CHARLOTTE — Not sure if you guys were aware of this, but it's been hot this week.
It starts at blazing in the morning, and it gradually moves to surface-of-the-sun by the afternoon. I went to get ice cream the other night and saw the devil walking across Central Ave.
Which makes the sight of players walking out to the practice field behind Bank of America Stadium as most of the stadium's employees are rolling into work in the morning all that more remarkable.
Running back Chuba Hubbard, as you might guess, leads the processional, and he estimated about 12-15 teammates were out there with him this week. All of this is voluntary, teams can't require players to do anything during the five weeks and change before training camp. But as head coach Dave Canales mentioned at the close of minicamp, he wants them working somewhere, so the work can begin in earnest when they come back here for the first practice on July 23.
So Hubbard and friends have chosen to do their work in-house, where they know the equipment and the facilities. That doesn't make the workouts better or worse than those conducted elsewhere (cornerback Jaycee Horn is replicating last year's offseason work in California because it worked), but it can at least be a signal of their intentionality.
No one's enforcing or even counting attendance, but Hubbard said he figures a few more guys will be around in the coming weeks, as several guys are on vacation with their families. They come and go as they please, often out the door and headed home before lunch.
On its own, it doesn't necessarily mean everything. Again, if they're all grinding somewhere, that's the important part. But it doesn't mean nothing that they're doing it here either.
Onto the mail, which I'm using to fan myself while I sit on this rapidly shrinking block of ice. Call it a metaphor.
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Have we addressed the defense enough, in your opinion, to realistically compete with Tampa Bay? They had their way offensively with us in both matchups last year and have added to their offense in the offseason. What additions can we make that will improve the secondary this close training camp? — Steve, Pembroke, NC
Only a Sith deals in absolutes, and since it's hotter than Mustafar out there, there's no need to go quite that far.
Whether they're good enough to stop the Bucs (or the Falcons or the Saints) is something that will be determined in the months to come when games start. But right now, in late June, here's what we know.
— They weren't great at defense last year.
— Because they ran out of dudes, that's why.
— They invested significantly in people on that side of the ball this offseason to address that shortage, including Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III.
— They now have what appears to be enough qualified NFL defensive linemen that they'll cut somebody or somebodies who are good enough to play somewhere.
— This was not the case last year.
— They used their second- and third-round picks on outside linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen and signed Patrick Jones II to bolster a pass-rush that got a second-half bump from D.J. Wonnum last year.
— By bringing in Christian Rozeboom to go with Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace, they have what appears to be three starting-caliber inside linebackers, so they're at least more solid, and at the moment won't be signing guys off the street and starting them.
— This was not the case last year.
— Signing safety Tre'von Moehrig should make the run defense better alone, and the fact that Derrick Brown is getting healthy along with the aforementioned line depth, that part should stabilize.
That's not nothing either, and it's reasonable to think they should be better. How much better? We'll see. But when you're where they were, you don't have to become the 2002 Panthers (who went from 31st to second in the league in one sesaon) to see a significant improvement in results. Becoming a middle-of-the-pack defense would be huge (allowing a league-average 23 points per game would have turned three losses into two wins and a tie last year).
If they're going to be out shopping for more help, the good news is there are multiple qualified guys at the spot they're thinnest at (safety). Guys including Julian Blackmon (who visited in March), known commodity Justin Simmons (who was an All-Pro in Denver for Ejiro Evero), and several more are still sitting there on the market. They spent the spring looking at young options there, but could stand to be more experienced and deeper.
But they weren't going to be able to fix all the problems in one offseason, so all of this is reasonable. And it's also reasonable to believe that they're closer to the goal than they were in January.
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Which Panthers position groups should be of keen interest during training camp? — Ed, Auburn, NY
Depends on which kind of interest.
In terms of most competition, that defensive line group and the wide receivers are going to be tougher to make the 53-man roster than in previous years. We've talked about this all offseason, but there are eight or nine options at a spot where they usually keep six.
In terms of things people might be worried about, there are a few of those.
Seeing young safeties Lathan Ransom and Demani Richardson in preseason games should be instructive. If they rise to the occasion, maybe they won't go sign a veteran.
