Ask The Old Guy: Keeping the combine in context

CHARLOTTE — When we were taping the Happy Half Hour earlier this week, Kassidy Hill mentioned that being at the combine was a little like Las Vegas, because once you enter the Indianapolis Convention Center, you lose track of time and the outside world.

So it's worth remembering that what happens in Indy sometimes needs to stay in Indy (like Kassidy did, when I flew home on Thursday).

The combine remains an important piece of the NFL calendar and a valuable scouting tool. But not always the parts they show on television. The 40s and vertical jumps and on-field workouts are fine, but for teams, the best parts are the interviews and the medical testing, which they gather collectively.

So it's cool when a guy like Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles runs a 4.46-second 40, and launches for a 43.5-inch vertical jump. Just like it was cool when Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly ran a 4.58 and posted a 38-inch vertical in 2012, it makes for good television. But the tape they put together over the years supersedes all that.

And Styles' reverence for Kuechly is also instructional.

(Besides, if you want some insight into what those tests should mean, I highly encourage you to listen to the new JJ and Luke podcast. I highly encourage it anyway, because seriously, JJ and Luke. But their discussion of how players manipulate their weight before and after testing is an eye-opener, and something to remember.)

So keep what you see this weekend in perspective. It's one of the tools smart teams use, but not the whole toolbox.

I see all of these articles questioning whether or not Carolina will break tradition and pick a linebacker in the first round. Seems to me that when Carolina does draft a linebacker first, we strike gold. I'm talking Luuuuke, Thomas Davis, and yes, even Dan Morgan. If the talent is there, I think we will pick them. They won't pick just on need alone. That can be a very costly mistake. — John, Ravenel, SC

I haven't seen the articles in question, so I'm not sure about the framing that they'd be breaking tradition, since there's not a single position the Panthers have used more first-round picks on in franchise history.

In 31 years, the Panthers have used five of their 31 first-round picks on linebackers, and that's worked out pretty well.

In addition to the aforementioned Kuechly, Davis, and Morgan, there's also Jon Beason and Shaq Thompson, so that's a lot of value created for the franchise, and a big part of why the Panthers have one of the best traditions of talent at the position in the league. When you throw in free agent acquisitions like Sam Mills and Micheal Barrow, if you want to find an NFL franchise with a better run of linebacker talent, you can start with Chicago (Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Hall of Famer Bill George). Other than that, I defy you to find a team with such concentrated star power.

You can't draft based on need; that's a path to destruction. I always tell people, the Panthers had a Morgan when they drafted Beason, and had a Beason when they drafted Kuechly. Take the best player, period.

But the numbers don't lie when it comes to their success drafting linebackers in the first round, not a miss among them. You're talking 10 All-Pro seasons, 14 Pro Bowls, a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and a gold jacket.

The Panthers have also used five first-rounders on wide receivers, and four each on cornerbacks, tackles, and running backs. But none of those spots provided the bang for the buck that they've gotten when they've taken a linebacker.

That's not saying they're locked in on that position at 19, but listening to Dan Morgan this week, it's clearly a point of emphasis and something he's going to significantly address, in free agency, the draft, or both.

Panthers draft history, by position

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Hey, Darin, my name is Landon, and I just had a couple of questions for you. My first question is, do you think we will keep Rico Dowdle because Jonathon Brooks is coming back and Chuba Hubbard is healthy? My second question is, do you think we will trade Xavier Legette? — Landon, Crouse, NC

Well, as I always say this time of year, Rico is a free agent, which means he gets a choice in this too.

But whether it's him or someone else, it's easy to imagine them adding a player of substance there, because of the importance of the run game.

They know what Hubbard can do, since he went for 1,195 and 10 touchdowns a year ago. They know what Brooks did in college, and he has explosive speed. But you can't count on him in the same way because he's an unknown commodity. So adding another one, in the draft or free agency, makes sense because of how much emphasis Dave Canales puts on running the ball.

