Is it Imperative that we get a day-1 starter this draft?

[frash.exe]

I'd like to think we have enough talent that we don't need to give starting duties to rookies. This has been a problem in years past until Gettleman walked in. If you have rookies leading the defense in tackles, well maybe you got a stud, but it's not a good sign that he's showing up the rest of the defense. Shaq didn't disappoint when he got reps and opportunities this year, but the team has a lot more accountability and talent on board than it did during the days when Marty Hurney had his hands in everything.

[TheNewStandard]

1 hour ago, shaqattaq said:

If we draft Hunter at TE, he'll be a plug and play starter (in 2 TE sets) from day 1. But I agree that we have no need to draft a starter (thank you G-man). I suspect that is why I've seen so much speculation about trading back in the draft. Any DE, RB, or OT we get can take a little time to hone his craft, and not be pressured to produce at a high level from day 1.

It's crazy to me that our rookies will be battling just to make the 53-

Thats just ridiculous. And with a good 17-mil under the cap to boot.

Unreal!

not to mention that CAR is now a place vets and young skilled players want to come to prove themselves whilst trying to get that elusive SB ring...and at discounted rates. Yessssss

[TheNewStandard]

4 minutes ago, frash.exe said:

I'd like to think we have enough talent that we don't need to give starting duties to rookies. This has been a problem in years past until Gettleman walked in. If you have rookies leading the defense in tackles, well maybe you got a stud, but it's not a good sign that he's showing up the rest of the defense. Shaq didn't disappoint when he got reps and opportunities this year, but the team has a lot more accountability and talent on board than it did during the days when Marty Hurney had his hands in everything.

I've still got to tip my cap to Marty as he is solely responsible for 2/3 of our leading core, but thank Heavens he wasn't around for most of their contract talks.

im just hoping J-No comes back down to at least Mars so that he can stick around for a few more years without trying to hamstring DG's long-term plans for this franchise.

[iamhubby1]

1 hour ago, shaqattaq said:

If we draft Hunter at TE, he'll be a plug and play starter (in 2 TE sets) from day 1. But I agree that we have no need to draft a starter (thank you G-man). I suspect that is why I've seen so much speculation about trading back in the draft. Any DE, RB, or OT we get can take a little time to hone his craft, and not be pressured to produce at a high level from day 1.

 

Yeah, I don't mind you trading out of any round, except the 1st. You have to keep yourself in that round. That 5th year option is too important to pass on. But other than that, trade away.

[Bartin]

1 hour ago, shaqattaq said:

If we draft Hunter at TE, he'll be a plug and play starter (in 2 TE sets) from day 1. But I agree that we have no need to draft a starter (thank you G-man). I suspect that is why I've seen so much speculation about trading back in the draft. Any DE, RB, or OT we get can take a little time to hone his craft, and not be pressured to produce at a high level from day 1.

DG has said repeatedly he doesn't believe in trading back though. Something about two dimes vs a buck.

[TheNewStandard]

1 hour ago, KB_fan said:

Re: the question of a TE in the first...

I still keep coming back to what DG revealed at the Combine re: his decision to go after Funchess out of a concern for not having adequate backup for KB.  (In a sense, he partially abandoned a true BPA strategy to go after a guy he wanted/needed whom they'd given a high grade.) 

So I've been asking myself what "fear" might Dave have this year?  Who's a KEY player on the team for whom we have pretty thin backup?  I keep coming back to Greg.  The guy plays darn near every snap and is god-like.  It's hard to imagine him ever unable to play.  But if he were to miss a few games with an injury, it would be a HUGE hole in our offense.  With him being 31 it seems to be the time to begin thinking about possible "what ifs" and making sure we've got better depth at TE. 

Maybe this year since we don't have an OBVIOUS need tor a starter from the draft, we can afford more of a "luxury" pick and get some added insurance behind Greg, a guy we can groom alongside him for the future.... kind of like what we did last year with picking Shaq who looks to eventually be a TD replacement.  (Maybe Greg will announce our round 1 pick this year in Chicago...LOL)

But, whatever.  In Gettleman I trust.

"The Fear" has got to be at LT and maybe at DE. 

We have Dickson (I think,) and Tolbert is coming back and can be that blocker/deke option to keep defenses honest. 

KB can play in the slot and serve as a bookend blocker if need be. He's got the size/strength of any TE we could draft and he's been coached up a little bit as well. 

Just not sold on drafting a TE because we have players that can keep a clean pocket.

[TheNewStandard]

8 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

 

Yeah, I don't mind you trading out of any round, except the 1st. You have to keep yourself in that round. That 5th year option is too important to pass on. But other than that, trade away.

That brings up a really good point and because it seems to take a good 2-3 years for collegiate players to really blossom, those 2-years are where we get the full production of a draft pick. 

Im thinking 2-technique DE in the first for that very reason.

