In the first episode of the “Processing Blue” Carolina Panthers podcast, Mike Kaye and Langston Wertz Jr. discuss Bryce Young’s outlook entering training camp.

By Mike Kaye, Langston Wertz Jr., Drew Nantais, and Makayla Holder

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Foreign Guys I'm Langston Wurst Jr I have Mike K The number one source of Carolinas Football news in the country Mike we got A new podcast here processing blue uh It's all about you man how you feeling Well you know I don't know if it's all About me but you know they said that Ted Lasso away is not really about Ted lasso Right it's about everybody else and so This is about the Panthers in my opinion I have my iced coffee I've been up since Six in the morning I'm ready I am ready To process some blue Langston with you Who I'm very excited to share this Podcast with uh how are you doing I'm Doing good what's new what's popping off In your world I'm doing good getting Ready for another football season I Can't believe Summer's almost over but I Gotta ask how'd you come up with the Name process in blue because people are Going to wonder why we calling this Processing so there was this rumored Flying around Charlotte that the Panthers were going to switch up their Uniforms this summer or this off season Yeah and there was some erroneous Reports That they were switching up a lot of Stuff and it was going to be a Brand New Jersey and it turned out they just did a Pallet swap with Nike Um Nike didn't originally have the

Panthers true processing blue color Which is what they call it and they you Know they decided to switch it up they Also switched up some armband length as Well yeah but I just thought that was Really funny and I uh you know what do We do every day is beat Riders we Process and so I think processing blue Is a very good way of looking at the Panthers and their daily process from You know their history this is a very Nostalgic fan base and I think it's all Apart well as a jersey Philly guy it's All a part of the process right and so Um You know this Frank Reich era is a Monumental one not just for this Franchise but for the ownership of David Tepper and there's going to be a lots of Process uh to overuse a word and I I Just think it just fits absolutely so There's no chance we'll get those black Helmets that everybody really wants well Maybe once a once or twice a year uh now You can now the League's allowing Everybody to to use alternate helmets When the case for a long time was you Know switching up helmets might not be Safe well that's a bit of problem now so Uh here we are I think the entire fan Base wants to see Bryce Young and the Black helmet that'd be pretty cool but Speaking of Bryce young uh Mike he's set To sign a fully guaranteed contract four

Years almost 40 million dollars with a 50 option what have you seen out of him So far well he's been terrific I mean I Think he's been as good as advertised During the Spring during the off-season Program I think what was really Interesting is everybody talks about his Size yes did he look very small yes sure But once you get past that and you look At the fact that he is able to Manipulate defenses because he knows Where to go Um his Escape ability his ability to Improv this guy is so mentally fit for This position that I think when you look At Look history has been littered with six Foot four quarterbacks who stunk I mean Really that's the thing yes I mean there there are a ton of them uh And and I think when you look at Bryce Young he's got everything up here that's Where he's built that's where he's built Where it counts and as I wrote earlier This week taking a look at the rookie Class Um I think he is a guy who's just Incredibly mature incredibly intelligent Talking to former teammates he's a guy Who can get along with everybody he Cultivates an audience he got the Majority of his offensive weapons to go To Dallas in the middle of the summer Break to work out

He's a guy who understands what it means To be a leader what it means to be a Lead signal caller and look Joshua count Six foot four by the way Frank Wright Six foot four have no issue with his Size and they gave him the Baton to the Offense in the middle of the off-season Program earlier than most of us even Expected it's a matter of time before His name the week one starter and I'm Really interested to see what he looks Like in pads yeah I guess you know a lot Of a lot of fans were a little bit Surprised he was elevated so quickly Over Andy Dalton so did that surprise You that he was uh you know giving first Team reps so quickly I mean he was always going to get first Team reps during OTAs but I think the Fact that they went from a split to uh Oh my gosh this guy's just handling Everything yeah it was pretty surprising Yeah I I was waiting for it to kind of Happen in the first week of training Camp but I think Frank Reich wanted to Put his flag in the sand and say hey Look this is the guy who's going to be Leading you into the summer and Something that's missed on a lot of People is that OTAs and mandatory mini Camp are practice for practice you're Practicing to practice you're practicing How you want to practice in training Camp yeah and these were smooth

