CONFIDENCE HIGH: Carolina Panthers Linebacker Room TRANSFORMS As Devin Lloyd & Bobby Okereke Solidify Unit

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by the Dell XPS. I'm Wes Goldberg from Lockdown NBA Daily and Lockdown Heat. So what does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core? With a premium design that's thin and light, it feels smooth. With a responsive touch screen, it feels fast and precise. And with long lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy with a laptop that can keep up. Built for those who want better, the Dell XPS. Built for you. The NFL season is finally here and Lockdown NFL is covering every second of it. You can find us breaking down all the action on Amazon music every single day with bold takes and real analysis that matters. Breaking day storylines, roster moves. If it's happening with your team, we're on it. No waiting, no fluff, subscribe on Amazon music and never miss a snap.

1:24You are locked on Panthers, your daily Carolina Panthers podcast, part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day. Welcome into another edition of the Lockdown Panthers podcast. I'm your host as always, Julian Calcule. And today's episode of Lockdown Panthers is brought to you by Calci for a limited time down though the Calci app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade $10. Bring in to Labor Day weekend, which means that next week we made it baby football season is finally back in. No, it's not been here training camp. Preseason, that doesn't count. That's just a tease week one starts on Monday next Sunday September 13th in uptown, Charlotte inside Bank America, stayed in the Carolina Panthers. Welcome to Chicago Bears for their week one home opener and I cannot wait to be there. It's on the ground to cover that game. I six season doing this show.

2:24But we got to talk about how I feel about the Panthers defense heading into the year after what I've seen so far throughout the training camp and the preseason and heading into week one in particular. Not overall for the defense all this season, but where am I confidence wise with my confidence meter heading into week one with the Panthers defense did the offense yesterday. Go check out that show on YouTube and wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. So let's get into the defense where spoiler, I feel a lot better about the defense than I do about the Panthers offense heading into week one. Why well look at the linebacker room, which is where we're going to start off today's show. If you asked me this time last week, my confidence level would have been a hell of a lot lower than it is right now a week ago, Treven Wallace and Claudine Sharless were competing to be linebacker to and to that point through three preseason games, which we need to know there's a competition into the Hall of Fame game because Dave can I was told us that the starters would not play, but that he would allow certain competitions to play out in that game against

3:28Arizona and Ken and lo and behold, Treven Wallace is out there. That's interesting. I thought he was a starter, especially after Carolina failed to address the linebacker position. This off season outside of bringing in Devon Lloyd, I wanted to see them bring in another veteran to push him and possibly draft somebody what was told to me was a deep linebacker class. They didn't do that. Devon Lloyd's here. Great. But then Clon's back. Okay. Yeah. Sure. Special team. But then we find out after the fact that oh, no, no, no, no, Claudine is here competing for linebacker to and despite the fact that Treven had been their third round pick as of two years ago and had started at linebacker to fight a fault. He's worked a year after Shaq Thompson went down, but then last year came in the season as that guy and maybe they wanted to push him with Christian Roseboom who they brought in and Josie Jewel is also back. But that of course, never materialized because Josie Jewel was still suffering from concussion symptoms and has not played a snap in the NFL since being cut by Carolina part of training

4:29camp last year. We never got to see Treven Wallace kind of take a step back and at the learn from a top to your talent there at linebacker, but he did not show himself well over the next couple of weeks after the Hall of Fame game and we were sitting here last week thinking, man, you're saying great situation. As far as the linebacker position goes aside from of course having Devon Lloyd fast forward to Saturday, the Panthers then agreed in terms with Bobby Ocaracay to come in and to be their linebacker to Treven Wallace's cut from the team on Sunday and then on Tuesday or Monday, Tyrell Dodson who's been tying in Buffalo with Dan Morgan when he was the assistant general manager to Brandon Bean, he signed to the practice squad. So looking at where the linebacker position stands today, the Panthers are set to start Devon Lloyd, who was an all pro linebacker last season former first round pick out of Utah next to Bobby Ocaracay, who since 2021 has been a starting linebacker in this league and looking at the PFF grades has been a solid starting linebacker in this league.

