? You really from Lindsay Lohan. I have a
lot of drug problems coming up. Okay, that's true, all right,
Jamie Leek all right, fair enough, fair enough, you could
be Jamie Lee Curtis. Let us know how you're feeling
on this Friday. Seven oh four five seven oh ninety
six ten. That's the Fandel text line. Seven oh four
(02:25):
five seven oh ninety six ten. I guess we should
give people information as to why we're undergoing a freaky Friday.
You're gonna be PA announcing for the North Lincoln football
game tonight, to which I'm very excited about, because I
want to ask the Fandal text line this specific question,
is high school football PA announcing the most pure form
(02:45):
of sports broadcasting that exists? Seven oh four five seven
oh ninety six ten, Because that's what I would start
the conversation with. Is that right there? What you're about
to do? Like good old rural high school football PA
announcing to me doesn't get what is North Lincoln?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Two A?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
United classifications have changed drastically. It's now one through eight
A god like, yeah, So what is North Lincoln? Is
it one A? No? God?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
No, no, they're five North? Think it's five A. We
got remember it's no longer one A two A three
A four eight. Remember how they had splits when we
were in high school one A one double A two
A two double A. It's essentially Dad again, except they
don't have it, you know, one A one double A.
It's one A, two A three A four A five
A six A seven eight eight A.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I contend that conference realignment in college football, college sports
it threw everybody for a loop, But it's nothing like
changing everything in high school, because when I was in
high school, my conference changed I think two times in
the four years that I was there. So anyway, what
did it used to be back in twenty eleven? North
Lincoln used to be two A correct?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Correct? Okay, Okay, I just want to make sure going
two double A gotcha? Gotcha?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
They just got rid of the double. They just put
it into you know, one for eight A.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
All right.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
So either way, I think it's the most pure form
of sports broadcasting. Would you agree with that? Smoke like
you're about to be a purist in its true form.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That in high school football broadcasting engine or high school
broadcasting in general. It could be basketball, it could be baseball, softball.
I'd also, even though I've had my pains of doing it,
American Legion baseball can be very pure as well. Just
oh god, a random like doing twenty games in twenty
five days at two or three random places and just
(04:27):
calling games at about a nine o'clock and then you
have about a two hour to lay because you got
those summer storms. Just got to wait for his got
to tell the guy at the studio, Yeah, we're still
in the delay.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You got to keep on playing that oldies music. Put
me in coach? How many times is that going around?
At some point you get through all the jock jams
and you just have to go right back to put
me in coach. I've been there before. That same tape
at Marty Curtis Field back in Bunker Hill has played
about eighteen thousand times when I was there for the
(05:00):
four years that I was at Bunker Hill, So I
totally get that. Getting a lot of great text messages
on the FanDuel text line, Wan says, as a former
high school administrator, I've done PA at the game and
it's the most fun. No expectations, just vibes. Jack says.
Minor league baseball announcing is also very pure. I think
the bigger you get, you lose it. So Matt Swearad
(05:22):
being the voice of the Charlotte Knights very pure, very
good at what he does. But I'm thinking more. We
got to go to LP fran Stadium. We got to
go call some Hickory crawdads games. That to me is
more pure.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, you're getting it out of a hotel room at
a motel six that leave the light on for you.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Alright, you gotta go do a game.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Barely got a shower, just got to put some fragrance on.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Let's go do this game. Dear, dear, for five six hours.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I love that you brought up Legion though, because now
you know what I'd immediately go to is the great
Richard Walker because he listens to the show, and he
listens to the station every once in a while, Richard,
if you're out.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I've seen Richard at god knows how many Legion games.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Oh and I'm and I'm sure he's talked to your
year off about some up and coming pitcher that had
a great game the other night that is going to
go to Kataba College and go play baseball and be
a legend over there. And he knows every single baseball
player in Kataba and surrounding counties. He has it over
the last twenty years. It's crazy. Oh not last twenty.
(06:21):
We're talking like near forty fair enough. You Remer ten
ninety two.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Charitable Post one hundred did this game in June twenty first,
it was a game to start at seven o'clock, but
you know, it got delayed a little bit due to rain,
and then you know, I started about eight forty five.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Was the best it was against Gastoni Post twenty three,
the Hickory Post forty eight. I remember that game like
it was yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I remember when Gastoni Post twenty three took on Lincoln
County Post four to fifty five back in nineteen ninety seven,
June thirtieth.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
It was a big game because it was a regional game.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
You know, anytime we mentioned local legends around here, not anytime.
It's been a little bit. But I'll get a text
from Richard and he'll say, you remember Terry wasn't it
is that?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yep?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I shall do, I should do? Holy crap, I sure do,
I sure do. Remember Terry wasn't it? Seven o four
five seven oh ninety six y ten. Bagel Guy rites
in on the FanDuel text line, when you think of
PA announcing, how do you not think of Bob Sheppard
with the Yankees. I'm just talking about high school man
talking about I'm talking about Coffeetown. That's what I'm talking
(07:19):
about here. Hi like Kyle Bailey, JJ Janssen Collin the
Key Pounding Classic the other day. That brought me back
to some of those vibes Flounder and Fitty with them
calling some high school games right here on WFNZ. That's
the same thing, Just good old high school football. That's
what I like out of my broadcasters. Seven oh four.
Oh wow, Steve Post here, I know who you are, Steve,
(07:41):
Steve Post.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Man Pitt Road for MRN. Love it all but an
in arena carnival barking, getting crowded, fired for indoor racing
is most awesome, all caps.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You can speak to that better than I can.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, local short track racing especially. Look, I've seen the
stuff I've never been. I've always wanted to go to
the Matt House at Wins in sam State University, Bowman
Gray Stadium.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
See that race. Just some of the PA announced and
they do dearn those races.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And here it comes to guys, he's fighting, he's getting
out of his car, he's upset. Oh, there's a racing
turn too, a Hickory Motor Speedway. I mean some of
the PA announcing there your local short track racing.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
He's right, it's it's top tier.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Last thing on this before we move on, because there's
a lot of interesting stuff, but it's no rules Friday.
It's freaky Friday. I really don't care people. I wanted
to make this point what I think people fail to
realize about these local broadcasters where they're PA announcing, or
you might just have somebody come in who is going
to call a radio broadcast for a high school football game.
The thing about it is, man, those guys are legitimately good.
(08:43):
Like that went with them having so many reps. In
my opinion, sure you get some bad ones. You get
bad ones all across the profession in all sorts of
different areas. But like I would not be able to
call a high school football game just bite doing a
radio show every single weekday for the last however many
years of my life, I would not be as good
at doing play by play for a high school football game.
I don't know if that says more about me, but
(09:04):
I genuinely appreciate how good those guys are. I don't
want to hear Walker Mail in a high school football broadcast.
I want to hear John Doe who's grown up in
Kataba slash Iredale slash Alexander County all of his life
and he's sixty years old and all he does is
just loves some high school football. That guy is very
(09:25):
good and he knows what he's talking about, at least
to me, I genuinely think those guys are very talented.
I don't know, you're you're being quiet, You're not so
much amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Trying not to be a homer while your Heights alma
mater is getting housed and your dad's the head coach.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, for an interim head coach.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
It's like I remember I was having to talk about
it is like and coach Ludwig his first start of
the season a head coach. Uh, yeah, that's what I
would say.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Something different.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Dad is on the sidelines having to coach this game
on an interim basis, So yeah, it was it's def weird.
And then when your team's getting housed and you went
to the school and then your dad's on the coaching staff,
it's also like in touchdown but also trying to maintain
no homerism. Because you're calling the team. It's in inter
county rival. It's like you're just thinking, damn it, damn it,
(10:14):
damn it.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I also can't say damn it, damn it. Yeah no
you care No, no, don't do that. Don't do that
because we want you to go back to have some
more opportunities to be the PA announcer. All right, I
know it's a little late, but we got a tiny
bit of time. Let's go ahead and open up the doors.
Let's pull up to the scene. Shroppy is no longer
with us right now. I made that sound like he's dead.
He's still alive. I apologize. Shroppy is still here. He's
(10:36):
just not in the channel vault to studios. Sorry, sp
idn't mean to kill you, flounder. He not in the studio.
So we have a new bus driver, at least a
new bus driver for the first time in a long time.
It's smoke. Let's go ahead and pull up to the scene. There, Smoky,
let's open up the doors. Let's get off the bus.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
We look good getting off the bus.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
All right, we're I did want to talk about this
just for a little bit though, and maybe we can
carry this conversation into the next segment, Smoke. We saw
Sam Donald in the Seahawks win a game last night
where Sam Donald was throwing seeds all over the place.
And it's not like he had this wow, crazy statistical game.
It got a little out of hand and then they
started to run the football more and then Arizona came back.
(11:22):
It wasn't because Sam Donald was making any mistakes. It
was just because that was the normal flow of the game.
But you're starting to see some wild stuff about just
how well Sam Donald is playing football through the first
kind of quarter of the season. And I just got
to know, have we moved on from that space as
Panthers fans of having Sam Donald envy watching what he
(11:44):
did in Minnesota last year, watching what he's doing in Seattle.
Of course, you have the Baker Mayfield stuff where he's
i mean just kind of a no doubt or top
ten quarterback over the last couple of years, the way
that he's been playing. So really, Panthers fans, let me know,
are you pass that or do you still have Sam
Donald slash Baker Mayfield envy seven oh four five seven
(12:04):
ninety six tap walker.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
When I think about this one it's a lot more nuanced,
in my opinion than talking about Baker Mayfield because and
even then with Baker Mayfield, I feel like that one's
nuanced too, because it just felt like it was never
going to work out given the circumstances who was here
at the time. And I think in some cases it's
like that for Sam Darnald two. But let's be honest,
(12:26):
you weren't the only team to move on from Sam Donald.
The Vikings had Sam Donald as they had one of
the best years they've had in a long time, and
they still moved on from him. And the forty nine
ers never played him. They played Brock Perdy the whole time.
He lucked into this opportunity and made the most of
this opportunity last year when JJ mccarfy got hurt during
the preseason. And look, it's still very early in the season,
(12:49):
but it's one of those where it's like, probably was
never gonna work out here.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
But good for you, man, Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
I just want to know if people are still frustrated
by having not worked out with those specific guys. But
here's the other thing that people fail to realize, man,
Baker Mayfield goes to a situation that is pretty damn perfect.
