December 2, 2024 • 42 mins
This week on Panther Talk, Anish, Jim and Eugene speaks with Dave Canales, Jordan Matthews and Trevor Sikkema about Bryce Young's incredible performance against the Bucs, the Panthers remaining schedule and so much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
in the National Football League's.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
The Panther Doe and they'rete and They're Tone.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
This is Panther Talk, presented by Bosh Power Tools on
the Carolina Panthers Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Network, just about consistency in the finish and only the
things that we can own.
Speaker 5 (00:22):
You know, the guys know that.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
You know, you go into a locker room and the
guys they believe, you know that we can play if
we play to our capabilities and we take advantage of
all the things that are out there. You know, we
own those things that we were hard to beat, and
so we you know, we go all the way to
the wire and overtime again, you know, but it's just
we got to finish. We gotta find a way to finish.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And now, along with Jim Zochi and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche Shroff with Panther Talk live from the Panthers
broadcast facility at Bank of America Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It is Monday, December second. The Panthers head into the
home stretch of the season. Five games remain, starting this
Sunday in Philadelphia. This past Sunday yesterday, Carolina coming off
a tough twenty six to twenty three overtime loss to
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The week before similar ending losing
(01:16):
on a last second field goal to Kansas City, it
felt differently yesterday. Let's bring in the head coach for
the Carolina Panthers, Dave Canalis. Dave, we talked about it,
I know, on the postgame show yesterday, and you mentioned
it at your press conference today. But when you went
back and you watched the tape, where did you feel
like there was meat left down the bone where it
(01:39):
didn't have to come down to a play here or
play there.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
You know, early on it was a couple of red
zone trips, coming in with Phil goals and then missing
two kicks, you know, the Adam Feelin you know, incomplete
pass touchdown would have been a big one there plus
the two kicks, if we're talking about a whole different game.
And you know, defensively, it was three great quarters of
(02:06):
football and just not enough in the fourth. You know,
the Bucks ran the ball, controlled that the last part
of it, you know, until we got our last shot
to take it down there and with thirty seconds left.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
It's about finish.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
But you know, it was the kicking game, it was
penalties in the coverage units, a lot of things like that.
And in this league, as you guys know, you can't
give any NFL opponent an advantage in any way, shape
or form because it's costly.
Speaker 7 (02:32):
There's no doubt about that. It is costly. Coach, I
want to stay on the defense of because we see
in this duality, if you will, I mean, they're playing
extremely well from the standpoint, getting some really good stat
numbers with the sacks interceptions, but then we see that
the misstep in the in the rushing game. So what
is specifically your message to the defense to go ahead
(02:54):
and maybe turn the tide.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Of that, do your job, play your gap, trust that
the person the next two is going to do the same.
And it's just like it's like the chain of events
that occurs when the first person on the front side
of the run does right and then the fits happen
off of that, you know, and it's it's but it's
about doing it every time, and you know the trust
factor that is involved in that. It's tempting to hop
(03:18):
out of a gap, you know.
Speaker 7 (03:21):
Yeah, I've noted all too well it's so easy to
hop out of the gap because you think that the
guy's doing something else and you're gonna go help your buddy,
but then you end up hurting your own body.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Absolutely well, a lot of.
Speaker 8 (03:33):
Key moments of the game coach, of course, when you
go to overtime like that, but you get the touchdown
thirty seconds to go, Champa gets the ball back and
then they get a big chunk play there to kind
of get them on their way to field goal range.
Was that maybe the biggest thing that happened as far
as just having that lead there at the end of
regulation and them getting off to a good start on
that last drive.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Absolutely, you know, it's about just playing our leverages and
understanding you know, where Mike Evans is at, Understanding where
guys are at in the concepts and making sure we're
getting to our landmarks and our drops, you know, playing
to our leverage, and you know that communication has to
be seamless in those types of situations, and uh and
the rush plan keep the quarterback in the pocket, you know.
And that's the second week in a road that we've
(04:13):
allowed a long run by quarterback to get themselves in
the field goal range. So it's the discipline of the
rush plan and executing those things.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
We did see, coach, a pass rush continue to emerge,
five sacks against Kansas City for yesterday. What do you
attribute the re energized, reinvigorated pass rush too, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Just hard work working on the rush plan. Dj Wanham
is a huge factor there. A Seaon's playing great ball,
Jadavian's making his plays and and and really you know,
gra grabbing some attention there. And then we threw in
you know, Barno this week and gave him a chance
to get into some of the rush groups as well.
So you know, it was it's all those guys just
(04:55):
working on their craft, working on their patterns and really
being committed to it.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
Coach, I know a number of guys are rally behind
the on side of Cuba. What was your message to Tuba, Coach,
We're gonna.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Keep giving you the ball finish those things for us.
And it was the same message for the whole group
was when we get into finish moments, nothing changes.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
It's about the basics, it's about.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
The fundamentals, and we will learn how to finish games right,
you know, just having that cold blooded focus to just
keep doing right longer than the opponent, and you just
got to outlast them from a technique standpoint and physically
from a toughness standpoint.
Speaker 8 (05:32):
Well, we're talking running backs. Obviously, Jonathan Brooks got a
lot more reps in this game. Carried it six times,
had three catches, and I'm thinking about that screen pass
where he made two guys out and two guys miss
in the open field and almost breaks a third tackle there.
What is that element that to mention, like to add
Jonathan Brooks into the mix.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Oh, it's great.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know, it's great to have that balance where you know,
Cuba and Jonathan can you know, help allow us really
just to you know, when Tuba's getting his carries and
he's deep into a drive and Jonathan comes in, you
don't skip a beat and you just keep rolling. And
for me, just on a personal note, for Jonathan, just
to see him confident out there making runs and starting
to really you know, get into his toolbox and you know,
(06:14):
it just comes with the level of comfortability getting back
out there physically and mentally knowing he can do it.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
I love seeing him fire up.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah, David, we saw a real neat play design where
you had both Cuba and Brooks in the game at
the same time and you throw it to the back
out of the backfield, that twenty one personnel two back set.
Is that something that you'll continue to tinker with to
see if maybe there's a chance to get both on
the field.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
It's something that will keep sprinkling in and trying to
find different opportunities to get your best players out there.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
And Coach Will, we continue to see some in the
movement that we saw with with Bryce and then just
some of the improvisational plays that he he made. The
confidence level have to be very, very high, and you
guys have to be proud of what you're seeing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Absolutely, and it all comes from just to the decisiveness
that he's playing with.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
That's what's great about it.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
And you know, the more comfortable you are with the concepts,
the sooner you know whether the concept's working or not,
and you can get to the second play, which is
our scramble, and you know that's that's when a lot
of other stuff comes a life just off of your
first call.
Speaker 8 (07:18):
It's cool, see guys step up and he's had his
moments in his time here, But Tommy Tremble, there are
times Okay, brought Bowers out there yesterday. He was fixing
some some big time catches. I he had a thirty
eight yard catch in one on one of those, and
on a day where you didn't have Jatavian Sanders was
it was cool to see the tight end really help
fill in the gap there in the receiving game.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
That was great.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I'm so proud of Tommy and just the challenges he's
faced this year physically, you know, just from an injury standpoint,
and to just stay in it, you know, and keep
tracking along with this is not easy. When you miss
time to hop back in there and just be expected
to like just get back to playing ball. A lot happens.
But it speaks to Tommy's ability in that time while
he was rehabing to be focused to grow with us
(07:58):
as we've been growing our And then I was so
happy to see him out there just running around playing
physical ball, making plays down the field, breaking tackles. I mean,
it was really it was. It was a really great
evening for Tommy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Coach.
Speaker 7 (08:11):
I asked you this question way back in preseason, and
I'll ask it again.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What is the.
Speaker 7 (08:16):
Character of the word you would describe that you see
emerging from this Panthers team that you're coaching, and specifically
the offense.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Specifically the offense just to be a balanced attack where
when you know, when Coach Bulls and the Bucks make
it challenging, you know, to run the ball by certain
looks that we're able to throw the ball down the
field and to see that explosiveness come to live. That's
what we want. If teams are going to try to
sell out to stop your run, then we got to
be effective in the past game. And that's what's been
happening the last couple of games, which makes me really
(08:48):
excited about being able to play the balance football that
we know we can play.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Yeah, and Dave to follow up on that, one of
the things that we've noticed is just how Bryce says
seem to just handle pressure and blitz package is better.
What's different in the way he's been able to navigate pressure.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah, it just goes back to what I mentioned before,
which is the his his mastery and ownership of our
concepts allows him to use his quick answers to get
protections where he needs it and also to just be
really decisive about you know what, they got a better
play call than I do.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Right here.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Sometimes you throw it away, you know, and that's and
that's just part of it. That's part of the deal.
But yeah, just being really decisive and comfortable and confident,
and he's just putting in all the work, you know,
mastering all the little parts of it, you know, particularly
on third down.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
So I'm really pleased with the weekly growth that he's shown.
Speaker 8 (09:39):
In that you mentioned Obviously the close game, missed opportunities
red zone and we're so spoiled Eddie Pinero as USA
automatic on the on the misses and then even the
twenty seven yard or was close, it was this something mechanical,
something in the mechanics of the snapb What did you
guys see as he went back and looked at what
might have happened on those field goals.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
He's just got to go through his process, that's like
he always does, and bang those kicks.
Speaker 6 (10:02):
We know he can.
Speaker 9 (10:05):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I'll leave you with this.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
I don't know how much of Philly tape you've looked at,
but their ability to run the ball and what they've
been able to do on the ground, just as a
big picture snapshot, what is kind of one oh one
in terms of how to limit their rushing attack.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Well, they have a two headed monster back there with
Saquon and with Jalen Hurts, you know, and Gainwell is
also a really good back. So but it all starts
up front. It's a really good offensive line, and they
have a commitment to it. They know how to use
the quarterback, so that that kind of the focus starts
right there.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Dave appreciated as always.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
Thanks, Okay, thanks guys, thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Panthers head coach Dave kanalis anias Jim Eugene here on
Panther Talk. Dad, Jim, we said it after the game
on Sunday too. In some ways, if you zoom out
and you look at yesterday's result with the prism of
all the games that have been played, all twelve games,
you say, hey, this is a much improved team. This
(11:05):
is a team that's a lot better. They're competitive. But
then when you take that element into it, they have improved.
