Ask The Old Guy: Pushing through to New Year's

CHARLOTTE — Many people like to reflect on New Year's Eve.

So, if you're that type, allow me to remind you of where we were a year ago today.

On New Year's Eve 2023, the Panthers went to suburban South Georgia on the heels of a decent showing against the Packers the week before and got their heads beat in by the Jaguars. That 26-0 shutout became emblematic of a year gone wrong in so many ways, and not just because it was their second straight December with an interim head coach. Their kicker wasn't able to kick so a linebacker had to, they managed just 124 yards of total offense, and their best player got thrown out early for getting in a fight born out of frustration.

See, the Bucs game last week doesn't sound so bad now, does it?

As much as we look back this time of year, it's more helpful to look forward, and unlike last year, the Panthers have shown some things that suggest a consistent pattern of growth. Not on defense, that's kind of a mess still because of the people they're missing, and they're going to work on that. But at least now, you have a reasonable sense that Bryce Young is the capable quarterback you need and can build around. We didn't know that a year ago. The offensive line is sound. Chuba Hubbard became one of the league's top running backs. Adam Thielen proved he can still get it done at a high level, and they have a couple of young pass-catchers who have shown flashes.

There's a lot of work to be done, and they'll start on that as soon as the gun sounds Sunday. But compared to where they were a year ago, it's hard to argue they're not in a much better place. And it's worth remembering that when you're gnashing your teeth about an ugly 48-14 loss. That was a bad game, but it was one game, and the overall themes remain.

The Panthers have one more to play Sunday, and all the dudes who suit up are going to do what they can to win it. This is their job, and their careers in the NFL can depend on playing well. So they'll be focused on the one game, even if everyone else is thinking about the future.

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I read Kassidy's piece about Adam Thielen and the mentality of "flushing it" this morning. Sounded good. Only problem is, the toilet is clogged. That kind of thing tends to happen when the whole team shares the same throne at once on a Sunday afternoon in late December (and for most of a season).

Now, I know that injuries abound. I know that rookies, special teams players, and guys who have bounced around the practice squads of the league currently comprise a "starting" defense that is so flimsy that I've used one-ply toilet paper more strongly. I know the offense has been a rotational cast as well and is currently short on running backs. Still, if you'll pardon the pun, "crap happens". These factors, though true, only amount to excuses, and as a dabbler in colloquialisms yourself, I don't need to tell you what excuses are like.

Point is, Sunday stunk, and it is time to clear the air. There are guys on this roster that care. They were highlighted well in your post-game coverage. Guys that hate losing and excuses and poor play. We have those guys every year, and they usually end up on the injury report for all their singular efforts. We need more of them. Fortunately, Dan Morgan was that type of player and seems thus far capable of finding more. I know he is already rolling up his sleeves to unclog this toilet of a roster in the offseason. I'm not calling for anyone's job, but if you're holding up the works, you gotta go. All coach-speak or talk of flushing is just a load of BS. Time to can it and grab a plunger. — Jake, Conway, AR

Jake, have you ever considered a bidet?

Listen, I understand the frustration. That game started out bad and got worse and worse as the day went on.

The Panthers defense, as presently constructed, struggled to compete against a team playing for its playoff life. They allowed 551 yards and 48 points, and honestly, the Bucs took their foot off the gas late against their former offensive coordinator. And when there are injuries that force lineup adjustments on offense and defense, the trickle down is that special teams units tend to be full of guys without a lot of subject matter experience and sometimes punts get blocked and returned for touchdowns.

I don't know how much of an impact it will have on this week's game, such that this week's game matters, but suffice it to say that Dan Morgan is aware of the problem.

A year ago, Morgan went to work fixing the biggest problem with the 2023 team, which was the lack of protection for the quarterback. He did it by spending $150 million on free agent guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. And those two were key to the team establishing a bit of an identity on offense — a team that could run the ball, and protect the passer well. Young was sacked 62 times in 16 games last year and has only taken 29 in 13 games this year. That's significant.

So it's reasonable to assume Morgan will apply the same standards to this year, and attack the biggest problem in a similarly aggressive fashion.

