January 7, 2025 • 44 mins
This week on Panther Talk, Anish, Jim and Eugene speak with Dave Canales and Dan Morgan about their week 18 win over the Falcons, the 2024 season, the upcoming off season and so much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
and the National Football League.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And They're tall, and they're tall, and they're.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Doll This is Panther Talk, presented by Bosh power Tools
on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Youngest Under Center. Here's the snap. Sanders up the fiddle,
charging through the episode touch Down Carolina, the Panthers walking
off to end the season.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
The mentalities to just continue to play hard. And I
think we've been in so many situations, you know, why
not have another overtime battle, you know, to end the season.
And you know, we tell the guys, you know, as
long as we got time and downs, we're comfortable in
that situation. And you know, to think about the challenges
we've had this year offensively and defensively.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
For guys to be, you know, be.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
Able to just continue to play football, you know, as
long as we have time left. It is such a
testament to the character of this group.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
And now, along with Jim Zoki and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche with Panther Talk live from the Panthers broadcast
facility at Bank of the America Stadium.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Welcome to Panther Talk. It is the last Panther talk
until the summer, and I know it was an ending yesterday,
it almost felt like a beginning, the start of something,
a springboard into the off season. And I don't think
you can ask for a better finish to the season
(01:29):
the way that game ended, and that can be a
catalyst for things to come. Let's get the head coach
of the Panthers on, Dave Canalis. Dave, appreciate you joining
us as always. And the season almost was two different
seasons the first half in the second half. But let's
just start with how things finished yesterday. You love that
word finish. Could you have asked for a better way
(01:51):
to go into the offseason than what we saw on
Sunday in Atlanta?
Speaker 5 (01:55):
I thought it was poetic. You know, we've spent a
lot of this year in overtime, you know, inside the
five yard these really difficult situations to try to find
a way to win and put our best foot forward.
And what I felt the sense of from the group
was like, we're used to this, we can do it
(02:15):
all right.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Here we go.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Rice went out there and had the coin toss. We
got an opportunity and the guys were able to finish
and we finished running the ball, which I love. Of course,
we talked about all years, just be able to run
it when you want to and when you have to,
And that was such a great, great moment for all
of us.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Coach, I want to know, did you celebrate? Did you,
you know, just go crazy because it was a wonderful game,
but just had to be a little bit of relief.
And my wife was at home, she was celebrating. She
was texting me all over the place talking about the
Panthers won the game. Bryce did well. I'm praying for
Bryce all that. So did you sit down and enjoy
it and celebrate?
Speaker 5 (02:54):
You know I did, Eugene, and I think more so,
you know, what I was overwhelmed with was just was gratitude,
you know, just the amount of time that we spend
with these you know, these men as they pursue their dreams,
and you know, we see each other seven days a week,
six months except for the bye week, you know, a
(03:15):
little window in there. But we do so much together,
you know, and I always know that the culminating game,
you know, is the last time that this group will
be together because of the changes inevitably that will happen
you know, and so I just felt so proud to
be able to finish the way we did, you know,
with with these guys.
Speaker 7 (03:33):
I was gonna ask you about that maybe a little
bit deeper dive that your Sunday afternoon, you're playing a game,
you get back Sunday night, and the league is always
a way, whether your postseason team or not, Monday morning
and it's they're gone and summer in compo apparently already,
and so it's just it happens quickly, and you know,
some will be back and some won't.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
And you have attachments.
Speaker 7 (03:50):
They're all here for a reason during this season because
of what they mean to this team. But what's it
like as the head coach now and not just a
coordinator or positions coach, to the overseer of all this
to be dealing with all that?
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Yeah, we had today was you know, had some quick
one on ones with with every player that we have here,
and and UH was able to just you know, express
my gratitude and thank them, you know, for all the
hard work and and just to plan a set of
where we're heading, you know, and what I truly believe
about this team, you know, to find great football and
(04:23):
we found really good football for a good stretch there,
you know, in the second half of the season, and
you know, to point to the guys of that and say,
you know, this is this is because of you guys
are all part of laying this foundation, and it's because
of the belief. And I appreciate the buy in and
you know, the the tenants and the philosophy and all
the stuff that we talk about, you know. But so
(04:45):
it was a you know, just a new new territory
for me for sure, as the first time head coach.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Dave.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I've said this on the air the last few weeks
that you go back to two thousand and three and
John Fox, when he was the head coach, made a
pivot decision in week one to bench Rodney Pete and
put Jake de Loman at halftime. It altered the trajectory
of the franchise, and you know, we're now further removed
from it, but you made the decision after week two
(05:12):
to bench Bryce Young, and it looks genius the further
we get from it, to kind of go back to
that pivotal tipping point. I know there were a lot
of naysayers, a lot of them externally, but like for you,
not having been here last year, not having been part
of the process to draft him. Was there a sense that, hey,
(05:33):
he's got to prove something to you or to the
the coaching staff on offense that you brought in. Just
can you kind of walk us through because that was
that's a big decision, and I know you said it
at the time, it wasn't one that you took lightly.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Yeah, I think the only thing I'll say about it
is I'm just committed to doing what I think is
right for the Panthers, and that in the season is
a weekly discussion with the staff and with Dan and I,
you know, walking through you know, what's what's the best
foot forward right here right now, and you know, trying
to live in that kind of thought process, you know.
(06:08):
And then you know, when Bryce got his next opportunity,
he made it really clear that he was the guy
and and he did this, He took it, he owned it. Uh,
he grew. He applied things weekly all the way through
this past game, things that he you know, things that
he made me look good on, you know, And and
I've seen that happen over the last couple of weeks
where he's able to you know, take us places that like, oh, shoot,
(06:31):
you see what he just did there, you know, and
so and and I just want to make sure that
people understand that like this is this is Bryce. The consistency,
the hard work, the belief in himself, and then pair
that up with us just laying a foundation and just
becoming us with Bryce that quarterback and learning him and
learning are and uh skilled players. So I honestly like
(06:55):
this is for me. It's taking my hat off to
Bryce and the way that he attacked this thing.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, and again I think you've had a lot to
do with it too. I'm curious is there anything you
can share in terms of the work that was done
behind the scenes that most of us don't see that
then translated onto the field that kind of gave you
that confidence that yeah, this is why it's trending in
(07:20):
an arrow up kind of direction.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Just consistency, you know, coming back to work every day,
taking the challenges. I thought, you know, coach will Heriger
did a fantastic job of just laying a foundation and
presenting the information, continuing to just you know, push the
whole room and push Bryce. And but ultimately, you know,
it's it's about just showing back up, showing back up
(07:45):
no matter what the circumstances look like. You know, knowing
that all of these things, all all those days in between,
you know, every single game, every rep, all those things
matter and it's about building for the future.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
Coach, what is your process as you're going to be
starting to huge evaluation process you and your coaches? Do
you start with your coaches and then you move to
the players? How do you how do you handle that
as you move forward as a head coach?
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Yeah, so, you know, quick check ins with the players
today and then and then we started with the coordinators
tonight and the position coaches tomorrow and just gathering their
you know thoughts about you know, their their position group.
So there'll be a little bit of conversation there about
the players, and then and then it's about each guy,
each each person on our staff and what's next for
you developmentally? You know, what are the things this offseason
(08:31):
that you want to take away that to improve your career?
You have aspirations of the next thing, what's your plan
for that? And just being able to I think the
whole the whole point, Gene is just to know who
I'm talking to and where this person is gotcha where
they're headed, so that it frames my language, if it
(08:51):
frames our conversations, and it uh, I think it creates
a sign of like mutual respect when we're connected on
those things.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
And you solidified as far as outside the building, the
fact that coach a Vera will be back as defensive
coordinator as well, which obviously internally was known to talk
more about that and kind of your hopes and plans
for the defense and working with coach evero as far
as you know the personnel, and having that continuity too
of not having to bring in a new defensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Yeah, I just I saw Gerald battle every week with
the challenges presented. I saw him press in, I saw
him challenge people. I saw him just really just exhaust
the different possibilities of things to shore up you know,
the run game, to show up our past game, the communications,
the style of play, the effort. You saw a group
(09:43):
that never quit and to go through all those things
and to keep the belief intact of guys continuing to
play hard all the way through even when we're out
of the playoffs, you know, mathematically for the last three games.
And I've seen this defense, and I know what this
defense can look like and with I'm calling it and
I have that vision stuck in my mind of what
we can be, what we can be, and what we
(10:05):
can become if we put this thing together.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
And coach, I would I would contend it could have
been even a better defense if it were not for
some of your key players getting hurt. I mean, I
know that's something that we always talk about that you've
played a hand at your dell, but having not having
a Derek Brown, not having a shack that means something.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Yep, those are two dynamic leaders. They're they're fantastic players,
guys who show up with passion and play every down
like it's the last. And we certainly missed those guys,
you know. And uh, but at the same time, like
you said, you know, I want to honor and respect
all the hard work that all the guys that came
through our our team this year and helped us, you know.
And and so we'll we'll start with evaluating those guys,
(10:48):
you know, who laid it all out there and see
who can help us going forward.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
And Dave, you had a lot of young players who
flashed promise and potential throughout the course of the season,
with some of those opportunities that we're created. So what
does player development now look like for those guys as
we head into the off season.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Yeah, a lot of these guys got some invaluable experience
being out there playing these games against really good teams
too at times. And so I think for those guys,
you know, as we start to evaluate the film and
look at you know, what is their understanding of our
concepts now at this point, you know, the off season
will be different. This will be the first off season
for a lot of those rookies where they're not prepping
(11:30):
for a combine or pro day and they get to
focus on football. They get to focus on prepping their
body for a season you know, to play instead of
you know, prepping it for running a forty times and
those types of things. And so we're really we'll have
a really tight plan for each of those guys as
they come back, and starting with, you know, connecting with
who is this person now? Because they're all, you know,
(11:52):
not being in school, you know, but being pros now
and going back home and seeing their people with a differences.
