September 22, 2025 • 42 mins
This week on Panther Talk, Anish, Jim and Eugene speak with Dave Canales, Colin Cole, and Bob Socci about the Panthers week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons, special teams, and this weeks game vs the New England Patriots..
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
and the National Football League to Pan They're tall and
They're doll, and They're doll. This is Panther Talk on
the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's the vision that I have for our team to
play together, to play great defense, win first down, win
first and ten. By knocking the runout and giving us
an ability to balance things out. It makes you a
really solid, well rounded offense. But it's it's all phases, right.
It's it's field position with the special teams, and then
the defense given us good fields to work with, so
(00:38):
it all ties in together. And I was so happy
to see, you know, all three phases play that way.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
And now, along with Jim Zoki and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche Shroff with Panther Talk live from the Panthers
broadcast facility at Bank of America Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Victory Monday. In a lineup, there's Monday, September twenty second
and e Shroff, Eugene Robinson, Jim Zochi and as always
were joined by Dave Kannalis. Panthers defended their layer first
win of the season, dominating Atlanta a lot of places
to go. Let's start with the defense. They've taken a
(01:19):
lot of slings and arrows over the last year plus.
What did this win and the way they dictated to Atlanta?
What did this mean? Win in the locker? What did
the win mean in the locker room? To the defense,
it was great.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It was a group that's been working together, learning each other,
how to trust each other and execute the plan. And
we had a great plan to execute against their run
game first and first down, run game, in pass game,
and the guys played together. They tackled as a team,
showed up physical, which is something they're committed to do.
(01:56):
And I was just so proud of the work that
it's taken for these guys to come together to play
four quarters of football like that and consistently just hit,
consistently rally up in the past game on checkdowns, and
put your pads on someone team tackle in the run game.
The effort was there all those things, and I'm so
(02:16):
proud of this group for challenging each other to get
that done.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Coach, I want to talk about that team tackling because
we talked about maybe two weeks ago about miss opportunities
and we were talking about mistackles, So was that an
emphasis and practice? And you said that the team took
control of all that because they stopped a monster because
Bijon ain't no joke.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, you know, it's been a couple of weeks building,
you know, But we after that first game in Jacksonville,
you know, we made an emphasis of Jarro and I said, okay,
let's get a tackling circuit going during that week to
kind of make an emphasis of it. And the guys
felt that, you know, and I didn't poll the audience
to kind of see what each individual response was to
(02:55):
go and just right back to the basics. But to
me as the head coach, I think you just you
look at it. You take a truthful look at the
areas that you need to improve, and then you just
address it as a group so that nobody is exempt,
coaches included. When we don't make great decisions, we talk
about it on til the Truth Monday and say, hey,
I could have done a better job in this situation
giving success, and the players as well, we can do
(03:16):
a better job doing these things. They took the challenge
and the tackling. A lot of times it's about leverage
and it's about playing together and trying to eliminate some
of those one on one ops. When you can use
your teammate maintain your leverage, then there's less space. And
they did a great job of that.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
And then in the past game, if you didn't see
the game, you look at a box score, you see
zero sacks, two quarterback hits. But the pressure was there
throughout the game. Talk about how that affected their quarterback.
He seemed to offer spot a lot, but because of
the pressure yesterday.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, I thought the Falcons did a great job, you know,
in protection, but it was just that relentless pursuit, you know,
the guys working on the second move, pushing the pocket.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
If you don't win immediately.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You got to redirect and just keep working and try
to affect him, you know, affect his arm, affect his bot,
just get him to move his feet a little bit,
which I believe led to some early throws which led
to some turnovers and then also some inaccuracies when when
you know, when he did miss a couple of throws
down the field, you know the pocket was being impacted, Dave.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
With Pat Jones being out, we saw a lot more
of Nick Gorton and Princely. When you guys watched the
film back again watching the game live, it seemed like
they impacted the passer. They impacted the Atlanta offense quite
a bit.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
What did the tape say, Yeah, tape said that, you know,
And what we're looking for is consistency. And I think
that's something to challenge young players with, is can we
get this down in and down out?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And but at the same time, these guys got to
take their wins when they can get them. They'll learn
from all these reps. And so I'm proud of the
guys in the way they worked offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
One change we noticed under center looking at the note,
seventeen percent the first two weeks, fifty five percent in
week three. What was the reason for that score? We're
down twent to three at a half for two weeks,
you know. But this is how we want to look.
This is the balance that we talked about. You know,
when I picture and I envision our team playing at
(05:09):
our best, you know, we're playing good defense, we're taking
care of the ball. We can be under center so
we can be multiple, we can throw the play action passes,
and we can get into all the variety of our
run game, and then we can also get into the
gun and we can run the ball in the gun
and we can throw it there too. We just want
to be balanced when I'm talking about first and second down.
We had a couple of third down runs this week too,
(05:29):
but on first and second down, we just we want
to be able to have both the screen.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Game, the run game, the pass game. And when you
play a game like this where we're taking care of
the ball, special teams is owning the field position last week.
It allows us to just play that balanced type of
football that we want to coach.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm won to jump back on the other side of
the ball, the defense Smith Wade. What I was impressed
about the interception was he took care of business behind
him first, and then he just knew that that swing
route was in and just jump that. That's we're talking
about the communications from that happens in the secondary. But
when guys play their their position, take her the business
(06:09):
and then go make a play. What does that mean
for you?
Speaker 7 (06:11):
Coach?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, Eugene, you know you know better than anybody else,
do your job first. That usually puts you in good position,
and that's where turnovers happen, whether it's interceptions because you're
in the right spot and your eyes are right. They
made some great tackles in the flats as well. You know,
we had Trey Merrick, we had show Smith Wade, we
had j C. Horn coming up making a really physical
play in the flats, you know, and and but it
(06:34):
starts off by doing your job first, and then of
course the fumble opportunities come when you have those compression tackles,
which is also about leverage.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
It's about being in the right spot.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Someone's on the on the ball carrier, you're the second
guy in and you get take a shot on the
ball because you're in the right you're in the right area.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And we have to ask about the Mike Jackson interception,
which was a great interception. And I said to these
guys before you came in, only in the NFL could
you return the ball fifty seven yards again. But it
was like a comic relief moment in this game because
you guys had the nice lead at that point, But
what kind of fun moment And just seeing the guys
react to that play.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh, it was amazing. I mean, it was it was
an electric sideline. We were all running down there celebrating
trying to keep people off the white you know, because
we actually got penalized after Shaw Smith Wade's touchdown, which
I'm not sure if they were throwing the flag on
me or Darren Bates, but I know we were both
illegally jumped out onto the onto the grass, which you
can't do.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
We got to be better at that.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
But yeah, I mean, you know that that situation right there,
I think Mike just kind of got caught in between
what's Nick gonna do? Is he gonna make him cut
back or whatever, and kind of lost his feet. But
he put us in great field position right there, and
it was a huge play in the game.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
You know, when you win a game and then you
watch that back in the film room, can you describe
what that moment is like when all the other guys
are watching that to.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Go, oh yeah, yeah, they're all critical, and you know
these guys they'll find any opportunity to take a shot
at each other.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
So absolutely, Coach, Let's talk about the locker rooms, because, uh,
what did you guys get from the fans beer here
and at the stadium? And then the locker room was
electric after it just said it said so much.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
What did it say to you?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
We talked about starting fast, and uh, I got to
give some some props to George Lee, who is my
my game management director, and he on Saturday morning before
he gave his presentation where he kind of teaches about
the rules. This is what's being called lately in some
cool situations across the league. He just got up there
(08:32):
and just let it loose and you know, put him
it was put on Gangnam Style and this was totally
I did not put him up to it. Yeah, this
is his but he put the shades on, and he
was he was such a rock star. He was so
he was so electric. And then he went into his
presentation and I followed up and said, guys, George is
not afraid of you. Like we got to show up
(08:55):
like this, like go be you. You did the prep,
you did the You're ready. Now go be a star.
That's what you guys are called to do. But I
just it was so cool. So to be able to
celebrate that after the game as well, you know, it
was a cool moment for us. And then to be
back in Bank of America Stadium to see a fan base,
our Panthers fan base who's excited about this team and
(09:18):
who has lived with us through the last couple of
weeks where you know, we got lopsided scores at the
half and to see us come battling back. But I
looked around and it was just a ton of blue
and that was good to see for a division rival
who's right down the road, who could have brought a
big following man. It was Panthers fans, and we felt
their energy. It was loud on third down and some
critical parts of the game, which is an advantage for
(09:41):
our defense and our pass rush. That's what we need.
We need everybody that we can that we can get
to help us in our coverage unit, screaming down the field,
popping up into the end zones, and hopefully those end
zones will get used to them being down there and
join them in the celebration of just running things downs
and playing this beautiful game that we play.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
You mentioned a field positioned earlier. The deep did some
of that with turnover on downs, but a little bit
more deeper dive on the kicks into that landing zone,
and just a job that Ryan Fitzgerald did with the
three field goals, but also the whole special teams unit
in terms of pitting them back at times and just
to coverage.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And all that. Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 7 (10:14):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Tracy Smith, you know, did a great job throughout the
last couple of weeks of experimenting with different ways that
we can attack this thing. And it really goes back
to training camp and working on different styles of kicks,
you know, and it's an aggressive approach. There is risk
involved if you don't get the ball on the landing zone.
But Ryan has been getting better and better at these
different kicks, so he executed that plan well. And then
(10:36):
you have a coverage unit behind you that that plays
with their hair on fire, so you feel like you
can get the ball sometimes when your coverage is expecting
it one way and the ball may go somewhere else.