It's the situation that is reminiscent of what Tom Brady
picked when he was leaving New England, and he wanted
a situation Taylor made for what he could do to
(13:18):
win a Super Bowl. That was the best situation conducive
to him winning a super Bowl outside of New England.
So that's why he wanted to go play with the Buccaneers.
It's the same thing with Sam Darnold, where we go
with Minnesota and we say, man, that is a perfect
situation for a quarterback to thrive or go through some
kind of reclamation project. Seattle's not a perfect situation, but
(13:39):
their offensive line improved, they got a better offensive coordinator
up there. Now, they have weapons, especially with what JSN
has been doing. They have talented running backs with both
Kenneth Walker and Zach Sharboney. I think when we look
at the Carolina Panthers, it is true to say, why
can't we be the team that gets the most out
of those quarterbacks. That's all fair, hundred percent, But also
(14:01):
I don't think we can look at these qbs and say, well,
we held them back so much because of the situation
here in Charlotte. Now, man, they're going to some excellent
scenarios where you have great offensive minds. A couple of
them in Tampa with Dave Canalis, who was so good
he got a head coaching job, Liam Cohen, who was
so good he got a head coaching job. Minnesota has
(14:22):
Kevin O'Connell, where the nerds will tell you he's one
of the best offensive minds in football, like top five.
So is it a coincidence that those qbs figured it
out at those different spots?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I would say no.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Does Baker Mayfield look like Baker Mayfield in Carolina right here,
right now, I would say not. I would say he's
probably not throwing for forty five hundred yards. I don't
think Sam Donald is throwing for over four thousand yards
with Carolina last year. Sam Donald looked okay in Carolina
at times. Sometimes it was bad. Sometimes they were off
to a three and zero start. That's just how it was.
(14:55):
But those are the things people forget about. It's oh yeah,
those surrounding those qbs that have bounced around, they just
finally found a good situation and they're making the most
of it.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And I'll put it to you like this, Walker I
think you know, both of these quarterbacks when they came
here had varying degrees of scar tissue. In Sam's case,
it was a lot of scar tissue after his time
with the New York Jets, and unfortunately, the people in
charge at the time were hoping that he was going
to get over to hump just by being in a
(15:27):
different place.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
When when you have scar tissue, what did they say?
It takes time to heal.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Luckily, for Sam Darnold the last year and a half,
two years he was sitting on the sidelines healing his
scar tissue. Baker Mayfield, he just got over a bad breakup.
And what usually happens once you get after a bad breakup,
the first relationship after a bad breakup doesn't often work out.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
You start you start working out too, like you're trying
to become a changed man. You don't want what just
happened to happen to you again, and so you start
hitting the weight room six out of seven days a week.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
And then you're also not with the best person after
your breakup. Not really the best situation. So I just think,
as I said, timing, especially with Baker.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It was a problem.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
But I also think with Sam Darnold, the last thing
he in retrospect hindsight being twenty twenty, the last thing
he needed to do after playing with New York was
just go into being a starter for a team that's
also in a similar situation to what to Jets were
in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Yeah, we're getting a lot of text on this. I'm
interested in what the people have to say on this conversation,
so let's continue it in the next segment. Western Walker
Sports Radio often rolling on a Freaky Friday ninety two
to seven FM.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
We'll be back with you in just a moment. Baker Mayfield, NV.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We're talking about it on WESN Walker Smoke filling in
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. Want to read a
few more We got a lot of people chiming in
on this discussion, so want to read a few more
of those text messages. On the FanDuel of text line,
you can text seven oh four five seven oh ninety
six to ten if you want to be heard. Concord
Jason says, not by Donald or Mayfield success other than
(17:02):
having to play Baker twice a year. It's a fair point.
Both are with better rosters and better coaches. It's just circumstance.
Giggity writes in as soon as Donald drew a picture
of the Panther, I knew we were in trouble. Probably
best if Sam Donald is not asked to draw a
picture of the Seahawks or the Viking's logo. I'm gonna
guess that he never did, and that's why it worked out.
(17:23):
Probably some weird Jamanji type voodoo happening with you. If
you draw it, then it means bad things are gonna
come your way, and that's probably why it didn't work
out in Carolina.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
And the reason it didn't work out with the Jets
is because they're the Jets.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You're seeing ghosts. And the graphic. It's all about graphic.
The graphic where he's pointing at the camera Mono nucleosis.
That's like the most bad to the bone type of
graphic ever for that disease for you to have. Or
are you pointing at the camera shaking your head like, yeah,
you know who got mono? This guy?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Why beat the worst market too? Picture is fantastic. I
hope that person who did that graphic got a pay raise.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Yb Normal says Sam Donald left a situation with the Jets,
where there was no offensive line, terrible coaching came to
the Panthers, who had no offensive line and worse coaching.
I knew if we had kept him and got the
rest of the situation corrected around him, that he would
have thrived here in Carolina. See that's what I'm interested
in figuring out if that would.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Have been true or not.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Do you think it would have happened that early or
I guess this is where the scar tissue stuff comes
into play, Because I'm with you, he probably just needed
to take a step back from bad football for a while,
take a deep breath, go back into a situation conducive
to winning, and then we could see all of that
talent thrive. Because he always had talent. Everybody knew it.
He could throw some wowballs, and he's doing that a
(18:46):
lot more with a lot more consistency. Up in Seattle,
Clt says, I've been past the Donald envy. As well
as he's playing, I still don't want him Carolina. Chris
says Baker and Donald are in good systems and are
effective at showing up as needed. The Panthers don't have
that structure, and we haven't in almost ten years. Here's
where we get to the Baker stuff. Seven oh four says,
(19:07):
I definitely have Baker envy. But when I watched Sam Donald,
I don't see anything he does better than Bryce Young.
He's got a rocket arm, man, I will say that.
I always say he's more naturally gifted. Oh yeah, football,
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I mean, that's the thing about Sam is that if
he were to put it all together, if he could
process a little better, throw it with better accuracy, then
there's not a ton of qbs that are messing with
his arm. He's not a top five rocket arm, but
top ten, top ten live arm kind of action for him,
I would say.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So there's a reason why teams were hoping to tank
for him in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Yeah, despite all the interceptions, because they felt we can
fix that guy, and it took a while before they
actually fixed him. AJ had some thoughts on this yesterday,
by the way, so I wanted to read his text
before we get to the game day dubs. He said
Donald actually had a bad situation here with no line
and was running for his life all the time. If
we would have invested in that for him, like we
try to cater to Bryce Young, we'd be light years better.
(20:03):
Once again, not really having that envy, because I do
think Sam is way better. But Sam plus all the
other good players and assets we gave up to go
get Bryce, would produce a way better team. How fair
is that smoke before we move on? Is that fair
in your eyes? I think so?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
I think with Baker, the difference between Sam and Baker
is that Baker was terrible here. I don't think Sam
Donald was absolutely trash. Baker couldn't complete passes five yards
past the line of scrimmage. Ben McAdoo, Matt Ruhle slash
transitioning into Steve Wilkes, the interim had a coaching job here.
(20:41):
Like all those coaches really couldn't figure it out with Baker.
There was some success with Sam. You had the three
and zero start, then you also had the second half resurgents.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Where samh Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Like so each of those coaches had some sort of
success with Sam. None of them had success with Baker.
And that's where I think you can start to parse out.
Even if Baker is a better quarterback now, he was
way like it is it far fetched to say he
was way worse here in Carolina than Sam was, because.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
We immediately went from that game against Baltimore, which was
his last game before you know, he got benched and
was asked for his release. He asked for his release,
just wanted to let people know about that. After this
he did, he did. I remember the fault process when
Sam got named the starter. It's like, crap, here we go.
You couldn't help yourselves. You gotta and didn't. It was
(21:31):
that game against Denver and I was like, oh, he
had like a beautiful dime to DJ Moore. And then
the game against Detroit, like he wasn't perfect, but it's
like this wasn't the Sam Darnold we saw last year.
It was like even far better than what Sam was
during that three game win streak to start twenty twenty one.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
It's like, huh, yeah, he had moments. I Baker didn't
have any moments Sam against Minnesota in that overtime game
when he brought him back to send it to overtime,
a dime on the left sideline and then the touchdown
pass to now chosen Anderson before kJ Osborne beats us.
Sam Donald had some moments Man and Baker didn't We're
just hoping for some more moments from Bryce Young.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
All Baker had was that rushing touchdown against Cleveland, but
even to Any had six batted passes.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Down to that opra.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. There are bad moments
in that one. All right, let's get to it. Let's
talk about the quarterback now, Bryce Young, he's here. We're
moving on from Sam and Baker. We're trying to figure
out a way for Carolina to get two and two,
winning a game against the Patriots this weekend, and let's
discuss it through the lens of the game day dubs.
The who, the what, the when, the where, the why.
(22:36):
Let's start with the who, smoke. Who's the head coach,
QB Combo you trust most in this game? Is it
Baker Mayfield, Mike excuse me not Baker, I apologize. Is
it Mike Rabel and Drake may Or is it Dave
Canalis and Bryce Young.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I'm not trying to be a homer here, but I
feel like it is Dave canalson Bryce Young, just because
I still feel like there's a feeling out process between.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Drake may and Mike Rabel.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
And to be honest with you, that isn't the coaching
thing that matters on New England side When it comes
to quarterback. The mazing stuff you have to worry about
is Josh McDaniel in Jake May. So it's still a
learning process with them. We're not even a quarter into
this season and a quarter with them being together. So
I feel like the advantage goes to Dave Canalis and
Bryce Young just because of the growth that they've had
(23:18):
as both a coach and a quarterback over the last
year and a half, and they have more time together
at this point.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
You can call it Homer Friday if you want to,
because I'm going to say the same thing. Actually, what's interesting.
I like Mike Vrabel as a coach. I think he
is good, but perhaps we're not seeing the professionalism early
on in his Patriots tenure like we did with Tennessee.
Because there were fourteen misstackles in this game against the
Patriots and I know that's not quarterback stuff, but what
it is is it shows that I can have maybe
(23:44):
more trust in Dave Canalis with his team right now
than Mike Rabel and what he's done with his team
right now. Then you transition to the quarterback. I love
Drake May I think he's going to be the real deal.