Depending on when Tommy Tremble gets back from back surgery, the tight end spot is interesting. Ja'Tavion Sanders got a lot of reps last year, and he has the potential to become a very good receiver there. And fifth-round rookie Mitchell Evans is going to get the extra work that Sanders got last year. He's a massive target and will get the chance to create a role for himself while Tremble's out. Otherwise, they're thin there.
The one that might be as important as any will be the kickers, as rookie Ryan Fitzgerald and veteran Matthew Wright compete for the chance to score a lot of points this year. Of course, there's always the possibility the kicker this season isn't even here at the moment (such is the life of kickers outside the consistent top 6-8 guys in the league), so we'll be keeping an eye on that one as well.
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Two related questions:
1) Is Charlotte always this hot in June? I swear it feels like I am back in Texas.
2) Is this heat wave/dehydration the reason I'm starting to believe we are going to win the division this year, or are Big Things Happening™️?
Bonus Question: Why did everyone freak out thinking that the team was dumping #KeepPounding a few weeks ago? — Nate, Charlotte
No, it most certainly is not always this hot. If it was, I'd have moved. Nobody wants to live like this, even though I'd prefer it to freezing half the year like the poor people in Wisconsin. Of course, they're melting right now, too.
While cartoons taught me as a child that seeing a mirage in the desert is a common thing (like quicksand and anvils), it's not that hot yet. Again, winning the division seems attainable, and it is because the NFC South remains the messiest division in the NFL. But that's not the point. The Panthers need to continue to get better.
Last year, they went from two wins to five wins. Putting an arbitrary numerical target on what constitutes success seems counterproductive.
If the offense continues to click, and the defense gets itself together step by step, that's the measure of success. Stop me when I start sounding like a ball coach, but the process is so much more important than the result. You can do everything right, and one bad bounce of an object that's pointy on both ends or a bad call that's outside your control (and yes, Jerricho Cotchery caught it) can change the outcome of a game. But if you don't do everything right, you lose that opportunity.
The Panthers are at the point in their development where the focus needs to be on daily work and incremental gains. If they continue to make those, the results should eventually take care of themselves.
As for people freaking out, I'm the wrong one to ask. Sometimes, people prefer to react emotionally to things before they know all the facts. As one of the wisest people I know likes to say, "You can't reason someone out of an opinion they didn't reason themselves into." But no, Keep Pounding's not going anywhere. It's woven into the fabric of the jersey collars, the organization, the fan base, and an entire region.
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Help me understand. Why do the Panthers overpay for an injury-prone CB and let an injury-prone LB go? — George, Liberty, SC
George seems to be referring to Jaycee Horn and his old mentor, Shaq Thompson, and the difference seems pretty obvious. (As obvious that George is hot and cranky.)
One is a 31-year-old at a position with more supply who has played six games in the last two seasons. (And this is no slight on Shaq; he's an original Friend Of The Mailbag, and that's a lifetime appointment. We will always be pro-Shaq in this space, and now he gets to be with all his old friends in Buffalo.)
The other is a 25-year-old at a position of high demand, who just made his first Pro Bowl while playing in 15 games.
Horn's playing most of last season and being immediately recognized by his peers says everything. He was not among the top 10 corners in fan voting but made the Pro Bowl based on the other two-thirds of the electorate — players and coaches around the league.
The respect he has among his peers is obvious, and he showed last year that he has the ability to be "that guy" who can shut down half the field. (Thankfully, Mike Jackson, on the other side responded by making a lot of plays and establishing himself as a solid starter.)
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Hi Darin, here is the Older Guy from Stuttgart, Germany. The draft is over, free agency is history, and now the OTAs are over. Looking forward to the preseason training to begin, praying there will be no severe injuries prior to the regular season begins, that is why I personally dislike preseason games. That is like having a pre-war battle before the war begins. Lol.
Just want to say I really like how Dave Canales and Dan Morgan are continuing to build this team. Last year, they built around the offense; this year, they not only improved our defense but made more improvements on offense and special teams. It seems like every year I say I have a good feeling about the upcoming season. I guess I am a faithful fan, but I must say what they did in the draft and free agency, I have a special gut feeling the Panthers are building a championship-caliber team — youth, talent, and the DAWG Spirit. If Bryce Young continues to develop his QB skills, I do believe he has the tools and the protection to make this team successful; now, they just need to go out there and prove it. So, for now, GO PANTHERS, KEEP ON POUNDING. — Kenneth, Stuttgart, Germany
Fans of a certain vintage have the perspective to recognize a cycle, and after last season ended, there were plenty of people who saw something resembling 2002 or 2011 in that team.