So we got to connect with the human first, and
then we'll get to the improvement things that we can
take in steps in a year two.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
Coach, I'm not trying to swear you. I'm just being
a safety for a very long time. But when I
look at Richardson and I look at how he's always
near the ball, always around the ball, always he's just there.
What is your evaluation of him, if you can talk
about him, and what does he bring to your team?
(12:24):
Because there's something special about that kid in my opinion.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
Yeah, I'm so proud of Demani. I'm proud of the
way that he stepped in there when we asked him
to to the point where we wanted to give him
more opportunities to show us what he could do. You know,
and he's got a lot to learn. He's got a
lot to grow in terms of you know, communication and
running all that stuff in the back end. But he
shows a real knack that if you throw it in
his area, he's going to come up with the ball.
(12:48):
He's a really good tackler and the old he is
that gives us a great starting point, Eugene, and we
feel like we can teach him the rest of the stuff.
But the stuff you don't have to teach about, just
his instincts of football play. Those are all there, all right.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Last one is the offensive version of what she has
talked about. Jalen Cocher, undrafted rookie wide receiver, and he
just looks so smooth and it makes tough catches and
tight windows and just wasn't really a surprise to you guys,
because you kept him right from the start. But what
about what he was able to bring for in the
league where it's tough to be that to be an
undrafted rookie free agent.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Absolutely, I think the thing that cannot be looked over
is the fact that he went up against some really
good players and made plays. You know, and you know,
first and foremost a mentor of mindset. You know, you
can tell receivers good as when you throw it to him,
they catch it. And he had an amazing third down
conversion in the game. Yes he did take coverage, he's
(13:41):
about to get hit, he just plucks it out of
the air, secures the ball, you know, And he's shown
that with consistency this year, and so I'm really excited
to see where he goes in this offseason.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Coach, it's been fun catching up with you every week,
and we appreciate your demeanor, win, lose or otherwise, and
I think I speak for all us here. We're excited
to see where where this thing goes. And can't thank
you enough and hope you get a little time to
get some more and r in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
And I really thank you guys for all the thoughtful questions,
you know, and just it really helps me to kind
of recap, you know, what's going on in our world
and the things that we can, you know, help all
of our Panthers fans, you know, be a part of
what we're doing. So I appreciate you guys so much.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
All Right, thank you alas head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
But we will dive into our post mortem of the
season when we come back. What a thrilling way to
cap things off. Overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons on
the road, Rice Young, five touchdowns, All that and more
on Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools. We'll also
(14:45):
hear from Peter Tillman, Ashawn Robinson, and general manager Dan
Morgan here on the Carolina Panthers or Radio network.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
This is Panther Talk. Please end it by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Ya Pedaling rolling in his rud He come one for it.
He's got the ten, he's got the fun Price into
the end zone, and Carolina takes the lead. Count them one, two, three, four,
five touchdowns today for Price Young.
Speaker 9 (15:16):
We know we're capable of now. Obviously, the next step
is put it together in consistency. You know, obviously we'll
be ironing out details throughout the offseason. But knowing that
we have a place to build from where you know,
we've already built Azoria foundation and now know we just
have to continue to keep going, it's a much better
place to be.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
This is Panther Talk on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Eugene, I'm terrible at math. That's why I was counting
out loud on the air.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
There you go to sall rockets and math. Oh, you
haven't had to count that high for a while.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I have not had to count that high. I'm gonna
begin where we started back in August when we kicked
off Panther Talk for this season and we said it
then the season would be a success if we get
to week eighteen and we find out Bryce Young is
the guy. The way we got there, Jim, I don't
(16:12):
think any of us saw that coming, but I think
we walked away from yesterday and all of us saw
what had been building, and that was a crescendo that, yeah,
that's the guy. He looked like a franchise quarterback yesterday.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
And it's funny because people want to jump to, you know,
concrete statements about players in their career path and what
they are and what they aren't. And you start the
season the first two games just to talk about Bryce
only and it felt like, oh, we're still in twenty
twenty three. I know it's new and new coaching staff
and you have to adjust to all that, but it
just didn't look like anything. And then they sit him,
(16:47):
and then Andy Dalton comes in and has this explosive
first game and then kind of you know, just okay
returns following that game, and then you know, sadly the
car accident which glad that nobody was hurt that led
to Bryce getting back kind of the field as a
car accident, and you come back out and go, Okay,
so we're gonna see how he's done. He's got a
chance to sit, and you felt like each week it
(17:09):
got like a little bit better and the game slowed
down and he performed better, and like going Okay, this
does not look like twenty twenty three Bryce or September Bryce.
And it was fun to kind of like watch that
development and that confidence and everything comes with it, and
the way that he plays. And now we get to
the end where he's turning around celebrating touchdowns before they're
even caught. So it's it's a remarkable few months of
(17:30):
what's happened.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
There is something about being bench that's educational and that's
good for you. Like most players may not like it,
but when I was bench, it made me laser focus.
It made me say, when I get back in there,
I'm gonna make sure you never take me out. I'm
gonna do those little things behind the scenes, whether it's
the film work, whether it's extra work on practice, all
that stuff. I'm gonna do all that. I'm not sure
(17:51):
what went through Bryce said, but when Bryce got back,
he was different. He was very, very different. And then
we didn't have We weren't saying, like, is he's a
guy for the team. Now at the end of the season,
we're saying, oh, you got your guy right here. He's
ready to go. And as some Bryce young and so
I think that there's an education process that happens. Being
bench is not a bad thing. Being on a bench
(18:15):
in high school is not a bad thing. By the
way I know it's it's okay because that's what education
comes in. And it tells me about the medal and
the fortitude that you have inside.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
It reminded me Bryce's two year arc of almost the
origin story of a superhero, where Destiny chooses him five
star kid out of high school, Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama,
number one overall pick. Then circumstance colludes against him. Offensive
line a revolving door. As a rookie, he can't get
(18:50):
out of his own way. He's getting sacked left and right.
You have the coaching carousel with Frank Reich, Chris Taber,
the different play callers. All of a sudden he finishes
the season. There's doubters and naysayers, and the external volume
grows and gets louder. And then you have to think
that self doubt starts to creep in and confidence starts
(19:13):
to erode a little bit. Yes, and then all of
a sudden, he's rejected. He is cast off, he has
written off, and that's the midpoint of the story. And
then of all things, a car accident opens the door
for a return, and then in the return, there is
that path to self discovery, finding oneself, figuring out that
(19:35):
I am the person that not only they thought I
can be, but I thought I can be. And then
what we saw on Sunday, I thought was the perfect
ending where he's got the cape, he's got the costume,
he's got the mask, five touchdowns, and all of a sudden,
there's the hero. He saves the day. And to me,
now it sets up for all the sequels.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
And don't forget he ran two tests owns. I mean,
he ran in two test styles and I'm like, dude,
he looked sensational running the ball. I mean, if that
was a part more of a part of his regiment
and what he likes to do, I mean you could say, hey,
he could be that kind of like that Cam that
Lamar where you know this guy could run the rock.
And so I like the fact that he showed out
(20:17):
and all the naysayers had to go eat crow. They
really had to ecro because I'm telling you, I'm a
believer in this young man.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
This kid could play, and I think we all got
to be honest too, right, there were moments where absolutely.
We're all sitting here and going, no, we've heard it.
We saw it in college, but there hadn't been any
evidence on film at this level. And then we started
to see it when he came back from the benching.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
And he's done the hard things, like game winning drives
in overtime. And there were games that we didn't win
where he led what should have could have been the
game winning drive but the defense couldn't hold up there
into the bargain, or somebody kicks a fifty eight yard
field goal, So things like that would happen that they
could have should have been game winning drives for him.
And like we're talking yesterday in the postgame show, it's like,
where are the batted passes? I mean, he's too small.
(21:04):
It's like, when was the last time you saw about it?
Were there any No, I.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Mean it's the last time his height, stature, build it
was even a talking point.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
See it.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
You don't see it on the field. And part of
it is him, and part of it is, you know,
the way they used him, the way he would move
in the pocket and kind of get out of trouble
instead of running for his life, running for the second
play as they call it looking for that next pass route.
So it was it was a really interesting evolution.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
And I'm telling you he's a tough man because Detective
Hissy he took his first year, i mean from that
office of line not really being to protect him and
hits he took. I'm like, dude, I'm surprised you got up.
I'm surprised it's just still standing. And from that standpoint,
he there's a lot of metal and there's a lot
of toughness in that young man, no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
And we saw that medal and we saw that toughness too.
The way he responded to adversity being benched. Really hadn't
had to deal with anything like that in his career.
And he leaves this season to the spot we all
wanted to see him as the guy at quarterback, and
you've out him on a rookie deal to three more years.
It bodes well with what this franchise can now put
(22:06):
around him. All Right, We're still going to hear from
Peanut Tillman, Dan Morgan, and a Shawn Robinson. Panther Talk
presented by Bosh power Tools continues on the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power.
Speaker 7 (22:22):
Tools, as we take a look back at thirty years
of Carolina Panthers football, we talked to a player who
only played one year with the Carolina Panthers, but he
happened to pick the best of the thirty years, the
team that went seventeen and one heading into Super Bowl
fifty back in twenty fifteen. Peanut Tilman, the great defensive
back famous for the Peanut punch, played twelve years for
the Bears before finishing his career with the Carolina Panthers.