The Panthers defense is giving up points and yards at historic levels this year, setting new and unfortunate franchise records across the board.

So that side of the ball is going to get a refresh this offseason.

The biggest move will be getting Derrick Brown back on the field — a man who can clog the metaphorical pipe that is an opposing offense — but there will be plenty of moves. Improving the talent level on defense is the first priority this offseason.

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Hope you had a Merry Christmas and will have a Healthy New Year. As we get older we realize that good health is the best gift one could have. Also true for the Panthers. Injuries to key players was/is a major reason they don't have a better record.

What can the Panthers do to improve their depth? What is their greatest position of need? — Norm, Greenville, SC

Sign and draft more good players. (You're welcome, signed, the wise and powerful football-knower.)

There are two things at play here since Norm mentioned good health (which is my wish for all of you). The Panthers had a few big catastrophic injuries, but as we mentioned last week, they're not among the top teams in the league in terms of injuries. They've kept the guys they have on the field reasonably well in the second half of the year. Again, you don't replace a player such as Brown, ever.

But you can add pieces around him when he gets back, and they will.

As an old person and a football traditionalist, I will forever believe that being strong on both lines is the key to success. Coaches tend to make it complicated, but football is, at its essence, a simple game. Have more big people to beat up the other team's big people, and your chances of success go way up.

So adding talent to the defensive front seven overall is the key, but particularly the line. When Morgan played, he could look in front of him and see dudes like Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Brentson Buckner. He could look to his left and right and see Mark Fields and Will Witherspoon. Now he's going to go looking for a bunch of cats like that.

Brown will be back, and A'Shawn Robinson has had an impressive season in his absence. But they need more bodies there. D.J. Wonnum had a good half-season and Jadeveon Clowney is giving everything he's got on the other side. But they need more bodies there. And Josey Jewell has been consistently good, and Trevin Wallace has shown signs of being trustworthy. But they need more bodies there (especially after you saw them starting inside linebackers number five and six last week).

Also, the entire safety room, other than rookie Demani Richardson, will become free agents in March. So they need some of those too.

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Wishing you and all Panther fans a Happy New Year! Hoping for Great things for our Panthers in the New Year. I can thankfully see the progress we've made and have high hopes for '25. I'm an Old Guy also, and I have been a fan since day one. I like many others was a Washington fan, but I'm a firm believer of supporting our home team. So hopefully as we improve we can keep these other fans out of the Lair! My question is, with all the great play from all of our undrafted players, how do their contracts work? Are they under contract for next year and beyond? Keep Pounding. — James, Millers Creek, NC

The good news is, whether they initially sign a three-year deal, or a one-year deal, all those undrafted rookies remain under contractual control for up to four seasons.

If you start out on a one- or two-year deal, even when your contract expires, you're considered an exclusive rights free agent. ERFAs aren't really free agents at all, since they can only negotiate with their current teams. So as long as that team wants them and offers them a contract, they're staying. After three years you become a restricted free agent, which gives the teams first chance to keep you.

Wide receiver Jalen Coker, Richardson, and quarterback Jack Plummer are all under contract through 2025 anyway, but they're guys who have developed, and the team wants to continue developing.

And in addition to their own play, any time one of those guys can contribute to the team it helps in other ways. For every rookie on the roster making close to the minimum, there's more to spend in other areas. So in addition to being promising players, there's a roster-building benefit to having them as well.

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When are we going to get rid of the 3-4 defense and go back to the 4-3? This defense can't stop the run at all. — Will, Rock Hill, SC

It's not the 3-4, it's the players in the 3-4.

Have heard some questions about this lately, from the public and professionals alike, and it's not nearly as simple as the alignment.

The top two teams in the league in run defense — as measured by rushing yards allowed per game — are the Ravens (81.6 yards per game) and Vikings (88.1).

Guess what the Ravens' and Vikings' base defenses are? That's right, a 3-4. With Tampa Bay (fifth, 99.9), Pittsburgh (seventh, 100.6), and Denver (eighth, 100.8) also in 3-4 bases, that's five of the top eight teams in the league in run defense. So just because the league's worst run defense (176.9) runs a 3-4, it doesn't make it the system's fault.

