Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis talk about Mike Lombardi being put on leave from UNC Football. We also talk about the injuries that have plagued the Carolina Panthers as we are still in the early stages of training camp.
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Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue give updates on High School, College, and Minor League Baseball in our area. The guys also give a recap of the NFL Draft this past weekend and how the Carolina Panthers did.
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High School Baseball Scores:
Friday
College Baseball Scores:
Friday
MiLB Scores:
Friday
College Baseball Scores:
Saturday
MiLB Scores:
Saturday
College Baseball Scores:
Sunday
MiLB Scores:
Sunday
High School Baseball Scores:
Monday
Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis give an update on the latest of Minor League Baseball around North Carolina. The guys also explain the sad song that is the Carolina Panthers.
Friday MiLB Scores:
Saturday MiLB Scores:
Sunday MiLB Scores:
Tuesday Games Today:
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SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue finish their preview of the NFC North for the football season. The guys also preview the Carolina Panthers and how they improved in the offseason.
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SportsTalk 12:30 p.m. M-Th
Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis talk about the All-Time Greats from the Carolina Panthers, whether it’s someone from the Carolina Panthers Ring of Honor or from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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— by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS
Friday’s preseason game, while initially sloppy, featured bright spots for both teams. Carolina Panthers quarterbacks PJ Walker and Matt Corral each handled 15 snaps and yielded a combined 135 yards through the air. New England Patriots quarterbacks Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones, and Brain Hoyer racked up 249 passing yards. Here are four takeaways.
Despite an unflattering first-quarter performance from a Jones-led offense, the group found its footing late in the second quarter. Jones completed four of his eight pass attempts, netting 61 yards. The highlight of his limited playing time occurred during the Patriots’ third offensive drive when he connected with receiver Nelson Agholor on a 45-yard passing play, which set the team up for a score.
However, it is worth noting that the Panthers’ defensive unit consisted of backups. Head coach Matt Rhule kept his starters sidelined for the entire game.
What we thought was once a relatively easy decision is now seemingly more complicated in the mind of Rhule. While Baker Mayfield, a former top pick, and teammate Sam Darnold shared equal reps for most of training camp and team practices, Mayfield’s deep-ball accuracy, decision-making abilities, and composure appeared to warrant a slight advantage over the competition.
“Like I said all along, when we know, we know. And we’ll announce something when it’s right,” said Rhule.
Another unsatisfactory preseason performance from Walker further extends the gap between himself, rookie Matt Corral, and other potential prospects. Considering that Rhule intends to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, Walker will need to correct some ongoing careless mistakes sooner rather than later.
In two quarters, Walker completed nine of 15 pass attempts for a total of 107 yards. However, two of the 15 pass attempts resulted in interceptions. Matt Corral, on the other hand, finished 9-for-15.
Regarding the Panthers’ wide receiver rankings moving forward, Rhule and his staff have some tough decisions to make. For the first time in many years, the competition and strengths amongst a versatile group of backup receivers are plentiful.
Shi Smith, an excellent special teams asset and talented pass catcher, is making a case for additional offensive responsibilities. Also, receivers Rashad Higgens and Terrace Marshall Jr. have demonstrated flashes of explosive plays.
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— story and pictures by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS
The starting quarterback role for the Carolina Panthers is up for grabs, and a decision is looming in the distance. Head coach Matt Rhule is not prepared to name the starting quarterback until after the second preseason game concludes on Aug. 19.
Even then, a lack of definitive separation amongst Carolina’s quarterbacks might yield additional testing and analysis before a conclusion occurs.
“I’m not putting a timetable on the quarterback position until after we get back from the Patriots week,” said Rhule. “The Patriots week is a true litmus test for us. That will really show us where guys are.”
During Saturday’s practice (Aug. 6), Baker Mayfield, a former top pick in the NFL draft, and teammate Sam Darnold (also drafted in 2018) took equal snaps with the first and second teams. While Mayfield’s composure and deep-ball accuracy warranted a slight advantage over Darnold, the battle is far from over.
Mayfield’s ability to sling the football efficiently and effectively down the field was comforting, but a handful of risky throws in tight coverage kept the quarterback competition close. Darnold looked solid when dumping the ball off to a nearby receiver. However, both quarterbacks gave the ball away on mistimed throws in crucial situations.