That's why it stings, because that was a game the
Panthers should have won. They should have won because they're improved,
they're better. Two weeks ago, close felt like a moral victory.
Close does not feel like a moral victory today.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
I think that's a good thing because I feel I
feel like we're back in the party now because I
think last year was so bad, Like if we scored
three points and felt big, if we got a touchdown,
it seemed like we won the super Bowl. So I
feel like, you know now that it's like we're we're
I'm glad, We're disappointed that we lost twenty six to
twenty three because that's what football should be. And I
(11:48):
feel like now we're competitive and you're gonna win some
and lose them. Let's not forget people say, well, they
got to learn how to win close games. Well, the
two wins we had prior to that were close wins.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
You beat New Orleans by one, and you beat the
Giants in Munich.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
You know, over time, and your defense came up with
some big takeaways in that situation to set up a
short field to get the winning field goal that was made.
So things like miss field goals, key defensive moments happened
and wins too, So it's all there. It's just you know,
some weeks you're gonna win those, and some weeks you're
gonna lose those, and and you want to win more
than you lose. But it feels good to be back
in the conversation. Honestly, of teams that are competitive that
(12:20):
you know, you feel like, okay, we can we can
stand against That team is tied for first in our division,
Kansas City is a two times Super Bowl champion. Going
to Philly is a tough task, but you feel like
you can be competitive and if you play that way,
you can always sneak out with a win.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
It's like you're mad for all the right reasons.
Speaker 7 (12:35):
Yeah, And here it is. I like the word scrappy.
This team seems to be scrappy for whatever reason. Like
though is they'll fight you, and they'll fight you to
the end, and and they may make some mistakes along
the way, but that you know they much improve offensively.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Uh that it covers it.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
And so from that to thatand point, I'm like, look,
I'm taking my tests with you know, I'm rolling rolling
to die with the Panthers. They're scrappy team and they
can go ahead and beat you, and they can last
long with you too, so they can go back and
forth with you. So you're not gonna just blow them out.
That's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. This team
got too much moxie and just remind me of like
(13:15):
a prize fighter who's just scrappy.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
What's funny too.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You mentioned the two close wins the Giants and the Saints,
two close losses in that stretch. There's something to be
said about the team getting to the point where Kansas
City is. They playing a lot of close games. They've
played in a lot of close games that were big games,
and they find a way to win those games. Tampa,
you still have a Levante david a vita Vea. Yes,
(13:40):
Mike Evans, guys who played with Tom Brady on Super
Bowl teams that again know how to win in the margins.
We're not there yet. That is okay, but you kind
of see how the other side does it where they're
able to find a way even when certain things might
be going against them.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
You know, it's interesting you mentioned Mike Evans because coach
cannel Lets mentioned Mike Evans while he was talking and
was like, hey, we got to do something about that guy,
you know, and the thirty seconds that we were talking
about when you have a chance to do something about it,
we didn't do something about it.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And he was like, that has to be an emphasis.
You gotta know that you've got to take that guy away.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
And so I like what I'm hearing from him, going,
oh yeah, he must have been really fired up in
that locker room a little bit because he's like, look,
he made it a point to say that Mike Evans
was a problem and you got to do something about it.
If you don't know he's a problem, then you got
to go ahead and find another job or do something
about it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
And I like the fact that these guys may do
something about it.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
And he's only been a problem for like eleven years.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Yes, he has been man. That dude just got He
just knows how to play. And you mentioned in that
Super Bowl he's always been a beast man, always been
that guy.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I keep waiting. I keep waiting, Okay, is he going
to start to descend or are we going to start
to see regression? Nope, one hundred yards yesterday, I mean,
and then against the Panthers, it just feels like he
always puts up big numbers.
Speaker 7 (14:58):
Yeah, and here it is I do I double team
him that during that time, with that thirty seconds, I
do something like, if I'm gonna limit him, if we're
gonna zone that side, I got somebody got to get
in his face because I can't let him off the
line of scrimmage because he's that dangerous. If somebody else
beats me, it's a little bit different, you know. But
I can't let him off off the line of scrimmas
(15:19):
because I do. Is this too dangerous?
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So the loss stings, and we'll talk more about it
when we come back. It does, but stings for a
good reason because this team is better and there is
more hope and big picture, we're watching an improved team.
We're watching it improved roster, and two weeks in a row,
we're watching a team that nearly sent some shockwaves through
(15:43):
the NFL. Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools Here
on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Rice in the Pocket steps up, elutes the rush, throw
that zone God out of touched down Carolina.
Speaker 9 (16:03):
The Panthers take the lead.
Speaker 10 (16:05):
I think momentum is a beautiful thing. I think you
get a couple wins in a row, you start to
see kind of the fruits of the labor, all the
hard work we've been putting in, all the details, all
the conversations, all the kind of just positive energy that's
been in this building since the day one of this
new staff. You started to see the fruits of that labor.
So that gives you a lot of confidence. Obviously, winning
(16:26):
gives you confidence. Close game last week gives you confidence.
And then again, there wasn't really anything that was said
this week. It was just a different type of energy
and feeling around the building.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio network.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
That was Adam feeling, and he speaks to what a
lot of us who are in the building feel. There
is a different feeling. And one of the things when
we spoke to Dave Canalis in the first segment that
he talked about was how teams have been game planning
the Panthers. We saw Kansas City do it. After Chuba
Hubbard ran for one three against the Giants, the chief said,
(17:02):
we're gonna stack the box and let's see if Bryce
Young can beat us over the top, and it almost did.
The Buccaneers followed that same blueprint. Bryce made some plays
through for two ninety eight. Jim, I think this is
the best thing for Bryce because I think everybody is
going to follow that blueprint over these next five games,
(17:23):
Philly's going to do it well. Who knows what Dallas
is going to do. But I expected from Arizona, expected
from Tampa, expected again from Atlanta. Can Bryce Young do
this week in week out? And I think if you're
on the Panther side, you're going that's exactly what we
want to see. We want to see him stack evidence,
we want to see him be able to make defenses
(17:45):
pay for challenging this Panther team through the air, and
you hopefully get Jalen kokerback, you get J T. Sanders back.
But these next five games, I don't want to say
they become a referendum on Bryce, but in many ways
they do become an audition and in many ways a
dress rehearsal for what you hope twenty twenty five can
(18:05):
be where he's gonna have real opportunities to make plays
and show people he can be the guy.
Speaker 9 (18:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
I think it's a continuing on the job job interview
where he gets to display what he can do in
that role and you get to decide is he a
CEO or is he a middle manager or is he
an employee? So I think he gets that opportunity to
show it in real life, and you're heavily invested in him,
so you want it to work out that way. And
I think he's been checking boxes as we go each
of the past couple of weeks of showing that, and honestly,
(18:32):
if they are taking the runaway, that should make the
passing easier because they're not loading up in the secondary.
So it's like, now you've got to have a one
on one matchup a lot of times Eugene where you
win that. So yeah, you know you could force their
hand and make them force back the other way. It's
like all of a sudden, it's like if you start
having success that way, all of a sudden, chew but
becomes more dangerous because you're gonna have to like help
out in the pass game.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
Bryce was extremely effective. He has been the last four weeks.
He's been really, really good. I love that. I think
the big problem is the defense. I think that when
you're giving up that many yards rushing over the last
four games, and the time reflects that too. Time of
possession thirty three minutes, roughly thirty four minutes other team
(19:15):
has a ball and we got the ball twenty seven
twenty six minutes, so it's reflected in the fact that
we can't get off the field because they're rushing the
ball on us and we can't stop the run. And
if we can't stop the run, that becomes problematic because
just like we're saying, can the other quarterbacks beat us, Well,
you've got Patrick Mahomes, you got Breaking Mayfit, you got
guys who could actually, yeah, they can beat you.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I don't mean to sound catastrophic, but I don't think
that's going to be fixed overnight. And credit to Dave Canalis,
he has not used injuries as an excuse. To me,
this is pretty simple. If ninety five Derek Brown is playing,
the Panthers are better against the run, ye oh, no doubt.
He's probably worth at minute them right now at least
(20:01):
one win, maybe two. No, no, And there's no one
to one replacement for him on this team. He's the
best player on the team. He was the most irreplaceable
player on the team, and he goes down Week one.
Not to mention, you got the Shaq Thompson injury as well,
but Trevin Wallace has done decent job, still doesn't have
the veteran savvy of Shack. I go back to this,
(20:23):
you kind of knew what you were doing in the offseason.
You said it, you're putting the resources to the offensive
side to see what you have in Bryce. You have
to do that for the long term benefit of the franchise.
So you had to make some tough decisions on the
defensive side. Trade Burns, Frankie Louv who goes to Washington.
You needed Derek Brown to stay healthy. It happened, he
got hurt. It kind of is what it is up there.
(20:45):
And Derek Brown comes back healthy next year, the run
defense is going to be better. And I know nobody
wants to hear that, but that's just kind of the
reality of where we are right now.
Speaker 8 (20:55):
It's not like he was kind of good last Year's
unbelieve that an NFL record for tackles by a defensive line.
I mean, it's just like it was an all time performance.
And then you add in the fact that now you've
got clown and you got one, so you got edge pressure.
It's like pick your poison, you run it Derek Brown,
or you take your chances with those guys on the
edges out there and again throwing like Robinson in the middle.
Some other guys are doing a great job. So to me, yeah,
(21:17):
I've said it before. It like there's a reason you
pay your top players good money. Otherwise you would just
play fifty three, next man up and save a lot
of money if there was no difference. So it and
I like the fact these building blocks are seeing they
invested heavily in the offensive lineup guard Derek Brown this offseason.