You got to make some crazy adjustments to cover each
other and they did a great job of that. And
then in the punt games as well, you know, I
thought Sam did a great job of getting the ball
down there. We got to see, you know, a Caleb
(10:56):
Evans again, but we got to see Dalavon Campbell, a rookie,
make his first NFL tackle on a gunner rep where
he looked electric on that play. So really exciting group.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
They've stayed with that with the kicks because Tracy Smith
has talked to me about it, whether it's a knuckle kick,
whatever you want to call it. You got a few
tricks in the bag, and you probably don't want to
spill the state secrets, but we're starting to see teams
have trouble handling the kickoffs. I'm sure they're gonna try
to copy you what went into that? When did that start?
(11:26):
In terms of trying to manipulate that field position on kickoffs.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
That means we worked on it all camp and with
some success, and it wasn't consistent enough, but it's gotten
better and better as we went through camp. And then
in the first couple of weeks of the season, you know,
we didn't score a lot the first week, so we
didn't have a chance to really, you know, work on
them much. I'm just gonna be honest with that, you know,
and then you know, against the Cardinals, we got a
few more opportunities, and so then we play, you know,
(11:51):
a normal game where there's some back and forth and
some opportunities. So that's where you get to work on
those in practice them.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Coach, I think that Derek Brown had probably will so
bring outlooks and commentary about yesterday's game. He was excited.
He said, that's just one game, and we got to
move on because we got to put work in next week.
And so I know that's the message that she's been
sitting to the guys.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Absolutely, and but but again, you got to enjoy them,
you know. And and we got probably about another hour
or so before the before the you know, you go,
you know, before before we have to really move on.
Obviously we're mentally are looking at our you know, scattering
report and all that for the Patriots this week. But
you got to enjoy them when they come and and
we got to celebrate the heck out of it. And
it's you get that, you know, six or seven minutes
(12:35):
right after the game in the locker room to really
get you know, just celebrated and have fun with each
other and you know, and look at each other in
the eye to appreciate how hard it is, how much
work goes into trying to win these games.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
It's so important to celebrate it.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
But Derek is right, we got to turn back around,
trust our process and get right back to work.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I'll leave you with this one, Dave, because I think
from a fan perspective, you only get seventeen of these
right as a fan, So week to week it's either
paradise found or apocalypse now, and there's no in between.
You have to live in the in between and kind
of see what the real truth is and can't get
too caught up with what's being said. So we're three
games in. Who are the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I know one thing that's come out of the first
three games is we're a physical team, and we play physical.
We show up to the ball angry, we run the
ball with violence. And that's the part that I can
count on. The special teams unit, our coverage units embody that.
That's the spirit of our group, is the kickoff coverage
team and the way those guys fly around, that's who
we are and I know we can count on that part.
(13:39):
There's a whole lot that we're still learning together. Yeah,
that we can't just hang our hat on and say
we've consistently been this. We have to become that. We
have to earn that and that's the work that's out
there for us.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah. And again Week three, Panthers bank their first win
and a lot to build on going into week four
and the rest of the season. He's head coach Dave Canalis,
Thanks Dave, all.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
Right, thanks guys, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Panther Talking continues after this on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
This is Panther Talk. Loan, do you buy Bank of America?
What would you like the power to do?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Henick's out of the gun? Here on check it down
at eighth from the sixteen now bits and motions to
the right. Hennick's the snap looking right now checks down
the Yeah, accepted, Shaw Smith, Wade who walks in it.
Parl touched down Shaw Smith, Wadite and Nickel read the screen,
picked it off after a little juggle, and it's a
walking touchdown.
Speaker 8 (14:32):
And not take the bait right, So not to celebrate
this for too long, and get back to it tomorrow.
Getting there, break down the film honestly, and you know,
be able to continue to success. I mean, we got
to be able to execute out a high level play
physical and you know, just keep doing what we do, right,
So we put it on tape and now we got
to be able to be consistently dominant.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Eugene's doing sound effects.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
That's right on the radio.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Never I like that.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
You can be the next boy we call choice guy.
We don't need to hire him now. Eugene Robinson, Jim
Zochi and he Schroff Panther talk continues. Big win on Sunday,
needed win on Sunday, and I want to pick up
where we left off with Dave Canalis because you start
zero and two, especially with a momentum gym that was
built up in the offseason, it can feel like the
(15:21):
sky is falling and here we go again, and then
you get a win like this against an Atlanta offense
Jon Drake, London, Kyle Pitts, an emerging quarterback in Michael Pennix.
This is one of the better offenses in the NFL.
When you look at their skill guys, it's very impressive
and it's easy to go too far to the other end.
To me, we were kind of in this spot last year.
(15:42):
World was falling. Oh and to Andy Dalton starts, you
go beat Vegas, you're one and two and you're wondering
if that's a springboard, and then one and two turned
into one and three, and one and four and one
and five. To me, growth now is can you build
off this? Can you sustain this? A lot of what
Derek Brown said after the game, Okay, we got this,
go get in New England. There's opportunities. You got Miami, Dallas,
(16:03):
the Jets, all those teams are struggling.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Stacken wins is what it's about. You're right, and getting
that early momentum. We kind of talked about it before
we even got to the regular season that you looked
at the schedule and again, Cleveland beat Green Bay yesterday.
So nothing is promised in the NFL. But the Panthers,
I think it meant a lot to Eugene that you
would take the win and the standings if it was
seventeen sixteen. But there's something about winning thirty to nothing
(16:27):
that hits deeper. And the fact that it was in
all three phases. It wasn't like it was all tricked up.
It wasn't, you know, like a lot of crazy stuff happened.
I mean, they earned it out there, they outplayed them
in all three phases of the game. But I think,
you know, especially I live in the world of radio
sports talk radio mine in all this all.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Weeks where nobody has a hot take ever.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Never has a hot take and they they're wrong, and
then the next week they move on to the next
hot take or the next cold take, and it just
I think that there's a respect level that came with
the way they beat Atlanta. It was such a sound
beating thirty to nothing. And again, it doesn't guarantee you
you it doesn't promise you anything for the next week
as far as that's gonna happen in that way. But
I would think for everybody it gives a confidence right
(17:07):
when you beat a team like that, much like you
don't have to be perfect. We don't have to like
somehow cobble together a fifteen play field goal drive at
the end. It's nice to get a win where it
was so decisive that there was, as coach said, a
lot left on the table, and they still still able
to win by such a wide margin.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
You know, Bijon Robinson is one of the best running
backs in the league, and they held him to seventy yards.
But in that first half they were able to The
Carolina Panthers defense was stout, I mean just absolutely stout,
not giving up anything. As a matter of fact, the
protocol the Falcon's used, they were throwing the ball more
so than anything. And still even though getting pressure on
(17:42):
the quarterback, it was a collective win. And you can
feel the energy when the smith Way tests out. You
can just see it just go up a notch, like
everything just went high, super duper level. That this was
no ordinary game. This looked like the game's going to
actually blow you guys out and there's nothing that you
can do about it. And that's the confidence that really
(18:05):
coach Canalis wants to see, and that's the confidence that's infectious.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
It really is one great.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Thing about watching all this stuff in this game and
watching the locker room. I saw a lot of guys
smile and I saw confidence. That's what I saw, and
that's what was just played out there. I mean, that
was a drubbing thirty to nothing. They beat him down.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Maybe go out and it's a division game, beat rival,
it's Atlanta. There's a lot that goes into it, but
it also speaks to getting to see it, getting to
see it come to fruition. Right, Guys like Derek Brown,
who have been through some things here in Carolina and
been through some long years, have had injuries. You've heard
(18:45):
all off season your defensive line is better. This unit
is upgraded, right, and then yeah, the first couple of weeks. Listen,
I don't put it all on the defense because there
were five turnovers that you have and all of a sudden,
now you kind of see what it looks like when
it's right offense plays a clean game. I thought Bryce
managed the game in the second half. He didn't really
(19:06):
have big numbers. No, he didn't have to. They had
the lead, they could run the ball, they could bleed
the clock, and defensively, you finally get to see it. Hey,
that's what we can be.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
The trick is, can you be that version or be
a better version of yourself consistently going forward? That's the
next step. But I think to put evidence of that
version on film for everybody. Eugene, you've been in the
locker room. That's got to be mean something.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Dude, I'm telling you, it's infectious in the way that
they played. Coach Cannatis, he keeps saying something. We always
ask them about the character of this team. What do
you know about the team? He always mentiones the word physical.
This is a physical team.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
And so I can see why I heard violent.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, I love.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
It, because I mean, he sees stuff that the average
fan doesn't see, and he sees the hard work that
they have. This guy doesn't see. So I love what
I'm saying with the Carolina Panthers, and that was a beatdown.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That was a beatdown in many ways and saw guys
like Trayvon Merrick. You talk about physicality. He played his
best game as a Panther in Wig three. All right,
more to do here on Panther Talk. We'll be back
after this on the Carolina Panthers or Radio network.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
This is Panther Talk brought to you by Atrian Health.