I think he's going to be a great quarterback in
this league right now, though we're still in the early
stages of his development. I think you're right. They're trying
to figure it out over there. With that offense. He
did have a turnover in this last game. He had
(24:05):
a few in a week one to start out a
sophomore campaign. Bryce has had a couple of turnovers. At
least he didn't have any against Atlanta. I don't even
know how much of a better defense this is going
to be against New England. There's a better pass rush
against Atlanta than what New England had. The problem is
they are going to get Christian Gonzalez, who will show
up a little bit later in the game day Dubs.
(24:26):
I do trust Bryce Young. I do trust Dave Canalis
for maybe no other reason than they have stability, having
worked together for more than the time that McDaniels and
Drake May slash Mike Rabile have. So I'm with you.
I'm going to go with Carolina number two. The what
what are the expectations if the Panthers win this game?
We could also go with the expectations if they lose,
But I'm much more interested in looking at the positive.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Looking at if they win this game on Sunday. It's
big because it'll be the only the second road win
for Bryce Young in his career. And I know quarterback
wins aren't really a stat that you should be overlooking
served with in the NFL, but I do think for Bryce,
given how he struggled only one road win in his
career to this point, I do think it'll be massive
for him to finally get over to hump and get
(25:10):
another road win outside of that Atlanta road win to
end last year. And I also look at it like this,
if they win, I think there's a clear path to
going five and two. That sounds, you know, way too optimistic,
especially given this franchise over the last decade.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
But you look at it. If you win the game
against New.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
England on Sunday, your next home game, the next game
is against the Miami Dolphins, who are winless, and it
just feels like you need to take one more shot
and they're done for good this year already, and the
game after that is Dallas and the Cowboys. Doesn't look
like Ceedee Lamb's going to be playing here in a
couple of weeks with his injury that he sustained last week,
(25:48):
plus Matt Eberflus's system as a defensive coordinator horrendous, like
they are clearly missing Michael Parsons. Is already to the
point where it's like maybe Michael Parsons was making that
second and there look better than they actually were. So
I think there's a clear path potentially to get to
five and two before you even played in New York Jets.
And you know, after the Jets game, it gets very hard,
(26:12):
very quick. You know, Buffalo Green Bay back to back,
that's a gauntlet right there, and then you have New Orleans.
You should win that game, but you know back into
the schedule is definitely tougher. But if you can win
this game, you set yourselves up to get a good start,
which is something that hasn't happened since twenty twenty one.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
You can see a clear picture of accomplishing the objective
you set out to accomplish this offseason, which is get
better than what you were last year and truly go
after a playoff spot in twenty twenty six. You go
two and two, You set yourself up nicely for a
potential five and two stretch or even just going somewhere
close to five hundred and flirting with that mark before
(26:48):
you have that back to back game against what is
it that you mentioned Green Buffalo and Green Bay, So
then you still have the Saints after that, like you
set yourself up. Well, I'm gonna borrow a philosophy from
Ron Rivera. Anytime guys got injured, and Ron Rivera would
go to the lectern again, shut out Darren Gant anytime
(27:08):
that he would go to the lectern and people would ask,
how are these guys feeling? Are they gonna play this
upcoming weekend? Ron Rivera would say, well, we'll see. It's
all about how they feel the next day. Panthers fans,
if they win this game, It's all about how we
feel the next game. Right, You're feeling great after that
shutout win against Atlanta, But how do you feel after
the next game for it to be truly real, because
(27:30):
it can be a one off, it could just be
all that's a fluke. Whatever, it becomes an outlier. You
give me two games in a row that you actually
win and start to build some momentum, and then you
look ahead at the schedule and see a bunch of
other easier matchups comparatively to other NFL schedules. Yeah, man,
I think we're gonna be We're gonna start talking a
(27:50):
little reckless around here on WFNZ. I have my hand
raised high on that. When this goes into a little
bit of the point that we just mentioned, some people
are writing it on the tech line smoke.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Is this win?
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Bryce Young evens out his record on the road, and
I'll just reference to stat real quickly. Bryce Young right
now is one in fourteen in his first fifteen career
road starts, tied with Steve de Berg, Dan Pasterini and
Blake Bortles for the second worst record by a QB
through his first fifteen road starts since starts were first
(28:23):
tracked in nineteen fifty. Is this when we start to
get back on track towards a more even road win
loss record.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I was going to say back on track.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
He has to get old track, because he hasn't ever
gotten ulder track in the first place.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Honestly, think so. Yes.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I think this is a situation because you're going to
get a team that's also in a similar type of
rut that you've been in over the past five years,
and I think just given the lack of talent around
Drake May, the offensive struggles outside of Will Campbell, the
offensive line has still been a problem for the Patriots.
You know, he doesn't really have much to throw to
(28:58):
Drake May that is, and then you're also going to
get some really good secondary This isn't Stefon Diggs from
five six years ago. This is Stefon Diggs in twenty
twenty five. I just feel like everything's set up for
Bryce Young and Carolina offense to have a really good
game and the defense to potentially build off of their
performance last week. So, yes, he doesn't have to throw
for three hundred and seventy five yards or anything like that,
(29:21):
But I think this could be the game where we
look back on potentially if things work out, and say, Yep,
him finally getting that road win after they shut out
to the Atlanta Falcons is what really got this offense
going to new levels.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Yeah, it really could be a launching pad game for Bryce,
especially if you get a win your five hundred after
the first four games, I think, so, I think this
is the time where you can get a victory. Yeah,
only two road wins in your first at that point
sixteen starts in your NFL career, But I do think
you're right. Maybe not back on track, but I think
you can start to get on track with a win
(29:55):
against New England, but they might get some reinforcements back
with our ware. Question, is this where t mac sees
his toughest matchup at this point in the season with
Christian Gonzales. I don't think likely, but it does look
like he's progressing. He almost suited up last week. Christian Gonzales,
an excellent cover corner for New England, been missing some
time with an injury.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
He might be back.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
So is this where t mac sees his toughest matchup
to this point?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
If Gonzo was just playing last week in the game
against Pittsburgh, I would say yes, But I would still
honestly say the preseason has been the toughest test for
tedor Roy McMillan what he's gone against in terms of corners,
because he was going in training camp against a fully
healthy J. C. Horn, a fully healthy Mic Check and
during joint practices in the preseason he was going against
(30:42):
Derek Stingley Junior. So during the preseason in training camp
he went against two of the highest paid corners in
the National Football League. Christian Gonzales is definitely very talented corner,
but you know, there's been a holding pounder and if
he's ready to go not or not, and we don't
know how you know much in game shape he is.
So because of the fact that he's probably just playing
(31:03):
his first game of a year and has been held
out with the preseason and for the first three games
of a season, I can't say that this is Tetor
Wora's toughest challenge yet.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Yeah, I wonder if there's going to be do you
even put a corner on some kind of snap count.
I know you can easily do that with wide receivers.
You could probably do that with a corner like Christian Gonzales,
but then that would be weird. Do those guys need
to get into a rhythm in the game. I'm not
so sure that if you put them out there that
you would limit his snaps. It feels like an all
or nothing thing for Gonzales, and so if that's the case,
(31:33):
that would have me a little more worried. If you're
talking about one hundred percent of the snaps he almost
was out there Week three, he didn't play just to
be extra cautious. But hey, we have two losses. We
can't mess around with this anymore. This is a winnable game.
New England is talking about it just like we are, right,
so I think they're probably going to put out their
best players and leave them out there as much as possible.
(31:55):
This seems a little dangerous to say, but smoke, I
almost feel like I'm gonna knock on wood on. This
is tam Mac just matchup proof. I'm not going there yet,
are we? Are we there yet?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
No?
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Well?
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Here, here's the thing I.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Love him, man, I mean I am just I am
getting drunk off all of the t Mac love, which
people are not surprised to hear with my love of receivers,
but I am all the way drunk with my love
on tem Mac.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Here's the thing. He hasn't done one thing yet that's
getting to the end zone. I need to start seeing
him getting to the enzione over the next couple of games,
starting this Sunday specifically. That's the one thing that t
Mac hasn't done yet. And he's had his opportunities, so
that's why I can't go there yet. But once he
starts getting touchdowns, I think it's going to be a
different game and it could open himself up moving forward.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
And yeah, also by the way, I do like the
way that Dave Canals is using a museum a little
bit more in the slot against Atlanta than he had
the first couple of weeks. I do want to get
to this before we get to Willie p in the
next segment, But I want to finish out the game
day Dubs with the why why do you still view
this game as a rivalry or why not? I want
to ask that question to the FanDuel text line. Did
your hatred to the Patriots leave Boston when Tom Brady
(33:03):
left Boston? Did your hatred leave once Bill Belichick was
in Chapel Hill or do you still have a special
place in your heart reserved for that hatred because of
the way that the Panthers lost the Super Bowl and
there were always some fun matchups in the regular season
where Carolina would actually beat New England. Cam Newton had
New England's number. Did you like having that hatred for him?
Do you still have it or is it gone now?
(33:24):
With the Legends being out of Boston? What say you
smoke on just how much of a rival you viewed
New England.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Still annoyed by them, don't like them, but you know,
to hate isn't as you know, I still don't like
them at all, but it's not as strong of a
hate as it used to be, just because Brady and
Belichick are no longer air and you know I do.
You also think it kind of adds a new unique
role to this feud because your their quarterback is one
(33:50):
of our own.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Yeah, way, so that kind of makes it very tough.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
Elvis on the text line says I loathe them, So
Elvis still hating them?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
You know a ton.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
I think mine left once those guys left, So much
of my hatred was reserved for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
If Drake May is awesome and the Patriots beat the
Panthers in the next three four games, yeah, I can
definitely muster up that hatred again, but I think it
left once those guys did for me. I just don't
have it the same way. Oh, what kind of injury
report do you got for us?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Smoke?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yes, injury report just came out. According to Joe Person,
we got a couple of names out and a couple
of names questionable. So Pat Jones xavierly Get, J T. Sanders,
and dj Wanham are all out for Sunday's games. So
that means two of your starting airdreshers out of the
game on the road against New England. That's definitely not good.
Cuba Hubbard and tedor Orr McMillan are questionable, both with
(34:44):
calf injuries, but based on the way that you know
they've been talking, I think this is just a precaution
for both men. But here's the interesting twist. I don't
think this will mean anything for the Sunday, but it's
a good problem to have potentially turk War questionable.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
So we saw him practicing yesterday for the first time
in a limited capacity, and now he's not automatically ruled
out for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
That's going to help, especially with those edges being out.
And we were talking about this with Joe Person yesterday.