Now they're doing it with Chuba Hubbard. We're seeing the
payoff now in DJ wantam.
Speaker 9 (21:35):
So you start to see Josie Jewel.
Speaker 8 (21:36):
I mean, since he's come back the last month or so,
what a difference he's made in the defensive side. So
when you've got key players while developing new players like
you mentioned Trevin Wallace who's not quite there, but you
see the potential, you want that. You kind of want
that ongoing cycle of it. Veteran guys that are playing
well now while you're training guys at the proper pace
to become their replacements down the road.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
But this is what I'm not saying that because I
agree with you with Derek Brown. What I'm saying is
what coach echoed already. He talked about the rushing lanes,
and he talked about gap control, and he talked about
people not being where they were supposed to be when
a guy is forcing a guy right to you, or
where's my where's my outside, my bcr my contained, That's
what he's talking about, and then the mistackles.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
So I agree with.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
You, Derek Brown makes that defensive line so much better.
But what doesn't make the line better, and what Coach
Canalis is saying the rushing lanes and the gap control
is a problem because it's allowing for those type of
plays Derek Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I challenged that in saying, if Brown's out there, he
played almost every snap last year, some of those guys
who aren't making those plays, who aren't following their assignments,
they're probably not on the field because Derek Brown.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Is well, yeah, that's one That's just one spot though,
So I agree, but that's just one spot. So when
I look at it holistically, I'm like, dude, you got
a defensive end or linebacker out one position, and then
you've pushed ball as a difficenive tackle and now as
your safety that may be out and taking care to
cut back gap is all that stuff which I think
(23:11):
coach is talking about and that needs to get cleaned
up Adam Adam Brown to that mix.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, them much more impressive.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
The run defense has been again, it's been an issue.
Worst run defense in the NFL, and in the last
four games, the Panthers are giving up one hundred and
ninety plus rush yards per game. They've only had two
games this season where they've held their opponents below one
hundred and forty rush yards. Philly comes to town or
we go to Philly on Sunday, and the Eagles have
(23:40):
the number one rushing offense in the NFL, including the
league's leading rusher in Saquon Barkley. More Panther Talk after
this presented by Bosh power Tools on the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
Stack receivers both to the right and the lap hopper
the running back to the white side of Young. He
was setting up the throw over the middle, wide open
touchdown as the Panthers tight end. The veterans Jordan Matthews
scorers on the opening drive for Carolina. Right, Jordan Matthew's
veterans talking to us this week and Jordan for you,
you know a guy that's been in this league for
a long time. You're you're with this young team and
(24:17):
you see some rookies, undrafted, rookies so far stepping up.
You kind of see yourself in their shoes a little bit.
You came in as a high draft pick. But for
some of these guys getting their opportunities, what's it mean
for you haven't been around the league for a while.
Speaker 11 (24:27):
You know, I love seeing the growth in guys over time.
I mean for me, I think obviously in my room,
I think j T has been glaring to see how
his commerdence has grown. He always had a kind of
a good disposition where he didn't let s up bother him.
He would always be able to move on to the
next play, but always told him like, you know, I
want to see him be able to take that next
step and not just paying his way through a game,
(24:49):
but actually going out there and playing and then trying
to dominate a game. I felt like the Saints game,
he finally took that big leap where I was like,
I felt like he went up and made that big
catch on the sideline and that that like the hurdle
that was, that's that's foreshadowing, Like when you make a
play like that, now the whole game opens up. So
I love seeing the confidence growing guys. I'm excited to
(25:10):
see JB. Obviously seeing him battle through injury and get
back has been pretty inspiring.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I'll tell you what.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Man.
Speaker 11 (25:19):
Watching the receivers, I pay a lot of attention to
Xavier and Cocher because for me coming to the league,
I was a you know, that was the position I
first started out as. And Cocher people don't realize, like
now he's just seeing him play and seem emerged. He
missed like all spring, Like I'm like, golly, who is
this undrafted guy from a small school that's missing all
(25:41):
of this time? Can't be good. But he just seems
steady like it didn't. He didn't seem like he felt
like the sky was falling. He did his rehab, he
was locked in. So I remember telling people that I knew.
I was like, I'm watching this kid. I think he
might have the mindset to run the marriage time. Then
(26:01):
we get to camp, he goes out there in the
stadium scores a touchdown like, Okay, this.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Guy can play.
Speaker 11 (26:06):
And just watch his confidence grow has been really cool
to see too. So I'm just having a good time
trying to, you know, speak life in them wherever I
can keep them humble, you know, remind them that like, look,
you know Jerry Rice scored two hundred and eight touchdowns,
all right if he scored one, stay help, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
We got a lot more work to do.
Speaker 11 (26:25):
But more than anything, trying to be an example as
well whenever I can.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
We're you as far as just your mindset with your career,
You've been at it for a while here, just does
it give you a kind of a greater appreciation having
been around in early thirties now right to have this
chance to still play in this league.
Speaker 11 (26:38):
Yeah, I mean my man said, is there's still a
consistency in it where I feel like when I go
out there in the game, I want to remember that,
like I'm still a guy that can go out there
and have an impact on the game. The reality is,
my biggest impact I can make is right now, you know,
in the locker room being a leader for these guys
on Sundays, going out there, being great on special teams
(27:02):
like and really becoming a premier player on special teams.
And so usually when I have the opportunity to be
active for a game, a lot of my mindset is
I've got to go out here and inspire through teams,
and then as I continue to, you know, Lord will
and build confidence through the offense, then maybe I can
go out there and show what I can do in
that realm again. But my confidence has never wavered no
(27:24):
matter what I've been through. I always feel like, if
I get the opportunity and go out there and make.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Something happen, whether it's you, Andy Dalton, whoever, we see it,
When you guys get back out there, you've not lost
a step. Last question, your thoughts of all having been
in different offensive schemes. Dave Canalis brad Izick, what do
you like about this group and what they're teaching?
Speaker 11 (27:41):
I love how everything marries up. I love the communication
of the group. Like Dave, I think the media is
kind of called win of this too. Like Dave is
kind of a straight shooter, you know. I mean, there's
obviously going to be some coach talk that has to
be there, you know, but he's pretty much a straight shooter.
Like you go ask him like, hey, you know, what
(28:03):
are we thinking here or what do you want to
see for me here?
Speaker 9 (28:07):
He has an answer.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
It's not like he's like.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
Aloof to what's going on.
Speaker 11 (28:10):
So I would say, man, their communication is some of
the best that I've been around when it comes to
an offensive staff. So and for me and the rest
of the guys, we're just now building the confidence of
what we're being taught because you.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
Gotta remember, like there's a lot of relearning.
Speaker 11 (28:28):
Okay, I don't care how many reps you're doing camp,
how many reps you're doing OTAs, you have to practice
trusting those reps in real, live action before you say
this makes sense. We can trust this, we can win
this way. Let's keep trusting the process. So that's why
I think everybody's really trying to do. I think we
saw a lot of that run games kind of come
(28:49):
together in Germany.
Speaker 6 (28:50):
I would love to see us build on that.
Speaker 9 (28:52):
But Geordan always great to talk with. You appreciate your
time so much.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
All right, appreciate you.
Speaker 12 (28:55):
Thank you.
Speaker 8 (28:56):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
This is Panther Talk. He's hiding by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Back here on Panther Talking. E Shroff, Jim Zochi, Eugene Robinson.
We bring in our next guests. He is the lead
NFL Draft analyst for PFF, Trevor Sickamuch. Trevor, appreciate you
joining us on this Monday. You can follow him at
at Tampa Bay Trey on social media. Trevor, you'd put
(29:28):
this out I think last week after the Chiefs game,
a breakdown on Bryce Young and watching how he's progressed
and evolved. You also have access to some of the
raw data and the numbers from PFF. Where specifically have
you seen growth when you kind of do your analysis
(29:49):
on Bryce Young.
Speaker 12 (29:50):
Yeah, I think that there's two areas that you can
look at Bryce Young and say that he has objectively
taken leaps from what we saw last year and also
through the first couple of games he started this season.
One is throwing against single coverage. Now, single coverage, of course,
is tight coverage. No, normally it's man coverage. In the NFL,
you got to be able to attack single coverage consistently,
(30:13):
and it just didn't feel like last year or at
the beginning of this year when he would throw against
single coverage, It's like he wasn't really giving his wide
receivers a chance to make catches. He was either throwing
it to the you know, the theoretical we hear it
all the time, Okay, either my wide receiver gets it
or nobody gets it. And he was throwing the ball
too far, so his wide receiver wasn't getting it, or
he was throwing it short to the point where you know,
(30:35):
guys didn't really have a chance against cornerbacks that were
covering pretty closely. It's as if he was really afraid
to throw turnovers, and every time he threw against single coverage,
he was thinking about the turnover instead of the potential
big time throw. Now over the last three games that
we've seen from him, much more willing, much more confidence
to attack in single coverage, and a lot of those answers.
(30:55):
He had an elite PFF pat we weread a couple
of weeks ago against single coverage specifically that I'd like
about his game. And then the other part that I
love is his planner pressure seventy five point two PFF
passing great under pressure, which is fantastic when you talk
about numbers under pressure. It's two areas that point to confidence,
specifically being through the roof right now, or at least,
like you should say, the best version, the most confident
(31:19):
NFL version of Bryce Young that we have seen so far.
That is what was so disappointing about the struggles with
him last year and in the early parts of this season.
It's not that, Okay, we knew he didn't have an
arm like Anthony Richardson or Josh Allen or even CJ. Stroud,
his fellow classmate, but it was what he was able
to do operating with so much confidence and intelligence at
(31:41):
Alabama that allowed him to win a Heisman Trophy and
made him one of the best. That confidence was completely
gone from his NFL game up until about three weeks ago,
and now we're seeing a whole bunch of it, which
is obviously making him a lot of fun to watch now.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
So, Trevor, this is Eugene Robinson. So are you saying
to me what the single coverage? Are you saying that
he is anticipating the break throwing before the break? What
exactly are you giving him credit for making that single
coverage throw?
