top dawg

I've researched all of this stuff. I used to make the same types of argument that you're making. After years of research, I'm certain that the scouting process begins in earnest well before now. Of course nothing is set in stone, it's way too early. But neither Mobile or much of anything else at this point is going to change the way that these execs and analysts will think about the top prospects at QB. Fitterer isn't just talking out of the side of his neck. If anything, he'd be talking them up for trade value.

The only thing I can think of is a sweet talking Tepper willing to make it rain (particularly after our failures at the position), the slick talking salesman Rhule, and the fact that it's still close to home. It's all in the packaging. He's still a young kid with a lot to prove. I don't think he's ultimately going to be in a position to be choosey either.

He didn't exactly say no to us. We are considered in the mix long term depending upon what happens. I saw something listing us and the Broncos as the only ones still in the mix now that Miami is out.

Well that's an entirely different argument that neither I or anyone is arguing.

Surely we aren't making the same mistakes twice. They aren't that thickheaded...I hope.

These guys have been scouted for years. Anyone who believes otherwise is kidding themselves. We aren't talking about a small school safety or guard here.

I think he has lots of influence. That's why he was brought here. Of course Rhule makes the ultimate decisions, until Tepper says otherwise. But I don't believe Scott was acquired just to be a yes-man.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe there's any way they don't go O-line. Unless we make some trades and get creative with the cap, I don't believe that they can address all the needs across the O-line in free agency. Call it wishful thinking, I think we're going O-line. They've marked it as our number one priority and area ripe for serious investment.

People paid attention to Matt Rhule's radio interview for good reason (I guess), but Anthony Rizzuti also paid attention to another radio interview, one Thursday, and that was Scott Fitterer's on the Kyle Bailey show, and in a perf--err, improved world, that interview was the one that Panthers fans should be giving more credence to as it relates to the team's future personnel decisions. Rizzuti rightfully zeroed in on a couple of what he referred to as "nuggets", and it falls in line with what others have said about the 2021 QB class. “It’s a good class, it’s not a great class,” Fitterer said. “There’s some good players in there. There’s players every year throughout the draft—you might be able to find a guy, get lucky, second/third round.” It doesn't sound like we'll be falling into the overdrafting-a-QB-trap. “The one thing we have to really be careful about is not forcing,” he continued. “Taking a quarterback just because we think we need to take a quarterback. You can really get in trouble that way. You can pass on a really good player with the pick you have. So I don’t wanna force anything. I do like a couple of the quarterbacks in this class. I think it gives us options. But, as a whole, I think there have been other, better draft classes in other years.” Now if Fitterer would apply that kind of thinking to spending good money--literal and draft compensation--on bad free agent QB pickups, I'd be even more hopeful--just let us know that they've finally learned from their mistakes might be an M-F-ing mental coup. But, I digress. I could be wrong, but it sounds like Fitt may be suggesting that the likes of Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell (for example) get second or third round grades at best. Now, I know what some of you are thinking: We don't have a 2nd or 3rd round pick! True, but that doesn't mean that we won't have one or both after all is said and done. And, remember, we still wouldn't necessarily use them on a signal caller. Indeed, Fitt basically said that we might be able to luck up on QB on day two. That leads me to believe that we simply won't be seriously shopping for a QB in the draft (which is probably a good thing). Of course it's all just speculation, but it is reading between the lines. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/15/panthers-scott-fitterer-2022-qb-class/

Some of you say that, and indeed it may have been true for some teams, but many teams obviously had an opposite opinion. Indeed, his tape was pretty stellar, and he handled pass rushers--including the premier pass rusher in Chase Young--like a grown man. Slater's body of work was simply great and more than justified a top pick for a team in need for an offensive lineman. That's just the fact of the matter. Rashawn Slater's tape told a story, and guys like Matt Rhule were just too thickheaded to listen.

BPA, unless it's a guard.

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/14/panthers-rb-deangelo-williams-matt-rhule-problem/

Yeah, I used to scoff at people who said such things in terms of the Panthers. Now, I have come to the realization that it's a real possibility, if not probable in some instances.

This may be the last place anyone worth a damn might want to come.

That's some priceless sh¡t right there! I haven't laughed about anything on this board in 2022 until now.

Unless they were definitive in their stance that Slater was too small to play OT (akin to BC's arms being too short} and spoke of size like it was set in stone, and were inflexible to the point of saying that we should pass on Slater, they don't sound anything like Rhule, and to call them hypocrites for it is a reach.

That's a whole lotta nothing. These guys aren't hypocrites, and they were hardly the only ones that raised an eyebrow.

I think you're off base. They had every right to criticize Rhule for questioning Slater's size (much akin to what he did to BC). This video was not about Horn vs Slater and them saying Slater would've been a bad pick--in fact, one of them said he would've picked Slater (had Fields not fallen)--this video was about how Horn was a good pick. Again, it was not a Slater vs Horn pick, nor was it them saying Slater was too small to be an OT. What in the world, man?

I'd like to see those. Most of what I saw had Slater ranked very highly.

If Slater was allowed to do what he did in L.A., I seriously doubt that any Huddler, particularly the longtime ones, would've been upset in the slightest. Rhule would've screwed that up too. Slater would probably have been on the sidelines.

Calling them hypocrites is a little weak, I'm just saying.

Passing over Fields was rightfully the more pressing topic. Horn was playing well. The injury is a little concerning, but we'll hope for a bounce back in 2022. I doubt he would've beat out Parsons.

Most draft breakdowns I saw of Slater were positive. I doubt that anyone has a problem breaking anything down. You're on a bridge to nowhere with that one. The problem isn't Slater, he could care less about Matt Rule, I'm sure.