As for Legette, I understand that people are down on him at the moment, but here's the thing. He's young, and also big and strong and fast. And also under contract and cheap this year since he's on a rookie contract, due less than $2 million this year. (In a $301 million salary cap climate, if you divide that among 53 players [it's more complicated than that], that's an average of $5.7 million to allocate per player). And the minimum salary you can sign a veteran for is $1.2 million, so it's not like you're saving money by getting rid of him.

Both Canales and Dan Morgan raved about his work ethic this week, and that matters too.

"Xavier, he's hungry," the general manager said. "He's hungry to go out there and play his best, and not to prove anybody wrong, but to prove himself right. I know he's motivated. He's going to put the work in this offseason like he always does.

"I'm excited for him. I think he's definitely taken a beating from an outside perspective, but we have full belief in him, and I'm excited for him and his future."

With Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker here, there's also not the same pressure of expectation, just because he's got that "first-round" label that will always color the way people view him.

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What are the biggest concerns for the Carolina Panthers in this upcoming draft? I'd personally love to see some new improvements on defense. — Wyatt, Bessemer City, NC

I get the feeling that between free agency and the draft, you'll be encouraged by what you see in the next two months. Even though they have some significant needs on offense (left tackle and center), the places where they can make the biggest strides are on the other side of the ball.

Morgan's a very direct talker. If he says something, it's because he has a conviction about it. And as openly as he discussed the need for both linebackers and pass-rushers last week, you can tell he's intent on improving.

And that should be a good sign. When he says something, he has a tendency to follow through on it. When the biggest need was interior offensive line, he came home with Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. When the need was to improve the run defense and front seven, he tried to sign Milton Williams, then pivoted to Tre'von Moehrig , Tershawn Wharton, and Bobby Brown III (among others).

But those aren't the only places they need to add depth.

The Panthers went from last in the league to the middle of the pack on defense last year, and stabilizing things was the first phase of the rebuild. Now they have to refine and upgrade at certain spots. So if you can find a rangy safety to play deep, more depth at corner and nickel, and young depth at defensive tackle, that would be cool too.

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Thank you for making me a Friend Of The Mailbag when I wrote last summer. I wore my honored T-shirt with pride as much as I could when visiting Carolina Beach. Dave Canales revealed today that Dom Capers was heading to Cleveland, and it brought up a question from my own work experience. I was new to my job three years ago and had a supervisor who taught me a lot, but people above both of us felt like the supervisor was holding me back based on how much I had learned. Do you feel it is a similar situation in Carolina that while Dom is great, Ejiro Evero has kind of outgrown his tutelage and may thrive more without the voice in his ear? I personally have been thriving at my job and would love your thoughts on the situation.

P.S. I did refrain from telling people how to drive in the snow while in Carolina; it wasn't easy, as I feel most people in NY also cannot drive well in the snow! — Garett, Dryden, NY

Thank you for your service, Garrett. Go tell your people that it can be done. When we had our blizzard the other week, I got to employ my favorite bad-weather driving tip — not driving. Holing up in the house, making soup, and watching television is much safer.

As far as Capers, we'll miss seeing him on a daily basis. He leaves a wake of good feelings everywhere he goes. When we walked through Lambeau Field with him last fall, it was like traveling with The Beatles. And that's a universal phenomenon, because it was the same way in Houston. And his thumbprints are all over this place. And now, the people he's taught and influenced get a chance to grow. Jonathan Cooley gets to present to the defense more, same with Pete Hansen and AC Carter and other coaches. Capers has helped teach each of them, so his legacy here will continue. But that would have been the case anyway, since he was literally here from Day 1.

Canales waxed poetic when he mentioned it the other day, saying Capers was "someone who's had a tremendous influence on me, a guy who started the Panthers and who has the ability to walk around the parking lot and say, I remember when we planted these trees and they tower over us now and cover us, which is a really symbolic for how he's covered us as a staff, the development of our defensive staff.