At Atrian Health, we do more to keep you moving, achieving,
striving at every age and stage so you can live fully.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Colin Cole is the NFL's version of the self made man.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Undrafted out of Iowa, he would play for the Green.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, and three years with the
Carolina Panthers, all three years, by the way, coinciding with
NFC South championships for the Panthers, with twenty fifteen being
his finals season. Still living at Ch'alltte with his family,
We'll catch up today with Colin Cole.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Thirty seasons of Panther football, A celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figures who've contributed to be organizational success.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
Talking with one of our favorite people with the Panthers
over the years, did a little TV with us back
in the day as well, Colin Cole after he got
done with his playing, And man, you timed up your
years with the Panthers just right. The three years of
the three consecutive NFC South Championship teams Ron Rivert and
that crew and obviously some great players. So from a
football player standpoint, that had to be a lot of
(21:24):
fun to be a part of that team and what
you were able to contribute with.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
That absolutely to uh, to have the opportunity to contribute
in the manner that I was with a great young
team with mixed with some great veterans we talk about
say Jordan Gross and Steve Smith obviously his veteran guys
are part of that that regime myself as well, and yeah,
guys like Cam who was maybe a second third year
(21:47):
in and Luke was his second year in. So it
was good to be a part of a team with
some of these these guys who are definitely Panthers legends.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
Yeah, well there's kind of like the base point of
these podcasts this year is talking about ten years ago,
that twenty fifteen season, but twenty fourteen and in particularly
that last month of twenty fourteen built into what was
twenty fifteen. I mean, you guys scrambled, as we know,
just to make the playoffs, winning the last four games
to get to seven eight and one, win a playoff game,
and then that launches into next year fifteen and one?
(22:17):
What was that like as far as take us back
to twenty fourteen when the team got rolling and we're
able to pull out a championship with a record that
wasn't great, but you guys were playing your best football
at the end of the season.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
It was very interesting. I would say that it was
one of those things where you definitely learn about a
team during the season. You know, it was a rebuilding
type of situation in my opinion, and the fact of
losing veterans like Jordan Gros like I just mentioned life
Steve actually going to Baltimore at that time, so the
team was definitely searching for a new identity, and Cam
(22:48):
being the quarterback, was definitely thrust into that position, but
definitely in a situation where he definitely took it took
a new step, and I think having everything put on
the shoulders and the growth process they had to go
into that kind of, like you said, kind of translate
into that twenty fifteen season.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
Wouldn't have necessarily known in twenty fourteen that Cam would
be the MVP the next year that you'd have I
think ten Pro Bowl players on that roster and for
you guys playing under Ron Rivera that kind of hit
that stride there. Did you feel like in that offseason
between fourteen and fifteen that you guys could pick up
where you left off and take it to a high level.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Speaker 9 (23:27):
We definitely had a lot of pieces that were coming
in and I would say that one of the main
things that we had to learn about ourselves. I know
we lost Kelvin Benjamin early on in that season, and
it was one of those situations where guys kind of
had to step up and the team had to find
itself outside of what was thought to be in the
future of the franchise, and a lot of growth had
to happen from all the other positions, and there are
(23:49):
a lot of ingenuity from the offensive offensive coordinator, Coach
Schuler and coach Dorsey. I know that the quarterbacks coach,
they did a tremendous job of just to find an offense,
really making it so that the rushing attack was implemented
with three headed monster in between cam And and Jay
stew and Mike's ober. So I think just being able
(24:11):
to ride that and having a great passing tight end
like Greg Olsen, it just really completed offense.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
Yeah, it was a great combination.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
And defensively all three levels, you know, great players involved
with that as well on that side, Oh my gosh.
I mean you look at that defense and just like
Hall of famers on that side of some great players
beyond that as well.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
And you did it.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
You earned it. You were undrafted out of Iowa. You
were with the Packers and the Seahawks before you came
to Carolina, and you were out of football for a
couple of years, right, kind of to get back into
the league, and good for you for sticking with it.
What was that like as far as kind of creating
your own career? Nothing was handed to you. And then
when the Panthers came calling after not being in regular
season football for a couple of years, to to make
(24:51):
the career that you did.
Speaker 9 (24:52):
You know, Jim, that's an interesting point, that interesting question. So,
and what's interesting about that is the Panthers didn't call.
Actually I called the pan and I actually was able
to get in contact with the general manager at the time.
It was well, let me stick a step back, the
director of player of personnel at the time. And what
was interesting about that is the income and general manager
(25:14):
who was dead Gettleman, who was leaving the Giants, was
leaving that same position with the Giants. So and he
had an interest in signing me from Seattle. When I
was injured, I had to sit out at that time.
He was interested in that. So it kind of was
a great brew of minds that were interested. And I
made a phone call one day and I was sitting
(25:34):
in my home and I was talking to the director
of player personnel and we, uh, three weeks later, I
had a workout, and yeah, it went to roll from there.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
So when you say you called, you called, you were
like your own agent. You didn't have an agent or
some third party, cause I.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Had an agent, and I actually made the phone call myself.
I fired my agent and I made the phone call myself.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
And did you get a good commission on that? You
know that three percent adds up absolutely absolutely. Well, we're
glad we got you here that it worked out in
that way for you. Everybody we're going to talk to
you today, their career came to an end at some point.
Yours ended early in the twenty fifteen season with the
Panthers in September. You played just a couple of games.
What was that like as far as not getting that
deep into that twenty fifteen season with your time with
(26:20):
the Panthers.
Speaker 9 (26:20):
That year, You know, it was it was disappointing to
have that haven't come to an abrupt end like that,
But I honestly felt like I was kind of on
borrow time in regards to having missed those two years
and having that situation arise where I was able to
sign and finish my career here. It was a very
unique situation where there's not a lot of guys who
have a pretty serious injury where you're out for two years,
(26:43):
two consecutive seasons, and you're able to I mean, honestly,
we moved back across country from Seattle over to this
side of the country and had no exact plans on
what was going to happen next with regards to finding
a new team, and it just it worked out. God
had a planned for us, and it worked out to
uh to perfection and being able to kind of finish
(27:06):
it on my own terms, because honestly, it was it was,
it was, it was.
Speaker 6 (27:10):
It was a great ride. It was a great ride.
Speaker 9 (27:12):
I enjoyed every aspect of being a part of this
franchise and you know, I have, I have. I was
able to be a part of it in a different
fact way, and it was. It was tremendous to see
that team come together and to know the yes, to
know what I was able to contribute to help it
helped that team get to where it was.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Subscribe to thirty seasons of Panther football on the iHeartRadio app,
Panthers dot com, and Team Apple Apple podcast or Spotify.
This is Panther Talk. Do you buyd Coke? It deserves
the great taste of Coca Cola because fan work is
(27:52):
thirsty work.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Three of the Panthers first four games are on the
road this season, and Carolina back on the road on Sunday.
They had to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots.
We get to see Drake May, former UNC Tar heel Charlotte,
North Carolina native. The Patriots come in with a one
and two record, tough loss over the weekend to the Steelers.
(28:17):
Let's bring in the voice of the New England Patriots,
Bob soci kind enough to join us here on panther
Talking Bob let, let's start with this. Mike Rabel comes in,
new head coach, but somebody obviously who is very familiar
with the Patriot Way. What has been Mike Rabel's ethos?
What's his stamp on this franchise now that he's in charge.
Speaker 7 (28:39):
Yeah, anisha first, great to be with you guys today.
And you know, in Mike Rabel's case, as you alluded to,
he knows the Patriot Way, and he lived the Patriot
we helped establish it as a player, and is trying
to re establish it though in his own vision now
of course as the head coach of the team. And
really it involves, I think a lot of the things
(28:59):
that every coach places in emphasis on right. Eliminate bad
football and take advantage of bad football. Be accountable, be disciplined,
don't beat yourself. The old line that Bill Belichick used
to use a lot around here was more teams or
more games are lost in the NFL than are one
in the NFL, and right now the Patriots are experiencing
(29:20):
is exactly that, unfortunately, having lost two of the first
three with yesterday's game, as we chat, the Patriots coming
off the loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game
in which they really dominated from the second quarter through
the early minutes of the fourth quarter, but turn the
ball over five times, one from the three on an
(29:42):
interception by Drake May, another from the two on a
fumble by Romadre Stevenson. And Rabel's got a lot of
work to do. Obviously, he had to turn over much
of the roster, and I think there's still a lot
of the roster that will be continued to turnover in
the next year or so. But he also had to
reestablish winning mentality and fundamentals, the basics eliminating bad football,
(30:06):
and that obviously is a work in progress. They've also
been hit with the rash of penalties as well in
these first few weeks.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
Hey, Bob, this is Eugene Robinson. I'm gonna say going
Drake May a little bit. When I'm looking at his
numbers and I'm looking at his quarterback rating, one on
one and just the completion percentage seventy two point six.
What are you seeing from this young man? And is
he that leader that seems to be emerging?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
And that's you know, to ask about the leadership because
that's I think a big thing that Mike Rabel has
tried to work with Drake May over the course of
their time together here brief as it's been, is really
helping him to grow in to the leadership qualities that
a quarterback needs to have at this level. And he's
making strides toward that end. He's barely twenty three, as
you know, he's a kid with enormous promise. We saw
(30:52):
him against Miami in Week two play by far, in
my opinion, his best game as a pre Patriot went
nineteen of twenty three make good decisions. It was a
turnover free game in the Las Vegas game, had a
critical interception that really turned that game early in the
third quarter, and then in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, was
(31:13):
picked off in the red zone and then had a
drive killing penalty when the Patriots a turnover rather when
the Patriots were on their way to taking the lead
against the Steelers and ultimately fell on a late score
by Pittsburgh, but the promise is there, and there have
been stretches, and even the two losses where he's been sensational,
there's not a lot around him. The Patriots had really,
you know, I wouldn't even say rebuild the offensive line.
(31:35):
They almost had to build it from the ground up.
Only one returning starter in Michael Leno, the right guard
who did play right tackle a bit in the past
out of necessity, but he's working with an entire left
side of the line of rookies, left tackle Will Campbell,
left guard Jared Wilson. He's working with the receiver at
Corps that really doesn't have that speedster that dictates coverage.