(22:45):
Talking about his career, his legacy in the NFL, and
also what happened in Super Bowl fifty with the Great
Peanut Tillman as we take a look back at three
decades of Panthers football.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Thirty seasons of Panther Football a celebration of the players, coaches,
and the other key figures who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Peter Tillman, he was only here one season, but man,
what a season twenty fifteen. You got the team there
with what you did, you're part of it there. But
that last regular season game with the knee injury, I mean,
how frustrating was that to you? Know, you cheer on
your teammates, but to not be able to participate after that, oh.
Speaker 10 (23:22):
You know, that was the last snap I ever played.
And to this day, I've never seen that play. I
need to watch it. I think I'm finally ready to
watch that play. And I was telling I was telling Stuwie,
I've only been in the city in one other time,
but today I walked out to the I walked out
to the field.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
And kind of got a little emotional.
Speaker 10 (23:42):
I was like, dang, this is the last time I
ever played a snap, and I remember where it happened
at that far end, and I just I literally I
sat there for a minute, was just like damn, and
it just it took me back and it was you know,
I had I had a little moment, but it was
just like, damn, I can't believe, Yeah, this is the
last time I'd ever played it, played it down. It
was sad for a minute, and then I just kind
(24:03):
of like, all right, yeah, I can't get that back.
But it was yeah, I don't know where I'm going
with that, but it just was a little surreal to
kind of come back and see it. It was it
was kind of a triggering in a sense, but I
am glad to be back. Though I'm glad to be
back to see all my teammates and just to I
(24:23):
was only here one year, but I think I made
an impact for that one year with that team, and
we all tell, you know, great stories. And truly my
role coming in my thirteenth season, I was just the mood.
I lightened the mood.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
All the time.
Speaker 10 (24:39):
Like Roman was the He was the calm, quiet leader.
He could get everyone to colm it, say hey, we're good.
We get guys, calm down, we good. My TD obviously
is TD, It's his team. He was like the Leonitis
leader on defense. Cam was that on offense. Defensively, my
job was to keep everyone like in a loose mood
(25:02):
when we all got tight and too serious to start
yelling each other. My job, my role, I gotta tell
a joke. I gotta make us laugh. I gotta make
us remember why are we here. I gotta make us
remember like yo, we're fifteen and one. Like let's calm down, guys.
Like my job was was the entertainment, keep every keep
(25:23):
the mood light. Let's not get too serious. But when
we need to be serious, we'll be serious. But in
the interim.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yo, let's just take it easy, guys.
Speaker 10 (25:33):
And I was that was like, that was my role,
and I embraced it and it worked out. Coaches loved
it because coaches would get tight and they would get
all too serious, and then I just had to I
was really good at just timing up like jokes or
saying certain things at the right time, and then everyone
would laugh and.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It's like.
Speaker 10 (25:53):
Yeah, okay, okay, and it was just, yeah, man, we
had something very special.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
We really did. Subscribe to thirty seasons of Panther Football
on the iHeartRadio app, Panthers dot com, and Team Apple,
Apple podcast or Spotify.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Anie Schrop here with Panthers General manager Dan Morgan seasons
in the books. As you walk away from these seventeen games,
what are you most proud of?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You know?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
I think obviously I'm really proud of Coach Canalis and
his staff. You know, just the hard work and dedication
that they put in throughout the season, you know, and
I know it really means a lot to them, you know,
to develop our players and to get the best out
of our players. So obviously really proud of that, and
just proud of our team in general general for you know,
(26:52):
just fighting and scrapping the whole season. You know, towards
the end of the season, they really could have shut
it down when things when we they knew we were
out of the playoffs and things weren't really going our way.
But they continue to fight and they can continue to
keep listening to Coach Canalis and they finished the season
the right way, which coach has been preaching all year
(27:12):
about finishing.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
What does that tell you that even when the team
was out of it, they still fought and played hard.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Yeah, I think it's I think it's the belief in
what coach preaches every day. You know, he's in front
of that team every day and he preaches finishing. He
preaches culture, and you know, I think the players really
are taking it upon themselves to you know, to finish
everything that they do, you know, not just out on
the football field, but you know, finishing in the meeting
(27:41):
rooms and and just doing things the right way. So
it's a testament to coach Canals and a staff.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
You touched briefly on player development. We're in an age
where in college guys move around so much, it's harder
to do so in this new age transfer portal in
the level below you What is player development look like
at the NFL level in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, it's about, you know, being patient with players. You know,
I think nowadays, I think, you know, everybody's so impatient.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
You know, they want players.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
To be great right away, and it's just not the
reality of things. You know, you got to be patient.
You gotta let players develop. You know, some players develop
faster than others. So you know, I think that, you know,
you got to be patient nowadays, and it's a hard
approach to take because we all want instant success and
instant gratification. But you got to put the work in,
(28:33):
and that's what it's about.
Speaker 4 (28:35):
You say that Bryce Young comes to mind, right, what's
the lesson in his progression, in his development that you
take away as a GM.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, I mean, same thing. You know, you know, you
got to be patient with guys, and everybody develops at
their own rate. And you know Bryce, it took him,
you know, a little longer. He was under different circumstances.
Last year, a new head coach can in with a
new system, struggled the first game, first couple of games,
(29:04):
was benched, didn't bet and I kept working, kept being
relentless in his approach, and uh, he's just a resilient guy.
And you know, I think that's it really shows you
you got to be patient with players. You got to
give them time to develop. And hey, you saw what
happened yesterday, and uh, we're excited about him in the future.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
His path in a lot of ways kind of mirrors
what happened with this team. Take me back to week two,
the decisions made to sit him down. What was that
conversation with you and Dave Canalis and Bryce.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Like, yeah, it was tough.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
You know, it wasn't a It obviously wasn't an easy
decision and one that uh, you know, Coach Canalis and
myself don't take lately, but you know, I think at
the time, I think that's what Coach thought was best
for the team, and you know thought was best for
Bryce too, And you know he was right. Uh, he
got to take a step back, kind of take it
(30:00):
breath a little bit, collect himself, and you know, watch
Andy kind of do the operation. And you know, I
think it really paid off for him in the long
run to where you know, he realized, hey I am
I am the guy, you know, just watching Andy out
on the field, like I think he knew that he
could do it, and I knew that he knew that
(30:22):
he could.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Do it at a high level. So it's just great
to see.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Him play the way that he's played here lately, and
we're excited about him in the future.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
The second half of the season, as you watched him
progress and get better, what were some of the things
that you know, people don't see that took place behind
the scenes, you.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Know, I just think it's the work that Bryce puts
in on a day to day basis. You know, you
see the results out on the field, but you always
don't see the behind the scenes stuff.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
You know, his film.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Work, always in the film room on the off day
there late at night watching tape, trying to find those
little d teals.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
About his competitor.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And then just on the field on a weekly basis,
like like, he works his butt off out there and
he's really you know, detailed in his footwork, detailed his timing,
and you know, connecting with his teammates. So just really
proud of him and his progression.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
You put a lot into this offensive line last offseason,
the way that unit came together, building this team from
the trenches out. What did that do for the entire offense?
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, you know, I think it really establishes you know,
a demeanor, a play demeanor out there, and you know,
one of a tough, nasty, physical offensive line, and you know,
establishing the line of scrimmage, establishing the run game. And
I think you know, Chew Bobbit obviously, you know, he
was really successful. A big part of his success is
(31:54):
because of that offensive line and the tenacity that they
bought out on the field every day. So, yeah, you
have to win the line of scrimmage in this league.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
So and with Chuba, you rewarded him mid season for
what he had been able to do. I would imagine
that's got to send a message to probably a lot
of the homegrown guys too, Hey, if you come in here,
put in the work, produce, it's gonna be to your benefit.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
You know, I think anybody that's around this building all
the time, I'll leave at eight o'clock at night and
he's down in the training room, you know, doing stem
doing ice, cold tub, hot tub. So you know, I
think it shows the rest of the guys. Hey, if
you put the hard work in, not only will you
be successful, but you also be rewarded.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
With this rookie class, almost all of them, even the
guys who were not drafted, had their moments through the
course of the season, growing paints too, but there were
a lot of bright spots. Does that fall into some
kind of philosophy that you have about what you're looking
for when you're drafting and finding even the undrafted guys.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
No, not really, I think you know so just I
think we're really just looking for players that are passionate
about football, that love to come to work every day,
just love this game. And you know, I think if
you find guys that have passion for the game and
love for the game and love what they do, you
have a really good chance of having a successful rookie.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
So.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Yeah, like our guys, they made strides this year. They'll
continue to get better. And again it's the patient's thing,
you know. We got to be patient with these guys.
We got to let them grow develop, you know, get
comfortable in the scheme, get comfortable in the new atmosphere
that they're in. And yeah, and that's what we're willing
to do.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I know on the defensive side, you've got some work
to do in the offseason, and you've been pretty clear
about that. But getting Derek Brown back, that's adding an
All star without a draft pick or a free agent signing.
Any update you can give us on how he's progressing.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
He's doing good. He's doing good.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I see him in there every day rehab and working.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I saw him every day pretty much during the season,
and once his surgery was over, and you know, I
just kept asking him a week after week, I'm like,
you ready to.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Get out there yet?
Speaker 1 (34:05):
And obviously he misses it out there. He misses being
with his teammates. We obviously missed him on the field.
But he's doing good, he's progressing, and we're excited to
get him back next year.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Where does it start for you on the defensive side
in terms of, uh, it just upgrading kind of what
you have.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Yeah, you know, I think, you know, obviously we got
to get better on the on the defensive front. We
got to add to the depth on that side of
the ball. You know, I think when you don't have depth,
it really, you know, shines through a little bit and
you know, I think we were a little guilty of
not having the type of depth that we needed this year.