5:34The standard is finally back at linebacker here in Carolina. They tried to have it be the case the last couple of years. The last year, not so much Treven Wallace, second season had started eight games of the rookie. Josie Jule was coming back and then they brought in Christian Rosewood to be the third linebacker. He had a great year in LA, but was a journey man. Wasn't really somebody you're banking on having be your starter last season. He ended up being your green dot because of Josie Jule not playing last year and then an injury to Trevor Wallace and Clotton Sheryls playing there at the end of the season in that playoff game back in January, not at all what they intended. I think going into that year, the year prior, Shaq Thompson was here. Josie Jule was here. That was the plan for Shaq and Josie to be the guy. The linebackers don't really come off the field in the NFL guys. So it was going to be those two and in Trum Wallace, maybe gets an opportunity here there, but instead Shaq blows out his Achilles in week four. Josie also gets hurt and then come week five. This Trevor Wallace making his debut as a starter next to his buddy, Clotton Sheryls,

6:36and that was not ideal. It's been hell. You act even the year prior to that in 2023 Shaq got hurt week two Monday night football against the Orleans. You got to go back to 2022. The last time you had Shaq Thompson, a capable starting linebacker, quality linebacker for a full season in Carolina. So last three years, it's been below the standard. It's been set here by Luke Keekley by Sam Mills, who's in the Hall of Fame, both of them by Michael Barrow by Dan Morgan, the GM right now, Thomas Davis, John Beeson. They've had studs there throughout the entirety of the Panther's history aside from the last three seasons, two of those because of injury, one because of, I don't even know, now practice, I suppose, which is an overword use term when evaluating sports franchises nowadays. But certainly they got it wrong. But now the standards back with Devon Lloyd with Bobby O'Kara, K Clotton Sheryls is back

7:36in his proper role as a special teamer and experienced backup option. Jackson Quatch, he's also here, the seventh brown pick out of my Neohayo. He's a developmental prospect. You can just go play special teams and then we'll see how things play out throughout the season. Dodson is also a veteran that you could go call him up to the practice squad a couple times early on this season, maybe sign to the active roster if you need to and you know what you have in him if you're in a pinch and eventually they'll get band Martin Scott back as well as a core special teamer on this 53 man roster at least on the practice squad. The linebacker spots in a good spot. I'm an eight out of 10 as far as confidence meter heading the season with these guys where it stands right now. Ed Rush losing Nick Scorton is still a gut punch. The happen day one day, damn one Vivian, he goes down with the torn ACL, such a great guy and such a player that I was excited to see in a lot of people nationally were waiting to see him as I saw several NFL writers when he went down with that injury and it was

8:36announced as an ACL who were saying that he was going to be their breakout player as far as a year two player in the NFL this season and we're not going to get to see that. Now he's at surgery. It's been successful. He's back out there walking around as a smile in his face. That's awesome to see. There will be some tough days for him this season as he's not out there being able to play the game that he loves, not able to build off what he did last season as a rookie where he's already become a very respective voice in that locker room. He's mature beyond his years. Can't wait to see him back out there next year, but he's not going to be there this fall. The good thing though is the Panthers have nested. They finally found a replacement and maybe an upgrade over what they had in Brian Burns and Jalen Phillips who is a major addition who could open up a lot of things where other players in that room. It's not fair to judge players based off of the preseason and totality, especially when looking at the starters, but you look at Jalen Phillips. He only played nine defensive snaps in the preseason only playing in the game against Buffalo did not play in the Hall of Fame game did not play in Jacksonville and did not play

9:39last Friday night against Houston, but it knows nine defensive snaps for them were past rush opportunities. He had a pressure on two and a sack on one. That's a 50% pressure rating. Now, is he going to have a 50% pressure rating all season long? No, if he does, he's going to wreck games and Carolina may not lose a single game all season long and he's going into the Hall of Fame on that season alone. But you saw in that game against Buffalo, the kind of impact having a talent like Jalen Phillips is going to potentially have for guys like Prince, who I'm yelling like Pat Jones, look at Prince Lee in that game against Buffalo. He had a 42.9 PFF pressure percentage, three pressures and seven past rush snaps. He had one pressure and 13 past rush snaps throughout the rest of the preseason in the games where he was not playing opposite of Jalen Phillips. Again, three pressures and seven past rush snaps with Jalen Phillips on the other side. One in 13 when Jalen Phillips was not out there with him.

