Ask The Old Guy: Almost time to go to camp

CHARLOTTE — Football players are back in a football building. They're not doing football things yet, but it's one step closer.

It's not quite guys carrying their items into a dorm at Wofford in terms of a visual, but it's a start. I mean, there's Xavier Legette, which means we're one step closer to seeing all the new people back on the field.

Rookies reported back for the summer on Friday morning, and they're doing rookie things (mostly meetings). There's nothing on the field until next Wednesday morning, so it's like a soft launch for training camp.

But what that means is that we're almost there.

It seems like the offseasons get longer every year, or maybe just more full of content. We've discussed all the topics by now, covered all the lists, and done all the speculating about abstract concepts we can. Next week, we get to see them on the field.

So this Mailbag might be short on football specifics, but those are coming soon because guys will be on the field in a few days. Until then, let's take one last lap through the offseason.

------------------------------------------------------

We've finally made it through the offseason, Darin! Football is BACK! I'll admit that I tried so hard all summer to not be roped into the Hopium Highs that come with the down months, but here I am, vigorously defending *OUR* team on every part of both the cyber-world and the workplace.

While it isn't technically a football question, I feel obligated to ask: Why is it so hard not to enter training camp with the optimism of a younger (in some cases, much younger) fan? Even my father, a self-described "Day Zero Panthers Fan" who has, in recent years, taken to jokingly apologizing for passing the "curse of fandom" onto me, is optimistic about this year. I can't wait to see everything that y'all have been cooking up for us over on Mint Street; cheers, and Keep Pounding! — Nate, Charlotte

Same reason baseball fans flock to spring training. That's where the hope lives.

Everyone is 0-0, no one is eliminated from postseason contention yet, and there's new stuff to talk about in every precinct.

If you're not at least a little bit excited about the start of training camp, I kind of wonder why you follow the sport at all.

It's a first chance to see what Bryce Young looks like behind a new-look offensive line and a more talented interior than they've had in nearly a decade. When you invest $150 million in free agent guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and move the smart and solid Austin Corbett to center, the middle is stout. And they drafted Legette in the first round and traded for Diontae Johnson to give Young more people to throw to with what they hope is the added time.

It's a chance to see Jadeveon Clowney on the field for his hometown team, creating the opportunity for unique memories.

It's a chance to see Legette up close and in person, and realize he brings things to the receiver room (size and speed, namely) that weren't there previously.

But mostly, it's a reset; it's new energy. Coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan bring a lot of that themselves, but a lot of that is organic and the nature of this time of year.

We don't know how the season's going to turn out, but we know that this is different, and if we're curious, that can be enough for the moment.

------------------------------------------------------

Hi Darin! We've been hearing a lot about the probable lack of pass rush that the Panthers will have this season. I know they lost Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu, who could rush and get sacks, and, at least in theory, didn't replace them with the same kind of pass-rush players. I also don't think this team will have the pass rush as the strength of the defense.

That said, even if a team has a bunch of great players rushing the passer, it probably won't matter if that team is not scoring points (and losing the game) and also not stopping the run - two things that happened a lot last year. Is it that crazy of a thought to imagine that the pass rush might even get better - compared to last season - if the offense gets better at scoring points and moving the ball and the defense does a better job stopping the run (something that the players brought are good at in theory)? Thanks! — Fernando, São Paulo, Brazil

That's real. The Panthers are clearly not overstocked with pass-rushers, even with Clowney coming aboard. Even when D.J. Wonnum gets back on the field, the group could still use reinforcing, and it's unclear when Wonnum will be ready to go. Some complications after an offseason surgery kept him off the field all spring, so it's probably not reasonable to expect him to go 100 percent next Wednesday morning.

That creates opportunities for guys like K'Lavon Chaisson, DJ Johnson, and many more. That position is obviously an area Morgan and the staff will continue to look for additions to. It should come as no surprise anytime the next couple of months if you hear about a veteran workout or a possible waiver claim at the position.