Speaker 12 (32:08):
Well, I think it's just more willing to put the
ball exactly where it needs to go. So yes, you know,
to your point, that involves anticipating a little bit better
and being more confident in those rhythm and timing throws,
those repetition throws, but it's also just giving his guys
a chance, you know, against single coverage. You've got to
understand that. Yet, if I miss by a little bit,
(32:28):
this might be a forcing completion, it might be a
pass breakup, it might even be an interception. But you
can't be thinking about that. You've got to be thinking about, Okay, well,
what about the big throw that I'm about to make?
The big time throws as we categorize them at PFF,
and over the last couple of weeks, Bryce has had
a handful of big time throws in every single game.
And to me, when when you look at these throws
(32:51):
against single coverage, it is as if he is thinking, Okay,
I'm about to load up and put this ball exactly
where it needs to be for my wide receiver to
catch it, not thinking, oh no, if I don't have
put this ball in this certain spot, you know it's
going to be incomplete. So yeah, timing and separation and
recognizing those things, those obviously go all into it. But honestly,
(33:12):
it's the willingness and the confidence to throw those tight
window throws in single coverage that I think are the
biggest difference when you marry that with what the data
says and then what you're watching on tape.
Speaker 8 (33:24):
Hey, Trevor, Jim Zochi. So we saw the Panthers give
a second contract to Chewba Hubbard, keeping him here long term.
We're gonna be at Philadelphia this week where Saquon Barkley's
having his second act in the league after being with
the New York Giants. Not in all cases, but is
there a little bit of a swing back to like
the traditional you know, the value of a big time
running back as far as how teams value that, because
(33:44):
obviously we've gone through a cycle where it's like, eh,
whoever we could get in the fifth round could be
our running back.
Speaker 12 (33:50):
Yeah, I think so, And I think that you're seeing
that around the league, not just for the super special ones.
So with tay Gone Barkley, but you know, obviously you've
got it, not just Chuba Hubbard. And I don't mean
to say that he's not super special. He's been all
this year and a big part of why Carolina has
been able to have some success and certainly some building
blocks that they've been able to put down while they
were figuring things out of quarterback before Bryce has really
started to turn it on over the last couple of weeks,
(34:11):
and honestly, that's what makes the fumble this past week
so crushing for twoba Ogoji's watching it knowing the year
that he has had and how much of a bummer
that is. But you know, to answer your question, yes,
the league is cyclical, right, I mean, like there are
things it's like fashion, right, It's things that were popular
in the nineteen hundreds, in the early two thousands that
we're seeing people go back to now. You know these things,
(34:32):
that's kind of how the NFL works and over the
last I would say, well, if you go back about
four or five six years ago, man passing numbers were
through the roof. I mean, teams couldn't get enough receivers
on the field, and we still see plenty of that now.
There's a lot of spreadout offenses and things like that.
But as the league has lightened the boxes, you know
for the run game, meeting the defensive linemen and the
(34:54):
live backers and even the safeties that come down. Those
lighter boxes invite runs. When you you have a hat
on a hat, when you have a blocker for a
defender every single time, it then puts the mass in
your favor to do the easiest thing in the game
of football, and that is hand the ball off, hand
the ball to a running back and have them go
get plenty of yards. And so, yes, absolutely we are
(35:17):
seeing the game kind of go back to that level.
And the teams that are leaning more into this resurgence
of the run game against lighter boxes, those are the
teams that you're going to see continue to pay running
backs more because it's going to be more of a
mainstay of their game plan.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Yeah, the eighties perm is coming back. That's what Trevor said. Trevor,
you cover the draft too, and you cover the draft prospects,
and the consensus going into this season was that this
is not a great draft for quarterbacks. We've seen Shador Sanders,
cam Ward. I'm curious is that still something that holds
(35:51):
true or are there franchise changing qbs in this draft.
Speaker 12 (35:57):
I think there are guys with potential within this draft,
but it's not talked about or seen the way that
last year's draft was, where you got to understand there's
risk in every draft, right even last year. Caleb. You
know Drake Jaden, you know Michael Pennix, vote next JJ McCarthy.
It's not like these guys are going to Canton the
second they're drafted. There's always risk no matter what, and
(36:18):
I think people sometimes forget about that part of it.
There's risk with this upcoming quarterback class, but it's not
as hyped up and it doesn't have as high of
a feeling as last year did. As of right now,
if you had to ask me, I think the cam
Ward and Shader Sanders are going to be the two
quarterbacks that we get in the first round, just because
there are way too many teams that are desperate to
(36:39):
get a quarterback to believe in. I think both of
those guys are going first round. But in terms of
the other quarterbacks, you know, Carson Beck, Quinn Yours, Jalen Milroe,
Garrett Nussmeyer, Drew Aller, guys like that. To me, those
are more second round and beyond types of quarterbacks that
I sure hope get the time to sit because it
just doesn't feel like the NFL operates under that that
(37:02):
timeline anymore for quarterbacks, and I really wish they did,
because some of these guys can be great quarterbacks, they
just get ruined too early. Yeah, anytime it's some talented guys.
That's yeah, that's the case with this year.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
And Trevor, I'll leave you with this.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
If you're drafting, and let's say you're somewhere in the
top five very quickly, if Travis Hunter is available, is
there a reason to pass?
Speaker 12 (37:24):
Yeah, I'm sprinting to the podium. Basically, if I'm any
team in this class, my number one overall prospect. I
think he could play a long long time in this league.
And I genuinely think, maybe not full time both sides
of the ball, but he could play both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
And yes, he can't play both sides of the ball.
That do the beast, that do the real deal.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Trevor Sickamough from Pro Football Focus, Trevor, appreciate your time.
Speaker 12 (37:46):
Man, of course, guys, anytime.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
We'll be back on Panther Talk presented by Bosh power
Tools here on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Is Tanther Talk. Please send it by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
The Panthers head to Philadelphia this weekend and Eugene, the
big challenge is going to be solving and I don't
even think you have to solve it because nobody has.
But It's the old you can't stop it. You have
to find a way to contain it. It's the Philadelphia
run game. Through what twelve games, they've run for twenty
two hundred plus yards five plus yards to carry twenty
(38:24):
four rushing touchdowns. Barkley is one yard shy of fifteen hundred.
He's got a chance at two thousand. He might be
the offensive player of the Year in the NFC, and
we've struggled to stop the run. Candidly, So how how
what do you do?
Speaker 7 (38:40):
You load the buck? You get everybody. I want nine
people down there. We're not gonna come in over receivers.
We just go and stop.
Speaker 9 (38:48):
AJ Brown's no good.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Take the flag on the field.
Speaker 7 (38:51):
I'm telling you this is a problem. Say kuon Barkley
and Jalen Hurts. They are problems because don't forget Dalen
Hurst has four hundred andy FI yards and he has
twelve testowls.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Who do you stop?
Speaker 7 (39:03):
You can't key on both the guys, And then you
got to play gap control sound football, and you got
to get into an eight man front.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
You gotta put commit eight people to the run.
Speaker 7 (39:12):
And then that means Barkley is responsible for one of
your guys, the linebacker or the safety. He's responsible. And
guess what he's been making people miss. They're double team
blocks coming off off the guard tackle, a defensive tackle
to the linebacker has been sensational and in Barkley, he's
just made people look like they're standing still. So this
(39:34):
is a tall order, make no mistake about it. This
is the best running game that we've seen in a long,
long time.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
And it's a Philly team. Jim, Wow, they're ten and two.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
And I know Detroit's right there as well, but right
now it's a toss up to me between Philly and
Detroit who the best team is in the NFC.
Speaker 8 (39:50):
It's December now. They've not lost a game since September.
That's how good the Eagles are. I mean, they've not
lost their game since the end of September. And so yeah,
it's playing lights out right now, obviously, And of course
they had their interesting game on Thanksgiving, but Philadelphia's had
some close ones along the way, so everybody's beatable, of course.
And I think you know, it comes down to what
(40:12):
you said with Barkley. Mean, he's putting up like numbers
you would see a college player put up. I no
I mean, you just don't see these kind of NFL numbers.
Six yards of carry, fifteen hundred yards with a month
of football still to go, five games ago. So I mean, yeah,
they're playing really good right now. And it's funny because
it's the NFL and it's Philadelphia. It was like beginning
the season, Nick.
Speaker 9 (40:28):
Sirianni, you got to go to and two.
Speaker 8 (40:30):
You know, they start out the season like you know,
they're not going to be great, and then they get
they caught fire. So we're catching them at a time
where they're playing really well at their place. So it'd
be a good one to shock the world with, like
Kansas City almost was.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
They're also one and two against the NFC South, for
what it's worth.
Speaker 7 (40:45):
It quickly when I think of it, I'm looking at Marshall, folks,
Shady McCoy, Reggie Bush Barry said, he's got that type
of gravitas.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Man, He's just that guy. It's hard to stop.
Speaker 5 (40:55):
And you've got kids listening. Stop you're scared of them.
Speaker 7 (40:58):
Man, I'm just telling you that young man can flat
out run. He is a problem in the National Football League.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
Yeah, and then the other part, when you play Philly,
you gotta defend four downs.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
That's right, you have to defend four downs because they
they will go fourth and one.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
They're gonna go ahead and do it.
Speaker 9 (41:12):
Oh, by the way, he could jump backwards.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Oh you could jump back with this. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (41:16):
By goodness, Buddy puts this underworld too, just like one
leg at a time.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Like everybody else, I'm trying you, I'm trying to find something. Hey,
it's Philadelphia. They love the underdog. They built him a
statue even though he wasn't real a Philadelphia story. The
Panthers need an underdog story. On Sunday, this.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
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(42:01):
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Speaker 9 (42:04):
And this Antherton Panther Tall, Panther Tall.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
This is the Carolina Panthers Radio Network
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
in the National Football League's.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
The Panther Doe and they'rete and They're Tone.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
This is Panther Talk, presented by Bosh Power Tools on
the Carolina Panthers Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Network, just about consistency in the finish and only the
things that we can own.