[CarolinaNCSU]

Punter

[iamhubby1]

31 minutes ago, TheNewStandard said:

That brings up a really good point and because it seems to take a good 2-3 years for collegiate players to really blossom, those 2-years are where we get the full production of a draft pick. 

Im thinking 2-technique DE in the first for that very reason.

 

When he first got here, Gman had to hit on starters in the draft. Of course with Stah being 14th pick, that was much easier. But then he hit on KB, another starter. Shaq, although technically a starter, he just played fewer snaps than a lot of other starters. Now this year? What are the odds he gets a starter? Pretty slim. The chances he gets a solid contributor, with future starter written all over him? That is the plan.

 

Now the thing is. Are folks going to complain that Gman is slipping? Because he didn't bring in a starter, is he losing his touch?

 

When Gman started. He needed 2-3 starters out of the draft. This year? The best he can hope for is for 2-3 just to make the team. So I could see him trading UP to get talent like with Funchy. As opposed to trading DOWN for more picks. We still need those later round picks, and UFDAs, cuz that's where the diamonds lie. But it is getting tougher for those type players to even make the team.

 

Gman has excelled in the draft. If that continues, we should just continue to grow.

 

Ah hellz, I lost my train of thought. But I think I got the gist of it.

 

 

[KB_fan]

1 hour ago, TheNewStandard said:

"The Fear" has got to be at LT and maybe at DE

Fair point.  Yes, I very much want us to add OT depth this year.  We've got Oher, Remmers & Daryl Williams.... after that Foucault?!?!  (and a couple of PS/Futures guys?)

[Jimmy]

I know it's said every year but it would be nice to have a sure thing opposite KB. But there's no such thing as a sure thing. 

Someone who can avoid penalties on Special Teams would be nice wouldn't it Teddy Williams?

[TheNewStandard]

9 minutes ago, Jimmy said:

I know it's said every year but it would be nice to have a sure thing opposite KB. But there's no such thing as a sure thing. 

Someone who can avoid penalties on Special Teams would be nice wouldn't it Teddy Williams?

I think Funchess is that guy. Devin got better and better as the year went on and we saw his best in the playoffs. 

If Funch keeps improving on his current trajectory (he's only 21 or 22 I think,) he's gonna be Muhsinx2 very soon. 

Brown is not exactly chopped liver and Ginn is who he is...just having Corey to move the sticks and Ginn to stretch the field leaves a lot of real estate for Olsen, KB and Funchess.

i figure we stay pat with Hill as our #6 is just icing on the cake that can spell Ginn a few times a game.

im surprised huddlers are still clamoring for another receiver when we were the best offense in the league and we were without our #1 WR. It's kind of ridiculous at this point. There are no rumors or stories of GMan entertaining any receivers, so please stop with the "add another receiver" shenanigans.

[KB_fan]

11 minutes ago, TheNewStandard said:

There are no rumors or stories of GMan entertaining any receivers, so please stop with the "add another receiver" shenanigans.

I'm not among those clamoring for a WR, but actually, it does appear we've met with quite a lot, somewhat surprisingly....

From the list of visits at Walter Football, of 32 prospects listed, we've met with 9 wideouts.  I'm pretty sure that's more than any other position.  I think I saw something about us also planning to meet with Braxton Miller, and maybe another wideout too...

Carolina Panthers

 

• Tyler Boyd^, WR, Pittsburgh (COM, WOR)
• Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (STM)
• Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss (EW)
• Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa (PRI)
• Johnny Holton, WR, Cincinnati (WOR)
• Chris Moore^, WR, Cincinnati (PRO, WOR)
• Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State (EW)
• Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (COM)
• Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (COM)
  
• Read more at http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam#kjlAsSMtKSIMo7MQ.99

[TheNewStandard]

1 minute ago, KB_fan said:

I'm not among those clamoring for a WR, but actually, it does appear we've met with quite a lot, somewhat surprisingly....

From the list of visits at Walter Football, of 32 prospects listed, we've met with 9 wideouts.  I'm pretty sure that's more than any other position.  I think I saw something about us also planning to meet with Braxton Miller, and maybe another wideout too...

Carolina Panthers

 

• Tyler Boyd^, WR, Pittsburgh (COM, WOR)
• Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (STM)
• Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss (EW)
• Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa (PRI)
• Johnny Holton, WR, Cincinnati (WOR)
• Chris Moore^, WR, Cincinnati (PRO, WOR)
• Hunter Sharp, WR, Utah State (EW)
• Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (COM)
• Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (COM)
• Read more at http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam#kjlAsSMtKSIMo7MQ.99

Well, I'll give myself a punch in the gut because I hadn't heard anything about our FO bringing in wideouts until you showed me that graphic/list...a whoops and ouch will make it square.

Nothing wrong with due diligence I suppose. Ginn will be gone and who knows if we're gonna keep CBrown around after this season, so if it's a position of need in GMan's eyes, I guess I have to step_aside and let the WR-warriors clamor away.