10:41You can see how in that one game alone, those two series alone, like a series and a half, how greatly having a player like Phillips that benefited him already think about last season. Prince had a 6.9 PFF percentage as far as pressure rate goes Pat Jones 10.6 pressure rate. Phillips had an 18.8, which was top five among edge rushers, Indian F all season ago. And if he's right back up there again this year, I'm guessing that Prince is going to be up to like a 12 and Pat Jones can be up to about a 12 or 13 as well. And those guys are going to elevate their games because you have a great player, potential great player, opposite of you, someone who often to coordinators have to actually respect. There was nobody last year who garnered that respect or the year prior to that. Now you have it. And hell, it's not even Phillips getting pressure percentages at this preseason. It's not just Pat Jones or Prince Lee, Mommy, Ellen. Look at the other guys behind them. Travis Gibson had six pressures in a preseason.

11:41Thomas Ingoom had four of those guys showed some past rushing juice. And that has me excited. I think you should have you excited as well about what this past rush looks like this season under a zero. I know it's not really been the forte of the Stephenson recent years. You've questioned I at least have question the personnel. They have a true player on the edge who can be a threat every single game. And that should elevate this room. Thomas seven out of 10 as far as my confidence meter. We're looking at the Panthers edge rushers heading into week one. What about the secondary corner and safety? Man, I'm looking at it. Why are more people in the NFL not talking about the Panther secondary? Let's talk about that here in just a moment on Lockdown Panthers football is finally back. And that means Sundays are about to get a whole lot more interesting every week brings new matchups, breakout players, big performances and plenty of storylines to follow. And if you like getting more engaged with the players and stats you're watching, there's a new way to make game day more exciting price picks is bringing out its best offer yet

12:41for kick off new users who sign up can get $150 in lineups if they win their first five dollar lineup and price picks is now available nationwide with price picks. You're building daily fantasy lineups by choosing two to six players or in selecting more or less on their projected stats like passing yards, rushing yards or fantasy score for week ones, opener, sand, darn, all needs just one yard against the wing on the cash to this pick. It doesn't get any easier than that. I've got my eye on Teterot McNeill and somebody who could have a really big season. If the opportunity is there, I want to see how his number stack up week to week. And that's why I like using price picks to follow the prayer projections. Download the app today and use code locked on in at L to get $150 instantly in lineups if you win your first five dollar lineup price picks run your game. Let's take a look at the panthers secondary heading into week one of this 2026 season. I'm high on a secondary when looking at where things stand looking at corner first. JC Horn, Mike Jackson, our back.

13:43That is reason enough for me to feel great about what this group is going to look like this season, especially heading into week one against Chicago. JC battle injury is still has missed some time the last two seasons, but still has been far more active and available than he was his first three seasons here in Carolina. The panthers bet on him and that bet paid off as he has been a pole bowler. The last two seasons, Mike Jackson, who would have thought when the panthers use that some brown pick on Michael Barrett coming out of Michigan that they would flip it for Mike Jackson late during training camp in the preseason two years ago. That Mike Jack will come out and play damn near every snap earn an extension. We be talked about Mike Jackson, deserving another extension here in Carolina and being one of the most underrated corners in the league. PFF loves him when you look at the grades that they gave him last season. They don't love JC, which is interesting because at least the NFL media and fan bases look at JC Horn as a pro baller, but they have not looked at Mike Jackson in that same light although corner PFF in their grading system, Mike Jackson is outperformed.