Speaker 5 (00:22):
You know, the guys know that.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
You know, you go into a locker room and the
guys they believe, you know that we can play if
we play to our capabilities and we take advantage of
all the things that are out there. You know, we
own those things that we were hard to beat, and
so we you know, we go all the way to
the wire and overtime again, you know, but it's just
we got to finish. We gotta find a way to finish.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
And now, along with Jim Zochi and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche Shroff with Panther Talk live from the Panthers
broadcast facility at Bank of America Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It is Monday, December second. The Panthers head into the
home stretch of the season. Five games remain, starting this
Sunday in Philadelphia. This past Sunday yesterday, Carolina coming off
a tough twenty six to twenty three overtime loss to
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The week before similar ending losing
(01:16):
on a last second field goal to Kansas City, it
felt differently yesterday. Let's bring in the head coach for
the Carolina Panthers, Dave Canalis. Dave, we talked about it,
I know, on the postgame show yesterday, and you mentioned
it at your press conference today. But when you went
back and you watched the tape, where did you feel
like there was meat left down the bone where it
(01:39):
didn't have to come down to a play here or
play there.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
You know, early on it was a couple of red
zone trips, coming in with Phil goals and then missing
two kicks, you know, the Adam Feelin you know, incomplete
pass touchdown would have been a big one there plus
the two kicks, if we're talking about a whole different game.
And you know, defensively, it was three great quarters of
(02:06):
football and just not enough in the fourth. You know,
the Bucks ran the ball, controlled that the last part
of it, you know, until we got our last shot
to take it down there and with thirty seconds left.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
It's about finish.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
But you know, it was the kicking game, it was
penalties in the coverage units, a lot of things like that.
And in this league, as you guys know, you can't
give any NFL opponent an advantage in any way, shape
or form because it's costly.
Speaker 7 (02:32):
There's no doubt about that. It is costly. Coach, I
want to stay on the defense of because we see
in this duality, if you will, I mean, they're playing
extremely well from the standpoint, getting some really good stat
numbers with the sacks interceptions, but then we see that
the misstep in the in the rushing game. So what
is specifically your message to the defense to go ahead
(02:54):
and maybe turn the tide.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Of that, do your job, play your gap, trust that
the person the next two is going to do the same.
And it's just like it's like the chain of events
that occurs when the first person on the front side
of the run does right and then the fits happen
off of that, you know, and it's it's but it's
about doing it every time, and you know the trust
factor that is involved in that. It's tempting to hop
(03:18):
out of a gap, you know.
Speaker 7 (03:21):
Yeah, I've noted all too well it's so easy to
hop out of the gap because you think that the
guy's doing something else and you're gonna go help your buddy,
but then you end up hurting your own body.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
Absolutely well, a lot of.
Speaker 8 (03:33):
Key moments of the game coach, of course, when you
go to overtime like that, but you get the touchdown
thirty seconds to go, Champa gets the ball back and
then they get a big chunk play there to kind
of get them on their way to field goal range.
Was that maybe the biggest thing that happened as far
as just having that lead there at the end of
regulation and them getting off to a good start on
that last drive.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Absolutely, you know, it's about just playing our leverages and
understanding you know, where Mike Evans is at, Understanding where
guys are at in the concepts and making sure we're
getting to our landmarks and our drops, you know, playing
to our leverage, and you know that communication has to
be seamless in those types of situations, and uh and
the rush plan keep the quarterback in the pocket, you know.
And that's the second week in a road that we've
(04:13):
allowed a long run by quarterback to get themselves in
the field goal range. So it's the discipline of the
rush plan and executing those things.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
We did see, coach, a pass rush continue to emerge,
five sacks against Kansas City for yesterday. What do you
attribute the re energized, reinvigorated pass rush too, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
Just hard work working on the rush plan. Dj Wanham
is a huge factor there. A Seaon's playing great ball,
Jadavian's making his plays and and and really you know,
gra grabbing some attention there. And then we threw in
you know, Barno this week and gave him a chance
to get into some of the rush groups as well.
So you know, it was it's all those guys just
(04:55):
working on their craft, working on their patterns and really
being committed to it.
Speaker 7 (05:00):
Coach, I know a number of guys are rally behind
the on side of Cuba. What was your message to Tuba, Coach,
We're gonna.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Keep giving you the ball finish those things for us.
And it was the same message for the whole group
was when we get into finish moments, nothing changes.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
It's about the basics, it's about.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
The fundamentals, and we will learn how to finish games right,
you know, just having that cold blooded focus to just
keep doing right longer than the opponent, and you just
got to outlast them from a technique standpoint and physically
from a toughness standpoint.
Speaker 8 (05:32):
Well, we're talking running backs. Obviously, Jonathan Brooks got a
lot more reps in this game. Carried it six times,
had three catches, and I'm thinking about that screen pass
where he made two guys out and two guys miss
in the open field and almost breaks a third tackle there.
What is that element that to mention, like to add
Jonathan Brooks into the mix.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
Oh, it's great.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
You know, it's great to have that balance where you know,
Cuba and Jonathan can you know, help allow us really
just to you know, when Tuba's getting his carries and
he's deep into a drive and Jonathan comes in, you
don't skip a beat and you just keep rolling. And
for me, just on a personal note, for Jonathan, just
to see him confident out there making runs and starting
to really you know, get into his toolbox and you know,
(06:14):
it just comes with the level of comfortability getting back
out there physically and mentally knowing he can do it.
Speaker 6 (06:19):
I love seeing him fire up.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah, David, we saw a real neat play design where
you had both Cuba and Brooks in the game at
the same time and you throw it to the back
out of the backfield, that twenty one personnel two back set.
Is that something that you'll continue to tinker with to
see if maybe there's a chance to get both on
the field.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
It's something that will keep sprinkling in and trying to
find different opportunities to get your best players out there.
Speaker 7 (06:43):
And Coach Will, we continue to see some in the
movement that we saw with with Bryce and then just
some of the improvisational plays that he he made. The
confidence level have to be very, very high, and you
guys have to be proud of what you're seeing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Absolutely, and it all comes from just to the decisiveness
that he's playing with.
Speaker 6 (07:03):
That's what's great about it.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
And you know, the more comfortable you are with the concepts,
the sooner you know whether the concept's working or not,
and you can get to the second play, which is
our scramble, and you know that's that's when a lot
of other stuff comes a life just off of your
first call.
Speaker 8 (07:18):
It's cool, see guys step up and he's had his
moments in his time here, But Tommy Tremble, there are
times Okay, brought Bowers out there yesterday. He was fixing
some some big time catches. I he had a thirty
eight yard catch in one on one of those, and
on a day where you didn't have Jatavian Sanders was
it was cool to see the tight end really help
fill in the gap there in the receiving game.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
That was great.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I'm so proud of Tommy and just the challenges he's
faced this year physically, you know, just from an injury standpoint,
and to just stay in it, you know, and keep
tracking along with this is not easy. When you miss
time to hop back in there and just be expected
to like just get back to playing ball. A lot happens.
But it speaks to Tommy's ability in that time while
he was rehabing to be focused to grow with us
(07:58):
as we've been growing our And then I was so
happy to see him out there just running around playing
physical ball, making plays down the field, breaking tackles. I mean,
it was really it was. It was a really great
evening for Tommy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Coach.
Speaker 7 (08:11):
I asked you this question way back in preseason, and
I'll ask it again.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What is the.
Speaker 7 (08:16):
Character of the word you would describe that you see
emerging from this Panthers team that you're coaching, and specifically
the offense.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Specifically the offense just to be a balanced attack where
when you know, when Coach Bulls and the Bucks make
it challenging, you know, to run the ball by certain
looks that we're able to throw the ball down the
field and to see that explosiveness come to live. That's
what we want. If teams are going to try to
sell out to stop your run, then we got to
be effective in the past game. And that's what's been
happening the last couple of games, which makes me really
(08:48):
excited about being able to play the balance football that
we know we can play.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Yeah, and Dave to follow up on that, one of
the things that we've noticed is just how Bryce says
seem to just handle pressure and blitz package is better.
What's different in the way he's been able to navigate pressure.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Yeah, it just goes back to what I mentioned before,
which is the his his mastery and ownership of our
concepts allows him to use his quick answers to get
protections where he needs it and also to just be
really decisive about you know what, they got a better
play call than I do.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
Right here.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Sometimes you throw it away, you know, and that's and
that's just part of it. That's part of the deal.
But yeah, just being really decisive and comfortable and confident,
and he's just putting in all the work, you know,
mastering all the little parts of it, you know, particularly
on third down.
Speaker 6 (09:36):
So I'm really pleased with the weekly growth that he's shown.
Speaker 8 (09:39):
In that you mentioned Obviously the close game, missed opportunities
red zone and we're so spoiled Eddie Pinero as USA
automatic on the on the misses and then even the
twenty seven yard or was close, it was this something mechanical,
something in the mechanics of the snapb What did you
guys see as he went back and looked at what
might have happened on those field goals.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
He's just got to go through his process, that's like
he always does, and bang those kicks.
Speaker 6 (10:02):
We know he can.
Speaker 9 (10:05):
Coach.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
I'll leave you with this.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
I don't know how much of Philly tape you've looked at,
but their ability to run the ball and what they've
been able to do on the ground, just as a
big picture snapshot, what is kind of one oh one
in terms of how to limit their rushing attack.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Well, they have a two headed monster back there with
Saquon and with Jalen Hurts, you know, and Gainwell is
also a really good back. So but it all starts
up front. It's a really good offensive line, and they
have a commitment to it. They know how to use
the quarterback, so that that kind of the focus starts
right there.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
Dave appreciated as always.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 6 (10:41):
Thanks, Okay, thanks guys, thank you.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Panthers head coach Dave kanalis anias Jim Eugene here on
Panther Talk. Dad, Jim, we said it after the game
on Sunday too. In some ways, if you zoom out
and you look at yesterday's result with the prism of
all the games that have been played, all twelve games,
you say, hey, this is a much improved team. This
(11:05):
is a team that's a lot better. They're competitive. But
then when you take that element into it, they have improved.