One of the responsibilities of committing a journalism is making sure your question actually makes sense. But you're not a journalist, Will, so I won't hold it against you.

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My guess is a lot of your questions will be about the defense this week, so I'll ask about the offense. I understand progress is not necessarily linear, but the offense has concerned me with some of their up-and-down performances. I understand we probably want to add some help at skill positions, but the execution looks a little bit lacking from my perspective (e.g. The pressure has been fierce when the other teams run stunts and we're playing from behind/Bryce looking like he's not on the same page with his receivers at times). I'm worried the offense might get complacent over the off-season because they did make great progress this year. What will be done to ensure the offense continues to improve into next year aside from making roster adjustments? — Grant, Gahanna, OH

This team's 4-12. I wouldn't expect anyone to be resting on their laurels.

Even though the offense is the better of the two sides here, it's still not what you'd call a polished product.

The Panthers are currently 31st in the league in total offense, tied for 25th in scoring, 31st in passing, and 30th in third down conversion percentage. Why would any of the people involved be complacent?

That said, they're also 13th in sacks allowed (a massive jump from last year) and 20th in the league in rushing. If they could convert more third downs and run more plays (they're also 31st in total plays attempted), things could improve dramatically.

However, to the larger point, this is a much different offensive product in the second half of the season than the first half and should be considered as such when calculating expectations for next year.

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Hey Darin. Thanks for the many explanations and alternate views you offer us fans. I always read them but never asked you a question. I am a 78-year-old woman who has been a Panthers fan for years and am still learning. I depend on your expertise as well as others. So when I saw Bryce slip/lose his footing at least three times vs. the Bucs, I wondered why that was happening. It frightened me for him, as I could just SEE an injury waiting to happen. So help me out here: Why was he slipping? Shouldn't cleats prevent that? Were others slipping like that? or just Bryce?

I know if there's an answer, you will have it. So thank you. Happy New Year, and Keep Pounding! — Tanis, Yadkinville, NC

There's so much to love in this question, but mostly, Tanis is a lifetime learner. Always stay inquisitive about the world around you; it's one of my favorite traits in people. (For example, a certain guy named Steve Smith has a framed print with the words "Stay Curious" in the entryway to his office.)

So right out of the chute, I'm making Tanis this week's Friend Of The Mailbag, and will get the appropriate honorarium on the way to her.

And to answer your question, it wasn't just you. The turf in Tampa was slick on Sunday, for a few reasons. One, it's always so humid down there, and when you play football in a terrarium, you expect a surface that's always a little damp. There's also some wear-and-tear involved with any grass field in December.

According to the guys who were on it, it wasn't slick like the soccer stadium grass in Germany, but it was moving in that direction.

The Panthers equipment staff keeps multiple pairs of shoes available for each player. Most go for their normal molded plastic cleats like the ones they wear to practice every day. But they also have what they refer to as seven-stud cleats on hand, which have longer, detachable cleats that offer a more secure footing. In general, most players prefer a lighter ordinance for comfort reasons, but most of the team was wearing the heavier-duty seven-studs in Germany.

It's less of a deal for offensive linemen, since they have gravity on their side (being 300 pounds provides a certain traction). But for smaller, quicker guys, the surface makes more of a difference.

After slipping once, Richardson went to the sidelines and changed into seven-studs, but some guys are hesitant to change equipment in mid-game. The rookie safety was one of several defensive players who slipped Sunday, so Young wasn't alone. But they have the ability to change at any time, and it's up to the individual to decide if they want to.

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How can coach Canales describe Chuba's high-stepping, arms-extended gallop into the end zone against Tampa as a "beautiful finish" after endlessly preaching ball security this season, especially after recent critical fumbles? One oops there, and we'd all be bemoaning another critical mishap. That's all I could think of in real time the last 5 yards. "Successful" yes, "beautiful" not. — Peter, Moore, SC

Peter sent this question on Christmas night, grouching about Hubbard's walk-off game-winner against the Cardinals.

This man clearly needs more nog.

Man, if you're a stick in the mud to the point where you want to banish one of the pure, true moments of joy this team has experienced in the last four or five years, I mean, sure.

