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Why Bowers could be the pick

MHS831

By MHS831,
in Carolina Panthers

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

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4-3 DEs who can rush the qb and play the run are rather rare. Some say the lack of well-rounded 4-3 DEs is the primary reason the 3-4 has evolved.

Since Julius Peppers went second overall in the 2002 draft, how many pure 4-3 DEs have been drafted in the first round?

2003: None

2004: 18. Will Smith, Saints

2005: 17. David Pollock, Bengals

2006: 1. Mario Williams, Texans; 32. Mathias Kiwamuka, Giants

2007: 4. Gaines Adams, Bucs; 8. Jamaal Anderson, Falcons

2008: None

2009: None

2010: None

*DEs were drafted eery year, but they either busted very quickly or they went to 3-4 teams as OLBs or 3-4 DEs--One became a 4-3 DT (Williams-Minnesota) This refers to 4-3 DEs.

Sure, DEs came from other rounds, but it is rare to find one in college who has both facets of the game so well developed.

Things the Panthers must consider:

Pass rushing/run stopping 4-3 DEs are rather rare. I read somehwere (don't ask for a frigging link because I am not finding it for people who can't figure it out) that the average is about 1 per year. DTs are much more common.

Since Brown will probably never be more than a pass-rushing specialist, are we content to go with Charles Johnson (potentially a free agent) and Greg Hardy (a rookie last season with a collegiate injury history who struggled vs. the run)? Is it possible that we are not as set at DE as we think?

NEED? Look at what we have:

Charles Johnson: I think we will re-sign him. However, he could decide to explore free agency and I see him with some value as a DE in a 3-4 as well as a 4-3. I think he likes it here, but one never knows.

Greg Hardy: Was pretty good vs. the pass last year but struggled vs. the Run. He has a bit of an injury history at Ole Miss, but was healthy in limited action in 2010. If he continues to develop, he could be a good bookend for CJ, if we re-sign CJ.

Everette Brown: Florida State DEs have not done well in the NFL, especially in 4-3s. Brian Baker said Brown hit a wall last year. He added about 15 pounds in the offseason to make him better vs the run, an experiment I think may have failed. I suggest getting back to 250 and shopping him as a 3-4 OLB or keeping him as a designated pass rusher when CJ and Hardy move inside.

Tyler Brayton: Tyler is the other half of Brown, he stuffs the run but rarely pressures the passer. a 4-3 needs pass rushing DEs. He is also getting old.

DE is not a high need pick right now, but it could be if CJ walks. DT is a need pick, but the DTs in the draft are good through the top 100 players. With a veteran FA, I imagine a pretty decent DT will fall to the 65th pick.

QB, CB, and possibly WR are also needs, but if the Panthers are not sold on a QB and/or cannot trade out of the first pick, they will not take Newton IMO. They will turn to Fairley/Dareus, Green, or Bowers.

Bowers is the most rare. He is a 4-3 DE when not many come out so NFL ready. He could easily be the pick. You could argue for Quinn, and J. Sheard of Pittsburgh could be there in the second round. This may be the best year in a while for 4-3 DEs (even though Quinn seems to be more of a 3-4 guy).

I do not want this, but if we let CJ walk I want this very much. Get the DE, sign the DT later. Even if CJ stays, DE is crucial to a 4-3 defense and having 3 or4 good ones would make us awesome at that postition.

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vorbis Community Regular

vorbis

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i can't predict the future, but i can potentially see brayton being let go. there's not much commitment to him contract-wise and while he is a gamer, he is not disciplined enough to be dependable in the running game. with the change in defensive philosophy rivera and mcdermott are going to want to get their kind of guys in for depth. i can see hardy battling for a starting role, as well as bowers if he is drafted, but brayton does not have a lot of untapped potential, and his decision-making and stubborn neglect of keeping contain can drive coaches mad sometimes.

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

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dude stop bowers is not going to be the pick.....this team has way to may holes to stock up on DEs

You do not know that. A 4-3 team would have a hard time passing on Bowers, especially when the draft is before free agency and your best DE is a free agent. Common sense.

I am not for it either, but I sport an open mind and a knowledge of NFL drafts. You have ruled out drafting the BPA, and you don't know what the Panthers board looks like. How can you say that he is not going to be the pick? Or do you mean that you don't think he will be the pick because the Panthers:

A. Have agreed to terms with Charles Johnson

B. Do not have Bowers on the top of their board

C. Will draft based on need and not BPA

If you do not know these things, then you can't know that they won't pick Bowers. There are other rounds and free agency. This pick does not have to be DT or QB.

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

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Ugh, yeah.

To expand on something you said, I'd rather be solid along the entire front four rather than have two stud DE's.

I'm my wildest dreams we sign Haloti Ngata, draft DT and have a nasty DL, and awesome D as a result.

Yes. We need a top DT in the draft and a stud DT in free agency. I would take Cofield or the Seattle DT as well. Neblett was a pleasant surprise at the end of last season. He played Pouncey even.

The Panthers need to sign CJ. If he leaves for free agency, and if they don't tag him it could be up to him--not us. We are tagging Kalil and free agency will probably happen after the draft. Our DTs can be solid, but if the Jim Johnson 4-3 has no proven DEs, we are in worse shape than without DTs.

I think we could draft Bowers if they are unsure about CJ. Then they would draft DT with the 65th pick (I imagine a good one will drop to 65) and pick up a high priced free agent (money they would have spent on CJ anyway).

Not at all what I want, but I like to consider all angles. If I am a defensive-minded coach and I know how important DEs are and Bowers is sitting there, how do you pass when your only proven DE could go FA? You don't. Peppers set the price for top 4-3 DEs. DTs are more common.

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