(34:42):
But hey, like we're still building this thing. It's a process.
We're gonna build this thing. We're gonna be aggressive in
our approach and try to add a lot of talent
to this roster.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
And dan last thing, when you have a quarterback who's
shown the promise and he's still on a rookie deal,
does that put more of an emphasis on Okay, these
next three years. Now we have an opportunity to really
put some good talent around the quarterback and really build
a pretty strong foundation and then you know, pieces off
of that foundation.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Yeah, it definitely helps when they're on the rookie deal. Yeah,
so we'll again, we'll have some more money, We'll have
some dead cap kind of fall off this year in
the next year, and yeah, we'll be able to surround
him with some playmakers. We'll have the resources to do that.
But you know, I think in the meantime that doesn't
mean you'd be reckless with the money either.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
So we got to be smart. We got to be.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Very detailed and process oriented in our approach, and I
think if we do that, we'll be in good shape.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
For years to come.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Anther's GM Dan Morgan. Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power
Tools continues after this on the Carolina Panthers or Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 11 (35:57):
Here with Big A Shawn Robinson. Have you always been
this big when you were like little on stuff? Were
you always bigger than everybody else?
Speaker 8 (36:05):
Yeah? I guess so I was. I just I had
a mature frame of my body. I'd say, my mom
would have to carry my birth certificate around and we
would play sports when I was younger, so, you know,
other than that, I mean, I say it changed once
I got into middle school.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Everyone's the same size, you.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Know, and it's kind of just from there, it's just
the same.
Speaker 11 (36:26):
I don't know enough to go you the same even now.
But so your mom had to carry your birth certificate around.
Do people like question and say, hey, he's not really ten,
he must be fourteen or something.
Speaker 8 (36:35):
Yeah? Yeah, it happened a lot, but I didn't really care.
And it was a little weird because adults would come
up to me approach me if something happened in a
game or but they're between the kid and me, So
I took it as approach that all right, now you
want you back a grown.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Man, so that's cool.
Speaker 8 (36:51):
You don't touch me, or we're gonna have complications like
like a here a grown man, you know. So it
just kind of, you know, helped mature me in the
way expective, protecting myself growing up and having a little
shove knowing.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
People, you know, aren't you going to believe who.
Speaker 8 (37:04):
You are and what you what you are at the
moment of me in the times and stuff.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
How old were you when you started playing football?
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It was about three four years old.
Speaker 8 (37:17):
I was playing with my brother, it's about four four
and a half years, five years old than me, and.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I'll just play up and na.
Speaker 8 (37:26):
That's kind of my mom made us play same sports
because it's just easier for us to play. And we
were at the boys and girls club and stuff, so
it's just cheap and you know, they help out and stuff.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
So that's kind of where it started. But basketball is it's.
Speaker 11 (37:39):
My true love really basketball. Now, did you play that
throughout youth as well?
Speaker 2 (37:44):
I did. I did play basketball throughoutline years.
Speaker 8 (37:46):
I would say I accomplished at the time when I
was younger I accomplished more in basketball than I did
growing up in football when I was younger.
Speaker 11 (37:55):
Really, did you ever consider pursuing that in college as
opposed to football?
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Hell? No, I was too big.
Speaker 8 (38:01):
College coaches told me I would need to lose about sixty.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Pounds to play in college.
Speaker 8 (38:07):
I had college offers, but they told me I had
to lose sixty pounds to play the position they want
me to play the game.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Out of the side play. So I just was like,
football is football? Is my best decision?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (38:17):
Absolutely, Well certain you went on to play at Alabama.
Is it weird not to see a Nick Saban on
the sidelines?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
It is definitely weird.
Speaker 8 (38:25):
Definitely not seeing the same brand of football that I
was raised in and growing up in, playing and coached in.
So it's just, you know, it's just different, different era.
So can't be mad at what's going on. You got to,
you know, take the adjustments and see what happens the
next year. Now, if it happens again, I don't be
mad because of like, it's not it's not what we
(38:45):
do at Alabama now. But you know, stuff happens, people loses,
So I can't get you down.
Speaker 11 (38:50):
Twenty year, did how did coach Saban and your time
in Alabama prepare you for the NFL by.
Speaker 8 (38:56):
Being really hard on us, demanding a lot from us,
and but treating us as as men and not as boys,
and having that approach of understanding your job and summon
and being detailed and knowing your task and handing approaching
and taking care of your body and stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So that really helped me and get prepared for.
Speaker 8 (39:15):
This and play is as long as every as long
as I have in my career. So I applaud them
for that.
Speaker 11 (39:22):
I know you've been a little dinged up on and
off this season, been playing through some injury and stuff.
Do you is that something you pride yourself on, sort
of that warrior mentality to be out there warrior mentality?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
I am a warrior as not a warrior mentality.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I am a warrior.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
That's know. If answer buts about it.
Speaker 8 (39:37):
If it was a mentality, anyone to do it, you know,
but everybode can't do this. No one can't take this
trauma and pay into their body and still go out
there and performing at a high level weekend week out.
So I see myself as a true warrior. So it's
just part of what I do, and I have to
do it.
Speaker 11 (39:53):
One more non football related question. I heard through the
grape vine that you took some acting lessons and lessons
out when you're time, and that you maybe want to
go into some sort of a role in broadcasting and
something like that when you're done with your football care.
Is that true?
Speaker 2 (40:07):
That is true. I would do a little bit of acting.
Speaker 8 (40:08):
I would definitely do some acting broadcasting a little bit,
but I definitely want to act more than I would
do broadcasting.
Speaker 11 (40:15):
All right, sounds like a lot of fun. Thank you
so much, Jasha, Thank you ever a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Panthers bring the blitz Jones out of trouble and down
he goes Hey. Sean Robinson, the former Giant gets Daniel Dimes.
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
This is Panther Talk. Please end it by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
The great thing about football is that because it is
such a week to week endeavor, small sample size always
comes into play. But this twenty twenty four season, I thought,
offered some valuable lessons for us, for everybody. And I
was thinking, what do you take away from a season
(41:02):
like this where you start one in seven those last
four games of the first eight were blowouts. This thing
looked like it was going to be a redux of
the previous season, but Jim, progress isn't always linear. Patience
still is a virtue, and good things do come to
(41:25):
those who wait. And I don't think any of us
saw at one in seven that this thing would turn
the way it has. But I think it's a good
reminder when you know, you see the people who do
those television shows were whoever Yell's loudest wins that those
are real time snapshot reflections and reactions that often don't
hold up because there's no perspective involved.
Speaker 7 (41:49):
No, you're right, and it's a mix of young and old.
Obviously you think about Adam Thielen and so many other
players that are veteran players that were essential to turning
things around. But in general, I would care characterize it
as a young and hungry team. And like Chewba Hubbard,
I think of that players like him and Jalen Cocher
and Trevin Wallace and some others J C. Horn I
would still put in that category of being nowhere near
(42:13):
the midpoint of his career. So I think, you know,
we'll see over the next couple of years in Adam feeling.
It's taking two weeks right now to decide if he
wants to play, but I would hope. I think he
likes it, so I think he would play play. And
then they like Jjavin Clowney's are good players that help.
But as far as talking like, you know, what is
the trajectory, it's a young and hungry team, and that's
something to be excited about as opposed to, oh, we've
(42:34):
got Aaron Rodgers, what do we do? We got to
go figure out how we built this team around this
forty year old who's leaving. So it's I like where
things are headed. It makes sense the way they're building it,
their approach. I like what Dan Morgan says, a lot
of very wise things. He says, I don't believe in
quick fixes, and I think that's smart and no one's
asking you to do a quick fix. I think the
(42:54):
way they did it this year, whether they would have
won three games or seven games, it was about the
bigger picture of things. And you mentioned Bryce Young being
the most a key part of all that. So I
like where things are heading. And I think there's a
really positive vibes to the point where I say it's
probably the most positive five and twelve I can remember
a team having.
Speaker 6 (43:12):
Well quickly, they need to concentrate on the defense. I
think coming with this draft, h third do percent is
fifty percent. Total average per game four hundred and four yards. Dude,
one seventy nine Russian. My goodness, they only have thirty
two sacks. They had nine interceptions. I'm telling you that's
not good enough. And if we get some of those
(43:32):
guys back, if we said and we add some more
depth with that linebacker and maybe another corner, I'll tell
you what, we can be really really good. We're very
very close defensively, We're not that far away.
Speaker 4 (43:44):
This division will still be up for grabs.
Speaker 6 (43:47):
Yes, it will be.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
It will be like this year. Still, I think this
one's still all Wait next day we pick the champion's
Tampa Bay.
Speaker 4 (43:52):
Okay, sir, we have come to the end of the season.
It is the final Panther Talk. It has been an
adventurous ride. Once again, we will talk again summer twenty
twenty five. There's gonna be a lot to get excited for.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
This has been Panther Talk presented 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. Bank of America Official Bank
of the Carolina Panthers. Coke Tangled Game Day with a
(44:28):
great taste of Coke zero Sugar? Is it the best
coke ever? Try? And this anthert Panther Tall, Panther Tall.
This is the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
and the National Football League.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And They're tall, and they're tall, and they're.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Doll This is Panther Talk, presented by Bosh power Tools
on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Youngest Under Center. Here's the snap. Sanders up the fiddle,
charging through the episode touch Down Carolina, the Panthers walking
off to end the season.