Efficient practices Bryce made a Spectacular play in every single one of These sessions there were some up and Down days especially during mandatory Mini camp where it looked like the Defense finally caught up but I think He's a guy who comes into training camp With a ton of momentum and rightfully so With all of the sharp voices around him And his ability to go away from the Stadium right do homework and come back Smarter than that next day and I think That's really important okay I go to the Barber shop and the number one question I get are three questions I get is he Going to be able to hold up behind this Panther's offensive line I know we're Going to talk about the offensive line In a bit but is he going to be able to Hold up what happens when he takes that First big hit is he going to get up and Then uh do you think he has enough Weapons so I understand the concern with With hits I I wrote during the draft Process after watching his film it's Like watching Um a tank run over a puppy at times when He gets engulfed by these huge defensive Linemen and look he played in the SEC he Played against NFL Talent on a weekly Basis it's not like he was at some low Level division three school this is a Guy who has played against the elite of The elite and he did it at one of the

Best schools in the country Um I think he's gonna have to you know Take some hits and it's not gonna look Pretty and people are going to hold Their breath but I think when you look At his college career he only had one Injury and Um I believe Nick Saban said that that Was largely his fault I think when you Look at his frame uh it looks like he Has added some weight he's always going To be five foot ten he's but he's used To being one of the smaller guys so I Think he's going to be able to kind of Deal with the comings and goings of Being a shorter quarterback Um what was that second question I'm Sorry does he have enough weapons to get It done yeah I think they've done a Really good job of creating an a group Around him that they can spread the ball Around Frank break loves spreading the Ball around he's often specifically Based around Um yards after the catch Thomas Brown Who comes over from the Rams he comes From an offense that is also about yards After the catch Hayden Hurst has never Been like the top weapon in an offense He's a very good yards after catch guy He's got great speed the South Carolina Alum does and then look Adam phelan's Terrific in the Red Zone he can play the Slot he can play the Z position he can

Get open with ease and I think that's Helpful especially having a a veteran Who's a former All Pro DJ shark who's Battled injuries throughout his career I Covered him in Jacksonville for a little While he's a guy who can play that Z Position and just beat you on straight Line speed they drafted Jonathan Mingo They're very excited about in the second Round Domingo is he going to play yeah Yeah he's a guy who was used a lot as a Big slot in at Ole Miss I expect them to Move him around he's kind of got Prototypical X receiver speed and size And I think that that's really appealing But the guy I really want to talk to Talk about is Therese Marshall and he's A guy who helped organize those workouts In Dallas I think he's in the mode of of Stepping up and potentially having a Breakout season you know he was kind of In the doghouse early on in in Matt Rule's final season here and then when Steve Wilkes took over they let him Loose he averaged over 17 yards per Catch Um he needs to play a little bit better To his size he's six foot two 200 pounds He needs to be able to go up and get it In the Red Zone his only career Touchdown was a garbage time touchdown Against the Bengals that's where we need To see maturity from him but he's looked Really good during training camp and

Then I spoke to Tommy tremble a couple Of weeks ago and he basically said that The former staff didn't really teach Tight ends anything about the receiving Game and now John Lilly who the Panthers Got from UNC is really doing a bang-up Job there Frank loves using tight ends And then oh by the way you sign my uh Miles Sanders who got the biggest Contract in free agency for a running Back Um which was actually a very good deal By the way and he can catch out of the Backfield he's had some inconsistency in Philly I think being reunited with juice Daily will help him well it'd be Interesting to see how Bryce young does All these weapons how he stands up about Offensive line unless one thing all the Panthers want to I mean Panther fans Will know about an offense but let's Flip the defense number zero Brian Burns Wants a contract extension what's the Latest on that well I I think with with Brian Burns you're waiting to see if Nick Bosa is able to get a contracts Extension before you because what Happens when a top pass rusher gets a New contract he sets the market which Raises he raises the market right I Don't think the Panthers view him as a Nick Bosa TJ watt miles Garrett Tech Talent he's not that good against the Run or he hasn't been as consistent