14:45JC Horn, I'm not so sure that's true. I don't really want to have a debate about that because it doesn't really matter. Both of them have been really good for Carolina last two years and if they're both healthy again this season, that's a really good cornerback. Tana, but that's not what has me the most excited about the cornerback room this season. For me, the prospect of will leave the second, the blanket as a rookie, being able to play on the outside by himself, no help and allowing JC then to go on the other side, playing the slot next to Mike Jackson. That is really intriguing and enticing for what this Panther's defense potentially could be if they could truly get JC playing in a jail and Ramsey type of role. And I asked this question when looking at the cornerback room post draft and doing the cornerback preview back in July, just what was the depth like on the outside? Who would step up? And I did not know that will be was solely playing outside corner and that they would be utilizing

15:46them out there with the starters and having JC play in the slot. Now you did not see that at all during the preseason, which is fine. You didn't really see JC other than not one gaming it's Buffalo anyways. So they didn't really have a ton of opportunities to actually utilize that in the games, but it was happening quite a bit of decent amount during training camp for Carolina. So that's something I really want to see now. I do think the Panthers are probably pretty disappointed that they didn't get to see a ton of will be during the preseason only played 49 snaps 19 against Buffalo in the 30 in the Hall of Fame game. If it was up to them, they probably would have gotten him hell. I think around 90 snaps when you look at guys like the key Wheatley and like late in a ransom who played between 90 and 110 snaps this preseason they would have liked to have seen that from will lead to get him prepared. Now he was back there last week during joint practice with Houston, which is great. Probably was not going to play in the Houston game anyways, but it is disappointed he didn't play more against Buffalo as he went out of a groin injury in that game. And then of course, they're not participate at all during the week.

16:48They were in Jacksonville for joint practice and in that game. And you look at his PFF grades can don't take too much from the preseason. I thought he performed really well in practice during training camp, but his PFF grades weren't that good at a 49.4 overall grade 59.4 coverage grade. So you can ask just based off of that is he really ready to go. If you would have played more, maybe those grades are a little bit higher than they were. And then in that game, I thought I was pretty good in the Hall of Fame game. Buffalo struggled a little bit was because he was dealing with a groin injury and how many snaps did he play through that injury and that's something that will never know. So I wouldn't get too caught up in that if you looked over at PFF and also what I just told you there with those grades. Shotsmith Wade, big question about who is going to be the starting nickel. It looks like right now it's probably going to be him because of the time that will miss. But wills back at practice this week. We'll be back at practice next week. We only get to see so much now that the season is beginning during training camp. We get to see everything. We can't film a lot of things, which is funny because next year when fans are back out

17:50there, we can't film as media, but you as the fans will be back there and it stands filming. I don't think it's me saying they probably do say I'm trying to think back. They probably say no filming, but are you really going to go confiscate phones? You're probably not going to do that. You need to be like a comedian or like a wedding and say leave all your phones. We're going to have an unplugged ceremony. Please, nothing out there. But the point I'm trying to make is Shotsmith Wade, I think at this point in time because where will the stands, the time that he missed is probably that starter at nickel, but they have so many options. JC could play nickel. As I just discussed, Tramon Merrick could be that big nickel. They have a multitude of ways that they could go about scheming things up this season. Which is really cool that they have more opportunities and more options than they've had I think in the past. That's a part of the Dave can also always think he liked the scheme. The scheme is not the problem. What's the problem? The personnel looks like they have the personnel. Finally, you would think to run all that a Jero Verra wants to run defensively here in Carolina. I think Shah had a pretty solid preseason, solid training camp.

18:51He is going to get plenty of opportunities at nickel. Then the Caleb Evans rounds out at least the guys who are on the active 53 as he sticks around as a core special teamer. Corey Thornton still around. There's other guys like Devante Smith who they can continue to develop. I like where this room is at eight out of 10 for me as far as confidence level heading into the season safety. I'm also high on the safety group. Tramon Merrick and Nick Scott are returning after playing and starting in every game they were available to play last year. Nick played and started every game last season. Tramon had that incident on Monday night in San Francisco. That caused him to not play in the Rams game, the first Rams game, but they didn't need them because they got the big upset win against LA that day. Like Jack, they had to pick six a huge season for him, a huge moment as well for him. But those guys being back, I think is obviously a positive. Nick Scott has been somebody that the fan base is banged on a ton. I thought he played pretty well last year, especially looking at the first year in Carolina. Here is coming in to be kind of that third safety got banged up. Didn't have a great year. Cincinnati was bench midway through the season.

