Hurney, and the DB to S Transition...

[SetfreexX]

As we all know we've hit that black hole in the NFL Off-season where's it's little to no relevant NFL / team related information pour over and into, so I though the other day one thing that I was surprised hadn't come up yet was Marty Hurney's pension to draft college defensive backs, and look to have them transition to safety at the NFL level. With Charles Godfrey, and Sherrod Martin the most notable and recent Panther transitions on this list I thought given their history / body of work as Panther's do we feel Gaulden's transition will fair any better...

Charles Godfrey - 5'11 - 6' 207 lbs (source dependent) - Class of 2008 (3rd Round Selection)

NFL Combine - http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/charles-godfrey?id=1292

NFL Draft Scout - http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=33090&draftyear=2008&genpos=cb

Sherrod Martin - 6'1 198 lbs - Class of 2009 (2nd Round Selection)

NFL Combine -http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/sherrod-martin?id=71383

NFL Draft Scout -http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=56413&draftyear=2009&genpos=CB

NFL Combine Results /.com - http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Sherrod&l=Martin&i=8282

Rashaan Gaulden - 6'1 197 lbs - Class of 2018 (3rd Round Selection)

NFL Combine - https://www.nfl.com/prospects/rashaan-gaulden?id=32462018-0002-5601-4679-70376b283996

NFL Draft Scout - http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=131009&draftyear=2018&genpos=CB

NFL Combine Results /.com - http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Rashaan&l=Gaulden&i=27107

---------------------------------------------

As you can see from a physical stature stand-point Gaulden compares more favorably to Sherrod Martin, however he doesn't seem to match the raw measurable abilities of Godfrey and Martin as both had higher end combine results when looking at the 40 yard time, as well as the vertical jump. Gaulden fell short in all measures of the physical scale, and to many fans was a bit of a head scratcher in the 3rd round. With combine results like his you wager to see him last until Day 3 (just my opinion). 

Considering combines don't make the player all we have is YT highlights, and the soon to come Panther's 2018 training camp / pre-season (all begins July 26th) to get our real first look at if Gaulden can be the first piece in what looks to be a safety group that will continue to be re-constructed as Adams continues to age and is likely in his last season, and if former starter, turned back up, turned starter again in Searcy can hold the rookie off when the pads come on.

With that said I leave you all with a couple videos we've all likely seen before if you've done any research on our 2018 rookies...

 

[SOJA]

Godfrey was talented but always out of position. 

Interesting though that Sherrod was more of a safety in college we tried to convert to CB and Gaulden is more of a CB we're trying to convert to safety. 

In the end Sherrod was forced to play safety where he was a decent player. Hoping we give Gaulden all the time he needs at safety before panic moving him. 

[mc52beast]

Can we find a LT and convert him to LT?

[4Corners]

Honestly, this was probably my least favorite pick of the draft. I really wasnt too thrilled about the Jackson second rounder either.

[imminent rogaine]

Yea, go ahead and put me down for drafting a real fuging safety to play safety.

 

Maybe Armanti Edwards can play safety!!!

[Mage]

Is a safety not a DB?

[thefuzz]

Maybe he's just a "football player", but I'm not a fan of this pick, especially that high.

 

Also hoping that Hurney's curse of the 2nd round still isn't around.

[Ship]

I don’t get why this team can’t just draft a guy who played safety and was talented. It’s not that hard.

however, Gaulden apparently looked alright with first and second stringers and got his hands on some passes so hopefully he works his way into something. I like what we’ve heard of his attitude so far.

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Maybe he's just a "football player", but I'm not a fan of this pick, especially that high.

Also hoping that Hurney's curse of the 2nd round still isn't around.

Back when Vinny Cerrato was with the Redskins, they had this "just take a great athlete and plug him in anywhere" approach to drafting.

Didn't go so well.

[thefuzz]

23 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Back when Vinny Cerrato was with the Redskins, they had this "just take a great athlete and plug him in anywhere" approach to drafting.

Didn't go so well.

Yea, I'm certainly not in the Al Davis camp on get as many athletes as possible and see what happens.

[LinvilleGorge]

36 minutes ago, Mage said:

Is a safety not a DB?

It always surprises me how many football fans seemingly don't understand this.

The term DB (defensive back) encompasses all safeties and cornerbacks.

[Mistuh Jones]

As long as we don't bounce Gaulden around, I think he'll be more than serviceable back there. 

[CarolinaNCSU]

On the bright side, there are still (and will be more) options that are on the couch if we're not happy with him during camp. 

[Moo Daeng]

Then a significant portion of the Huddle want to move DBs around but think it's genius when they come up with the idea.

 

Gaulden was considered a safety prospect by most everyone who has an opinion.