None of that is predictive, but there is a definite energy here throughout the spring, where a bunch of young players, including Horn, Young, Brown, Hubbard, and others, are in the process of establishing a foundation.
What does it mean? We'll find out. The cool thing about stories is all the twists and turns before you get to the end.
And we're watching it in real-time. I didn't realize in December 2002 that the team was going to a Super Bowl the following year, nor in 2011 did you recognize that Cam Newton would eventually lead a team to the Super Bowl by going 15-1 and winning MVP. But you can recognize the energy has changed around here (source, my two eyes) and that players are believing that they're pointed in the right direction.
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Hi Darin! During this break between minicamp and training camp, do the coaches stay at the facilities still working on plans, schemes, and plays after seeing what they have with the players on the field during minicamp and offseason activities? Or do they just do some minor stuff before having a break, as the major part was done before all that?
Also, thanks for advocating "Normalize shorts with suits." Although living in another country, I'd hope some high-profile media members starting to spread the message might result in your country adopting those policies, and then mine, too. I spent at least half the year in a 25 minute walk from my kid's school to my work under almost 100 degrees (F) in social clothes, only to get totally sweaty there. What would be the issue in wearing adequate shorts and getting to work in better conditions physically and mentally?! Let's hope for a better reason for that (although, the way the world is going, I wouldn't bet on it!). Thanks! — Fernando, São Paulo, Brazil
Nah, coaches are out of the building. Canales has always encouraged his guys to get out when they can, see their families, and reconnect when they have a chance. And the teaching has been done. Running in the heat of the summer can build endurance. Scribbling on a whiteboard outside in the summer doesn't have the same effect.
Also, I was inspired by Tre Johnson's outfit during the NBA draft the other night. The now Washington Wizards shooter took the stage in a pair of Early 90s Jalen Rose shorts that matched his suit jacket, and it was amazing.
No one who's ever worn shorts with a suit ever seems to be in a poor mood, though I'm basing that largely on the spirit of AC/DC's Angus Young and some (perhaps former) sportscasters I've known who'd sneak out for a cold one before the 11.
This is the time of year you should be wearing shorts always and shoes only when necessary. I had an off-site meeting this week about some non-work matters, and I reflexively put on pants because the person I was talking to operates in a different societal plane. But I regretted the decision by about 10 a.m.
May Tre Johnson go on to a healthy and happy career, and may he become a prophet. For those about to rock (exposed kneecaps and calves), we salute you.
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Thoughts on the Hornets draft? — Will, Rock Hill, SC
In a sense, that's not my grass to mow. But I do watch a ton of basketball (NBA League Pass might be the best money I spend each year, based on dollars per minute of enjoyment), and very much want my city to be able to enjoy the kind of run the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder went on this year (Though less so OKC. BOOOOO, carpetbagging Seattle's team).
A playoff run can be galvanizing in a way that lifts the entire city and not just the sports team or sports fans. Newcomers to the area may not remember this, but this was a basketball town before football ever arrived and has always turned out for good teams. Find an old Charlottean and get them talking LJ and Zo and Dell and Muggsy, or Glen and Mase and Vlade, or even Gerald and Captain Jack and Larry Brown.
And having been in the arena and football stadium when special things happened, you feel that energy in the community long past the final second ticks off the clock.
I won't pretend to offer deep scouting reports on anyone past the Hornets' first pick, but talking to my trusted college basketball-knowers, this appears to be a very raise-the-floor kind of draft. I'm not sure any of the four cats drafted will turn out to be great individually (though it's hard to imagine Kon Knueppel not being a solid pro for a decade since there's such a new premium on shooting), but I can imagine each of those guys becoming part of a greater whole. The Hornets appear to have followed a logical process.
The Panthers went through a period of stabilization where they needed to stack professional players, and it takes that to be able to build. If the Hornets did that this week, then things could take a turn there as well. Hope so, for the good of the city beyond anything else.