That's why it stings, because that was a game the
Panthers should have won. They should have won because they're improved,
they're better. Two weeks ago, close felt like a moral victory.
Close does not feel like a moral victory today.
Speaker 8 (11:28):
I think that's a good thing because I feel I
feel like we're back in the party now because I
think last year was so bad, Like if we scored
three points and felt big, if we got a touchdown,
it seemed like we won the super Bowl. So I
feel like, you know now that it's like we're we're
I'm glad, We're disappointed that we lost twenty six to
twenty three because that's what football should be. And I
(11:48):
feel like now we're competitive and you're gonna win some
and lose them. Let's not forget people say, well, they
got to learn how to win close games. Well, the
two wins we had prior to that were close wins.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
You beat New Orleans by one, and you beat the
Giants in Munich.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
You know, over time, and your defense came up with
some big takeaways in that situation to set up a
short field to get the winning field goal that was made.
So things like miss field goals, key defensive moments happened
and wins too, So it's all there. It's just you know,
some weeks you're gonna win those, and some weeks you're
gonna lose those, and and you want to win more
than you lose. But it feels good to be back
in the conversation. Honestly, of teams that are competitive that
(12:20):
you know, you feel like, okay, we can we can
stand against That team is tied for first in our division,
Kansas City is a two times Super Bowl champion. Going
to Philly is a tough task, but you feel like
you can be competitive and if you play that way,
you can always sneak out with a win.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
It's like you're mad for all the right reasons.
Speaker 7 (12:35):
Yeah, And here it is. I like the word scrappy.
This team seems to be scrappy for whatever reason. Like
though is they'll fight you, and they'll fight you to
the end, and and they may make some mistakes along
the way, but that you know they much improve offensively.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Uh that it covers it.
Speaker 7 (12:55):
And so from that to thatand point, I'm like, look,
I'm taking my tests with you know, I'm rolling rolling
to die with the Panthers. They're scrappy team and they
can go ahead and beat you, and they can last
long with you too, so they can go back and
forth with you. So you're not gonna just blow them out.
That's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. This team
got too much moxie and just remind me of like
(13:15):
a prize fighter who's just scrappy.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
What's funny too.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You mentioned the two close wins the Giants and the Saints,
two close losses in that stretch. There's something to be
said about the team getting to the point where Kansas
City is. They playing a lot of close games. They've
played in a lot of close games that were big games,
and they find a way to win those games. Tampa,
you still have a Levante david a vita Vea. Yes,
(13:40):
Mike Evans, guys who played with Tom Brady on Super
Bowl teams that again know how to win in the margins.
We're not there yet. That is okay, but you kind
of see how the other side does it where they're
able to find a way even when certain things might
be going against them.
Speaker 7 (13:57):
You know, it's interesting you mentioned Mike Evans because coach
cannel Lets mentioned Mike Evans while he was talking and
was like, hey, we got to do something about that guy,
you know, and the thirty seconds that we were talking
about when you have a chance to do something about it,
we didn't do something about it.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And he was like, that has to be an emphasis.
You gotta know that you've got to take that guy away.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
And so I like what I'm hearing from him, going,
oh yeah, he must have been really fired up in
that locker room a little bit because he's like, look,
he made it a point to say that Mike Evans
was a problem and you got to do something about it.
If you don't know he's a problem, then you got
to go ahead and find another job or do something
about it.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
And I like the fact that these guys may do
something about it.
Speaker 9 (14:33):
And he's only been a problem for like eleven years.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
Yes, he has been man. That dude just got He
just knows how to play. And you mentioned in that
Super Bowl he's always been a beast man, always been
that guy.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I keep waiting. I keep waiting, Okay, is he going
to start to descend or are we going to start
to see regression? Nope, one hundred yards yesterday, I mean,
and then against the Panthers, it just feels like he
always puts up big numbers.
Speaker 7 (14:58):
Yeah, and here it is I do I double team
him that during that time, with that thirty seconds, I
do something like, if I'm gonna limit him, if we're
gonna zone that side, I got somebody got to get
in his face because I can't let him off the
line of scrimmage because he's that dangerous. If somebody else
beats me, it's a little bit different, you know. But
I can't let him off off the line of scrimmas
(15:19):
because I do. Is this too dangerous?
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So the loss stings, and we'll talk more about it
when we come back. It does, but stings for a
good reason because this team is better and there is
more hope and big picture, we're watching an improved team.
We're watching it improved roster, and two weeks in a row,
we're watching a team that nearly sent some shockwaves through
(15:43):
the NFL. Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools Here
on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Rice in the Pocket steps up, elutes the rush, throw
that zone God out of touched down Carolina.
Speaker 9 (16:03):
The Panthers take the lead.
Speaker 10 (16:05):
I think momentum is a beautiful thing. I think you
get a couple wins in a row, you start to
see kind of the fruits of the labor, all the
hard work we've been putting in, all the details, all
the conversations, all the kind of just positive energy that's
been in this building since the day one of this
new staff. You started to see the fruits of that labor.
So that gives you a lot of confidence. Obviously, winning
(16:26):
gives you confidence. Close game last week gives you confidence.
And then again, there wasn't really anything that was said
this week. It was just a different type of energy
and feeling around the building.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio network.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
That was Adam feeling, and he speaks to what a
lot of us who are in the building feel. There
is a different feeling. And one of the things when
we spoke to Dave Canalis in the first segment that
he talked about was how teams have been game planning
the Panthers. We saw Kansas City do it. After Chuba
Hubbard ran for one three against the Giants, the chief said,
(17:02):
we're gonna stack the box and let's see if Bryce
Young can beat us over the top, and it almost did.
The Buccaneers followed that same blueprint. Bryce made some plays
through for two ninety eight. Jim, I think this is
the best thing for Bryce because I think everybody is
going to follow that blueprint over these next five games,
(17:23):
Philly's going to do it well. Who knows what Dallas
is going to do. But I expected from Arizona, expected
from Tampa, expected again from Atlanta. Can Bryce Young do
this week in week out? And I think if you're
on the Panther side, you're going that's exactly what we
want to see. We want to see him stack evidence,
we want to see him be able to make defenses
(17:45):
pay for challenging this Panther team through the air, and
you hopefully get Jalen kokerback, you get J T. Sanders back.
But these next five games, I don't want to say
they become a referendum on Bryce, but in many ways
they do become an audition and in many ways a
dress rehearsal for what you hope twenty twenty five can
(18:05):
be where he's gonna have real opportunities to make plays
and show people he can be the guy.
Speaker 9 (18:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (18:12):
I think it's a continuing on the job job interview
where he gets to display what he can do in
that role and you get to decide is he a
CEO or is he a middle manager or is he
an employee? So I think he gets that opportunity to
show it in real life, and you're heavily invested in him,
so you want it to work out that way. And
I think he's been checking boxes as we go each
of the past couple of weeks of showing that, and honestly,
(18:32):
if they are taking the runaway, that should make the
passing easier because they're not loading up in the secondary.
So it's like, now you've got to have a one
on one matchup a lot of times Eugene where you
win that. So yeah, you know you could force their
hand and make them force back the other way. It's
like all of a sudden, it's like if you start
having success that way, all of a sudden, chew but
becomes more dangerous because you're gonna have to like help
out in the pass game.
Speaker 7 (18:53):
Bryce was extremely effective. He has been the last four weeks.
He's been really, really good. I love that. I think
the big problem is the defense. I think that when
you're giving up that many yards rushing over the last
four games, and the time reflects that too. Time of
possession thirty three minutes, roughly thirty four minutes other team
(19:15):
has a ball and we got the ball twenty seven
twenty six minutes, so it's reflected in the fact that
we can't get off the field because they're rushing the
ball on us and we can't stop the run. And
if we can't stop the run, that becomes problematic because
just like we're saying, can the other quarterbacks beat us, Well,
you've got Patrick Mahomes, you got Breaking Mayfit, you got
guys who could actually, yeah, they can beat you.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
I don't mean to sound catastrophic, but I don't think
that's going to be fixed overnight. And credit to Dave Canalis,
he has not used injuries as an excuse. To me,
this is pretty simple. If ninety five Derek Brown is playing,
the Panthers are better against the run, ye oh, no doubt.
He's probably worth at minute them right now at least
(20:01):
one win, maybe two. No, no, And there's no one
to one replacement for him on this team. He's the
best player on the team. He was the most irreplaceable
player on the team, and he goes down Week one.
Not to mention, you got the Shaq Thompson injury as well,
but Trevin Wallace has done decent job, still doesn't have
the veteran savvy of Shack. I go back to this,
(20:23):
you kind of knew what you were doing in the offseason.
You said it, you're putting the resources to the offensive
side to see what you have in Bryce. You have
to do that for the long term benefit of the franchise.
So you had to make some tough decisions on the
defensive side. Trade Burns, Frankie Louv who goes to Washington.
You needed Derek Brown to stay healthy. It happened, he
got hurt. It kind of is what it is up there.
(20:45):
And Derek Brown comes back healthy next year, the run
defense is going to be better. And I know nobody
wants to hear that, but that's just kind of the
reality of where we are right now.
Speaker 8 (20:55):
It's not like he was kind of good last Year's
unbelieve that an NFL record for tackles by a defensive line.
I mean, it's just like it was an all time performance.
And then you add in the fact that now you've
got clown and you got one, so you got edge pressure.
It's like pick your poison, you run it Derek Brown,
or you take your chances with those guys on the
edges out there and again throwing like Robinson in the middle.
Some other guys are doing a great job. So to me, yeah,
(21:17):
I've said it before. It like there's a reason you
pay your top players good money. Otherwise you would just
play fifty three, next man up and save a lot
of money if there was no difference. So it and
I like the fact these building blocks are seeing they
invested heavily in the offensive lineup guard Derek Brown this offseason.
Now they're doing it with Chuba Hubbard. We're seeing the
payoff now in DJ wantam.