Speaker 5 (00:30):
The mentalities to just continue to play hard. And I
think we've been in so many situations, you know, why
not have another overtime battle, you know, to end the season.
And you know, we tell the guys, you know, as
long as we got time and downs, we're comfortable in
that situation. And you know, to think about the challenges
we've had this year offensively and defensively.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
For guys to be, you know, be.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
Able to just continue to play football, you know, as
long as we have time left. It is such a
testament to the character of this group.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
And now, along with Jim Zoki and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche with Panther Talk live from the Panthers broadcast
facility at Bank of the America Stadium.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
Welcome to Panther Talk. It is the last Panther talk
until the summer, and I know it was an ending yesterday,
it almost felt like a beginning, the start of something,
a springboard into the off season. And I don't think
you can ask for a better finish to the season
(01:29):
the way that game ended, and that can be a
catalyst for things to come. Let's get the head coach
of the Panthers on, Dave Canalis. Dave, appreciate you joining
us as always. And the season almost was two different
seasons the first half in the second half. But let's
just start with how things finished yesterday. You love that
word finish. Could you have asked for a better way
(01:51):
to go into the offseason than what we saw on
Sunday in Atlanta?
Speaker 5 (01:55):
I thought it was poetic. You know, we've spent a
lot of this year in overtime, you know, inside the
five yard these really difficult situations to try to find
a way to win and put our best foot forward.
And what I felt the sense of from the group
was like, we're used to this, we can do it
(02:15):
all right.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Here we go.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
Rice went out there and had the coin toss. We
got an opportunity and the guys were able to finish
and we finished running the ball, which I love. Of course,
we talked about all years, just be able to run
it when you want to and when you have to,
And that was such a great, great moment for all
of us.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Coach, I want to know, did you celebrate? Did you,
you know, just go crazy because it was a wonderful game,
but just had to be a little bit of relief.
And my wife was at home, she was celebrating. She
was texting me all over the place talking about the
Panthers won the game. Bryce did well. I'm praying for
Bryce all that. So did you sit down and enjoy
it and celebrate?
Speaker 5 (02:54):
You know I did, Eugene, and I think more so,
you know, what I was overwhelmed with was just was gratitude,
you know, just the amount of time that we spend
with these you know, these men as they pursue their dreams,
and you know, we see each other seven days a week,
six months except for the bye week, you know, a
(03:15):
little window in there. But we do so much together,
you know, and I always know that the culminating game,
you know, is the last time that this group will
be together because of the changes inevitably that will happen
you know, and so I just felt so proud to
be able to finish the way we did, you know,
with with these guys.
Speaker 7 (03:33):
I was gonna ask you about that maybe a little
bit deeper dive that your Sunday afternoon, you're playing a game,
you get back Sunday night, and the league is always
a way, whether your postseason team or not, Monday morning
and it's they're gone and summer in compo apparently already,
and so it's just it happens quickly, and you know,
some will be back and some won't.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
And you have attachments.
Speaker 7 (03:50):
They're all here for a reason during this season because
of what they mean to this team. But what's it
like as the head coach now and not just a
coordinator or positions coach, to the overseer of all this
to be dealing with all that?
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Yeah, we had today was you know, had some quick
one on ones with with every player that we have here,
and and UH was able to just you know, express
my gratitude and thank them, you know, for all the
hard work and and just to plan a set of
where we're heading, you know, and what I truly believe
about this team, you know, to find great football and
(04:23):
we found really good football for a good stretch there,
you know, in the second half of the season, and
you know, to point to the guys of that and say,
you know, this is this is because of you guys
are all part of laying this foundation, and it's because
of the belief. And I appreciate the buy in and
you know, the the tenants and the philosophy and all
the stuff that we talk about, you know. But so
(04:45):
it was a you know, just a new new territory
for me for sure, as the first time head coach.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Dave.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
I've said this on the air the last few weeks
that you go back to two thousand and three and
John Fox, when he was the head coach, made a
pivot decision in week one to bench Rodney Pete and
put Jake de Loman at halftime. It altered the trajectory
of the franchise, and you know, we're now further removed
from it, but you made the decision after week two
(05:12):
to bench Bryce Young, and it looks genius the further
we get from it, to kind of go back to
that pivotal tipping point. I know there were a lot
of naysayers, a lot of them externally, but like for you,
not having been here last year, not having been part
of the process to draft him. Was there a sense that, hey,
(05:33):
he's got to prove something to you or to the
the coaching staff on offense that you brought in. Just
can you kind of walk us through because that was
that's a big decision, and I know you said it
at the time, it wasn't one that you took lightly.
Speaker 5 (05:47):
Yeah, I think the only thing I'll say about it
is I'm just committed to doing what I think is
right for the Panthers, and that in the season is
a weekly discussion with the staff and with Dan and I,
you know, walking through you know, what's what's the best
foot forward right here right now, and you know, trying
to live in that kind of thought process, you know.
(06:08):
And then you know, when Bryce got his next opportunity,
he made it really clear that he was the guy
and and he did this, He took it, he owned it. Uh,
he grew. He applied things weekly all the way through
this past game, things that he you know, things that
he made me look good on, you know, And and
I've seen that happen over the last couple of weeks
where he's able to you know, take us places that like, oh, shoot,
(06:31):
you see what he just did there, you know, and
so and and I just want to make sure that
people understand that like this is this is Bryce. The consistency,
the hard work, the belief in himself, and then pair
that up with us just laying a foundation and just
becoming us with Bryce that quarterback and learning him and
learning are and uh skilled players. So I honestly like
(06:55):
this is for me. It's taking my hat off to
Bryce and the way that he attacked this thing.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, and again I think you've had a lot to
do with it too. I'm curious is there anything you
can share in terms of the work that was done
behind the scenes that most of us don't see that
then translated onto the field that kind of gave you
that confidence that yeah, this is why it's trending in
(07:20):
an arrow up kind of direction.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Just consistency, you know, coming back to work every day,
taking the challenges. I thought, you know, coach will Heriger
did a fantastic job of just laying a foundation and
presenting the information, continuing to just you know, push the
whole room and push Bryce. And but ultimately, you know,
it's it's about just showing back up, showing back up
(07:45):
no matter what the circumstances look like. You know, knowing
that all of these things, all all those days in between,
you know, every single game, every rep, all those things
matter and it's about building for the future.
Speaker 6 (07:57):
Coach, what is your process as you're going to be
starting to huge evaluation process you and your coaches? Do
you start with your coaches and then you move to
the players? How do you how do you handle that
as you move forward as a head coach?
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Yeah, so, you know, quick check ins with the players
today and then and then we started with the coordinators
tonight and the position coaches tomorrow and just gathering their
you know thoughts about you know, their their position group.
So there'll be a little bit of conversation there about
the players, and then and then it's about each guy,
each each person on our staff and what's next for
you developmentally? You know, what are the things this offseason
(08:31):
that you want to take away that to improve your career?
You have aspirations of the next thing, what's your plan
for that? And just being able to I think the
whole the whole point, Gene is just to know who
I'm talking to and where this person is gotcha where
they're headed, so that it frames my language, if it
(08:51):
frames our conversations, and it uh, I think it creates
a sign of like mutual respect when we're connected on
those things.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
And you solidified as far as outside the building, the
fact that coach a Vera will be back as defensive
coordinator as well, which obviously internally was known to talk
more about that and kind of your hopes and plans
for the defense and working with coach evero as far
as you know the personnel, and having that continuity too
of not having to bring in a new defensive coordinator.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
Yeah, I just I saw Gerald battle every week with
the challenges presented. I saw him press in, I saw
him challenge people. I saw him just really just exhaust
the different possibilities of things to shore up you know,
the run game, to show up our past game, the communications,
the style of play, the effort. You saw a group
(09:43):
that never quit and to go through all those things
and to keep the belief intact of guys continuing to
play hard all the way through even when we're out
of the playoffs, you know, mathematically for the last three games.
And I've seen this defense, and I know what this
defense can look like and with I'm calling it and
I have that vision stuck in my mind of what
we can be, what we can be, and what we
(10:05):
can become if we put this thing together.
Speaker 6 (10:07):
And coach, I would I would contend it could have
been even a better defense if it were not for
some of your key players getting hurt. I mean, I
know that's something that we always talk about that you've
played a hand at your dell, but having not having
a Derek Brown, not having a shack that means something.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
Yep, those are two dynamic leaders. They're they're fantastic players,
guys who show up with passion and play every down
like it's the last. And we certainly missed those guys,
you know. And uh, but at the same time, like
you said, you know, I want to honor and respect
all the hard work that all the guys that came
through our our team this year and helped us, you know.
And and so we'll we'll start with evaluating those guys,
(10:48):
you know, who laid it all out there and see
who can help us going forward.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
And Dave, you had a lot of young players who
flashed promise and potential throughout the course of the season,
with some of those opportunities that we're created. So what
does player development now look like for those guys as
we head into the off season.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Yeah, a lot of these guys got some invaluable experience
being out there playing these games against really good teams
too at times. And so I think for those guys,
you know, as we start to evaluate the film and
look at you know, what is their understanding of our
concepts now at this point, you know, the off season
will be different. This will be the first off season
for a lot of those rookies where they're not prepping
(11:30):
for a combine or pro day and they get to
focus on football. They get to focus on prepping their
body for a season you know, to play instead of
you know, prepping it for running a forty times and
those types of things. And so we're really we'll have
a really tight plan for each of those guys as
they come back, and starting with, you know, connecting with
who is this person now? Because they're all, you know,
(11:52):
not being in school, you know, but being pros now
and going back home and seeing their people with a differences.