Against the run as those guys Um but he's a great fit for this new Front this 3-4 front uh great speed Great quickness off the edge he's coming Off an ankle injury it could be that They want to see how he performs in Training camp before maybe upping the Offer but from Brian Burns's standpoint He's going to play on a fifth year Option it's a good contract Um and he can go prove himself and if You're him why would you want to be at a Disadvantage in negotiating go out there If your ankle feels great you've gotten That cleaned up go out there and if you Can get five sacks in the first four Games maybe you have a ton of Leverage Already I mean you already have a ton of Leverage they basically turn down two First round picks from the Rams at the Trade deadline last year to keep him That's well documented GM Scott fitterer Has come out and said He's going to be here so you have all You have a ton of Leverage the issue for Brian Burns is at what point do the Panthers have their walking away number To me he's kind of comparable to Max Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders Comparable numbers comparable age uh He's making around 22 23 million per Year I think that's kind of where his Ceiling is Um

And if I were him frankly at just 25 Years old and already made two pro bowls I'd want a shorter long-term contract That was front loaded so I'd want like a Contract that was like three years Uh 69.70 million so I could go hit free Agency again at 28 or get franchise Tagged that's the long-term play in my Opinion especially as the cap continues To grow Um I think Brian Burns is playing this Very smart I think the Panthers are Playing in very smart too Samir Solomon Is a hardcore negotiator and I think They know Brian's worth they just need To get there together I think they both You think is around 25. no I think it's Around 20 22 23. he's 16 now so that's a Pretty significant race uh let's talk Let's talk about our quarterbacks here Carolina staying on defense last year The parents had a chance to sew up the NFC South against Tampa Bay we saw what Tom Brady did through his longest pass In 9 000 years 57 yards to Mike Evans Over the top uh they carved up the pan The secondary JC horn struggled to stay Healthy played like 16 to 34 games uh Dante Jackson's never finished a full Regular season that guys are always hurt What's the status of the Panthers Quarterback situation and can they fix It going into the regular season well JC Horn suffered an ankle injury

Um if you have a drinking game at home You know JC Horn's injured Um so he's coming off an ankle injury Which is really unfortunate because I Thought he looked good early in the OTAs Uh injured himself during a workout Um Dante Jackson is of course coming off That Achilles injury that he suffered Last year he had surgery on it Um those two guys I mean when you look At this defense I think there's a lot of Hype towards this team but when you look At the defense they're very front loaded They are not backloaded at all the depth Is not great except it's safety weirdly Enough but corner you have JC horn who When he is healthy is one of the top Five to Seven Corners at worst in the League you have Dante Jackson who's a Solid veteran corner I know the fan base Gives him a lot of grief and then you Have CJ Henderson who's like this wild Card who one minute he'll be he'll shut Down a guy and he'll get an intercept The next minute he'll give up a huge Gain to Mari bird like it's it's a very Weird Um Trio at the top Um And they've invested heavily in all These guys they though they declined CJ Henderson's fifth year option Um this off season he's got a big year Ahead of him and they're going to kind

Of do it to where you know Jeremy Chin's Gonna play The Big Nickel position a lot So they're going to play three safeties Quite a bit but when they get into a Maximum coverage opportunity it's Probably going to be either JC horn or Dante Jackson in the slot with the other Two guys outside and so if one of those Guys gets injured we saw it last year Keith Taylor Just I mean like you said The Bucks just ran straight past him Um they don't really have a lot of Proven depth there like herb Miller's Fine I will say this Stanley Thomas Oliver got a lot of Praise behind the Scenes for his versatility he's a guy Who can play in the slot he's more known For a special team's ability and he Missed most of last season with an Injury but he's a guy that could be that Fourth quarter but again another guy who Has an injury history so you're just Kind of weary of all of this uh they Brought in Rajon Wright who's got like a Small army of a base because of his Background and last chance uh Mark Middleton from Baylor actually has got Some buzz in the building Um but really they don't have a lot of Proven presence there and corner is Definitely veteran corner I should say With versatility is definitely still a Need for this team well that sounds like An area for Panther fans to watch in