There was no one within 8-10 yards of Hubbard at that instant. Once he got through the line, the Cardinals realized they weren't getting to him. I suppose anything could have happened, but this isn't somebody sticking the ball out over the goal line at the top of a pile.

That was fun. We are pro-fun here at the Mailbag. There should be more fun in 2025. Hooray, fun. Boo, puritanical overemphasis on fundamentals at the expense of spontaneous expressions of organic joy.

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Mailbag merch (awesome!) received in time for the holidays, and I love it. Thank you. My standing in the household has increased many-fold as a result. Read into that what you will.

For me as a fan, sports are about moments. One of the reasons this season has been so fun for our clan of Panthers fans (even with this week's result) has been the joy of seeing some great moments come at the hands of little-known or less-heralded players. Maybe players feel more like "ours" when we haven't formed an impression of them from somewhere else first?

Anyhow, if you've been looking for an opening to share a fun off-the-field anecdote/impression/other about [Coker/Richardson/Dan Chisena/etc...] that hasn't made the website yet, I'd love to hear more about any of these guys I hardly know but can't stop rooting for! — Steve, Chapel Hill, NC

You're welcome. Your family is obviously a stylish bunch, and with Bill Belichick moving to town, you need all of that you can get in Chapel Hill.

It is cool when guys come out of nowhere and become cult heroes, the way Brad Hoover did back in the early 2000s. Everybody loved HOOOOOOOOOOV.

The three undrafteds you mentioned might not have a signature fan chant yet, but they have had their moments.

Richardson's been a ball-magnet since training camp (including his interception in joint practices with the Jets), but he was best known early on for his rendition of Soul For Real's "Candy Rain" during the rookie talent show. It was so good he performed it three times during camp.

Coker had the highest vertical leap among receivers at the combine (42.5 inches eyeball emoji), and he did it with a bad hamstring that slowed him down in the 40 (a pedestrian 4.57, which was 28th among all wideouts last year).

Chisena (pronounced chuh-SIN-uh) had the exact same amount of tackles as catches during his college career at Penn State (three each). Coincidentally, he has three catches for 37 yards this season. He's also crazy fast, as he was a track athlete initially at Penn State, and ran a reported 4.32-second 40. He has major Brandon Zylstra vibes. Also, his parents were here to see his first NFL catch earlier this season, so that was cool.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you, Darin, and all of your readers … I am a faithful weekly mailbag follower and a FOTM T-shirt owner. I, too, am encouraged by the direction of the 2024 version of this team, and ditto your recent sentiments. I am especially impressed with Dave Canales as I have watched every 2024 Canales presser and admire his demeanor, optimism, candor, and steadiness (as per Ron Rivera) through the 2024 challenges, injuries, and results. I think this is what David Tepper was looking for. At least it appears we are finally going to make it through a season with one head coach, and we can be optimistic with the direction going forward!

That's not to say it hasn't been frustrating. Having watched every minute of the 2024 season to date, I have lost sleep over late-game missed opportunities: Bucs - the late-game fumble (but since has been redeemed); Eagles - the goal line last-minute dropped pass to win; KC - missed tackle on Mahomes scramble; Cowboys - open Ja'Tavion Sanders on first Thielen interception and the off-target pass on the second Thielen interception; Cards - the off-target third-down pass to Chisena; and obvious missed FG/PAT opportunities (which is continuing to be a concern). Canales has acknowledged these diplomatically, candidly, and publicly. But endings like this past Sunday make one realize there are always valuable lessons that can be learned and experiences that can pay dividends later!

