Howard working out for Panthers

[TheSpecialJuan]

In all honesty, selecting OJ Howard at #8 would probably get me most excited. More so than Fournette or any DE.

[panthers55]

48 minutes ago, yasuhara2241 said:

Always enjoy your posts, so are you saying that for you OJ is the #1 offensive player in the draft? 

Some folks would say quarterbacks are always the most important because they touch the ball on every play. But yeah I would say that among receivers, running backs and tight ends, Howard will be the most impactful player in the draft. Can you imagine our offense with Howard and Olsen along with KB and a slot receiver like McCaffrey or Zay Jones. Our offense would be set for the foreseeable future and Cam would finally get his weapons. Then go after an OT or DE or RB. Or all three.

[yasuhara2241]

Just now, panthers55 said:

Some folks would say quarterbacks are always the most important because they touch the ball on every play. But yeah I would say that among receivers, running backs and tight ends, Howard will be the most impactful player in the draft. Can you imagine our offense with Howard and Olsen along with KB and a slot receiver like McCaffrey or Zay Jones. Our offense would be set for the foreseeable future and Cam would finally get his weapons. Then go after an OT or DE or RB. Or all three.

I have gone back and forth between Fournette and OJ. I really want some playmakers on offense who can take it to the house at an moment. So if you could have your pick of: 

Fournette/Njoku or OJ/McCarffrey or Zay Jones

I am still leaning towards the Fournette / Njoku combo but I would be very happy with OJ in the first

[AndrewLaskoski]

3 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

Some folks would say quarterbacks are always the most important because they touch the ball on every play. But yeah I would say that among receivers, running backs and tight ends, Howard will be the most impactful player in the draft. Can you imagine our offense with Howard and Olsen along with KB and a slot receiver like McCaffrey or Zay Jones. Our offense would be set for the foreseeable future and Cam would finally get his weapons. Then go after an OT or DE or RB. Or all three.

Slot receivers don't exist in 2 TE sets unless we're lining a TE on the outside which I haven't seen much out of the currently constructed Panthers. Maybe McCaffrey if he were to be split out wide but the Panthers usually keep a RB with Cam in-case Cam needs the extra protection and audibles the RB to block. 

The Panthers would be best suited pairing KB with a speedster such as Charles Johnson, who's adept at running deep routes. Keep Howard and possible the RB (if not blocking) on short routes, KB on working the intermediate routes, Olsen running intermediate/deep routes, and Johnson running deep routes. That way Cam has a receiver on every level.

All of this assumes Shula constructs a properly worked passing attack. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Sources Tell Us

"Alabama recruited a shiny toy but (Lane) Kiffin never really knew what to do with it. I don't worry about the talent at all. He could be an all-pro. I just need to know if he loves football." -- NFC general manager

NFL Comparison

Julius Thomas

Bottom Line

Howard has struggled to live up to hype that has come with his play-making ability while at Alabama, but some scouts put the blame on the staff and scheme. He has elite athletic traits and raw talent, but must add polish to go along with those attributes. Should become substantially more productive as a pro, but the difference between "potential weapon" and "elite tight end" will likely be tied to his desire and overall football character.

-Lance Zierlein

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/o.j.-howard?id=2557856

[nctarheel0619]

Lol at a tight end at 8.  Fournette is there, he's the pick.  Not a f ucking tight end.  Now, if Fournette isn't there and Thomas isn't.  I'm okay with Howard, I guess.  

[panthers55]

3 minutes ago, yasuhara2241 said:

I have gone back and forth between Fournette and OJ. I really want some playmakers on offense who can take it to the house at an moment. So if you could have your pick of: 

Fournette/Njoku or OJ/McCarffrey or Zay Jones

I am still leaning towards the Fournette / Njoku combo but I would be very happy with OJ in the first

I think if you expand it out to the third round and we draft a RB like Gallman or similar skill then I would prefer Howard and McCaffrey. If we don't draft a RB at that point the Fournette Njoku combo gives you the number 1 power running back with the 2nd best tight end. Pretty unlikely but surely desirable.

[yasuhara2241]

Just now, panthers55 said:

I think if you expand it out to the third round and we draft a RB like Gallman or similar skill then I would prefer Howard and McCaffrey. If we don't draft a RB at that point the Fournette Njoku combo gives you the number 1 power running back with the 2nd best tight end. Pretty unlikely but surely desirable.

I truly don't think McCaffrey or Njoku will be available in the 2nd round but who knows. I know people hate mocks bc they are so unrealistic but that's the fun of the offseason with a high draft pick after a miserable season. 