"Coach Dom leaving us creates a lot of opportunity for coaches to step up into new roles. I don't want to get into the specifics of what those roles will be, but these are guys that learned from coach Dom, especially with Evero, starting with him, the influence he's had on him and the rest of the coaching staff to be able to build our defense up, and these are guys that I really trust, and I'm excited about where we're going."

Someone asked if I wrote that for Dave, and I did not. But I would have, and not just because I'm pro-tree, but the metaphor was lovely.

Dom's one of the most solid and consistent human beings I've ever met in this business, or in life. So his being gone will be an adjustment. But when you allow your coaching staff to grow, it can pay long-term dividends. It's like building a deeper bench, knowing there may come a day when someone gets injured or leaves.

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After a roller coaster 2025 season, it's great to be in the "other" season. The Panthers haven't lost a game yet in this season, and hope springs eternal. You have already identified the main position groups that are in need of upgrades with infusions of guys with tons of football talent. In your humble (but accurate) opinion, are there certain groups where a veteran player might be preferred over a new draftee? I'm thinking of how the Seahawks manhandled the Pats' left side OL rookies in the Super Bowl. Might the front office have a veteran vs. rookie preference laid out by position group? Always appreciate your sharing of Panther knowledge. Keep Pounding! — Chuck, West Jefferson, NC

I think in general, you're willing to go young at some of those premium physical positions like wide receiver, cornerback, and pass-rusher. Young minds need time, but young legs are essential.

You can lean on experience in the trenches, and that's largely what they've done when you think about guys like Hunt, Lewis, and Taylor Moton.

The more complicated the position, the more experience can benefit you. For instance, a defensive signal caller or a safety will often be a veteran job. As we said up top, inside linebackers are a position of emphasis, so I could see them signing a veteran there. But it's also important to be as young as you can because this is a short-term game, so having young ones to groom makes sense too.

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Hey Darin, I'm an '80s kid and was the perfect age in '95 (12) to become a lifelong Panthers fan. Growing up in High Point didn't hurt. And thank goodness, before that my dad tried to raise me as a Re... ummm, Commanders fan.

Speaking of the 90s, the current Winter Olympics have me reminiscing about an old bedroom poster I had hanging on my wall leading up to the '92 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. As many times as Panther Nation has referenced "Dan & Dave," I cannot believe no one in the Panthers media department has blessed us all with some sort of spoof video, or photo shoot, or something related to the Reebok campaign, "Dan vs. Dave." I think this is the type of content fans deserve in the offseason. — Josiah, Green Bay, WI

Good catch, we don't say the R-word here.

And listen, I like to live my life mindful that the key to organizational success is "big team, little me."

But I absolutely suggested this, 25 months ago, as soon as it became clear Morgan and Canales were in charge. You know what I got back in the room full of the youngs I work with? Blank stares. Just nothing behind those clear eyes, perfect skin, and unbroken hearts.

Even my trusted lieutenant, Kassidy, who has a little more seasoning, often just looks at me like I'm speaking a foreign language when I reference anything older than Taylor Swift.

So yeah, I went there. Immediately. And then signed my AARP card and went to dinner. It was 4 p.m.

But even though I'd love to have been 12 in 1995 (I was in the press box instead), I'm making you this week's Friend Of The Mailbag, and sending the appropriate honorarium. And while you're in Green Bay, send a question to my dear friend Young Wes (Hodkiewicz) of the Packers and ask him why he doesn't have merch.

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Damarri Mathis is an unrestricted free agent that the Panthers brought in, but who missed the season because of injuries. He played in Denver while Evero was the defensive coordinator. He was brought in, I think, as a first backup if something happened to Horn or Jackson. I live near Denver and saw him play for the Broncos. He is tough and competitive, and I think he might be a good nickel. Do you think he will be resigned? I know injured players often fall through the cracks, but I hope he at least makes it to camp and gets a chance to compete. — Bob, Aurora, CO

Mathis is probably a guy a lot of people forgot was ever here.