Speaker 9 (21:35):
So you start to see Josie Jewel.
Speaker 8 (21:36):
I mean, since he's come back the last month or so,
what a difference he's made in the defensive side. So
when you've got key players while developing new players like
you mentioned Trevin Wallace who's not quite there, but you
see the potential, you want that. You kind of want
that ongoing cycle of it. Veteran guys that are playing
well now while you're training guys at the proper pace
to become their replacements down the road.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
But this is what I'm not saying that because I
agree with you with Derek Brown. What I'm saying is
what coach echoed already. He talked about the rushing lanes,
and he talked about gap control, and he talked about
people not being where they were supposed to be when
a guy is forcing a guy right to you, or
where's my where's my outside, my bcr my contained, That's
what he's talking about, and then the mistackles.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
So I agree with.
Speaker 7 (22:19):
You, Derek Brown makes that defensive line so much better.
But what doesn't make the line better, and what Coach
Canalis is saying the rushing lanes and the gap control
is a problem because it's allowing for those type of
plays Derek Brown.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I challenged that in saying, if Brown's out there, he
played almost every snap last year, some of those guys
who aren't making those plays, who aren't following their assignments,
they're probably not on the field because Derek Brown.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Is well, yeah, that's one That's just one spot though,
So I agree, but that's just one spot. So when
I look at it holistically, I'm like, dude, you got
a defensive end or linebacker out one position, and then
you've pushed ball as a difficenive tackle and now as
your safety that may be out and taking care to
cut back gap is all that stuff which I think
(23:11):
coach is talking about and that needs to get cleaned
up Adam Adam Brown to that mix.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, them much more impressive.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
The run defense has been again, it's been an issue.
Worst run defense in the NFL, and in the last
four games, the Panthers are giving up one hundred and
ninety plus rush yards per game. They've only had two
games this season where they've held their opponents below one
hundred and forty rush yards. Philly comes to town or
we go to Philly on Sunday, and the Eagles have
(23:40):
the number one rushing offense in the NFL, including the
league's leading rusher in Saquon Barkley. More Panther Talk after
this presented by Bosh power Tools on the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 8 (23:56):
Stack receivers both to the right and the lap hopper
the running back to the white side of Young. He
was setting up the throw over the middle, wide open
touchdown as the Panthers tight end. The veterans Jordan Matthews
scorers on the opening drive for Carolina. Right, Jordan Matthew's
veterans talking to us this week and Jordan for you,
you know a guy that's been in this league for
a long time. You're you're with this young team and
(24:17):
you see some rookies, undrafted, rookies so far stepping up.
You kind of see yourself in their shoes a little bit.
You came in as a high draft pick. But for
some of these guys getting their opportunities, what's it mean
for you haven't been around the league for a while.
Speaker 11 (24:27):
You know, I love seeing the growth in guys over time.
I mean for me, I think obviously in my room,
I think j T has been glaring to see how
his commerdence has grown. He always had a kind of
a good disposition where he didn't let s up bother him.
He would always be able to move on to the
next play, but always told him like, you know, I
want to see him be able to take that next
step and not just paying his way through a game,
(24:49):
but actually going out there and playing and then trying
to dominate a game. I felt like the Saints game,
he finally took that big leap where I was like,
I felt like he went up and made that big
catch on the sideline and that that like the hurdle
that was, that's that's foreshadowing, Like when you make a
play like that, now the whole game opens up. So
I love seeing the confidence growing guys. I'm excited to
(25:10):
see JB. Obviously seeing him battle through injury and get
back has been pretty inspiring.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I'll tell you what.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Man.
Speaker 11 (25:19):
Watching the receivers, I pay a lot of attention to
Xavier and Cocher because for me coming to the league,
I was a you know, that was the position I
first started out as. And Cocher people don't realize, like
now he's just seeing him play and seem emerged. He
missed like all spring, Like I'm like, golly, who is
this undrafted guy from a small school that's missing all
(25:41):
of this time? Can't be good. But he just seems
steady like it didn't. He didn't seem like he felt
like the sky was falling. He did his rehab, he
was locked in. So I remember telling people that I knew.
I was like, I'm watching this kid. I think he
might have the mindset to run the marriage time. Then
(26:01):
we get to camp, he goes out there in the
stadium scores a touchdown like, Okay, this.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Guy can play.
Speaker 11 (26:06):
And just watch his confidence grow has been really cool
to see too. So I'm just having a good time
trying to, you know, speak life in them wherever I
can keep them humble, you know, remind them that like, look,
you know Jerry Rice scored two hundred and eight touchdowns,
all right if he scored one, stay help, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
We got a lot more work to do.
Speaker 11 (26:25):
But more than anything, trying to be an example as
well whenever I can.
Speaker 8 (26:28):
We're you as far as just your mindset with your career,
You've been at it for a while here, just does
it give you a kind of a greater appreciation having
been around in early thirties now right to have this
chance to still play in this league.
Speaker 11 (26:38):
Yeah, I mean my man said, is there's still a
consistency in it where I feel like when I go
out there in the game, I want to remember that,
like I'm still a guy that can go out there
and have an impact on the game. The reality is,
my biggest impact I can make is right now, you know,
in the locker room being a leader for these guys
on Sundays, going out there, being great on special teams
(27:02):
like and really becoming a premier player on special teams.
And so usually when I have the opportunity to be
active for a game, a lot of my mindset is
I've got to go out here and inspire through teams,
and then as I continue to, you know, Lord will
and build confidence through the offense, then maybe I can
go out there and show what I can do in
that realm again. But my confidence has never wavered no
(27:24):
matter what I've been through. I always feel like, if
I get the opportunity and go out there and make.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Something happen, whether it's you, Andy Dalton, whoever, we see it,
When you guys get back out there, you've not lost
a step. Last question, your thoughts of all having been
in different offensive schemes. Dave Canalis brad Izick, what do
you like about this group and what they're teaching?
Speaker 11 (27:41):
I love how everything marries up. I love the communication
of the group. Like Dave, I think the media is
kind of called win of this too. Like Dave is
kind of a straight shooter, you know. I mean, there's
obviously going to be some coach talk that has to
be there, you know, but he's pretty much a straight shooter.
Like you go ask him like, hey, you know, what
(28:03):
are we thinking here or what do you want to
see for me here?
Speaker 9 (28:07):
He has an answer.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
It's not like he's like.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
Aloof to what's going on.
Speaker 11 (28:10):
So I would say, man, their communication is some of
the best that I've been around when it comes to
an offensive staff. So and for me and the rest
of the guys, we're just now building the confidence of
what we're being taught because you.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
Gotta remember, like there's a lot of relearning.
Speaker 11 (28:28):
Okay, I don't care how many reps you're doing camp,
how many reps you're doing OTAs, you have to practice
trusting those reps in real, live action before you say
this makes sense. We can trust this, we can win
this way. Let's keep trusting the process. So that's why
I think everybody's really trying to do. I think we
saw a lot of that run games kind of come
(28:49):
together in Germany.
Speaker 6 (28:50):
I would love to see us build on that.
Speaker 9 (28:52):
But Geordan always great to talk with. You appreciate your
time so much.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
All right, appreciate you.
Speaker 12 (28:55):
Thank you.
Speaker 8 (28:56):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
This is Panther Talk. He's hiding by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Back here on Panther Talking. E Shroff, Jim Zochi, Eugene Robinson.
We bring in our next guests. He is the lead
NFL Draft analyst for PFF, Trevor Sickamuch. Trevor, appreciate you
joining us on this Monday. You can follow him at
at Tampa Bay Trey on social media. Trevor, you'd put
(29:28):
this out I think last week after the Chiefs game,
a breakdown on Bryce Young and watching how he's progressed
and evolved. You also have access to some of the
raw data and the numbers from PFF. Where specifically have
you seen growth when you kind of do your analysis
(29:49):
on Bryce Young.
Speaker 12 (29:50):
Yeah, I think that there's two areas that you can
look at Bryce Young and say that he has objectively
taken leaps from what we saw last year and also
through the first couple of games he started this season.
One is throwing against single coverage. Now, single coverage, of course,
is tight coverage. No, normally it's man coverage. In the NFL,
you got to be able to attack single coverage consistently,
(30:13):
and it just didn't feel like last year or at
the beginning of this year when he would throw against
single coverage, It's like he wasn't really giving his wide
receivers a chance to make catches. He was either throwing
it to the you know, the theoretical we hear it
all the time, Okay, either my wide receiver gets it
or nobody gets it. And he was throwing the ball
too far, so his wide receiver wasn't getting it, or
he was throwing it short to the point where you know,
(30:35):
guys didn't really have a chance against cornerbacks that were
covering pretty closely. It's as if he was really afraid
to throw turnovers, and every time he threw against single coverage,
he was thinking about the turnover instead of the potential
big time throw. Now over the last three games that
we've seen from him, much more willing, much more confidence
to attack in single coverage, and a lot of those answers.
(30:55):
He had an elite PFF pat we weread a couple
of weeks ago against single coverage specifically that I'd like
about his game. And then the other part that I
love is his planner pressure seventy five point two PFF
passing great under pressure, which is fantastic when you talk
about numbers under pressure. It's two areas that point to confidence,
specifically being through the roof right now, or at least,
like you should say, the best version, the most confident
(31:19):
NFL version of Bryce Young that we have seen so far.
That is what was so disappointing about the struggles with
him last year and in the early parts of this season.
It's not that, Okay, we knew he didn't have an
arm like Anthony Richardson or Josh Allen or even CJ. Stroud,
his fellow classmate, but it was what he was able
to do operating with so much confidence and intelligence at
(31:41):
Alabama that allowed him to win a Heisman Trophy and
made him one of the best. That confidence was completely
gone from his NFL game up until about three weeks ago,
and now we're seeing a whole bunch of it, which
is obviously making him a lot of fun to watch now.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
So, Trevor, this is Eugene Robinson. So are you saying
to me what the single coverage? Are you saying that
he is anticipating the break throwing before the break? What
exactly are you giving him credit for making that single
coverage throw?
