Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We got a lot of positive discussion going this week following a much needed victory over the Falcons. Let’s
dive right in, and join us next week for YOUR mailbag to ask more questions!
Skizert: How much of this win is attributed to our week 1-2 starters not playing in the third week?
I am guessing you are referencing C Austin Corbett, G Robert Hunt, WR Xavier Legette, and potentially DL Tershawn Wharton?
While I think the snapping of the football at center was a lot better with Cade Mays this week, I think this win more had to do with the team making less back breaking mistakes on offense and the defensive game plan being implemented when the team wasn’t immediately trying to catch up on the scoreboard. I know people rag on Legette, and he himself has said he hasn’t been playing well, but I think a healthy Legette will add something on offense. It might help if he’s more of a complimentary piece and less of a focus as he was in weeks 1 and 2, at least until he gets out of whatever funk this is.
schrodingersblackcat: If the past three games were all you knew about the Panthers, you might draw some odd or surprising conclusions. Which of these conclusions is most ridiculous?
a) Dowdle > Hubbard
b) Mays/Zavala > Corbett/Hunt
c) Our Defense can actually win us games despite holes on the roster
d) Evero might be a good DC
I don’t think Rico Dowdle is a better running back than Chuba Hubbard. I do think they compliment each other quite well, but there’s a reason one is playing on a 4 year extension while the other is playing on a 1 year contract. But the two of them playing significant snaps will help keep one of them from wearing down too fast.
bolshy: How much of our defensive improvement was based on Atlanta’s terrible play?
Well, the Falcons certainly didn’t do themselves any favors, specifically Michael Penix Jr, I would counter by saying how much of Atlanta’s terrible play on offense had to do with the scheming that Ejiro Evero did? He’s managed to get Lathan Ransom involved in the safety rotation as a way to get Tre’Von Moehrig playing closer to the line of scrimmage, which suits his strengths. They dialed up some pressure and blitz packages that had Penix uncomfortable all day. So while the Falcons definitely shot themselves in the foot with missed field goals and missed opportunities, the defense’s ultimate goal is to hold the offense in check as much as possible. Evero’s defense specifically seems to function as a “bend but don’t break” scheme with a little aggression mixed in here and there. The goal of those zone heavy type concepts is you’re hoping for the offense to blink first and make a mistake.
ericbuck: Is Ryan Fitzgerald the greatest Panthers kicker of all time?
Not quite yet, but he’s off to a solid start. It’ll be awhile before he joins John Kasay, Graham Gano, and Olindo Mare atop the kicker Mt. Rushmore in Carolina.
KeepPounding88: Does this one game change your record predictions for us, or is it too small of a sample size to judge anything for the rest of the season?
I think this win brings me back to thinking the Panthers could be playing for .500 or potentially better rather than playing for 5 wins again, which is sadly where my head started to go following week 2. So I’m more-so back to where I was at before the season started.
Bruce Guild: How is Evero adjusting our defense to compensate for the limited ability’s of our ILB? Are safety’s like Ransom being used as hybrid safety/ILB to assist Rozeboom when he is lost? Seems like the D has tightened up against the run the last 6 qtr’s.
The Panthers are mixing in more safeties and defensive backs to take some of the passing responsibility off the ILBs’ plates. We’re still going to see either Christian Rozeboom or Trevin Wallace getting significant snaps (more likely Rozeboom) just because you kind of have to have at least 1 linebacker on the field in most defensive packages, but moving Moehrig closer to the line of scrimmage and playing guys like Chau Smith-Wade in the middle with a few snaps at safety should help out with the middle of the field. Which is what they’ve been doing so far. Luckily, the Panthers have the ever reliable Nick Scott playing as their deep safety to allow for this flexibility.
Shifty Fish: You think Canales learned his lesson about not letting the offense and defense gel in preseason by not even pretending to prepare with our starting units?
I’d like to think he did, but I don’t think anyone can truly know until the 2026 preseason.
Panthers75: Is it just me or does it seem like the secondary can cover? I know they haven’t played world beating QBs yet but the past few seasons every QB seemed like an all pro against them. It feels a little different this season.
The corners are definitely playing much better than fans expected following free agency and the Draft. Kudos to the coaching staff for believing in Mike Jackson and Chau Smith-Wade, they’ve both taken a step forward in year 2 in the scheme. I think tight ends and routes targeting the safeties will still be a problem, but mixing in more of Ransom seems to have helped a bit in that regard.
Revshawn: How much fun was it to be able to sit down and write these articles? Knowing that the Carolina Panthers can win games as long as they play mistake free football and make plays on the other side of the ball has to be a relief.
I told Walker and Jon on Saturday that the Panthers were going to win this game. Normally Jon handles the recaps, but since he apparently has a “life” he couldn’t handle it this week. Panthers games generally go better when I write the recaps. I don’t have the stats but I’ve been doing this for a long time, trust me bro.
Its definitely nice knowing the Panthers can at least be competitive in most games. In the majority of recent years, after the initial new season smell faded, games definitely got to be monotonous knowing we wouldn’t enjoy the product we’d be watching for those next several hours. I hope it lasts. Also, side note, you asked another question later on in this thread. Unfortunately, I cannot answer it.
SwampPanther: After our bye, which two NFC teams will we eliminate en route to our third Super Bowl?
