CHARLOTTE — It would be premature at best and misleading at worst to suggest the Panthers have figured this thing out at the moment. They're 3-7.
But it's also reasonable to think that they're showing signs of a path forward, and there are hints of what they want this thing to look like in a better future. If you squint, you can see the outline of it.
Things are pretty upbeat around the building this week, and not just because it's bye week and everyone has a chance to breathe for a second. That's enough. That's not the same as a week off, though, because the guys you would expect are still around the building getting treatment and taking care of themselves, including Chuba Hubbard, who was one of the first guys in after the game (there were actually guys who got straight off a bus from the airport at 3 a.m. Monday and went into the stadium to get a workout, partly to push through the jet lag and partly because there are some pros among this lot).
As much as the results of recent weeks, that's the kind of thing Dave Canales and this team can latch onto. He talks about building on tangible steps, and they've done that lately, responding to positive reinforcement in the right way — by leaning into it.
I mean, it's possible that the Panthers beat a couple of teams with a combined record of 5-15, and that none of this means a lot. But the vibe around the team right now is real; there's a sense that something's cooking that hasn't been evident around the place since the second half of the 2022 season when that team found an identity.
They're still flawed and far from where they need to be. As we've talked about here all season, the only true fixes for this team will come with time and more people. But they are showing evidence of what they want to be, a little bit at a time.
It's a start. And after a long start to the season and a long trip to Germany, it's what they needed. It's not everything, but it's not nothing, either.
------------------------------------------------------
Why will Dave Canales not just say Bryce Young is the starter for the rest of the season? I don't get it. — Will, Rock Hill, SC
Two reasons, really. 1) He doesn't have to, and 2) What difference does it make?
I've heard people suggest this is just head games and that it's not conducive to a positive environment. Results suggest otherwise.
Bryce has taken steps in the right direction each of the last three weeks. These are small steps, to be sure, but steps. It's possible the broadcast was a little over the top in its praise. He did throw for a whole 126 yards, and they'll need more than that out of him in the future. At the same time, he's making more adult throws each game, stepping into (largely clean) pockets, and delivering passes he wasn't the first two games of the year or for large swaths of last year.
And that's the important part, the results. Announcing who's starting isn't really important until the practice week starts (if it's important then). And things change. Andy Dalton was going to start against the Broncos until he got hit by a car on Sardis Road on a Tuesday afternoon while picking his kids up from school. Life comes at you fast.
I think the only people it's really important to are members of the media who are compelled to ask it every week, because neither Young nor Canales seems really flustered by it. And since it's working, there's no real reason to change.
Canales wants to support and develop Young. He did that in Week 3 by getting him in out of the rain. And it's being made clear to Young and everyone that there's still more to be done. When Canales was talking about how proud he was of Young after the win in Germany Sunday, you have to listen to the whole answer to understand where they're at.
"I'm so proud of Bryce. I'm so proud of taking the next step again," Canales said. "I thought he had a great day. I thought it could have been a fantastic day. I thought a few balls got away from us a couple of times, and that could have turned it into really an exceptional day."
It was good. It could be better. The getting it better is the important part. Ordaining someone doesn't get them closer to that goal. Only playing better does. So do more of that, and the answers will be apparent.
------------------------------------------------------
What do you think about Bryce Young's future? Do you see him developing enough to be the answer at QB for the Panthers? It's encouraging to see Bryce getting some positive results. In those first two games this year, he looked like a deer in the headlights. Everything was too quick for him; he wasn't seeing the field, indecisive, late in his reads, aiming the ball instead of firing it, jumping up to make throws which were high and inaccurate, ... a hot mess. He was like the guy who was trying to change his golf swing or jump shot, with no muscle or mental memory. Now you see better footwork, anticipating throws, some zip on the ball, quicker decisions. So, improving, with a ways to go. He missed a couple of throws late in the fourth quarter today, which is something that you expect NFL quarterbacks to make. It would have sealed the win for the Panthers. Still, the team played good enough to win, so great results.
There is reason to hope that as Bryce evolves along with the other rookies (with all that happened last year, it seems that this should count as his rookie year), there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it isn't from an oncoming train! Keep Pounding! — Norm, Greenville, SC
Ben McAdoo's other pants got hung up in customs, so I lack access to the crystal ball this week.
