Bringing you this week’s answers portion of your weekly fan mailbag!
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! It is the off-season, we only have a few meaningful games left of NFL football before we dive in head first into free agency and the NFL Draft hype. Luckily for the Panthers, there isn’t a ton of turmoil in this offseason’s staff updates, as Dave Canales has retained most of the main coaching pieces from the 2024 season, and Dan Morgan remains as the GM while he turns over the scouting team. In this week’s topic of the week, I asked what coaching blunders or strategies you would like to highlight from the 2024 season. Here’s mine, and comment down below with any late responses.
RUN THE FRICKIN BAWL! I have been consistently frustrated with these teams in the playoffs, playing what could be their last game of the season after several wins got them to this spot, only for the play callers to deviate from what got them here in the first place. The Ravens and Lions are prime suspects here, as the Lions had a RB averaging 7.5 yards per carry to only give him the ball 14 times, compared to Jared Goff’s 40 total passing attempts in a game where he struggled and turned the ball over in backbreaking situations. Same thing with the Ravens, who have a truly great QB in Lamar Jackson, but decided to lean on his arm as the game went on when Derrick Henry was running over defenders all day. Both teams lost in games they likely would have won if they didn’t get cute as the game progressed, and I know, its throwing stones from a glass house from a writer rooting for a 5 win football team in 2024. But Dave Canales also frustratingly got away from the run game many times this season, when supposedly the Panthers identity was to run the ball. Maybe Bill Belichick was a genius, as teams just can’t seem to get behind running the ball when its working. Hopefully the Eagles will show everyone why running the ball matters. #GoBirds!
And with all that out of the way, let’s dive into the questions. To recap, Brian Answers is part two of your weekly Panthers mailbag, where I answer all of your commented questions, and highlight some responses to the topic of the week, from “Brian Asks” earlier in the week. Let’s attack those questions!
DannyLimes: I’m expecting beef on day one of FA, DL on day one like we did with the guards last year. Who have you got?
Here’s the list of available defensive line (edge and interior) that are set to be available during free agency. A lot can and will change between now and March, as defensive line is a premium position and teams are starting to see the shift in running the ball again in this cyclical league. DJ Jones from Denver would make a ton of sense due to his past ties to Ejiro Evero, Javon Kinlaw from the Jets could be looking for a new home to wreck shop, and Milton Williams from the Eagles would be a sleeper coming off his rookie contract. I think the EDGE position could once again be a disappointing haul in 2025, as the top end guys will likely get top end money from teams making playoff pushes (or at least, can on paper) like what happened in 2024. Maybe a Josh Sweat makes sense, but he will not be cheap.
As far as the general mindset, I think the Panthers had it right last Offseason in trying to build from the inside out. The Panthers defense was abysmal last season, but adding more talent to the defensive line can immediately elevate the rest of the defense. I think we all remember those 2023/2024 secondary groups the Panthers fielded. You don’t need a ton when the defensive front is doing its job.
@WTMealey: Who is a TE we can draft in 3rd or 4th round who can be as good as Sanders?
Also how good is Sanders-what is his floor and ceiling for 2025?
I’m not sure if we want to keep going into the 3-4 round range for tight ends. Remember, JT Sanders is the most recent guy, but Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas came before him. So I would always temper expectations in that regard. That said, maybe Harold Fannin Jr out of Bowling Green? Just spitballing here, but if you want to double up on receiving forward tight ends in back to back years, he may be your guy.
I give Sanders a 700 yard 6 TD ceiling and a 2-300 yard 3 TD floor. He’s absolutely flashed what made him great at Texas, but disappeared in spurts as well. He did have that scary neck injury that certainly derailed momentum, so I’m leaning more towards the ceiling than floor for 2025.
Bruce Guild: How come Ft Walton/Destin can get 6 inches of snow and we can’t? Do the Panthers or the Tepper curse have anything to do with it?
I think the sheer amount of salt Panthers fans have towards Tepper melted the snow before it even hit the ground.
ALLSTATSANDNOPLAY: Can we please be done with the whole “pause” xxxxxxxx?
I do feel the whole “pause” thing is a bit overdone. Maybe we should make it about Paws? That’s Panthers related!
“Bryce Young sucks!”
Paws
“Enough, 2023 can’t hurt you anymore.”
DannyLimes: Do Beavers sluis in the woods?
Yes they do! They build dams!
dayneb12: I was a bit surprised by the Nate Carroll firing. What was the reasoning behind that?
I am not all that surprised, simply because some heads were going to roll regardless of what happened at the top with the coaching staff. With Canales calling plays, and his right hand man Brad Idzik as offensive coordinator, there wasn’t really a whole lot of room for him to move up right now. The internet also speculates he may follow his father Pete Carroll wherever he finds himself in 2025.
That’s all for this week, Panthers fans! Comment down below with your responses to this week’s topic, continue the discussion about the questions asked, and just ride out your Friday with some witty banter. KEEP POUNDING!