Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! You all had plenty of questions throughout the week, and since the Asks post, we saw WR Adam Thielen traded to the Vikings and a bunch of roster turnover following the 53 man roster cutdown deadline. Let’s dive right in!
TurfMunster: Will panthers really roll with 7 wrs? And why isn’t Renfrow one of them?
This question came prior to the Adam Thielen trade, but the team still stands at 7 WRs as they added rookie Dalevon Campbell via waiver claims. They talked about his ability to contribute on special teams, so I think they will stick with 7 for now. As far as Hunter Renfrow, Dave Canales and Dan Morgan both stated they’ve kept in contact with Hunter Renfrow about a return to the team. Whether that’s as a member of the practice squad or as a member of the 53 man roster is a different question and likely a major reason Renfrow is mulling over his options. I’m thinking the door is open to come back as a practice squad player.
TLGPanthersFan: I always thought Renfrow was gonna take Thielens place. So does this mean that the FO is confident in either Legette or T-Mac to become Mr Reliable? Moore making it feels like a coach favorites pick.
Another pre-Thielen trade question, but I think it’s worth discussing anyway. Clearly, the Panthers felt confident in their stable of young wide receivers, though I’m not sure if the decision to cut Hunter Renfrow at the roster cutdowns was made in lockstep with the decision to trade Thielen, since it was reported early in the week while cuts were happening that the two side weren’t close on compensation. While Renfrow’s training camp hype was likely the victim of the classic training camp buzz by the media, I do think the quotes about Jalen Coker all Offseason were legitimate as far as what the team envisions for him. David Moore making the roster was of course not the most popular decision, but he’s the veteran of the group now with the experience in Canales’s system. He also did have a good chemistry with Bryce Young last season. People remember many of the bad plays but seem to forget he had some solid catches with Bryce as well. Moore’s definitely a coaches’ pick, but I’ve been saying all Offseason not to be surprised if he made the roster. However, the Panthers didn’t have to let any of their shiny new rookies go in this instance.
KeepPounding88: Why are DJJ and Nick Scott still on a roster and why does it have to be our roster?
I know everyone’s favorite special teams ace Nick Scott making the roster came as a surprise to some, but the coaches have said his skills as a communicator are what they like about him. I’m thinking Lathan Ransom will start taking some of his snaps so I’m not necessarily expecting Scott to be a full time starter, but he’s another guy with experience in Evero’s system, so his role was deemed to be important.
DJ Johnson was definitely someone I could have seen being released, however the coaching staff had a vision for him. He’s currently listed as one of the last 5/6 linebackers on the depth chart, so I’d expect him to contribute on special teams and mainly be a rotational guy. It doesn’t appear that either of their new rookies EDGE players or the veterans ahead of them are in any danger of losing meaningful snaps to Johnson right now.
Beve: Who are you surprised cuts and not cuts for the final 53?
I was a bit surprised that WR Brycen Tremayne made the final roster, though he did have quite a good camp and the team expects him to contribute as a gunner on special teams, something Hunter Renfrow wasn’t going to be able to do. I was also pleasantly surprised that rookie UDFA LB Bam Martin-Scott actually made the 53 man roster, even with the interior LB group being so thin. CB Corey Thornton also deservedly made the 53 man roster as a UDFA rookie coming off quite a preseason and training camp.
As far as surprise cuts go, pretty much all of the guys I was surprised/slightly disappointed by getting cut made the practice squad. S Trevian Thomas and OL Jarrett Kingston were both names I saw fans get upset about being released, and they both are back on the practice squad. An exercise as old as time when it comes to 53 man roster cutdowns.
Beve: Most improved position group this year vs last? What position group is worse this year vs last?
I would say the EDGE rusher group is most improved compared to last season, though interior Defensive line is also a very, very close 2nd. I think the push for EDGE comes from the team adding both a free agent veteran and two higher draft picks to fill out the room, where with DL Derrick Brown was still on the team, just injured last year.
@WTMealey: What’s the measure of success? What do you want to see in the games prior to the Bills?
I think none of the offseason messaging by the team matters if the Panthers don’t win a few games to start the year. I know we’d all love to see the offense start the season chugging and the defense shutting down the run right away, but I do think the team isn’t going to be cooking on all cylinders right away. So I’d like to see a couple of trademark ugly Panthers wins. Any sluggishness by either unit can be forgiven if they can claw out a victory or two while they get into regular season form as a whole.
plancos: Who will be the opening day Kicker?
I’m guessing this question was asked before the Panthers released Matthew Wright, but I do still think its a fair question. Ryan Fitzgerald is their kicker as of now, but Dave Canales’s answer on the kicker battle wasn’t all that convincing to me. I could see them make a move on a kicker, though Fitzgerald definitely looked fine during the preseason games.
positivebob: Will Canales RUN THE DAMN BALL? He talks about it but gives up after a couple of series. I want to see 35 runs a game, use that OL and those backs, keep the defense off the field, help BY pick up where he left off by giving him lots of routine completions. Will he run the ball?
I think we’ll see an offense closer to what we expected last season if the defense can be closer to average than whatever that abomination was last season. I think adding Rico Dowdle and drafting Trevor Etienne was intentional in that regard, they want to be able to run the ball consistently even if Chuba Hubbard sees the usual wear and tear of being the main back. I don’t know if we’ll see 35 runs a game, but I’m thinking we’ll see less games where Canales abandons the run halfway through this time around.
Revshawn: Why are the Carolina Panthers so hostile to Clemson players and continue to draft useless Gamecock players?
Hunter Renfrow will be back, just relax.
dayneb12: One decision that confused me is the decision to bring Ja’Seem Reed to the practice squad over Jacolby George or Kobe Hudson. The later two were higher rated prospects and spent more time with the team. What was the reasoning for this decision?
I don’t know if we’ll ever get an explanation behind the decision since this was back of the roster moves, but the team currently has 7 WRs on the main roster, and 2 on the practice squad. I would guess they are satisfied with that and the guys on the PS now can contribute on special teams if needed due to injuries. I’d just amount this to the eternal search for UDFA gems that didn’t end up working out. If it makes you feel any better, doesn’t look like either one made it to another roster or practice squad as of this writing.
schroedingersblackcat: Brian, what do you make of Dave’s comments about Hendon Hooker?
“He really impressed me as a man, and a really high character guy with a lot of talent. A beautiful motion, big strapping guy who can run.”
The emphasis on the text in bold is mine, but doesn’t it seem like he’s literally describing him as the anti-Bryce? Is it a stretch to call this Dave’s way of saying if Bryce doesn’t work out that he’s finally got a guy in the wings who fits what he actually wants in a QB?
I think the main thing is that Hooker just adds something different to the QB room talent-wise. I wouldn’t really read much further into it than that.
RebuildingSince95: Any update on Nic Scourton?
Both he and Princely Umanmielen appear to be back on track this week after nursing their respective injuries. Doesn’t seem like either one is in any danger of missing week 1.
That’s all for this week, Panthers fans! Join us for GAME WEEK next week!
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