I would love to see a ton of snaps from
Nick Gorton. We got that last week. We got a
lot from Prince of Human Miellen. But Smoke Nada just
texted me our friend Nada from the Ion College Basketball
podcast that I got a little too much dip on
my chip with my t mac love. I think we
might be getting that with the edge rushers, asking for
(35:33):
more from them because I think what we got last
week pretty perfect snapcount for both of them. Like, maybe
you want to bring Scrton's down a little bit because
Pat Jones is going to play, But do you feel
that comfortable with Umn miel and playing early downs against
the run possibly where you can expose him. There s
Gorton not getting as much of arrest as you would
(35:54):
like him to. I think that's where we probably have
a little too much dip on our chip with those
edge rushers. As much as I would love to see him,
I love the young guys getting out there on the field.
I'd much rather have Pat Jones and DJ Watam a
part of the rotation than have to rely on those rookies.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Willy p coming up.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Next to talk about Charlotte FFC Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFZ WES and Walker Sports Radio ninety two to
seven WFNZ Big thanks to Smoke filling in in place
of really Wes Bryant being the co host and Flounder
(36:30):
Slash Rappie. He's a renaissance man and we appreciate Smoke
around here, also a renaissance man. It's Willie p joining
us on the phone line. We appreciate him joining us
on ninety two to seven FM, the voice of Charlotte
f C, which you can hear his voice for every
Charlotte FFC broadcast right here on WFNZ. WILLI, we appreciate
the time man. How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Broadcaster host and apparently also amateur rapper as well?
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Oh my god, did you hear our breakdown of your
wrap the other day? I did? I did? You? Guys
were probably the kindest of the of wild shows, I would.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
Say, saying a lot to be honest with you, because
you were very n The other one was very unkind,
was it Mac?
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Was it the morning show that just destroyed you? For that?
They were, Yeah, they were a little.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Uh the rhythm obviously, the problem was you're on a delay,
so I didn't have the time, you know, able to
hear it in motion, so it might have sounded I
right in my head, but it was coming back a
little delayed, so that was a part of it. And
also when Smoke started it, I didn't realize the hook
was going to start right away. So the fact that
(37:31):
he started the hook right away. It was like, Okay,
I needed a little bit. I needed to kill some
time to have the hook come back around. So that's
why you heard all that that build up there, smoke.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
I'm going to ask you to do something on the
fly here, and if you can't, that's totally fine because
it's a big ask. But I would ask that you
isolate Willie P's ad libs and then once you have it,
you play it at the end of every WILLYEP answer
and right before my question, and then we move on.
But that Willip ad lib is amazing. I don't know
if you can do it, but I would love for
you to try, and if you can, we can move on.
(38:01):
It's Willie P joining us on westn Walker Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFNZ. Unfortunate loss, but at least
you aren't used to it over there Bank of America Stadium, Willie,
the winning streak does come to an end after you
lost to nothing to nil. I believe they say in
your sport to New York what happened in that loss?
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Well, unfortunately, Charlotte went up against a team that was
playing about as hot as they were. They'd won six
of the previous eight before they beat Charlotte and then
subsequently lost on Wednesday to inter MESSI. So it is
a situation where you know a lot of things when
you look at this and you see what happened. An
early penalty kind of changed the complexion of the game.
(38:41):
The pitch size is something that Dean Smith spoke about,
as did all the players. They play on a pitch
seventeen miles narrow, seventeen yards narrow, or I should say,
and about twenty two yards shorter than Charlotte's pitch, and
a lot of what Charlotte does is they play the
ball along, they play Avona direct and also try to
get people wide, and that pitch much constrains what Charlotte
(39:02):
FC does well, so they had to kind of play
a little bit differently. Although Dean Smith told me yesterday
he probably we really didn't see the whole game plan
from them, because after New York scored that penalty, they
basically bunkered and Charlotte has struggled against that scenario when
teams played on the ball and just dare Charlotte to
press them in a low block. So it is a
(39:22):
kind of an opportunity for a bit of a reset
for the final three games of the season. You got
two winnable games, followed by game against the team that's
top of the table in Philadelphia in the final weekend,
and opportunity to improve your positioning and get the top
four by the end of the campaign.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Did you get it? Okay, let's go ahead and play
it every single time. He's done with an answer.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Let's try to play that as much as we can.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Okay, I'm gonna try to keep a straight face. It's
Willie Master, p PIMC. Palacic joining us on West and
Walker Sports raty ninety two seven WFNZ. Will you mentioned
the last three games. How critical of a stretch is
it for Charlotte FC, especially after this loss?
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Well, the problem is Walker that the loss, while it
obviously in the grand scheme of things, didn't mean a
whole lot from Charlotte's perspective because they had won so
much recently. It's especially punitive given how tight the table is.
Five points separate Place three through Place eight, and of
course eighth place is the last of the play in spots,
(40:23):
so Charlotte is still not confirmed to be playing in
a first round series. Based on how tight the table
is they don't control their own destiny for fourth. But
if they win all three and the results from a
probability standpoint, that will happen elsewhere go according to Hoyle,
as we say, then Charlotte should end up in the
fourth position or no worse than the fourth position. But
(40:45):
it is kind of a weird deal right now as
to where they sit. They need to win these two
games in front of them, principally get a result from Philadelphia,
I think is probably the biggest thing you'd want to see.
Seven of the last nine points, I think puts them
in a good position. Doesn't guarantee top four, at least
I feel like you're feeling all right. If you win
all three of them out right, you put yourself in
the best position going forward. But obviously other teams that
(41:06):
play other games, and like you said, with it being
as tight as it is right now, anybody can literally
end up anywhere. They could finish again as high as
third and as low as eight. That's a pretty crazy
thing to think about, even with a nine game win
streak during the season.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
I Love You.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Willie Pawk is back Pelogic, joining us on Western Walker
Sports Radio ninety two to seven. WFNZ. There's an injury
we got to discuss here too, Willie pet Biel knee injury.
How concerned are you about his status going into this
game and beyond.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Mildly concerned just based on the fact that you know
he was in training on Wednesday. We did not see
him yesterday. He was in the gym yesterday, and I
know from what he did today he did some work
as well. So it is a situation where I think
they're kind of monitoring it. I don't think they need
him to beat Montreal or DC, but I think the
(41:55):
biggest concern is you want to get him on the
field at some point before the playoffs, or at least
ramp up to the playoffs, because he's going to need
to be a big piece for you. I know that
Charlotte was able to win nine games largely without Pep
in the lineup, but at the same point in time,
their creativity goes up to a great greater level when
he's in the lineup for Charlotte. I know that defensively,
they've been very, very solid with the midfield. They've had Westwood,
(42:18):
Giohnny and Bronico, but having that my Ork Andmeistro in
there as we say it hits different.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Not sure what to think here Willie praying for PEPs
patella palacik joining us on West and Walker sports Rady
ninety two seven WFNZ, Willy.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Let's get your take on the next game.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
Panthers. They got a thirty nothing shutout. That's what shutouts,
I guess usually are. Thirty nothing victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Feeling great going into this matchup against New England. How
are you feeling about Carolina's chances of reaching five hundred.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
I'd feel better if the defensive line was more fortified. Walker,
just based on the fact that you know, it looks
like DJ Wantam and Pat Jones are both out. Per
the injury report we just got from Panthers practice Cuba, questionable,
Teterroll McMillan is questionable. Turk Wharton also questionable, which I
think is at least an encouraging sign. I think maybe
next week is maybe the more realistic sense from him.
(43:11):
But again, I wouldn't be shocked if he plays on
Sunday because of just how down the Panthers D line is,
or at least the edge rushing a lot more of
DJ Johnson on Sunday, and also more of Nick Gorton
and Prince of Emmy Ellen again who Mammy Ellen has
been more of a specialty piece. We'll see whether or
not we actually see him also on rundowns as well.
But outside of those concerns, New England doesn't scare me.
(43:32):
I know that they get Christian Gonzales back at the
corner position, so that matchup with Tterroll McMillan should be
very intriguing. But I think Bryce has opportunities to pick
off a lot of these very what I would call average.
The below average New England corners and their wide receivers
don't scare me. Yes, they've got a very talented tight
end Hunter Henry, and Panthers have not been able to
cover the tight end at all this season. But at
(43:53):
the same point time, I look at this as a
game that the Panthers should very much be in, and
I think the Panthers should win this game because if
you want to make Hay during this part of the schedules,
this is a game you have to have.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
This could be very very easy, or it could be
very very best.
Speaker 4 (44:07):
Willy talking about Princeley's impact in the Panthers Patriots, Partito
Palaci joining us on Weston Walker Sports Radio ninety two
seven WFNZ. Willie, great stuff. I think we have a
new bit. I love it. Thanks for hopping on with
us once again.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Anything to help the bit, Yeah, please do keep rapping, buddy,
don't let anybody bring it down.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
Willie Pe. Keep pounding and keep wrapping. Oh yeah, that's
absolutely true. Willie p Voice of Charlotte FC. You can
catch him on WFNZ for any broadcast. In fact, the
next one is coming up tomorrow with that game starting
at seven point thirty right here on Sports Radio ninety
two to seven WFNZ. All right, two more hours to
go Campus Kona coming up next. Sports Radi ninety two
(44:48):
seven FM
Only on Sports Radio ninety two point seven AFM, a UFNZ. Fine,
he's the West and Walker Show. Even a crowd nos,
what's coming there? It's a no rules Friday. It's a
freaky Friday. On Western Walker Sports Radio ninety two to
seven WFNZ. We appreciate you joining us as you do
(00:31):
hopefully every weekday in the midday from twelve to three
pm on ninety two seven FM. And it is the
Western Walker Show. But as you've come to know on
Fridays especially, it's not really the West and Walker Show.
It's the blank filling the gap and the Walker Show.
This time it's smoke, I believe. I don't think for
the first time, but god, I mean it has to
(00:55):
be few and far between the amount of times that
you have run the show, been the bus driver and
done it for the entirety of the three hour duration
of this program. Like, I don't know how many times
that you've been on weston Walker and been here all
three hours.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Before it's been a hot minute. It's been a while.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
And the last time I remember doing a midday show
it was four years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So you still remember how to do this? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, it just I feel naked almost. Well, it was
very weird. We were in the fish bowl. Kyle walks
in like he usually does around that time, somewhere in
you know whatever. We're in the fishbowl. Kyle walks in
we chat. You usually are not in the fish bowl.