19:52His best season really since being back in LA when he won a Super Bowl with the Rams. I think him coming back is a good thing. I would have liked to have seen them bring in maybe an option to try to upgrade there. I was totally fine with Nick coming back. He's back in the scheme. They feel good about him. So I feel solid about that situation. Tramon and Barrett are not the best in coverage, but in the box as a big nickel. However, they want to utilize and maybe as a linebacker, maybe not as much now that Bobby O'Karakay is here. There's ways to get him out there to make some plays or some flexibility with him. So having both your starters from the season ago when this was an improved defense, which you could go anywhere but up last year. You could go anywhere but up last year. That's a positive to me. And they've also both been healthy throughout training camp. Mike Jack missed some time. Jay C missed some time. Tramon and Nick missed no time. So feel good about that as well. And then the two young guys behind the man, Nathan Ransom is the key Wheatley. I could see a world next year where they're starting safety is and I could see a world this year where they both get a lot of opportunities, particularly Lee Ray, Nathan just based off

20:58of how they've utilized him a little bit this season. But you look at his PFF grades just from the preseason. I thought he had a really good camp, really good preseason and 84.1 PFF grade. I was third best among all defensive players from Panthers this preseason, run defense grade 78.6 tackling 87.0 coverage 75.4. You're really seeing that development from him and he is not afraid to lay a hat on a hat. Sometimes reckless. But Tramon's also a little bit like that for a guy who's very quiet too, which is got a crazy. It's the quiet ones. You got to worry about y'all. But Nathan really saw a training camp for him and in the key Wheatley's come in as well. He led the Panthers and tackles in a preseason had a 73.2 PFF grade 85.6 run defense grade 90.3 tackling. In coverage needs some help just based off of these grades 61.1. I'm excited about both of these young guys. I'm excited about this room. I'm at eight out of 10 here as well. So you look at the secondary JC Mike Jack underrated cornerback pairing.

22:01At least we know that JC has respect from his peers and from the league media and I guess fans out there's what we've voted on the pro bowl because he's been in it the last two years. Like Jack though, at least PFF is high on him. How about everybody else? Like when are people getting wise? How good a player that he is. Hopefully this season you with things, especially with four more prime time opportunities for Carolina coming off with that division title and being a playoff game and pushing the Rams to the break back in January. Then you look at safety. Okay. Next got maybe not an eye popping name, but how to solve season last year. Javon Mary. So many physical player who brings a kind of mentality that Carolina desperately needed after what occurred in 2024 and the back end and yet to young guys as well yet will Lee in there. I like this Panther secondary. I like it. Really interesting to see what they're able to do this season eight out of 10 for both position groups heading into the year, but there is one area that does have me concerned. It is the defensive line. I know that Derek Browns around, but if he's not around yikes, let's talk about that here in just a moment on lockdown Panthers. Before the season even kicks off, everyone's making predictions who wins a division who

23:04makes the playoffs who's lifting the trophy at seasons and on Cal. She America's number one prediction market platform. You can trade those predictions in a live market. Well, the Panthers qualify for the playoffs yet again this season right now. Carolina is trading only at 29% meaning a $100 trade would pay out $328.48 if they clinched a playoff spot for the second year and a row on Cal. She you're trading in peers in a live market, meaning there's no house and as the probability changes, you can buy in and out of your position, trade the draft, pick the game and more on Cal. She download the Cal. She app and use code locked on to get $10 when you trade $10 K, L, S, H, I, Cal. She trade on anything 18 over only restrictions and eligibility requirements apply event contract trading and most risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Cal. She products are not available in all jurisdictions, prices, values and available markets may differ from those mentioned for more information. See Cal. She. One more position group to go over as far as my confidence meter for the Panthers defense. Right now, I'm high on linebacker, high on edge, high on corner, high on a secondary.