He was claimed off waivers from Denver after cuts to 53, and tore his ACL in practice before the regular season started, so he never played a game here. But that background with Evero was why he was someone they were interested in, plus the fact that he's an easy mover and has experience. He's a good player.

I could see them having interest in having him back, but again, he's a free agent, so he gets a choice in this, too.

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The team's headline grades from the players' survey appeared to have generally improved over the past couple of years — credit to ownership and the new management team. I know half of the teams say they don't pay attention to the results, but it looks like someone has taken the feedback to heart for the Panthers. I assume the field got rated low because it's not grass, but do you have a sense from talking with the players why the locker room and team travel is rated so low? — Ron, Sarasota, FL

The improvements in recent years have been significant. When needs arise, they've been addressed, and you see that in the athletic training room, the weight room, and a lot of the other behind-the-scenes support areas. But the Panthers also live in a 30-year-old building, and there are challenges that come with that.

You may have also heard that there's a renovation in progress, and a lot of those concerns will be addressed during that process, from the practice field and indoor facility to the interior spaces. And I suspect when that's finished, the grades will go up for things like the dining area and locker room.

Travel's hard, period, especially when you're moving extremely large people around. The combined GPA for the AFC on travel was 2.263, and the NFC got a 2.394. There was only one A in the whole league, while there were eight C-minuses or lower. So some of that comes with the territory.

Anyone who's flown anywhere lately knows it's hard to be comfortable, which is why we have to have grace for each other. Not like the jerk in the seat in front of me on the way to San Francisco a few weeks ago who reclined his seat immediately upon takeoff. I mean, he was all of 5-foot-6, so I understand why he needed the space, and needed it fast.

But if you recline your airplane seat by an inch, you get a 2 percent increase in comfort. It creates a 98 percent decrease in comfort for the person behind you, and working on a laptop becomes impossible. And because I couldn't work, I was forced to jostle around for things in my bag (some of that stuff was really down in there), get up and down multiple times while pulling on the seat in front of me for leverage, and bounce my legs around to find some relief. If you recline in front of me on a plane, not only can you count on that treatment from me, but you will deserve it. If you intentionally recline, I assume you're the kind of person who litters, doesn't pick up after your dog (if you have a dog at all), and leaves your grocery cart in the middle of the parking lot, too.

And on that note, let's go lightning round, brought to you by the patron saint of the lightning round Jeff from Fuquay-Varina, to close it out this week.

Will the new training facility have an area where fans can come and watch practice? — Mike, Mt. Holly, NC

That's not really something most teams are interested in anymore, other than during training camp. Why don't you just invite the Saints, Bucs, and Falcons to swing by, too? Speaking of the Falcons, back in the 1980s and 1990s, they practiced in Suwanee, and you could watch practice from the nearby McDonald's parking lot.

When he was GM here in the 1990s, Bill Polian had trees planted along Cedar Street to prevent neighbors from seeing in. Also, there's never a bad reason to plant trees.

First of all, thank you for answering my question better than I answered my question (although were those Greek character puns with the mu and rho? I'm not well-versed in foreign languages beyond Spanish, so I genuinely don't know). — Micah, Gastonia, NC

My goal with this Mailbag is to raise the level of discourse, even if it's only an iota.

After all these years, what's your favorite part of the combine? — Will, Rock Hill, SC

First and foremost, learning about a new crop of people, which is always an education. Visiting with the Cardboard Pope. Setting the stage for the offseason. Connecting with old friends. Eating at Bluebeard, one of my favorite restaurants on the road. Sitting in the workroom with Darren Urban of AzCardinals.com, just so we can both say "Two Darins, no waiting." Running along the Downtown Canal and White River State Park. Trying to catch a Pacers game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a fantastic barn for watching basketball among knowledgeable and passionate fans.

But mostly, coming home, because we've got a lot to do in the next month. (And also, because my wife is awesome and for some weird reason didn't want to join me in Indy.)