I don't see you until you come into the channel
the VAULTA Studios, CV Injurylaw dot Com. By the way,
ceebe Injury Law dot Com.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
One call.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
That's all the Carolina's personal injury lawyers. We don't see
you until you usually come in here around the two
o'clock hour or so. But it was very weird seeing
you in the fishbowl. Kyle said he didn't like it.
I'm excited to do a show with you, but it
was very weird. It's freaky Friday. People are changing roles
like Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, And I guess
that makes you who do you want to be Lindsay
(02:02):
Lohan Jamie Lee Curtis in this scenario? Uh, I don't
really know that was a really you really thought that
went out? You really from Lindsay Lohan. I have a
lot of drug problems coming up. Okay, that's true, all right,
Jamie Leek all right, fair enough, fair enough, you could
be Jamie Lee Curtis. Let us know how you're feeling
on this Friday. Seven oh four five seven oh ninety
six ten. That's the Fandel text line. Seven oh four
(02:25):
five seven oh ninety six ten. I guess we should
give people information as to why we're undergoing a freaky Friday.
You're gonna be PA announcing for the North Lincoln football
game tonight, to which I'm very excited about, because I
want to ask the Fandal text line this specific question,
is high school football PA announcing the most pure form
(02:45):
of sports broadcasting that exists? Seven oh four five seven
oh ninety six ten, Because that's what I would start
the conversation with. Is that right there? What you're about
to do? Like good old rural high school football PA
announcing to me doesn't get what is North Lincoln?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Two A?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (03:03):
No?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
United classifications have changed drastically. It's now one through eight
A god like, yeah, So what is North Lincoln? Is
it one A? No? God?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
No, no, they're five North? Think it's five A. We
got remember it's no longer one A two A three
A four eight. Remember how they had splits when we
were in high school one A one double A two
A two double A. It's essentially Dad again, except they
don't have it, you know, one A one double A.
It's one A, two A three A four A five
A six A seven eight eight A.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I contend that conference realignment in college football, college sports
it threw everybody for a loop, But it's nothing like
changing everything in high school, because when I was in
high school, my conference changed I think two times in
the four years that I was there. So anyway, what
did it used to be back in twenty eleven? North
Lincoln used to be two A correct?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Correct? Okay, Okay, I just want to make sure going
two double A gotcha? Gotcha?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
They just got rid of the double. They just put
it into you know, one for eight A.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
All right.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
So either way, I think it's the most pure form
of sports broadcasting. Would you agree with that? Smoke like
you're about to be a purist in its true form.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
That in high school football broadcasting engine or high school
broadcasting in general. It could be basketball, it could be baseball, softball.
I'd also, even though I've had my pains of doing it,
American Legion baseball can be very pure as well. Just
oh god, a random like doing twenty games in twenty
five days at two or three random places and just
(04:27):
calling games at about a nine o'clock and then you
have about a two hour to lay because you got
those summer storms. Just got to wait for his got
to tell the guy at the studio, Yeah, we're still
in the delay.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
You got to keep on playing that oldies music. Put
me in coach? How many times is that going around?
At some point you get through all the jock jams
and you just have to go right back to put
me in coach. I've been there before. That same tape
at Marty Curtis Field back in Bunker Hill has played
about eighteen thousand times when I was there for the
(05:00):
four years that I was at Bunker Hill, So I
totally get that. Getting a lot of great text messages
on the FanDuel text line, Wan says, as a former
high school administrator, I've done PA at the game and
it's the most fun. No expectations, just vibes. Jack says.
Minor league baseball announcing is also very pure. I think
the bigger you get, you lose it. So Matt Swearad
(05:22):
being the voice of the Charlotte Knights very pure, very
good at what he does. But I'm thinking more. We
got to go to LP fran Stadium. We got to
go call some Hickory crawdads games. That to me is
more pure.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, you're getting it out of a hotel room at
a motel six that leave the light on for you.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Alright, you gotta go do a game.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Barely got a shower, just got to put some fragrance on.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Let's go do this game. Dear, dear, for five six hours.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I love that you brought up Legion though, because now
you know what I'd immediately go to is the great
Richard Walker because he listens to the show, and he
listens to the station every once in a while, Richard,
if you're out.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I've seen Richard at god knows how many Legion games.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Oh and I'm and I'm sure he's talked to your
year off about some up and coming pitcher that had
a great game the other night that is going to
go to Kataba College and go play baseball and be
a legend over there. And he knows every single baseball
player in Kataba and surrounding counties. He has it over
the last twenty years. It's crazy. Oh not last twenty.
(06:21):
We're talking like near forty fair enough. You Remer ten
ninety two.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Charitable Post one hundred did this game in June twenty first,
it was a game to start at seven o'clock, but
you know, it got delayed a little bit due to rain,
and then you know, I started about eight forty five.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Was the best it was against Gastoni Post twenty three,
the Hickory Post forty eight. I remember that game like
it was yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I remember when Gastoni Post twenty three took on Lincoln
County Post four to fifty five back in nineteen ninety seven,
June thirtieth.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
It was a big game because it was a regional game.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
You know, anytime we mentioned local legends around here, not anytime.
It's been a little bit. But I'll get a text
from Richard and he'll say, you remember Terry wasn't it
is that?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yep?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
I shall do, I should do? Holy crap, I sure do,
I sure do. Remember Terry wasn't it? Seven o four
five seven oh ninety six y ten. Bagel Guy rites
in on the FanDuel text line, when you think of
PA announcing, how do you not think of Bob Sheppard
with the Yankees. I'm just talking about high school man
talking about I'm talking about Coffeetown. That's what I'm talking
(07:19):
about here. Hi like Kyle Bailey, JJ Janssen Collin the
Key Pounding Classic the other day. That brought me back
to some of those vibes Flounder and Fitty with them
calling some high school games right here on WFNZ. That's
the same thing, Just good old high school football. That's
what I like out of my broadcasters. Seven oh four.
Oh wow, Steve Post here, I know who you are, Steve,
(07:41):
Steve Post.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
What's up?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Man Pitt Road for MRN. Love it all but an
in arena carnival barking, getting crowded, fired for indoor racing
is most awesome, all caps.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You can speak to that better than I can.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, local short track racing especially. Look, I've seen the
stuff I've never been. I've always wanted to go to
the Matt House at Wins in sam State University, Bowman
Gray Stadium.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
See that race. Just some of the PA announced and
they do dearn those races.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
And here it comes to guys, he's fighting, he's getting
out of his car, he's upset. Oh, there's a racing
turn too, a Hickory Motor Speedway. I mean some of
the PA announcing there your local short track racing.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
He's right, it's it's top tier.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Last thing on this before we move on, because there's
a lot of interesting stuff, but it's no rules Friday.
It's freaky Friday. I really don't care people. I wanted
to make this point what I think people fail to
realize about these local broadcasters where they're PA announcing, or
you might just have somebody come in who is going
to call a radio broadcast for a high school football game.
The thing about it is, man, those guys are legitimately good.
(08:43):
Like that went with them having so many reps. In
my opinion, sure you get some bad ones. You get
bad ones all across the profession in all sorts of
different areas. But like I would not be able to
call a high school football game just bite doing a
radio show every single weekday for the last however many
years of my life, I would not be as good
at doing play by play for a high school football game.
I don't know if that says more about me, but
(09:04):
I genuinely appreciate how good those guys are. I don't
want to hear Walker Mail in a high school football broadcast.
I want to hear John Doe who's grown up in
Kataba slash Iredale slash Alexander County all of his life
and he's sixty years old and all he does is
just loves some high school football. That guy is very
(09:25):
good and he knows what he's talking about, at least
to me, I genuinely think those guys are very talented.
I don't know, you're you're being quiet, You're not so
much amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Trying not to be a homer while your Heights alma
mater is getting housed and your dad's the head coach.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah, for an interim head coach.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
It's like I remember I was having to talk about
it is like and coach Ludwig his first start of
the season a head coach. Uh, yeah, that's what I
would say.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Something different.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Dad is on the sidelines having to coach this game
on an interim basis, So yeah, it was it's def weird.
And then when your team's getting housed and you went
to the school and then your dad's on the coaching staff,
it's also like in touchdown but also trying to maintain
no homerism. Because you're calling the team. It's in inter
county rival. It's like you're just thinking, damn it, damn it,
(10:14):
damn it.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I also can't say damn it, damn it. Yeah no
you care No, no, don't do that. Don't do that
because we want you to go back to have some
more opportunities to be the PA announcer. All right, I
know it's a little late, but we got a tiny
bit of time. Let's go ahead and open up the doors.
Let's pull up to the scene. Shroppy is no longer
with us right now. I made that sound like he's dead.
He's still alive. I apologize. Shroppy is still here. He's
(10:36):
just not in the channel vault to studios. Sorry, sp
idn't mean to kill you, flounder. He not in the studio.
So we have a new bus driver, at least a
new bus driver for the first time in a long time.
It's smoke. Let's go ahead and pull up to the scene. There, Smoky,
let's open up the doors. Let's get off the bus.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
We look good getting off the bus.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
All right, we're I did want to talk about this
just for a little bit though, and maybe we can
carry this conversation into the next segment, Smoke. We saw
Sam Donald in the Seahawks win a game last night
where Sam Donald was throwing seeds all over the place.
And it's not like he had this wow, crazy statistical game.
It got a little out of hand and then they
started to run the football more and then Arizona came back.
(11:22):
It wasn't because Sam Donald was making any mistakes. It
was just because that was the normal flow of the game.
But you're starting to see some wild stuff about just
how well Sam Donald is playing football through the first
kind of quarter of the season. And I just got
to know, have we moved on from that space as
Panthers fans of having Sam Donald envy watching what he
(11:44):
did in Minnesota last year, watching what he's doing in Seattle.
Of course, you have the Baker Mayfield stuff where he's
i mean just kind of a no doubt or top
ten quarterback over the last couple of years, the way
that he's been playing. So really, Panthers fans, let me know,
are you pass that or do you still have Sam
Donald slash Baker Mayfield envy seven oh four five seven
(12:04):
ninety six tap walker.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
When I think about this one it's a lot more nuanced,
in my opinion than talking about Baker Mayfield because and
even then with Baker Mayfield, I feel like that one's
nuanced too, because it just felt like it was never
going to work out given the circumstances who was here
at the time. And I think in some cases it's
like that for Sam Darnald two. But let's be honest,
(12:26):
you weren't the only team to move on from Sam Donald.