24:07I'm not very high on the interior of the Panthers defensive line. Now look, Derek Brown's back here, which the whole defense falls apart my opinion if he's not out there. We saw it two years ago when you can't stop to run, he can't stop anything. Those are my words. Those are JC horns words and he knew when they struggle. He knows when they struggle against stopping the run, they're going to struggle in totality that day and they're likely going to lose back in 2024. It was a calamity. Once they were found one out with that meniscus tear in week one, they did not have the depth behind him, certainly a Sean Robinson, acquittamself well, but shy, subtle did not. Desjard Williams did not everybody else in that room did not, which led Carol on to go out and get turquoise and Bobby Brown to third last off season to fix the issues that they had and they also added Derek Brown back and what do you know the run defense was better. Derek Brown to stud. He's one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. I have no concerns about him. What I'm concerned about is everybody else in that room and who's also not available.

25:09Now Turkworton is probably a bigger loss on paper than in reality. Here's some numbers for y'all last season. When Turkworton played in those nine regular season games, I'm taking out the Rams game, but looking at the regular seasons, that's when he played the nine regular season games last year. The Panthers gave up 142.2 yards per game on the ground. That's bad. The games that he did not play the eight other regular season games, they allowed 102 rushing yards per game. Still not great, but not terrible. So he's a liability clearly when he's out there against the run. A's Sean Robinson no longer here. He's down in Tampa. Lee Hunter they drafted him for a reason, but based on what I've seen so far, he's not really ready to go 48.1 PFF grade during a preseason, 48.5 run defense again. Let's not take too much out of it, but he didn't pop in those games or throughout camp at all to me.

26:10He played 60 snaps as well. So they gave him some quality work, but I'm just kind of still looking for more. And I look at Lee as like, man, is he even ready? He's going to have to be, but is he truly ready? To make an impact at this level, I'm skeptical of that. Does it mean he can't eventually figure it out this season or maybe he doesn't come out week one and tear things up, but I, I'm not banking on that happening at this point in time. So yeah, you're missing turkeys dealing with the neckies on the populace physically on number of perform eventually, he'll be back as early as week six in Philadelphia is the case for a lot of guys right now for Carolina that they're solely missing offensively. Yeah, they're missing his experience, his past rushability. I think they would probably try to find a way to not have mouth air as much as the run to season, considering the stats. Um, yeah, I don't know. I don't know how big of a loss that truly is. I know if Bobby Brown III for whatever it's worth, he was the third lowest grade defender in the preseason for Carolina with a 29.9 grade and a 27.7 run defense grade.

27:12So color me concerned about his performance and also some of the things I've heard, color me very concerned, that Bobby Brown III and his standing within this room. Kind of feels like Dan whipped on these two ones, man. And how it's two year deals that they signed and oh, three year, it's two year. And it was important to go out there and get him. You got a draft and it drafted. Cam Jackson, they've drafted Lee Hunter. They're trying to develop those guys totally understand that the hope is that those guys show enough this season to where you can move on from Turkey, can move on from Bobby that you don't need to go spend money next off season on a defensive tackle. They come in help there. Brown out that you can have your own in house guys play those roles. But they do need Turk and they do need Bobby to be better than they were a season ago. And heading to week one, I'm just not that confident that's going to happen. And again, Lee Hunter, is he ready? It doesn't really matter. He has to be now. Cam Jackson, Aaron Hall, like none of the panthers in tiered defensive lineman, when you're looking at PFF grade out well and older in a preseason, Cam Jackson, 57.7 grade, Aaron Hall, 42.8 grade.

28:13And look, Aaron's a rookies and on draft the free agent, I'm going to give him some grace. Cam had a concussion symptoms or issues that he dealt with as well. I'm going to show him some grace, but he has to step up too. It's fifth round from season to go. Look fifth round. Not like you're coming in to be a starter, but certainly a rotational guy. And you would hope that in your second season, after playing, sparingly as a rookie, that you're going to be able to add a lot more than you did last year, knowing, especially to that there's an opportunity with Turk now playing right now and that they need a run stop. And that's what Cam Jackson could be for them this season. But you look at this. The number is from the preseason according to PFF. You understand why they went out and got T-Ride words who had a 74 grade in 99 snaps with the chargers, which probably led them to look at and say, you know what, they're probably not focused on PFF grades, but they're evaluating the tape and they probably say, okay, T-Ride words outperformed Aaron Hall. He outperformed Cam Jackson, he outperformed Lee Hunter. He outperformed, damn, Bobby Brown III. We need to go get that guy. And he fits what we want to do here. He fits our style of play as they always say.

