The Sporting News Panther Draft needs

[Pox 08]

I don't think QB is the biggest need and according to the article neither does Gantt.

We have NOTHING at DT and is a two man position.

We've not had much at that position the last few years, and our defense, overall, has at least been "alright".

Our offense was downright horrible. All of our qbs looked horrible. I will admit though that I'm not quite 100% sold on it being all the Qbs fault. The play calling was so atrocious that, I think it made it hard for any player to look good in that system.

[TheRealDeal]

You must be dominant in one area of the game. Being average in both gets you nowhere

[MHS831]

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2011-01/2011-nfl-draft/story/nfl-draft-countdown-carolina-panthers

Good break down by Gantt.

Nothing about RG and OLB is the 4th need? I thought our LB corps was pretty solid. I agree that Carter would be a steal in the mid rounds, but so would teammate Quan Sturdivant or Irving from NC State. THat is what I do not like about Gantt. He repetitively pushes one or two players and ignores the other possiblilities. Usually they are guys he personally is familiar with. Does he even know any OLBs from the west coast who would be there in the fourth round? Missouri was not on TV much and Auburn was. Go Cam!! I also think OL depth is very important.

As for the QB, I have never heard that Cam throws a better deep ball than Gabbert. Nor does anyone give a rational explanation of why his upside is higher than Gabbert's. If you accept erroneous assumptions without regarding the big picture, I guess he is the best prospect. He might be the best, but there are as many in Gabbert's camp and just as many (like me) who say trade down. Why does Gantt assume QB=Cam and dismisses Gabbert beyond mentioning his name. He needs to cover sports and not promote his opinion. Give us the facts, and we can form out own opinions. THere is a difference between reporting and promoting.

CB: I think we need 2. Munnerlyn was a solid nickel. On the outside, eeeh. We need a starting-caliber CB, move Munnerlyn back to the nickel, and some depth to compete with McClain, CJ Wilson, and Stanford. Where is Gamble's head? In this system, is Richard Marshall a possiblity? When he said he would not be re-signed, Rivera was not here.

OLB: I think Connor and Norwood are good fits for SLB. Davis and Jason Williams (from Dallas) are coming off injuries, but WLB should be covered. Draft Carter, where do you put him? In the Middle, the beast and he can be backed by Connor, Nic Harris. Senn is still a valuable depth LB and special teamer. Where is there room for another LB? LB is the team's biggest strength.

TE: With TEs being basically cheap to re-sign and with Rosario and Barnidge seeming to fit the Chud mold pretty well, I do not see the need at TE. Sure Shockey is on a 1-year deal, but we need to see how Rosario and Barnidge will do. If they don't pan out, draft one next year.

OL: I like Scwhartz at RG and think they Panthers do to. Behind him is Duke Robinson, which should mean that RG is covered. However, Kalil is in a one-year deal and Wharton is 31 and expensive. We have literally no Tackle depth and Gross is 32 and Otah has an injury history. Maybe this is the year to pick up OT depth and consider the financial decisions you may have to make pertaining to Kalil and Wharton. Maybe it will become a Morgan/Witherspoon situation. A G/C would be very smart, IMO.

[Mr. Scot]

or we could reach for a corner and dam what history supposedly dictates

I'd take a guard at number one if I thought he was truly the best player available.

but qb will improve this offense this year. look what it did to the rams. a rookie qb can be successful if coached up.

You don't seriously believe we could go next season with Newton, Gabbert or Mallett under center do you? And improve? :nonod:

[Mr. Scot]

but qb will improve this offense this year. look what it did to the rams. a rookie qb can be successful if coached up.

You don't seriously believe we could go next season with Newton, Gabbert or Mallett under center do you? And improve? :nonod:

[jramsey4]

What bothers me about this? Hurney has no history of drafting successful QBs. Rivera is a defensive Guru with not much offensive experience. Chud is a former TE who may or may not know the art of recognizing QB talent. How much of a voice will Shula have?

He also has never drafted one before the 2nd round (and before Clausen 4th was the highest he had ever drafted one). He has a much better track record in the 1st then any other round combined. If he likes Newton I will be ecstatic because he will have seen what I see and that is a guy that could be one of the best inside of 2 or 3 years. If not I will assume there was something that gave him pause which I am fine with.

The 1st round is about the only part of Hurney I have no worries about.

Shula didn't see Newton's initial pro day, but supposedly saw Mallett's and Gabbert's. He's seen all 3 players first private workouts. I am sure he will see their 2nd.

I bet he has a voice, but how much? Not as much as either Hurney or Rivera, I am sure.

btw, of the above QBs mentioned as "not being worth the #1", only Ryan was the first one off the board so he's the only one that really compares, and I do not really see any comparison between Newton and Ryan and only very limited comparison between Ryan and Gabbert. The other two are very, very, very different draft situations etc, so it is tough to really compare them.

He also was at Stanzi's (Iowa's) pro day. I would rather trade back, pick up a 2nd and MD or PP and get Stanzi in the 3rd. I hope he agrees.

[jramsey4]

I'd take a guard at number one if I thought he was truly the best player available.

You don't seriously believe we could go next season with Newton, Gabbert or Mallett under center do you? And improve? :nonod:

While not at one, Pouncey would and should be a real option if we trade back to the middle of the 1st.

And yes I do believe with Newton we would improve. If nothing else it would help out our running game and our lousy pass blocking wouldn't be nearly as much of an issue.

[jtnc]

While not at one, Pouncey would and should be a real option if we trade back to the middle of the 1st.

And yes I do believe with Newton we would improve. If nothing else it would help out our running game and our lousy pass blocking wouldn't be nearly as much of an issue.

Are you SERIOUS? we already have a center who we recently franchise tagged.

[ncmonzta]

I'd take a guard at number one if I thought he was truly the best player available.

You don't seriously believe we could go next season with Newton, Gabbert or Mallett under center do you? And improve? :nonod:

Any of those Qb's would be an improvement over Clausen and should win at least 3 games, so the answer yes.

[jramsey4]

Are you SERIOUS? we already have a center who we recently franchise tagged.

Pouncey is terrible at C. He is a true G and a damn good one. No matter what fans on here might think of Schwartz he simple is not that good. Decent sure but nothing to write home about.

[TheRealDeal]

Are you SERIOUS? we already have a center who we recently franchise tagged.

He's a guard

Edit: Late

[TheRealDeal]

Any of those Qb's would be an improvement over Clausen and should win at least 3 games, so the answer yes.

Get it through your simple little mind that we aren't talking about upgrades over Clausen. My puppy is an upgrade over Clausen. The F1 Help button on my keyboard is an upgrade over Clausen.

Will the rookies be better than any REAL competition in camp? I feel the answer is no so therefor they won't help us next year.

[Mr. Scot]

Any of those Qb's would be an improvement over Clausen and should win at least 3 games, so the answer yes.

You're dreaming on that one :nonod:

Every rookie has an adjustment to make to the pro game, an even longer one if they haven't played in a pro-style offense before (both Newton and Gabbert) and that's in a normal offseason. With the lockout, the team loses the additional coaching time it could have had with minicamps and such.

Add in that you're talking about a team coached by a guy who doesn't think it's good for quarterbacks to have to start as rookies.