(31:55):
Stefan Diggs has been a reliable short intermediate target, mostly
short thus far in his brief time here, but isn't
the same guy that we saw, I think in the
prime of his career with Minnesota and then early in
his tenure with Buffalo. The running backs tality group, but
fumbling issues in the last game. So in a lot
(32:16):
of ways, Drake may has really had to carry this
team on his shoulders. And you learn a new offense,
Josh McDaniel's offense puts a lot on the quarterback's plate.
It's a big difference from a year ago going to
the line, the alerts, reading the defense, making checks at
the line of scrimmage, which he really didn't do a
lot of in his first season under Alex van Pelt
in the West Coast offense. So he's really grown a
(32:39):
lot since day one with Rabel and McDaniel's head coaching
offensive coordinator. And we see the promise in glimpses and
sometimes for an entire game like at Miami, but there
have been critical mistakes thus far. You'd like to think
that he's going to outgrow, but he's going to learn
from those. He's a bright kid. He's got a great
attitude and he's very popular in the locker room.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
Hey, Bob, Jim Zokie, always great to get to chat
with you. And you mentioned in there Stephan Diggs was
maybe the top receiver, one of the top receivers at
one point in his career than the torn acl on
top of that with Houston last year, but you guys
set him to that three year contract.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Where's it health wise?
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Does he look all the way back? I know he's
been in the league for a while, so that adds
something to not being quite as elusive as he was
in his past. But where do you view him as
a player overall right now?
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Yeah, Jim, I think one of the real surprises for
this team in the offseason is just how quickly he
looked like he was ready to go, even tracing steps
back to the early summer and maybe even the spring
in terms of just coming off of torn acl mid
season last years Houston Texan. But they were very cautious
with him in terms of how they used him during
(33:44):
training camp. He didn't compete in any of the team drills.
They had three joint practices, one versus Washington, two versus Minnesota,
and he didn't participate in any of the competitive team
drills during those joint practices, didn't play at all in
the preseason. I think he's been on somewhat of a
pitch count thus far. He's in that rotation with Kayshawn Boody,
(34:05):
who's really been their best receiver and Drake May's most
reliable target since you know, they got together last year
and started working in booty second season and May's rookie campaign.
There are a couple of other receivers that see some time.
Mac Hollins of course another tar heel along with Pop Douglas.
But I think as they sort things out, they've been
(34:27):
best thus far with two tight ends Hunter Henry and
Austin Hooper on the field, which is kind of limited
the snap count for some of those receivers. And I
think in Dig's case, it's also been by design in
terms of bringing him back and make sure that he's
making sure that he's on the field for the duration
of this year coming off that injury that you mentioned.
(34:48):
But he's not the same guy as I mentioned in
terms of the speed. Still a very good route runner,
still exceptional hands, but again a guy who has great
knowledge of zone defenses, knowing where to settle when does
reading the spacing and so forth, But just hasn't been
the same kind of guy. And I'm not sure that
he will be at his age coming off the injury,
(35:08):
especially that he was really in his career, which is
something the Patriots have led for a while.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
We're talking to Bob Soci, play by play voice of
the New England Patriots. Bob, I want to go back
to the run game. Ramandre Stevenson was a guy that
I covered a couple of times at Oklahoma. He's built
like Hercules, he's got feet like Hermes. But the fumbling issues,
I mean, six fumbles last year, two fumbles already this year.
What's the leash?
Speaker 7 (35:35):
That's a great question. An Issian has been asked a
lot in the last twenty four hours. He heard in
Foxborough and my Rabel, I think is try to get
the point a cost that absolutely, you know that's unacceptable,
but it's not just done. Remandree and oh, by the way,
we really need him. He was a huge factor in
(35:56):
the win over Mina. I mean even in the Pittsburgh game,
he had a fumble really near midfield that led to
the Steelers first score, and in fact that it really
made Rabel's decision a rare decision around here. Bill Belchick
for years would take the opening coin toss and if
he won it, he would differ automatically, as most coaches
do these days. Well, on Sunday against Pittsburgh, Mike Rabel
(36:17):
won the coin toss and I liketed to receive. I think,
based on the way the offensive played in the last game,
wanted to get off to a good start. Thought it
made the most sense. But then Stevenson fumbled, the Steelers scored,
Pittsburgh had the lead. But even after that play, Rabel
goes for it on fourth and one from his own
fifteen yard line, and Stephenson makes a cut in the
backfield on an option pitch and instead of being thrown
(36:39):
for a loss, is able to pick up first down
yardage and more, a huge play that really got them
on track offensively. Later in the game, of course, he
fumbles from the two yard line, and you mentioned the
turnover issues last year. The problems really stretched back to
the first touch he had as a pro as a
rookie in twenty twenty one. He caught a pass against
Miami and fumbled and sat for a while. But the
(37:01):
Patriots last couple of years with those fumbling issues, just
haven't had the luxury of sitting him. Antonio Gibson came
in on Sunday against the Steelers. He fumbled right away,
and then Travon Henderson, the very talented rookie second round
pick out of Ohio State. He's had trouble in pass
protection at a couple of holding calls against Miami and
certainly the Steelers and especially the Raiders in the other
(37:24):
two games, were well prepared for him. He's one of
the potential playmakers for the Patriots, one of the few
they have, and certainly he was very much in their
focal point, very much a focal point for them defensively.
But you know, going back to your question about Stevens,
I think that's one of the things that Rabel's trying
to work through in this first year. Romaderi's one of
(37:45):
the few holdovers for the Patriots, one of the few
veterans that have returned under rebel. He let a lot
of guys here as multiple super Bowl champions, as former
captains go, whether it's through free agency or in the
case of you know, some basically just tell him, you know,
releasing him. David Andrews was released and enforced and overtime retirement.
(38:08):
But you know, I think that with Stevenson, he's making
the larger point. It's not just for motor who's accountable.
It's all of you. If you're blocking, you got a
block longer than he's running. And I think that's something
again goes It's part of that process of re establishing
the Patriot way. Because on a couple of those fumbles
thus far that we've seen it's the second guy in
(38:28):
and maybe the offensive lineman who's blocking him didn't sustain
that block.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
He is Bob, so see the play by play voice
of the New England Patriots. Bob, appreciate the insight and
look forward to visiting with you before the game on Sunday.
We will see you in fox Brough. Thanks, Bob, came Bob.
Speaker 7 (38:47):
Hey you guys, Thank you. I hope it was insightful.
I said a lot. I'm not sure how much insight
there was, but it's good to be with it.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Plenty of insight. He's Bob Socy, Played by play, Voice
of the New England Patriots. You're listening to the Carolina
Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
In East Jim Eugene, there were some things if you
looked under the hood, that gave you some hope after
the first two weeks for the Carolina Panthers. I'm not
sure we saw thirty to nothing coming in week three,
but one area where we talked about Jim in the offseason,
the depth improved. Depth that was on display. No Robert Hunt,
no Austin Corbett, no Turk Wharton no Pat Jones. I
(39:32):
knowle Get has struggled, but he's a starter. He was
out and the guys who all stepped up played well.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
Yeah, and we're talking about different names every week, and
that's the sign of a good team. Were actually talking
with the Eugene on the elevator ride up, Eugene Robinson,
by the way, who was a candidate for the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. I only missed two games in
his entire sixteen year career. That's not the case in
today's NFL. And these are legitimate injuries. I'm not saying
anything about the degree of injuries the Panthers have or
any current players have right now. But it's a different
mindset now as far as that availab but because it
(40:00):
is longer.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
Seasons now than it was back then.
Speaker 5 (40:02):
But it does say a lot that when those guys
are missing time, that others do step up and play well.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
And that's what the coach wants. He wants to have,
you know, you want to be able to put a
guy in there and and not lose anything at all.
And that's what he got. You know, don't make no mistakes.
The Falcons are a really good team. They are a
physical team and they run the ball extremely well, and
it just looked like we just dismantled them. And so
and that's what guys who are like backup guys, and
(40:27):
so from that standpoint, Wow, that's some really good work
that we got going from backups.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
From backups handler Zavala Cade Mays and then Uman mii
Ellen yep scored and the rookies Lathan Ransom Laatee forced fumble.
Even the second year.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Guys, I do special Ransom and special two by the way.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Shaw Smith Wade who was picked on early and then
comes up with the play that essentially sealed the game
for the Panthers.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Absolutely, and you gotta appreciate because he drops back in
the flat, takes care of his business, is a flat quarterback,
takes his eyes off the flat and says, I'm gonna
hit the swing route and he's right in the face
of the swing right to go for a testyle.
Speaker 6 (41:03):
That's some good football right there.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Love it and you love you mentioned Ransom.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
I agree on that one.
Speaker 5 (41:07):
I think Kurk Coleman has had an eye on You've
got a couple of secondary guys like you and him
looking at him immediately saying this is gonna be a
special player. Is just to add a little bit more
to like what he's done through the preseason and now
is he more reps each week in games in the
regular season.
Speaker 6 (41:21):
That's a future starter.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
Let me tell you, I would be concerned if from
the other starting safeties because if he gets in there,
that young man, he plays extremely well.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
He's physical, he impacts the game. Trayvon Marrig seemed to
find his rhythm in Week three with Carolina. Trevan Wallace
made some big plays behind the line of scrimmage as well.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Richardson, I like him too.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
A lot to build on from week three. Next stop,
New England.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
This has been on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, brought
to you by Atrium Health. At Atrium Health, we do
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in stage so you can live fully. Bank of America,
What would you like the power to do? Coke Gandy
(42:07):
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is thirsty work.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Pantherton, Panther Doll, Panther Doll.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
This is the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
The following is an exclusive presentation of the Carolina Panthers
and the National Football League to Pan They're tall and
They're doll, and They're doll. This is Panther Talk on
the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That's the vision that I have for our team to
play together, to play great defense, win first down, win
first and ten. By knocking the runout and giving us
an ability to balance things out. It makes you a
really solid, well rounded offense. But it's it's all phases, right.