But he's playing better. Things have stabilized around him. And he's actively participating in the improvement.
The third-down pass to Xavier Legette in the fourth quarter was the kind of throw he's capable of making. As Canales pointed out, now he needs to keep making them. He can. He has. He needs to continue.
And yes, growing alongside Legette, Jalen Coker, and Ja'Tavion Sanders is good for the whole group. We'll see how it develops.
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Darin, Victory Monday is here!!! The game was at 6:30 a.m. here in Idaho, but I'm sure glad I got up for it. Seeing this young core of players develop and challenge adversity has been beautiful!! My concern is (we all know beating the undefeated Chiefs is a long shot), but if we lose, will the world go back to blaming Bryce Young? Will his confidence plummet? Hope you wake up to a wonderful cup of coffee and a bright smile this morning. Cheers on behalf of all of us Idaho fans! — Max, Sandpoint, ID
Having the undefeated Chiefs in their first post-bye game will certainly keep anyone from getting ahead of themselves. But it also recalibrates the hopes because exactly nobody expects the Panthers to win (or the Spanish Inquisition, for that matter). On the other hand, that gives them an opportunity to play freely since most consider it a house money situation.
But I don't think one game will change Young much in either direction because I've seen little evidence of him changing week-to-week. He loves a routine. Maybe a little more personality now that things are going well, but he's the same cat every day, and that's part of the reason it's fair to think he can fix it.
A wonderful cup of coffee would be welcome. A bad cup will be acceptable, since I'm still adjusting to my time zone. The Germans are great at many things (beer, singing, punctuality, engineering, making paper airplanes out of promotional placards), but coffee is not one of them. I usually start the day by warming up whatever was left in the pot the day before as a starter cup while I brew a new pot. Monday, I did that and then thanked our daughter for having it ready for me to warm up. She replied that she had not made coffee over the weekend. So that first cup back in the States was leftover from last Thursday, and it was still better than anything I had in Germany. I have low standards for coffee, and Germany failed not reach them. Otherwise, it was a lovely trip.
(Also, morning football is something I can get behind. Enjoy, and then the whole day is in front of you. Part of the reason I got hooked by English soccer was that it didn't chew up the entire day the way college football does.)
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Darin! Long-time reader and fan of the Mailbag. Thought you and Kassidy did great in Germany. Loved all of the content.
My question today is about Bryce. He's had two consecutive games now where you can visibly see he's gotten a little bit of his swag back. He looks more confident under center and on the sidelines. The videos and photos of him smiling at the end of the game in Munich are all over the internet. You can tell the locker room is behind him (not saying they ever weren't, but you can actually see it again for the first time in a while). I know the coach isn't ready to name him the starter for the rest of the year, so here's my question. Even if Bryce isn't officially BACK back, are we ready to say Bryce is back? Or, in other words, did those few games sitting "fix" whatever wasn't working? — Alex, Charlotte
Time will tell. You can see him showing more outward signs of emotion, pointing for first downs like that other quarterback who used to play here (not Jake Delhomme), and generally appearing to be having fun. He almost made a couple of jokes in a press conference. Almost.
But winning games creates the environment for fun, too. And last year and the start of this year offered few reasons for anyone to smile. Remember how much people were digging on Dalton after the Las Vegas trip? Winning is the ultimate party accelerant.
And this may seem like a hedge, but declaring someone anything is a good way to get yourself sideways. Remember a month ago when Caleb Williams was lighting it up, and everybody in Chicago was pointing and laughing at the Panthers? Things change in a hurry, and nothing is forever. I'm old enough to remember when Sam Darnold was a savior, a bust, back, gone, back again, a savior again, and back to being decent. I prefer time and averages over individual data points. More reliable.
So here's my advice: Enjoy now. Enjoy today. Nothing else is promised. And keep working to make the stuff around you better. That goes for fans, and Bryce too. And that's the approach he seems to be taking. Whether it was being benched, or maybe he changed his routine, I don't know (though I doubt it), or maybe he's just in a better mood. But what's happening now is working, so do more of that.
Fun is good. I'm pro-fun. Try to have more of it and see where it gets you.