To my question finally for you Darin: Are you as frustrated as me with the Panther game officiating where IMO there have occurred some VERY interesting/questionable decisions? Most notably: (1) the end zone end line "no touchdown" call on Thielen; (2) the "hip tackle" call on Jacoby Windmon (who, by the way, should be commended for his play vs. Cards), which both Schlereth on the broadcast and Canales in his Monday presser called a "tackle"; (3) Cowboys game - the helmet to helmet call on Xavier Woods which was shoulders and the helmet to helmet NON-CALL against David Moore and resulted in a concussion protocol for him (on which Greg Olsen commented paraphrasing "either you call both, or you call neither"; and (4) Cards - what appeared to be a helmet to helmet on the Bryce Young throw down (which was not mentioned by Schlereth) on the amazing completion to Tommy Tremble and the helmet to helmet hit on Coker on one of his completions early in the game, neither being called. Going back to my original observations about Canales, I respect how he handled all of these situations publicly, but I am sure he was not happy behind the scenes. Your thoughts? — Scott, Charlotte

I have serious and long-standing authority issues, so I'm the wrong one to ask about refs, judges, those electronic speed limit signs which are just daring me to stand on it, school teachers, my boss, military officers, pastors, crossing guards, or that guy at the basketball game with the "Get Loud" sign. I'll get loud if I damn well please, and not until then.

But my general philosophy on this kind of question is that every team's fanbase believes the officials have it out for them. It's the kind of universal truth that can bring people together. And every team's fanbase can find two or three instances per game to validate that belief. This has more to do with the way we broadcast football than the way we officiate it. We see super-slow-mo angles of everything (except Thielen's touchdown, I guess), and unlike the refs, we all have as much time and repeated chances to see the play to make a sound decision.

Being a ref is really hard, and no one ever goes up to them afterward saying, "Hey, great job today, really fair to both sides, congratulations on your integrity." Anybody who signs up for that duty must be some kind of masochist, and they always have some cat like JJ Jansen hectoring them about their interpretation of the rules. (Even youth baseball umpires get it from Jansen; my sources tell me he was once nearly ejected from a tournament in Bessemer City. And his co-coach Olsen might actually be worse.)

Be nicer to the refs. Bless their hearts, they're doing their best.

That said, I'm now wondering if Cam Newton's old enough to get that call yet.

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Any question about Eddy Piñeiro's future in Carolina? He has missed five kicks in the past five games but was the most accurate kicker in NFL history five games ago, too. — Zach, Charlotte

Here's the thing about Piñeiro: he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so he gets to make a choice in this deal as well. And after establishing himself following years of the itinerant lifestyle of journeyman kickers, it's reasonable to want to get paid.

Even after the recent misses, he's still the third-most accurate kicker in league history, though the margins are super-close. How close? He's 13 thousandths of a point ahead of the guy in the fourth spot.

NFL all-time field goal percentage leaders

So yeah, Eddy's good at making field goals, but the overall standard has gone up too.

On that all-time list, 16 of the top 28 kickers ever are current, and that's enough to stock half the league.

My opinion on kickers has always been that they're kind of like cigarette lighters. You either buy a Zippo and carry it around forever, or you just use gas-station disposables until they run out of fuel and then buy another one for 99 cents (I haven't smoked in nearly 25 years, I have no idea how much gas-station disposable lighters cost any more).

So when the Panthers kept John Kasay forever, that made sense. And he was one of the best in the league in his era. His career field goal percentage of 81.833 was amazing at the time, but it's the kind of number that gets you fired now. The league average this year is 83.6 percent.

So Eddy pushing 90 percent is great, but the market is complicated by the fact that so many kickers are pushing 90 percent these days, not just the elite ones like Justin Tucker. And with so much work to do on defense, this year could be an interesting market for a lot of their own free agents.

The crystal ball is still in Ben McAdoo's other pants, so I can't tell you exactly how this one's going to turn out. But what I can tell you is don't ever smoke, and especially don't vape. Protect your lungs, and mostly GET BACK TO CLASS, ZACH.

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Hi Darin! Although the game was bad in some aspects, I still find it encouraging that coach Canales is not cutting corners on pressers after games, acknowledging the defense was bad but also that the other units and the coaches didn't help either. I don't know if he'll be able to translate those observations to the play of the team on the field (I also don't have Ben McAdoo's crystal ball), but I do know that looking back two months ago, we weren't sure Bryce could even be good or that the team could win more than a game. So we have some blocks to build on. And to me, that's the most important part - not the "blocks" part but the "we". Along with the coaches and players that we have hope for now, this Mailbag and other ways to see, listen, and interact with other fans of the team and media make this journey even more enjoyable with every little progress made.