We've mentioned this a few times this offseason (it feels like we've mentioned everything a few times this offseason), but the Panthers have the first crack at every player who hits the waiver wire until Week 4 of the regular season. So looking through the discard pile (now and when teams cut to 53 in late August) and continuing to experiment seems like something we should expect.

But Fernando's larger point is valid.

The run defense ought to be significantly better. Adding big ol' A'Shawn Robinson to line up opposite Derrick Brown makes the front more substantial, and having a pair of legitimate inside linebackers in Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell (as opposed to an injured Thompson and a miscast Luvu in the middle in 2023) should create an immediate difference.

And if the offense stabilizes, and scores some points, it will have a carryover effect on the other side of the ball. The Panthers didn't get chances to rush the passer in the fourth quarter last season, because they didn't lead for a single second of a fourth quarter in 2023. That's practically impossible, but it happened.

They've got work to do on defense to make things better, but if they can run well, take care of the ball, score a few touchdowns, and shorten games, that obviously helps on the other side. The league average was just under 22 points per game last year, and if the Panthers had scored exactly 22 points and no more in every game, they'd have gone 8-9 and been a playoff team last season. But they didn't, which is why there's so much new here.

------------------------------------------------------

How long are the practices next week? — Sara, Fort Mill, SC

The practice itself lasts about an hour and a half, but guys are walking out ahead of the 9:30 a.m. start time each day (each session goes to around 11 a.m.), so they're usually out there at least two hours.

By going early, they're avoiding the hottest part of the day, which is always helpful. It might not be Spartanburg, but no one is expecting it to be dramatically cooler.

------------------------------------------------------

Any insider info on the new training camp location? Looks like the newly installed bleachers offer a great view! I know you'll miss the Peachoid, but it has to be nice to be able to head home to your own bed after practice this preseason. — Kyle, Hendersonville, NC

The Peachoid might get its mail in Gaffney, but it lives deep within my heart (very deep). It has appeared on Gantt family Christmas cards and more social media posts than anyone can count. I may have to drive down and pay my respects Monday night just for it to feel like training camp.

But having camp in Charlotte will certainly be more convenient and comfortable. Dorm mattresses are not conducive to 20-year-old athletes or 50-plus-year-old non-athletes, so being at home will obviously have some advantages.

The new location looks sweet, and not just because there's a pretty striking (and constantly evolving) skyline as a backdrop.

I got to walk the property this week to get the lay of the land. The best news is the bleachers for fans are covered, offering a break from the elements. Being in the middle of the city offers a lot of options for pre- and post-practice activities as well. If you're coming in from out of town, with or without kids, there's plenty of stuff to do in downtown Charlotte (seriously, if you have kids, practice and then lunch and an afternoon lap through Discovery Place sounds like a pretty family outing).

But this is the first time for me, too. I've never not gotten on I-85 to get to camp (and I won't miss that). So I'd be lying if I could tell you exactly what it was going to be like. You can find all our logistical information here at Training Camp Central. But this is a voyage of discovery for all of us.

My general recommendation is to walk or bike or use public transportation as much as you can to avoid parking headaches, and to walk in with a sense of grace and understanding and possibilities since it's the first time all of us are doing this. But that's my general recommendation for life, not just training camp.

We're learning together what it's going to be like, and we'll build our base of knowledge as we go. But I know there are plenty of great places within walking distance of the practice fields before and after (Community Matters is one of the great breakfast and lunch spots in the city any time of year), and those businesses will be grateful for your support.

------------------------------------------------------

Did you happen to see the old band back together last weekend for Christian McCaffrey's wedding? It gave me such a nostalgic feeling seeing them all in the same photo frame again. It took me right back to 2015, the good old days. Almost a decade later, it just goes to show how that team truly bonded, and it was deeper than just football. It makes sense to me that the success of the team goes hand in hand with their closeness as men, not football players. I say all that to say that I am so excited for this team's future with Canales and how hard it appears Coach Dave is working to bring back that kind of locker room culture and Panther pride! Thanks for all you have done for us readers and Carolina fans since '95. — Chase, Greensboro, NC

That was clearly quite a scene, and mazel tov to the happy couple. Also, we are all Greg Olsen, and should aspire to his joy for his friends. (The fun McCaffrey and Cam Newton have had with each other since then has been exceptional as well).