29:14Okay. Let's see it. No regular season experience either. And that's really my concern is the one that you have outside of Derek Brown and Telfi has not looked good. And everybody else is somebody who has no experience at all really. Lee Hunter has never played in regular season. Neither is Aaron Hall. Neither is T-Ride words. And then Cam Jackson has played a little bit. That's my concern is the youth. So it's a six out of 10 because of Derek Brown. If anything happens to Derek Brown, then oh my god. Oh my god. It'd be a two out of 10. Six out of 10 is where I'm at with this group. So overall for the defense, crunch numbers, added it up, divided it, 7.4, which I'm going to upgrade to a 7.5 because we're not doing 7.4. 7.5 is my overall confidence level in the Panthers defense heading into the preseason. I think as long as Derek Brown's out there, they should be fine up front. Younger run away from him. If you're Ben Johnson and everybody else, the begin the season, your Kevin Stavanski, you're running away from Derek Brown. If you're whoever calls the plays, it's Todd Monkink on the plays for Cleveland.

30:15You're running away. I don't know if the DC or the OC rather is for Detroit, but you're running away from Derek Brown. All it seems to be trying to do that. You're running away from him and really you want to do that anyways, but someone else is going to have to emerge for Carolina. Just when you look at what these offensive coaches are going to probably try to do to scheme around what they have up front and that just that monster of a man, Derek Brown. So as long as he's out there, I'm not super concerned. Also too, even if someone else is not emerged, the fact that you have Devon Lloyd back there, Bobby will care, okay, back there. That helps when there are questions about the overall depth experience and maybe even talent level that you have there on the interior defensive line aside from your stud player and Derek Brown. So yeah, that's where I'm at. Secondary, feeling good about that. Past rush should be improved and already seeing how that played out of Phillips and what that allowed guys to go mad me all into look like and I'm sure what Pat Jones would look like opposite of him as well. I have some pretty strong confidence in this defense heading into week one, which is different

31:16than in years past. The personnel finally appears to match what a Jero is trying to do schematically. Let's see if they both get it done this season, but that's going to wrap up this edition of the Lockdown Pantist podcast for a Lockdown podcast network. That's about yours Julie Julie and council again. You'll subscribe for fall show for free over on YouTube or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast and be sure to follow me. Julie and council run Twitter and Blue Sky at Julian council where I will be back with y'all on Wednesday next week. The weekly Wednesday mail bag is back. Let's go. So at me DM me over on Twitter, Blue Sky every single week after the games are over. Hit me up on Monday. Hit me up on Tuesday. I record Tuesday afternoons. I'm going to have that show out for you every single Wednesday throughout the entire of the regular season and if they make the playoffs as well, I will have a mail back. So get those questions into me right now. It means I'll be safe. You have to be whole as always keep pounding and I'll talk to y'all on Monday as week one has finally arrived for your Carolina Panthers.

32:23Sometimes you just want a little boost in something that tastes fun. That's where cotton candy five hour energy shots come in bringing back that classic nostalgic flavor with a modern twist because these cotton candy five hour energy shots don't just taste good. They deliver a tasty caffeine kick and a convenient zero sugar energy shot you can take anywhere. It's perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth who doesn't want the sugar guilt afterward. Bring on the sweetness of cotton candy five hour energy shots available now online at five hour energy dot com or Amazon. That's cotton candy five hour energy shots available at five hour energy dot com or Amazon. Hey NFL fans, I'm Brian P. Cock and that is Matt Williamson hosts of the NFL six pack part of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team every day NFL six pack brings you the latest NFL news and analysis and breaks down all of the weekly action. A six pack of takes daily on the playoff pushed in the 2025 season or if your team's in draft mode, yeah, we'll hit that too. All right here every day on the Lockdown podcast network. The NFL six pack subscribe on YouTube or everywhere you get your podcasts.