Preseason and going into the regular Season let's talk about the offensive Line might because I know the last time Carolina had a number one pick they Didn't do a very good job of protecting That quarterback being Cam Newton this Guy's a lot smaller in Brighton we Talked about uh you know I know Panther Fans don't want cam 2.0 so what are the Panthers doing right now to protect the Quarterback I know one guy that you know They have some injuries right now now Offensive line but go ahead and explain That yeah so love tackle iki iguanu was Terrific for a rookie last year I mean Was he perfect no but I think when you See that number two jump number two year Two jump for him I think it's going to Be spectacular because he's working with James campen who in my opinion and a lot Of people's opinion in the league top Three offensive line coach uh left left Guard you've got Brady Christensen who Did a solid job last year but I think You could argue he was probably the Weakest link of a really strong Offensive line he's more of a finesse Blocker they drafted Chandler Zavala in The fourth round who played next to iki Iguanu at NC State a couple of years ago They've brought that up a lot I don't Think that's a red herring I don't think That's like a mistake I think you could See Chandler Zavala who was placed on

The physically unable to perform list The other day Push Brady Christensen and I'll get back to Them in a second at Center they Re-signed Bradley Bozeman he was Terrific last year he's a pure power Blocker a fellow Alabama alum in front Of Bryce young I think he will benefit From his leadership and his overall Protective nature Bradley Bozeman is a Not just a terrific player but he's been A terrific person for this city he and His wife have given back a lot he's a Guy who's been fully ingrained here and I think that's really important from a Leadership standpoint especially when You have a rookie quarterback at Right Guard as you kind of alluded to Austin Corbett who in my opinion was the best Player on that line last year suffered An ACL injury in the season finale Against the Saints he got put on the pup List as well Frank Reich has alluded to Him missing game time if he stays on the Pup list and goes to the pup Reserve List uh after Final Cuts he'll have to Make it at least the first four games of The season Yeah replacing him would be Kade May's Last year's sixth round pick who Impressed a lot of people the guy has Tons of Versatility he can play Literally every position on the

Offensive line and full back it's why Um but he's impressed a lot of people in The building both from the front office Standpoint and the new staff I think He's going to be a favorite of James Camp and I think he's going to hold down That Right Guard spot as long as Austin Corbett's out and that's a good spot to Be in at right tackle Taylor Moten uh The king of consistency over the last Few years Um they restructured his contract uh in A good way I think they feel really good About him long term uh he just has to Stay consistent again Um I think he's a really good leader too On that offensive line but getting back To Christensen the reason to push Christensen is not because he is bad not Because there's anything wrong with him From a pure roster economic standpoint They resigned cam Irving a veteran who Cost a lot of money his contract becomes Full fully guaranteed in week one Michael Jordan not the former majority Owner of the Charlotte Hornets his they Resigned him on a whim his contract Would become guaranteed week one if he's On the roster The need for a swing tackle especially a Long-term one is apparent and Brady Christensen can play guard and tackle Some would argue the tackles his better Position with Corbett out having

Christensen be able to back up all four Slots while maze starts at Right Guard Would be terrific for them especially From a roster economic standpoint with The way that practice squad rules work Now you can elevate a an offensive Lineman every week from the practice Squad so you only have to really keep Eight offensive linemen so with that you Think okay let's say Corbett starts uh Pop on on on to start the season so You've got ikuanu Um Zavala Bozeman maze Moten Christensen Um You probably want Justin McRae who Another guy who'd be guaranteed that First week Um who is basically James campen's like Traveling backup offensive lineman he's Worked with him at like several Different spots and then you have a spot Open for a rookie if he impresses and You don't want to sacrifice him to the Waiver wire then after a week you can Bring back Irving or Jordan on a Non-guaranteed contract I just think That that's good business and it's Something that a lot of smart GMS kind Of look at as well when they're Constructing a roster this on the corner Real quick you know he was a really good Run blocker last year he's going to make That jump and be a good pass protector