As it pertains to that team's success, there's some chicken-and-egg action at work here. Were the 2015 Panthers good because they were close, or close because they were good? Hard to separate those two.

But it's a solid point, and it's something everyone would love to get back to. And a lot of that will happen over the next month. It's not going away together to a different state, but the Panthers are going to spend a lot of time together over the next month and get to know each other in a new way.

And because of Canales' relentless positivity — If you haven't seen the Russell Okung posts on social media, you should check it out — there's at least the opportunity for some of that kind of feeling to grow.

But Canales also knows he has to "get the football right," and that's why he's been saying it since his first day.

Without wins — or evidence of success or tangible progress toward that goal — positivity runs the risk of becoming hollow cheerleading. It's a sugar high, not something that lasts.

I don't think Dave is being positive and upbeat to prove a point — I'm coming to the conclusion that's just who he is — but I think it can be helpful.

And for choosing to see past the fog of nostalgia and into the potential of a new dawn (or something), I'm making Chase this week's Friend Of The Mailbag and will get the appropriate honorarium on the way to him soon.

------------------------------------------------------

I know training camp is a ways a way and there are a number of positions with a stable of guys who are fighting for spots. Are there any particular position battles (ex. fourth wide receiver, backup free safety) or battles between individual players that you would like to highlight/have us look out for? — Christopher, Raleigh, NC

I want to see how the receiver spot shakes out because there are a lot of dudes there.

They have a sense of what they have in Adam Thielen, and by trading for Johnson, they gave themselves a potential first option. They didn't draft Legette to not play him.

But Jonathan Mingo had a really good spring for himself, in part because he was around for all the reps Johnson wasn't getting when he was working out on his own, or when Legette was out with a hamstring. He's not necessarily as big or fast as Legette, but he is big and fast and looked good during OTAs. Ihmir Smith-Marsette showed last year he had a little juice and has built on that. David Moore's an old head who knows what Canales expects (and performed last year in the playoffs for the Bucs). And there are some young dudes with potential.

Again, the door is open for contributors at outside linebacker and cornerback, and I'm interested to see how the parts across the entire secondary come together. Of all the offseason additions with Ejiro Evero ties, Nick Scott hasn't gotten enough mention. Plus, he's a good special teams player who caught a pass from Johnny Hekker. And wouldn't we all love to see that?

And there will be a kicking competition, which is always interesting.

But it's camp, so there will be no shortage of interesting.

------------------------------------------------------

Hello Darin, the wife and I really enjoy your articles and thank you for that. I believe it's story time. I hope you share and enjoy it. I'm a huge place kicker fan and feel we've been spoiled with John Kasay and Eddy Piñeiro over the years. That being said, I live and own a catering company here in Missouri and am a huge Mizzou Tiger fan. Campus Bar & Grill here in Columbia named a burger after Harrison Mevis. The "Thiccer Kicker Burger. "It is made in Harrison's honor! Comes with (2) 1/3 beef patties, (4) strips of bacon , Colby jack cheese, onion ring , lettuce, tomato, and special sauce. Yummy! If Mevis makes the team, I will personally make a burger in his honor as well. What are your thoughts? Have a fabulous break before we surprise the NFL. Keep Pounding. — David, Farmington, MO

My thoughts are, ... mmm hamburgers. Where was I?

Mevis had the advantage of being present, and kicked well through the offseason. But Piñeiro has kicked well throughout his time with the Panthers, so it will be interesting to see how it develops in the coming weeks.

Be prepared to make an Eddy Burger, just in case. I'm not sure what would be on that one. I'll commit a journalism and ask hamburger expert JJ Jansen for his thoughts when I see him. Of all his non-snapping skills, his ability to make and enjoy an impressive hamburger is one of the ones I trust the most.

