As the regular season looms, Carolina fans are buzzing with questions, but the truth coming out about Darren Waller’s role in their passing game might be a tough pill to swallow. Don’t expect him to be a game-changer; the word from inside the organization suggests Waller is shaping up to be little more than a “complimentary passing target.” Ouch, right? He might pick up some solid red zone targets, which, hey, more points are always good, but the ceiling on his overall impact sounds pretty low.
Waller’s Real Role? “Move The Chains” and Red Zone Hope
Brian, who’s got his finger on the pulse down in Carolina, doesn’t mince words. He thinks Waller’s availability so late in the offseason screams that no team expected him to be an elite, do-it-all pass catcher. Instead, the Panthers seem to be leaning into using more “13 personnel” which means three tight ends on the field. This setup, along with Waller being a “decent move the chains option,” paints a picture of a guy who’ll be chipping away for first downs, not blowing the top off defenses. Frankly, Brian says don’t be shocked if Waller isn’t even the team’s leading receiver by the time this season is done. It’s all about tempering those expectations, even if we all crave big-play threats.
Bryce Young’s Future: On The Clock For Carolina?
Beyond Waller, the biggest question mark for the Panthers seems to be the future of Bryce Young at quarterback. One fan, ImOpen, believes Young will start every game this season, but even that could lead to the team drafting another QB next offseason. That’s a huge tell, isn’t it? It feels like Young is playing for his job every snap this year. Brian agrees that the Panthers might be just “one more solid off-season away” from truly competing for a deep playoff run. His own prediction for their win total is 9-8, a slight bump from the fan’s 7-9 or 8-10, but he admits a two-game swing either way wouldn’t be a surprise. If Young isn’t the answer, at least they might have a solid situation ready for the next guy, though Brian hopes they don’t have to hit the reset button again at quarterback. It’s a make-or-break year vibe for Young, and the Emerald City knows that feeling all too well.
While Carolina’s figuring out their vibes for the first regular season game, our Seahawks are already stacking Ws. Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed are just getting started under Coach Macdonald, but the team’s looking sharp. The New England Patriots came to Lumen Field, and our boys shut them down, winning 13-10! It’s just one game, sure, but a win’s a win, and it feels good to start the season with that kind of grit. We’re already looking forward to what our squad brings next, while some other teams are still stuck wondering what kind of “kitties” will show up for kickoff.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Cat Scratch Reader.
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