So we got to connect with the human first, and
then we'll get to the improvement things that we can
take in steps in a year two.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
Coach, I'm not trying to swear you. I'm just being
a safety for a very long time. But when I
look at Richardson and I look at how he's always
near the ball, always around the ball, always he's just there.
What is your evaluation of him, if you can talk
about him, and what does he bring to your team?
(12:24):
Because there's something special about that kid in my opinion.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
Yeah, I'm so proud of Demani. I'm proud of the
way that he stepped in there when we asked him
to to the point where we wanted to give him
more opportunities to show us what he could do. You know,
and he's got a lot to learn. He's got a
lot to grow in terms of you know, communication and
running all that stuff in the back end. But he
shows a real knack that if you throw it in
his area, he's going to come up with the ball.
(12:48):
He's a really good tackler and the old he is
that gives us a great starting point, Eugene, and we
feel like we can teach him the rest of the stuff.
But the stuff you don't have to teach about, just
his instincts of football play. Those are all there, all right.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Last one is the offensive version of what she has
talked about. Jalen Cocher, undrafted rookie wide receiver, and he
just looks so smooth and it makes tough catches and
tight windows and just wasn't really a surprise to you guys,
because you kept him right from the start. But what
about what he was able to bring for in the
league where it's tough to be that to be an
undrafted rookie free agent.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
Absolutely, I think the thing that cannot be looked over
is the fact that he went up against some really
good players and made plays. You know, and you know,
first and foremost a mentor of mindset. You know, you
can tell receivers good as when you throw it to him,
they catch it. And he had an amazing third down
conversion in the game. Yes he did take coverage, he's
(13:41):
about to get hit, he just plucks it out of
the air, secures the ball, you know, And he's shown
that with consistency this year, and so I'm really excited
to see where he goes in this offseason.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Coach, it's been fun catching up with you every week,
and we appreciate your demeanor, win, lose or otherwise, and
I think I speak for all us here. We're excited
to see where where this thing goes. And can't thank
you enough and hope you get a little time to
get some more and r in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (14:10):
And I really thank you guys for all the thoughtful questions,
you know, and just it really helps me to kind
of recap, you know, what's going on in our world
and the things that we can, you know, help all
of our Panthers fans, you know, be a part of
what we're doing. So I appreciate you guys so much.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
All Right, thank you alas head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
But we will dive into our post mortem of the
season when we come back. What a thrilling way to
cap things off. Overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons on
the road, Rice Young, five touchdowns, All that and more
on Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools. We'll also
(14:45):
hear from Peter Tillman, Ashawn Robinson, and general manager Dan
Morgan here on the Carolina Panthers or Radio network.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
This is Panther Talk. Please end it by Bush power Tools.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
Ya Pedaling rolling in his rud He come one for it.
He's got the ten, he's got the fun Price into
the end zone, and Carolina takes the lead. Count them one, two, three, four,
five touchdowns today for Price Young.
Speaker 9 (15:16):
We know we're capable of now. Obviously, the next step
is put it together in consistency. You know, obviously we'll
be ironing out details throughout the offseason. But knowing that
we have a place to build from where you know,
we've already built Azoria foundation and now know we just
have to continue to keep going, it's a much better
place to be.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
This is Panther Talk on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Eugene, I'm terrible at math. That's why I was counting
out loud on the air.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
There you go to sall rockets and math. Oh, you
haven't had to count that high for a while.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
I have not had to count that high. I'm gonna
begin where we started back in August when we kicked
off Panther Talk for this season and we said it
then the season would be a success if we get
to week eighteen and we find out Bryce Young is
the guy. The way we got there, Jim, I don't
(16:12):
think any of us saw that coming, but I think
we walked away from yesterday and all of us saw
what had been building, and that was a crescendo that, yeah,
that's the guy. He looked like a franchise quarterback yesterday.
Speaker 7 (16:27):
And it's funny because people want to jump to, you know,
concrete statements about players in their career path and what
they are and what they aren't. And you start the
season the first two games just to talk about Bryce
only and it felt like, oh, we're still in twenty
twenty three. I know it's new and new coaching staff
and you have to adjust to all that, but it
just didn't look like anything. And then they sit him,
(16:47):
and then Andy Dalton comes in and has this explosive
first game and then kind of you know, just okay
returns following that game, and then you know, sadly the
car accident which glad that nobody was hurt that led
to Bryce getting back kind of the field as a
car accident, and you come back out and go, Okay,
so we're gonna see how he's done. He's got a
chance to sit, and you felt like each week it
(17:09):
got like a little bit better and the game slowed
down and he performed better, and like going Okay, this
does not look like twenty twenty three Bryce or September Bryce.
And it was fun to kind of like watch that
development and that confidence and everything comes with it, and
the way that he plays. And now we get to
the end where he's turning around celebrating touchdowns before they're
even caught. So it's it's a remarkable few months of
(17:30):
what's happened.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
There is something about being bench that's educational and that's
good for you. Like most players may not like it,
but when I was bench, it made me laser focus.
It made me say, when I get back in there,
I'm gonna make sure you never take me out. I'm
gonna do those little things behind the scenes, whether it's
the film work, whether it's extra work on practice, all
that stuff. I'm gonna do all that. I'm not sure
(17:51):
what went through Bryce said, but when Bryce got back,
he was different. He was very, very different. And then
we didn't have We weren't saying, like, is he's a
guy for the team. Now at the end of the season,
we're saying, oh, you got your guy right here. He's
ready to go. And as some Bryce young and so
I think that there's an education process that happens. Being
bench is not a bad thing. Being on a bench
(18:15):
in high school is not a bad thing. By the
way I know it's it's okay because that's what education
comes in. And it tells me about the medal and
the fortitude that you have inside.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
It reminded me Bryce's two year arc of almost the
origin story of a superhero, where Destiny chooses him five
star kid out of high school, Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama,
number one overall pick. Then circumstance colludes against him. Offensive
line a revolving door. As a rookie, he can't get
(18:50):
out of his own way. He's getting sacked left and right.
You have the coaching carousel with Frank Reich, Chris Taber,
the different play callers. All of a sudden he finishes
the season. There's doubters and naysayers, and the external volume
grows and gets louder. And then you have to think
that self doubt starts to creep in and confidence starts
(19:13):
to erode a little bit. Yes, and then all of
a sudden, he's rejected. He is cast off, he has
written off, and that's the midpoint of the story. And
then of all things, a car accident opens the door
for a return, and then in the return, there is
that path to self discovery, finding oneself, figuring out that
(19:35):
I am the person that not only they thought I
can be, but I thought I can be. And then
what we saw on Sunday, I thought was the perfect
ending where he's got the cape, he's got the costume,
he's got the mask, five touchdowns, and all of a sudden,
there's the hero. He saves the day. And to me,
now it sets up for all the sequels.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
And don't forget he ran two tests owns. I mean,
he ran in two test styles and I'm like, dude,
he looked sensational running the ball. I mean, if that
was a part more of a part of his regiment
and what he likes to do, I mean you could say, hey,
he could be that kind of like that Cam that
Lamar where you know this guy could run the rock.
And so I like the fact that he showed out
(20:17):
and all the naysayers had to go eat crow. They
really had to ecro because I'm telling you, I'm a
believer in this young man.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
This kid could play, and I think we all got
to be honest too, right, there were moments where absolutely.
We're all sitting here and going, no, we've heard it.
We saw it in college, but there hadn't been any
evidence on film at this level. And then we started
to see it when he came back from the benching.
Speaker 7 (20:42):
And he's done the hard things, like game winning drives
in overtime. And there were games that we didn't win
where he led what should have could have been the
game winning drive but the defense couldn't hold up there
into the bargain, or somebody kicks a fifty eight yard
field goal, So things like that would happen that they
could have should have been game winning drives for him.
And like we're talking yesterday in the postgame show, it's like,
where are the batted passes? I mean, he's too small.
(21:04):
It's like, when was the last time you saw about it?
Were there any No, I.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Mean it's the last time his height, stature, build it
was even a talking point.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
See it.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
You don't see it on the field. And part of
it is him, and part of it is, you know,
the way they used him, the way he would move
in the pocket and kind of get out of trouble
instead of running for his life, running for the second
play as they call it looking for that next pass route.
So it was it was a really interesting evolution.
Speaker 6 (21:29):
And I'm telling you he's a tough man because Detective
Hissy he took his first year, i mean from that
office of line not really being to protect him and
hits he took. I'm like, dude, I'm surprised you got up.
I'm surprised it's just still standing. And from that standpoint,
he there's a lot of metal and there's a lot
of toughness in that young man, no doubt about that.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
And we saw that medal and we saw that toughness too.
The way he responded to adversity being benched. Really hadn't
had to deal with anything like that in his career.
And he leaves this season to the spot we all
wanted to see him as the guy at quarterback, and
you've out him on a rookie deal to three more years.
It bodes well with what this franchise can now put
(22:06):
around him. All Right, We're still going to hear from
Peanut Tillman, Dan Morgan, and a Shawn Robinson. Panther Talk
presented by Bosh power Tools continues on the Carolina Panthers
Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power.
Speaker 7 (22:22):
Tools, as we take a look back at thirty years
of Carolina Panthers football, we talked to a player who
only played one year with the Carolina Panthers, but he
happened to pick the best of the thirty years, the
team that went seventeen and one heading into Super Bowl
fifty back in twenty fifteen. Peanut Tilman, the great defensive
back famous for the Peanut punch, played twelve years for
the Bears before finishing his career with the Carolina Panthers.
(22:45):
Talking about his career, his legacy in the NFL, and
also what happened in Super Bowl fifty with the Great
Peanut Tillman as we take a look back at three
decades of Panthers football.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Thirty seasons of Panther Football a celebration of the players, coaches,
and the other key figures who've contributed to the organizational success.