It's it's field position with the special teams, and then
the defense given us good fields to work with, so
(00:38):
it all ties in together. And I was so happy
to see, you know, all three phases play that way.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
And now, along with Jim Zoki and Eugene Robinson, here's
a Niche Shroff with Panther Talk live from the Panthers
broadcast facility at Bank of America Stadium.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Victory Monday. In a lineup, there's Monday, September twenty second
and e Shroff, Eugene Robinson, Jim Zochi and as always
were joined by Dave Kannalis. Panthers defended their layer first
win of the season, dominating Atlanta a lot of places
to go. Let's start with the defense. They've taken a
(01:19):
lot of slings and arrows over the last year plus.
What did this win and the way they dictated to Atlanta?
What did this mean? Win in the locker? What did
the win mean in the locker room? To the defense,
it was great.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
It was a group that's been working together, learning each other,
how to trust each other and execute the plan. And
we had a great plan to execute against their run
game first and first down, run game, in pass game,
and the guys played together. They tackled as a team,
showed up physical, which is something they're committed to do.
(01:56):
And I was just so proud of the work that
it's taken for these guys to come together to play
four quarters of football like that and consistently just hit,
consistently rally up in the past game on checkdowns, and
put your pads on someone team tackle in the run game.
The effort was there all those things, and I'm so
(02:16):
proud of this group for challenging each other to get
that done.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Coach, I want to talk about that team tackling because
we talked about maybe two weeks ago about miss opportunities
and we were talking about mistackles, So was that an
emphasis and practice? And you said that the team took
control of all that because they stopped a monster because
Bijon ain't no joke.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, you know, it's been a couple of weeks building,
you know, But we after that first game in Jacksonville,
you know, we made an emphasis of Jarro and I said, okay,
let's get a tackling circuit going during that week to
kind of make an emphasis of it. And the guys
felt that, you know, and I didn't poll the audience
to kind of see what each individual response was to
(02:55):
go and just right back to the basics. But to
me as the head coach, I think you just you
look at it. You take a truthful look at the
areas that you need to improve, and then you just
address it as a group so that nobody is exempt,
coaches included. When we don't make great decisions, we talk
about it on til the Truth Monday and say, hey,
I could have done a better job in this situation
giving success, and the players as well, we can do
(03:16):
a better job doing these things. They took the challenge
and the tackling. A lot of times it's about leverage
and it's about playing together and trying to eliminate some
of those one on one ops. When you can use
your teammate maintain your leverage, then there's less space. And
they did a great job of that.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
And then in the past game, if you didn't see
the game, you look at a box score, you see
zero sacks, two quarterback hits. But the pressure was there
throughout the game. Talk about how that affected their quarterback.
He seemed to offer spot a lot, but because of
the pressure yesterday.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, I thought the Falcons did a great job, you know,
in protection, but it was just that relentless pursuit, you know,
the guys working on the second move, pushing the pocket.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
If you don't win immediately.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
You got to redirect and just keep working and try
to affect him, you know, affect his arm, affect his bot,
just get him to move his feet a little bit,
which I believe led to some early throws which led
to some turnovers and then also some inaccuracies when when
you know, when he did miss a couple of throws
down the field, you know the pocket was being impacted, Dave.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
With Pat Jones being out, we saw a lot more
of Nick Gorton and Princely. When you guys watched the
film back again watching the game live, it seemed like
they impacted the passer. They impacted the Atlanta offense quite
a bit.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
What did the tape say, Yeah, tape said that, you know,
And what we're looking for is consistency. And I think
that's something to challenge young players with, is can we
get this down in and down out?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
You know.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
And but at the same time, these guys got to
take their wins when they can get them. They'll learn
from all these reps. And so I'm proud of the
guys in the way they worked offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
One change we noticed under center looking at the note,
seventeen percent the first two weeks, fifty five percent in
week three. What was the reason for that score? We're
down twent to three at a half for two weeks,
you know. But this is how we want to look.
This is the balance that we talked about. You know,
when I picture and I envision our team playing at
(05:09):
our best, you know, we're playing good defense, we're taking
care of the ball. We can be under center so
we can be multiple, we can throw the play action passes,
and we can get into all the variety of our
run game, and then we can also get into the
gun and we can run the ball in the gun
and we can throw it there too. We just want
to be balanced when I'm talking about first and second down.
We had a couple of third down runs this week too,
(05:29):
but on first and second down, we just we want
to be able to have both the screen.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Game, the run game, the pass game. And when you
play a game like this where we're taking care of
the ball, special teams is owning the field position last week.
It allows us to just play that balanced type of
football that we want to coach.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
I'm won to jump back on the other side of
the ball, the defense Smith Wade. What I was impressed
about the interception was he took care of business behind
him first, and then he just knew that that swing
route was in and just jump that. That's we're talking
about the communications from that happens in the secondary. But
when guys play their their position, take her the business
(06:09):
and then go make a play. What does that mean
for you?
Speaker 7 (06:11):
Coach?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, Eugene, you know you know better than anybody else,
do your job first. That usually puts you in good position,
and that's where turnovers happen, whether it's interceptions because you're
in the right spot and your eyes are right. They
made some great tackles in the flats as well. You know,
we had Trey Merrick, we had show Smith Wade, we
had j C. Horn coming up making a really physical
play in the flats, you know, and and but it
(06:34):
starts off by doing your job first, and then of
course the fumble opportunities come when you have those compression tackles,
which is also about leverage.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
It's about being in the right spot.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Someone's on the on the ball carrier, you're the second
guy in and you get take a shot on the
ball because you're in the right you're in the right area.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
And we have to ask about the Mike Jackson interception,
which was a great interception. And I said to these
guys before you came in, only in the NFL could
you return the ball fifty seven yards again. But it
was like a comic relief moment in this game because
you guys had the nice lead at that point, But
what kind of fun moment And just seeing the guys
react to that play.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Oh, it was amazing. I mean, it was it was
an electric sideline. We were all running down there celebrating
trying to keep people off the white you know, because
we actually got penalized after Shaw Smith Wade's touchdown, which
I'm not sure if they were throwing the flag on
me or Darren Bates, but I know we were both
illegally jumped out onto the onto the grass, which you
can't do.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
We got to be better at that.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
But yeah, I mean, you know that that situation right there,
I think Mike just kind of got caught in between
what's Nick gonna do? Is he gonna make him cut
back or whatever, and kind of lost his feet. But
he put us in great field position right there, and
it was a huge play in the game.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
You know, when you win a game and then you
watch that back in the film room, can you describe
what that moment is like when all the other guys
are watching that to.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Go, oh yeah, yeah, they're all critical, and you know
these guys they'll find any opportunity to take a shot
at each other.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
So absolutely, Coach, Let's talk about the locker rooms, because, uh,
what did you guys get from the fans beer here
and at the stadium? And then the locker room was
electric after it just said it said so much.
Speaker 6 (08:09):
What did it say to you?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
We talked about starting fast, and uh, I got to
give some some props to George Lee, who is my
my game management director, and he on Saturday morning before
he gave his presentation where he kind of teaches about
the rules. This is what's being called lately in some
cool situations across the league. He just got up there
(08:32):
and just let it loose and you know, put him
it was put on Gangnam Style and this was totally
I did not put him up to it. Yeah, this
is his but he put the shades on, and he
was he was such a rock star. He was so
he was so electric. And then he went into his
presentation and I followed up and said, guys, George is
not afraid of you. Like we got to show up
(08:55):
like this, like go be you. You did the prep,
you did the You're ready. Now go be a star.
That's what you guys are called to do. But I
just it was so cool. So to be able to
celebrate that after the game as well, you know, it
was a cool moment for us. And then to be
back in Bank of America Stadium to see a fan base,
our Panthers fan base who's excited about this team and
(09:18):
who has lived with us through the last couple of
weeks where you know, we got lopsided scores at the
half and to see us come battling back. But I
looked around and it was just a ton of blue
and that was good to see for a division rival
who's right down the road, who could have brought a
big following man. It was Panthers fans, and we felt
their energy. It was loud on third down and some
critical parts of the game, which is an advantage for
(09:41):
our defense and our pass rush. That's what we need.
We need everybody that we can that we can get
to help us in our coverage unit, screaming down the field,
popping up into the end zones, and hopefully those end
zones will get used to them being down there and
join them in the celebration of just running things downs
and playing this beautiful game that we play.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
You mentioned a field positioned earlier. The deep did some
of that with turnover on downs, but a little bit
more deeper dive on the kicks into that landing zone,
and just a job that Ryan Fitzgerald did with the
three field goals, but also the whole special teams unit
in terms of pitting them back at times and just
to coverage.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And all that. Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 7 (10:14):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Tracy Smith, you know, did a great job throughout the
last couple of weeks of experimenting with different ways that
we can attack this thing. And it really goes back
to training camp and working on different styles of kicks,
you know, and it's an aggressive approach. There is risk
involved if you don't get the ball on the landing zone.
But Ryan has been getting better and better at these
different kicks, so he executed that plan well. And then
(10:36):
you have a coverage unit behind you that that plays
with their hair on fire, so you feel like you
can get the ball sometimes when your coverage is expecting
it one way and the ball may go somewhere else.
You got to make some crazy adjustments to cover each
other and they did a great job of that. And
then in the punt games as well, you know, I
thought Sam did a great job of getting the ball
down there. We got to see, you know, a Caleb
(10:56):
Evans again, but we got to see Dalavon Campbell, a rookie,
make his first NFL tackle on a gunner rep where
he looked electric on that play. So really exciting group.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
They've stayed with that with the kicks because Tracy Smith
has talked to me about it, whether it's a knuckle kick,
whatever you want to call it. You got a few
tricks in the bag, and you probably don't want to
spill the state secrets, but we're starting to see teams
have trouble handling the kickoffs. I'm sure they're gonna try
to copy you what went into that? When did that start?
