Draft Speak 101

[Mr. Scot]

Ways that you can interpret statements made by GMs, coaches and team officials about draft prospects this time of year:

Team talks a guy up: Could be legit, or could be that they want teams below them to be afraid they might take him and thus, offer to trade up (or both) but could also be an attempt to focus attention on him and away from someone else that's the true object of their draft wishes.

Team talks a guy down: Might be hiding their interest in him or hoping to lower his stock so that he falls to them, or could be honest if he doesn't matter to them (i.e. anything the Colts or Falcons might say about one of the top quarterbacks).

Team says nothing about a guy: Possible there's no interest, or just might not want anyone to know they want him, or might be more focused on talking up someone else in hope of a trade down.

Bottom Line: Not everything said this time of year is a lie, but enough of it is that everything should be taken with a grain of salt.

[teeray]

Ways that you can interpret statements made by GMs, coaches and team officials about draft prospects this time of year:

Team talks a guy up: Could be legit, or could be that they want teams below them to be afraid they might take him and thus, offer to trade up (or both) but could also be an attempt to focus attention on him and away from someone else that's the true object of their draft wishes.

Team talks a guy down: Might be hiding their interest in him or hoping to lower his stock so that he falls to them, or could be honest if he doesn't matter to them (i.e. anything the Colts or Falcons might say about one of the top quarterbacks).

Team says nothing about a guy: Possible there's no interest, or just might not want anyone to know they want him, or might be more focused on talking up someone else in hope of a trade down.

Bottom Line: Not everything said this time of year is a lie, but enough of it is that everything should be taken with a grain of salt.

Is this a smoke screen?? :devil:

[CatMan72]

At this point I don't think the Panthers know who they want to take # 1 overall... I'm sure they've narrowed down the list to a handful of guys, but there's allot of work left to do.

I could see them talking up a guy like Newton in an attempt to lure other teams (cough, Bengals, cough) into trading picks with them, but they are also preparing for a situation where they end up using the # 1 overall pick and I honestly don't think they know who they're going to use it on yet.

[Mr. Scot]

FYI: There is actually another player about whom I find the Panthers actions intriguing, though for different reasons. At this point, very few are talking about it, except to take things at face value (which might be a mistake).

Wondering if anyone else will figure out who I mean.

[Mr. Scot]

At this point I don't think the Panthers know who they want to take # 1 overall... I'm sure they've narrowed down the list to a handful of guys, but there's allot of work left to do.

I could see them talking up a guy like Newton in an attempt to lure other teams (cough, Bengals, cough) into trading picks with them, but they are also preparing for a situation where they end up using the # 1 overall pick and I honestly don't think they know who they're going to use it on yet.

Valid point, and one that not many would grasp right offhand.

There's still a lot of time, and a lot of pro days, to come. Who's to say the decision is already made?

[jayflip]

FYI: There is actually another player about whom I find the Panthers actions intriguing, though for different reasons. At this point, very few are talking about it, except to take things at face value (which might be a mistake).

Wondering if anyone else will figure out who I mean.

Go on...

[SorthNarolina]

FYI: There is actually another player about whom I find the Panthers actions intriguing, though for different reasons. At this point, very few are talking about it, except to take things at face value (which might be a mistake).

Wondering if anyone else will figure out who I mean.

Von Miller because Davis and Anderson are FAs

he's arguably BPA

linebackers have gone #2 and #1(i think)

it'd make it easy to switch or alternate to a 3-4.

[csx]

I doubt GMs analyze this stuff as much as y'all do.

[Mr. Scot]

The guy I'm referring to is someone who's actually in the discussion for the top pick, but the Panthers don't seem to be showing interest, to the point some have even come out and expressed belief that we're actually not interested.

Honestly, there are a couple of guys that could apply to, but I have one in particular in mind.

[Mr. Scot]

I doubt GMs analyze this stuff as much as y'all do.

Just the opposite actually. I think they spend a thousand times more time on it than we do.

Their jobs depend on it. If we're wrong, the worst thing that happens is we look dumb on a message board.

[davos]

The guy I'm referring to is someone who's actually in the discussion for the top pick, but the Panthers don't seem to be showing interest, to the point some have even come out and expressed belief that we're actually not interested.

Honestly, there are a couple of guys that could apply to, but I have one in particular in mind.

Fairley? He seemed to be the talk of the town at the start but now neither fans or the Panthers has shown a great deal of interest...

[Mr. Scot]

Fairley? He seemed to be the talk of the town at the start but now neither fans or the Panthers has shown a great deal of interest...

Bingo :thumbsup:

Some folks take that at face value. Me? I acknowledge it could be true, but I have a hard time just accepting it straight up.

For that matter, have you heard the Panthers say jack about Patrick Peterson or A J Green? Nope, but then nobody's asking, are they?

Do we assume no interest merely because no reporters are asking or speculating about them?

[Jackofalltrades]

Dareus is better IMO, I switched bandwagons.

[csx]

Just the opposite actually. I think they spend a thousand times more time on it than we do.

Their jobs depend on it. If we're wrong, the worst thing that happens is we look dumb on a message board.

I'm certain they analyze the players to the nth degree. It's the psy-ops stuff I don't think they waste so much time on.