------------------------------------------------------
Darin. A few suggestions for the Chiefs game that I feel good enough to go to. Be sure it's cold. Double the size of the beer. Play John Denver and Neil Diamond and keep on singing. Show up en masse. Don't sell your tickets. And let's end the Chiefs winning streak. Now. What's the game plan? — Jimmy, Wilmington, NC
I endorse adding a little Bavarian flair to game day here, or anywhere really. The passion in Munich was real. Maybe it was the big steins. Even Bryce noted it after the game; he could tell the German fans were totally into it, cheering at the right times and quiet at the right times. But yeah, adding a little schnitzel isn't that far from what we're doing anyway. Beating a piece of meat flat, breading it, and frying it is part of my people's culinary history, too. So why not add Lederhosen to the mix?
In the interest of cultural exploration, your Intrepid Reporter set out alone in Germany the night we landed (Call me Hans Solo), a few blocks down the street to a neighborhood pub. Despite speaking none of their language and them speaking none of mine, we reached a comfortable and mutually beneficial peace.
Intrepid Reporter: Makes eye contact with bartender, points to tap: "Pilsner?"
Franz (I'm guessing): "(Words which I assume based on context clues correlated with the amount of money he desired in exchange for his goods and services.)"
IR: Hands credit card across the bar.
Franz: "No. Minimum 20 card."
IR: (Holds up international peace sign) "Two Pilsner?"
Franz: "Three."
So we stood there having a fine time together, me enjoying a fresh Wildbrau or three (and their logo includes a walking bear carrying a W-shaped trident, he's strutting like he just kicked Poseidon's butt), and the jukebox was full of classic rock from the 1980s. In addition to David Hasselhoff, I can confirm that Toto, Rick Springfield, Def Leppard, and Journey are still huge in Germany. They also had a little toy train that circled the wall, delivering shots of Apfelkorn, and everybody was happy and warm and singing.
This was what Reagan must have felt like in 1989. I'm here for it. And it might be enough to convince the Chiefs to give Patrick Mahomes the week off in the spirit of international brotherhood. That would be a good start. (Seriously, sing more, create home-field advantage, eat fried meat, and run the ball to keep it away from the other offense. That's as much game plan as I've got in the bye week. More football next week, promise) Can't wait to get you back in the building, Jimmy.
------------------------------------------------------
Two wins is a streak baby! I've got two questions for you today. 1. After a relatively mistake-free performance from Bryce Young today, do you think that he should continue to be the starter until further notice? And 2. I thought that Chuba's good play could be attributed to wanting an extension. He got the extension and then put up a career-high in rushing yards. Do you think that the performance we saw today was a thank you for the extension, or do you think that he is still running like his job is on the line with Jonathon Brooks coming back soon? — Elliott, Hickory, NC
1. Is a reasonable assumption based on the way Canales answered the question Sunday night: "I can't tell you that right now. But you know, certainly, certainly, Bryce made a great statement for himself today." The second "certainly" kind of gave it away. But tune in to any subsequent press conferences for the latest on his matter of journalistic importance.
2. Here's the cool thing about Chuba. The money won't change the way he goes about his job.
Newly rich, he went out to get his typical three hours before kickoff Jugs machine workout on Sunday morning. But the Jugs machine the NFL provided never made it from Friday's practice at Bayern Munich's facility to the stadium. So he had to catch a bunch of passes from humans instead, and heroes Mack Whitehurst and Greg Almond from the equipment staff stepped up.
And then he had a career game. And then he was back at the stadium Monday morning, after a 10-hour flight, to get his normal workout and regiment of treatment.
He still works like he's broke, and it's OK to love him for that. They do. It's easy to show out on an international stage when everybody's watching. Hubbard does it when nobody's looking, in voluntary workouts in March and OTAs in May.
And if Brooks starts playing soon and looks like the guy he was at Texas, then they have two backs to use. Some people see this as a problem. I see it as an opportunity, being old enough to remember Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, or even Fred Lane and Tshimanga Biakabutuka. If some ground game is good, more must be better.
------------------------------------------------------
Thailand Tony here again. Do you remember me? I'm still in Thailand and still up in the middle of the night watching Panther games. Got a break this week when the game in Germany came on at 9:00 p.m. Sunday night.
I've been looking at the league every week, trying to assess where we're at. As of today, our overall record is as good or better than 11 teams in the league. Over the past 5 games, we are as good or better than 18 teams. You could say that is a reflection on the league itself, but I look at it as a positive and, especially since I sense we are trending up while some of those others are trending down. I understand that making the playoffs is the metric we tend to look at when evaluating a successful season, but how would you feel if we ended up with a record as good or better than 16-18 of the 32 teams?