Because he's going to have he'll have Bryce's young Bryce Young's Blind Side Yeah I mean I think he has all the tools To be a great pass blocker and working Under James camp and it feels like it's An easy projection but like when you Watch his film from college like my comp For him was Jason Peters the former Eagles offensive tackle to me he just Moves so well in space if you would have Told me he played wide receiver in high School I would believe you because he's Just so I mean just so quick off the Line he's he's nimble like I mean I Wouldn't be shocked if you know Frank's Brilliant when it comes to creative Plays wouldn't shock me if he lined up It lined him up in like a three tight End set as as one of the tight ends Because he is just so a lot of great Refrigerator yeah he's just so quick off That line and so talented and Athletically gifted I think they knocked That that pick out of the park I think He is a guy who's going to be a Tone-sitting left tackle for the next Day all right guys now it's time for my Favorite segment of the show we're gonna Let Mike use his fancy words it's time For case takes welcome to case takes It's the first one this is where Basically if you're you're not bothered By me talking at this point if you Haven't gotten your film this is where I

Just ran about a topic that I think is Important or it could be the NFL it Could be the Panthers it could be about Oppenheimer although I think Langston Cover us on Twitter with that movie Review uh but anyway so the first case Take topic is going to be the three most Overlooked players heading into Panthers Training camp first guy I want to talk About is nose tackle Marquon McCall he Was a guy who came in last year kind of An interesting fit for the for the 4-3 He is a perfect fit as a one technique Zero technique for this new three chord Defense I think he's a guy that when They go to that base 3-4 he can really Take up blockers and really produce for This team is he going to be a big Numbers guy absolutely not but he's a Massive human being and I think When the Panthers were reconstructing This defense they weren't very Aggressive in getting a true nose tackle He's a guy that I think can fill a void Along with Derek Brown who's going to Play more defensive ends and shy Tuttle The free agent Edition I think he's a Guy who's got a lot of momentum heading Into this training camp another guy Really wanted to talk about is Tommy Tremble I think for Tommy tremble the Next step in his Evolution as a tight End is to become a better receiving Threat now yes Hayden Hurst and Ian

Thomas are going to be ahead of him in The pecking order that's going to happen But what's good about Ian Thomas is he Can back up both those players pretty Well in two tight end sets he's a guy Who is very quick he can block very well He can get open it's a matter of Becoming a better route Runner becoming A better catcher of the football and I Think new tight ends coach John Lilly Can be that guy that kind of guides him On that Journey then the third guy I Really want to talk about right now is Raheem Blackshear he is a guy you must Remember now I'm not saying go pick him In the fantasy football draft in the Fifth round but he's a guy who has Gotten a lot of Buzz within the building Even Frank Wright's come out and Publicly said he had a great spring he's A guy who can be used in a boatload of Different ways he's a true Gadget player He's a guy if you if you go back and you Watch film of Indianapolis over the last Few years nahim Heinz Paris Campbell Moving guys around the backfield setting Up mismatches that's what they think of Raheem Blackshear he was very well liked By the previous staff I think he can be Utilized even better under this new Staff and then when you look at his Ability to catch the football he can Line up outside he can move around he Can run Texas routes he can do whatever

It is you need him to do as an All-around weapon and I think they're Going to look at him as not only an Offensive weapon but a special team's Weapon as well he's going to return Pawns he's going to return kicks he is a Guy who allows you to play with those Roster economics if he's returning kicks And punts that's one less player you Have to keep on the roster in one regard And you can use that spot for another Position he's another guy who if you Feel like you can use him in a lot of Different ways maybe you keep four Running backs as opposed to six or seven Wide receivers he's a guy who I think Can stir the drink of this off season And this summer because he can do so Many different things and coaches love That So Mike with the fire takes we're gonna Get that every week from you that type Of energy Oh yeah just like you can guaran you can Take to the bank that if you pay one Dollar on Charlotte observer.com for a Subscription you're gonna get all of Your training camp coverage needs plus You're gonna get some awesome High School coverage from Langston you're Gonna get some great NASCAR coverage From Alex you're gonna get Scott Fowler And you're gonna get Rod reporting on on The Hornets I mean what more could you

Ask for oh by the way Local news as well so make sure you Subscribe to the Charlotte Observer what Else you got for us Langston so make Sure you like share subscribe on this Podcast will be out to you every week we Have Mike's takes we have Alex on Sometimes we have a lot of fun talk Panthers give you all the in-depth news On your favorite team so make sure to Join us next week

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