The Vikings had Sam Donald as they had one of
the best years they've had in a long time, and
they still moved on from him. And the forty nine
ers never played him. They played Brock Perdy the whole time.
He lucked into this opportunity and made the most of
this opportunity last year when JJ mccarfy got hurt during
the preseason. And look, it's still very early in the season,
(12:49):
but it's one of those where it's like, probably was
never gonna work out here.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
But good for you, man, Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
I just want to know if people are still frustrated
by having not worked out with those specific guys. But
here's the other thing that people fail to realize, man,
Baker Mayfield goes to a situation that is pretty damn perfect.
It's the situation that is reminiscent of what Tom Brady
picked when he was leaving New England, and he wanted
a situation Taylor made for what he could do to
(13:18):
win a Super Bowl. That was the best situation conducive
to him winning a super Bowl outside of New England.
So that's why he wanted to go play with the Buccaneers.
It's the same thing with Sam Darnold, where we go
with Minnesota and we say, man, that is a perfect
situation for a quarterback to thrive or go through some
kind of reclamation project. Seattle's not a perfect situation, but
(13:39):
their offensive line improved, they got a better offensive coordinator
up there. Now, they have weapons, especially with what JSN
has been doing. They have talented running backs with both
Kenneth Walker and Zach Sharboney. I think when we look
at the Carolina Panthers, it is true to say, why
can't we be the team that gets the most out
of those quarterbacks. That's all fair, hundred percent, But also
(14:01):
I don't think we can look at these qbs and say, well,
we held them back so much because of the situation
here in Charlotte. Now, man, they're going to some excellent
scenarios where you have great offensive minds. A couple of
them in Tampa with Dave Canalis, who was so good
he got a head coaching job, Liam Cohen, who was
so good he got a head coaching job. Minnesota has
(14:22):
Kevin O'Connell, where the nerds will tell you he's one
of the best offensive minds in football, like top five.
So is it a coincidence that those qbs figured it
out at those different spots?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I would say no.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
Does Baker Mayfield look like Baker Mayfield in Carolina right here,
right now, I would say not. I would say he's
probably not throwing for forty five hundred yards. I don't
think Sam Donald is throwing for over four thousand yards
with Carolina last year. Sam Donald looked okay in Carolina
at times. Sometimes it was bad. Sometimes they were off
to a three and zero start. That's just how it was.
(14:55):
But those are the things people forget about. It's oh yeah,
those surrounding those qbs that have bounced around, they just
finally found a good situation and they're making the most
of it.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
And I'll put it to you like this, Walker I
think you know, both of these quarterbacks when they came
here had varying degrees of scar tissue. In Sam's case,
it was a lot of scar tissue after his time
with the New York Jets, and unfortunately, the people in
charge at the time were hoping that he was going
to get over to hump just by being in a
(15:27):
different place.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
When when you have scar tissue, what did they say?
It takes time to heal.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Luckily, for Sam Darnold the last year and a half,
two years he was sitting on the sidelines healing his
scar tissue. Baker Mayfield, he just got over a bad breakup.
And what usually happens once you get after a bad breakup,
the first relationship after a bad breakup doesn't often work out.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
You start you start working out too, like you're trying
to become a changed man. You don't want what just
happened to happen to you again, and so you start
hitting the weight room six out of seven days a week.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
And then you're also not with the best person after
your breakup. Not really the best situation. So I just think,
as I said, timing, especially with Baker.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
It was a problem.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
But I also think with Sam Darnold, the last thing
he in retrospect hindsight being twenty twenty, the last thing
he needed to do after playing with New York was
just go into being a starter for a team that's
also in a similar situation to what to Jets were
in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Yeah, we're getting a lot of text on this. I'm
interested in what the people have to say on this conversation,
so let's continue it in the next segment. Western Walker
Sports Radio often rolling on a Freaky Friday ninety two
to seven FM.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
We'll be back with you in just a moment. Baker Mayfield, NV.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
We're talking about it on WESN Walker Smoke filling in
Sports Radio ninety two seven WFNZ. Want to read a
few more We got a lot of people chiming in
on this discussion, so want to read a few more
of those text messages. On the FanDuel of text line,
you can text seven oh four five seven oh ninety
six to ten if you want to be heard. Concord
Jason says, not by Donald or Mayfield success other than
(17:02):
having to play Baker twice a year. It's a fair point.
Both are with better rosters and better coaches. It's just circumstance.
Giggity writes in as soon as Donald drew a picture
of the Panther, I knew we were in trouble. Probably
best if Sam Donald is not asked to draw a
picture of the Seahawks or the Viking's logo. I'm gonna
guess that he never did, and that's why it worked out.
(17:23):
Probably some weird Jamanji type voodoo happening with you. If
you draw it, then it means bad things are gonna
come your way, and that's probably why it didn't work
out in Carolina.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
And the reason it didn't work out with the Jets
is because they're the Jets.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You're seeing ghosts. And the graphic. It's all about graphic.
The graphic where he's pointing at the camera Mono nucleosis.
That's like the most bad to the bone type of
graphic ever for that disease for you to have. Or
are you pointing at the camera shaking your head like, yeah,
you know who got mono? This guy?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Why beat the worst market too? Picture is fantastic. I
hope that person who did that graphic got a pay raise.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Yb Normal says Sam Donald left a situation with the Jets,
where there was no offensive line, terrible coaching came to
the Panthers, who had no offensive line and worse coaching.
I knew if we had kept him and got the
rest of the situation corrected around him, that he would
have thrived here in Carolina. See that's what I'm interested
in figuring out if that would.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Have been true or not.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Do you think it would have happened that early or
I guess this is where the scar tissue stuff comes
into play, Because I'm with you, he probably just needed
to take a step back from bad football for a while,
take a deep breath, go back into a situation conducive
to winning, and then we could see all of that
talent thrive. Because he always had talent. Everybody knew it.
He could throw some wowballs, and he's doing that a
(18:46):
lot more with a lot more consistency. Up in Seattle,
Clt says, I've been past the Donald envy. As well
as he's playing, I still don't want him Carolina. Chris
says Baker and Donald are in good systems and are
effective at showing up as needed. The Panthers don't have
that structure, and we haven't in almost ten years. Here's
where we get to the Baker stuff. Seven oh four says,
(19:07):
I definitely have Baker envy. But when I watched Sam Donald,
I don't see anything he does better than Bryce Young.
He's got a rocket arm, man, I will say that.
I always say he's more naturally gifted. Oh yeah, football,
there's no doubt about that.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
I mean, that's the thing about Sam is that if
he were to put it all together, if he could
process a little better, throw it with better accuracy, then
there's not a ton of qbs that are messing with
his arm. He's not a top five rocket arm, but
top ten, top ten live arm kind of action for him,
I would say.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So there's a reason why teams were hoping to tank
for him in twenty seventeen.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Yeah, despite all the interceptions, because they felt we can
fix that guy, and it took a while before they
actually fixed him. AJ had some thoughts on this yesterday,
by the way, so I wanted to read his text
before we get to the game day dubs. He said
Donald actually had a bad situation here with no line
and was running for his life all the time. If
we would have invested in that for him, like we
try to cater to Bryce Young, we'd be light years better.
(20:03):
Once again, not really having that envy, because I do
think Sam is way better. But Sam plus all the
other good players and assets we gave up to go
get Bryce, would produce a way better team. How fair
is that smoke before we move on? Is that fair
in your eyes? I think so?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
I think with Baker, the difference between Sam and Baker
is that Baker was terrible here. I don't think Sam
Donald was absolutely trash. Baker couldn't complete passes five yards
past the line of scrimmage. Ben McAdoo, Matt Ruhle slash
transitioning into Steve Wilkes, the interim had a coaching job here.
(20:41):
Like all those coaches really couldn't figure it out with Baker.
There was some success with Sam. You had the three
and zero start, then you also had the second half resurgents.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Where samh Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Like so each of those coaches had some sort of
success with Sam. None of them had success with Baker.
And that's where I think you can start to parse out.
Even if Baker is a better quarterback now, he was
way like it is it far fetched to say he
was way worse here in Carolina than Sam was, because.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
We immediately went from that game against Baltimore, which was
his last game before you know, he got benched and
was asked for his release. He asked for his release,
just wanted to let people know about that. After this
he did, he did. I remember the fault process when
Sam got named the starter. It's like, crap, here we go.
You couldn't help yourselves. You gotta and didn't. It was
(21:31):
that game against Denver and I was like, oh, he
had like a beautiful dime to DJ Moore. And then
the game against Detroit, like he wasn't perfect, but it's
like this wasn't the Sam Darnold we saw last year.
It was like even far better than what Sam was
during that three game win streak to start twenty twenty one.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
It's like, huh, yeah, he had moments. I Baker didn't
have any moments Sam against Minnesota in that overtime game
when he brought him back to send it to overtime,
a dime on the left sideline and then the touchdown
pass to now chosen Anderson before kJ Osborne beats us.
Sam Donald had some moments Man and Baker didn't We're
just hoping for some more moments from Bryce Young.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
All Baker had was that rushing touchdown against Cleveland, but
even to Any had six batted passes.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Down to that opra.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. There are bad moments
in that one. All right, let's get to it. Let's
talk about the quarterback now, Bryce Young, he's here. We're
moving on from Sam and Baker. We're trying to figure
out a way for Carolina to get two and two,
winning a game against the Patriots this weekend, and let's
discuss it through the lens of the game day dubs.
The who, the what, the when, the where, the why.
(22:36):
Let's start with the who, smoke. Who's the head coach,
QB Combo you trust most in this game? Is it
Baker Mayfield, Mike excuse me not Baker, I apologize. Is
it Mike Rabel and Drake may Or is it Dave
Canalis and Bryce Young.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I'm not trying to be a homer here, but I
feel like it is Dave canalson Bryce Young, just because
I still feel like there's a feeling out process between.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Drake may and Mike Rabel.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
And to be honest with you, that isn't the coaching
thing that matters on New England side When it comes
to quarterback. The mazing stuff you have to worry about
is Josh McDaniel in Jake May. So it's still a
learning process with them. We're not even a quarter into
this season and a quarter with them being together. So
I feel like the advantage goes to Dave Canalis and
Bryce Young just because of the growth that they've had
(23:18):
as both a coach and a quarterback over the last
year and a half, and they have more time together
at this point.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
You can call it Homer Friday if you want to,
because I'm going to say the same thing. Actually, what's interesting.