Still waiting on my T-shirt! You can send it to my address in Texas if you want, which is where I'll be when my daughter and I move back next June to join my wife, who is already there. I'm gonna have to switch from BBQ pork to beef brisket in the future. That will be my main culture shock! — Tony, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Who could forget Tony, who uses football to teach English overseas? I am way behind on mailing out T-shirts, apologies to all the FsOTM, but I promise to get on that next week.
Ultimately, the record will tell you where they are. But the Panthers are on the verge of escaping the "is this over yet?" portion of the league and joining the great and vast middle. That's progress, man. I thought entering the season, this was a five or six-win team. It still looks possible to get there. When it was 2-15 a year ago, that's a tangible improvement. But as I said at the top, you're starting to see the formation of what could be a personality. That's more important than the win-loss record this year.
Also, how cool is it that we've got Tony in Thailand watching a game played by a team from the American South in the German South and people watching games together at inconvenient times and writing the Mailbag from Wales, Australia, England, and all over the world? Very cool, is the answer. This Mailbag is practically National Geographic without the map nobody could ever get folded again.
------------------------------------------------------
Big thanks for your hard work for us. Good game from the offense with great job from O-line and Chuba. The defense wasn't bad, although I did ask myself what Fuller was doing out there a couple of times. These special team penalties, from illegal formation on kickoffs to not kicking it off to get at least the 10-yard line, are perplexing this far into the season. It seems like a rarity not to have a flag against us on punt returns. I also noticed Sam Franklin Jr., after the kickoff in overtime, was trying to start a fight when the play was over. The Panthers have cleaned up some of the penalties, but the special teams continue with bonehead penalties that cost us field position time and time again. Why hasn't it gotten any better this far into the season? — Don, Trinity, NC
Two things can be true at once. Yes, they want to clean up the penalties. When you're not that good yet, you can't afford to give away any yards, ever.
On the other hand, the Panthers are also exhibiting what more generous people refer to as "edge" on special teams.
Between Franklin (a team captain), Lonnie Johnson, and Feleipe Franks, the Panthers have some dudes on all the special teams units that can get under the skin of opponents. Now, it's a fine line, and god bless international spy Tracy Smith for being the one to manage them. But they're getting better in that area.
Special teams are always a bit of a scramble because you're building coverage and return units out of mostly backups. And on building teams or injured teams, the backups are always changing or becoming starters. But between those three, Jon Rhattigan, Claudin Cherelus, and some others, they have some legitimate dudes in the kicking game to go along with Eddy Piñeiro, Johnny Hekker, and JJ Jansen who are older and calmer and also utter pros.
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Darin, I completely understand that the NFL operates a business, so playing regular season games in Europe is all about getting the NFL, including owners/players, extra revenue. But I don't understand why the NFL is playing regular season games in Europe instead of preseason games in Europe. Playing regular season games in Europe to the fans back in the state it basically shows that we are irrelevant to the NFL. Not only teams in this week the Panthers are losing a home game not being play in Charlotte. But in addition the game kickoff at 9:30 a.m. which is just too early for Sunday football. — Shaked, Charlotte
There's one in every crowd, and we found him, folks, the one guy grouchy about what happened this week. You want them to think we're Ugly Americans? Start sending preseason games.
International games are part of the league's reality now, so everybody's going to get one. And in a 17-game schedule, there's always an imbalance, so think of it as 8-8-1 with a neutral site built in instead of 9-8. So I'm of the opinion that you embrace it. I want to do it again now, even though I'm completely exhausted and need about 19 naps to catch up.
The other way to look at it is you're sharing your gift of football with the entire world, and everybody gets a turn. And sharing is caring. It's like the Olympics with helmets. The Packers and Eagles opened the season in Brazil. Let's go everywhere. I volunteer as tribute.
And when kickoff is early, it creates a world of opportunities for fans. Add eggs and French toast to your tailgate spread. Plan some physical activity for later in the day. Visit friends. Take a nap if the 1 p.m. games are uninspiring.
I think I can eventually convince you this is a good thing. If nothing else, I'll make you this week's Friend Of The Mailbag and get the appropriate honorarium on the way to you now that you're signing your own name to your questions.
