ESPN's Analysis of Our Pick, And Why I Feel It Was The Wrong Pick

[mcdougal]

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/draft?year=2015&grouping=rounds&round=1&src=desktop

LOL at that last bolded part.

I said at the end of last season, when the Seahawks eliminated us, that the same problems that went unaddressed prior to the season were what ended our season - lack of weapons and protection for Cam.

We destroyed our receiving corps last offseason, made one, possibly two, viable additions to it and called it a success.

In the end, not addressing it cost us our season.

Sure, our defense came around and became dominant once the right guys were given the PT and put in the right spots... But the issue was, our offense was so stagnant, it couldn't put up enough of a threat to keep our defense off of the field and it finally broke them against the seahawks.

Why couldn't the offense score? There was no one that could take the top off of the defense, ALL of our WRs outside of maybe Philly struggle to get separation consistently and probably give Cam the smallest windows to fit passes into. You put that up against a team with championship-level defense and an offense with a wide array of weapons (power runner, shifty receivers, tall/fast receivers, accurate QB with scrambling ability), and it becomes obvious who would win.

Point is, defense wasn't the problem and that is where we've made the most moves, AGAIN. WR has been the biggest problem for two years and has seen the least attention, AGAIN. Offense is what lost us games and ended our season, and this despite having the most dynamic player in the entire NFL at QB. It's a shame.

I have never really outright poo poo'd a pick we have made the same night. I didn't like the KB pick last season initially, but I still said I hoped to eat crow and felt there was a strong possibility I would. And for the most part, I did (although he needs to shore up that drop issue). But I would've been lying to myself if I didn't see him contributing immediately and ignoring his potential.

I am going out on a limb here, but I don't have that feeling about shaq. It's the first time, possibly ever, that I just don't like anything about the pick. I predicted both Cam and Luke months before they happened and said both of them would be among the best in the NFL before we ever took them... So, I feel like for a fan, I have a good eye for talent and fit... I just don't like this pick... Again, considering what lost us our season, it just doesn't make sense to me and was an obvious reach for a front office that swears they won't do just that.

Flame away.

 

Can you do us all one favor? Can you take note of the specific posters who are screaming down other posters who have voiced their concerns about our offense and lack of talent...

 

and if these same poster start spamming the board when the season begins complaining about Newton and the offense not scoring enough points...

 

Can you just ban them?

 

Thanks!

[Proudiddy]

The way I look at it: We just made our defense elite.

If we got one of those WRs: Is that really different for Shula compared to a Dezmin Lewis/Locket/Bell/etc.?

IMO, again, armchair GM here I know, but there is a huge drop-off in college production against top-level programs after Smith and Strong, and I don't see either of them lasting to our pick. Lockett is probably the next name from a top-level program, and after watching him several times over his career, I was never overly impressed and don't see him as a #2 or even #3. He reminds me of a guy like Ryan Broyles.

[Proudiddy]

Can you do us all one favor? Can you take note of the specific posters who are screaming down other posters who have voiced their concerns about our offense and lack of talent...

and if these same poster start spamming the board when the season begins complaining about Newton and the offense not scoring enough points...

Can you just ban them?

Thanks!

Judging from last season, there wouldn't be many people left posting lol.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

I agree Diddy. I'm frustrated and share your sentiments. This defense will need to hold opposing offenses to 15 PPG to have another shot at 11-5/12-4/13-3. My biggest worry is a couple broken plays against our defenses or quick turnovers by the offense and a 14 point lead early will be a hole too big to climb out of against even an average defense. 

 

Can't wait to see how this defense handles Luck +TY Hilton + Andre Johnson + Phillip Dorsett + Dante Moncrief + Frank Gore + Coby Fleener/Dwayne Allen when they come to Charlotte on Monday night. 

 

 

 

[mcdougal]

With a defensive coordinator pretending to be a head coach, you would think he would want more talent on the side of the ball he's clueless at. Instead we keep building our team like the Jets with Rex Ryan.

 

OMG you win!!!

 

I think the much better approach is to do what the Colts are doing. Hire a defensive head coach...draft a QB at 1...do everything in your power to surround said QB with all the talent he could ever ask for...

 

allow your genius defensive head coach to do more with less...