(11:26):
In terms of trying to manipulate that field position on kickoffs.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
That means we worked on it all camp and with
some success, and it wasn't consistent enough, but it's gotten
better and better as we went through camp. And then
in the first couple of weeks of the season, you know,
we didn't score a lot the first week, so we
didn't have a chance to really, you know, work on
them much. I'm just gonna be honest with that, you know,
and then you know, against the Cardinals, we got a
few more opportunities, and so then we play, you know,
(11:51):
a normal game where there's some back and forth and
some opportunities. So that's where you get to work on
those in practice them.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Coach, I think that Derek Brown had probably will so
bring outlooks and commentary about yesterday's game. He was excited.
He said, that's just one game, and we got to
move on because we got to put work in next week.
And so I know that's the message that she's been
sitting to the guys.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Absolutely, and but but again, you got to enjoy them,
you know. And and we got probably about another hour
or so before the before the you know, you go,
you know, before before we have to really move on.
Obviously we're mentally are looking at our you know, scattering
report and all that for the Patriots this week. But
you got to enjoy them when they come and and
we got to celebrate the heck out of it. And
it's you get that, you know, six or seven minutes
(12:35):
right after the game in the locker room to really
get you know, just celebrated and have fun with each
other and you know, and look at each other in
the eye to appreciate how hard it is, how much
work goes into trying to win these games.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
It's so important to celebrate it.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
But Derek is right, we got to turn back around,
trust our process and get right back to work.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
I'll leave you with this one, Dave, because I think
from a fan perspective, you only get seventeen of these
right as a fan, So week to week it's either
paradise found or apocalypse now, and there's no in between.
You have to live in the in between and kind
of see what the real truth is and can't get
too caught up with what's being said. So we're three
games in. Who are the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
I know one thing that's come out of the first
three games is we're a physical team, and we play physical.
We show up to the ball angry, we run the
ball with violence. And that's the part that I can
count on. The special teams unit, our coverage units embody that.
That's the spirit of our group, is the kickoff coverage
team and the way those guys fly around, that's who
we are and I know we can count on that part.
(13:39):
There's a whole lot that we're still learning together. Yeah,
that we can't just hang our hat on and say
we've consistently been this. We have to become that. We
have to earn that and that's the work that's out
there for us.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah. And again Week three, Panthers bank their first win
and a lot to build on going into week four
and the rest of the season. He's head coach Dave Canalis,
Thanks Dave, all.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
Right, thanks guys, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Panther Talking continues after this on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
This is Panther Talk. Loan, do you buy Bank of America?
What would you like the power to do?
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Henick's out of the gun? Here on check it down
at eighth from the sixteen now bits and motions to
the right. Hennick's the snap looking right now checks down
the Yeah, accepted, Shaw Smith, Wade who walks in it.
Parl touched down Shaw Smith, Wadite and Nickel read the screen,
picked it off after a little juggle, and it's a
walking touchdown.
Speaker 8 (14:32):
And not take the bait right, So not to celebrate
this for too long, and get back to it tomorrow.
Getting there, break down the film honestly, and you know,
be able to continue to success. I mean, we got
to be able to execute out a high level play
physical and you know, just keep doing what we do, right,
So we put it on tape and now we got
to be able to be consistently dominant.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Eugene's doing sound effects.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
That's right on the radio.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Never I like that.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
You can be the next boy we call choice guy.
We don't need to hire him now. Eugene Robinson, Jim
Zochi and he Schroff Panther talk continues. Big win on Sunday,
needed win on Sunday, and I want to pick up
where we left off with Dave Canalis because you start
zero and two, especially with a momentum gym that was
built up in the offseason, it can feel like the
(15:21):
sky is falling and here we go again, and then
you get a win like this against an Atlanta offense
Jon Drake, London, Kyle Pitts, an emerging quarterback in Michael Pennix.
This is one of the better offenses in the NFL.
When you look at their skill guys, it's very impressive
and it's easy to go too far to the other end.
To me, we were kind of in this spot last year.
(15:42):
World was falling. Oh and to Andy Dalton starts, you
go beat Vegas, you're one and two and you're wondering
if that's a springboard, and then one and two turned
into one and three, and one and four and one
and five. To me, growth now is can you build
off this? Can you sustain this? A lot of what
Derek Brown said after the game, Okay, we got this,
go get in New England. There's opportunities. You got Miami, Dallas,
(16:03):
the Jets, all those teams are struggling.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Stacken wins is what it's about. You're right, and getting
that early momentum. We kind of talked about it before
we even got to the regular season that you looked
at the schedule and again, Cleveland beat Green Bay yesterday.
So nothing is promised in the NFL. But the Panthers,
I think it meant a lot to Eugene that you
would take the win and the standings if it was
seventeen sixteen. But there's something about winning thirty to nothing
(16:27):
that hits deeper. And the fact that it was in
all three phases. It wasn't like it was all tricked up.
It wasn't, you know, like a lot of crazy stuff happened.
I mean, they earned it out there, they outplayed them
in all three phases of the game. But I think,
you know, especially I live in the world of radio
sports talk radio mine in all this all.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Weeks where nobody has a hot take ever.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Never has a hot take and they they're wrong, and
then the next week they move on to the next
hot take or the next cold take, and it just
I think that there's a respect level that came with
the way they beat Atlanta. It was such a sound
beating thirty to nothing. And again, it doesn't guarantee you
you it doesn't promise you anything for the next week
as far as that's gonna happen in that way. But
I would think for everybody it gives a confidence right
(17:07):
when you beat a team like that, much like you
don't have to be perfect. We don't have to like
somehow cobble together a fifteen play field goal drive at
the end. It's nice to get a win where it
was so decisive that there was, as coach said, a
lot left on the table, and they still still able
to win by such a wide margin.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
You know, Bijon Robinson is one of the best running
backs in the league, and they held him to seventy yards.
But in that first half they were able to The
Carolina Panthers defense was stout, I mean just absolutely stout,
not giving up anything. As a matter of fact, the
protocol the Falcon's used, they were throwing the ball more
so than anything. And still even though getting pressure on
(17:42):
the quarterback, it was a collective win. And you can
feel the energy when the smith Way tests out. You
can just see it just go up a notch, like
everything just went high, super duper level. That this was
no ordinary game. This looked like the game's going to
actually blow you guys out and there's nothing that you
can do about it. And that's the confidence that really
(18:05):
coach Canalis wants to see, and that's the confidence that's infectious.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
It really is one great.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Thing about watching all this stuff in this game and
watching the locker room. I saw a lot of guys
smile and I saw confidence. That's what I saw, and
that's what was just played out there. I mean, that
was a drubbing thirty to nothing. They beat him down.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Maybe go out and it's a division game, beat rival,
it's Atlanta. There's a lot that goes into it, but
it also speaks to getting to see it, getting to
see it come to fruition. Right, Guys like Derek Brown,
who have been through some things here in Carolina and
been through some long years, have had injuries. You've heard
(18:45):
all off season your defensive line is better. This unit
is upgraded, right, and then yeah, the first couple of weeks. Listen,
I don't put it all on the defense because there
were five turnovers that you have and all of a sudden,
now you kind of see what it looks like when
it's right offense plays a clean game. I thought Bryce
managed the game in the second half. He didn't really
(19:06):
have big numbers. No, he didn't have to. They had
the lead, they could run the ball, they could bleed
the clock, and defensively, you finally get to see it. Hey,
that's what we can be.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Now.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
The trick is, can you be that version or be
a better version of yourself consistently going forward? That's the
next step. But I think to put evidence of that
version on film for everybody. Eugene, you've been in the
locker room. That's got to be mean something.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Dude, I'm telling you, it's infectious in the way that
they played. Coach Cannatis, he keeps saying something. We always
ask them about the character of this team. What do
you know about the team? He always mentiones the word physical.
This is a physical team.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
And so I can see why I heard violent.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, I love.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
It, because I mean, he sees stuff that the average
fan doesn't see, and he sees the hard work that
they have. This guy doesn't see. So I love what
I'm saying with the Carolina Panthers, and that was a beatdown.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That was a beatdown in many ways and saw guys
like Trayvon Merrick. You talk about physicality. He played his
best game as a Panther in Wig three. All right,
more to do here on Panther Talk. We'll be back
after this on the Carolina Panthers or Radio network.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
This is Panther Talk brought to you by Atrian Health.
At Atrian Health, we do more to keep you moving, achieving,
striving at every age and stage so you can live fully.
Speaker 5 (20:33):
Colin Cole is the NFL's version of the self made man.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Undrafted out of Iowa, he would play for the Green.
Speaker 5 (20:38):
Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, and three years with the
Carolina Panthers, all three years, by the way, coinciding with
NFC South championships for the Panthers, with twenty fifteen being
his finals season. Still living at Ch'alltte with his family,
We'll catch up today with Colin Cole.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Thirty seasons of Panther football, A celebration of the players, coaches,
and other key figures who've contributed to be organizational success.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
Talking with one of our favorite people with the Panthers
over the years, did a little TV with us back
in the day as well, Colin Cole after he got
done with his playing, And man, you timed up your
years with the Panthers just right. The three years of
the three consecutive NFC South Championship teams Ron Rivert and
that crew and obviously some great players. So from a
football player standpoint, that had to be a lot of
(21:24):
fun to be a part of that team and what
you were able to contribute with.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
That absolutely to uh, to have the opportunity to contribute
in the manner that I was with a great young
team with mixed with some great veterans we talk about
say Jordan Gross and Steve Smith obviously his veteran guys
are part of that that regime myself as well, and yeah,
guys like Cam who was maybe a second third year
(21:47):
in and Luke was his second year in. So it
was good to be a part of a team with
some of these these guys who are definitely Panthers legends.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
Yeah, well there's kind of like the base point of
these podcasts this year is talking about ten years ago,
that twenty fifteen season, but twenty fourteen and in particularly
that last month of twenty fourteen built into what was
twenty fifteen. I mean, you guys scrambled, as we know,
just to make the playoffs, winning the last four games
to get to seven eight and one, win a playoff game,
and then that launches into next year fifteen and one?
