Cat Scratch Reader
Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! We’re onto Tampa Bay part 2, and I’m here to answer your questions. I decided this week not to answer any Bryce Young related questions, or anything about the season as a whole, because the season isn’t over yet! All these things will be discussed at length in the off-season, and regardless of your opinion on Bryce, this coaching staff, or this team, we at least have Saturday, and potentially Sunday (if the Panthers lose to the Buccaneers) to see the Panthers make the playoffs. So let’s dive into your questions this week!
Truthshallsetyoufree: Was releasing Clowney a mistake? Was trading Thielen a mistake?
I do think having Jadeveon Clowney around would have had some net benefit, but at the same time, Carolina committed to its young pass rushers in Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen not long afterwards. Clowney has been effective as a rotational pass rusher, racking up 5.5 sacks for Dallas as of now, which matches his Carolina production. So my official stance is “meh”. I don’t think he would have won the Panthers any more games just by being here, and we’re seeing Nic Scourton get better every game because of his significant role.
As far as Adam Thielen goes, I still think Carolina won that trade. He hasn’t recorded 200 yards or any touchdowns since Carolina let him go, so I view it as a mutual parting of ways, where Carolina got some slightly better draft picks as a result. I think if Jalen Coker wasn’t suddenly injured after the fact, Panthers fans might not even call it a question as to whether Carolina came out on top. Once Coker got back, he’s been a consistent force in basically the same role, and has outproduced Thielen. Love the guy, but this is not a trade to dwell on.
bringo!: Going into this week, what exactly would you like to see win or lose? Im personally looking for some guys like the middle LBs, Tmac, and Scourton to finish off the reg season on a good note. For Tmac it might be a bit hard cause of Young.
I want to see that same energy from the defense that showed up last week against Seattle. Despite the struggles of the offense, they were fighting every down and early on you could see the effort making a real difference. I just want to see that, even if the offense can’t match that. On offense, I’d like to see Carolina really lean on the rushing attack. Of course, that can’t always happen given the game script, but in an away game, basically playoff situation, in January, this is the time to leverage a power rushing attack. It takes pressure off of Bryce Young and makes everybody’s job easier.
schrodingersblackcat: So many questions. Feel free to pick and choose or ignore altogether.
Why is the NFCS such a joke year in and year out?...