Speaker 7 (23:06):
Peter Tillman, he was only here one season, but man,
what a season twenty fifteen. You got the team there
with what you did, you're part of it there. But
that last regular season game with the knee injury, I mean,
how frustrating was that to you? Know, you cheer on
your teammates, but to not be able to participate after that, oh.
Speaker 10 (23:22):
You know, that was the last snap I ever played.
And to this day, I've never seen that play. I
need to watch it. I think I'm finally ready to
watch that play. And I was telling I was telling Stuwie,
I've only been in the city in one other time,
but today I walked out to the I walked out
to the field.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
And kind of got a little emotional.
Speaker 10 (23:42):
I was like, dang, this is the last time I
ever played a snap, and I remember where it happened
at that far end, and I just I literally I
sat there for a minute, was just like damn, and
it just it took me back and it was you know,
I had I had a little moment, but it was
just like, damn, I can't believe, Yeah, this is the
last time I'd ever played it, played it down. It
was sad for a minute, and then I just kind
(24:03):
of like, all right, yeah, I can't get that back.
But it was yeah, I don't know where I'm going
with that, but it just was a little surreal to
kind of come back and see it. It was it
was kind of a triggering in a sense, but I
am glad to be back. Though I'm glad to be
back to see all my teammates and just to I
(24:23):
was only here one year, but I think I made
an impact for that one year with that team, and
we all tell, you know, great stories. And truly my
role coming in my thirteenth season, I was just the mood.
I lightened the mood.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
All the time.
Speaker 10 (24:39):
Like Roman was the He was the calm, quiet leader.
He could get everyone to colm it, say hey, we're good.
We get guys, calm down, we good. My TD obviously
is TD, It's his team. He was like the Leonitis
leader on defense. Cam was that on offense. Defensively, my
job was to keep everyone like in a loose mood
(25:02):
when we all got tight and too serious to start
yelling each other. My job, my role, I gotta tell
a joke. I gotta make us laugh. I gotta make
us remember why are we here. I gotta make us
remember like yo, we're fifteen and one. Like let's calm down, guys.
Like my job was was the entertainment, keep every keep
(25:23):
the mood light. Let's not get too serious. But when
we need to be serious, we'll be serious. But in
the interim.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Yo, let's just take it easy, guys.
Speaker 10 (25:33):
And I was that was like, that was my role,
and I embraced it and it worked out. Coaches loved
it because coaches would get tight and they would get
all too serious, and then I just had to I
was really good at just timing up like jokes or
saying certain things at the right time, and then everyone
would laugh and.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It's like.
Speaker 10 (25:53):
Yeah, okay, okay, and it was just, yeah, man, we
had something very special.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
We really did. Subscribe to thirty seasons of Panther Football
on the iHeartRadio app, Panthers dot com, and Team Apple,
Apple podcast or Spotify.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Anie Schrop here with Panthers General manager Dan Morgan seasons
in the books. As you walk away from these seventeen games,
what are you most proud of?
Speaker 2 (26:29):
You know?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
I think obviously I'm really proud of Coach Canalis and
his staff. You know, just the hard work and dedication
that they put in throughout the season, you know, and
I know it really means a lot to them, you know,
to develop our players and to get the best out
of our players. So obviously really proud of that, and
just proud of our team in general general for you know,
(26:52):
just fighting and scrapping the whole season. You know, towards
the end of the season, they really could have shut
it down when things when we they knew we were
out of the playoffs and things weren't really going our way.
But they continue to fight and they can continue to
keep listening to Coach Canalis and they finished the season
the right way, which coach has been preaching all year
(27:12):
about finishing.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
What does that tell you that even when the team
was out of it, they still fought and played hard.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
Yeah, I think it's I think it's the belief in
what coach preaches every day. You know, he's in front
of that team every day and he preaches finishing. He
preaches culture, and you know, I think the players really
are taking it upon themselves to you know, to finish
everything that they do, you know, not just out on
the football field, but you know, finishing in the meeting
(27:41):
rooms and and just doing things the right way. So
it's a testament to coach Canals and a staff.
Speaker 4 (27:47):
You touched briefly on player development. We're in an age
where in college guys move around so much, it's harder
to do so in this new age transfer portal in
the level below you What is player development look like
at the NFL level in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, it's about, you know, being patient with players. You know,
I think nowadays, I think, you know, everybody's so impatient.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
You know, they want players.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
To be great right away, and it's just not the
reality of things. You know, you got to be patient.
You gotta let players develop. You know, some players develop
faster than others. So you know, I think that, you know,
you got to be patient nowadays, and it's a hard
approach to take because we all want instant success and
instant gratification. But you got to put the work in,
(28:33):
and that's what it's about.
Speaker 4 (28:35):
You say that Bryce Young comes to mind, right, what's
the lesson in his progression, in his development that you
take away as a GM.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, I mean, same thing. You know, you know, you
got to be patient with guys, and everybody develops at
their own rate. And you know Bryce, it took him,
you know, a little longer. He was under different circumstances.
Last year, a new head coach can in with a
new system, struggled the first game, first couple of games,
(29:04):
was benched, didn't bet and I kept working, kept being
relentless in his approach, and uh, he's just a resilient guy.
And you know, I think that's it really shows you
you got to be patient with players. You got to
give them time to develop. And hey, you saw what
happened yesterday, and uh, we're excited about him in the future.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
His path in a lot of ways kind of mirrors
what happened with this team. Take me back to week two,
the decisions made to sit him down. What was that
conversation with you and Dave Canalis and Bryce.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Like, yeah, it was tough.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
You know, it wasn't a It obviously wasn't an easy
decision and one that uh, you know, Coach Canalis and
myself don't take lately, but you know, I think at
the time, I think that's what Coach thought was best
for the team, and you know thought was best for
Bryce too, And you know he was right. Uh, he
got to take a step back, kind of take it
(30:00):
breath a little bit, collect himself, and you know, watch
Andy kind of do the operation. And you know, I
think it really paid off for him in the long
run to where you know, he realized, hey I am
I am the guy, you know, just watching Andy out
on the field, like I think he knew that he
could do it, and I knew that he knew that
(30:22):
he could.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Do it at a high level. So it's just great
to see.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Him play the way that he's played here lately, and
we're excited about him in the future.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
The second half of the season, as you watched him
progress and get better, what were some of the things
that you know, people don't see that took place behind
the scenes, you.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
Know, I just think it's the work that Bryce puts
in on a day to day basis. You know, you
see the results out on the field, but you always
don't see the behind the scenes stuff.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
You know, his film.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Work, always in the film room on the off day
there late at night watching tape, trying to find those
little d teals.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
About his competitor.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And then just on the field on a weekly basis,
like like, he works his butt off out there and
he's really you know, detailed in his footwork, detailed his timing,
and you know, connecting with his teammates. So just really
proud of him and his progression.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
You put a lot into this offensive line last offseason,
the way that unit came together, building this team from
the trenches out. What did that do for the entire offense?
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Yeah, you know, I think it really establishes you know,
a demeanor, a play demeanor out there, and you know,
one of a tough, nasty, physical offensive line, and you know,
establishing the line of scrimmage, establishing the run game. And
I think you know, Chew Bobbit obviously, you know, he
was really successful. A big part of his success is
(31:54):
because of that offensive line and the tenacity that they
bought out on the field every day. So, yeah, you
have to win the line of scrimmage in this league.
Speaker 4 (32:02):
So and with Chuba, you rewarded him mid season for
what he had been able to do. I would imagine
that's got to send a message to probably a lot
of the homegrown guys too, Hey, if you come in here,
put in the work, produce, it's gonna be to your benefit.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
You know, I think anybody that's around this building all
the time, I'll leave at eight o'clock at night and
he's down in the training room, you know, doing stem
doing ice, cold tub, hot tub. So you know, I
think it shows the rest of the guys. Hey, if
you put the hard work in, not only will you
be successful, but you also be rewarded.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
With this rookie class, almost all of them, even the
guys who were not drafted, had their moments through the
course of the season, growing paints too, but there were
a lot of bright spots. Does that fall into some
kind of philosophy that you have about what you're looking
for when you're drafting and finding even the undrafted guys.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
No, not really, I think you know so just I
think we're really just looking for players that are passionate
about football, that love to come to work every day,
just love this game. And you know, I think if
you find guys that have passion for the game and
love for the game and love what they do, you
have a really good chance of having a successful rookie.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
So.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
Yeah, like our guys, they made strides this year. They'll
continue to get better. And again it's the patient's thing,
you know. We got to be patient with these guys.
We got to let them grow develop, you know, get
comfortable in the scheme, get comfortable in the new atmosphere
that they're in. And yeah, and that's what we're willing
to do.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
I know on the defensive side, you've got some work
to do in the offseason, and you've been pretty clear
about that. But getting Derek Brown back, that's adding an
All star without a draft pick or a free agent signing.
Any update you can give us on how he's progressing.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
He's doing good. He's doing good.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I see him in there every day rehab and working.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I saw him every day pretty much during the season,
and once his surgery was over, and you know, I
just kept asking him a week after week, I'm like,
you ready to.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Get out there yet?
Speaker 1 (34:05):
And obviously he misses it out there. He misses being
with his teammates. We obviously missed him on the field.
But he's doing good, he's progressing, and we're excited to
get him back next year.
Speaker 4 (34:16):
Where does it start for you on the defensive side
in terms of, uh, it just upgrading kind of what
you have.