(22:17):
What was that like as far as take us back
to twenty fourteen when the team got rolling and we're
able to pull out a championship with a record that
wasn't great, but you guys were playing your best football
at the end of the season.
Speaker 9 (22:27):
It was very interesting. I would say that it was
one of those things where you definitely learn about a
team during the season. You know, it was a rebuilding
type of situation in my opinion, and the fact of
losing veterans like Jordan Gros like I just mentioned life
Steve actually going to Baltimore at that time, so the
team was definitely searching for a new identity, and Cam
(22:48):
being the quarterback, was definitely thrust into that position, but
definitely in a situation where he definitely took it took
a new step, and I think having everything put on
the shoulders and the growth process they had to go
into that kind of, like you said, kind of translate
into that twenty fifteen season.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
Wouldn't have necessarily known in twenty fourteen that Cam would
be the MVP the next year that you'd have I
think ten Pro Bowl players on that roster and for
you guys playing under Ron Rivera that kind of hit
that stride there. Did you feel like in that offseason
between fourteen and fifteen that you guys could pick up
where you left off and take it to a high level.
Speaker 6 (23:26):
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Speaker 9 (23:27):
We definitely had a lot of pieces that were coming
in and I would say that one of the main
things that we had to learn about ourselves. I know
we lost Kelvin Benjamin early on in that season, and
it was one of those situations where guys kind of
had to step up and the team had to find
itself outside of what was thought to be in the
future of the franchise, and a lot of growth had
to happen from all the other positions, and there are
(23:49):
a lot of ingenuity from the offensive offensive coordinator, Coach
Schuler and coach Dorsey. I know that the quarterbacks coach,
they did a tremendous job of just to find an offense,
really making it so that the rushing attack was implemented
with three headed monster in between cam And and Jay
stew and Mike's ober. So I think just being able
(24:11):
to ride that and having a great passing tight end
like Greg Olsen, it just really completed offense.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
Yeah, it was a great combination.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
And defensively all three levels, you know, great players involved
with that as well on that side, Oh my gosh.
I mean you look at that defense and just like
Hall of famers on that side of some great players
beyond that as well.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
And you did it.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
You earned it. You were undrafted out of Iowa. You
were with the Packers and the Seahawks before you came
to Carolina, and you were out of football for a
couple of years, right, kind of to get back into
the league, and good for you for sticking with it.
What was that like as far as kind of creating
your own career? Nothing was handed to you. And then
when the Panthers came calling after not being in regular
season football for a couple of years, to to make
(24:51):
the career that you did.
Speaker 9 (24:52):
You know, Jim, that's an interesting point, that interesting question. So,
and what's interesting about that is the Panthers didn't call.
Actually I called the pan and I actually was able
to get in contact with the general manager at the time.
It was well, let me stick a step back, the
director of player of personnel at the time. And what
was interesting about that is the income and general manager
(25:14):
who was dead Gettleman, who was leaving the Giants, was
leaving that same position with the Giants. So and he
had an interest in signing me from Seattle. When I
was injured, I had to sit out at that time.
He was interested in that. So it kind of was
a great brew of minds that were interested. And I
made a phone call one day and I was sitting
(25:34):
in my home and I was talking to the director
of player personnel and we, uh, three weeks later, I
had a workout, and yeah, it went to roll from there.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
So when you say you called, you called, you were
like your own agent. You didn't have an agent or
some third party, cause I.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Had an agent, and I actually made the phone call myself.
I fired my agent and I made the phone call myself.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
And did you get a good commission on that? You
know that three percent adds up absolutely absolutely. Well, we're
glad we got you here that it worked out in
that way for you. Everybody we're going to talk to
you today, their career came to an end at some point.
Yours ended early in the twenty fifteen season with the
Panthers in September. You played just a couple of games.
What was that like as far as not getting that
deep into that twenty fifteen season with your time with
(26:20):
the Panthers.
Speaker 9 (26:20):
That year, You know, it was it was disappointing to
have that haven't come to an abrupt end like that,
But I honestly felt like I was kind of on
borrow time in regards to having missed those two years
and having that situation arise where I was able to
sign and finish my career here. It was a very
unique situation where there's not a lot of guys who
have a pretty serious injury where you're out for two years,
(26:43):
two consecutive seasons, and you're able to I mean, honestly,
we moved back across country from Seattle over to this
side of the country and had no exact plans on
what was going to happen next with regards to finding
a new team, and it just it worked out. God
had a planned for us, and it worked out to
uh to perfection and being able to kind of finish
(27:06):
it on my own terms, because honestly, it was it was,
it was, it was.
Speaker 6 (27:10):
It was a great ride. It was a great ride.
Speaker 9 (27:12):
I enjoyed every aspect of being a part of this
franchise and you know, I have, I have. I was
able to be a part of it in a different
fact way, and it was. It was tremendous to see
that team come together and to know the yes, to
know what I was able to contribute to help it
helped that team get to where it was.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Subscribe to thirty seasons of Panther football on the iHeartRadio app,
Panthers dot com, and Team Apple Apple podcast or Spotify.
This is Panther Talk. Do you buyd Coke? It deserves
the great taste of Coca Cola because fan work is
(27:52):
thirsty work.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Three of the Panthers first four games are on the
road this season, and Carolina back on the road on Sunday.
They had to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots.
We get to see Drake May, former UNC Tar heel Charlotte,
North Carolina native. The Patriots come in with a one
and two record, tough loss over the weekend to the Steelers.
(28:17):
Let's bring in the voice of the New England Patriots,
Bob soci kind enough to join us here on panther
Talking Bob let, let's start with this. Mike Rabel comes in,
new head coach, but somebody obviously who is very familiar
with the Patriot Way. What has been Mike Rabel's ethos?
What's his stamp on this franchise now that he's in charge.
Speaker 7 (28:39):
Yeah, anisha first, great to be with you guys today.
And you know, in Mike Rabel's case, as you alluded to,
he knows the Patriot Way, and he lived the Patriot
we helped establish it as a player, and is trying
to re establish it though in his own vision now
of course as the head coach of the team. And
really it involves, I think a lot of the things
(28:59):
that every coach places in emphasis on right. Eliminate bad
football and take advantage of bad football. Be accountable, be disciplined,
don't beat yourself. The old line that Bill Belichick used
to use a lot around here was more teams or
more games are lost in the NFL than are one
in the NFL, and right now the Patriots are experiencing
(29:20):
is exactly that, unfortunately, having lost two of the first
three with yesterday's game, as we chat, the Patriots coming
off the loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game
in which they really dominated from the second quarter through
the early minutes of the fourth quarter, but turn the
ball over five times, one from the three on an
(29:42):
interception by Drake May, another from the two on a
fumble by Romadre Stevenson. And Rabel's got a lot of
work to do. Obviously, he had to turn over much
of the roster, and I think there's still a lot
of the roster that will be continued to turnover in
the next year or so. But he also had to
reestablish winning mentality and fundamentals, the basics eliminating bad football,
(30:06):
and that obviously is a work in progress. They've also
been hit with the rash of penalties as well in
these first few weeks.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
Hey, Bob, this is Eugene Robinson. I'm gonna say going
Drake May a little bit. When I'm looking at his
numbers and I'm looking at his quarterback rating, one on
one and just the completion percentage seventy two point six.
What are you seeing from this young man? And is
he that leader that seems to be emerging?
Speaker 7 (30:29):
And that's you know, to ask about the leadership because
that's I think a big thing that Mike Rabel has
tried to work with Drake May over the course of
their time together here brief as it's been, is really
helping him to grow in to the leadership qualities that
a quarterback needs to have at this level. And he's
making strides toward that end. He's barely twenty three, as
you know, he's a kid with enormous promise. We saw
(30:52):
him against Miami in Week two play by far, in
my opinion, his best game as a pre Patriot went
nineteen of twenty three make good decisions. It was a
turnover free game in the Las Vegas game, had a
critical interception that really turned that game early in the
third quarter, and then in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, was
(31:13):
picked off in the red zone and then had a
drive killing penalty when the Patriots a turnover rather when
the Patriots were on their way to taking the lead
against the Steelers and ultimately fell on a late score
by Pittsburgh, but the promise is there, and there have
been stretches, and even the two losses where he's been sensational,
there's not a lot around him. The Patriots had really,
you know, I wouldn't even say rebuild the offensive line.
(31:35):
They almost had to build it from the ground up.
Only one returning starter in Michael Leno, the right guard
who did play right tackle a bit in the past
out of necessity, but he's working with an entire left
side of the line of rookies, left tackle Will Campbell,
left guard Jared Wilson. He's working with the receiver at
Corps that really doesn't have that speedster that dictates coverage.
(31:55):
Stefan Diggs has been a reliable short intermediate target, mostly
short thus far in his brief time here, but isn't
the same guy that we saw, I think in the
prime of his career with Minnesota and then early in
his tenure with Buffalo. The running backs tality group, but
fumbling issues in the last game. So in a lot
(32:16):
of ways, Drake may has really had to carry this
team on his shoulders. And you learn a new offense,
Josh McDaniel's offense puts a lot on the quarterback's plate.