I have always been a defense first guy, so it is weird to have this feeling of wanting to go offense heavy with our first 3 picks. 

[pantherclaw]

I've been convinced since January, that Howard is the guy... If there isn't a pass rusher available at 8 that Gettleman can't live without.

[Ricky Spanish]

I want Howard over Fournette. The closer we get to the draft, the less I want a RB in the top 10. 

TEs last in this league way longer than RBs, the wombo combo of Olsen and Howard would allow us to run WAY more 2 TE sets with a threat on either side of the line, it would also help open up running by adding another above average blocker into the mix, and yet another safety blanket for Cam to throw to if Olsen is double covered. 

If Fournette is the pick over Howard, I'll honestly be bummed because I think that Howard would benefit our offense in more diverse ways.

 

[panthers55]

17 minutes ago, AndrewLaskoski said:

Slot receivers don't exist in 2 TE sets unless we're lining a TE on the outside which I haven't seen much out of the currently constructed Panthers. Maybe McCaffrey if he were to be split out wide but the Panthers usually keep a RB with Cam in-case Cam needs the extra protection and audibles the RB to block. 

The Panthers would be best suited pairing KB with a speedster such as Charles Johnson, who's adept at running deep routes. Keep Howard and possible the RB (if not blocking) on short routes, KB on working the intermediate routes, Olsen running intermediate/deep routes, and Johnson running deep routes. That way Cam has a receiver on every level.

All of this assumes Shula constructs a properly worked passing attack. 

You are right, slot receivers who can't do anything else would only be used when you want to overload a zone or on third down and  in the redzone. If you draft McCaffrey you get a slot receiver and running back. Or a Wes Welker receiver and a Whitaker type runner. Maybe I ask too much but what if our offense evolved to more of a two tight set like NE ran.  Not saying change to an EP but what if we used a more horizontal pass routes to make it easier on Cam. If the line is better than expected run Shepard deep on the routes you suggest. There would be work for both of them. Given it seems clear we will draft a slot receiver,  do you think we won't draft a TE in the first 2 rounds or go to more 2 tight end sets this year.

[Marguide]

1 hour ago, csx said:

It's not exactly clear in that link. Is he coming in for a visit or is it at Alabama? The context with Bears and Jags suggests he's not coming to Charlotte.

If it is truly a workout, then it is at Alabama.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe when you bring someone in for a visit, i.e. to the stadium, you cannot put them on the field and work them out. You can meet, do physicals, put them on the chalkboard, etc. but that's it.

 

 

And P.S. I would very happy with Howard at 8.

[TheSpecialJuan]

24 minutes ago, nctarheel0619 said:

Lol at a tight end at 8.  Fournette is there, he's the pick.  Not a f ucking tight end.  Now, if Fournette isn't there and Thomas isn't.  I'm okay with Howard, I guess.  

I would agree with you. If Fournette is there at 8, we take him. He is a much better football player period.

Example: Tony Pauline and NFL.com rankings

Grade	RND	Player Full Name	POS.	Year	School Name
4.85	1st	Myles Garrett	DE	3Jr	Texas A&M
4.77	1st	Solomon Thomas	DE	3So	Stanford
4.73	1st	Leonard Fournette	RB	3Jr	LSU
4.70	1st	Jonathan Allen	DE	4Sr	Alabama
4.69	1st	Malik Hooker	S	3So	Ohio State
4.62	1st	Jamal Adams	S	3Jr	LSU
4.61M	3-4	Sidney Jones	CB	3	Washington
4.46	1st	O.J. Howard	TE	4Sr	Alabama

[TheSpecialJuan]

Just now, TheSpecialJuan said:

I would agree with you. If Fournette is there at 8, we take him. He is a much better football player period.

Example: Tony Pauline and NFL.com rankings

Grade	RND	Player Full Name	POS.	Year	School Name
4.85	1st	Myles Garrett	DE	3Jr	Texas A&M
4.77	1st	Solomon Thomas	DE	3So	Stanford
4.73	1st	Leonard Fournette	RB	3Jr	LSU
4.70	1st	Jonathan Allen	DE	4Sr	Alabama
4.69	1st	Malik Hooker	S	3So	Ohio State
4.62	1st	Jamal Adams	S	3Jr	LSU
4.61M	3-4	Sidney Jones	CB	3	Washington
4.46	1st	O.J. Howard	TE	4Sr	Alabama