Pike’s role shrinks, not optimism

[Hairless Cat]

Its all speculation at this point fellas- no use getting nasty with one another over what may or may not be a good or bad pick.

I still think we are going to trade one of our qb's for something or get some sort of compensation one way or another.

[The Don]

Let me set you guys straight, from a coach's perspective, even though I'm not one... but I have a solid idea as to what they might have been thinking...

They always go into camp with 4 QB's... Moore is your veteran, Clausen is your overachieving rookie and then there's Cantwell, a project they've been working on for a couple seasons now. If they want him to get better, they bring in a 4th QB. Perhaps they had their eyes on a free agent, but why spend all that money when you can get a decent rookie really cheap?

And, regarding the Armanti Edwards people who are saying we'll have him as a 4th QB/Situational QB... not going to happen. Maybe he has a wildcat package, yes. But a true QB, no. He's too short to play QB in this league. And I'm pretty sure you don't want a rookie QB from a 1-AA school coming into the league, playing PR, KR, WR, QB and possible wildcat/running back situations. That's just too much for Edwards, even though he may be the son of Zeus. You people are crazy.

[scpanther22]

If Pike and Gettis are put on the practice squad it is little different than putting Schwartz and Bernadeau on the practice squad, in 2008, if I remember correctly. They were seventh rounders who became good contributers last year and at least 1 may start this year. There is no guarantee that they would be plucked off the PS and even if they were, it just means we have several guys who are much better than they are.

As for that meaning our draft was a poor one, that is just stupid logic. It isn't how many guys make the squad that determined how the draft class works out, but how many become starters and contribute both right away and ultimately down the road. If LaFell and Hardy start this year, having 2 guys starting their rookie year who aren't first rounders would be the most we have had under Fox in one draft. Then if Clausen becomes our Franchise quarterback and guys like Norwood and Edwards become big contributers and at least one of the 7th round DBs develop for us, this will go down as one of the best drafts ever.

After all we had 4 sixth rounders. If we lose 2 of them that still gives us 2 6th rounders that made the team. Would people rather keep a guy like Pike who was a 6th rounder and will likely never see the field only to get cut down the road, or just put the best guys on the squad no matter where they were picked.

You remember Nick Hayden? We cut better guys to keep him. just sayin

[KillerKat]

for those saying they're just late rounders, we shouldnt be upset if they're cut... you're right. Teams should just give up during the 6th round and not even try. Afterall its just a crapshoot. Doesnt matter who we pick. Pick whoever whether it makes sense or not. To hell with our 3 late round picks. Instead of trying to draft players that can contribute, the FO are geniouses for drafting players that may not even see the field for us during the season. Whats 3 draft picks anyway? Not like teams like the Pats or Saints found anyone good late in the draft in years past...

[panthers55]

You remember Nick Hayden? We cut better guys to keep him. just sayin

I have never been a fan of Hayden so I wouldn't fathom to have an explaination for that. LOL

WHo did we cut that year??

[panthers55]

The thing is that you have to draft the best players you can find at a position of need. With 10 picks you want to go from position of need to potential for development. You bring in a bunch of cheap free agents and mix it up hoping for the best mix you can develop. Sure you want to keep your draft picks if they are the best players out there. If you have better guys you try and staxh as many of them as you can on the pratice squad.

Of course you keep your high rounders and as many of the low rounders as you can.

But you also to put a value on the guys you have been developing as well. Cantwell, for example. was a UDFA for sure but the Panthers put a year of work into him totally recreating his throwing motion. So they have something invested in him at well The same with Kenny Moore.

And you add in a free agent like Wright who was a UDFA iin 2006 but is a special teams beast and potential receiver with four years of experience and you have some tough choices.

Frankly I can't remember the time we had so many good choices that we could even have this discussion, especially at quarterback and wide receiver.

I like Gettis and Pike, the little I have seen them. I don't know if they will make the team or not. If they play well then they should make the team based on their own merit instead of entitled draft status. That tends to end after the first 5 rounds. The sixth and second rounds are where we tend to start the debate about whether the player will make the squad.

And if all things are equal, you keep the draft picks.

But in the end I want the best players out there and I don't care where they came from. Especially at the bottom of the draft when we had 7 picks. Frankly if we hit on 4 of the 7, I think we should be celebrating our success instead of lamenting our losses. Apparently we must be getting spoiled if we think that every draft pick will or should make the team just because we drafted them.

Think about it, Hurney looks good either way. Either we drafted well or we shopped the bargain basement very successfully. He probably figures that if you throw enough resoruces as a problem you are bound to find who you need. Seems like a good plan to me.

[MaineManPanther]

for those saying they're just late rounders, we shouldnt be upset if they're cut... you're right. Teams should just give up during the 6th round and not even try. Afterall its just a crapshoot. Doesnt matter who we pick. Pick whoever whether it makes sense or not. To hell with our 3 late round picks. Instead of trying to draft players that can contribute, the FO are geniouses for drafting players that may not even see the field for us during the season. Whats 3 draft picks anyway? Not like teams like the Pats or Saints found anyone good late in the draft in years past...

No one is saying there worthless picks. Obviosuly we should try our best in hopes we get lucky with a Brady or coloston or even Schwartz .

However, one should really not be upset or suprised when they dont pan out, it happens all the time. The Saints and Patriots over all have just as many failed late round picks as any other team give or take a few.

If you picked a player in the late rounds, where you have minimal money tied into, and they are outperforemd by a better player at camp. Why is it so bad we cut them? What significant damage does it do?

[Carl Spackler]

No one is saying there worthless picks. Obviosuly we should try our best in hopes we get lucky with a Brady or coloston or even Schwartz .

However, one should really not be upset or suprised when they dont pan out, it happens all the time. The Saints and Patriots over all have just as many failed late round picks as any other team give or take a few.

If you picked a player in the late rounds, where you have minimal money tied into, and they are outperforemd by a better player at camp. Why is it so bad we cut them? What significant damage does it do?

Oh, this means my LeFors jersey won't meet its $70 eBay reserve?

[DaCityKats]

I have never been a fan of Hayden so I wouldn't fathom to have an explaination for that. LOL

WHo did we cut that year??

cant remember but we cut sunny harris for him last year.were is alan branch?

[Carolinator]

Our dumbest pick in the draft was our 1st round pick. Pike was 2nd

[PantherFanOne]

My guess for what it's worth ,s that the Bengals would get Pike if we tryed to put him on the practice squad.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Our dumbest pick in the draft was our 1st round pick. Pike was 2nd

Do you mean 2nd-round pick?

[jtm]

This whole thread is based on the assumption that Pike is a bust. I don't see how anyone can say that based on a couple throws in the pouring down rain. This guy could be a bust or the next Peyton Manning for all we know at this point. The Panthers have always drafted best player available. Some people like this some people don't. Remember two years ago when we took Connor and everyone went nuts because we were stacked at linebacker? Doesn't seem like such a dumb pick anymore does it????

[panthers55]

cant remember but we cut sunny harris for him last year.were is alan branch?

Harris was cut by Pittsburgh and we played him two games on the active squad and then out him on our practice squad. Pittsburgh wanted him on their practice squad but we paid more money and he decided to stay. Then Pittsburgh put him on their active squad and he left.

http://pit.scout.com/2/909026.html