[cbarrier90]

Um how about when we get back to back winning seasons for the first time in our history. Gettleman is extremely lucky the NFc south is on the decline right now

We tanked the roster and still won the division.

And when we get winning seasons you'll complain we didn't go far enough in the playoffs, didn't win a Super Bowl, etc.

How you people continue to hold grudges against him when the team is experiencing its best opportunity for sustained success ever is beyond me.

Cam is healthy. Our cap is healthy. Our division is a cakewalk. What more could you want?

[davos]

IMO, again, armchair GM here I know, but there is a huge drop-off in college production against top-level programs after Smith and Strong, and I don't see either of them lasting to our pick. Lockett is probably the next name from a top-level program, and after watching him several times over his career, I was never overly impressed and don't see him as a #2 or even #3. He reminds me of a guy like Ryan Broyles.

 

This is probably getting down to a personal WR preference but I hate Lockett for us.  With WRs, it's not about a top-level program.  That's more important IMO on the D front from my perspective.  I've been clamoring for certain wideouts and still think these mid (not late) WRs are very interesting. 

 

[AceBoogie]

I agree Diddy. I'm frustrated and share your sentiments. This defense will need to hold opposing offenses to 15 PPG to have another shot at 11-5/12-4/13-3. My biggest worry is a couple broken plays against our defenses or quick turnovers by the offense and a 14 point lead early will be a hole too big to climb out of against even an average defense.

Can't wait to see how this defense handles Luck +TY Hilton + Andre Johnson + Phillip Dorsett + Dante Moncrief + Frank Gore + Coby Fleener/Dwayne Allen when they come to Charlotte on Monday night.

Can't say it enough, Andrew Luck is a smart smart man

[Carl Spackler]

The main things that make me not hate this pick:

 

1) There was no BPA at 25

2) Humphries went off the board at 24

3) As a fan, I like Shaq

 

HOWEVAH, I'm not convinced he'll be an impact player. 

[Proudiddy]

TD started at safety though when he first came in. So that hurt his development

I mentioned the coaching staff hurting his development by continuously switching his position... But even once he was taken out from starting at safety, he was then considered a tweener still - as the joker role against Vick... IIRC, he kind of hovered there between positions as the joker for a couple years and only after helping us figure out Vick in that role, did it seem like fans finally started seeing potential in him. He then transitioned into a full time LB, and made everyone forget about the early struggles.

But again, I feel coming in, TD was a superior football player with better instincts, and regardless of measurables, was much more explosive, in-game. He was also open to change.

From what fiz posted in another thread, apparently shaq has said he only will play lb. Yet, coincidentally enough, even on the espn telecast, they basically said his best hope is to transition to safety eventually. I never considered TD a tweener... He was stout like a LB, but he was just so athletic and explosive that we tried to make him into a safety. Shaq is the opposite... He is athletic, but he is not stout and is built more like a safety, but wants to play lb. Regardless, he hasn't shown great instincts at either,like TD did.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Here's my problem with waiting to address WR until the mid rounds: Our roster is already littered with #3/4/5s that have been journeymen and JAGs their entire careers. This team needed a number two and an instant difference maker. A mid-round rookie isn't going to be that. At least not his rookie year. 

 

Another year of Cotchery as our #2 across Kelvin is a scary thought. It's bad when your starting QB is probably the fastest offensive player on the roster outside of Ted Ginn and Philly Brown. 

[Cary Kollins]

Bant

[Panthers8969]

Plenty of WR's in the draft. There was only 3 great wr's the rest of the top 20 wrs are all in the same category. Glad we didn't reach for one of them. Shaq is special and once he settles into LB he will thrive.

Now OT we need to address in the 2nd round

What was wrong with what's his face. The guy the colts picked? He was exactly what we needed. A fast wr that can get separation and has good hands

[Proudiddy]

This is probably getting down to a personal WR preference but I hate Lockett for us. With WRs, it's not about a top-level program. That's more important IMO on the D front from my perspective. I've been clamoring for certain wideouts and still think these mid (not late) WRs are very interesting.

No doubt, it's probably more my preference talking than anything else... But having seen all three play out of Smith, Strong, and Lockett, there is a huge drop-off after from Smith and Strong to Lockett... HUGE.