It's a big difference from a year ago going to
the line, the alerts, reading the defense, making checks at
the line of scrimmage, which he really didn't do a
lot of in his first season under Alex van Pelt
in the West Coast offense. So he's really grown a
(32:39):
lot since day one with Rabel and McDaniel's head coaching
offensive coordinator. And we see the promise in glimpses and
sometimes for an entire game like at Miami, but there
have been critical mistakes thus far. You'd like to think
that he's going to outgrow, but he's going to learn
from those. He's a bright kid. He's got a great
attitude and he's very popular in the locker room.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
Hey, Bob, Jim Zokie, always great to get to chat
with you. And you mentioned in there Stephan Diggs was
maybe the top receiver, one of the top receivers at
one point in his career than the torn acl on
top of that with Houston last year, but you guys
set him to that three year contract.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Where's it health wise?
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Does he look all the way back? I know he's
been in the league for a while, so that adds
something to not being quite as elusive as he was
in his past. But where do you view him as
a player overall right now?
Speaker 7 (33:23):
Yeah, Jim, I think one of the real surprises for
this team in the offseason is just how quickly he
looked like he was ready to go, even tracing steps
back to the early summer and maybe even the spring
in terms of just coming off of torn acl mid
season last years Houston Texan. But they were very cautious
with him in terms of how they used him during
(33:44):
training camp. He didn't compete in any of the team drills.
They had three joint practices, one versus Washington, two versus Minnesota,
and he didn't participate in any of the competitive team
drills during those joint practices, didn't play at all in
the preseason. I think he's been on somewhat of a
pitch count thus far. He's in that rotation with Kayshawn Boody,
(34:05):
who's really been their best receiver and Drake May's most
reliable target since you know, they got together last year
and started working in booty second season and May's rookie campaign.
There are a couple of other receivers that see some time.
Mac Hollins of course another tar heel along with Pop Douglas.
But I think as they sort things out, they've been
(34:27):
best thus far with two tight ends Hunter Henry and
Austin Hooper on the field, which is kind of limited
the snap count for some of those receivers. And I
think in Dig's case, it's also been by design in
terms of bringing him back and make sure that he's
making sure that he's on the field for the duration
of this year coming off that injury that you mentioned.
(34:48):
But he's not the same guy as I mentioned in
terms of the speed. Still a very good route runner,
still exceptional hands, but again a guy who has great
knowledge of zone defenses, knowing where to settle when does
reading the spacing and so forth, But just hasn't been
the same kind of guy. And I'm not sure that
he will be at his age coming off the injury,
(35:08):
especially that he was really in his career, which is
something the Patriots have led for a while.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
We're talking to Bob Soci, play by play voice of
the New England Patriots. Bob, I want to go back
to the run game. Ramandre Stevenson was a guy that
I covered a couple of times at Oklahoma. He's built
like Hercules, he's got feet like Hermes. But the fumbling issues,
I mean, six fumbles last year, two fumbles already this year.
What's the leash?
Speaker 7 (35:35):
That's a great question. An Issian has been asked a
lot in the last twenty four hours. He heard in
Foxborough and my Rabel, I think is try to get
the point a cost that absolutely, you know that's unacceptable,
but it's not just done. Remandree and oh, by the way,
we really need him. He was a huge factor in
(35:56):
the win over Mina. I mean even in the Pittsburgh game,
he had a fumble really near midfield that led to
the Steelers first score, and in fact that it really
made Rabel's decision a rare decision around here. Bill Belchick
for years would take the opening coin toss and if
he won it, he would differ automatically, as most coaches
do these days. Well, on Sunday against Pittsburgh, Mike Rabel
(36:17):
won the coin toss and I liketed to receive. I think,
based on the way the offensive played in the last game,
wanted to get off to a good start. Thought it
made the most sense. But then Stevenson fumbled, the Steelers scored,
Pittsburgh had the lead. But even after that play, Rabel
goes for it on fourth and one from his own
fifteen yard line, and Stephenson makes a cut in the
backfield on an option pitch and instead of being thrown
(36:39):
for a loss, is able to pick up first down
yardage and more, a huge play that really got them
on track offensively. Later in the game, of course, he
fumbles from the two yard line, and you mentioned the
turnover issues last year. The problems really stretched back to
the first touch he had as a pro as a
rookie in twenty twenty one. He caught a pass against
Miami and fumbled and sat for a while. But the
(37:01):
Patriots last couple of years with those fumbling issues, just
haven't had the luxury of sitting him. Antonio Gibson came
in on Sunday against the Steelers. He fumbled right away,
and then Travon Henderson, the very talented rookie second round
pick out of Ohio State. He's had trouble in pass
protection at a couple of holding calls against Miami and
certainly the Steelers and especially the Raiders in the other
(37:24):
two games, were well prepared for him. He's one of
the potential playmakers for the Patriots, one of the few
they have, and certainly he was very much in their
focal point, very much a focal point for them defensively.
But you know, going back to your question about Stevens,
I think that's one of the things that Rabel's trying
to work through in this first year. Romaderi's one of
(37:45):
the few holdovers for the Patriots, one of the few
veterans that have returned under rebel. He let a lot
of guys here as multiple super Bowl champions, as former
captains go, whether it's through free agency or in the
case of you know, some basically just tell him, you know,
releasing him. David Andrews was released and enforced and overtime retirement.
(38:08):
But you know, I think that with Stevenson, he's making
the larger point. It's not just for motor who's accountable.
It's all of you. If you're blocking, you got a
block longer than he's running. And I think that's something
again goes It's part of that process of re establishing
the Patriot way. Because on a couple of those fumbles
thus far that we've seen it's the second guy in
(38:28):
and maybe the offensive lineman who's blocking him didn't sustain
that block.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
He is Bob, so see the play by play voice
of the New England Patriots. Bob, appreciate the insight and
look forward to visiting with you before the game on Sunday.
We will see you in fox Brough. Thanks, Bob, came Bob.
Speaker 7 (38:47):
Hey you guys, Thank you. I hope it was insightful.
I said a lot. I'm not sure how much insight
there was, but it's good to be with it.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Plenty of insight. He's Bob Socy, Played by play, Voice
of the New England Patriots. You're listening to the Carolina
Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Panther Talk continues on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
Speaker 3 (39:09):
In East Jim Eugene, there were some things if you
looked under the hood, that gave you some hope after
the first two weeks for the Carolina Panthers. I'm not
sure we saw thirty to nothing coming in week three,
but one area where we talked about Jim in the offseason,
the depth improved. Depth that was on display. No Robert Hunt,
no Austin Corbett, no Turk Wharton no Pat Jones. I
(39:32):
knowle Get has struggled, but he's a starter. He was
out and the guys who all stepped up played well.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
Yeah, and we're talking about different names every week, and
that's the sign of a good team. Were actually talking
with the Eugene on the elevator ride up, Eugene Robinson,
by the way, who was a candidate for the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. I only missed two games in
his entire sixteen year career. That's not the case in
today's NFL. And these are legitimate injuries. I'm not saying
anything about the degree of injuries the Panthers have or
any current players have right now. But it's a different
mindset now as far as that availab but because it
(40:00):
is longer.
Speaker 6 (40:01):
Seasons now than it was back then.
Speaker 5 (40:02):
But it does say a lot that when those guys
are missing time, that others do step up and play well.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
And that's what the coach wants. He wants to have,
you know, you want to be able to put a
guy in there and and not lose anything at all.
And that's what he got. You know, don't make no mistakes.
The Falcons are a really good team. They are a
physical team and they run the ball extremely well, and
it just looked like we just dismantled them. And so
and that's what guys who are like backup guys, and
(40:27):
so from that standpoint, Wow, that's some really good work
that we got going from backups.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
From backups handler Zavala Cade Mays and then Uman mii
Ellen yep scored and the rookies Lathan Ransom Laatee forced fumble.
Even the second year.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Guys, I do special Ransom and special two by the way.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
Shaw Smith Wade who was picked on early and then
comes up with the play that essentially sealed the game
for the Panthers.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Absolutely, and you gotta appreciate because he drops back in
the flat, takes care of his business, is a flat quarterback,
takes his eyes off the flat and says, I'm gonna
hit the swing route and he's right in the face
of the swing right to go for a testyle.
Speaker 6 (41:03):
That's some good football right there.
Speaker 5 (41:04):
Love it and you love you mentioned Ransom.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
I agree on that one.
Speaker 5 (41:07):
I think Kurk Coleman has had an eye on You've
got a couple of secondary guys like you and him
looking at him immediately saying this is gonna be a
special player. Is just to add a little bit more
to like what he's done through the preseason and now
is he more reps each week in games in the
regular season.
Speaker 6 (41:21):
That's a future starter.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
Let me tell you, I would be concerned if from
the other starting safeties because if he gets in there,
that young man, he plays extremely well.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
He's physical, he impacts the game. Trayvon Marrig seemed to
find his rhythm in Week three with Carolina. Trevan Wallace
made some big plays behind the line of scrimmage as well.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
Richardson, I like him too.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
A lot to build on from week three. Next stop,
New England.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
This has been on the Carolina Panthers Radio Network, brought
to you by Atrium Health. At Atrium Health, we do
more to keep you moving, achieving, striving at every age
in stage so you can live fully. Bank of America,
What would you like the power to do? Coke Gandy
(42:07):
deserves the great taste of Coca Cola because fan work
is thirsty work.
Speaker 3 (42:12):
Pantherton, Panther Doll, Panther Doll.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
This is the Carolina Panthers Radio Network.
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