How I think Rhule Manipulated the Draft

[SOJA]

3 hours ago, saX man said:

And good

god

people

don’t recopy the entire OP

love when ppl do this only to say like "k"

[SOJA]

Also I definitely buy into the theory that the Panthers looked at Simmons and saw bargain bin discount versions of him in Chinn and Dugger. 

I'm totally ok with that too. This whole S/NB/LB role has a high potential to go go waste if you don't employ it correctly. Why spend the 7th overall pick on that when you can get *potentially* the same or 75% of the production from a second rounder?

I agree with the Roy theory, the more I read about him the more I kept thinking "man this guy probably should have gone higher than this"

I also believe the Lynch talk was largely a smokescreen, at least to the degree that we were planning on taking him in rounds 1-3

[Ivan The Awesome]

So I just got done eating my chicken tacos, I feel my tummy rumbling. I know it's time, I go to the bathroom, take my phone with me, open up the huddle... That was the most satisfying dump I've had in a while. Your theory isn't as far fetched as some think. 

[Drk89Wng]

Leave.the.acid.alone.

PLEASE 

For.the.kids.

But seriously there’s always weird psyche out poo going on with drafting who you prefer and fake me out showing your card to coerce another team into getting sho they think you want. This just was some B grade inception script lol I applaud your ingenuity its better than @MMA out here thinking he’s better than everyone acting like he’s Jerry Krause and poo. 

[Panthero]

This was more than 3 sentences long, therefore i feel a need to express my displeasure instead of just not reading. Arrrggggg!!! 

Oh and tldr, lol.

[Mr. Scot]

5 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Normally you are right--but with the dearth of information, Did Rhule play his cards?  Not saying this was not plan C or D, just saying that I get the feeling he had these guys in his cross hairs and would not let Marty go crazy trading. 

Believe it or not, what I wrote was concise compared to if I had written every piece of the puzzle.  For example, Marty, in an interview, told a reporter (paraphrasing): "I just could not stand the thought of a draft without a trade." 

WTF?  That led me to think it is POSSIBLE that Rhule made it clear that he had some plans for those bottom of the draft picks---Of course if a Fulton or Diggs had dropped, it would have changed everything.

I get the idea, and heck, I don't think Marty is capable of 3D chess (or even 3D checkers, for that matter).

But with that said, the premise that a rookie head coach with near zero experience at the NFL Draft handled his first one ever like a master manipulator is a bit much for me. I just think they went into the Draft planning to improve the defense and made their picks accordingly.

(that, plus I know you're not being all that serious here anyway)

[panthers55]

7 hours ago, RASTAN66 said:

Rhule calling the plays and Hurndog running the routes and then reporting what he saw downfield when he returns to The Huddle.

You nailed it.

Hurndog is a cog in the machine and doesn't have his own set of keys.

It is likely that Hurney led the draft with Rhule being very active in determining the board. Not the other way around..  why? This is Rhule's first draft. He was doing more watching and learning than directing and coordinating. And Hurney did his job. He got Rhule the guys he wanted 

[Jon Snow]

I ain't reading all that poo.  Put down the pipe man.

[chknwing]

[DeAngelo Beason]

Kudos to anyone who read all that.  

[Proudiddy]

I appreciate the thought that went into the OP, but while I agree, there is always some posturing, bluffing, and thought that goes into the process of the draft, I don't think this draft was so much that as it was really we played our hand really, really well.  The draft always can fall into your favor to get great value at positions of need if you draft the right guy... in the past, we didn't always draft for value.  This year, on paper, it looks like we did draft for value and made all the right choices.  I was vocal about my lack of belief in the first two picks, but I'm hoping I'm wrong, and if I am, this stands to be our greatest draft ever, top to bottom.  Those last 5 picks completely won me over regardless, bc again, it feels like the first time we ever took the best guy possible at each pick - and each one stands a legit chance to contribute a lot early.

The reason I don't believe it's as deep as the OP frames it, but instead, is more due to a change in philosophy, which is credited to Rhule regardless, is because of the post draft videos I watched yesterday on the team site.  Some bullet points:

*Hurney acknowledged at several different spots, we had someone else we really liked, but due to the teams in front of us, we ended up taking who we did based off of who was picked ahead of us.  He specifically said guard and WR I think were in consideration at a couple different picks.  I was surprised he was that candid.  But, that tells me, a lot of what happened was really determined by our board.  The picks just so happened to pan out where they gave us great value at positions of need.

*Rhule made it a point to say he really drilled home to the staff that the mid to late round picks aren't "throwaways."  He said those are the picks you develop and will build your team for years to come.  I thought this was poignant that he made it a point of emphasis to the staff and to say it in the presser.  Why?  Because it's clear in years past, under Hurney, and especially under Gettleman, those picks clearly were "throwaways," as Rhule called them.  Look at the Gaulden pick, or someone like Zach Sanchez, for instance and compare it to what was done this year.  This year, we drafted athletes with demonstration of some football skill and a love for the game - another point of emphasis that Rhule made in the post pressers - find athletes that love to play and can be coached up.  In years past, it feels like we took a ton of guys who were hard workers who had already capped out their potential and it made no sense.  This year was hard workers who checked all the other boxes athletically and intangible-wise, but had room to develop more.  It was perfectly played.  I've never been more excited about our rounds 2-7.  Ever.  All these guys have potential to start eventually.

*Rhule went into the draft with that strategy and held to it...  in one of the post pressers, he was also asked about his opinion of playing rookies...  he said ideally, you would love to play vets and guys with experience who have been there.  But, he said this season with where we're at, we need young guys and rookies to play immediately.  It's clear we drafted these guys with purpose and Rhule plans on them contributing early and often.  It also brought me back to his introductory pressers, where he said everywhere he's been, he's played the best players.  He said it didnt matter if they were a 5 star or a walk-on, senior or freshman, if they recognized their ability to contribute, they played.  That is a complete contrast from Ron's philosophy where tenure meant more than anything.  

We definitely played the draft game perfectly.  And again, I'm excited about this class as a whole more than any other draft class ever.

 

 

[Devil Doc]

I can agree on one thing, what ever happened in the Draft, happened because of Rhule. Marty alone, could have not pulled this off. 

[Tepper's Chest Hair]

10 minutes ago, Devil Doc said:

I can agree on one thing, what ever happened in the Draft, happened because of Rhule. Marty alone, could have not pulled this off.

As long as you are willing to put much of the blame on previous drafts on Rivera.

 

[Devil Doc]

1 minute ago, Tepper's Chest Hair said:

As long as you are willing to put much of the blame on previous drafts on Rivera.

 

Do you think Rivera was as vocal or innovating as Rhule? Maybe Tepper decided that Rhule could have more control, than Rivera Did? Just speculating.