Speaker 12 (32:08):
Well, I think it's just more willing to put the
ball exactly where it needs to go. So yes, you know,
to your point, that involves anticipating a little bit better
and being more confident in those rhythm and timing throws,
those repetition throws, but it's also just giving his guys
a chance, you know, against single coverage. You've got to
understand that. Yet, if I miss by a little bit,
(32:28):
this might be a forcing completion, it might be a
pass breakup, it might even be an interception. But you
can't be thinking about that. You've got to be thinking about, Okay, well,
what about the big throw that I'm about to make?
The big time throws as we categorize them at PFF,
and over the last couple of weeks, Bryce has had
a handful of big time throws in every single game.
And to me, when when you look at these throws
(32:51):
against single coverage, it is as if he is thinking, Okay,
I'm about to load up and put this ball exactly
where it needs to be for my wide receiver to
catch it, not thinking, oh no, if I don't have
put this ball in this certain spot, you know it's
going to be incomplete. So yeah, timing and separation and
recognizing those things, those obviously go all into it. But honestly,
(33:12):
it's the willingness and the confidence to throw those tight
window throws in single coverage that I think are the
biggest difference when you marry that with what the data
says and then what you're watching on tape.
Speaker 8 (33:24):
Hey, Trevor, Jim Zochi. So we saw the Panthers give
a second contract to Chewba Hubbard, keeping him here long term.
We're gonna be at Philadelphia this week where Saquon Barkley's
having his second act in the league after being with
the New York Giants. Not in all cases, but is
there a little bit of a swing back to like
the traditional you know, the value of a big time
running back as far as how teams value that, because
(33:44):
obviously we've gone through a cycle where it's like, eh,
whoever we could get in the fifth round could be
our running back.
Speaker 12 (33:50):
Yeah, I think so, And I think that you're seeing
that around the league, not just for the super special ones.
So with tay Gone Barkley, but you know, obviously you've
got it, not just Chuba Hubbard. And I don't mean
to say that he's not super special. He's been all
this year and a big part of why Carolina has
been able to have some success and certainly some building
blocks that they've been able to put down while they
were figuring things out of quarterback before Bryce has really
started to turn it on over the last couple of weeks,
(34:11):
and honestly, that's what makes the fumble this past week
so crushing for twoba Ogoji's watching it knowing the year
that he has had and how much of a bummer
that is. But you know, to answer your question, yes,
the league is cyclical, right, I mean, like there are
things it's like fashion, right, It's things that were popular
in the nineteen hundreds, in the early two thousands that
we're seeing people go back to now. You know these things,
(34:32):
that's kind of how the NFL works and over the
last I would say, well, if you go back about
four or five six years ago, man passing numbers were
through the roof. I mean, teams couldn't get enough receivers
on the field, and we still see plenty of that now.
There's a lot of spreadout offenses and things like that.
But as the league has lightened the boxes, you know
for the run game, meeting the defensive linemen and the
(34:54):
live backers and even the safeties that come down. Those
lighter boxes invite runs. When you you have a hat
on a hat, when you have a blocker for a
defender every single time, it then puts the mass in
your favor to do the easiest thing in the game
of football, and that is hand the ball off, hand
the ball to a running back and have them go
get plenty of yards. And so, yes, absolutely we are
(35:17):
seeing the game kind of go back to that level.
And the teams that are leaning more into this resurgence
of the run game against lighter boxes, those are the
teams that you're going to see continue to pay running
backs more because it's going to be more of a
mainstay of their game plan.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Yeah, the eighties perm is coming back. That's what Trevor said. Trevor,
you cover the draft too, and you cover the draft prospects,
and the consensus going into this season was that this
is not a great draft for quarterbacks. We've seen Shador Sanders,
cam Ward. I'm curious is that still something that holds
(35:51):
true or are there franchise changing qbs in this draft.
Speaker 12 (35:57):
I think there are guys with potential within this draft,
but it's not talked about or seen the way that
last year's draft was, where you got to understand there's
risk in every draft, right even last year. Caleb. You
know Drake Jaden, you know Michael Pennix, vote next JJ McCarthy.
It's not like these guys are going to Canton the
second they're drafted. There's always risk no matter what, and
(36:18):
I think people sometimes forget about that part of it.
There's risk with this upcoming quarterback class, but it's not
as hyped up and it doesn't have as high of
a feeling as last year did. As of right now,
if you had to ask me, I think the cam
Ward and Shader Sanders are going to be the two
quarterbacks that we get in the first round, just because
there are way too many teams that are desperate to
(36:39):
get a quarterback to believe in. I think both of
those guys are going first round. But in terms of
the other quarterbacks, you know, Carson Beck, Quinn Yours, Jalen Milroe,
Garrett Nussmeyer, Drew Aller, guys like that. To me, those
are more second round and beyond types of quarterbacks that
I sure hope get the time to sit because it
just doesn't feel like the NFL operates under that that
(37:02):
timeline anymore for quarterbacks, and I really wish they did,
because some of these guys can be great quarterbacks, they
just get ruined too early. Yeah, anytime it's some talented guys.
That's yeah, that's the case with this year.
Speaker 5 (37:14):
And Trevor, I'll leave you with this.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
If you're drafting, and let's say you're somewhere in the
top five very quickly, if Travis Hunter is available, is
there a reason to pass?
Speaker 12 (37:24):
Yeah, I'm sprinting to the podium. Basically, if I'm any
team in this class, my number one overall prospect. I
think he could play a long long time in this league.
And I genuinely think, maybe not full time both sides
of the ball, but he could play both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
And yes, he can't play both sides of the ball.
That do the beast, that do the real deal.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Trevor Sickamough from Pro Football Focus, Trevor, appreciate your time.
Speaker 12 (37:46):
Man, of course, guys, anytime.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
We'll be back on Panther Talk presented by Bosh power
Tools here on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Is Tanther Talk. Please send it by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
The Panthers head to Philadelphia this weekend and Eugene, the
big challenge is going to be solving and I don't
even think you have to solve it because nobody has.
But It's the old you can't stop it. You have
to find a way to contain it. It's the Philadelphia
run game. Through what twelve games, they've run for twenty
two hundred plus yards five plus yards to carry twenty
(38:24):
four rushing touchdowns. Barkley is one yard shy of fifteen hundred.
He's got a chance at two thousand. He might be
the offensive player of the Year in the NFC, and
we've struggled to stop the run. Candidly, So how how
what do you do?
Speaker 7 (38:40):
You load the buck? You get everybody. I want nine
people down there. We're not gonna come in over receivers.
We just go and stop.
Speaker 9 (38:48):
AJ Brown's no good.
Speaker 5 (38:49):
Take the flag on the field.
Speaker 7 (38:51):
I'm telling you this is a problem. Say kuon Barkley
and Jalen Hurts. They are problems because don't forget Dalen
Hurst has four hundred andy FI yards and he has
twelve testowls.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Who do you stop?
Speaker 7 (39:03):
You can't key on both the guys, And then you
got to play gap control sound football, and you got
to get into an eight man front.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
You gotta put commit eight people to the run.
Speaker 7 (39:12):
And then that means Barkley is responsible for one of
your guys, the linebacker or the safety. He's responsible. And
guess what he's been making people miss. They're double team
blocks coming off off the guard tackle, a defensive tackle
to the linebacker has been sensational and in Barkley, he's
just made people look like they're standing still. So this
(39:34):
is a tall order, make no mistake about it. This
is the best running game that we've seen in a long,
long time.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
And it's a Philly team. Jim, Wow, they're ten and two.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
And I know Detroit's right there as well, but right
now it's a toss up to me between Philly and
Detroit who the best team is in the NFC.
Speaker 8 (39:50):
It's December now. They've not lost a game since September.
That's how good the Eagles are. I mean, they've not
lost their game since the end of September. And so yeah,
it's playing lights out right now, obviously, And of course
they had their interesting game on Thanksgiving, but Philadelphia's had
some close ones along the way, so everybody's beatable, of course.
And I think you know, it comes down to what
(40:12):
you said with Barkley. Mean, he's putting up like numbers
you would see a college player put up. I no
I mean, you just don't see these kind of NFL numbers.
Six yards of carry, fifteen hundred yards with a month
of football still to go, five games ago. So I mean, yeah,
they're playing really good right now. And it's funny because
it's the NFL and it's Philadelphia. It was like beginning
the season, Nick.
Speaker 9 (40:28):
Sirianni, you got to go to and two.
Speaker 8 (40:30):
You know, they start out the season like you know,
they're not going to be great, and then they get
they caught fire. So we're catching them at a time
where they're playing really well at their place. So it'd
be a good one to shock the world with, like
Kansas City almost was.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
They're also one and two against the NFC South, for
what it's worth.
Speaker 7 (40:45):
It quickly when I think of it, I'm looking at Marshall, folks,
Shady McCoy, Reggie Bush Barry said, he's got that type
of gravitas.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
Man, He's just that guy. It's hard to stop.
Speaker 5 (40:55):
And you've got kids listening. Stop you're scared of them.
Speaker 7 (40:58):
Man, I'm just telling you that young man can flat
out run. He is a problem in the National Football League.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
Yeah, and then the other part, when you play Philly,
you gotta defend four downs.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
That's right, you have to defend four downs because they
they will go fourth and one.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
They're gonna go ahead and do it.
Speaker 9 (41:12):
Oh, by the way, he could jump backwards.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Oh you could jump back with this. Yeah.
Speaker 7 (41:16):
By goodness, Buddy puts this underworld too, just like one
leg at a time.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Like everybody else, I'm trying you, I'm trying to find something. Hey,
it's Philadelphia. They love the underdog. They built him a
statue even though he wasn't real a Philadelphia story. The
Panthers need an underdog story. On Sunday, this.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Present him by Bosh power Tools on the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network, brought to you by Atrium Health because you
deserve to live your best life and we're here to help.
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(42:01):
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Speaker 9 (42:04):
And this Antherton Panther Tall, Panther Tall.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
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