------------------------------------------------------

We do have some holes left, but what a difference from a year ago. I am excited again, hopefully this time for good reason. My question is, how much does Young have to improve to be considered OK? The bar is much higher when you cost as much as he did. Anything less than a franchise QB comes up short. When do you say, OK, we need another QB, or let's run with this one? I hope you had a good vacation and welcome back. — Stephen, Columbia, SC

So much for hope springs eternal, my guy Stephen is looking for the next quarterback already.

Nobody's on scholarship here, but I'm also not spending a lot of time and energy thinking about last year either.

One of the smartest and most successful people I've met in this business always cautioned that you have to be careful judging individual parts when the collective whole falls apart.

Bryce struggled for a lot of reasons last year, which included Bryce himself, but also a lot of stuff that didn't have anything to do with him. So I want to see him in a stable situation first. Is this one? We'll see, but the opportunity is there based on the offseason moves.

Also, thanks; the vacation was lovely. New York is not overrated. The High Line, Rucker Park, seeing Stereophonic, Elly De La Cruz tripling in Yankee Stadium, and Central Park were all amazing. Plus, my art has now been exhibited in yet another iconic museum, after 2023's showing at The Louvre.

------------------------------------------------------

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.

Question for Darin: Hello there, Mr. Gantt, I hope all is well. Pertinent question #1) Do you run two strings or one when weed eating? Or do you pay somebody to do that sort of tedious yard work? Pertinent question #2) Why am I sooooo optimistic about the upcoming season...A) Hope does spring eternal B)Dan Morgan exudes confidence. C)Dave Canales exudes confidence D)As an organization, the Carolina Panthers are sick and tired of being sick and tired...ALL OF THE ABOVE! I can't wait to see who is on the 53-man roster to start the season...KEEP POUNDING!!! — Westray, Kershaw, SC

One string on my battery-powered weed-eater, though I do own a machete for more persistent undergrowth. And what about me exudes "pays somebody to cut his grass?"

And you're optimistic because it's July and you're about to watch both episodes of Blueprint again this weekend to get you ready.

I just read on ESPN that Ian Thomas has been the surprise player for the Panthers this offseason. We've all read a lot about Tommy Tremble's progress prior to this and, of course, drafting Ja'Tavion Sanders this year. Does this report make it more likely that Tremble or Thomas could be traded to a TE-needy team like the Giants, or does it help Thomas' case to make the team? Thanks for all your coverage and insights! — Richard, High Point, NC

Well, if it was on ESPN it must be true. Surprised the surprise player wasn't Bronny James.

I think the TE room is versatile, and I don't expect it to look like last year's Bucs TE room, in which one guy caught 47 balls, and no one else had more than five. There are several guys who can contribute in multiple ways.

I have enjoyed reading your columns for a long time. But this is my first time asking a question. As I watched the UFL games on TV, I wonder do the Panthers have any scouts at the games to look for players to possibly invite for tryout?

Also, I attended the Panther's preseason game against the New York Jets and left the game feeling the Panthers were not going to be any good last season. Turns out I was right. I am now optimistic they will show marked improvement this season. I hope my optimism is justified. Second, since I am well into my senior years, to me you are the YOG, "Young" Old Guy. — Morris, Charlotte

They didn't have scouts at the games, but the pro scouting department, including Lee McNeill, was keeping an eye on the UFL. They worked a few of those players out, and signed wide receiver Daewood Davis.

I'll take feeling younger than anyone at this point.

As an OG Friend of the Mailbag and fellow alum of the school with the best college football program in the state, I have a shameless request. Since I received my FOTM merch, I've lost the equivalent of an average teenage girl (just over 100 pounds). I would love to trade in my 3X gear for a Large! — Shane, Charlotte

Shane! That's incredible. You've got it my brother.

If you're looking for inspiration this time of year, right there's all you need. Check out the work Shane put in. Keep (Un)-Pounding, and enjoy your new gear.

And with that, see you on the practice fields next week, and we'll all get a good sweat in.