Mayfield finished 14-for-21, and Darnold completed 20 of 28 pass attempts. Both athletes netted a touchdown and interception during two hours of practice time.
“The disappointing thing is each guy had an interception,” explained Rhule. “We’ve got to protect the football.”
Mayfield is motivated to bounce back in 2022 after barely surpassing 3000 yards and recording just 17 touchdowns last season, which are both career lows. Darnold, on the other hand, is looking to secure the starting quarterback role long-term. In 2021, Darnold, despite starting the season hot, failed to achieve double-digit touchdown passes, and his single-season completion percentage remained below 60% for the third time in his career.
As competition at the quarterback position continues to heat up in the coming weeks, watch for changes in snap counts and offensive strategy.
The Monday edition of WIZS SportsTalk and Coach’s Corner with Trey Snide celebrated the weekend’s victories of both Carolinas, being UNC Football and the Carolina Panthers.
Mike Davis for the Panthers had combined scrimmage yards of 149 and a receiving touchdown. Davis is averaging 83 yards on the ground since becoming the starter for the injured Christian McCaffrey. With the win, the Panthers moved into a tied for first place in the NFC South. The Teddy Bridgewater led offense and pair of wide receivers in Ryan Anderson and DJ Moore have the Panther offense moving up in the Power Rankings.
As for the Tar Heels, UNC has moved up to number five in the AP Top 25 poll, the best since 2015 when they were 14th in the country. This past Saturday was a record-setting day for the UNC offense, let by the two-headed running back committee of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. Up next for the Tar Heels is Florida State.
For the full replay of today’s show, click play below…
The Panthers drafted seven defensive players, and the general reports indicate it was a successful plan, including those from Matt Rhule, the new head coach, and from General Manager Marty Hurney.
Mick Mixon, play by play announcer of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, joined WIZS TownTalk on Monday to discuss the latest NFL draft.
Of the present internal disruption within the Panthers organization, with a new coach, new owner and a lot of player turnover, Mixon spoke also of the present world disruption of covid-19 and said, “You can count on me not to over dramatize athletics…It really doesn’t mean that much when set against the backdrop of nurses and doctors and scientists and healthcare workers and the really essential things in life.
“However, let’s just call this too for what it is. In the south, football isn’t just what we do. It’s part of who we are, and it’s part of how we come together. So, I think we’re kind of starving for a little bit of football. At least that’s the way it feels to me around Panther Nation, and the draft was great. Just to be able to have some new Panthers, how about that? Seven new draft picks, all defensive players.”
With the NFC South loaded with talented quarterbacks like Drew Brees and now Tom Brady, the Panthers’ selections being all defensive, while it was not the plan, indicates the importance of improving the defense now as expressed by the Panthers’ leadership and their draft board.
The NFL logo and the overall organization has to be top 1o in terms of global recognition and branding, but it’s not too big to fail. Mixon said, “I think what we may need to do is be patient. I think the NFL needs to not put a stake in the ground (after a successful draft), and say, ‘Boy, thank Goodness that’s over. Happy days are here again.’ There’s a lot of distancing yet, a lot of work, a lot of sand that needs to sift through the hour glass so to speak, but I know conversations have been held about — What would the world be like with a shortened season? What would the world be like with games with no fans in the stands. These are hard pills to swallow.”
The NFL will figure it out, Mixon said, and right now time is on the side of professional football.
Full Interview Audio:
100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm
-Information courtesy Amy Martin, Broadcast Manager, Carolina Panthers
Take home the title for the Carolina Panthers! Sign up by October 7 for your chance to represent the Carolina Panthers in the Madden NFL 20 Club Championship as you take your favorite team to the top of this EA Major Series.
The top four Panthers gamers will be flown to California to participate in a live studio show to determine who will represent the Panthers in the official Madden NFL 20 Club Championship!
Register now at www.MaddenChampionship.com/compete.
• Fans are able to register for the Madden Club Championship under their favorite team.
• The top four players that register as Panthers fans will then be flown to California to compete to be the top Panthers player in the Studio Show. Each NFL team’s Studio Show winner will then compete against each other in the Madden NFL 20 Club Championship.
• Fans will be able to tune in to the Studio Show and the Championship via Twitch through EAMaddenNFL.