So today is not a question but a big thank you not only for you providing this Mailbag but also for Kassidy, JJ and The Cart Talk, Jordan and Jake, Kristen and Sharon and the whole radio crew, TD and the Panthers Huddle, and all the media/stadium/team staff providing us an experience like we're part of the team. Also, a big thank you to every fan which sends questions so we can learn more and also those who share their experience in life - good or bad - especially those who might be struggling in some aspect. Best wishes to everyone in 2025! Let's enjoy the team, the now, and also those around Charlotte. Enjoy the city; you've got a beautiful one (source: as one famous journalist says, "my own two eyes") - as we have no idea how everything will turn out for the team or in life! Keep Pounding!

P.S. Yesterday was great as the whole family was cheering for the Panthers, even my son (the Falcons fan at the house). The result was not what we wanted, but, along with spending the days after Christmas with my daughter working on the 500-piece Panthers' puzzle, those are the memories that will stay forever. — Fernando, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This is why Fernando is one of the OG FsOTM. He's not just smart, but he's wise. And gracious.

Thanks to you for reading and listening and watching on all the platforms. We do it for the people, and you are definitely one of our people.

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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.

Can we please put in a request for Xavier Legette to change his number for next year? Since 17 is clearly a cursed number for our WRs (possibly a Jake Delhomme Louisiana voodoo curse? Don't know, I'll let the real journalists like yourself figure that out). But in terms of WRs to wear 17, we have: Legedu Naanee, Devin Funchess, Hollywood Higgins, and DJ Chark. All underperformed expectations even if Funchess had some moments. We need Xavier to be better than this and he didn't have the same issues catching the ball at South Carolina as he has this year. Drops have been brutal. Might I suggest 87? If he wants to keep a 7 in the number this is a great number for physically dominant WRs in our history. — Trevor, Charlotte

He wore 17 at South Carolina too, and I will not abide any Legedu Naanee slander in this Mailbag. Petition denied, and no raccoon for you. (Also, even though it seems like some real Cajun behavior, Delhomme confirms that he's never eaten raccoon, nor nutria, nor muskrat, nor squirrel. And here I thought he was cultured.)

Seriously, a duck? What's next? — Cliff, Cornelius, NC

The duck on the field during the blocked punt Sunday really left a lot of people, ... wait for it, ... down in the mouth. I guess you could say the Bucs were Peking at the right time. It's definitely a mallard-y they'll have to get fixed in the next special teams meeting.

That was actually the second Wild Kingdom near-miss this season. In Denver in October, the Broncos' horse mascot Thunder was running around in pregame, and left a souvenir on the 5-yard line. So at least this week's friend wasn't a, ... wait for it, ... turducken.

I'm not gonna lie; I felt it was a little disrespectful for the Bucs to still be flinging the ball around while up 27 in the fourth quarter. As much as I hate the Falcons and the Saints, I really hope the Saints whoop the Bucs and the Falcons beat us. That way the Bucs are sitting on the couch next month like us. Yeah, I'm that petty. — Chris, Greensboro, NC

All's fair in the NFC South. What goes around usually comes around.

Also, bonus Petty power rankings.
1. Richard
2. Tom
3. Lame duck head coach John Fox in 2010 referring questions about the roster to "the personnel department."
4. Fox starting Brian St. Pierre over Tony Pike against the Ravens in response to No. 3
5. Lori in Tank Girl

Did you know 16 years ago Andy Dalton was named the MVP of the 2008 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl? Around six years ago Feleipe Franks was named the MVP of the 2018 Peach Bowl as Florida's starting QB. I know he is a TE for the Panthers right now. So, has Franks helped mentor Bryce this season at all (especially during the window where Bryce was benched)? Have a great holiday! — Zach, Charlotte

Bonus Zach, with bonus facts, from his bonus Substack. Franks doesn't get too involved in the mentoring, but he does offer a decent emergency alternative if anything ever happened to Young, Dalton, or Plummer. They've done just enough with him as an "in case of emergency break glass" type to keep all the muscle memory from going away.

Also, Zach's out here researching random bowl history, which is all the proof you need that holiday breaks in schools are too long. You know what that means. GET BACK TO CLASS, ZACH.