I like Mike Vrabel as a coach. I think he
is good, but perhaps we're not seeing the professionalism early
on in his Patriots tenure like we did with Tennessee.
Because there were fourteen misstackles in this game against the
Patriots and I know that's not quarterback stuff, but what
it is is it shows that I can have maybe
(23:44):
more trust in Dave Canalis with his team right now
than Mike Rabel and what he's done with his team
right now. Then you transition to the quarterback. I love
Drake May I think he's going to be the real deal.
I think he's going to be a great quarterback in
this league right now, though we're still in the early
stages of his development. I think you're right. They're trying
to figure it out over there. With that offense. He
did have a turnover in this last game. He had
(24:05):
a few in a week one to start out a
sophomore campaign. Bryce has had a couple of turnovers. At
least he didn't have any against Atlanta. I don't even
know how much of a better defense this is going
to be against New England. There's a better pass rush
against Atlanta than what New England had. The problem is
they are going to get Christian Gonzalez, who will show
up a little bit later in the game day Dubs.
(24:26):
I do trust Bryce Young. I do trust Dave Canalis
for maybe no other reason than they have stability, having
worked together for more than the time that McDaniels and
Drake May slash Mike Rabile have. So I'm with you.
I'm going to go with Carolina number two. The what
what are the expectations if the Panthers win this game?
We could also go with the expectations if they lose,
But I'm much more interested in looking at the positive.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Looking at if they win this game on Sunday. It's
big because it'll be the only the second road win
for Bryce Young in his career. And I know quarterback
wins aren't really a stat that you should be overlooking
served with in the NFL, but I do think for Bryce,
given how he struggled only one road win in his
career to this point, I do think it'll be massive
for him to finally get over to hump and get
(25:10):
another road win outside of that Atlanta road win to
end last year. And I also look at it like this,
if they win, I think there's a clear path to
going five and two. That sounds, you know, way too optimistic,
especially given this franchise over the last decade.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
But you look at it. If you win the game
against New.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
England on Sunday, your next home game, the next game
is against the Miami Dolphins, who are winless, and it
just feels like you need to take one more shot
and they're done for good this year already, and the
game after that is Dallas and the Cowboys. Doesn't look
like Ceedee Lamb's going to be playing here in a
couple of weeks with his injury that he sustained last week,
(25:48):
plus Matt Eberflus's system as a defensive coordinator horrendous, like
they are clearly missing Michael Parsons. Is already to the
point where it's like maybe Michael Parsons was making that
second and there look better than they actually were. So
I think there's a clear path potentially to get to
five and two before you even played in New York Jets.
And you know, after the Jets game, it gets very hard,
(26:12):
very quick. You know, Buffalo Green Bay back to back,
that's a gauntlet right there, and then you have New Orleans.
You should win that game, but you know back into
the schedule is definitely tougher. But if you can win
this game, you set yourselves up to get a good start,
which is something that hasn't happened since twenty twenty one.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
You can see a clear picture of accomplishing the objective
you set out to accomplish this offseason, which is get
better than what you were last year and truly go
after a playoff spot in twenty twenty six. You go
two and two, You set yourself up nicely for a
potential five and two stretch or even just going somewhere
close to five hundred and flirting with that mark before
(26:48):
you have that back to back game against what is
it that you mentioned Green Buffalo and Green Bay, So
then you still have the Saints after that, like you
set yourself up. Well, I'm gonna borrow a philosophy from
Ron Rivera. Anytime guys got injured, and Ron Rivera would
go to the lectern again, shut out Darren Gant anytime
(27:08):
that he would go to the lectern and people would ask,
how are these guys feeling? Are they gonna play this
upcoming weekend? Ron Rivera would say, well, we'll see. It's
all about how they feel the next day. Panthers fans,
if they win this game, It's all about how we
feel the next game. Right, You're feeling great after that
shutout win against Atlanta, But how do you feel after
the next game for it to be truly real, because
(27:30):
it can be a one off, it could just be
all that's a fluke. Whatever, it becomes an outlier. You
give me two games in a row that you actually
win and start to build some momentum, and then you
look ahead at the schedule and see a bunch of
other easier matchups comparatively to other NFL schedules. Yeah, man,
I think we're gonna be We're gonna start talking a
(27:50):
little reckless around here on WFNZ. I have my hand
raised high on that. When this goes into a little
bit of the point that we just mentioned, some people
are writing it on the tech line smoke.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
Is this win?
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Bryce Young evens out his record on the road, and
I'll just reference to stat real quickly. Bryce Young right
now is one in fourteen in his first fifteen career
road starts, tied with Steve de Berg, Dan Pasterini and
Blake Bortles for the second worst record by a QB
through his first fifteen road starts since starts were first
(28:23):
tracked in nineteen fifty. Is this when we start to
get back on track towards a more even road win
loss record.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
I was going to say back on track.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
He has to get old track, because he hasn't ever
gotten ulder track in the first place.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Honestly, think so. Yes.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
I think this is a situation because you're going to
get a team that's also in a similar type of
rut that you've been in over the past five years,
and I think just given the lack of talent around
Drake May, the offensive struggles outside of Will Campbell, the
offensive line has still been a problem for the Patriots.
You know, he doesn't really have much to throw to
(28:58):
Drake May that is, and then you're also going to
get some really good secondary This isn't Stefon Diggs from
five six years ago. This is Stefon Diggs in twenty
twenty five. I just feel like everything's set up for
Bryce Young and Carolina offense to have a really good
game and the defense to potentially build off of their
performance last week. So, yes, he doesn't have to throw
for three hundred and seventy five yards or anything like that,
(29:21):
But I think this could be the game where we
look back on potentially if things work out, and say, Yep,
him finally getting that road win after they shut out
to the Atlanta Falcons is what really got this offense
going to new levels.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Yeah, it really could be a launching pad game for Bryce,
especially if you get a win your five hundred after
the first four games, I think, so, I think this
is the time where you can get a victory. Yeah,
only two road wins in your first at that point
sixteen starts in your NFL career, But I do think
you're right. Maybe not back on track, but I think
you can start to get on track with a win
(29:55):
against New England, but they might get some reinforcements back
with our ware. Question, is this where t mac sees
his toughest matchup at this point in the season with
Christian Gonzales. I don't think likely, but it does look
like he's progressing. He almost suited up last week. Christian Gonzales,
an excellent cover corner for New England, been missing some
time with an injury.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
He might be back.
Speaker 4 (30:16):
So is this where t mac sees his toughest matchup
to this point?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
If Gonzo was just playing last week in the game
against Pittsburgh, I would say yes, But I would still
honestly say the preseason has been the toughest test for
tedor Roy McMillan what he's gone against in terms of corners,
because he was going in training camp against a fully
healthy J. C. Horn, a fully healthy Mic Check and
during joint practices in the preseason he was going against
(30:42):
Derek Stingley Junior. So during the preseason in training camp
he went against two of the highest paid corners in
the National Football League. Christian Gonzales is definitely very talented corner,
but you know, there's been a holding pounder and if
he's ready to go not or not, and we don't
know how you know much in game shape he is.
So because of the fact that he's probably just playing
(31:03):
his first game of a year and has been held
out with the preseason and for the first three games
of a season, I can't say that this is Tetor
Wora's toughest challenge yet.
Speaker 4 (31:11):
Yeah, I wonder if there's going to be do you
even put a corner on some kind of snap count.
I know you can easily do that with wide receivers.
You could probably do that with a corner like Christian Gonzales,
but then that would be weird. Do those guys need
to get into a rhythm in the game. I'm not
so sure that if you put them out there that
you would limit his snaps. It feels like an all
or nothing thing for Gonzales, and so if that's the case,
(31:33):
that would have me a little more worried. If you're
talking about one hundred percent of the snaps he almost
was out there Week three, he didn't play just to
be extra cautious. But hey, we have two losses. We
can't mess around with this anymore. This is a winnable game.
New England is talking about it just like we are, right,
so I think they're probably going to put out their
best players and leave them out there as much as possible.
(31:55):
This seems a little dangerous to say, but smoke, I
almost feel like I'm gonna knock on wood on. This
is tam Mac just matchup proof. I'm not going there yet,
are we? Are we there yet?
Speaker 1 (32:05):
No?
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Well?
Speaker 2 (32:05):
Here, here's the thing I.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Love him, man, I mean I am just I am
getting drunk off all of the t Mac love, which
people are not surprised to hear with my love of receivers,
but I am all the way drunk with my love
on tem Mac.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Here's the thing. He hasn't done one thing yet that's
getting to the end zone. I need to start seeing
him getting to the enzione over the next couple of games,
starting this Sunday specifically. That's the one thing that t
Mac hasn't done yet. And he's had his opportunities, so
that's why I can't go there yet. But once he
starts getting touchdowns, I think it's going to be a
different game and it could open himself up moving forward.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
And yeah, also by the way, I do like the
way that Dave Canals is using a museum a little
bit more in the slot against Atlanta than he had
the first couple of weeks. I do want to get
to this before we get to Willie p in the
next segment, But I want to finish out the game
day Dubs with the why why do you still view
this game as a rivalry or why not? I want
to ask that question to the FanDuel text line. Did
your hatred to the Patriots leave Boston when Tom Brady
(33:03):
left Boston? Did your hatred leave once Bill Belichick was
in Chapel Hill or do you still have a special
place in your heart reserved for that hatred because of
the way that the Panthers lost the Super Bowl and
there were always some fun matchups in the regular season
where Carolina would actually beat New England. Cam Newton had
New England's number. Did you like having that hatred for him?
Do you still have it or is it gone now?
(33:24):
With the Legends being out of Boston? What say you
smoke on just how much of a rival you viewed
New England.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Still annoyed by them, don't like them, but you know,
to hate isn't as you know, I still don't like
them at all, but it's not as strong of a
hate as it used to be, just because Brady and
Belichick are no longer air and you know I do.
You also think it kind of adds a new unique
role to this feud because your their quarterback is one
(33:50):
of our own.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Yeah, way, so that kind of makes it very tough.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
Elvis on the text line says I loathe them, So
Elvis still hating them?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
You know a ton.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
I think mine left once those guys left, So much
of my hatred was reserved for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
If Drake May is awesome and the Patriots beat the
Panthers in the next three four games, yeah, I can
definitely muster up that hatred again, but I think it
left once those guys did for me. I just don't
have it the same way. Oh, what kind of injury
report do you got for us?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Smoke?