-----------------------------------------------------
Hey Darin! I have two semi-serious questions, one inspired by the Mailbag's best and brightest student and one inspired by my old D-Town Riot buddies:
1) While you say that having a Darin Theme Day would be something no one wants, what about a Friend Of The Mailbag Day, where we try to coordinate one home game where we can get as many of these awesome people in the stands, cheering for our team and singing Sweet Caroline once the clock hits triple zero? I feel like that would be an amazing experience, and it wouldn't technically be a Darin Theme Day.
2) After reviewing the Prohibited Items list and not finding a definitive answer, do you think that (Dolla Bill) Stick Horses would be permitted in the stadium? — Nate, Charlotte
I bet if you got too many Mailbag readers together in one place, somebody would call the cops because there's simply too much excellence in one place (other than Shaked). Besides, if you're a Friend Of The Mailbag, you're part of such a select society that every day is filled with opportunities. Maybe we'll have a Zoom call or something this offseason. That has potential.
Also, I committed a journalism and I regret to inform you that Dolla Bill stick horses aren't allowed in the stadium. It's the stick part that's tricky (the same reason flagpoles and selfie sticks are verboten).
Now, if you want to go stickless stick horse (which is closer to a horse than boneless wings are to wings), then I see nothing in the rules that would prohibit that.
And our new friends in Germany have already fallen for Legette and Dolla Bill, so let's turn this into a worldwide phenomenon.
------------------------------------------------------
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.
SOCKS GOT A HOLE IN THE TOE NOW BUT I'M KEEPING THEM FOREVER! — Dustin, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Who are we kidding, Dustin? You were keeping those lucky socks anyway.
Hello there, Sparky! This is written on Tuesday after a win for the Panthers, before the votes are tabulated, with anticipation of a victory in Germany. Can this really be the beginning of a winning streak? The photo of Sorenson with Abdullah The Butcher and your accompanying prose is the stuff of legend...worthy of a time capsule kind of good story. Thanks for sharing. — Westray, Kershaw, SC
Westray is a seer. He also knows that I'm probably going to tell that story again someday because that's what I do. After a couple of years together, the wife started holding up fingers to indicate to me how many times she'd heard my stories. Weird thing is, a lot of them are stuck on one.
OK, I've been negative about this team for a while. Don't get me wrong, I love our Panthers, and I would never say otherwise. but I have to say, it looks like we have some positivity. Bryce is improving. We have a HAUL this April. Canales seems like he is working out, maybe not great, but pretty good. I love our new linebacker out of Kentucky (forgot his name). This message isn't a question but more of a statement to all fans out there: Carolina, look up. Stay positive and Keep Pounding. I have a good feeling about the future. — Miles, Chicago, IL
There's plenty of stuff to be all negative about, especially if you go looking for it. I respect that Miles is choosing the noble path. (I also think he's onto something; things do appear to be turning). Also, it's Trevin Wallace. Never forget that.
Please give me the complete scorecard on games 1 through 10. — Linda, Matthews, NC
What is this, American Bandstand? I give it a 3-7. It's got a good beat, and you can dance to it (especially if you're in Germany).
Hello Darin! I heard from a little red birdie that there was another person with the first name that is pronounced like Dare In, who works in the NFL and wrote mailbags, and he has a bye week this week, too! How interesting! I Gantt believe it! (That would be a great name for a TV show on like MeTV, honestly: "I Gantt Believe It- Facts that Will BLOW YOUR MIND with Darin Gantt)
Also, did they have to pay for toilets like my mom had to in France? Was the team fahrten around Europe like Le Pétomane? — Zach, Charlotte
Oh, no question; Darren Urban of AzCardinals.com is both a Friend Of The Mailbag and a dear friend. He's also erudite and tall and impossibly handsome. He calls his bag You've Got Mail, which is fine, I guess, but I tried to get him to call it Urban Scrawl or Bird Droppings. He's a bit of a prude sometimes, but I love him anyway.
The 12-year-old in me (that is to say, me) was delighted to see all the signs reading Ausfahrt on the highway when we got to Germany. My first thought was that Ausfahrt must be the biggest city in this country; all the exit ramps go there. Then I realized it meant exit. That's the kind of insight you only get here, folks.
Keep it up, and you'll be like Governor LePetomane someday. Until then, GET BACK TO CLASS, ZACH.