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Greetings, Darin, the all great and powerful. I hope all is well. My question is about the pre-preseason Fan Fest that gets aired on local stations. I enjoy all the Panther content I can get. Last year, the Fan Fest TV broadcast showed very limited viewing of the practice and focused more on interviews and player closeups. Surely, I can't be the only one who wants to see some routes being run, balls being thrown, and Andy Dalton's hair blowing in the wind. Will this be the same as last year, or can I book some takeout and count on the Panthers to come through? — Cody, Willow Spring, NC
Here's the thing about a Fan Fest broadcast, you're trying to appeal to a little bit of everyone across our viewing area. The people who want all football can never get enough, and the people who don't know a nickel from a dime want to be told a good story. Our friends on the broadcast are walking a fine line and they do it well.
And I know Cody is a hard core, though I secretly wonder if he actually watched last year. Everyone knows that Andy Dalton's hair doesn't move until or unless he commands it to, and it's rated for everything up to and including gale-force winds. (Actually, I know Cody was watching, so he can be this week's Friend Of The Mailbag.)
We know this summer's a unique training camp since fans can't come to practice because of the construction of the new indoor facility. That's why we're working on some cool stuff for this year to add to our content inventory. Stay tuned.
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The discussion on retiring jerseys in your latest "Ask the Old Guy" mirrored one I recently had on the Cat Scratch Reader blog. I thought it interesting that our opinions seemed to align. When team greats like Julius Peppers, Steve Smith, Luke Kuechly, and the like retire, it's only fitting for their jersey number to be placed in an unavailable status for a period of time (10 or 15 years?). Included shall be the caveat that the player has the option to waive the jersey restriction upon another's request.
The outlier to this is the "51" of Sam Mills. This is the one jersey that shall forever remain retired for all the reasons you elegantly proffered in your answer to Glenn from Swansboro. The Panthers shall always hold Sam's contributions to the team in the highest regards. — Randall, Branchville, SC
How much are you paying for that plug? Is there a free T-shirt involved? Also, congratulations on agreeing with me. World would be happier if that became contagious.
And in case anyone missed the last 'Bag, the good news is we have a full archive of Mailbags here, so you can catch up. Beats standing outside in the heat.
But retiring too many numbers is a bad idea until the league starts opening the door for letters, symbols, and three-digits. With 91 players on the roster and only 100 number possibilities (including 0, but for some reason, not 00), you'd run out.
You can't fast-forward history, and this team is going into season 31.
Yes, 51 is sacred. Leaving it alone underscores that point.
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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.
Hi OG! It's been some time, but I wanted to check in and say hello and wish you well. It's been a pleasure reading all the Panthers articles you all have putting out. Breaking news: My family and I relocated to North Carolina. It was a work opportunity and we couldn't pass up on finally moving here. There is a good buzz brewing with this team! Although secondary is still worrisome. P.S. I could use another one of those awesome FOTM T-Shirts! — Jeff, Raleigh, NC
Jeff's a long-timer, having written to this bag from Henderson, Nev., somewhere in Utah, and probably more states than I can remember. But welcome home to the Carolinas.
As for the T-shirt, what happened to your original? Was it not treated as a treasured artifact in your many moves? Surely you didn't let someone you live with get rid of a perfectly good T-shirt, did you?
My son had made a suggestion and I was wondering if you thought it might be a good one? He said to turn Jalen Coker into a TE that would strengthen our TE room and still make room for him on the 53 in case they decide to go another direction. I personally think the guarantees are Adam Thielen, Tetairoa McMillan, Hunter Renfrow, Coker, Jimmy Horn Jr. and possibly Xavier Legette. I think David Moore and Dan Chisena will be on the fence. With Jacolby George and Kobe Hudson making PS. — Cheryl, Fuquay Varina, NC
Yeah, I think XL is making this team. Call it a hunch. And Coker needs to continue to work as a WR. Adam Thielen can't play forever. (Or can he?)
Coker showed enough as a rookie that he doesn't need to start learning new positions. He's just fine where he is, and the competition is good for all of them.
What can we expect from the Panthers this season? — Darrell, Kernersville, NC
I'd say 17 games, eight of them here. Some good, some bad, some surprises along the way. Like life, really.
(But things are getting better here.)
No question today--just a Thank You for the shirt. It's very nice, and I'll wear it with "Panther Pride". Have a great summer! — Tanis, Yadkinville, NC
See Jeff, this is an appropriate T-shirt letter. You're welcome to Tanis, and all the other FsOTM who have recently received or will receive their shipments. It's the least I can do because if you look cool, you'll feel cool.
And we all need that right about now.