Speaker 1 (34:21):
Yeah, you know, I think, you know, obviously we got
to get better on the on the defensive front. We
got to add to the depth on that side of
the ball. You know, I think when you don't have depth,
it really, you know, shines through a little bit and
you know, I think we were a little guilty of
not having the type of depth that we needed this year.
(34:42):
But hey, like we're still building this thing. It's a process.
We're gonna build this thing. We're gonna be aggressive in
our approach and try to add a lot of talent
to this roster.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
And dan last thing, when you have a quarterback who's
shown the promise and he's still on a rookie deal,
does that put more of an emphasis on Okay, these
next three years. Now we have an opportunity to really
put some good talent around the quarterback and really build
a pretty strong foundation and then you know, pieces off
of that foundation.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Yeah, it definitely helps when they're on the rookie deal. Yeah,
so we'll again, we'll have some more money, We'll have
some dead cap kind of fall off this year in
the next year, and yeah, we'll be able to surround
him with some playmakers. We'll have the resources to do that.
But you know, I think in the meantime that doesn't
mean you'd be reckless with the money either.
Speaker 2 (35:31):
So we got to be smart. We got to be.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Very detailed and process oriented in our approach, and I
think if we do that, we'll be in good shape.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
For years to come.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
Anther's GM Dan Morgan. Panther Talk presented by Bosh Power
Tools continues after this on the Carolina Panthers or Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 11 (35:57):
Here with Big A Shawn Robinson. Have you always been
this big when you were like little on stuff? Were
you always bigger than everybody else?
Speaker 8 (36:05):
Yeah? I guess so I was. I just I had
a mature frame of my body. I'd say, my mom
would have to carry my birth certificate around and we
would play sports when I was younger, so, you know,
other than that, I mean, I say it changed once
I got into middle school.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Everyone's the same size, you.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Know, and it's kind of just from there, it's just
the same.
Speaker 11 (36:26):
I don't know enough to go you the same even now.
But so your mom had to carry your birth certificate around.
Do people like question and say, hey, he's not really ten,
he must be fourteen or something.
Speaker 8 (36:35):
Yeah? Yeah, it happened a lot, but I didn't really care.
And it was a little weird because adults would come
up to me approach me if something happened in a
game or but they're between the kid and me, So
I took it as approach that all right, now you
want you back a grown.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Man, so that's cool.
Speaker 8 (36:51):
You don't touch me, or we're gonna have complications like
like a here a grown man, you know. So it
just kind of, you know, helped mature me in the
way expective, protecting myself growing up and having a little
shove knowing.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
People, you know, aren't you going to believe who.
Speaker 8 (37:04):
You are and what you what you are at the
moment of me in the times and stuff.
Speaker 11 (37:10):
How old were you when you started playing football?
Speaker 2 (37:13):
It was about three four years old.
Speaker 8 (37:17):
I was playing with my brother, it's about four four
and a half years, five years old than me, and.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
I'll just play up and na.
Speaker 8 (37:26):
That's kind of my mom made us play same sports
because it's just easier for us to play. And we
were at the boys and girls club and stuff, so
it's just cheap and you know, they help out and stuff.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
So that's kind of where it started. But basketball is it's.
Speaker 11 (37:39):
My true love really basketball. Now, did you play that
throughout youth as well?
Speaker 2 (37:44):
I did. I did play basketball throughoutline years.
Speaker 8 (37:46):
I would say I accomplished at the time when I
was younger I accomplished more in basketball than I did
growing up in football when I was younger.
Speaker 11 (37:55):
Really, did you ever consider pursuing that in college as
opposed to football?
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Hell? No, I was too big.
Speaker 8 (38:01):
College coaches told me I would need to lose about sixty.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Pounds to play in college.
Speaker 8 (38:07):
I had college offers, but they told me I had
to lose sixty pounds to play the position they want
me to play the game.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Out of the side play. So I just was like,
football is football? Is my best decision?
Speaker 7 (38:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 11 (38:17):
Absolutely, Well certain you went on to play at Alabama.
Is it weird not to see a Nick Saban on
the sidelines?
Speaker 2 (38:23):
It is definitely weird.
Speaker 8 (38:25):
Definitely not seeing the same brand of football that I
was raised in and growing up in, playing and coached in.
So it's just, you know, it's just different, different era.
So can't be mad at what's going on. You got to,
you know, take the adjustments and see what happens the
next year. Now, if it happens again, I don't be
mad because of like, it's not it's not what we
(38:45):
do at Alabama now. But you know, stuff happens, people loses,
So I can't get you down.
Speaker 11 (38:50):
Twenty year, did how did coach Saban and your time
in Alabama prepare you for the NFL by.
Speaker 8 (38:56):
Being really hard on us, demanding a lot from us,
and but treating us as as men and not as boys,
and having that approach of understanding your job and summon
and being detailed and knowing your task and handing approaching
and taking care of your body and stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So that really helped me and get prepared for.
Speaker 8 (39:15):
This and play is as long as every as long
as I have in my career. So I applaud them
for that.
Speaker 11 (39:22):
I know you've been a little dinged up on and
off this season, been playing through some injury and stuff.
Do you is that something you pride yourself on, sort
of that warrior mentality to be out there warrior mentality?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
I am a warrior as not a warrior mentality.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
I am a warrior.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
That's know. If answer buts about it.
Speaker 8 (39:37):
If it was a mentality, anyone to do it, you know,
but everybode can't do this. No one can't take this
trauma and pay into their body and still go out
there and performing at a high level weekend week out.
So I see myself as a true warrior. So it's
just part of what I do, and I have to
do it.
Speaker 11 (39:53):
One more non football related question. I heard through the
grape vine that you took some acting lessons and lessons
out when you're time, and that you maybe want to
go into some sort of a role in broadcasting and
something like that when you're done with your football care.
Is that true?
Speaker 2 (40:07):
That is true. I would do a little bit of acting.
Speaker 8 (40:08):
I would definitely do some acting broadcasting a little bit,
but I definitely want to act more than I would
do broadcasting.
Speaker 11 (40:15):
All right, sounds like a lot of fun. Thank you
so much, Jasha, Thank you ever a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:18):
Panthers bring the blitz Jones out of trouble and down
he goes Hey. Sean Robinson, the former Giant gets Daniel Dimes.
This is Panther Talk presented by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
This is Panther Talk. Please end it by Bosh power Tools.
Speaker 4 (40:41):
The great thing about football is that because it is
such a week to week endeavor, small sample size always
comes into play. But this twenty twenty four season, I thought,
offered some valuable lessons for us, for everybody. And I
was thinking, what do you take away from a season
(41:02):
like this where you start one in seven those last
four games of the first eight were blowouts. This thing
looked like it was going to be a redux of
the previous season, but Jim, progress isn't always linear. Patience
still is a virtue, and good things do come to
(41:25):
those who wait. And I don't think any of us
saw at one in seven that this thing would turn
the way it has. But I think it's a good
reminder when you know, you see the people who do
those television shows were whoever Yell's loudest wins that those
are real time snapshot reflections and reactions that often don't
hold up because there's no perspective involved.
Speaker 7 (41:49):
No, you're right, and it's a mix of young and old.
Obviously you think about Adam Thielen and so many other
players that are veteran players that were essential to turning
things around. But in general, I would care characterize it
as a young and hungry team. And like Chewba Hubbard,
I think of that players like him and Jalen Cocher
and Trevin Wallace and some others J C. Horn I
would still put in that category of being nowhere near
(42:13):
the midpoint of his career. So I think, you know,
we'll see over the next couple of years in Adam feeling.
It's taking two weeks right now to decide if he
wants to play, but I would hope. I think he
likes it, so I think he would play play. And
then they like Jjavin Clowney's are good players that help.
But as far as talking like, you know, what is
the trajectory, it's a young and hungry team, and that's
something to be excited about as opposed to, oh, we've
(42:34):
got Aaron Rodgers, what do we do? We got to
go figure out how we built this team around this
forty year old who's leaving. So it's I like where
things are headed. It makes sense the way they're building it,
their approach. I like what Dan Morgan says, a lot
of very wise things. He says, I don't believe in
quick fixes, and I think that's smart and no one's
asking you to do a quick fix. I think the
(42:54):
way they did it this year, whether they would have
won three games or seven games, it was about the
bigger picture of things. And you mentioned Bryce Young being
the most a key part of all that. So I
like where things are heading. And I think there's a
really positive vibes to the point where I say it's
probably the most positive five and twelve I can remember
a team having.
Speaker 6 (43:12):
Well quickly, they need to concentrate on the defense. I
think coming with this draft, h third do percent is
fifty percent. Total average per game four hundred and four yards. Dude,
one seventy nine Russian. My goodness, they only have thirty
two sacks. They had nine interceptions. I'm telling you that's
not good enough. And if we get some of those
(43:32):
guys back, if we said and we add some more
depth with that linebacker and maybe another corner, I'll tell
you what, we can be really really good. We're very
very close defensively, We're not that far away.
Speaker 4 (43:44):
This division will still be up for grabs.
Speaker 6 (43:47):
Yes, it will be.
Speaker 7 (43:49):
It will be like this year. Still, I think this
one's still all Wait next day we pick the champion's
Tampa Bay.
Speaker 4 (43:52):
Okay, sir, we have come to the end of the season.
It is the final Panther Talk. It has been an
adventurous ride. Once again, we will talk again summer twenty
twenty five. There's gonna be a lot to get excited for.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
This has been Panther Talk presented 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. Bank of America Official Bank
of the Carolina Panthers. Coke Tangled Game Day with a
(44:28):
great taste of Coke zero Sugar? Is it the best
coke ever? Try? And this anthert Panther Tall, Panther Tall.
This is the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
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