The Packers and the Eagles in the playoffs. They will be forced to award us one of their Super Bowls each, then we go on to fulfill my prophecy from last season, and defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2026 Super Bowl despite a Taylor Swift half time show.
right_turn_clyde: What’s going on with Brady C. this year? I thought he’d get the start WK1 but DC went with Nijman. Predictably, Nijman performed poorly and then wasn’t even active against the Cards. Now that Hunt’s out Zavala gets the start without any mention of a completion for the spot. It seems like he’s just disappeared. Is he regressing, injured or just run afoul of DC?
I can’t really explain why the Panthers chose Nijman over Brady Christensen at the left tackle spot, but I do think Cade Mays is a better fit at center, and BC isn’t as good a right guard as he is at left guard. I think he’s the first guy to slot in at left guard, since his best season as a pro came at that position a couple of years back. I would hope BC gets the shot at left tackle if Ekwonu misses more time. But for now, I think Christensen should be the primary backup at both the left spots on the offensive line.
Jesse_Pinkman: Suggestions on a new nickname for me Brian? I’m a really big fan of the Panthers from Brazil for over 20 years or so. I’m open to some ideas anyway. Cheers
I don’t know if your username is supposed to be a reference to Breaking Bad, but Panthers Blue Sky would be a good fit as an homage to the show! If you know, you know!
DannyLimes: given the pats inability to keep hold of the football how do you feel about our chances to build on the positive game from the defence. Additionally who is your underrated defensive player from these early games.
I think this is a great week for the defense to build on their positive momentum, whether it be in the turnover department or in the pass rush department. I think avoiding turnovers will be a focal point for the Patriots (this is a Mike Vrabel team, who studied right under Bill Belichick), but getting after the quarterback could be more doable this week.
My underrated defender would be between A’Shawn Robinson and Nick Scott. Robinson seems to have stepped right into the role Turk Wharton would have filled the last couple of weeks and done a nice job. Nick Scott seems to be playing as the Panthers deep middle safety in most cover 3 looks, and while I know most Panthers fans dislike him because he’s not a shiny new rookie, so far they’ve mostly avoided big passing plays deep. I fully attribute that to Nick Scott, the uncrowned captain of this defense.‘
Vashti2112: From someone who hasn’t been able to watch much of the games ( and I guess to the board as well).. how does the D-Line look? Specifically, Derek Brown?
The defensive line is playing much better than they did last season. Not a high bar to clear, I know, but they are improving and it absolutely showed last week. Derrick Brown is back to throwing guys around.
dayneb12: How would you rate each Panthers rookie draft pick 3 weeks in?
- WR Tetairoa McMillan: A+. The dude is incredible.
- EDGE Nic Scourton: B. You can see he’s progressing every week, just waiting on him to get to the quarterback
- EDGE Princely Umanmielen: C. He’s a designated pass rusher, already has one sack, which have been hard to come by for this defense. Need to see him play more, which isn’t his fault.
- S Lathan Ransom: B-. Again, he’s played well when he gets out there, and this week he finally garnered more snaps. But needs to play more.
I’m going to go with an incomplete grade for the rest, hard to grade them when we’ve barely seen them.
sgtx: Brian, what’s your long term thoughts on Dave Canalas as a head coach? I like him more than most. He seems to get beat down by a bunch of the fan base, but he’s still really new to this (even the play calling). I’d like to see more patience, but I know 10 years of misery has used that up. I think he and the front office are laying a great foundatiom for long term success based on the team leadership principles he mentions in his pressers.
I still like what I see from him. I like that he’s mostly focusing on the big picture as far as the whole team, and really only involving himself with the offense since that’s his bread and butter. The players clearly like him and seem to be bought in with him. I don’t think we’ll see Canales leading the Panthers to a surprise Super Bowl berth next year or the following season, but if he’s still around, he definitely could have this team primed for a much better long term outlook for years to come. I like that he can admit when he’s made a mistake and clearly he’s been learning as he goes.
Bull123: Will Coker be back week 5 for the home game vs the fish?
Since we haven’t really heard any news on that front yet, I’d say no. Typically they’d be at least ramping up his practice work at this juncture if they expect him to play next week. That could change, but with a hamstring injury it makes sense to take it slow.
Chef: Would you consider our next game in Foxboro a “must win”? 2-2 looks quite a bit better than 1-3…
I think its a must win if the Panthers intend to try and challenge for the top of the division, but its not a major backbreaker if they can’t pull out a victory. The Patriots are going to be hurting for a win just as much as the Panthers are.
Kimbersdad: In there physical prime who is stronger. Panthers great Kris Jenkins or Derrick Brown. My vote is Jenkins.
I’d give the edge to Jenkins as well. That dude was hard to block. For reference, Jenkins had 33 bench press reps compared to Brown’s 28 at the combine. Both dudes are monsters though!
LouWillVille: Where is going to be the best spot to post up during the super bowl parade?
At the bar, next to your favorite Panthers fan friend.
Bruce Guild: An ad keeps popping up for Cini Mini’s on the site. They are making me hungry. Are they any good?
They are good, but I would stick with the Bo’Berry biscuit myself.
Thanks for all your participation this week! Enjoy game week, go Panthers, and KEEP POUNDING!
