Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We had a ton of questions early this week about the preseason. Luckily, the games are over with, and now we can look to roster cuts, final Offseason moves, and looking forward to the regular season. Let’s dive right in!!
TLGPanthersFan: Time to maybe be concerned a little about Bryce? We have seen plenty of times a QB play well to end the season and then next season does not carry over.
I’m not all that concerned about Bryce Young. We saw what appeared to be end of 2024 Bryce in the first preseason game. Even if the offense looked a little rough throughout the rest of the very limited preseason snaps, I’m not super concerned about Bryce yet. I do think the offense will be sluggish to start week one, but I’m not necessarily worried about Bryce until I see him struggle in more than one or two series at bat.
schrodingersblackcat: Is there any way to put a positive spin on Canales’ decision to pull Bryce and let him end the preseason on a complete dud where he (and our entire offense) looked deflated before the season even starts?
My positive spin is that Bryce didn’t get hurt. I do remember Cam Newton’s unfortunate lisfranc injury that basically ended his run in Carolina (the first time, anyway). I’m prepared like I said above for the offense to look sluggish in week one, which seems to be normal across the NFL. But overall, at least they didn’t suffer any significant injuries as a result of the preseason action!
TXPanther: Should Dave Canales have a developmental coaching staff when he is in development as a HC himself? Seems like he should hold off on that until they at least make the playoffs once during his tenure.
This is a very fair criticism that I had myself of his handling of the preseason. I’m not sure why he had Brad Idzik calling plays the first couple games and then took over himself when the starters weren’t playing in the final game. However, Brad is definitely an extension of Canales instead of someone like Thomas Brown who had never really worked with Frank Reich. I guess I’m sitting on the “wait and see” train, but if the offense has any sustained struggles, you can definitely point to how Canales handled both the starters and the play callers in the preseason as a reason.
Unbelievable: Will the Panthers have back-to-back winning seasons before 2030?
I think they can. It really depends on if they continue on the current path or decide to blow things up again between now and then. The primary reason for being where they are at now is changing the plan and trying to fix everything in the short term, rather than steadily improve and make long term decisions like they seemed to do this off-season and (mostly) last off-season. Stay tuned, but I think its plausible.
Old Dominion Panther: Am I the only one that finds it perplexing that Turk is listed at DT and BB3 is listed at DE? I get that it’s a preseason depth chart and defensive lineman are often in multiple alignments. Also, I understand that we’re not really a 3-4 defense in the traditional sense. I guess what I’m asking is: could we have a square peg/round hole scenario here?
So Tershawn Wharton actually lined up at the nose tackle spot quite a bit with Kansas City. You can see it in his highlight reel.
I know when we think of a nose tackle, the traditional idea is they are the point of attack guy where they dictate double teams, etc. However, a nose tackle can also be someone who lines up over center and their general job is to simply be a disrupter, and I think that’s the intention with Wharton when he does line up there. He’s not going to do that all the time, he’ll also line up as a 3 technique, but his primary application is going to be as a pass rusher. The Panthers have plenty of other guys who are going to take up double teams, line up on the strong side, and generally their job will be to eat up space. It’s definitely a good question to ask, but I’m not all that concerned that he’s being miscast or anything like that.
Revshawn: Is Jake Luton the right answer or is he the only answer? Have you booked a Potato King Practice Session at www.lutonqbacademy.com ((Recently updated with new information!)) yet to bring out the QB in you?
Great question Jake-I mean, Rev! I have not signed up for a practice session yet. I might have to do that for the flag football I’ve been putting off for years. Might really get my game up from CJ Stroud to Bryce Young.
positivebob: Which players were not on anyone’s radar a month ago and played their way on to the roster? Tremayne? Thornton? Mitchell? Also, did anyone that everyone thought would be on the team play their way off the roster? What’s going on with Kandra? Really had high hopes for him, but haven’t heard a word.
I do think CB Corey Thornton has played his way onto the roster. WR Brycen Tremayne seems to be someone the coaching staff is high on, but unless an Adam Thielen/somebody else trade materializes I don’t think they have the room for him, but he’s an excellent practice squad candidate. TE James Mitchell probably has a better chance to make the final 53 if only because Tremble is probably not 100% yet, though he was officially activated from the PUP list this week. As far as C Luke Kandra goes, I don’t think he’s making the roster with all the interior line depth the Panthers have already that are locks to make the roster.
TurfMunster: How much say does Evero have on roster cut down and the week 1 depth chart?
I don’t have any reason to think Ejiro Evero wouldn’t have a large majority of say over who does and doesn’t make the roster. It hasn’t seemed like Canales is trying to meddle too much in that side of the ball.
KeepPounding88: Do you think our disappointing finish to the preseason and limited snaps in general will cause our team to have another slow start to the season?
I’m definitely expecting a sluggish start to week 1 at least. But if it sustains like it did last year, the coaches may want to change their preseason approach.
RebuildingSince95: When do roster cuts officially begin?
They officially begin Tuesday, though many teams have already started making cuts. I wouldn’t be surprised to see news come in over the weekend. I also expect Carolina to make at least a couple of waiver claims, so cuts probably don’t end on Tuesday either.
CusterFlux: Will Dan execute a significant personnel move (trading a starter or acquiring one) before week 1 And, what is the chance that personnel move includes names like Parsons or Hendrickson?
As we’ve seen this week, GM Dan Morgan is at least listening to Minnesota’s offers for WR Adam Thielen. I’m not sure if that will happen, but clearly they are at least having conversations. I don’t think we’ll see anything of the magnitude of Micah Parsons or Trey Hendrickson, though them giving Taylor Moton an extension likely raised some cap space, so its not outside the realm of possibility.
Stay tuned, Panthers fans! Appreciate all your questions and participation this week. ON TO THE REGULAR SEASON!