Speaker 3 (34:21):
Yes, injury report just came out. According to Joe Person,
we got a couple of names out and a couple
of names questionable. So Pat Jones xavierly Get, J T. Sanders,
and dj Wanham are all out for Sunday's games. So
that means two of your starting airdreshers out of the
game on the road against New England. That's definitely not good.
Cuba Hubbard and tedor Orr McMillan are questionable, both with
(34:44):
calf injuries, but based on the way that you know
they've been talking, I think this is just a precaution
for both men. But here's the interesting twist. I don't
think this will mean anything for the Sunday, but it's
a good problem to have potentially turk War questionable.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
So we saw him practicing yesterday for the first time
in a limited capacity, and now he's not automatically ruled
out for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
That's going to help, especially with those edges being out.
And we were talking about this with Joe Person yesterday.
I would love to see a ton of snaps from
Nick Gorton. We got that last week. We got a
lot from Prince of Human Miellen. But Smoke Nada just
texted me our friend Nada from the Ion College Basketball
podcast that I got a little too much dip on
my chip with my t mac love. I think we
might be getting that with the edge rushers, asking for
(35:33):
more from them because I think what we got last
week pretty perfect snapcount for both of them. Like, maybe
you want to bring Scrton's down a little bit because
Pat Jones is going to play, But do you feel
that comfortable with Umn miel and playing early downs against
the run possibly where you can expose him. There s
Gorton not getting as much of arrest as you would
(35:54):
like him to. I think that's where we probably have
a little too much dip on our chip with those
edge rushers. As much as I would love to see him,
I love the young guys getting out there on the field.
I'd much rather have Pat Jones and DJ Watam a
part of the rotation than have to rely on those rookies.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Willy p coming up.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
Next to talk about Charlotte FFC Sports Radio ninety two
to seven WFZ WES and Walker Sports Radio ninety two to
seven WFNZ Big thanks to Smoke filling in in place
of really Wes Bryant being the co host and Flounder
(36:30):
Slash Rappie. He's a renaissance man and we appreciate Smoke
around here, also a renaissance man. It's Willie p joining
us on the phone line. We appreciate him joining us
on ninety two to seven FM, the voice of Charlotte
f C, which you can hear his voice for every
Charlotte FFC broadcast right here on WFNZ. WILLI, we appreciate
the time man. How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (36:48):
Broadcaster host and apparently also amateur rapper as well?
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Oh my god, did you hear our breakdown of your
wrap the other day? I did? I did? You? Guys
were probably the kindest of the of wild shows, I would.
Speaker 3 (36:59):
Say, saying a lot to be honest with you, because
you were very n The other one was very unkind,
was it Mac?
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Was it the morning show that just destroyed you? For that?
They were, Yeah, they were a little.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
Uh the rhythm obviously, the problem was you're on a delay,
so I didn't have the time, you know, able to
hear it in motion, so it might have sounded I
right in my head, but it was coming back a
little delayed, so that was a part of it. And
also when Smoke started it, I didn't realize the hook
was going to start right away. So the fact that
(37:31):
he started the hook right away. It was like, Okay,
I needed a little bit. I needed to kill some
time to have the hook come back around. So that's
why you heard all that that build up there, smoke.
Speaker 4 (37:40):
I'm going to ask you to do something on the
fly here, and if you can't, that's totally fine because
it's a big ask. But I would ask that you
isolate Willie P's ad libs and then once you have it,
you play it at the end of every WILLYEP answer
and right before my question, and then we move on.
But that Willip ad lib is amazing. I don't know
if you can do it, but I would love for
you to try, and if you can, we can move on.
(38:01):
It's Willie P joining us on westn Walker Sports Radio
ninety two to seven WFNZ. Unfortunate loss, but at least
you aren't used to it over there Bank of America Stadium, Willie,
the winning streak does come to an end after you
lost to nothing to nil. I believe they say in
your sport to New York what happened in that loss?
Speaker 3 (38:20):
Well, unfortunately, Charlotte went up against a team that was
playing about as hot as they were. They'd won six
of the previous eight before they beat Charlotte and then
subsequently lost on Wednesday to inter MESSI. So it is
a situation where you know a lot of things when
you look at this and you see what happened. An
early penalty kind of changed the complexion of the game.
(38:41):
The pitch size is something that Dean Smith spoke about,
as did all the players. They play on a pitch
seventeen miles narrow, seventeen yards narrow, or I should say,
and about twenty two yards shorter than Charlotte's pitch, and
a lot of what Charlotte does is they play the
ball along, they play Avona direct and also try to
get people wide, and that pitch much constrains what Charlotte
(39:02):
FC does well, so they had to kind of play
a little bit differently. Although Dean Smith told me yesterday
he probably we really didn't see the whole game plan
from them, because after New York scored that penalty, they
basically bunkered and Charlotte has struggled against that scenario when
teams played on the ball and just dare Charlotte to
press them in a low block. So it is a
(39:22):
kind of an opportunity for a bit of a reset
for the final three games of the season. You got
two winnable games, followed by game against the team that's
top of the table in Philadelphia in the final weekend,
and opportunity to improve your positioning and get the top
four by the end of the campaign.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Did you get it? Okay, let's go ahead and play
it every single time. He's done with an answer.
Speaker 3 (39:44):
Let's try to play that as much as we can.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Okay, I'm gonna try to keep a straight face. It's
Willie Master, p PIMC. Palacic joining us on West and
Walker Sports raty ninety two seven WFNZ. Will you mentioned
the last three games. How critical of a stretch is
it for Charlotte FC, especially after this loss?
Speaker 3 (40:03):
Well, the problem is Walker that the loss, while it
obviously in the grand scheme of things, didn't mean a
whole lot from Charlotte's perspective because they had won so
much recently. It's especially punitive given how tight the table is.
Five points separate Place three through Place eight, and of
course eighth place is the last of the play in spots,
(40:23):
so Charlotte is still not confirmed to be playing in
a first round series. Based on how tight the table
is they don't control their own destiny for fourth. But
if they win all three and the results from a
probability standpoint, that will happen elsewhere go according to Hoyle,
as we say, then Charlotte should end up in the
fourth position or no worse than the fourth position. But
(40:45):
it is kind of a weird deal right now as
to where they sit. They need to win these two
games in front of them, principally get a result from Philadelphia,
I think is probably the biggest thing you'd want to see.
Seven of the last nine points, I think puts them
in a good position. Doesn't guarantee top four, at least
I feel like you're feeling all right. If you win
all three of them out right, you put yourself in
the best position going forward. But obviously other teams that
(41:06):
play other games, and like you said, with it being
as tight as it is right now, anybody can literally
end up anywhere. They could finish again as high as
third and as low as eight. That's a pretty crazy
thing to think about, even with a nine game win
streak during the season.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
I Love You.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Willie Pawk is back Pelogic, joining us on Western Walker
Sports Radio ninety two to seven. WFNZ. There's an injury
we got to discuss here too, Willie pet Biel knee injury.
How concerned are you about his status going into this
game and beyond.
Speaker 3 (41:35):
Mildly concerned just based on the fact that you know
he was in training on Wednesday. We did not see
him yesterday. He was in the gym yesterday, and I
know from what he did today he did some work
as well. So it is a situation where I think
they're kind of monitoring it. I don't think they need
him to beat Montreal or DC, but I think the
(41:55):
biggest concern is you want to get him on the
field at some point before the playoffs, or at least
ramp up to the playoffs, because he's going to need
to be a big piece for you. I know that
Charlotte was able to win nine games largely without Pep
in the lineup, but at the same point in time,
their creativity goes up to a great greater level when
he's in the lineup for Charlotte. I know that defensively,
they've been very, very solid with the midfield. They've had Westwood,
(42:18):
Giohnny and Bronico, but having that my Ork Andmeistro in
there as we say it hits different.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Not sure what to think here Willie praying for PEPs
patella palacik joining us on West and Walker sports Rady
ninety two seven WFNZ, Willy.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Let's get your take on the next game.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
Panthers. They got a thirty nothing shutout. That's what shutouts,
I guess usually are. Thirty nothing victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Feeling great going into this matchup against New England. How
are you feeling about Carolina's chances of reaching five hundred.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
I'd feel better if the defensive line was more fortified. Walker,
just based on the fact that you know, it looks
like DJ Wantam and Pat Jones are both out. Per
the injury report we just got from Panthers practice Cuba, questionable,
Teterroll McMillan is questionable. Turk Wharton also questionable, which I
think is at least an encouraging sign. I think maybe
next week is maybe the more realistic sense from him.
(43:11):
But again, I wouldn't be shocked if he plays on
Sunday because of just how down the Panthers D line is,
or at least the edge rushing a lot more of
DJ Johnson on Sunday, and also more of Nick Gorton
and Prince of Emmy Ellen again who Mammy Ellen has
been more of a specialty piece. We'll see whether or
not we actually see him also on rundowns as well.
But outside of those concerns, New England doesn't scare me.
(43:32):
I know that they get Christian Gonzales back at the
corner position, so that matchup with Tterroll McMillan should be
very intriguing. But I think Bryce has opportunities to pick
off a lot of these very what I would call average.
The below average New England corners and their wide receivers
don't scare me. Yes, they've got a very talented tight
end Hunter Henry, and Panthers have not been able to
cover the tight end at all this season. But at
(43:53):
the same point time, I look at this as a
game that the Panthers should very much be in, and
I think the Panthers should win this game because if
you want to make Hay during this part of the schedules,
this is a game you have to have.
Speaker 2 (44:03):
This could be very very easy, or it could be
very very best.
Speaker 4 (44:07):
Willy talking about Princeley's impact in the Panthers Patriots, Partito
Palaci joining us on Weston Walker Sports Radio ninety two
seven WFNZ. Willie, great stuff. I think we have a
new bit. I love it. Thanks for hopping on with
us once again.
Speaker 3 (44:20):
Anything to help the bit, Yeah, please do keep rapping, buddy,
don't let anybody bring it down.
Speaker 4 (44:25):
Willie Pe. Keep pounding and keep wrapping. Oh yeah, that's
absolutely true. Willie p Voice of Charlotte FC. You can
catch him on WFNZ for any broadcast. In fact, the
next one is coming up tomorrow with that game starting
at seven point thirty right here on Sports Radio ninety
two to seven WFNZ. All right, two more hours to
go Campus Kona coming up next. Sports Radi ninety two
(44:48):
seven FM
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